Home Birth Help

[Deehit]

Any stories on home births....good or bad?

Any essentials that you had or wish you had with you?

Needing some honest opinions/ideas/stories......

Thankyou xx

Is it your first baby?

I had a brilliant home birth with my second baby. (Planned one with my first but ended up having to have him on labour ward.)

Assuming straightforward labour, I suppose it depends how you manage knowing you only have limited pain medication. I had a tank of g&a at home which I never opened as labour was quick, but that’s pretty much all you can get beyond paracetamol.

In terms of care, being one to one with the midwife at home meant I had a lot more attention than I previously had on labour ward. In my area the midwives are pretty pro homebirth so I never had to fight for it.

I loved being at home and dh was very good at covering the floor with towels around me so I didn’t stain the carpets! It was so nice being in bed with ds and dh, having a cup of tea minutes after birth. Ds was very happy & contented too.

We had no space for a waterbirth but you can rent pool if you want one. It is quite a faf for dh to keep the pool at the right temp, although may be a good way to keep him occupied/involved.

Please ask if you have any specific questions you’d like answered.

I had my first baby at home but unplanned and it wasn't exactly the setting I wanted at 3am in the morning with the big light on and nothing prepared. It was a rush trying to get towels down and blankets ready it all happened really fast I really want a home birth this time around but looking f or tips on things that came in handy for people and things that you absolutely need to have x

There's a good Facebook group called Home Birth Chat Group UK I got a lot of helpful advice from.

I had a traumatic first delivery in hospital, and a lovely second one at home. I loved having 2 midwives to myself, I felt much better supported than in hospital.

I had a slow start to labour so had time to fill.the birthing pool, which was amazing (they loose heat at about 1 C an hour so once you've got the temperature right they are no trouble at all). It sounds like you had a very fast labour so not sure you'd have time to fill one. I used all the drugs with DC1 but DC2 was an easier labour and I coped with TENS, the birthing pool and then gas and air at the end.

I'm just abit anxious about what to do with my little one when I go into labour. The last time I kept labour to myself until she was hear then told family but this time I may have to sort a sitter or something but my partner wants her here. She will only be 15 months old when baby is due and our house is all open plan so she will hear all the noise. I didn't have anything delivering her and I want he same next time the only thing is can a midwife stitch you up at home?

I've had all my kids at home. I recommend a pool that regulates the temperature and has a filter. We set it up 2 weeks before my due date. A night gown that opens in the front and is dark coloured for just after giving birth, breastfeeding and skin to skin contact. Some old towels. I used a bean bag on the floor immediately after birth while waiting for placenta to be delivered. I could lean back with the baby and stay on the towels. A large yoga ball to labour on was very useful. The correct phone number for the midwife on call. Some food and celebratory champagne for just after to celebrate. I managed with just the pool no tens or gas and air. Good luck!

All of mine were born at home. You need a good torch for being stitched up, lots of towels and I suggest a birth pool in a box. Mine was used for all three deliveries.

With baby 2, my husband kept an eye on the 18 month old. He really had no idea what was going on and wasn't interested. I was in the 2nd reception room, my 1st son was eating lunch and watching Peppa pig. I was in labour with them until 1 hour before birth, when midwife arrived and I decided to use the pool. I'm not sure my toddler even noticed.

I haven't the room for a pool and it's never really interested me. How many of you got to stay at home when baby was here? I hear a lot of people having to go hospital either in labour or when baby is here x

I had a home birth with my second.

In an antenatal appointment nearing my due date I was given a bag of supplies to look after. And I also put aside sheets etc and everything I needed to make myself comfortable so I could quickly whip it all out when I went into labour. (No birth pools for me as I have quick labours!)

Good torch in case of stitches as pp mentioned!

I also stayed at home after the birth. The midwives wanted to make sure I had been to the loo, and had a shower, then insisted on tucking me into bed