Hospital birth VS Home birth

[doingitforthefrill]

Still early days for me to be thinking about this but with recently seeing the midwife she asked if I had considered a home birth.

This will be my 3rd, previous 2 were born in hospital. One of which was a water birth and the most amazing experience.

Both my labours have came on VERY quickly and both came before their due date. I only literally got to the hospital in time with both of them. Bearing in mind I only lived 10 mins drive at the time, currently now living more like 30 mins drive if traffics good.

I had thought before that if I had a 3rd then I would quite like to give birth at home, but then I’m unsure if it would make me nervous of the thought of no immediate back up if something went wrong. All pregnancies have been low risk just to clarify.

So I’m looking for views, have you had a home birth before and what was your experience?

I wouldn't say that home birth is the safest if you're low risk.

I was low risk all throughout my pregnancy, but then I had to be induced due to being two weeks overdue, had long drawn out labour, needed forceps delivery due to my baby's heart rate getting stressed and lost 2.1 litres of blood straight after he came out.

I was booked in for the birth centre, but then ended up in the delivery suite in a high risk scenario with continuous monitoring.

If I had had a home birth this would have gone terribly wrong and I most likely wouldn't be here to tell the story.

My first was MLU birth and my second a Homebirth.
Had a pool and baby was born 22:49 and the midwives left at 12:30. No stitches and my husband had the pool away too. We were snuggled up in bed soon after
The most amazing experience and loved it.

hotpotlover
Well obviously if you have an induction it won't be a home birth 🤦🏻‍♀️ by definition that's higher risk so you'd be in hospital.
You're comparing apples with oranges. All those things that happened would not automatically have happened if you'd gone into labour naturally and birthed at home. In fact they're much less likely to have happened.

DC1 - hospital, I was forced to lie on my back on the bed as they wanted continuous monitoring and midwife couldn't give a shit about my preference to stay mobile, ended up with episiotomy, shoulder dystocia, PPH (not a serious one, no surgery or blood transfusion needed).

DC2 - home birth, no complications, just a tear that the midwife was able to sew up at home

I had my 4 DC all at home. My sister had her twins at home as well as they were both head down when labour started. Mine were not fast births, first was 30hrs (back labour) and the rest were 8-10hrs. I have a fear of hospitals, so home with good midwives was always my preferred option. I realise and am grateful that I was lucky to have low risk pregnancies to make this possible.

@NameChange30

hotpotlover Well obviously if you have an induction it won't be a home birth 🤦🏻‍♀️ by definition that's higher risk so you'd be in hospital. You're comparing apples with oranges. All those things that happened would not automatically have happened if you'd gone into labour naturally and birthed at home. In fact they're much less likely to have happened.

DC1 - hospital, I was forced to lie on my back on the bed as they wanted continuous monitoring and midwife couldn't give a shit about my preference to stay mobile, ended up with episiotomy, shoulder dystocia, PPH (not a serious one, no surgery or blood transfusion needed).

DC2 - home birth, no complications, just a tear that the midwife was able to sew up at home

100% Agree

I know a lady who had 2 hospital births with lots of interventions both times.

At her 39w a Homebirth was mentioned and she gave birth at home a few days later. Not a single intervention at all.

Okay, but even if you into labour naturally and have a home birth, a lot of things can go wrong during delivery. For me that was never an option. I'd rather be in a hospital than at home if things go wrong.

First two births (13 and 10 years ago) were hospital - highly medicalised and complications both before and after.

Third birth was in May and we hired an Independent Midwife. It was AMAZING!

She remained almost entirely hands-off and my fiancé calmly caught our daughter in his arms (his first and last baby) on our bedroom floor under her guidance.

It is entirely incorrect that, for subsequent low-risk births, home births are any riskier than hospital births.

Far less likely to be put through any unecessary interventions, too.

I had all 3 of mine at home and it was lovely. We set up the pool in our living room/study (different houses) at about 39.5 weeks (when felt ready)... babies came on due date, so was easy to fill in earlyish Labour. I'd recommend! After baby 2, born at 6pm, neighbour brought dinner round, while family in bed slept soundly 11pm to 7am that first night! Fantastic!

