Homebirth booked, come join me in the wait for baby! Ooo, and a couple of questions for those who have...

[NatzCNL]

As title suggests, I have just had my home visit from the midwife and am now officially booked for my first home birth

Very excited as this is baby number 3 so the fear of not knowing is not there (although the dread of knowing what is going to happen is begining to creep in). I am 36 weeks pregnant and so pleased to be able to have a home birth. My two older daughters are also very excited that they will get to see the baby as soon as they want - they are 3 and 4.

My only concern is what to do with the kids if they are home when it all kicks off. Should I keep them indoors down stairs or send them to the neighbours? What did any other home birth mummies do with their older children? According to my DP and my mum, I was very quiet during my labours with my other children only really making any noise as baby was being born, but not screaming, more like a deep moan. I dont want to scare my girls and have already told them that mummy will be uncomfortable and have a very bad belly ache so not to worry if mummy sounds unwell.

We aren't using a birthing pool as there is no space to have it in our house, but will be using the bath for pain relief. Did anyone try showers? Were they as effective as being submerged? Ive never used water for pain relief before and am slightly concerned about not being able to get out of the bath if in too much pain.

Is there anyone who is also planning/booked in for a home birth? Please come share experiences/fears/excitement etc x

I sent DD1 to GPs until her sister was born and everything was clean and normal. I would do the same again. DD1 was born in hospital after a planned homebirth - all was fine though.
Get some old towels and maybe a couple of cheap shower curtains to protect carpets etc.
I must have been in the house when my younger sister by 2 years was born - along with my 6 siblings, but was too young to remember. When my little brother was born there were 8 siblings in the house and I just remember my sister coming in and saying our Mum had had a baby. At nearly 4 I had no idea she was expecting. She wouldn't have been very loud.

Interesting thread, thanks. I am requesting a HB for DC2 (DD is about to turn 3). Am due in November, 28 weeks atm.

I have a birth pool from ebay which also included 3 cheapo shower curtains from Asda, which we hope will protect our carpets etc.

I would love to hang around and find out what happens to those due a bit earlier than me. My first birth (DD) was nightmarish and ended up with an EMCS. This time round, I have done my research, have read Silent Knife (about prevention of c-sections) and Ina May Gaskin (have to say, I'm a co vert) and despite the consultants sucking their teeth about HBAC, I am comfortable with the tiny risk of uterine rupture and my community mf is supportive. She can't recommend a HB due to NHS policy but she has said she will support me if it's what I want.
I've looked into the risk of rupture and it is 0.34% (NICE) - the % includes women who rupture despite not having had a previous c-section (sadly some women do). The risk of cord prolapse for any labour is 0.7%, yet that is not a contra-indication for HB, despite it being just a serious as uterine rupture.

Long and short of it is, no birth can ever be risk free and a natural, relaxed borth at home is best for me and this baby!

I couldn;t afford an independent mw but I have hired a doula, so am feeling quite confident and hoping nothing happens to change that in the next 10 weeks or so!!

God - mf = mw of course!

NatzCNL.

i wouldnt worry too much about a homebirth pack cause midwives can and will bring one if need be.

I didnt actually collect mine until i was 37+5 (last week) I was all set to get it at 36+6 but i got confused with midwife appt date, and my homebirth booking appt was not until 37+2.... BUT midwife had had a manic morning dealing with stuff of higher medical priorty so it was just a short visit and she came back again at 37+4, and only then could she order a homebirth pack to be made, which i collected the next day.

I cant see anything in there at all that i would need, it all looks very midwifey, though if my waters go i might borrow some of the bigs pads to sit on.

I have 2 terry towel waterproof bed sheets that i am going to put on the sofas. if they get too gross they can go in the bin.

I have a massive npn slip waterproof floor liner from my birth pool in a box for the sitting room carpet

Hi all! I'm 36+6 today and just seen my midwife to say I've definitely decided on a home birth. Excited now!

After reading this thread I asked when I should collect the home birth pack but she said I don't need to, the midwife will collect it from the hospital before she comes.

Jammy, they might send gas and air though. Where I live they send it in an ambulance at about 37 weeks and it just sits in the corner of the room taking up space.

They didn't send G&A for me either, I picked up the HB pack at 37 weeks.

And then sent it back to the hospital unopened 6 weeks later when the MW came to do my 10 day PN check. Sadly they don't do inductions in the comfort of your own home, how rude

I had my birth pack and pool gathering dust for a whole month before ds2 showed up in March.
We don't have family close by but my DM came and took ds1 when it looked like we were go for launch as it where and had him for a couple of days.
The best things about a HB is that you have so much more control, you have pick of the snacks and drinks. I did some light gardening and baking when in labour while DH played xbox. I tried to hold off getting in the pool or partaking of GA for as long as possible.
What I would recommend is if you have a pool get a tarp to cover it when full as it helps keep it warm. Also have a stach of energy drinks.'I had to drink 2'litres of lucosade at transition as I was losing the strength to push and that spared me a hospital trip.
Being able to have your own bath and bed makes up for any mess.

