Home birth experiences

[Lexi92]

Hi
I'm currently 34 weeks pregnant with 3rd baby, I'm considering a home birth this time after my 2 other children were born in hospital with no complications, I feel like with everything going on atm regarding covid I'd feel far more relaxed at home.
My midwife thinks it's a great idea as I'm low risk and has said to try and make a final decision by the time I see her again in 2 weeks so she can get the ball rolling for me.
I don't personally know anybody who has had a home birth so was just wondering if anyone could offer any insight/experiences.
The hospital is about a 5/10 min drive away from me if I did need to be transferred, there's just a small part of me that's a bit anxious about having one as it's all seems so new/different
Thanks x

I had homebirths for my 3 youngest and all were fantastic experiences. Do your research, keep an open mind and don't be put off by other people's opinions. Is there anything specific you were wanting to know?

I had one on Monday! It was amazing and I’m just sad that I won’t get to do it again (last baby!) Don’t let other people’s opinions put you off!

Thank you both for your responses,
I think it is the reaction from others when I say I would like a home birth that is putting me off, all of my family/friends that have had babies have given birth in hospital and make me feel like I've not thought things through because I want to try it this way.
My husband is very supportive and really thinks is a nice idea, do the midwives come as soon as contractions start or do I contact them once I feel things are moving along? Xx

I had one, I hired a birth in a box worth a google. I couldn't recommend it enough, the best experience!

You would usually call the labour ward once you think labour is established and they'll put you in touch with the on-call midwife. You'd then have a chat with them to decide when they should come out to you.
Remember, it's your's and your OH's birth experience so those are the only 2 opinions that count.

Hi op!
DC4 here and seriously considering home birth. The ONLY thing putting me off is we are a good 40 minute drive away from the nearest maternity unit should anything go wrong. However previous births have been straightforward!
I’m torn!

I had one 13 years ago. Was lovely and went incredibly smoothly. Had a birth pool set up and a bit of ga and air.

Widwives were very hands off and even handed me the Doppler for heart rate checking, so it's almost like I did it myself but with their supervision.

Even better than being at home for the birth itself though is then using your own toilet and settling in to your own bed.

That was my experience anyhow.

Good luck!

I absolutely loved my home water births - best experiences of my life. So much better than my hospital birth. Being able to use all your creature comforts and be in your own surroundings etc is fantastic, plus washing in your own bathroom and getting into your own bed after is the best feeling ever!

My DD is 19, so my opinion may be very out of date! But I had a home birth and it remains one of the best experiences of my life I'm a nurse so I'm well aware of the benefits vs downsides of hospital care... I had DS (25) via forceps in hospital then a stillbirth at 23 weeks in hospital. I was desperate for a calm birth that I was in control of and the arrival of DD was text book. Good luck whatever you decide

I booked a homebirth with my first, and ended up with an emergency cesarean. I don’t regret trying for a homebirth at all. It wasn’t all blue lights and rushing and catastrophe. We simply knew that progress was slow, and his position wasn’t quite right, and opted to transfer in. And this is usually the case with labour - if things aren’t going smoothly, there are usually indications before that situation becomes an emergency.

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences with me, as I said before I don't personally know anyone who has opted to have one so don't really have anyone to ask, my midwife is super supportive and has said we can talk through it all in more detail in 2 weeks when I see her, this may sound like a really silly question but I've been thinking about things such as delivery of the placenta, would I get out of the pool and be moved to somewhere like my bed for that?

I had a homebirth with my first in 2018, now planning my second for this October. It was an amazing experience, I had a pool in our bedroom and used a tens machine for the first few hours until I went in the pool. Baby was born in the water, we had a snuggle then got out as I was getting chilly, and the placenta basically fell out as I was laying on the bed! There's nothing wrong with you staying in the pool to deliver the placenta, although the midwives might want you to get out if they want to measure blood loss or something. You'll have plenty of towels etc siren ideally so shouldn't be a problem 🙂 I needed stitches so had those on the bed while hubby had skin to skin with baby, then we snuggled up in bed and I drank huge amounts of tea while baby had her first feed. I'm looking forward to my next one x

I’ve had 4 homebirths (Plus DC1 at hospital) and all have been positive experiences. I try not to open up conversations that can lead to other people’s negative opinions. Just nod and smile if they insist on sharing their views.

