Who has opted for a homebirth in the past?

[ja9]

Would love to know why you wanted it, how hard you had to fight to get it (if at all), and how it went...

tia

I had one booked for ds (second baby). Abslutely no problem whatsoever getting it approved. Wanted one because hated the hospital stay (only 24 hours) with dd and wanted to be able to get into my own bed afterwards WITH dh and my family.
In the end, labour started at 6pm with contractions. Rang and left message with midwives, rang again at 7pm to be told no midwives available and would have to go in if wanted Gas and Air!
Got to hospital at 8.15pm. Examined at 8.30pm. DS born at 8.59pm.
They wanted me to stay in overnight for a paed to check ds out. But I said no way, wouldn't have happened if he'd been born at home. He had AGPARs of 9 and 10. So they stitched me and I had a shower and left at about 11pm.
In the end, was OK. Though regret not having just put my foot down, because while we were on the journey to hospital a midwife from a neighbouring group practice had been rustled up and could have been at our house by 8.30pm ish. But that would have been cutting it a bit fine and the strength and speed of the contractions was freaking me out a bit.
Was annoyed that when I got to the hospital they said was only 4cm but then I got the urge to bear down and they realised that actually was 10cm, but they hadn't been able to tell as ds's waters were unbroken (and they didn't break at all until he was born).

I registered for one with my second birth because I wanted to labour at home for a while (which I'd been able to do with my first community team) not just head for whoever was on duty at the hospital. I got increasingly into the idea as time went on, although I was still terrified of the pain (DD1's birth was protracted and nasty, complete with malfunctioning epidural and eventual ventouse). In the end, encouraged by MN, I went for it.

Nobody, at any stage, opposed it apart from DP and his mum (who thought I was too old - my due date was about a month after my 40th birthday). All the professionals involved were thoroughly supportive, and took it completely for granted that I might be going for one, and put me in touch with a neighbour who'd had her first at home, aged 43.

In the event my waters broke 16 days 'early', I faced the only professional opposition from the twit at the labour ward who claimed she couldn't find anyone from my community team, shouted at her, got two completely marvellous midwives and gave birth in a waterpool in my front room 7 hours later.

I think a home birth sounds wonderful, but I would be scared of something going wrong. Was this a concern of yours?

ds2 was born at home, unplanned HB delivered by paramedic. Ds3 born at home after MW suggested another HB because Ds2 was so quick.

Baby No4 will be born at home in january too.
MW positively encouragesd me to go go for another HB eventhough we live in another county now. No fight at all.

I had a home birth with my second DS. I'd thought about it and enquired, thinking I'd be told no. However my midwife was quite put out that I'd think she'd say no, and she booked me for it, so it was very easy for me!
As for the actual thing, it was great, everything was exactly how we wanted it. With our first DS, DH felt very pushed out at the hospital, and like a spare part. They weren't at all interested in him being there. It still pisses him off to this day actually.
Anyway, the midwives were angels on earth, they looked after me and got me through with no tearing, no worries. Even though DS2 was born with the cord around his neck (and body and leg come to that) they kept everything calm and he was pink and screaming within seconds. They then helped DH change the bed for me, cleared everything up, and off they went. (after DHH had carried all the used gas and air cannisters out to the car for them!) I really hope they come for DB3!
Oh and the other thing I remember was that after the birth I asked "should I go for a shower now?" They both looked puzzled and asked "why? as it wasn't really a good idea" I commented that after giving birth to DS1 in hospital (only 2003) I was sent off with a towel for between my legs, and told to go and shower!
The nicest thing was, only last week, I got checked over by one of the midwifes who was at the birth and she remembered us even 18m later! (I'm sat here with 6 days to go and hoping to have another home birth.)
DH has very fond memories of DS2's birth and how we were all in bed (DS2 was born at 2.00am) together after he was born, none of DH being sent home away from us. He bonded with DS2 much better than DS1. I remember with DS1, one midwife snapped "Its a ladies ward, you can't stay here, you can come back in the morning at 9.00" I thought it was pretty harsh, as DH had just witnessed his first born coming in to the world, only to be told to sod off!
I think I've rambled!
Are you planning a home birth?

i went for one for DD2, as I'd had an epidural with DD1 which ended up in my having a problem with my pelvis ever since. I wanted to avoid the hospital scenario as I was sure I'd go for epidural again in that case and that worried me. Faced no oposition at all. Didn't tell any of my family (apart ffrom DH obviously) as I figured they'd think I was a raving hippy (they have odd ideas). The labour was relaxed, the birth was a dream in a birth pool in the living room. 4 hours from start to finish - I had no drugs and recovered much faster. However I do live about 5 mins drive away from Kings college hospital and had no worries about being able to transfer quickly if I needed to.

We were also close to the hospital if things went wrong. The way I saw it, I would have 2 midwives looking after just me whereas with dd I was left alone with dh for quite long periods.
Also, I had pethidine and epidural with dd and a bad tear, giving birth on my back in stirrups. Just didn't want that second time round, hence the hypnobirthing, ante-natal yoga and homeopathy.
Even though I did end up giving birth in hospital, think that being there asa result of a cockup made me more forceful and I had done most of the labouring at home anyway.
Still got to take ds home within hours, and to sleepin my own bed with him that night, which was wonderful.

I had a lovely homebirth with no hassle from the midwives.
Only just got it. Was actually admitted to hosp for an induction, waited all day to be told no doc available til the morning. Told them i would go home and return in the morning and baby was born at home that evening.

