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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Anyone accidentally delivered their baby at home?

45 replies

TBC45678 · 19/08/2021 20:25

I'd love to hear some (positive but honest - ie not ones where there was a terrible outcome) stories of anyone who didn't make it to hospital for the birth of their baby.
Having quite bad anxiety about this leading up to the birth of my second baby. With my first I was in labour for about 5 hours and was only in the hospital for 45 minutes before he arrived. I still have quite bad memories of the car journey and getting to the ward etc, with me knowing the baby was about to arrive but no-one really listening to me (or me not being able to communicate it). I've heard second babies are often much quicker, which would give me very little time...

Anyone been through it and mind sharing their story? I'm mainly worried about the pushing part, I don't know how I could do that without the midwife guiding me! And then once the baby arrives, keeping them safe etc. What are you supposed to do?!

I know I have no idea what will happen this time, but hearing some real stories will help me calm down I think. Thanks!

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Twizbe · 19/08/2021 21:29

I had a similar length labour with my first. My second was under 3 hours from start to finish.

The midwives told me to come in as soon as labour started. Don't hang around. It was also on my notes that I was fast so they were expecting me to be quick second time round too.

They did suggest a home birth and I would have been very open to that but husband wasn't as keen.

I'm not planning a third, but they've told me to definitely have a home birth if I do have one.

To your question though, my neighbours daughter gave birth at home with her mum to support (husband didn't make it back from work) all was ok. The paramedics talked them through it on the phone and that baby has just turned 10.

SirenSays · 19/08/2021 21:29

My sister gives birth likes she's a human slip and slide. Two babies accidentally born at home and one on the motorway. The only one she gave birth to at the hospital was rapid as well. The midwife told her she probably had ages to go and thirty seconds she was pressing the red button and catching baby with one ungloved hand.

ToastedSesame · 19/08/2021 21:36

Ah yikes this thread is so interesting yet scary too! @TBC45678 my first labour was 4h, I was induced by waters being popped. Terrified I won't make it to the hospital (25 mins away) with this one. Loads of complications with DS1 including him being in distress, me losing a ton of blood and a big tear. The idea of a homebirth really worries me though.

CarlottaValdez · 19/08/2021 21:39

My cousin had her third at home by accident - she thought she was in early labour and got her mum over to look after her two older children. Decided she wasn’t far on enough to go in so had a bath - baby arrived about 10 minutes later. Completely fine!

PeonyTime · 19/08/2021 21:50

Yes.
DS2 was noted as BBA, but the first paramedic did actually make it in time to catch him. Second one turned up a couple of minutes later with drugs and blankets etc to find me holding baby.
If the ambulance hadn't made it 6 mins after the 999 call, it would have been DH delivering him. Midwife showed up when DS was about 30 mins old.

It was so fast they were worried about shock for me and him (they linked me to an ecg for a bit), but it was lovely feeding him in my own bed. We only had to pop into hospital later that day for his Oxygen Sats, as noone had the kit available for home use. If it had been planned, this wouldnt have been needed.

If you fear it might be an unplanned home birth, you can always prep a bit - have some easily accessible towels, maybe some puppy training pads etc. Make it easy if you think it might happen. It sounds like there are things at play.

If I was to have a third, I would go for a planned home birth. DS1 was fast, DS2 was super speedy.

WiggIyWoo · 19/08/2021 21:54

Some unexpectedly lovely stories! I know 2 people who had their second at home and both were fine. One actually had to unhook the cord but she said she just lifted it over the baby's head.

I was in very late labour when I arrived in hospital for both my births, even though the second time round I'd purposely exaggerated my contraction on the phone so they'd let me in! I apparently cope with pain well and am not very loud or panicky - I do think people like me lull midwives into a false sense of security. If I was having a third I'm not sure what I'd do as my second arrived very quickly when it came down to it, I could very easily have still been at home.

PeonyTime · 19/08/2021 22:02

@WiggIyWoo interesting: the midwife tried to send me home with DS1. I refused, was admitted, and he was born 30 mins later.

Greygreygrey · 19/08/2021 22:02

DD2 was born on the bathroom floor. The hospital sent me home saying I wasn’t in Labour and I had her 4 hours later.

I asked my husband to take me to the hospital but first I needed the loo. It was the baby. My husband caught her and the paramedics arrived a half hour later. They just hung around until the midwife showed up.

With no drugs in my system, I felt much better than with the first and healed really quickly. Downside was being stuck with a baby attached to the placenta until the midwife cut the cord.