I had 2 babies in the water and 2 on land, all quite different experiences. The midwives have been amazing at each one

I had a home birth 10 days ago! Second baby - had to go into hospital after for surgery as she reopened tear from previous birth, if she’d been my first birth then I really doubt I’d have needed surgery.
It was amazing and I’d definitely recommend it. I was so much more relaxed for this birth at home than my previous one in hospital. I text my midwife at 12:15 when contractions were about 5 mins apart and she came over soon after (previous birth was quick), by which time contractions were every 2-3 mins. Baby was born in the pool at 14:50. I stayed in the pool for a bit to try to deliver the placenta, but then came out to monitor blood loss and placenta easily came out as I was stood/squatted next to the pool.
I then got to sit on my own sofa for skin to skin & breastfeeding. Amazing!
I’d bought a waterproof sheet to cover my sofa (& one for the bed in case I wanted to go upstairs, but didn't in the end).
I’d bought my own pool and a groundsheet to go underneath it, waterproof sheet for the sofa, a couple of old (clean) towels.
I also love about 5 mins from the local hospital & maternity unit. My midwife was totally on board.
I say go for it!

Oh and I used gas & air, which my midwife brought with her.

My homebirths were a long time ago but I remember them with real happiness. Everything was calm (apart from me swearing the place down), the midwives were excellent, and I could crawl into my own bed after a bath in our own bathroom.

I had a cradle ready with plastic and old sheets and towels on top (for our bed and the floor), and a towel and set of clothes and a nappy for the baby, clean PJs, pants and pads for me, some little gifts for the other DC 'from the baby', and then the cradle mattress all made up and ready. As we needed things we just took them out of the cradle.

I've had two, one was great - couldn't recommend it enough, the other was horrible. All came down to the midwives who showed up - I really wish I'd had the mind and nerve to show the ones who showed up clearly not supporting my choice the door. It's rare, but not as rare as one would like to have assholes turn up, but I recommend clearing with the midwife what to do if there is an issue with who shows up on the day and make sure the supportive husband knows he may need to help you with that.

Your midwife should give you guidelines of when to call as it will depend on a few factors. With my first home birth, I was given the standard call when contractions are about 5 minutes apart (went into the second phase before that happened, oops), with my second home birth, I was told to call once labour was well established on the theory of being my third child, I'd know.

For both placentas, I was moved from kneeling on all fours which is how I gave birth to sitting to rest before the contractions for the third stage started again, but other than that there was no effort to move me.

I got out for the placenta (towel covered sofa) but I can't remember whether I was asked to or if I just did it.

I found placenta quick and easy anyhow but I realise that's not everyone's experience

I had my second baby, first home birth, on Monday! I stayed in the pool to deliver my placenta, but it wasn’t a conscious decision - it came away about 5 minutes after the birth. I had a shower curtain over the sofa in case I needed to get out for it. It came in handy anyway as we placed some blankets over it and say there to have skin to skin and feed. The midwife popped it in the bag she had bought and took it away with her, so easy!

I’m curious about the idea of a home birth. In some ways it sounds lovely and, with this being my second baby, I’ve been told I’m an “ideal candidate” for it.

What worries me if that I was in agony with the last baby and only coped because I got an epidural. I’m swaying towards labour ward primarily for pain relief reasons. I love the idea of a home water birth, in theory but in reality I feel like I’m unlikely to cope with it.

I've had 2 home water births, plus an EMCS in the middle. I'd 100% recommend it. It was calm and I had everything I wanted around me. With no3, the elder two slept through it all upstairs. We were in the living room - I gave birth each time in the pool, then delivered placenta on the sofa covered with a plastic sheet and towels. Upstairs afterwards for a quick shower and straight into my own bed with my husband. Bliss.

If your midwife has suggested it, they are obviously confident it's appropriate which is great. The research shows that for low risk births, there are fewer interventions and therefore better outcomes at home.

Don't forgot covid affects visitors and birth partners, as well as the risks of actually you being in hospital.

These replies have all been so lovely and helpful to read, they've really reassured me that I am doing the right thing and I shouldn't let other peoples opinions sway my decision, I feel like I'd be so much calmer at home, both my previous children I had only gas and air so confident I can do it again this time around with just that again and I love the idea that myself and baby will already be in our home environment, I will of course keep an open mind though and understand there is always that possibility I would need to go to hospital.
Feeling a lot more confident about my decision and looking forward to discussing more with my midwife thank you all again xxx

I had a homebirth with my first baby. I knew from the off that I just didn’t want to be in hospital. I did my research and always felt I would be more comfortable at home. It was a completely straightforward birth. I used a TENS machine in early labour and also hired a pool which I laboured in. I ended up giving birth on the living room floor to my 9lb 6oz baby! It was the most amazing and empowering experience of my life. I’m now 39 weeks pregnant with my second, all set for another homebirth and honestly...I’m looking forward to it!