I had a planned hospital birth ,we lived 40 mins away from hospital .
It was my first pregnancy and had a few pains from 5.30am but nothing too painful so sent dh off to work at 9am .
Come 9.45 was in bad pain and phoned a friend .
Too cut a long story shory i could'nt get upstairs or in the car and had an unplanned homebirth on the lounge floor .My ds was born at midday.He was 9 days early.

I planed a home birth for my second and had no problems from the midwifes at all when i requested this.
DD was 1 day early,made lunch on the sunday about 1pm,got pains about 2pm,midwives turned up and she was born at home upstairs this time at 4.22pm.
It was so nice to have them both at home.
I was concerned about my ds who was then nearly 2 but he slept through the whole thing and woke up to a new baby sister.

thanks everyone. lots of interesting stories.

i had straight forward time with ds1. hospital experience wasn't bad - well delivery suite was fine, labour ward afterwards wasn't great at all. we were days from moving house and i stayed in to be away from that apart from anything else.

we only live about 5 mins away from the hospital so it's there for back up.

i think i'd quite like a hb, but don't have my heart set on one iyswim. however, i asked about it today at my apt and got the impression that i would need to be able to justify myself very well if they were to give me the go ahead!!!

i don't really want to push for it when i'm undecided, so i wondererd if your experiences and opinions might help sway me one way or the other...

My DS was 6 weeks early and I had a long labour but no intervention and gas and air. However the whole process, for obvious reasons, was very medicalised and as soon as I considered having another baby I knew if it went to term I would want to have the baby at home.

The hospital ward was not, in my opinion, clean, the food was crap, I hated communal living (sharing bathroom and toilets etc) and if I could avoid it I would (and did!).

I didn't have to fight to have a homebirth, the midwives would not entertain it unless baby was to term so did not write birthplan til I was 37 weeks, but of course no baby would be born prematurely at home if it could be avoided. I had to see a consultant and get them to sign me off and I ended up having internals, scans and swabs to check there was no physiological reasons for DSs prematurity.

So far as DDs birth went, everything went well. Waters broke 3am, contractions started 5am, called midwife at 6.30am, she arrived at 7.15am, was fully dilated and good to go.

Am hoping to have another homebirth this time, baby permitting

Hated the hospital stay with DD1 and hated having to quickly leave DD1 to go and have a wee in an unclean toilet. Also part of wanting one was everyone being so against it, no one (apart from wonderful mumsnetters) supported me this just made me more determined.

It's very unusual up here the 2 MWs who delivered me were in their 50s and it was their first homebirth! I was told I could only have a HB if I went into labour between 39-42 weeks as that was all they would provide cover for.

I went to 41+5 weeks, whole thing lasted 2h 30 m, MWs arrived after 20 minutes, I was 9cms but waters were intact and head was high, they broke my waters after a bit and DD2 rushed out screaming. No tears, stitches nothing. Had natural third stage, gave her a BF, got up had a quick shower, MWs tidied up, got me into my own clean bed, DP came in for a cuddle, then DD1 (who was asleep next door throughout came in) and we all got into bed together. It was wonderful.

Message withdrawn

I had a homebirth with my fourth baby. It was absolutely fantastic and I would recommend it. Have you found the homebirth site yet? Lots of good information on there.

I had two homebirths although one had a short trip to hospital. Mid wives a bit lukewarm unless you get one that is on the home birth team. GP talked about it as though it was a rare and difficult thing to do. Wonderful experience. Would recommend it to anyone.

Birth with DD was in a hospital, and the birth itself waslovely, but I was sooo lonely afterwards I spent my time miserable. Made a few friends who had had a homebirth and it sounded ideal.

Went to my booking in for DS and said I wanted a homebirth, expected an arguement... and she said "Oh good" Was told I would have to have midwife led antenatal care because the GPs were refusing to see homebirthers Not an issue though because my midwife team were lovely.

Birth went really smoothly - didn't get to use my pool though They wanted to send me to hospital for stitches but I managed to talk them round.

Having done both - if I have a third, it will be at home.

I'm opting for a HB with my 4th. It''ll be my 1st HB. We live about 25 mins from nearest hosp. but the MW was saying that as a team they are really used to doing and advocating HB (partly the distance from the hosp. means more people opt for them I think). They seem really skilled and she said their criteria fro HB are rwally stringent given the distance to the nearest hospital. I'm really excited about the idea of having this one at home and being able to have the other 3 around after and my DH on hand at all hours!

I would recommend pushing for it now because you can always back out later but it may well be difficult to change your mind the other way IYSWIM.

I was a "no way on earth am I having a HB" when pregnant with DS1. Even more so when pregnant with dS2 following DS1s birth! And then along came baby #3 and I turned into "no way am I having this one in hospital". BabyDragon was born in a pool about 5 feet from where I'm sitting now. Best bit is that she has out home address on her birth certificate under Place of Birth. Labour still hurt like hell mind you! However, it was less than half the duration of either DS's labour & birth and recovery was quicker.

great. thanks for that link too.

now, homebirthers, in which room did you give birth? several folks have mentioned a pool...

I've had 2 - dd and ds2 - didn't have to fight at all, loved them both. Had them both in my bedroom. Both 10lb+, and because was so relaxed had no pain relief or stitches!

Playroom (technically the dining room)

Booked my last 3 for homebirth but never got one as I went over 14 days overdue so ended up being induced! My last birth was really really relaxed as I completely anticipated to have a hospital birth, be induced, 2 weeks over etc and it was fantastic. Being relaxed is the key thing and I think being at home can really really really help with that.

Apart from the thought of clearing up the mess I reckon it would be fab!