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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Home birth

16 replies

GinaAr · 15/04/2010 21:03

Im seriouslyconsidering a home birth does anyone have any opinions on this
Iv had 2 children in hospital and they were normal so I thought why not do it in the comfort of my own home

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EggyAllenPoe · 15/04/2010 21:07

go for it - i had both mine at home, relaxing, nowhere to go & nothing to do but give birth!

women who birth at home generally report less experienced pain, and shorter duration of labour. for second baby 90% of those who start labour at home finish labour there too - so transfer in labour is unlikely.

slushy06 · 15/04/2010 21:10

Go for it I had two great hospital births wanted a home birth for my second but dp was nervous so I went to hospital only to be told by the mw after that I should of had a home birth and now I keep wondering what a home birth would be like. Although don't get me wrong I had two very lucky near perfect births and I wouldn't change a minute of them.

nigglewiggle · 15/04/2010 21:11

I would do some research. We went to a Q&A evening at our local hospital which was really useful. DH and I also did a lot of reading and research on t'internet.

We had a HB with DD2 and it was great, but you need to do what is right for you. It's important to be comfortable with your choice.

Are you pg? If so, have you spoken to your MW.

SoupDragon · 15/04/2010 21:12

I had 2 absolutely fin hospital; births and then had DD at home. Not far from where I'm sitting now in fact Much nicer - my own shower, my own bed, no travelling. Fab.

MumNWLondon · 15/04/2010 23:13

goodluck... am at bit jealous... i also had 2 normal births in hospital. was thinking about it this time but have chickened out.... still hovering but its probably too late as am 38+6 and want waterbirth, going to hospital with lots of pools in their MLU.....(not going to nearest hospital any more so not sure if slightly further away hospital would do homebirth for someone not in their area.)

reasons for not - don't fancy transfering (although agree chances are low), cost and hassle of hiring & filing pool and don't trust community midiwfes as have had shockingly bad antenatal care. also DD needed resuc after birth, although don't doubt midwifes would be able to do this, as I said above don't really trust them.

mumtotwoboys · 16/04/2010 07:46

Hi, I had two normal hospital births (with epidurals, gas and air, pethadine, tens etc)
but was always annoyed by lack of sleep in there, discomfort from needles, not coping with pain because of the strange environment, waiting on doctors to say what I can and can't do, etc etc..
So I just had my last baby at home 2 days ago, it was amazingly quick, no pain releif, I breathed through it, thought I must have been just about 5cms dilated but minutes later he was born, came out in two pushes, because I was upright, infact my body pushed him out I didn't even have to try mentally. Didn't lose my voice screaming either, lol
Afterwards I held him while the cord pulsated, cut it myself and was fine to go and get a shower, came back down and relaxed on my own couch with my children together, it was lovely..
Only thing I would advise it to get a doula for a homebirth, they're amazing, unless you have a partner or friend who is truly up to that role. Because midwives come and go and you don't know which one you'll get you can't rely on them emotionally.

mumtotwoboys · 16/04/2010 08:02

Community midwives that have to have a minimum of 2 years experience on a ward (they were saying) to be able to do homebirths, and you'll have two of them to yourself. So it could be argued that the care and attention you'd get would be better, they're not rushing to attend a woman in another room.
I had a midwife supervisor come out who was great, but as I said in another thread she left for a bit and it sped up so fast I gave birth without any midwife
thankfully my boy cried instantly and was nice and pink.
I try to remmeber that many babies that need extra care after birth do so because of an extended, traumatic, stressful labour, so the hospital in a way kind of breaks it and is then there to fix it IYSWIM

smilehomebirth · 16/04/2010 08:40

Definitely go for it if it takes your fancy, and as long as you don't develop any major complications in pregnancy. Have you had a look at the homebirth reference site? Loads of info on there.

The comforts of your own home are just the icing on the cake. The fact that it increases your chances of having a straightforward, gentle, easier birth is the big pull.

