considering a homebirth...

[sarahleanne]

Im 34 weeks and the midwife has asked if I have considered a homebirth, which I had but am not 100% set on.
Can anyone tell me what I would need? I would probably opt for a water birth so I would need a pool but how do you keep it warm/fill it up/empty it etc?
Sorry if these are stupid questions!
This is my 3rd and I coped with gas and air in my previous births so am not too worried about pain relief, although I would like to know if homebirth midwives carry diamorphine? (just incase).
Also, if any of you have had a hospital birth and a home birth, which did you prefer?

I preferred my home birth and am planning another. But my hospital birth was a marathon with every drug going and forceps so perhaps not a fair comparison!

MW in most areas can administer pethidine (and I think diamorphine) but it needs to be prescribed in advance by your GP. I don't know if that applies all over the country, but has certainly been the case in both areas I have experience of.

They obviously have gas and air, local aneasthetic for stitches, etc.

With a pool there are two options: solid wooden version with filter and heater which you set up in advance. Pros: it is there when you need it, you can do it in advance, good for fast births, etc. Cons: more expensive and might not be as soft under your knees, etc (though it does have a liner). Or there is the inflatable sort which is like a big paddling pool. You fill it from a new hosepipe from the hot tap and top up with additional hot water if you need it during labour. Either sort has a pump to empty it. Pros: can be put up quickly if you don't have masses of space. Very comfy. A lot cheaper. Cons: you can't do it in advance.

Penguins that's really helped thanks. I was wondering how you fill them up! Know I see how it all works! Thanks.

Now not know

Glad it was helpful. Happy to answer anything else if I know the answer!

We had an inflatable pool. Took about an hour to fill, I think (I was otherwise engaged in terms of attention!). However, I know we were being cautious with the taps as my doula was paranoid about the hose pinging off and spraying the kitchen! Takes no time to pump up - just like a huge paddling pool really.

It was good because it was soooo comfy and we didn't have space to have a pool sitting there for potentially weeks.

Even the hired ones have a disposable liner so you don't need to worry about cleaning it thoroughly inside or anything, you scoop up the inner sheet and after the water has been pumped out and bin it (when I say 'you', I of your mean your DP. I went nowhere near the tidying up and don't intend to this time either).

I have made an enquiry about hiring a pool since reading your post . I was so unsure how you fill it up/empty it etc I had visions of having to fill it jug by jug haha but feel a lot more informed now and it doesn't sound that difficult for DH to do.
I will definitely be going for the inflatable one as I need to be able to put it up quickly and not have it sat around in the kitchen/lounge for days or weeks because of my other kids who will use it as a bath if they got the chance .

I am strangely looking forward to this birth now ad glad I have made a decision. I don't think I'll bother getting the pool until 38ish weeks though as my blood pressure has a tendency to go high towards the end in which case my HB will be out the window. BUT, so far so good so fingers crossed I will get the water/home birth I want!
Thanks so much for your feedback

I had a home birth a week ago. It was my first so nothing to compare it to.

It was mostly lovely.

I'm in the States so had no pain relief or air. It was painful but I now feel like I've climbed Everest and am incredibly proud of myself.

Don't get me wrong, I was screaming for it at the time!

The pool took bloody ages to fill, we left it too late. I'd have liked something squisher as my knees hurt!

I will say that although I knew something was up at the time it wasn't until I read the birth notes yesterday that ds was really not in a good way. I pushed for 6 hours and he'd pooped inside so went my waters broke and his heart rate dropped the midwives got worried and were very stern with me to get him out immediately. Then they had to resuscitate him when he came out.

I was a good hours life flight from a hospital so they decided to deal with whatever came at home but if they couldn't have resuscitated him I'd never have forgiven myself.

But then they did, it was fine and who knows how it could have gone differently in a hospital with such high intervention rates.

Also I had quite a big bleed which looking back if it hadn't stopped in the end I probably would have been screwed.

So on reflection, I'd do it at home again but make sure I was nearer a hospital.

Really, with the pain, you can get into such a zone at home as it's so quiet and familiar it's more than possible to deal with it. For me anyway.

The best bit was the midwives making us a meal, helping me go to the bathroom, tucking me up in bed and leaving.