Did anyone have/is anyone planning to have their first baby at home?

[GoldenKippers]

Just wondering if anyone had or is planning to have their first baby at home. I'm trying to decide between that and the midwife-led birthing unit, assuming no complications arise between now and December.

I like the idea of a home birth for being in relaxed, comfortable and familiar surroundings with more one-on-one attention from midwives. On the other hand, I might feel more secure in hospital, it seems well-run and it's easier to have a waterbirth there if I decide to go for that.

Was chatting to someone the other week who recently had a baby, who didn't do much to reassure me - in her view for your first you don't know what kind of labour you're going to have. She told me there's a risk of needing a crash C-section within 8 minutes or the baby could die. Really, is that a likely prospect or would you have been transferred to hospital long before you get to that stage? (Our hospital is only 2 miles away).

I might go the midwife's drop-in to chat to her about it - all she's said to me so far is that bear in mind there's less pain relief available at home and you may have to move to hospital should complications arise.

I am in exactly the same position as you - want to have my first baby at home - so will be watching this thread with interest.

We went for a home birth, in part because we are v close to the hospital so knew we could get there quickly if the need arose. In the event, I was in labour for 45 hours (!) at home when meconium appeared in my waters, so we transferred to hospital where DD (now 5 mths) was born via forceps 5 hours later.

I have absolutely no regrets and was far happier going through that looooonnnng labour at home than I would have been in hospital.

Statistically they say homebirths are no riskier, but of course your friend is right in principle - if something did go wrong, you would not have immediate access to surgical care. It's a hard decision I know.

FWIW the midwife in the delivery suite and the surgical team who looked after us were absolutely amazing and DD's birth still felt important even though she would obviously have been one of many babies being born that night.

Have a safe birth wherever you choose, and congratulations!

Yes I had my first at home and it was brilliant. I did have independent midwives though who are obviously very pro-home birth. I had a lot of chats with them before deciding about why and when people transfer to hospital. In their 20 years of practice they hadn't had anyone transfer in a dire emergency because - as you say - when you have two midwives looking after you they are very aware of what is going on. The majority of those transferring do so because of failure to progress or a wish for more pain relief. I could go on and on about my home birth but will spare you but it really was lovely to be at home, to have a lovely bath afterwards, get in to my own bed and be brought a plate of sandwiches and a cup of tea as we all snuggled up together (well me DS and DH I think the midwives were tidying up at this stage )defo have a good chat with your midwife most important thing is that you feel comfortable about where you are wherever that is.

Ooh also I notice you mentioned water birth - I had a birth pool in a box which cost about £90 I think with pump and everything. Dead easy though takes a while to fill. To be frank I was glad of it as it gave my husband something to do though I didn't get to use it as I had such a quick labour (under three hours) and only woke him up about an hour and a half before the baby was born! Lots of people do have home water births though so it is defo an option.

I had a home birth with my first. I made sure I kept an open mind about transferring to the hospital at any point as I didn't want to be disappointed if it happened or if I changed my mind and realised I'd rather be in hospital. It sounds as if you'd be fine with transferring if necessary.

I was prescribed pethidine to have available at home for the birth, but didn't use it, so there can be more than gas and air if you need it.

Yep - here's another. Although we live 600m (according to the sign) from the hospital, so frankly had there be a crash, we would have been in in pretty much the same time as it would take to transfer from a ward.

Anyway. As above, I kept an open mind about transferring at any point, had hospital bag ready to go etc, but stayed at home.

In my highly unqualified view, the very nature of having two midwives watching you the whole time should lessen the chance of problems. And if anything arose, I would imagine that they would want to get you in quick sharp because you are very clearly their responsibility in a way which I think does not happen in hospitals. Also, on the basis of no evidence, I suspect that problems often occur in hospital births when mothers are left alone for too long or on monitors and so problems are picked up once they become critical, whereas, hopefully, it is picked up sooner with the two midwives.

Otherwise, I would add that it is lovely to be at home already, so no sharing of wards, bathrooms, transfers home, not being able to eat what you want, when you want etc. I also think that DHs have less to do because of the constant presence of the MWs once you reach established labour.

