Thoughts on Home Birth

[Analysethat]

Hi all,

So I’m 36 weeks and just come back from my midwife appointment(for clarity I’m in Scotland)

Anyway the midwives are really pushing home births, not sure if this is a new thing or if they have always done it. However I’m really open to the idea but partner and my mum are very wary as it’s my first.

Has anyone else had Home birth for their first and how did you find it? Is it quite dangerous or should I really just go to hospital?

Thanks in advance ☺️

For anyone keen on anecdata, my friend had a home birth with her first that ended with a non-traumatic transfer to hospital as baby got stuck so needed a little extra help out and care afterwards. She walked into and out of the ambulance herself. She enjoyed it so much she planned a home birth the second time too!

The thing is that there are not really any huge potential negative consequences of a hospital birth. Yes you might not feel as comfortable or as empowered but personally I think those two factors, whilst important, are secondary to baby’s safety. There are no negative consequences for baby’s safety of having a hospital birth. Some people argue that medical intervention is given when it is not necessary and sometimes this may turn out to be the case but that is often when there is no way of knowing for sure whether the intervention IS necessary at the time and so it is given to be on the safe side.

This is widely believed, but just isn't true. You're more likely to have a postpartum hemorrhage - a very serious complication - if you give birth in hospital, even with all other things being equal (e.g. comparing low risk to low risk): bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2393-12-130. You have no chance of getting a hospital-acquired infection if you give birth at home. People think that hospitals must always be safer but they have risks, too.

a home birthing woman has more medical help as they have a one to one midwife whereas in a hospital they often move between rooms.

Not where I am, admittedly my labour covered more than three shifts but for their entire shift they were with me along with a student to which I agreed before hand. The consultants shimmied around.

And.. yes of course I know midwives are trained HCP I was highlighting that since the majority of people give birth in a hospital less people die.

I’d rather be alive and have ptsd/episiotomy/ and evidently most agree since the home birth rate where I am is 2%.

I had a home birth a few days into the first lockdown (2nd baby), and it really was magic. I felt quite confident with it being my second baby however and was only a 5 minute drive from the hospital..

Maybe the rate is low because of misinformation and anecdata, and people saying "if I had a home birth my baby would be dead" even though that probably isn't true.

People need to read actual research rather than just assuming home births are dangerous and irresponsible. I'll repost the link to the birthplace study, which is a good place to start research which is unbiased.

www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/birthplace

Personally it’s a no from me, having medical professionals, strong pain killers and a full paediatric and obstetric resus team on standby is my comfortable place (I’m perhaps jaded after years of working in ICU!) I have friends who have had home births that was a good fit for them but I know I personally would not have been able to relax. My first was a low risk text book pregnancy but then shoulder dystocia at delivery even though he wasn’t a big baby baby and I had a significant PPH and we both developed sepsis. Even though I only live 10 mins from the hospital in an obstetric/neonatal emergency that’s 10 minutes too far for me to be comfortable. My 2nd was an elective section at my request and that was really where I was most comfortable.

Glad I found this thread (or am I)

In relation to the OP I’d echo what some others are saying in that don’t feel pushed or encouraged into the decision if it’s not really what you want! I do think it’s something you have to be 10000% on.

I wanted a homebirth with my first, but I moved house at 6 months and told I was out of the catchment area. I was gutted. Ended up with a back to back baby, an epidural, the whole process took about 2 days and I was stitched up by a Doctor after losing a lot of blood when I did eventually push DD out after 2 hours! So my home birth would have ended in a trip to hospital anyway!

Delivery in the hospital was excellent, care was second to none, it was the bit that came after that I hated and am dreading again. It was about 11pm and I felt like a lamb that had been left to slaughter. I was just bleeding all over myself on the bed. I had a lukewarm shower that just about trickled out, so didn’t really get “clean” properly and that massively affected my well-being. They forgot my tea and toast and then I slept in whilst they were knocking on the door for breakfast so I didn’t eat until lunch time the following day. At that point I hadn’t eaten in about 2 days so was pretty weak and delirious! The room was freezing and bed was uncomfortable - I just wanted to go home.

