Planning a homebirth (due mid Sept 2022)- anyone else planning one?

[amorningperson]

Hello!

I just thought I'd start a thread for people planning home births - just so we can gather to discuss if anyone fancies it. I'm 37 weeks second time mum, and really looking forward to my birth. Positioning scan confirmed a head down baby and plenty of fluid so got the green light. A bit anaemic but have got some supplements on the go. Got my pool and my kit ready but haven't packed a hospital bag or like a home birth supply box or anything, still to come.

Hope everyone else is doing fine :)

Mood board 😊

@PumpkinsMum18 I love this! I painted myself some signs for labour :))

@Libmama Jeeezo that sounds crazy - well done you though!

@SirSamVimesCityWatch Sounds lovely! Did you have your first kid there with you?

@Brokenandstressed Congratulations for March! Hopefully this thread will give you some info/inspo :)

@Potatomashed sounds dreamy!!

@awwbiscuits 🖐I'm also on the thread, though I find it a bit overwhelming! Hurray for confirmation, I also got mine yesterday (38 weeks) and refused induction last time too. Had a long chat with my midwife who told me that the study they base induction at 40 + weeks on is reaaaally old (50 years old!) and was poorly conducted.

@ZenNudist That's amazing well done you!! Sounds so lovely. What hypnobirthing music did you have

I've got some questions for those who've have home births: I read the hypnobirthing book and have the Freya app - but haven't found any tracks I actually really click with. did you use tracks or did you just adopt the concepts?

@mummalog eek hope they arrive soon! The waiting game is TOUGH! Good luck with vbac! How are you feeling about it all?

@Poppins2016 So good to know this - thank you! Congratulations!

@PumpkinsMum18 Beautiful mood board!! I've got some photos to print out and some affirmations. Mind me asking what happened with your transfer the first time? I've been looking for transfer stories actually as you never know - I want to keep a really open mind. I'm also ready to go -ish, need to put finishing touches on hospital bag/home birth box (I've been sectioning off clean towels, tarp etc). What have you prepped in terms of personal touches? I've got a diffuser and some fairy lights so far, and a bluetooth speaker... pretty basic.

I had a home birth last September. Not due another one any time soon but saw this thread come up.
I did hypnobirthing too and couldn't get on with the readings and bits. I used some tracks to chill out/fall to sleep to and then had them on in early labour but my main take away from hypnobirthing was the breathing and mantras. It worked well for me like that. Take what works for you.
I had a home VBAC in a pool and it was healing from my first birth. Would recommend highly.

The homebirth group UK on Facebook is great and there are some great podcasts too.

@amorningperson thank you 😊

I wouldn’t call my story a transfer as such…. My contractions started the day before I gave birth and I was managing ok at home with TENS machine and walking around etc. They started ramping up the next morning and my husband called my home birth midwife, but she said she wasn’t sure who could come to us as lots of the team were off sick! Not really what you want to hear! Thinking back, this was at the beginning of March 2020, so covid was looming, and I imagine many midwives/healthcare people were getting concerned even if the public were not so aware.
Anyway, I also got into my head that I hadn’t felt the baby move much (probably just distracted by contractions) so midwife on phone suggested we go to triage to get checked. So off we went on the very uncomfortable car journey to the hospital! I arrived and was examined and I was already 5cm dilated and my waters broke so we weren’t going back home then. I was taken to the labour ward and my baby was born that evening. I had an episiotomy and vontouse delivery but managed with mostly only gas and air. So not the birth I planned but still a good experience 😊

Great thread! I'm due November, planning a homebirth. Baby is currently measuring big but I'm only 29 weeks so just going to play that by ear! Does anyone know if you can have a birthing pool upstairs in an old house (suspended floors) or if I'm just overthinking absolutely everything It will be my first baby and midwife and DH (and DCat) are v supportive!

