Baby has turned, have been 'signed off' by consultant - now I have no reason NOT to have a homebirth and I am nervous!

[Enid]

So I finally saw the consultant yesterday and he told me the baby was a good size, low and now headfirst. He said I seemed very healthy and should have no problems with a homebirth - to enjoy it and he wouldn't see me again unless any complications arose.

So now after having a few weeks thinking I may have to have a c-section I am back in the homebirth arena - and petrified!

Positive homebirth stories please, especially ones that happened after a traumatic hospital birth...

How lovely Enid :)
You can post here and give birth. like the devotee you are obviously destined to be.
Seriously in yur own place, you'll be more relaxed and pyschologically you'll be more comfortable with it.
I'm very excited for you!

Wohoo! haven't had a homebirth - had an almost one as barely got to hospital in time. But best of luck!

Enid - I can honestly say I had a wonderful homebirth and this too after a horrendous, lengthy hospital birth with ds1!

If they've said you & baby are fit for it and you have supportive midwives/dh, you should be absolutely fine! There's nothing like the calm of staying at home - it was so peaceful, everything at my pace, dh & midwives rushing round at my beck & call while I was in my own little tranquil bubble..
Having said that, of course, it still hurt like f*ck, but somehow in a much more manageable way as you have the comfort & familiarity of your home surroundings to help you.
Good luck with it!

That's great news enid. I have a homebirth with my second largely due to the support I got off mumsnet and it was brilliant.

I didn't have a traumatic first birth although it wasn't great, just a fairly standard hospital birth, you know, legs in stirrups, on oxytocin drip (were the two connected?), episiotomy, lots of stitches. There were some unpleasant aspects such as the 55 minute car journey in the rush hour whilst in transition. Also the lack of post-natal care - not neglect like some stories on here but stretched resources.

Anyway my second labour started 3 am and although things didn't go to plan (eg DS was downstairs watching tweenies instead of having been whisked off by his grandparents, only one midwife present instead of 2 etc) it was so easy just to go with the flow. At 7 am I was sat at the kitchen table eating breakfast with DH and DS and having pretty frequent contractions and at 7.46 am DD was born. I was up and down the stairs and I think that helped. I also had a brilliant midwife. And after DD was born DS played in the garden and then came upto see us. Then he went out for the day with his grandparents and I just laid in bed with the windows open and the birds singing (was a beautiful May morning) and rang people and received visitors. It was lovely.

Can go into more details about the actual nitty-gritty if required.

Enid, you were fine with dd2 weren't you? Wasn't she at home? Listen, I had a shockingly shite (but at home) birth with dd, as you may remember, in fact I cried every time I thought about it for days afterwards BUT I STILL wouldn't change it for anything because I absolutely 100% believe it would have been much, much worse in hospital, I'll see if I can find what I posted (to Bozza iirc) at the time. You do need to change your mindset about it because you were gearing up for a possible section and you just need to get used to not having one now. Ooh, how exciting, and lovely that the baby's turned (you don't know what it is do you?)

Ooh, didn't realise Bozza posted just before me, how coindidental!

ds wasn't traumatic as such, but was induced in hospital, with VERY incompetent student mw overseeing it (she failed to notice I was actually in labour at the time) - best quote from her, when I said I'd like to go to the delivery suite was 'they're very busy, you're not in labour yet dear - I'll just see how you're getting on - OH MY GOD YOU'RE 7 cm,' just after saying 'the last baby I induced was born in the toilet on the ward'), I had epidural, ds got into distress, they started murmuring C-section, did fetal blood samples (not pleasant experience), machine to analyse them broke, had to do it again, junior doctor couldn't get blood to come out of ds' head, finally managed sample, all fine, ds born after 13 hours labour. 2nd degree tear, lots of stitches. Then whisked off to 'nursery' because was a bit mucousy, I was whisked off to ward with no dh, no baby. Ds took ages to learn to feed, ended up mixed feeding him because he wouldn't put on any weight.

Dd - went into labour about 6.30 in morning, having told consultant didn't want to be induced (she was very late also), mw arrived about 9.30, 10cm dilated, 2nd mw arrived 10.00, dd born 10.10, no stitches, no pain relief (just wasn't time), dd over 10lbs, mws had all gone by 10.30, and it was all lovely. Dd fed beautifully, did everything she was supposed to.