Appreciate that has nothing to do with the health of me and my baby and that’s the most important thing, and the care on that front was perfect.

It hasn’t put me off the thought of a home birth for this baby. If it’s not back to back again, I think I could do it. The thought of having a nice hot shower and getting into my own bed with baby straight in the next to me crib, being able to eat whenever I want, home comforts etc is so much more appealing to me.

If home births were as risky as a lot of people are making them out to be on here, we wouldn’t be allowed them in this day and age.

I had a home birth for all three of my children.

For me all three births were positive, empowering experiences. I don’t have the experience of a hospital birth to compare them to but the main positives were being comfortable and relaxed, feeling in control of my surroundings (eg by hiring a birth pool), trusting my midwifes, having 2 of them there all the way through, and being able to get into my own bed afterwards. Also it gave my birth partner (husband) something to do - he was busy filling the pool and during the first birth, fixing the puncture in it!

The less good bits: the birth pool nearly not getting filled because of the puncture (luckily I was not aware of all the drama though as I was just in my own zone), having to empty the birth pool afterwards (my husband did this but it was still a bit grim) and the placenta getting stuck (nearly requiring a transfer to hospital after all).

Pain relief wise I had a TENS machine, gas and air, cocodemol and the birth pool and although I’d say I have a very low pain threshold it was just about manageable.

I went to a homebirth workshop at the hospital beforehand which was great for answering my questions. The midwives there said that in birth things don’t go wrong immediately - there tends to be a build up and they don’t take risks so won’t hesitate to transfer you in good time. So I can only assume all these MN horror stories of “things suddenly went wrong and if we hadn’t been in hospital we both would have died” have more to them behind the scenes - as pp said maybe midwives were aware of problems but didn’t want to worry the birthing mother.

With my first birth I knew the stats were almost 50/50 that we’d end up in hospital anyway, so I went in with an open mind. I was reassured that if at any point I changed my mind and wanted to go to hospital they would take me in so I didn’t feel like I was committing to it - just giving it a go and seeing how it went. I probably would have made a different choice if we weren’t so close to the hospital (about 15 minutes car ride, less in an ambulance).

It’s a very personal choice and I’m a strong believer in women having birth choices and rights.

You couldn't pay me to have a homebirth. It was recommended to me for my second because my first labour was so quick and I dismissed it instantly with no further discussion.

There is nothing about it that appeals to me. I like hospitals, I like most HCPs I've ever come across and I have no desire to have all that blood and mess at my own home.

I had a homebirth with DC2 following a short, smooth delivery in a MLU with my first.
DC2 was born healthy and all was well however I am not sure I would do it again.
I went into labour in the early hours and it was a fast delivery. In my trust there are supposed to be 2 midwives and they bring the delivery pack, gas and air etc with them on the day.
In my case only one midwife had arrived, she had limited equipment with her and hadn't brought in the gas and air.
I delivered 10 minutes after she arrived and DH almost missed the birth because he was running out to the van to fetch things.
It was not the fault of the midwives at all but the system here is a faff. When my pains started I rang the labour ward who rang the on call midwives and asked them to attend. The midwife had to drive from her home to the hospital to collect the van and equipment (in the opposite direction to my home) then come to me. It turned out they had told her I sounded fine and basically not to rush.
I don't regret my decision but it wasn't as relaxed an experience as I had hoped/planned for.
Do as much research as you can, include your partner in this and share concerns each of you has to see if you can resolve them before you make a decision. You can always change your mind until you go into labour (and beyond.)

I had my first baby in hospital and my second at home. Both were very straight forward pregnancies and quick labours.

My first was 5.5 hours and my second only 2.5 hours.

Part of the reason for having the baby at home was because of my quick first labour and I was worried about giving birth to the baby on route to the hospital.

