Home Birth With First Baby

[Sinead543]

Anyone had or know someone who has had a home birth with their first baby?

I don't know anyone who has done this, and I've had 2 home births myself, but would absolutely not recommend it to anyone for first baby. You just have no way of knowing hoe your body will handle childbirth.

A friend of mine is considering this. Where she lives the birthing unit isn't attached to the hospital, so if something goes wrong she'd have to be transferred anyway so she reckons she might as well be at home.

I planned a home birth for my first but was transferred for slow progression as my waters had gone 18 hours previous and there's a risk of infection. They want you to deliver within 24 hours of your waters going. Anyway, ended up in the midwife unit at the hospital and had a great experience. I gave birth in the pool which was not in the plan at all! If I do it again I might just go back to the midwife unit again as the pool was great and I didn't want one at home. I did have a friend who gave birth to her first at home with no issues but actually had to transfer to hospital post birth for stitches or something

Sorry I don't think that information is that useful! The thing with home birth is you can plan for it and go to hospital if you change your mind. You are best off where you would be most comfortable so where do you think that will be?

I had my first at home (planned home birth).

It all went completely as planned and I had amazing care from two very mature and experienced HB midwives so couldn't have been in better hands. Was also less than 5ins from hospital which was a big factor in my decision.

Wanted to do the same with DC2 but complications in my pregnancy necessitated a hospital birth.

How close to the hospital are you? How long would it take an ambulance to get from your house to hospital?

I had a home birth for my second child and it was great but I would be a bit more nervous for a first birth unless reasonably close to the hospital.

If you are quite close, you could try a home birth but with a low threshold for transferring in if things don't progress or if there is any indication of possible complications. Ideally I'd want an ambulance parked outside just in case but I don't suppose that's the best use of resources

We did call an ambulance when we thought the baby might be born before the midwife arrived - as it is the midwife arrived in the nick of time and we didn't need the paramedics but they did stick around for a bit in case me or baby needed to be transferred (luckily we didn't, all fine).

I did. My midwife actually suggested it.

It didn’t go entirely to plan, I tore badly and midwives can’t stitch a third degree tear at home, and they weren’t 100% sure if mine was 2nd or 3rd degree so I had to be transferred - the surgeon said it was a bad 2nd degree and stitched it but thankfully it didn’t require the operating room.
While waiting for the ambulance to transfer me for the tear, I did start bleeding quite heavily. They put a drip in me, and the paramedics gave me an injection when they arrived which pretty much stopped it, I didn’t need a transfusion.
I don’t know how bad this was (eg I have no idea if, had I been in hospital, the emergency button would have been pressed), the midwives were very calm but I guess that’s their job and there’s no point them worrying me while waiting for the ambulance.
I have no idea how common my situation was, and obviously every circumstance is different. We live minutes from the hospital for example.
The period between DD being born and them saying the tear required a trip to hospital I was very glad I’d had her at home. It was relaxing knowing I didn’t have to go anywhere. Obviously it then got less relaxing.

@NameChange30 I’m about 15-20min drive to the hospital but not too sure how long that would be in an ambulance

I’m still undecided and will do more research, I just want to be comfortable and relaxed and I don’t know if I’ll be that in the hospital with all these covid precautions going on

My friend tried to a few weeks ago - it didn’t go well and she ended up in hospital with an episiotomy. She mostly wanted to feel happier at home, and have her partner with her, so she got a big birthing pool. I don’t think anything dramatic happened, just that the pain was bad and she wanted access to more meds and support. She seems okay about it now, although we haven’t met in person for a chat yet. Baby is now three weeks old and she’s feeling better this week, less episiotomy pain now.

I know quite a few people that had a home birth with their first. I’m pregnant with my first and my midwife asked me if it’s something I would like to consider. I live very close to my hospital though.

In my NCT group of 6 3 of us wanted to.

1 did, with no problems and only a small tear.
1 almost did, but midwife was concerned about baby’s heartrate so they were transferred for the actual birth and home again within 3 hours.
I planned to, but baby had other ideas and I finally agreed to induction at 40+15. Horrendous. Forceps delivery required because I have a misshapen pelvis (which apparently can only be tested by trying to push a baby through it).