I'm pretty sure that the reason I needed no pain-relief drugs at all for dd2 was because I didn't have to go anywhere and was able to concentrate fully on relaxing in my own birthpool.

pimskie · 16/04/2010 12:45

I had DS1 at home and it was wonderful. It is just nice to be among your home comforts and to be able to just potter along and do what you want was a big bonus. It was my first baby and I only needed gas and air right at the end because I felt relaxed being in my own environment.
You do get your very own midwife who stays with you and when you're near to giving birth, a second will attend.
And it's just great to have your own bed and shower to use after the birth!
So if you are a low risk pregnancy and feel happy about a homebirth, just go for it.
I unfortunately will have to go into hospital for DS2 (high risk so won't run the risk), so will have to see how that compares!

EggyAllenPoe · 18/04/2010 17:00

having read many hospital and home birth stories, i rather think the MW who is a nightmare in a hospita may well be the same as the nice ones who attend HBs IYSWIM- its just they're in a less stressful circumstance, they only have you to focus on, and no consultants/doctors looking over their shoulder....

if you fear transfer, bear in mind that 100% of hospital births involve getting to hospital at some point before/ during labour....

CarmenSanDiego · 18/04/2010 17:06

Home birth is statistically safer than hospital birth for low risk pregnancies (same mortality rate, much lower complication rate).

If you're considering it, do a bit of research - there are some great books and websites around. Some midwives and trusts are more supportive than others - you may have a bit of a fight on your hands to get it (worth it imo) or you might find them very encouraging.

I had a waterbirth VBAC at home for my third baby and it was lovely.

CleanHankie · 18/04/2010 20:49

I had a homebirth following my mw's comment after DD1's birth. She said to me that as I had a very straightforward birth with her (home 7hrs after giving birth), why not a homebirth next time? I wasn't looking forward to staying in hospital following the birth and home birth solved that issue. Had the same mw when I booked in with DD2 pregnancy so she was very enthusastic for me to have a home birth (and very cheesed off she didn't get to attend when I had DD2)

Homebirth was fantastic, so good it didn't feel like I'd had a birth different to the "norm". One mw who turned up 3/4hr before birth and left less than 2 hrs after. I didn't have a pool, just a shower curtain, chair and lots of towels. DD1 didn't wake up at all and was happy to see her sister when she woke up in the morning (mind you I did give birth Christmas Day so not sure if DD1 thinks Father Christmas brought DD2 along with the presents ), no disruption to family life almost.

BellaBalloon · 18/04/2010 21:14

The best decision I ever made was to have DS at home. You are not aware of the time, you have expert midwives, you are in your own home which like everyone says is amazing. It was just the best feeling to be showered and put to bed in my own bed with DS who spent the whole day suckling away next to me. It was so cosy! No unecessary antibiotics for possible infections, noone telling me I couldn't sleep with him next to me. DH cleaned up downstairs. God I want to do it all over again now!

Arcadie · 18/04/2010 21:38

I too have just (18 days ago) had my first home birth. 2 previous inductions in hospital which were fine but medical obviously. 3rd time around a homebirth was wonderful. In my own surroundings (posting on MN up to and after pushing my little boy out ), with my community midwife, no scary drive with contractions. DC asleep upstairs. Bath in my own bath and then into my own bed. Soooo lovely.

Hope you get to have one.

mad4mainecoons · 20/04/2010 20:47

Yep. Homebirth all the way. i had DS in hospital 3 yrs ago and it was fine. but i had a homebirth with our recently arrived DD and i can honestly say it was the best experience of my life. so calm, so relaxed. i felt so confident and it was brilliant.

and ill second the own bath and own bed after the birth, bliss...

plus everyone thinky you are some kind of hero, when actually its much easier at home

good luck, hope you get one.x

GirlWiththeMouseyHair · 20/04/2010 22:00

had my first and only baby at home 18months ago - am now on of those annoying women who harps on about her "amazing birth experience". Can't honestly imagine anything better and am actually now a bit terrified of the thought of having to labour at hospital.

homebirth.org is a fab website full of all sorts of stories (including women who had to transfer) and puts you in a good position to make a judgement for yourself.

I had my midwife for the birth luckily she was on duty and once I was in established labour she wouldn't have gone off duty until my son was born (no shifts at home!). Was amazing having her, but then my friend who also had her as her midwife, the MW wasn't on duty when my friend went into labour so she had two completely random CMW from the hospital who she said were equally fab.

Calmer experience all round from what I've heard compared to hospital births.

mad4 - totally agree with the hero aspect, hilarious the number of people who call you 'brave' isn't it?!

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