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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Considering a home birth - experiences?

25 replies

Babbabump · 11/12/2019 19:09

Second baby- midwives are encouraging a home birth as my safest and most comfortable option. I wrote it off at first but I want to try bf this time round and worry theyll keep me in hospital whilst I establish and I really want to be home and happy :)

I'd love it if any ladies would like to share their home birth experiences.

OP posts:

AlletrixLeStrange · 11/12/2019 19:16

Not my own experience but as a student midwife I've seen some truly beautiful home births. The entire atmosphere is so much calmer than a hospital birth.

That being said, they are more risky so do take that into account.

Darkstar4855 · 11/12/2019 19:18

I’d consider a home birth for my second but for the fact that I loved the birthing pool in the midwife led unit at the hospital and found it brilliant for pain relief!

Theworldisfullofgs · 11/12/2019 19:19

Brilliant. Loved it (as much as you can)
Had first in hospital, 2nd at home.

Ribeebie · 11/12/2019 19:30

No home birth experience but I BF my son (1st baby) and I was home 4 hours later. They won't make you stay to breastfeed so please don't worry too much about that, but if you wanted to stay for more support I imagine they'd let stay if you wanted to, or obviously they'd want you to stay if you or baby were unwell. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

JohnLapsleyParlabane · 11/12/2019 19:34

I had a hospital birth for my first, awful experience and never wanted to get pregnant again. Homebirth team care for my second, but went to hospital for the last 30 minutes delivery. I loved the Homebirth experience so much I want to have a third!

PerditaMacleod · 11/12/2019 19:34

I had my second at home after a horrible hospital experience with my first. It was a million times better, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. It was so lovely and relaxed and having 2 midwives who are only focusing on you was fantastic.

1point21gigawatts · 11/12/2019 19:40

I had a home birth with my second baby and it was so much better than my first experience of a hospital induction and instrument delivery. The fact there was no food after giving birth, no gluten free food options full stop contributed to my decision!!

I researched it fully and discovered that, for low risk pregnancies who have planned home births the risks are actually lower than for hospital births. The relaxing
and reassuring environment of home means the oxytocin levels are more likely to remain high and delivery will be easier.

I had a pool in the living room and DD was delivered in it. Only one midwife made it in time, but I had some gas and air.

The best thing was being able to have tea and toast and go to bed in my own bed without anyone else and their baby also in the room!

I would highly recommend it. However two of my friends have also had home births and although the birth was fine, they needed to go in to hospital due to blood loss and have transfusions. So you might end up going in anyway.

Bluebuddha10 · 11/12/2019 19:55

I had my second at home. It was very relaxing, and 2 midwives were great. We had candles/music. My first slept through it all and by the time she woke up in the morning we were all in bed, new baby in cot. It was a lovely experience

Original poster

Babbabump · 12/12/2019 19:53

Thank you so much- just what I wanted to hear.

Some questions -
How was the mess? The midwife suggested buying a cheap shower curtain but I imagine that's quite degrading to be on the living room floor on a plastic mat?

Who cleans up afterwards?

I'm.sure I remember my first baby being placed on warm towels etc- is there anything like that I need to prepare?
Thanks again- all these stories are completely invaluable!

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IckleWicklePumperNickle · 12/12/2019 19:57

Loved my Homebirth. Best experience ever!

barfotoliv · 12/12/2019 19:59

1st birth hospital, 2nd birth home. It was a wonderful experience. Midwife delivered a home delivery pack three weeks before my due date, which had all supplies, including cannisters for gas and air, a prescription for pethidine etc. No mess whatsoever. As soon as my labour started, my husband changed our bed sheets to old ones we were happy to dump, with a shower curtin underneath. Midwives changed the bed after, and I got out of the bath to my own bed with my own fresh sheets on - it was heavenly! I'd never recommend it for a first birth, as I think your body just doesn't know what it can handle, and the pain is such a shock the first time round, but for a low risk second birth, it was ideal.

