Home birth after two difficult previous?

[Bunnyhop1502]

Currently trying for our third and last baby. I have two children, both pregnancies fine until 36 weeks when I developed pre-eclampsia. Both births were induced and involved various interventions (DS forceps and stitches after and third degree tear with DD). If this pregnancy goes smoothly and I don’t develop pre-eclampsia what is the likelihood I’ll be allowed a home birth? I didn’t have a good experince in hospital, it was scary and I got very stressed out. Will the tear from DD make me high risk? I know I’ll get definite answers once we conceive and are referred to the midwife but right now these are my concerns and I wondered if anyone else had a similar situation?

It’s not really about being ‘allowed’, it’s ultimately your decision where you have your baby although the consultant will want to go through all the risks with you in order for you to come to your decision. With your history though you are at significantly high risk of developing pre-eclampsia again and bear in mind this could be asymptomatic until later on in pregnancy. I’ve known women who have had eclamptic fits in labour or in the immediate postnatal period with no warning whatsoever

Thanks for your reply. Obviously I’m hoping not to get pre-eclampsia again but it feels like a certainty and I’m not even pregnant yet! That I know of anyway...

A home birth just seems so great in comparison to what I’ve had - long hospital stays, tubes and wires everywhere. I know it’s ultimately for the safety of my baby and myself but one can only hope.

Given your history I personally wouldn't be considering a home birth, tbh, though I totally understand your reasons for wanting one.

I had DC3 at home. I'd had a forceps delivery first followed by a normal delivery with DC2, but no complications at all in either pregnancy, which is why I was encouraged to have a home birth by my midwife. I tore with DC2, but not a third degree tear, but I only had a tiny graze during my home delivery so tearing again isn't inevitable.

I have a feeling that you will be deemed high risk & advised against having a home birth because you've had pre-eclampsia twice, but obviously your medical professionals will know better than me.

I hope all goes well when the time comes & you have a lovely birth experience.

Thanks! Maybe I’ll get a bit lucky and have a water birth. I just want the freedom to move and not have to rely on drugs for pain relief. It doesn’t help that I had a crappy midwife who said my pain level was normal. Third degree tear on gas and air!

I was deemed high risk last pregnancy but only due to my BMI being around 36 and I wanted a home birth (DD1 was an unexpected home birth and it was fab - I was up and getting on with things after 15 mins, DD2 was meant to be a home birth but after 5 days of labour she was stressing so went into hospital for the last part) and I had to have an appointment with a consultant who went through all of the risks with me and then, ultimately, it was my decision so DS2 was born at home.

I'm now a low risk as my BMI is only 25 and we are having a planned home birth as it will be much easier for us than ringing around trying to get someone to look after our 4 and I prefer home births anyway.

I'm not sure, if I was in your position, I would be comfortable having a home birth regardless - I think it would, for me, depend on how far away you are from the hospital if any complications do arise as the risk to your life and your baby's has to be the top priority.

Ultimately the choice is yours though. They can advise but if you are insistent they can't stop you.