No comparison in my view. The notes from the 2 books are interesting to compare - there are 6 pages from ds' birth, half a page from dds.

I had a wonderful home birth. Waters went at 10.30pm, midwife arrived at 11.30 and dd was born at 11.59. Not even enough time for the second midwife to be called. My bed was changed while i had a bath and three of us were tucked up for the night by about 2 in the morning, although not much sleep was had, we just spent the time staring at dd. Ds slept through it all and got up to meet his sister in the morning.
What a difference from dh being slung out of the hosp a short while after ds being born and me struggling alone with feeding him through the night and being terrified that his cries would wake everyone else.
Would do the homebirth all over again if i was to have another.

\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1365&threadid=9254&stamp=050516202729\enid, it was here}, will post bit in a minute so you don't have to go through whole thread

PS, am definitely going for another homebirth with this one!

Blimey, reading it back, it was 'orrible!

"Bozza, I'm really sorry my story put you off. OK, here's what I feel about it: immediately afterwards I wished I'd been in hospital or had a c section BUT, and it's a BIG but, had I been I swear I'd have 10 doctors around me, my legs in stirrups, maybe forceps and almost certainly an episiotomy. The midwife agreed when I asked her afterwards if she reckons this is what would have happened. Instead I had 2 midwives hoiking my legs over their shoulders and behind my ears giving me instructions loud and clear and a natural tear. I trusted them completely and believed that it would be OK if I listened to them and let them get on with their jobs. They were very experienced. Now, yes, it bloody well hurt but I wasn't ever going to have an epidural or pethidine so I'm not sure there would have been much point in being in hospital tbh. Once I wanted it it would have been too late wherever I was, definitely. So the pros of home for me were:

• Midwives I trusted were allowed to get on with practicing their craft.
• I wouldn't have had drugs anyway so didn't need to be in hospital
• There was no spiral of intervention
• Once they'd all gone at gone midnight it was just me, dp and our new babe and it was lovely.
• I had a pool downstairs and gave birth on our bed in the end. Went there when I felt in need of safety and comfort towards the end.
• The midwives cleared all the mess. One followed me down our landing to the loo (we have pale cream carpet throughout the house - not my choice, it's rented) holding a dark towel between my legs prior to my getting into the bath and getting a pad
• I could make phone calls, receive visitors afterwards (this is a definite con too though I was happy to see my stepsister when babe was 30 minutes old)
• I had my own food and bed and bath etc etc (Cambozola, biscuits and chocolate in bed at 1am)
• Dp wasn't sent anywhere - I think he'd have been sent home from hospital wouldn't he?

But I'm very, very glad my ds wasn't there since I did scream the house down and there's no way he'd have slept through it. If you want drugs, go into hospital and be sure you're going to get there in time to get them! If you don't then I'd consider home. There isn't going to be a next time for me but I'm not sure I wouldn't do the same again even if there was. After last time I said I'd have an epidural next time and yet when it came to it I didn't. I think I was unlucky in having a bigger (Much!) baby this time but also it was a different partner - is yours the same partner? I also had NO idea this baby was so big beforehand so maybe you could do a bit of trying to find out about that before you make your decision? There's another big difference though - you've already delivered a big baby and I hadn't as ds was only 7lb. So I'm sure you'll find it easier than I did. The midwives did say they're not sure I'd have managed it had it been my first baby either. You are in a better position I'd say given the above. Do contact me via contact another talker if you want to know more or to discuss off board. HTH. "

That was something I'd forgotten www - the food! When ds was born, I'd been in labour all day, so hadn't eaten (they thrust a tuna sandwich at me at lunchtime, which not surprisingly I just COULDN'T eat), and ds was born at 7.00 - 'oh dear, you've missed tea, well breakfast is 8.30 tomorrow morning'. I was STARVING - I actually thought I was going to faint, despite being in bed.

LOL re-reading that www. You didn't manage to put me off in the end and I am so glad that I went for it because there is a definite possibility that I wouldn't have made it to the hospital. It's quite a long way - a neighbour had a baby last year and considered a home birth but in the end went to the hospital and her DS was born just outside the main entrance delivered by herself. Waste of a journey!

