Home birth for first child

[scubamum2b]

Before getting preganant I was certain I wanted a home birth for various reasons (incl being in familiar/intamate/private surroundings, being more in control, not having strangers at the birth ie I would know the midwife, DH being there 24/7). One bit that I have read, that if complications arose there would be time to transfer to hospital.

However when I have mention home birth to other mothers they give a look of 'ohh no' and suggest for the first it should be in hospital and where I can get stronger painkiller drugs.

The decision could be made for me in the 35/36wk by Dr/midwife, but if I had the choice I am still tending towards home birth but have more reservations that before.

If I had to go to hospital I would prefer a water birth, but don't like the idea I would not know (ie control taking out of my hands) if I could use it until I get ther (ie someone else is in there giving birth).

Whats your view - has anyone had their first child at home? Would you do it again?

Scubamum: I think if your strong inclination is to go for a homebirth, then that is the situation most likely to enable you to feel relaxed and more confident, and less likely to need hospital pain relief if the labour and birth progress without complication. I 'went for it' at home the first time, and quite honestly, felt no need of pain relief except TENS machine and then pool. We did transfer in the end, as DS was OP and stuck, and I did demand an epidural at that point as lying on my back for ventouse was the first and only thing i couldn't / didn't want to handle.
The mw will bring gas and air, (I didn't want it) and if you want to transfer for an epidural, you can!

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scubamum2b - the decision will not be made for you. The decision is yours to make. The midwife/doctor will advise a course of action but it is up to you what you decide. The women you have spoken to are only speaking about what they know. It is usual that women having their first babies go to hospital. There is no reason why that has to be. If you have had a problem free pregnancy and you are fit and healthy, there is no reason why you should not have a homebirth. Tell your midwife that is what you want and she will organise the community team for it. Midwives cannot refuse a woman a homebirth.
This might help leaflet

scubamum2b - I had my second at home. IME you are likely to get a shocked/concerned response from a lot of other mums about a home birth, whether or not its your first, because it is fairly uncommon and for lots of women, it feels normal and right to go to hospital. My strategy was simply not to discuss it! I had a lot of reservations myself, certainly wasn't particularly adamant or determined to have a homebirth, it was mroe a case of, well I will just see how it goes, if at any point I feel uncomfortable about the decision I will simply change my mind and go to hospital! In the event it was lovely, very straightforward and I am glad I did it.
For me personally when pregnant with my first I knew absolutely that I wanted to go to hospital - the home birth idea just kind of grew when I got pg second time around, I surprised myself really!
There is no reason not to plan a homebirth for a first birth - statistically you are more likely to transfer to hospital than with a second birth, but I don't see that as a problem - as with all labours there is an element of the unknown, and delivering in hospital after planning a homebirth is not a failure.

Hi, I felt the same way as you. The midwifes where fantastic and really supportive. Sadly my waters broke early and I ended up in hospital. Go for it. Join and active birth yoga group if you can, I found loads of support there. Go for it and good luck.

wow lot of responses in such a short time. thanks.

One reason for concern by the medics is that I have a small hole in my heart. Having 2nd scan in a few weeks to ensure that I have not passed on bigger defect to my baby. The other issue from this is that I could become out of breath more easily.

If the birth is not straight forward eg baby is in breech position then Drs want hospital birth, which I would agree would be best (& assume rules out water birth).

The other issue is that there are a shortage of midwives in my area to have cover for homebirth -and as baby is due 2wks before Xmas is not the best time of year if there is already a shortage.

The hospital (Royal Berks) is a 45min drive away - would be quicker in an ambulance with blues & 2s going but Xmas shopping traffic maybe an issue

If you plan a hospital birth, and then find that labour is going nicely at home and you don't actually want/need to go to hospital, you're stuffed - because the midwives won't come out unless you've prearranged it. Unless you are brave enough to wait until you need to push before you phone them!

But if you plan a homebirth, and then find that labour is awful and you want an epidural or want to be in hospital for any reason, you can just go to hospital like every one else. So plan a homebirth, and then decide what to do when you're in labour! And when people ask where you're having the baby, say "I haven't decided yet" and change the subject...

However, if you can possibly afford it, get an independent midwife. That way you'll have a real choice!

Hi, I planned a home birth for my first and almost had it! It was great and although it wasn't a picnic, tens, gas and air and pethidine worked fine for the pain. Unfortunately, ds's head wasn't in optimum position so had to go to hospital for an episiotomy after 2 hours at second stage (1st stage 5 hours). I think the trick is to be prepared to go to hospital if need be and not think of it as a failure. We were prepared mentally but had only half-heartedly packed a bag. I then had to rely on my husband to finish the packing, with mixed results .

I had wanted a home birth for my DD but dp wasn't keen and we live in a small flat being my first I decided to go into hospital, my waters broke and I had a very quick painful labour lasting 4 and a half hours with only gas and air (I was screaming for an epidural and caesarian when 9cms!) the hospital was great though good midwives and I felt very taken care of they did nothing without asking me first.

Second time around I will be planning a home birth though. In the end it is your decision and everyone is different - follow your instincts!

Hi,
I would just urge caution, obviously homw births can be great, but there can be problems. A friend of mine had a home birth last week, her fourth baby, but the first at home (no previous problems). Everything was going well, she had gas&air and her midwife with her, then the baby's pulse started slowing down, and then disappeared, they called an ambulance and told her to push to get her baby out as quickly as poss, luckily she did, and now has a healthy baby daughter. ASlthough the nearest hospital is 20mins away, and it was about 4am on a weekday - a quiet time - there wasn't an ambulance available from the nearest hospital and it took 45 mins to get there, luckily the baby was born by then, but she wouldn't recommend one as they could have lost her daughter.

there is no reason not to try for a home birth...i did 3 days at home (not all of it full on obviously) and ended up in hospital for 4 hours...don't regret my decision at all, in fact i'm sure that if i had been in hospital in the first place i would have ended up with a c section...as it was, i just needed a very very light epidural at the very end (as i just wasn't dilating and was tired after such a long labour) and ds came out in 12 minutes!!! and i could feel it all, but no pain. i wish i had been able to give birth at home, but in no way regret having done most of it there, and if there is ever a number 2 will plan on having a home birth.

beetroot, wow!

littleb, i think that home births have been found to be as safe if not safer than hospital births, as long as you have a good midwife, everything should be fine, emergencies can happen in hospital too...it's not for everyone, but if you have an inclination to stay at home then i would recommend you go with it...

ScubaMum, I must admit that I would have felt less confident to go for a home birth if the hospital was 45 mins away. Also, having tried so hard to have DS at home, but having ended up with a very rapid 'cascade of intervention' at the very last minute, I realised that a lot of my own fear of being in hospital to give birth was exaggerated. If you do lots of preparation (with DP) at an active birth class, have a good relationship with your midwives, AND get to use the pool, there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to have a great hospital birth! Before I had DS I was convinced that the day of the birth was the be all and end all of everything...now I see it very differently.

you're totally right blu, i guess my posts are in response to the knee jerk reaction some women have when you say you're having a baby at home (esp. first time):

a) a knowing look that says 'you'll be in hospital before you can say epidural on the day you silly cow'

b) a frightened weak smile that says 'oh my god you have no idea what you're letting yourself in for and if you did you would learn how to be an anaesthetist so that you could self-administer epidurals'

c) a concerned frown that says 'you irresponsible weirdo, how could you put your baby and yourself at risk by not having a hospital birth'

to all of these (and i encountered them all more than once) i say: bog off!