Hello
I'm 24 weeks pregnant with our first baby and this is my first posting and I would love your help!
We are shortly moving from North London (currently under UCH) to Loughton, Essex and plan to transfer care. I'm really torn between having a home birth, which would need to be registered under the Princess Alexandra in Harlow, and registering with Homerton which has a birth centre - but the back up of a labour ward and SCBU. (Homerton does not cover my area for homebirths).
I would love any insights on how to make this decision.
I really like the idea of a homebirth but am worried about the fact the data shows that for first babies this increases the risk for the baby: www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/birthplace/results
Is it selfish to want a homebirth when I see this data? Am I crazy to consider it as a first-time mum with no idea of what labour is actually going to feel like?
I'm less worried about the fact I may have to transfer to hospital, or noise, mess etc. It's the safety side of things I'm feeling unsure but every time I'm about to book the Homerton I think again about how much I'd love to at least try for a home birth.
Going around in circles as you can see! Very grateful for any comments.
Thankyou.