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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Homebirths - what are your experiences and thoughts on it

24 replies

Carole803 · 12/09/2013 17:05

I live a stone's throw away from my birthing centre which is in the hospital, so it hadn't occurred to me to have a homebirth. But it came up in conversation with my midwife today and she suggested that assuming my pregnancy continues as healthily as it has been so far, there is no reason why I couldn't have a home birth.

I had mentioned that in an ideal world, I would like a water birth. So she suggested I could buy a pool online secondhand, with a new liner and have the birth in the comfort of my own home. If anything was to go wrong, I only live next to the hospital, so getting me there wouldn't be a problem.

As I say, this isn't something I had considered before, but there is nothing in my head that is against it. the more I think about it, the more I like the idea, and when I mentioned it to my partner, he seems to feel the same way as I do.

I had a quick look at our "favourite" auction site and can get a pool at around the £100 mark with pumps and hoses etc included. I would have to buy a liner separately, for between £10 and £20. When I have used it, I can sell it on again.

I am 25 weeks and I am fully aware that at any point over the next four months, my circumstances may change, which I am happy to bend and shake with. But as it stands today, it all looks like it could be a goer.

Sorry for the long post, but I am really interested to know what your experiences and views of home births are, and whether you have used a pool either at home or in the birthing centre to manage pain, and or have the baby, or plan to.

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bundaberg · 12/09/2013 17:08

i've had 2 great homebirths and planning a 3rd.

i don't have a bad thing to say about them, they were great and I'd highly recommend it.

I had a pool both times. laboured in it with ds2 but got out to give birth, got in just in time with ds3 to have him in the pool :-D
strangely I wasn't particularly concerned with having a water birth, i just felt like I might as well try it given that I'd be at home. turns out I LOVE it... very relaxing

Dillydollydaydream · 12/09/2013 17:09

I've had 2 of my 4 dc at home. I wish I'd had my first 2 at home too.

Original poster

Carole803 · 12/09/2013 17:50

Thank you ladies.

I had low lying placenta (partial) at my 20 weeks scan, so I am being re-scanned at 36 weeks. All expectations are that it will have shifted completely out of the way.

If I get the all clear, I will go home and buy me a pool ready for a home birth :)

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greentshirt · 12/09/2013 17:59

Im thinking of one too if im low risk, the more I think about it the more I like the idea of how calm and quiet it is at home. Im lucky enough to have one 2 one midwives in our area too so I think I will go with them.

HorryIsUpduffed · 12/09/2013 18:35

I'm 32+4 with DC3 and planning a home water hypno birth with One2One. Neither previous delivery could have been hb (first time induced, second time he needed to be in hospital to see paeds shortly after his birth).

One thing it's worth considering is that 57% of first-timers don't get their planned home birth, compared with only 12% of second- and subsequent-timers. You say it would be easy to transfer, which is great, but how would you feel about doing so? Would you rather start in hospital if you're going to end up there, or at least try for a hb? Knowing the statistics helped me to work out how I'd feel if I "failed" to deliver at home.

Home births are as safe as hospital births in general, but not for first timers, where there is a slightly higher risk to the baby. You might like to look into why this is the case and whether you would be likely to be affected (eg if distance from hospital matters or maternal shoe size or whatever).

CluelessNewbie1 · 12/09/2013 18:41

I had a home birth in June. I honestly found it a very calm experience. I didn't have a pool but spent most of the time in my bath. I felt completely in control as it was my house I didn't have to ask for anything.also didn't have to share a bathroom or ward which really mattered to me... Weird i Guess. The midwives were amazing and tidied everything up afterwards. If I have another I'd definitely choose a home birth.

chocolatemartini · 12/09/2013 18:45

I had DS1 at home and am planning to do the same for DS2. I have only good things to say about it. I was relaxed and as comfortable as possible. I had a pool and a tens machine (not in that order- tens for first stage, pool for second) and I wasn't in desperate pain at any stage. I delivered an enormous baby with no drugs and no stitches

Icedink · 12/09/2013 19:07

I had dc2 at home and wish I'd had dc1 at home too. I didn't bother with a pool but if theres ever a dc3 I would probably try it. In your position if everything stays low risk I would 100% recommend it! You're guaranteed at least 1-1 care which you probably wouldn't get in hospital, no horrible car ride to hospital, you are so much more in control in your own environment which ime helps a lot with the pain and your dp won't be asked to leave when you've just given birth. If you did have to transfer in the end result will be the same as if you'd planned a hospital birth in the first place but you'd have already been assessed at home so no waiting around for a room etc (thats how it works here anyway). I have such lovely memories of my dc2's birth and would do it again in a second

gemmaj66 · 12/09/2013 19:15

I would LOVE a homebirth! I was booked for one with DS2 but developed gestational diabetes and ended up in hospital. They also identified a problem with DS2's heart which had mysteriously resolved itself by the time he was born, although we had the consultant and a paediatrician present at the birth.

With DS3 I had a healthy pregnancy but my labour kept stopping and starting and so eventually they had me in hospital. Turned out his arm was above his head so there wasn't enough pressure on the cervix to open it. Foiled again!

I asked for a home birth this time but as I'm 41 with a previous pph the consultant was against it. And now they've identified a possible problem with the baby so don't think a HB is going to happen but all the very best if you decide to go ahead.

