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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Home birth V hospital. Still on the fence.

92 replies

littleraysofsunshine · 23/11/2013 22:48

Third baby.
Uncomplicated super fast deliveries, I'm currently 31 weeks and thinking about my birth plan. I think it's best to hope I can get to the pool room at MLU, but been told to have things ready at home.

So home jut and hospital bag. What would you advise?

OP posts:

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Original poster

littleraysofsunshine · 23/11/2013 22:48

*to get ready and when?

OP posts:

bundaberg · 23/11/2013 22:52

well i've had 2 brill homebirths and planning my third... so that's what I'd recommend :-D

are you far from the hospital if you needed to transfer in ?

mercibucket · 23/11/2013 23:01

hb definitely

it is fab

Slippersandacuppa · 23/11/2013 23:06

Yep, I agree - 4th baby and going for 3rd hb. Having had both, I'd never go back without good reason. I'm sure there are loads of threads listing all the pros and cons so I won't go there, except to say there's nothing like getting to know your newborn in the comfort of your own home and doing things the way you feel you'd like to. DH was happier too. He stuck a pizza on, baby was born, he ate pizza (and made me toast...mmm). Good luck.

Shellywelly1973 · 23/11/2013 23:06

Im 30 weeks. Im planning on a hb. I've never had a baby at home. Last 2 were at a birth centre so might as well try!
good luck

BusyCee · 23/11/2013 23:10

I had x2 home births and can't recommend them highly enough. MWs were amazing and it feels so good to be in the security and comfort of your own home. And wonderful to be tucked up warm and clean in your own bed within 2 hrs of having your baby! Just really overwhelmingly happy memories for me

Shellywelly1973 · 23/11/2013 23:13

Just a question to those who've had hb... what did the mws actually 'do' whilst you were in labour?

This worries me as I asked them to leave me with all my dc & only called them when I was pushing...

bundaberg · 23/11/2013 23:18

at my first HB they sat and chatted at the dining room table while I laboured, until it all got "active"

the second one, um, they actually missed because baby came quicker than them :-D

emsyj · 23/11/2013 23:22

Home birth for sure - lovely. I was set against it as I thought I wouldn't relax at home and would feel 'safer' in hospital, but because I had a midwife with me at home (we have continuous care here and your own midwife will come out to you in labour regardless of whether you plan to deliver at home) I just stayed in the end, and it was great - I would never choose a hospital birth again.

My midwife was just sort of there. I only remember her speaking to me when I spoke to her - once to ask for gas & air and once to ask her to call the hospital to say we were coming (she later called back to say we weren't after all) and then she spoke to me once when I was pushing to say I should think about changing position as I had my bum in the air. She was very very hands-off, which was just what I wanted. I'm sure if I had asked for/needed further assistance she would have gladly given it.

Moreisnnogedag · 23/11/2013 23:23

I think giving that you've had two previous uncomplicated deliveries Hb might be fine for you.

However for a first time I'd be really hesitant. I had an uncomplicated pregnancy with no indication that things would go wrong and without a shadow of doubt both myself and DS would have died if I'd decided on Hb.

Shenanagins · 23/11/2013 23:36

I think it is a difficult one as you will get people who have had uncomplicated labours who will advocate hb and then people like me who strongly recommend the hospital on the basis that they or their child would have died if they had been at home.

I would say that you should question the hcp on how quickly could you transfer into hospital if it became an emergency - i was rushed into theatre half an hour after giving birth due to a haemorrhage.

brettgirl2 · 24/11/2013 07:27

But then all this 'I would have died in a homebirth' is just guessing. No one has any idea what would have happened.

The midwives come out earlier than you would go to hospital. Therefore there is a chance if there are issues they will be picked up sooner! You are much better cared for at home which is something people just don't factor in.

I was told in modern times no one had died at home from PPH.

I asked about the procedures for all the possible emergencies and was really reassured.

PoopMaster · 24/11/2013 07:43

For me (having had one DC at a birth centre and one at home) there are 2 risk factors which would make me choose home again.

The first is that unless you go into hospital early on, there's no monitoring until quite late on in your labour, whereas with a home birth they send someone to check you and baby out much earlier on. Of course it was only with hindsight that I realised that, and everything was fine, but I did feel more comfortable labouring knowing that the baby was doing fine.

The other thing in my case is that both labours seemed to progress really slowly and then in the space of 30 mins I'd go from feeling like nothing was happening to actually holding a baby. With the first DC we only just made it to the birth centre, and I feel she got a bit "squished" on the way resulting in a slightly wonky head which we took her to the osteopath to even out. With the second pregnancy I thought that trying to go anywhere would be too risky - and with good reason, DD2 would've been born somewhere down the road in the car, putting us both at risk for no good reason. With both births I would've been sent home if I'd gone anywhere (2 hours before DD2 was born I was still only 3cm dilated, and had been for 13 hours!)