Baby 3 swallowed meconium/stopped breathing and they used the hand pump thing to clear her/get her breathing (was glad to have the two midwives at that point) but the 'drama' was over in 30s, and we went into hospital to be checked after as she was still 'grunty'. They had the same equipment to hand for this as they would have had at hospital. All was well, but she had a heart murmur so we stayed overnight to make sure she was feeding ok (she did) and get admitted to the children's ward for the mild heart condition she was found to have. When I went off in ambulance, dh dropped the other two to a neighbour, set the pool siphoning, and stuck a washing on. Arrived at hospital 20 mins after me. We were still glad to have had her at home and the big two met her while she was still attached by the cord (and breathing!) which was really special. Just wanted to share that even if you have to go into hospital during or after the labour doesn't mean it was a bad choice to be at home.

Baby one... the cat brought a live mouse in just before she was born... midwives not over-impressed!

All very lovely experiences.

Third was a Hb and the best thing I've ever done. First two were medicalised inductions due to pre eclampsia.

Oh yes, the pool siphoning... DH says home birth was great for me as I was tucked up asleep in clean sheets with a new baby, while he was dealing with the horrors of tidying the gunged-up pool for another 3 hours

Apart from the risks, the only two negatives I can think of are practical points:

1. Having to clear up afterwards, although the midwives do a lot of clearing up (I swear they left my bathroom cleaner than it was before I gave birth ) we did have to wash the dirty towels and changed the bed sheets as they got a bit of blood on them, but that was minor really. I guess a pool would be more clean up and I wonder if kind midwives would help with that?? My doula certainly would have, if I'd used the pool.

2 neighbours hearing you! Luckily my neighbours are lovely and not at all judgy, but I was mortified at the thought that some of them heard me, although that has faded to mild embarrassment now and I try not to think about it Some neighbours saw the ambulance (we didn't need it but I asked DH to call 999 when I thought baby would be born before midwife got here) so even people who didn't hear anything worked out that she'd been born and we had lots of congratulations from neighbours on the street that we don't really know! So actually that was a plus in the end.

@doingitforthefrill
Sorry for not coming back sooner.

1 in bed
1 on the floor in the living room
2 in the bath
1 on the floor in the bedroom.

3 of them were born before any midwives / help came (not through choice)

I don't think I will have a home birth but my mother did and I was there for it (9 at the time). I certainly remember her seeming very comfortable in her own home wandering about getting tea when she wasn't in pain. I felt like she was really in control of everything that was happening and who was there. I think it was nice that I got to share it with her and has certainly prepared me in some ways for what to expect.

I don't think it's for me but can see the appeal.

@doingitforthefrill first home birth I gave birth on my bed. Second 2 births on the living room floor. I didn't hire a pool or anything on the basis I hate swimming.

For everyone concerned about 'the mess' it's really not that bad! I did buy the shower curtains but never even got them out of the packet. The midwives bring inco pads which soak up everything. Obviously if you start to have a big bleed you'll be transferred to hospital anyway.

In the way of prep there's not much you need to do. Have an emergency bag packed in case. Otherwise just get some clean old towels, you'll need a good lamp in case you need stitching. The midwives will bring gas and air. That's about it really!

Wow you get some very fear orientated posts on here. And as someone had already pointed out babdoc always turns up.
It is statistically safer if you're low risk to be at home and was certainly the case when I compare my two births.
Had my second at home, bought an unused pool second hand on Facebook and she was born in there. About 1 hour and a half labour very straightforward. Hypnobirthing helped as no pain relief.
For my 3rd I'm sure I won't make it comfortably and calmly to the hospital so maybe at home again! It's certainly my preference but my husband finds it scary!
You'll have a feeling of what's right for you! Good luck!

doingitforthefrill I had a pool both times, but first one arrived on the living room floor beside the pool, because there hadn't been enough time to inflate & fill it.- I was leaning against it though!- , second one I spent a long time walking up and down the stairs to help move him down (back to back labour), and ended up giving birth on my bed upstairs.