Anyone had a homebirth in a flat????

[Summerhols]

Hi

I am 30w and really wavering about going to hospital for birth. I would love to try for a homebirth but the thing that is putting me off is the fact that I live in a flat (bottom floor with one flat above, one next door and above). My neighbour above is an old lady who complains at the drop of the hat over any noise. For example when I had really bad MS and spent one night being sick every 10 minutes she complained the next day because I had flushed the toilet so much .

So I do not think she would be at all understanind about the noise I am likely to make in birth!

But should that stop me? My midwife would be supportive (she was disappointed when I said I wanted a hospital birth as she likes HBs), my DH would be (both him and his brother were HBs so he thinks it is a good idea). Might not get much support from my mother who believes I should take any drug going!

Has anyone got any stories/experiences of HBs in flats? If so please can you tell them!

Thanks [I wish I had a big detached house emotion!]

Hi, i'd say go for the home birth!

I was in the same position as you, living in a flat (neighbours below and either side) and decided to go for the birth centre over a HB primarily b/c i was worried about the noise I would make, whether the neighbours would hear me, and that I would feel inhibited if I was worrying about making too much noise.

As it turned out DD2 arrived after less than 2.5hrs. She caught us completely unawares (thought I was in for another 24hr birthing marathon) and was born at home, in the caul, 5 mins after the paramedics arrived! Ooops, but totally amazing!

I can honestly tell you that once labour was underway I didn't give a sh1t about the noise I was making, and in all probability I was at my noisiest in the first part of labour while I was getting the tens machine sorted and getting my head around coping with the contractions, and you're going to be at home anyway for that first part regardless of where you intend to give birth.

~I did have a conversation with my neighbours the following day (yes, they did hear me!) but who cares about that when you've got a gorgeous newborn to show off?!?

I'm in a flat and planning to hb. My neighbours are bloody noisey though and it's a good chance to get revenge in my book! Just decide, what's the worse that can happen-she moans. Ignore her, smile sweetly and ensure her not to worry as it won't be a regular occurance. Just brazen it out. Put on music if it makes you more comfortable. Imagine she tries to complain, who too??? It would be a good family stor in years to come, the policeman that ran away red in the face after he realised what the disturbance was....

I had a homebirth in a basement flat. I was a bit concerned about the noise but warned the neighbours beforehand. Actually when it came to it I didn't really make that much noise and I was in labour in the morning so most people were out at work. I also didn't care once in the throws of it, but not sure I would have felt as inhibited if it happened in the middle of the night when there was no other noise around. I say go for it, your neighbour will get over it and labour doesn't last that long. Hope she can put up with the noise of a crying newborn!

If it makes you feel different a friend of mine just hb in a shared house with 7 other tennants!

Yes, HB in a basement flat in a row of terraced houses in the middle of the night with no soundproofing. And my midwife said afterwards I was one of the loudest she'd ever heard . Loudest point was around 8am when ds was born and all the commuters going past my flat would have heard me through the ill fitting sash windows .

But I loved my homebirth. Have your MW/DH ready to answer the door with a quick put down in case she comes to complain during labour, but please don't let a neighbour be the reason you choose to give birth in a hospital. As someone said above - what's the worst that can happen? She can't moan forever

Thanks for you responses, now thinking about it seriously as also only 5 minutes from the hospital so if anything does go wrong then not that far to go.

MamaChris - I am sure that you entertained the commuters on what would have been another dull trip to work!

I think that the advice given - what is the worse thing that she can do - is a good thing for me to think.

Thanks Ladies

Summerhols, don't worry about noise during the birth, you are having a baby and I'm fairly sure they can be pretty noisy during the night too

I had a HB in a flat. I did warn my neighbours beforehand. I knew I'd feel self conscious during labour so picked my birthing room beforehand which was the furthest from neighbours (although midwife said not to as might change my mind). However it helped me visualise the labour so I was pretty calm during the whole thing apart right at the end. I also made a lot of noise pushing but my lovely neighbours were polite enough to say they didnt hear!

We had a homebirth in a flat, with neighbours above and below us. We never gave the noise a thought and they never complained. Our DS1 slept like a log through the entire thing and was a bit gobsmacked to meet his sister in the morning!

I'd go for it. It's a fabulous experience, and it's also fun when doddery relatives come to visit and say "where did you have the baby, dear?" and you can answer "just about where your right foot is..."

I had dc1 at home in a small 2nd floor flat, in a modern purpose built block with not a great deal of soundproofing either! Oh and no lift! It was great and would thoroughly recommend

Just found this thread via Google and was interested in whether you did have a home birth in the end.

I also live in a small, one-bed flat (fairly well sound-proofed) and I'm starting to consider a home birth -I'm at 20 weeks so a fair way to go still! I've been on a tour of the hospital "home from home" birth centre, and while it looks nice (incredible views over the river Thames and Parliament if nothing else!), it still feels like a hospital and I think I'd probably be more relaxed in my own home.

I know this thread is really old so OP may not be checking MN anymore, but I'd be interested to know what happened in the end.

It may not cause as much disturbance as you think.

We lived in a small terraced house with v. thin walls when DD was born. One of our neighbours was also elderly and prone to complaining.

However, in the event, there wasn't even any knocking on the wall from her. When I bumped into her in the front garden a few weeks later, she was really surprised to see us with a baby. I'm not sure she'd even realised I was pregnant, never mind that DD had been born at home...

Oops - only just realised this was an older post....

My mate's wife had a homebirth in a flat. Mate on phone to paramedics as baby was coming fast. Paramedics turn up, say to mate "have you got any hot water ready?"
Mate says "ooh yes, where do you want it?"
Paramedic, "stick it in two mugs with a teabag and some sugar, cheers. Now then, love, let's have a look at you".

True story.

Paramedics are buggers for wanting a cuppa at every opportunity!

They are like builders, and squaddies and IT engineers (like me). First thing we all do when we sit down is go "right, who wants a brew?"