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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

HOME BIRTHS - who's done it? who's doing it?

36 replies

Kezza7779 · 26/03/2008 18:17

Hi all,
I am 20 weeks pregnant with my first child and am considering a home birth....

Any info / feedback / comments?

OP posts:

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motherhurdicure · 26/03/2008 19:47

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jaynz · 26/03/2008 20:06

We had a homebirth too and the best thing about it is that when baby has come and the placenta and everything all cleared up, you just sit down with a cuppa on your own couch in your pj's, then have a sleep in your own bed with your partner. It's really relaxing. I couldn't imagine not being in my own space.

Interventions are less common, bleeding is less, breastfeeding is better established etc etc etc

Enjoy your birth no matter where you decide to go You only get to have this baby once after all!

cazboldy · 26/03/2008 20:09

Go for it!

I have 5dc. I have had 4 hb, and each one was fantastic, in a different way!

Definitely the best it is getting back into your own bed, after a bath in your own bath, with a cup of tea in your own mug, and all your family there too.

Can also be very convenient if you have older dc hth x

pattymc · 26/03/2008 20:16

hi I had a brilliant homebirth and definitely recommend a waterpool. best thing about it was obviously the comfort of moving from my bed into the pool upstairs and the privacy as only 1 midwife made it. Afterwards I will never forget lying in bed on a beautiful sunny friday evening with my little boy, dh and a few cold beers...watching eastenders. I sound classy don't I!

moodywren · 26/03/2008 20:27

I had a homebirth last time and planning another one in October. Its so much more relaxed and I was able to give dh lots of little jobs to do in early labour which stopped him worrying too much and made him feel less like a spare part.

I had much better care at home having had 2 hospital births where we were more or less left to our own devices in a room until dh opened the door and yelled down the corridor for help (I think if he hadn't he'd have ended up delivering the baby).

At home I had two midwives with and had gas and air. I was able to move around and do what I wanted.

Plan on having a pool this time, although dh isn't keen (think its 'cos he'll have to fill it

WombFor1More · 26/03/2008 21:40

Ooooh thay're great

I had a hb with dd last July. Previously had 2 ds in hospital. Although ds births were good my dd birth was so much better. Being at home is so lovely and if your mw sees any reason at all that things aren't looking as they should be then they will transfer you to hospital. Imo a hb is safer as you always have at least one mw solely dedicated to you. You will be much more relaxed in your own home.

I'm currently planning a hb with this one, due end of Sept. Fingers crossed I have another one.

Good luck for whatever you decide.

LilyToTheB · 27/03/2008 09:24

I love the idea of having a home birth too! It'll be my first, due in July
Just love the idea of being in your own surroundings, with home comforts. And I really don't like hospitals!
I say go for it if you can!

Nbg · 27/03/2008 09:29

I had mt 3rd child in December and it was my first home birth.
All I can say is Amazing.

With the other two I had interventions, had to have my waters broke, both became distressed during the labour and pooed inside me.

With dc3 I had a 2 hour labour, no interventions, waters broke naturally and baby stayed calm all the way through. No increase/decrease in heartbeat at all.

I would recommend it to everyone.

LynetteScavo · 27/03/2008 09:35

I had a home birth with my 3rd, after 2 horrid hostpital births. It was sooooo much better.

honeyapple · 27/03/2008 09:52

I had a HB with my third baby- and it was great- HOWEVER- not sure i would have gone with it first time around- there is so much unknown with your first birth. I would recommend staying at home for as long as possible- but if you need to go to hospital for pain relief or whatever- then do it, and DO NOT feel like you have somehow 'failed'. Birth is an overwhelming experience and all women deal with it differently. Be as informed as you can be, good luck. x

pickie · 27/03/2008 10:08

HB with both DC, love it, would do it again (if DH gives me a chance!)

Yankunian · 27/03/2008 10:48

I'm doing it. HB with pool planned for May (my first babe) and I am really looking forward to it, because I think I will be so much more relaxed and comfy.

The more I learn about it the less I understand why anyone would choose to go into hospital if they didn't need to. I was a little uncertain about the safety of it at first, but when I found out you get two midwives and they bring oxygen in case the baby need it at birth, I felt quite reassured.