PoopMaster · 24/11/2013 07:46

And on a more trivial note - fish and chips afterwards kicked NHS toast into touch

CorrieDale · 24/11/2013 07:54

If you're close enough for transfer I'd go home every time. It was blissful after the planned caesarean first time round. I felt completely relaxed and safe. I had a doula from early on and then a midwife and a student. It couldn't 't have been better and I was, technically, high risk (VBAC aged 40 and not sylph like!) I did lots of reading and research beforehand - this was especially necessary for DH! - and felt confident going into it. This is no guarantee for a completely home birth but feeling relaxed is half the labouring battle. I knew I was never going to be able to relax in hospital and I didn't want another section so I was in the best place for me.

Gileswithachainsaw · 24/11/2013 08:04

Having had one of each I'd say home birth wins hands down. I truly believe if I'd had dd2 at home she'd have never got sick!!

HB is fab. So much cleaner and more comfy and relaxing.

Moreisnnogedag · 24/11/2013 09:14

brett I'm not sure you meant to come across as so dismissive.

There is evidence that whilst Hb has less risk of intervention, there is a higher risk of complication for first time mums (although still a small overall risk). However, for multiparous low risk women there is no increased risk. I think Hb can be great for many women but it is not risk free. I absolutely think that it is up to the woman and her partner to decide what is best for themselves, but a proper risk assessment is needed including what the likelihood is for need for intervention, ease of transfer and parental expectations.

I am certain that I would not have had a successful outcome as had had a MW with me all the time (much in the same way as I would have if I'd been at home) and had been relatively intervention free. My problems developed rapidly and with no warning during pushing. I am grateful for those that were there and to have had a theatre round the corner.

Having said that, I am in a very small minority of presumed low risk women who have gone on to have risky deliveries. For a lot of women Hb is entirely safe, but not for all. My opinion is obviously biased but so is yours, I don't think all Hb are terribly risky and unsafe but I'd appreciate if you didn't think that Hb suits everyone just because you had one/know others who had one.

Moreisnnogedag · 24/11/2013 09:15

that read more ranty than I meant!

Original poster

littleraysofsunshine · 24/11/2013 09:26

How long did it take the mw's to get to you once called.?
Where in your home did you give birth?

OP posts:

PoopMaster · 24/11/2013 09:37

Once called they took 10-15 mins to get there (we actually called our local birth centre who then took 10 mins to call them, apparently I sounded too calm to be in any rush )

We had a birthing pool set up in our kitchen.

Original poster

littleraysofsunshine · 24/11/2013 16:30

If at home, I would like a birthing pool, but I have progressed very fast with my last two. So not sure when I'd fill up the pool etc.

What do you do if baby arrives before midwife?

OP posts:

bundaberg · 24/11/2013 16:45

how fast they get there usually depends if it's day or night unfortunately!

in our area if you ring during the day then they get sent straight out from the local hosp ante-natal dept.
so, for my first home birth they were with me within 10-15 mins.

if it's at night then you ONLY get the on-call midwives, who cover a huge area here. They're also supposed to meet up first and then come, which meant that for my second homebirth it took them over an hour to arrive.

My labour with DS3 was 48 mins, but I had time to inflate and fill the pool and I just got in in time to birth him lol.
When we rang the midwives they did say to ring an ambulance if I needed to push before they got there, which we did. The ambulance didn't arrive in time either though. But it was fine!

NoComet · 24/11/2013 16:54

My MW chatted to us, drank tea and watched DH put the crib together.

It happened she aw the one who had done most of my antenatal appointments so we knew each other well enough just to chat.

PenguinsDontEatPancakes · 24/11/2013 18:00

I had DD2 at home, and provided I remain low risk then this one will be too.

After having a horrid time with DD1, I can't bear the thought of the birth pool being in the control of protocols, availability, etc. I want it there when I want it, and up to me when I get in.

OP- There is a whole current thread on BBA (born before arrival) - here which you might find helpful.

nextphase · 24/11/2013 18:19

I've done a hospital birth, and an unplanned home birth.
999 resulted in paramedics in 5 mins. DS2 arrived between the first and second paramedic getting up the stairs.
We phoned a midwife after DS2 had arrived. She took less than 10 mins (already dressed for work, and lived round the corner).
I'd do a hb again in a flash. We realistically can't get child care sorted in the time I labour - 2 hrs first contraction to baby last time.....

So, so, so much nicer at home. Proper shower afterwards, my own bed, with loads of pillows and a duvet, and no plastic under sheet. Proper food (cake, more cake, and cake with custard for DS1 - at 7am).

laboured in own bed, and then nursery trying to get a hospital bag finished. Birthed in the bathroom. Maybe not recommended, but then we hadn't prepared..... It wasn't really big enough for me, DS2, paramedic and midwife....

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