Planning my 4th Homebirth! Great thread 🥰

Lovely thread - tears in my eyes reading your experiences :) Probably the pregnancy hormones haha but still. I'm only 8 weeks pregnant atm, but I planned a home birth for my first - it was a very very long labour due to awkward baby position (nearly 4 days from first surge to birth) and I did end up transferring to hospital when I was about 7cm as I was exhausted and needed a bit more pain relief so I could rest, but honestly my time at home was wonderful - such good memories bobbing in the birth pool, I had two midwives and my doula and DH, I had frozen grapes, G&A and the hypnobirthing helped me so so much.
OP I also did PBC, I just used my own music - didn't use the guided tracks while in actual labour - but I put some of the affirmations on the wall and it really helped to focus on these during contractions. Also the breathing in for 4, out for 8 - so helpful. But also I wouldn't try to track to contractions yourself on Freya as it can take you out of the moment - get hubby to do it :) This is one thing I regret, I spent the first couple of days trying to track and it meant I didnt have much sleep and also put me too in my own head.

Would love a HB for no 2 so hoping I can aim for this again :) best of luck everyone!! x

@bravotango There was an old thread recently that got resurrected by a structural engineer giving advice about whether or not you could have a birthing pool upstairs! I can’t recall what he concluded but it’s worth searching for.

@Amber17 ah thank you! Will have a look. I asked my midwife yesterday and she said no to having the pool upstairs so I suppose that's that! I have a cellar though so having it on the ground floor might also be an issue...

Update - I had my second baby yesterday at home!

I gave birth to her in the pool which was an amazing experience. I got to lift her out the water myself like I always wanted. Very intense day but husband and midwives were so supportive and encouraging.

Is anyone else still planning a home birth?

Congratulations @PumpkinsMum18 !! Amazing!

I'm 37 weeks now, the pool is up and the tens machine ready 🤣🥰

@bravotango my birth pool is up on the 2nd floor (loft conversion) no one has batted an eyelid!

My 3rd baby was born in the pool in the nursery (also upstairs) so I don't see the problem with your pool location

Congratulations @PumpkinsMum18 so happy for you. I'm not due for ages yet and not even sure homebirth is an option but would love one and would love a pool for pain relief this time round. Thinking of hiring one just in case to use at home for a long as possible.

Aw, congratulations! Glad you got the experience you wanted. Any chance of a photo of the squishling?!

I ditched the nhs and hired an independent midwife. I want a homebirth unless there is a medical emergency. Nhs just straight up told me no and gave a bunch of bs "reasons" such as "big baby" at the 12 week scan!

I would never EVER birth in a hospital. Did it once and it was horrendous.

Short of a serious emergency, there is zero reason for me to leave the house.

Food and drink available. Intimacy with my husband, my smells, my furniture, freedom of movement. No stress whatsoever.

I had my wonderful home birth on the 6th - midwife was only here for 41 mins before he arrived - I pushed for 21 of those. My daughter watched him come out and i felt amazing afterwards - was on the school run the day after :)

congrats Guys!
Im planning a homebirth for my second baby (due 6th oct) after a negative experience in hospital first time round. Really hoping this dream comes true!

Planning a home birth here too! Due on 23rd October. Birth pool arrived a few days ago and midwife home visit is this weekend. Really looking forward to it.

@SwordToFlamethrower couldn't you sign a form and still have a homebirth on the nhs? I was refused one for my first but really fought the midwives, consultants etc and after signing a few forms I was ok to go ahead. My ginormous dangerous baby was born at 39+6 at 7.1lbs :)

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How is everyone getting on? Did any of you who were due have your babies yet? I'm slowly counting down the days (and weeks 😬😩)

Due in two weeks! Had my midwife home visit last week and my birthing pool has arrived. Quite excited about it now!

@awwbiscuits how have you been getting on?
I was also due on the 6th so just waiting for baby to make an appearance. This will be my first and home birth supplies are ready!

How far along are you?
I'm good thank you! We're good, actually. He's such a sweet little thing and his sister is besotted with him. She keeps saying 'I'm so proud of you for getting him out mummy'