I had a wonderful home birth experience. Excellent midwives who were really supportive but not intrusive and just let me get on with it. We bought a home birthing pool kit which was fab.

Midwives were gone 1.5 hours after the baby was born and it was wonderful to have a shower and sleep in my own bed.

I'm not sure I would have felt comfortable having No1 at home but the second time around I knew what to expect and it was definitely the right choice.

Utterly bonkers

It's a really tough one to weigh up. It can sound appealing versus hospital birth. And the midwives will be able to tell you your risks. I'm guessing they consider your risk to be low, hence talking to you about it.

But low risk is not no risk. You have to understand that. You are not a statistic, you are an individual (as is your baby). If the risk of a bad outcome is, for example, 0.5%, make sure that you understand what that means -that small number doesn't mean a small problem. It's a small number of people with a bad outcome, which in some cases is catatrophic or life changing. Ask yourself if you can accept being that 1 in 200 with that outcome.

I had 2 hospital births, 2 SVDs...and I seriously thought about home birth for my third, but decided against in the end. At the point of delivery, I delivered her head and everything stopped...the cord was tightly wound round her neck 3x. There was a whole team of midwives working hard to free her, and she then required resuscitation. Within minutes she was freed, oxygenated and in my arms. Would I like to have been outside hospital for that? Would I have risked her life, her health for that? It was terrifying enough in hospital.

Labour isn't just a birth experience for us to indulge our choices of music, soft furnishings etc...it's one of the riskiest times in our children's lives.

I do get that stuff happens in hospital that contributes to risk too...women are not really set up well to labour peacefully, to work with their body and their own labour naturally, there's the risk of eipdurals, becoming immobile, then complications from that, the cascade of interventions...I believe all that is true and real. But you can plan for staying out of hospital for as long as possible (especially if you are only 13 miles from hospital) and just attend to deliver. Plan a comfortable quiet and dark space, practice natal hypnotherapy, use websites like spinningbabies.com to practice good positioning and natal yoga during labour, bounce on the ball, get a TENS machine...be prepared to go in once you start to get really grumpy and you know you need help. That would be my advice.

My friend would've died had she had her first at home and she was a healthy 28 year old with no complications or anything. Had a postpartum haemorrhage without warning and even in hospital it was touch and go with the transfusion. Doctors said she never would've pulled through at home, not even living next door to the hospital.

I have two children. My son was born in hospital. The midwife was awful and told my as I was on the hormone drip that I would need an epidural. I said no that I'd be ok and had read about them slowing labour down. The midwife was adamant and had me change into a backless gown to ensure I could have it. She also kept turning the drip up along the way.

Luckily there was a shift change and I got a different midwife. The first thing she did was turn the drip down. She also let me stand up and move as this helped me feel more comfortable. I was stressed and unhappy and hated the whole experience. I was told off for carrying my baby rather than wheeling him round in the plastic crib.

The second birth I stayed at home. I was far more relaxed. My labour progressed better and my baby was less stressed. I was able to crawl around as much as I liked, strange but it helped.

The midwife cleared everything away and you'd never know that I'd spent four hours bringing baby into the world.

My daughter was born at 1:30 pm and by 4 pm my son was brought back by my sister and we were ordering a Chinese to be delivered.

The home birth felt a much more positive experience for me and my husband.

@firstimemamma

My friend would've died had she had her first at home and she was a healthy 28 year old with no complications or anything. Had a postpartum haemorrhage without warning and even in hospital it was touch and go with the transfusion. Doctors said she never would've pulled through at home, not even living next door to the hospital.

Always hear this on MN, but if someone goes into labour and heads to hospital, there's absolutely zero need medical staff would feel the need to mention that they never would have survived at home. I can see at a push if someone gets transferred in from a homebirth them saying something along the lines of that, but really?!

Yes, this! What doctor would get you through a medical crisis and follow it up with "you would've died at home" ? 😂 Cheers doc, who asked?