Anyway, I hope you make a decision which works for you.

I really wanted to go for a home birth as I think I would be far more relaxed. However, we live about a 40 minute drive from nearest hospital and as midwife told me the riskiest part of a home birth is the time of transfer if required, this seemed like too long to risk it. Hoping to go to the midwife led unit instead, assuming I stay low risk. If we happen to move before considering a second LO and are nearer I reckon I'd definitely give it a go!

I'm planning a home water birth (pool set up in the living room as I type) but I am keeping a very open mind about it all.

I might change my mind before or during and won't be holding to the plan too tightly. It is just nice to have the option, whether it means giving birth at home or just staying at home for longer (with or without a midwife depending on how far along I am) than I might otherwise manage with a planned hospital birth.

We are just a mile from the hospital or I wouldn't have even considered it.

My impression of a lot of problems that come after birth is when people have very fixed ideas about what they did and didn't want, so we are trying to stay flexible about it all and if it ends up with induction, epidural and emergency section, the important thing is a healthy baby and a healthy mother at the end of it all.

They're considered as safe as hospital births in the UK - the recent study that concluded home births had a higher (but still v small) risk of issues for the baby looked at US home births where they don't have such a connected healthcare system and in some cases didn't even have qualified midwives attending.

NCT advice is that it's normal for it to take 30 minutes to assemble a team and get them prepped for a C-section. So if you could transfer within 30 minutes in a blue-light ambulance (usually quicker than normal driving, what with red lights, etc) it doesn't make much difference at all. An 8 minute transfer for surgery would only work if the team were standing by, so if they were already aware you might need them and in that situation a MW should have already transferred you from home.

I'm hoping for a home water birth with my first baby in December and my MW is very reassurring. There are so many things that would make them get me to transfer anyway, so if there were problems, it's possible I'd already be in hospital. And I'm confident that with the one-on-one care you get at home, it's safe - plus some issues might actually get picked up quicker than if I was left to labour without a dedicated MW in hospital.

I'm planning to have a homebirth with my first baby which is due in December.
I'm a midwife working in a lovely tertiary referral unit on the delivery suite, but the comfort of home wins hands down.

I'm planning a home birth (first baby). Midwife said there's rarely a problem that appears suddenly and has to be dealt with right now, and at home where you have one to one care any problem is more likely to noticed sooner than in hospital where the midwife is popping in and out.

I had my DS (first) at home. I had an independent midwife which made a huge difference as I had the chance to build up a relationship with her.

I had to be transferred into hospital as had a post partum haemorraghe (sp??) but the ambulance was there in minutes and I was fine. The hospital was 5/10 mins away on a "blue light". In fact I have two hospitals near me so felt quite reassured.

My labour was actually quite quick for a first timer I think (10 hours) - probably because I was at home and very relaxed (no pain relief needed). I found labour slowed down when I was uncomfortable or in bright lights so staying in a dark warm room which I had set up really helped.

Yes, you might need an emergency crash but it's very rare. My friend had to have one but she was labouring in hospital and only had the c-section after her husband pointed out to the consultant that the baby's heartbeat kept slowing down dramatically. At home you actually have better one-to-one care.

I had DS1 at home and would always want a home birth everytime.

There are the pros during labour, constant MW (2 later on) care, privacy, access to your own things, food & drink, whatever.

And the pros afterwards: have a bath in your own bath, get into your own bed with baby (& husband if you want!) and be comfy, private, no visiting hours to stick to for Dad, no-one barging in when you're sleeping, poking and prodding for no apparent reason, etc.
Oh and no-one to tell you you can't have the window open or other such nonsense

I had to transfer from home to hosp for DS2 as he was an undiagnosed breech, i was in active labour and dilating fairly fast and it was classed as an emergency (but he was fine all the time), got into hosp at 3, ready for c-s at 3.30, c-s started at 3.57, DS2 born at 4.03

Oh and lastly, i had the pool in the box too, used it in labour lots with DS1 (19hr labour) didn't even get in with DS2, boo!

