Home birth - Scotland

[Coffeeandcake87]

So I'm still very early, 5 weeks, I had my booking appointment the other day and it's got me thinking, I really really fancy a home birth however my partner seems dead set against it for fear of tidying up, baby is due around Christmas, yada yada yada.

Can any mums out there provide me realistic pros and cons of a home birth?

I love the idea that you will have built a relationship with the midwife prior to birth unlike in a hospital and I love the thought of being in my own surroundings. My ds was a hospital birth 7 years ago.

Thanks 😁

I’ve had one in hospital and one at home.

I’d have to be in serious medical trouble to willingly give birth in a hospital again. The experience was utterly foul and not something I’d want to repeat unless mine or my baby’s life was in imminent danger.
My home birth was the polar opposite. It was absolutely on my terms - my wishes were respected completely by the wonderful midwife who attended. As soon as she arrived, I asked her to please justness leave me and DH to it. Don’t touch me, don’t touch my baby, no examinations, no intermittent monitoring (unless medically indicated). She did exactly as I asked - she only stepped in towards the end as I was pushing in order to guide DH’s hands to catch our baby as he came out. She made no attempts to touch the baby or take him from me for any reason. The only time she touched me through the entire thing was to check for tears once the placenta was delivered (no tears, no stitches required).
I’d do it again a million times over.
I’m expecting DC3 in late summer, and am planning to do it at home again.

Regarding mess, there’s actually a lot less than you’d expect!! If you hire a birth pool then it’s all contained in there and can just be pumped away down a drain, or if you have a dry land birth then lots of puppy training pads/hospital inco pads, and plastic dust sheets are your friend We had dust sheets taped to our carpet and sofa to protect them, and then lots of the big absorbent puppy pads - all that was rolled up and shoved in a medical waste bag and the midwife took it away with her. You wouldn’t even know I’d given birth in that room once it was all gone

If mess is your partners only issue, then there is nothing to worry about. There really isn't as much as you expect and the midwives clear it all away.

I've had two home births and they were absolutely great. As IntoValhalla said, plastic dust sheets from B&Q, incontinence pads, some old towels and you are good to go. My Midwives gave me a list of things to have.

I had two and there was no mess, just buy a shower curtain.

WRT a relationship with the midwife, mine were in England so it may be different, but the midwives work in shifts and the odds of getting ‘your’ midwife for the birth are small.

We also put a plastic sheet on the stairs carpet, but then realised it might be a bit slippery, so I just waddled up to the bath holding an inco pad between my legs to avoid leaving a blood-drip trail

Thanks guys, I've been told they build a relationship with you and your designated midwife goes in call specifically for you from 38 weeks so I thought that was great.

My partner is bit of a caveman and I guess he feels the hospital is where things such as this should take place 😂 oh well I have 8 months to persuade him lol.

Thanks again guys, certainly makes things sound better for me anyways x

I'm in Scotland too. I had my booking appt a couple of weeks ago (I'm almost 8 weeks) and they asked if I wanted a home birth which I was surprised at as I have a kidney problem and I'm on BP meds but they didn't see a reason I couldn't do it at home. It's odd because when I thought couldn't have it I wanted it but now it feels like a daunting decision! It will be my first so really not sure how it will go! Got an early Obstetrics appt tomorrow so I'll ask the consultant again then. So much to consider!

Coffee my DH wasn’t on board at all with the idea either at first. He was so stuck on the “what if’s”
In the end I pulled the “no vagina, no opinion” card, and pretty much said that I’m the one pushing a human out of my body, so I have final say on where that takes place.
He was surprised at the stark contrast between our hospital both and home birth. He could be useful during our home birth rather than standing by the bed like a spare knob
When I found out I’m pregnant with DC3, his first response was “I assume we will be having this one at home too?” - the idea of a hospital birth has now become totally alien to him too!

I know the feeling, as much as I would like it it is still daunting. Tbh I'm worried about my neighbours they moan about the slightest little noise 😂

The only other thing is location, you have to be within a certain time/distance from extra help which in Scotland can be a bigger problem. Watch the Highland Midwife - they seem to have a great attitude and there's midwife led units as an in between option