First pregnancy & considering home waterbirth - encouragement please!

[Nocoffeenoworkee]

The title says it all but basically I really want a waterbirth and my hospital only has one birthing pool, and I've never before been admitted to hospital so it seems a bit alien to do it at such a life-changing time.

The waterbirth seems to be becoming more important to me as the weeks rush by (currently 35 weeks) so I'm now considering having DC1 at home in my own birthing pool. I plan to do lots of yoga during the first stage too. Do I sound naive?!

My midwife unit is fantastic and actively encourages homebirth, and both my husband and I are becoming very keen on the idea.

My biggest fears are that I'll keep the neighbours awake if it all gets a bit noisy (mid-terrace) or that there could be complications and I can't get to hospital quickly enough (it's about 3 miles away).

So, any hints, words of encouragement or discouragement, birth stories etc welcome here.

Thanks very much!

first, the majority of homebirths progress and complete at home! my first was a homebith (and my second) and was very relaxing as right from the start, i knew i was in the right place, a famailiar place, and it was not as intimidating as finding my way through a hospital (i have got lost in our local one several times)

although things don't always go to plan mine pretty much did... coming to think of it, i tried to watch ANTM before i was fully established....so yoga isn't that daft really.

alot of women swear by waterbirths as a way to soothe the pain, and you'll find plenty of positive waterbirth stories on here

Someone in my NCT class had a homebirth and waterbirth (first time). I had mine at home, also first time as did another girl in my antenatal class.

I used a lot of yoga during the first stage - no drugs at all. It really helped as I had practised a lot beforehand and felt confident being at home.

Noise wise - I live in a flat. I was a bit worried beforehand but in the end didnt care! My neighbours claimed they didn't hear me... I did warn them in advance though just in case they thought something was up!

I was transferred to hospital as had to be stitched up - the paramedics arrived very quickly and I went to the hospital and it was all fine. Just have a bag packed just in case! Also write out a birth plan for if you do transfer into hospital for slow progress etc.

Someone in my NCT class had a homebirth and waterbirth (first time). I had mine at home, also first time as did another girl in my antenatal class.

I used a lot of yoga during the first stage - no drugs at all. It really helped as I had practised a lot beforehand and felt confident being at home.

Noise wise - I live in a flat. I was a bit worried beforehand but in the end didnt care! My neighbours claimed they didn't hear me... I did warn them in advance though just in case they thought something was up!

I was transferred to hospital as had to be stitched up - the paramedics arrived very quickly and I went to the hospital and it was all fine. Just have a bag packed just in case! Also write out a birth plan for if you do transfer into hospital for slow progress etc.

Where I live homebirthing provision is very good but unlike Eggy very few women had homebirths for first babies. I was one of only two for the whole of the first quarter of last year.

I had a La Bassine birthing pool kit and tbh I only got it to keep DH busy and out of the way whilst I got on with the task in hand. However it was brilliant for pain relief but I wanted to get out at the end. DS was born with me bent over the seat of a hard-backed chair on my knees.

Can't say about the neighbours, we're mid terrace and I didn't make lots of noise but we're all different. You might be a moo-er

Sounds Fab! I had a waterbirth on my second. It had to be in hospital as I'd had an emergency c section on baby no 1, but it was so relaxing I fell asleep and had to be caught by my dh and my midwife. On no2 I also did lots of yoga & understood about breathing, which I found really helped. It was a far better birth experience.

Some MLU let you take your own birthing pool in. Perhaps yours will too?

Don't worry about the neighbours, if you are at home you'll be calmer and will not made too much noise - buy the natal hypnotheraphy CD and practise that if you are concerned.

Wow, you ladies are an inspiration! I shall definitely check to see if my MLU allows own BPs just to cover all bases, but I'm pretty much set on a HB now.

Any tips on type of BP? Have looked into hiring one that has its own thermostat and filter and is bascially like an outdoor spa, but it's so much cheaper to get an inflatable BPIAB that you fill from your hot water supply. Any major advantages to getting the latter?

I had all mine at home in a birthing pool. I hired the gentle water heated one for the first two, and bought one of the NCT birth pool in a box ones for my third and fourth. All wonderful experiences.

Have you looked at home birth website www.homebirth.org.uk?

Neighbours - I had no problem with the neighbours even though I made a lot of noise right at the end. With my first it was mid-afternoon on a BH and they were out. With my second it was the middle of the night - didn't wake my DD1 and the neighbour had no idea the next day - was shocked to hear we'd had her at home! With my third it was in the morning - neighbours at work. DDs already up. With my fourth it was the middle of the night - again neighbour was surprised to hear we'd had her at home.

Besides, it's only one night, and I expect any neighbours who are disturbed would be mildly put out, then realise what was happening and be delighted to be 'in on it' and ecstatic to hear the baby crying when he/she is born!

Bugger - I'm not meant to be having any more babies and this evening I've been feeling really broody!

Definitely go for it if you continue to have a problem-free pregnancy.