I had two lovely home births and went to hospital for the third (pre-eclampsia).

All I can say is that if you are near to a hospital and in good health, then weigh up the evidence and make your decision.

'They're considered as safe as hospital births in the UK - the recent study that concluded home births had a higher (but still v small) risk of issues for the baby looked at US home births where they don't have such a connected healthcare system and in some cases didn't even have qualified midwives attending.' as Japhrimel says.

Some good advice on this thread.

Good luck!

Yes I had a homebirth with my first. It was a very positive experience, I had planned a water birth but ds arrived before the pool was filled.

I also based by descision on the fact that the hospital was only 2 miles away.

I did have to transfer after the baby was born as I needed stitches which were too complicated to do at home.

I had my second dc at home too, this was also a great experience. If I have a third I might go to the midwife led birthing centre though- they let you stay for a few days and I would see it as an opportunity to get sone rest!! No, seriously, homebirth have been great for me and I would definately do it again.

I'm also planning a home birth for my first baby. I live 10 minutes walk from the hospital so in a car/ambulance can transfer very quickly.

I think the common rate for first-timers is 40% transfer in but with the vast majority being at mums request for additional pain-killers etc. rather than for an emergency where a life is at risk.

For me I'd rather plan for a homebirth with midwives on call etc. and be prepared to transfer in as once you are in labour it is too late to decide you would rather stay at home.

I think keeping an open mind is key.

I started off at home with my first but had to be transferred to hospital and eventually I was given an emergency CS.

I would still reccommend a HB as the bit where I was at home was amazing and I was doing really well until my body let me down.

Hospital was a 15 min drive away and it was very painful but I would still have a HB again if I hadn't had a CS previously.

I think you should go for it xx

Thanks everyone for all your messages - much appreciated! I'll definitely have a serious think about a homebirth and will talk to the midwife when I next see her (she told me not to leave it too late to decide, as I presume they have to get their staffing sorted out).

i had a great HB for my first...and second..and will for my third!

i think you get better continuity of care as they don't leave you to help other women half way through...

very relaxing as you have nothing to do but give birth .

I planned a home birth for my first but we got transferred to hospital because my blood pressure went up. There are loads of signs things may be be going wrong so you should have plenty of warning if you do need to transfer. I had my 2nd at home without any problems and it was a lovely experience.

I planned a hospital birth with my first, but ended up having him at home because I was fully dilated when the midwife came out to assess me and see whether or not it was time for me to go to the hospital (I had been paranoid about being sent home for going in too early!). It was a brilliant experience for both me and my partner (it would probably have been even better if the second midwife - who brought the gas & air - had arrived before the baby had been born!), and I really want to have my next at home, assuming my pesky placenta shifts up and out of the baby's exit route.

I was adament that I wanted my baby at home, and because i was scared at the same time. I did as others have metioned and got an indepdant midwife. She provided a birthpool and we had it set up in the dining room etc.

She had another independant midwife and they came one evening with all their resuss equipment etc and talked me through exactly what happens in an emergency etc.

I felt far more comforted as we discussed prob all scenarios including me dropping dead! I really did want to cover all basis. As everyone else says, its rare that you have to go to hospital for a blue light emergency, most are down to failure to progress.

Thats what happened to me, after 2 days labouring at home and I did manage to get into the birth pool which was heavenly, DD just didnt want to come. I transferred to hospital and actually had an emergency c section when she got distressed later. The home part was actually the easier bit.

I'd def choose a home birth when I go for number 2, but the indpendant midwife was my saviour. She was allowed in my c section and was still the person to hand me my baby.

good luck with whatever you decide.

I would love a homebirth, am 29 weeks now... what do you have to do to arrange it, ie who would be the midwives- are they from the hospital or do you have to find them independently?

Scuse my ignorance, confused first timer here!!

Where I am it's the community midwives that attend homebirths - so the same midwives I see at all my antenatal appointments. You don't have to hire an independent midwife unless you want to. I'd ask your midwife about arrangements in your area at your next appointment.