LynetteScavo · 27/03/2008 10:51

I think with a first baby, trying a home birth with the option to transfer to hostpital is wise. To tis day, I don't know if I had a difficult birth with DS1 because I was in hostpital, or if things would have gone more smoothly if I'd been at home. As previously said, it's not a failure if you transfer.

Leenie · 27/03/2008 11:56

i would love to have a home birth, but i really am so scared...i have had two hospital births, 15 and 17 yrs ago (sounds so long ago) i am 35 now, and i have read so many scary things about how much harder it can be over 35, my baby is due in early sept, and my midwife said she sees no reason why i shouldnt consider home birth, can i be personal and ask:

if any one else over 35 has had good home birth experience,
has anyone else had a big gap between births and was the latter much worse than the early ones, i am so stressed out i think i am more worried than i was with my first

pickie · 27/03/2008 12:03

Leenie, how far away from the hospital are you? If not too far why not start at home and if you cant settle transfer to hospital.

Cant do it the other way around but you can change your mind the last minute re going to hospital when at home

and I have one friend who is over 35 and had a homebirth and she had no problems. (was her DD2, DD1 was born in hospital)

RosaIsRed · 27/03/2008 12:07

I've had two home births over 35, DD2 at 36 and DD3 at 38. Both were fantastic experiences, much better than the hospital birth I had with DD1. There wasn't a big gap though, I had DD1 at 33. I don't see why your age should be a problem, it certainly wasn't for me.

BoysOnToast · 27/03/2008 12:10

i loved my HB. would have them all at home if it werent for dp freaking out about what 'could' go wrong... which was bull as there was absolutely NO indication that anything would go wrong for me... ho hum.

Leenie · 27/03/2008 13:00

I am only about 10 mins drive from the hospital, reading everyones experiences has made me feel like i def want to consider a h/b. another question i have is do you have to get a lot of stuff for a home birth , in other words will it work out expensive,

JingleyJen · 27/03/2008 13:01

had 2 would love to experience it again... really wonderful.

Bettispaghetti · 27/03/2008 13:42

both DD and DS were hospital births. I had a retained placenta with DD and DS was forceps delivery as the cord was wrapped around his neck. I would be very interested in a home birth (not least because I wouldn't have to worry about childcare) but my GP has advised me against it. I tend to think they err on the side of caution but what if they are right. No one has encouraged me to have a HB but it would be so much simpler for me...plus I do worry about the staff shortages and super bugs in hospital. Anyone else had intervention and then gone on to have HB? How did you pursuade your GP to let you have one?

Thanks Betti

Original poster

Kezza7779 · 27/03/2008 22:35

WOW thanks everyone, i was thinking plan for a home birth with the possibility of going to hospital if i felt like i needed to. i will talk with my lovely midwife about it for sure after all your amazing responses.

Keep them coming....

Anyone had a bad experience?xxx

OP posts:

fingerwoman · 27/03/2008 22:40

I had a home birth with my second and it was fantastic.
I was worried because with ds1 I was in hosp and had gas and air, pethidine then an epidural so thought I was a huge wimp
second time round I delivered a 9lb 5oz back to back baby with no pain relief in just under 6 hours

I put that down to the following:
being so relaxed because I was at home
having 2 lovely, lovely midwives
relaxing in the birth pool
being able to stay really active and do things how I wanted to

I would recommend a homebirth to anyone. I vowed never to have another baby after ds1's birth. this time round it was such a fantastic experience I want to do it agian

fingerwoman · 27/03/2008 22:41

oh and yes, it is SO nice being in your own home afterwards

Ledodgy · 27/03/2008 22:46

I had a homebirth in January with my third and it was fab. It got slightly hairy at the end as the cord was twice round his neck and the cord had a true knot in it but thankfully they were all loose so he didn't even get into distress. If either had been tight there would be nothing they could have done at home or in hospital. I have read research that suggests that home birth babies are much more chilled out then hospital ones and this is certainly true of ds2. He only cries when he's hungry or needs winding the rest of the time he is happy as larry and he sleeps at night!

jennifersofia · 27/03/2008 22:51

Had hb for my first 2, and planning 3rd in a couple of days. All wonderful empowering and fantastic experiences!
Haven't bought anything other than usual baby stuff, like clothes for babby and nappies.
all the best.

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