I planned a home birth with my first - sadly I ended up with induction and cat 1 emergency section under general anaesthetic, so nowhere near the plan!

I had a dodgy placenta that was only picked up at week 40 due to no growth from baby, the placenta was giving up and baby wasn’t getting what he needed. I agreed to induction in the hopes of a vaginal delivery at least (was induced within 24 hours of scan result of placenta), however his heart rate dropped repeatedly during induction, then we lost it completely, so it was the full red button moment, rushed through and put to sleep.

So my advice would be (I’m going to write this as if I was talking to pregnant me 3 years ago)

• don’t have the plan as the be all and end all, thoroughly research all birth options with an open and non judgemental mind.

• read a huge amount of sources regarding birth, what can happen and why intervention is in place. Read stories from countries where they don’t have intervention - both good and bad. Understand why medical teams may want to step in.

• understand when you may need to transfer to hospital and why - don’t just read the good home birth stories! Be prepared for and accepting of anything.

• a hospital birth doesn’t mean a bad birth (although home birth groups and advocates will have you believe that, I found).

My 26 hour induction/labour was absolutely wonderful - the midwives knew I had wanted to home birth and were the most beautiful women - they put my candles out, hypnobirthed with me, repeated my affirmations to me (which they’d stuck on the wall), we had low lighting, low voices and they were as hands off as reasonably possible, one hunted around the whole department so I could have a wireless monitor- I could kiss those two midwives for that experience!

I’m not the most eloquent and please don’t take offence to my comment - these are things i so wish I had done when I was dead set on a home birth - you sound far more sensible than I was - I was absolutely brainwashed that home birth was the only real birth (🙈) so refused to consider any other option or entertain other birth. The result was my mental health suffered badly post natally and I was so disappointed in myself (unnecessarily - these things happen and thank goodness for the NHS). I hated my body with a passion for a long time due to its ‘failure’

• are you very close to the hospital? I was 20 minutes away and I’m hindsight that could be lethal if something goes wrong

• look at the positive birth movement as they have lots of great info on all types of birth

• if you haven’t looked into it, I cannot recommend hypnobirthing enough. It was incredible and it involved my hubby so much - he is so proud of himself to this day of how much he took control, advocated for me and baby and helped me - it’s a wonderful way to involved your birth partner. He ensured the midwives read the birth plan and what I was hoping for. He knew my fears (I was petrified of having my waters broken and the drip) and he worked with the midwives to make everything as stress free as possible for me. He got me up and moving when I just wanted to lie on the bed etc.

The hypnobirthing didn’t just help with contractions, but also when I was being put under the anaesthetic- the anaesthetist came to see me the next day to ask how I was so calm as he’d never experienced that before in those circumstances.

• lastly, look at birth centres - we have a birth centre in our area now which is a real home from home abs not attached to the hospital, but close enough in case of emergency. There is also MLU too.

I’m now 18 weeks pregnant with baby 2, my first is now 3. I am having a planned section this time as

1. placenta is looking crap again so will likely have one anyway!
2. I want to witness this one being born!

Anyway, essay over, and I hope you can take something helpful from it good luck whatever you decide!

[quote Sinead543]@NameChange30 I’m about 15-20min drive to the hospital but not too sure how long that would be in an ambulance

I’m still undecided and will do more research, I just want to be comfortable and relaxed and I don’t know if I’ll be that in the hospital with all these covid precautions going on[/quote]
That's not too far and an ambulance would be quicker.

Good idea to do more research and go from there.

Also remember that you can plan a home birth but you can always decide against it at the last minute and go into hospital after all.

Well unless your labour progresses really fast and you suddenly feel the urge to push in which case it's best to stay home But that's unlikely to happen for a first birth.

I did. It was lovely and we were both fine. Your midwives will be able to assess the risks and you can make your decision from there. Best of luck!

I considered it until I was diagnosed with GD. Talk to your midwife - mine was really supportive and informative about the whole thing.