Such a go-to scare-phrase in any home birth discussion and never believable that a doctor would actually say that.

OP, whatever you decide, make sure it's what YOU really want. This thread is an indicator that sadly if you decide home birth is right for you, you may be met with judgement, so discuss your plans thoughtfully with those you trust.

"This" was in agreement with sansaplans

5 mins from the hospital... go for it. 30 mins plus.. no way,
My 2nd was born after a text book pregnancy... only back to back and with the cord wrapped multiple times around his neck. Blue and needed full resus immediately (and his stomach cleared of meconium the next day) We were 40 mins drive away and I was very glad to be in hospital.

DD2 is achildren's hospice nurse and recently cared for a baby who died as the result of a homebirth that didn't go well. Catastrophic brain damage and paralysis :(

@Nellle

Yes, this! What doctor would get you through a medical crisis and follow it up with "you would've died at home" ? 😂 Cheers doc, who asked?

Such a go-to scare-phrase in any home birth discussion and never believable that a doctor would actually say that.

OP, whatever you decide, make sure it's what YOU really want. This thread is an indicator that sadly if you decide home birth is right for you, you may be met with judgement, so discuss your plans thoughtfully with those you trust.

Agreed. I can't imagine any doctor telling a new mother that they would have died, talk about a terrible bedside manner. Plus, as mentored above, the rate of PPH is higher in hospitals even when risk factors etc are accounted for. So there is no guarantee that haemorrhage would have even happened at home.

DD2 is achildren's hospice nurse and recently cared for a baby who died as the result of a homebirth that didn't go well. Catastrophic brain damage and paralysis
That is very sad 😥 but of course possible with any birth. Would it have been less sad if the baby had died from complications of a hospital birth? Or would anyone have felt the need to comment on the fact it wa a hospital birth?
If something goes wrong with a home birth, it is the mothers fault for choosing that. If something goes wrong with a hospital birth, its just "one of those things". In some cases, there can be a bad outcome in hospital which wouldn't have happened at home (and vice versa) but its impossible to say because you don't know what would have happened if another route had been chosen.

I was supremely confident in my ability to homebirth DC1. Antenatal classes, yoga, hypno-birthing and SO much research.
Totally unprepared for the pain! Like incredulous .
Luckily, transferred to nearby hospital with a temperature, as labour later became complicated in a way nobody could have predicted (DC1 fused cranium and no fontanelle to speak of, so no moulding).
Scared stiff of hospital following DC1, so opted to try at home again with DC2. Blissful and a really good decision.

Experienced community midwives know how to deal with crises and when to transfer to hospital if necessary. There is pain, degree varying from person to person, wherever you have a baby and you can have pain relief if you want it.

As you are near the hospital, go for it.

I love the assumption that a doctor specifically said someone would have died. I think it’s fairly fucking obvious that if you need a crash section then had you been at home the 15+ minute delay MINIMUM would have resulted in a dead baby. Or if you bled enough in 5 minutes to need resuscitation then that would have gone badly wrong.
People are always swayed by their experience. First babies delivered at home are more likely to have a bad outcome. The evidence is shown earlier in the thread. I KNOW hospitals are shit places to have babies and you get poorly cared for but having a dead baby is worse for your mental health

@Mrbob

I love the assumption that a doctor specifically said someone would have died. I think it’s fairly fucking obvious that if you need a crash section then had you been at home the 15+ minute delay MINIMUM would have resulted in a dead baby. Or if you bled enough in 5 minutes to need resuscitation then that would have gone badly wrong. People are always swayed by their experience. First babies delivered at home are more likely to have a bad outcome. The evidence is shown earlier in the thread. I KNOW hospitals are shit places to have babies and you get poorly cared for but having a dead baby is worse for your mental health

Why, then, did the OP say "Doctors said she never would've pulled through at home"

When what you think she actually meant "my friend believed she never would've pulled through at home".

It wasn't an assumption, but going on the actual words of the poster.