This is a good read www.amazon.co.uk/Hello-Baby-Jenni-Overend/dp/1845070232#_ DD 2.7 still asks us to read it even though DS was born 4 months ago!

www.amazon.co.uk/Hello-Baby-Jenni-Overend/dp/1845070232#_

schoolboy error, sorry

Harecare- they're very trusting in your area. In mine I was told that they don't send the gas and air in advance because they had too many incidents of people (she actually said 'dads') playing with it in advance and it being half gone when the time came! You are obviously more sensible.

:o at dads high on g and a!

I've now had 4 bottles of ga and one of o2 delivered. Plus drugs for fridge and pack of various disposables, baby and mum resuscitation kit etc. Seems they send everything out in our area!

All seeming a bit too real now. We had trial inflation of birth pool in a box last night and its huge. DH is overly excited about the the whole thing, bless him.

geeklove thanks for the energy drink tip. Hadn't thought of that. Feel knackered already due to lack of sleep. Can't seem to get comfy in bed anymore.

Hope everyone is doing ok?

39+3 now and we haven't been given g&a either :)
drugs are in fridge and we have a lovely yellow bucket - for the placenta - filled with things like inco pads and catheters, as well as paperwork. Midwife said they'll bring g&a on the day.
Just a waiting game now....bought some more shower curtains from poundland yesterday and TENS machine arrived too (hired)

Just praying I get to use all this stuff and don't go too far overdue and have to be induced :(

I had to call the hospital for my G&A to be delivered, was told I would have to sign for it, but was actually out and they left it in the garage (bloke rang while he was outside the house and asked if he could leave it somewhere)!

Must admit, when I saw the size of the cannisters I checked with my midwife that it was going to be enough as I was expecting the rocket sized ones you get in hospital! They delivered two,and actually I never made it past the first one so dont panic if you think its not going to be enough,the midwife will get her hands on more if needed!!!

They do ask for an area to set up the resus kit. I cleared the top of my sideboard and put a changing mat on top and had a box with all the stuff needed for when the baby was born (clothes,nappies etc) so MIL and OH got DD dressed while I could see her and the midwives were checking me over.

Also I bought some of those disposable bedtime mats designed for kids,which I used each time I was examined and to sit on when I was wandering around. They were thicker than the ones the midwife brought and as my waters were slowly leaking they were great for before they actually came with all their gear! Good Luck !

Just re-read that I was wearing pads as well not wandering around leaking amniotic fluid all over my house !

Good to hear people being positive about home birth, i'm pregnant with my first (only just! Not due til May!) but I have been thinking about HB since we started TTC, my main fear is that there would be serious blood loss :s I know this is probably not that likely but I keep hearing scare stories like "If we had had a homebirth we would both have died..." and they make me a bit nervous, but I really don't want to go to hospital. I know this is very early to start thinking about it but I think it is just starting to sink in that I will have to give birth at some point...

Hi all, i'm 36+3 and planning a hb. Fingers crossed as having growth scan this week as measuring small.

Ds started out as hb but transfered due to mec liquor. Was all fine though...bar actually getting out of the hospital again.

Here the hb pack is only notes that come through the post. The mw's bring everything else and call an ambulance to bring out g and a when needed.

Lala the mw's bring drugs to deal with pph should it happen. Ime people are overly dramatic about "near death" labours. Plus at home you are more likely to be relaxed (and won't have an epidural) which makes it more likely you'l have an uncomplicated labour. Plus you will have a midwife with you at all times, who will spot any possible hint of a problem and recommend a transfer. In hospital mw's are often shared between women and are over reliant on monitoring meaning problems are not picked up till crisis point (or sometimes imagined due to poor undertanding of monitoring) which makes women feel they were at much greater risk thme.was actually necessary iyswim.

These are some of the reasons why low risk hb's are statistically safer than hosp births...people struggle to get their heads round it but don't let it put you off. And maybe read ina may gaskin. Congrats and good luck.

Ds is finally asleep again so back to bed for me.

lala I also agree that the risk of PPH can be much lower at home as you will have 1 to 1 care (and 2 to 1 care when birth is approaching). In hospital you may have one mw looking after 2 or more other women and so they may not be as attentive to complications.

Severe PPH is more likely associated with medical interventions such as induction, forceps and a managed 3rd stage (placenta delivery). At home, you won't have these except possible the placenta delivery and that is up to you. Personally I have requested a natural placenta delivery, accompanied by not cutting cord until it stops pulsing.
And the midwives do have stuff with them to deal with emergencies. I think provided you are not hours away from a hospital, the risk of PPH is small IMO. Ultimately, no one can force you to go to hospital (just as no one can force you NOT to go in if that is where you feel safest). Lots of research supports positive birthing in the place where a women feels most safe and comfortable. For some that is home, for others that is hospital.

Your body, your baby, your choice.

Me, I am not even considered low risk but I'm requesting a HB (after c-section no less!). I have already encountered seveer cats bum mouth but at the moment, the only 'complications' I can see are hospital policy-driven ones and unless they become specific to me (I would never ignore an emergency), I'll stick to my guns!

Btw, one other complication during birth is shoulder dystocia (shoulders become stuck after head arrives). This is rare but can be serious. Your mws should know what to do but it can also help you to know that a technique called the gaskin manoeuvre - the women turns onto her hand and knees to deliver - helps the vast majority of these situations. It's only been a recognised technique for the past 20 yrs or so. Hopefully it won't affect anyone but forewarned is forearmed IMO.