Like you Carole I would love a water birth. One thing to consider though - we found out our floorboards would not support the weight of a filled pool - unless I had the pool in the kitchen where there's a concrete floor! Not sure if I fancy delivering among the pots and pans!

Shellywelly1973 · 12/09/2013 19:49

I will probably have a home birth with this baby. My last 2 were waterbirths in a birth centre.

My concerns are my other dc& what to do with them as i don't have child care.
The other thing is space for a pool.
Finally the thought of the midwifes being around me constantly as we don't have a separate room downstairs. When i gave birth to the last two i asked them to leave me alone as much as possible.

Apart from those worries, i rather the thought of a homebirth to being in a hospital.

bundaberg · 12/09/2013 19:56

shelly... surely childcare will be an issue wherever you give birth?

my midwives were very good during my first homebirth, they just kind of tucked themselves away in a corner and chatted quietly and left me to it.

Bloob · 12/09/2013 21:35

I had 2 lovely lovely home births and hopefully will have a third with this baby :)

My first was fine, I tore which wasn't great. And had a bit of a bleed. But midwives dealt with it and it was fine. Didn't make it into pool in time. But overall, great first birth.

My second was WONDERFUL. I was in the birth pool as soon as there was an inch of water in it watching the west wing! ds was born 3 hours later. I had a lovely snuggle on the sofa while the midwives made me tea and told rude jokes in my kitchen! Then I had a bath while dh tidied up and then he brought me scones!! It was FAB!

I cannot recommend it enough. I was relaxed, there was no disconcerting change of venue, I had everything on hand I could want. And importantly for me, I was guaranteed a birth pool. I was worried they'd all be in use. I also loved the midwife care. Although as I laboured quite quickly getting them here was stressful. They don't believe me that I'm very far along as I sound calm.. They didn't get the second midwife here in time for ds

PickleSarnie · 12/09/2013 21:52

I bloody loved mine. I'm not even slightly "woo" and don't think I have any hippy leanings but I found it really empowering.

ringaringarosy · 12/09/2013 21:55

ive had two of my 4 at home and wish id of had the other 2 at home two,it was so calm and lovely and i had two midwives attention,plus i could get into my own bath/bed afterwards and had all my home comforts around me,plus dh didnt have to go anywhere afterwards.If your low risk its as safe as or even safer than a hospital birth.

ringaringarosy · 12/09/2013 21:58

shelly mine were asleep at the time,im not sure what i will do if they are awake this time,i guess put a film on for them upstairs and get dh to check on them regularly?i labour quite quickly,have all been between 1 hour and 4 hours.

Original poster

Carole803 · 12/09/2013 22:18

Wow, some really lovely stories here. Thank you.

I am now just hoping my placenta does what it is supposed to and shift out of the way, and that I have no other complications so I can have my home birth.

Oooh, how exciting.

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greentshirt · 12/09/2013 22:21

I read up a little bit on the risks for a first baby and from nhs website:

for women having their first baby, home birth slightly increases the risk of a poor outcome for the baby from five in 1,000 for a hospital birth to nine in 1,000

I think im ok with those sorts of numbers.

Original poster

Carole803 · 12/09/2013 22:22

Oh and horry, I will check out the reasons why it might not be advised for first timers. Thanks for the tip.

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CityDweller · 14/09/2013 22:15

I had mine at home earlier this year - first baby. Rented a pool from www.waterbabybirthingpoolhire.co.uk/ - highly recommend them. The whole caboodle comes in a box, with a new liner, and you can extend the hire period for free if you go overdue (like I did).

I was very glad I got my homebirth and everything went smoothly. It was quick and very painful - about 9 hrs from first twinge to baby coming. I felt very confident and comfortable at home, helped by the amazing NHS midwives. Never had any worries about doing it at home. And while at one point I was bellowing 'please take me to hospital and give me an epidural' I'm glad I wasn't in the hospital and was able to just let my body get on with doing what it needed to do with minimal intervention

I did natal hypnotherapy, which I think helped with the fast labour as I was quite relaxed about the whole thing. Not sure how much it helped with the pain, but by the point it was really painful it was too late to do anything than go for it! I would very much recommend getting or renting a pool as it made a HUGE amount of difference for me. The water gave me a massive amount of relief, in terms of pain and also just being able to move into different positions comfortably.

CityDweller · 14/09/2013 22:17

Oh, and I love the fact that DD was born where her cot now sits!

PeacockPlumage · 14/09/2013 22:19

My 2 home waterbirths were brilliant. I can't imagine giving birth any other way. Good luck!

nickelbabe · 14/09/2013 22:23

Do it.
I had one. absolutely the best decision..

I did think about a pool but didn't get one because i wasn't sure i'd use it.
I had a tens machine and gas and air later on.
they kept asking if me if they could run me a bath to help with pain (the hospital is big on usjng water, as it really helps), but I didn't want to get wet.

Shellywelly1973 · 14/09/2013 22:40

Bundaberg If i end up at the hospital/MLU. Dp will look after the dc & i will b by myself.

We don't have anyone to look after dc as my Mil was diagnosed with terminal cancer 7 weeks ago. She isn't expected to live for more then a few weeks.

Unfortunate but just how it is.

Original poster

Carole803 · 15/09/2013 05:39

I am sorry to hear the news about your MIL. Big hugs from me.

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