I think first-timers have the most to gain from homebirth - I've read that about 30% of first-timers transfer to hospital - but that would mean that at least 70% of them manage to have natural births as apposed to only about 20% of first-timers in planned hospital births.

How long does it take to get the three miles to hospital? I think if it was under 20mins I'd be happy.

Second the home birth reference website MrsWobble pointed out - great site. And also the hypnobirthing - I found just reading a book about it, listening to the CD and practising the techniques was a great help.

I used "birth pool in a box" at home for my second (first birth was your typical hospital downwards spiral bollocks). It was great. We have a combi-boiler though, so hot water was not a problem. If you only have an immersion heater or whatever, having a heater for the pool is more important.

And don't worry about the noise. Maybe, just in case, warn your nearest neighbours so they don't panic and think someone's being murdered! I didn't make much noise myself, but I know some people find it really helps, and with others it's completely involuntary!

That website is really useful, thanks both. Still loving the idea and have spent the day listening to friends' tales of happy births in pools - neither at home but it just firms up my desire to do the dirty in a large bath!

We have a combi boiler so I think I'll plump for the cheaper inflatable in a box option - I'd be a bit horrfied if I rented a pool only to end up not using it. At least I can sell an unused inflatable should the worst come to the worst.

This is all very exciting - thanks everyone.

One further question for the time being - can anyone recommend any good home birth books? Have heard that Sheila Kitzinger is a goodun but any more would be welcome.

A good book for home-birthing? You won't have any time for reading!

I liked "Father's Home Birth Handbook" by Leah Hazard, though obviously it's meant to be aimed at men!

I think the Natal Hypnotherapy handbook "Effective Birth Preparation" by Maggie Howell should be essential reading, not exclusively homebirth, but she's very pro-homebirth in it. Good advice in it about dealing with "moments of self-doubt".

I definitely recommend "Hypnobirthing, the Mongan method" as well. The main things I got from that were some definite breathing techniques for each stage to concentrate on, the fact that keeping your bladder and bowels as empty as poss during labour is a good thing, and the importance of keeping yourself as relaxed as humanly possible and not tiring yourself out with a lot of unnecessary effort.

I've also been pointing this webpage out to first-timers, as I think it says some useful stuff about the pushing stage.

Hope you have time for all that ... Good luck!

I had a hospital waterbirth with my 4th - it wasn't a planned waterbirth and I think that they just had to fill their quota for its use also think labour suite was pretty empty - but was a nice surprise to be asked if I would like it. I didn't really get that much use from it after all cause the walk from the room I was in to the pool room had dilated me all the way and when I got into the pool I was pushing - the midwife was asking me to pull her out when her head appeared but I couldn't do it as I was pooped so they had to ask my permission to get in with me to help me - I also had infections afterwards and more bleeding which I had never had with my other 3 before - whether this was through the pool birth I dont know.
I am on my 5th now and due in a few weeks - we are having a home birth - but I am not having a waterbirth this time.
I feel that I have done that and experienced it and as it didn't really revolusionise my life I didn't want to do it this time.
But as with everything its up the the individual and how they feel about it. I wish you lots of luck in your decision.

I'm planning a home, water birth for my first in June. Having had the honour to sit in on a friend's home, water birth, I am a complete and utter convert to the whole idea (although I have to keep reminding myself that birth plans cannot be set in stone).

Luckily our immediate neighbour had all three of her children at home, so they're not that fussed about the prospect of a bit of moo-ing from me. My hubby will be happier at home with "things to do". I know I'll be more relaxed. Our hospital doesn't have a great reputation for infection control or aftercare so being at home can't be any worse. Plus we're expected to take everything with us to the hospital (pillows, food, etc) and quite frankly, being at home sounds a whole lot less to worry about (although obviously we will have a hospital bag [trunk?] packed just in case).

I'm not buying a pool until I get given the all clear at week 37. Hiring doesn't seem any cheaper. More relaxed = less noise, less chance of complications etc. I would say that I just need to persuade my mother-in-law that I'm not mad; but I'm getting to the point where I'm realising it's not up to her and I'm a grown up. She's very good at pathologising and reading the Daily Mail.

If you feel it's right, go for it. Just keep an open mind. I look forward to hearing your experience!

I planned a home waterbirth for my first and although I did end up transfering due to a failure to progress in later stages I had a really good positive birthing experience.

Labouring at home for the first part was really relaxing with no worrying about 'should I go to hospital or not'. I also enjoyed floating about in the pool and being in my own space. Apparently I watched Hollyoakes at 6:30 that day but i can't remember what happened

When I did have to transfer my lovely community midwife came with me and stayed for the rest of the birth meaning I had great continuity. Also I felt the community midwife was 100% committed to getting me the most natural, intervention free birth we could have as she generally specialises in homebirths so is used to thinking 'that way'.

I would totally recomend going for a home waterbirth personally and will be doing so with my second baby for sure.