Enid which aspects are you particularly nervous about?

Ds1 was born in hospital with all the stirrups, epidural, stitiches stuff. It was bloody awful.
My plan for Ds2 was to get there quickly, have lots of drugs and give birth with ease. He had other ideas and was born at home, delivered by paramedics.
Ds3 was born at home and we had it all planned this time. Plastic sheets, towels, food, clean bed, comfy sofa to relax on all....and 3 adults all running about after you making sure you're ok, running your bath, getting you a drink, clearing up etc etc etc.

Honestly, I can really only write what everyone else has said because it's all absolutely spot on but the one thing I don't think anyone has mentioned is that I'm so unbelieveably proud of myself for doing it at home, I'd feel proud about the birth at hospital too because of the lack of drugs but the whole doing it at home thing puts it one notch higher on the scale for me.
(and people are always amazed when you mention it too)

lol, I know Bozza, and at the time, that post was supposed to persuade you, not dissuade you, bloody hell!

Enid, tell us more. What are you worried about. I was stupidly nervous about taking my pants off, how's that for irrational! :)

DS1 was a horrible labour - 23 hours from beginning tobitter end. Huuuge baby, ventouse, drips, oxygen, 2 hours of repair... DS2 was a much calmer hospital birth and DD a pretty much perfect home water birth. so much better and I was never pro homebirth - absolutely adamant they weren't for me!!

And another bonus is that DD got to have our home address on her birth certificate under "place of birth" rather than the local hospital :) For some reason, that really was the icing on the cake for me :o

Eh? But you would have had to take your pants off in hospital?

It was suprisingly unmessy. I had a shower at some point in early labour and then wore my old dressing gown until I got too hot and threw it across the room and then I think I wore a size 14 nightie.

ohhh yes Soupy...forgot about the address thing.

(I was also anti-HB before ds2 thinking "ugghhh all that mess...no thank you!!" proved wrong when they tidy it all up)

Oh yes soupie - I thought that our modern box 5 year old house now has a bit of history.

Mini hi-jack, I did wonder if it was possible to find out how many babies had been born in my house (old house now)as it was built in 1901.
Does anyone know if there a registar or something to find this out?

I know Bozza, I know, I was just generally irrational and scared of all of it!

I had a home birth for ds2 - not something I ever expected really, I'm not a home birth fanaticist by any stretch of the imagination! Ds1 was a straightforward hospital delivery (I arrived about 2 hours before he was born and left less than 24 hrs later) but definitely the worst bits about it were related to a) having to get to hospital in labour and b) having to stay in hospital afterwards, so when it came to no 2 I just thought 'why not cut out those horrible few hours in hospital'. I was a bit nervous, but just thought to myself ' well, I'll go along with it as long as I feel comfortable, and if I don't feel comfortabel I'll just go to hospital'.
Ds2 delivery was straightforward but like www he was A LOT bigger than ds1 - 9lb 2 compared with 7lb 1 - if I'd known in advance I would have been terrified and definitely ditched the home birht. As it was, I delivered kneeling (best position for getting out a big baby), with no active pushing at all, and no tears. (I am 5ft 4 btw and fairly small built). Midwives were great. The labour was kind of painful like labours are, I had gas and air for about the last 90 minutes only, and the actual delivery, yes of course hurt - big burning sensation right down to my big toes as his head came out - but second stage only 5 minutes and then it was all over....
Lovely to get into my own bed afterwards....
Anyway hth. Remember you don't really have to decide - just go along with it as long as you feel you want to....

\link{http://www.1901census.nationalarchives.gov.uk/\census lth?} I don't know if it'll be specific enough.

Thanks WWW

You need MI and Bossykate!

I stayed at home until 3.5 hours of pushing convinced me that we weren't going to make it without some help in hospital - but I'm really pleased I tried for a homebirth. It was my first, I didnt need any pain relief except tens and pool (until we got in hospital and I demanded an epidural for the ventouse), and i felt very confident with the mws in the familiarity of my own home. They brought G&A but I didn't want / need it.

You don't HAVE to stay at home, of course - there's nothing to prove!