Following with interest. I'm currently torn between wanting a home birth and birthing centre. I am very close to my hospital (under 10 minutes), but I'm a bit worried about the neighbours hearing!

I'm booked for a home birth with my first. 38weeks today so just a waiting game now. I'll make sure to come back to update!

I did and ended up having to transfer in due to not progressing after 36hrs. Baby was in an awkward position apparently. I had a totally lovely time at home until I had to go in - they made me lie on my back to be monitored and that dramatically increased pain. Eventually they agreed to let me move with an internal clip. Baby was born safely and needed an epidural. Second was a homebirth, lovely experience and one of really being guided by my body in what to do. I don’t think it’s reckless to have a first at home but I respect that others feel differently.

@LizzieLouLouBelle

Following with interest. I'm currently torn between wanting a home birth and birthing centre. I am very close to my hospital (under 10 minutes), but I'm a bit worried about the neighbours hearing!

This is the only negative about my home birth experience. I am so embarrassed that my neighbours heard me! They were lovely about it though, there was quite a bit of excitement among some of them and lots of people congratulated us.

I was torn, too, and decided to book a home birth to keep my options open, so that's what I'd advise you to do.

Yes, I had all 4 of mine at home. All planned homebirths with very experienced midwives (the lead midwife had delivered over 500 babies and never lost a mum or infant). It was a difficult decision for my first. We lived in a rural area with no birth centres. That had been my original thought. I toured the hospital nearby and it was frightening. So I settled on trying for homebirth with everything all set up so could transfer to hospital only if I had to. Of course, rural area meant no neighbours to hear! Closest neighbour was a 2km away.

I did - ended up having to be transferred as baby was in a weird position and got stuck but I was glad to have laboured at home in the pool, think I was much more relaxed than I would have been in hospital. I only live 10 minutes away though. One other woman in my NCT group also had a home birth and hers went very smoothly. But obviously this is all anecdotal and you need to do your research and be prepared for things to change at the last minute!

I did. It was a really long labour and the midwives were discussing getting me to hospital, but every time I tried to stand I was hit by really strong contractions that seemed to speed everything up. After having DS1 had to transfer to hospital as I tore, after being patched up I couldn't wait to get back home. I am certain that if I had given birth in hospital they would have tried to speed things up by drugs or some type of intervention which I am really glad I avoided.
DS2 was also a home birth which went so quickly that the midwife didn't have time to put on her gloves before he arrived.
When I first raised the possibility of a home birth with my doctor she said no as I was an 'untried vessel', I never mentioned it to her again and only discussed it with my midwife. Family and friends were all against the idea.
I lived about 15-20 minutes from the hospital.

Yes, three of my sisters had HBs with their first-born. I would have had with my first but my husband vetoed it. (I went on to have six at home, all different but all normal and fine.)

"I’m still undecided and will do more research, I just want to be comfortable and relaxed and I don’t know if I’ll be that in the hospital with all these covid precautions going on"

This makes perfect sense. Being comfortable and relaxed is, IMHO, one of the biggest factors in having a 'good' birth, and if you - perfectly justifiably - feel that you'd be more relaxed at home, I would plan for that.

If you feel you need more pain relief than can be provided at home (or epidural; gas&air and I believe pethidine can be given at home), or if the midwives are at all concerned, you can transfer in.

You will have two midwives with you once you're in established Labour if you're at home, as opposed to one popping their head round the door at unspecified intervals on a busy labour ward in hospital (one more reason you might feel safer at home).

HB midwives tend to err on the side of caution, and won't hesitate to recommend transfer if anything crops up; they can also catch these issues much sooner at home, as you have their full attention.

Yikes, I wouldn't have been too impressed if my husband had tried to veto a home birth It's his baby too so I did consider his wishes but if he'd been heavy handed about it and not open minded I would not have been happy!

I'm high risk and will be induced so no home birth for me.
If i did have the option it would be a no, I live 10 mins from the hospital but as a medical professional myself, i want every other medical professional that may be needed on hand in a second if anything went wrong. I would not want to be at home with no emergency equipment or back up. Personally i can't think of anything worse.