IckleWicklePumperNickle · 12/12/2019 20:00

No mess at all. Husband drained the pool and then took the cover out to the bin. When the midwives left 1.5hrs later, you wouldn't have thou there was a birth.

RougeVinEtFromage · 12/12/2019 20:05

We roll and strolled the entire room and the the steps to the loo and to the bedroom. Had a "birth in a box" for my first and it was honestly amazing. Calm and with my DH , 2x midwives and a student. Couldn't have felt safer. Was only 4mins blue light to hospital though. The best bit was going to bed straight after with my fresh bubba.

RougeVinEtFromage · 12/12/2019 20:07

I always wanted a home birth and knew I would always be so much more relaxed at home. I say trust your instinct.

babba2014 · 12/12/2019 20:09

I had a home birth and it was amazing. Much more calmer. Faster. Way more comfortable.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 12/12/2019 20:13

Erm AlletrixLestrange a homebirth is not more risky. As a low dependency multiparous woman a homebirth is the safest option. Perhaps you should have a bit of a look at the birth place study.

OP all my 3 were home births and it was lovely. There will always be times when hospital is safest but the majority of the time we interfere far too much and most women will birth just fine or better at home.

Teasville · 12/12/2019 20:15

2 home births. Both great. Not so much mess (and anyway, that was Dh's department!). We put down some sheeting I think first time but didn't bother 2nd time.

My top tip is to rent a birthing pool. I gave birth both times in that and it was brilliant. There's an online hire place and it's super easy to arrange. Definitely worth it.

And to the student mw upthread who said it's 'more risky'. I think that's actually incorrect. Especially for a 2nd birth.

neonglow · 12/12/2019 20:22

It’s a bit riskier for a first birth I think. Plus there will be women with certain risk factors that would mean a home birth is riskier. However, low-risk women pregnant with their second+ baby it’s possibly safer to be at home than hospital- studies show you’re equally likely to have a good outcome for mum/baby despite (obviously) lower rate of episiotomies, c-section and other interventions.

Original poster

Babbabump · 12/12/2019 20:35

@barfotoliv under the bed sheets !!! Why didnt I think of that Haha- I was literally thinking on the floor like a messy child painting!
Yes this is my second and the midwives have actually said it's even lower risk to have a homebirth rather than hospital/birth centre.
@IckleWicklePumperNickle did you have a birth pool ? Where was it from and how did you fill it/empty it? I'd not considered a pool at home!

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Emelene · 12/12/2019 20:39

I had an incredible homebirth last year with my first. Would do it again in a heartbeat.

I used the Positive Birth Company digital pack. It gave me techniques for labour and lots of information. Gave me the confidence to go for a home birth and I'm so glad I did. My little girl was born on the sofa. It was calm and beautiful.

Brandyb · 12/12/2019 20:40

Second in a pool in my living room. So calm and dark and joyful. Baby swam out as the sun came up, my older child padded down to meet him, and we all went to bed with tea and toast. So much nicer than my first, lying in an institutional hospital bed with harsh lights and a midwife who only was around here and there

Disfordarkchocolate · 12/12/2019 20:43

Tried it for baby 4, the little cherub would not come out and I ended up with an emergency c-section. He was massive, back to back and had no sense of direction so he was never fully engaged. The part at home was lovely though, it was very supportive and calm until the ambulance came.

Original poster

Babbabump · 12/12/2019 20:57

@Disfordarkchocolate I'm sorry you couldn't stay at home but I did LOL at baby having no sense of direction !!

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Disfordarkchocolate · 12/12/2019 21:02

I know @Babbabump, and he hasn't changed. After 3 births were I should complained about some aspect of the care I still look back on baby 4's birth with joy. The midwife who arrived at my home at 1 am stayed with me until I was anaesthetized at 2 pm.

Waitingtomove · 12/12/2019 21:16

I had 2 home births, first not planned but the second one was. Both low risk pregnancies.
Both times were amazing experiences. What I would say if you decided that was what you wanted is don’t put too much pressure on yourself and go with the flow

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