MemoryGame · 19/08/2021 23:40

First DC labour was 28 hours, ended up in hospital despite planning a home birth.

DC2 born at home, midwife only got there 40 mins before baby, as I'd sounded very calm on the phone so she didn't believe I was in labour.

DC3 midwife arrived and left again as I wasn't in active labour (supposedly), baby arrived 30 mins later, just me and DP there. I wouldn't set out to do it like that, but definitely the best birth in retrospect. We also had the 999 operator asking if we had a boy or girl and had to respond 'no idea, but it's alive!'

Nat6999 · 19/08/2021 23:54

My friend's mum gave birth to her sister on the living room floor, her grandad had come round to sit with her while she waited for her husband to get back to take her to hospital, he delivered the baby.

rainydogday · 20/08/2021 00:03

Just a quick note. Only choose a home birth if that's what you want not because you think it will save time. I am a midwife and our homebirth team
cover a massive area and if called in the night could take up to 45+ to get to the woman's house depending where they live. It all
Depends on how far the hospital is to you and what your birth place choice is.

SecondCityShark · 20/08/2021 00:09

Lovely stories on here.

My midwife told me that home births are much better. She said that as soon as women step over the threshold of a hospital, the risk of injury to mother and baby increases enormously.

Luckily, I live in an area where the midwives are very pro-homebirth. Seems to be the way to go.

SisterGabriel · 20/08/2021 00:25

What is it with midwives not believing women or not recognising that babies are imminent?

sunshineandshowers21 · 20/08/2021 02:11

my fourth baby was born in the backseat of my brother’s car. it was during the height of lockdown and i’d stayed at home as long as i could because the hospital was only allowing a birthing partner in once you were in full blown labour. when i finally decided to go to the hospital there was loads of traffic and then when my brother ran in to get someone he somehow ended up in orthopaedics instead of maternity! by the time he’d got back with help my partner had delivered the baby himself. i had to pay to have the car professionally cleaned 😂 it was really weird because my brother himself was born on the floor of a black cab in a hospital car park. we have very fast labours in my family!

Cerebelle · 20/08/2021 10:32

In my family, there was a surprise home birth. Unfortunately the baby had the cord round her neck and was born blue and floppy. Dad got the cord off and gave rescue breaths. Baby is now a perfectly healthy adult but I think it was quite traumatic for the parents.

Jujujuly · 20/08/2021 10:41

I had this fear with my second - first was born within 3 hours of first contraction so I was terrified. I planned a home birth but for various reasons (no 1 being the baby was expected to be massive so I was a bit scared!) I decided to go in if I could. In the end second labour was 1 hour 15 mins which was fine - we live 25 mins from the hospital so I had time! Baby was 9lb 2oz and it was a great birth.

Original poster

TBC45678 · 20/08/2021 13:52

@rainydogday yes this is my thinking about home birth, no guarantee the midwives will arrive in time if it's very fast anyway...
@Greygreygrey that's one of the questions I want to ask my midwife actually, what happens with the cord and placenta..?! I had an assisted third stage (or whatever you call it when they give you the injection) last time which I definitely want again, I barely noticed it was happening. But maybe you can't do that at home?
@sunshineandshowers21 this is one of my biggest fears! Deciding to get in the car to go and then realising you don't have enough time!

Thanks again everyone for all the advice and stories, it's so so helpful. I do know I'm not guaranteed to have another quick labour but I seem to be focusing all my anxiety on the idea so this is making me feel much better.

OP posts:

Greygreygrey · 20/08/2021 13:56

At home I didn’t have the injection. DD was breastfeeding and it naturally prompted my body to expel it. So I was trapped sitting on the bathroom floor nursing a baby still attached to her placenta. The duvet was a real mess!

We couldn’t really move until the midwife came and cut the cord. The paramedics would have gladly done it, but the midwives didn’t want the to.

PeonyTime · 20/08/2021 14:31

This was nearly 12 years ago now....
I clearly remember the paramedics discussing assisted third stages. I'm sure if I was hemorrhaging, they would have done it, but they were very relieved when I said natural 3rd stage was fine. They also cut the cord.

absolutelyknackeredcow · 20/08/2021 14:58

I had a planned home birth with my second - very nice, birthing pool, candles etc. Two midwives - all very chill despite the snow.

My friend was due her second around the same time and was really rude about my home birth said ' I was taking risks etc'. She had a difficult first birth so I didn't rise to it.
Her baby was born on the hallway with her husband catching it: all fine and no paramedics as they didn't make it time.

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