Anyone had a home birth before?

[Lottie37]

Hi ladies

So just been told today my local birth centre is now closed till 1st September.

I'm due 22nd August.

I can either go to another hospital, a bit more further away, but obviously in undated with mums right now giving birth so very busy.

I'm really contemplating now about a home birth, so far so good with this pregnancy, I've been midwife led throughout and low risk.

Has anyone had a good experience of giving birth before?

Any good Facebook groups to join? Or websites at all?

Thank you xx

Hi

I've had a homebirth (my second DC). It was a wonderful experience giving birth at home, but my midwives were incompetent which led to be ended up on HDU in hospital for three days, so I'd say it was a mixed experience.

If your local birth centre is closed, is the hospital still offering a homebirth as an option? I know some areas have ruled them out for now.

Hi there, watching as also interested in experiences.

Also following as this is something I'm considering..

I had a home birth almost 4 years ago, it was an accidental home birth as ds didnt want to wait but it was the best experience of giving birth I've had and I've got a few DC. It was relaxed albeit hectic but I felt comfortable and knew dh was very capable of helping me through, the paramedics were wonderful also who arrived just in time to give me some much needed gas and air. If I could have all my children again I would have them all at home.

@StuntCroissant

yes in our area still offering home births

So just trying to weigh it all up and find a balance.

Im just wondering if it is more risk at home?
You could have a great pregnancy but then could have a massive bleed or something putting everyone's life in danger then after the birth, and have no consultants/doctors at home!?

It will just be my luck that I will end up with incompetent midwifes too lol 😂

I’m hoping to have a home birth this time round (second baby).
In my area if you go home birth you get assigned 2 midwives for the whole pregnancy and have all appointments bar scans at home. I find I’m so much more relaxed at home. Usually I find it a big deal having blood and blood pressure taken in a hospital / clinic scenario but I had no issues whatsoever at my booking appointment. It was also great having a person who you could call / WhatsApp with any queries. Unfortunately with Covid 19 my trust cancelled home birth so was transferred back to community. They’ve just announced they are starting up end of June so hoping to transfer back (baby due mid September).

@Lottie37 I have literally just just now called and booked with the home birth team . As with pp above, they assign you a midwife who comes to your home for appointments (so DP can be there which is great) and if you change your mind at any point you can transfer back to hospital care.

Had a home birth for my second baby and it was a truly wonderful experience, if it's a straightforward and uneventful pregnancy and a second birth I think the risks involved are low and potentially better outcome as often in hospital you run risk of cascade of interventions ( which happened with my first and third births).

I have tried 2 home births. With DC1 I ended up in hospital as labour so long, however DC2 born quickly and easily at home.
My home birth was a relatively pleasant experience compared to hospital birth. I would go for it if you can, while being prepared to go in if you need to.
I found out about a local home birth group when pregnant with DC1. It was nice to meet people who were considering the same but not terribly useful. I didn't go with DC2.

@Lottie37 that is basically exactly what happened to me.

My midwives were very inexperienced and had never attended a homebirth. They did not give me the injection to pass the placenta, so I had a natural third stage, which wasn't what I wanted. They incorrectly identified that the placenta was whole (when some was retained) and left too soon after the birth leaving me to haemorrhage badly after they'd left.

Having said all of the above, I would probably still opt for a homebirth if I was low-risk. I was unlucky I think.

It was my best and nicest birth of five. I don't think I would do it for a first baby although I pushed for that even then - the compromise was for the first 3 babies a "6 hour transfer" so home in 6 hours and no night in hospital.

Hey OP, there are two really significant studies that show home birth is very safe for low risk women. One was the birth place study done in the UK looking at 65k approx women and another is a more recent international study published by the Lancet which looked at 500k women.

If you are based in the UK I suggest joining Home Birth Support Group UK led by Samantha Gadsden Doula, it's a wonderful group, full of resources and information to help you decide!

I am planning a home birth for my first in August :) x

I've had both my girls at home, DD1 three and a half years ago and DD2 in October. I was a low risk pregnancy with both and both were lovely experiences. With both I hired a birthing pool and set it up in my conservatory and just filled it up when things kicked off. First time round I made it into the pool, second time I only got as far as the lounge door as she came too quickly! With my first I had to be transferred in for stitches as the midwives couldn't decide whether I had a second or third degree tear and might have needed surgery, but as it was they managed to stitch me up in the delivery suite and I was home again within 3 hours. Also tore with my second but they repaired me at home and were gone within 2 hours. It was lovely just sitting with a cuppa and toast on the sofa with a lovely newborn feeding afterwards. We sat up and chatted while I ate about half a loaf of toast then went up to bed.

I didn't have any pain relief with either baby but I think being at home in your own environment makes you more relaxed anyway so you're less likely to need it.

Any questions I'm happy to answer but in the very least ask about it, it's safe and midwives have all the kit to deal with emergencies including resuscitation for both mum and baby, so in absolute worst case scenario they can look after you until the ambulance arrives. You can always change your mind during labour and ask to be transferred too so it's not a black and white case of its a home birth or not, if you see what I mean.

I'm not planning any more babies but would definitely have a home birth again if I did.