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

[Kezza7779]

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

Any info / feedback / comments?

you don't have to spend extra money at all, Leenie! We bought a tarpaulin to put on the carpet and one packet of those disposable bed mats (we have those anyone for the the older DSs. We used old towels to sperad on the tarpaulin.

I couldn't recommend it highly enough. One of the things that I love about it was the fact that I was in control. Whn you're hosital, you end up saying things like "Can I go to the toilet" or "Is it alright if I do...." whereas, at home, you just do what you want and don't think to ask permission!

The best bit for me was DS1 and 2 coming into our room in the morning and seeing their little brother for the first time - such an amazing surprise for them

we bought 3 shower curtains from tesco at 94p each and 3 big towels from asda at £1.50 a piece iirc
midwives were very reluctant to use my new white towels, but I insisted as they had been bought for that very purpose lol
actually have read since though that is can be useful to have white because if you use it when waters go etc it'll show up any blood/meconium etc

midwives bought tons of those bed pad things with them for us to put all over the place as well and left a big pile of them for me to use

Hi Pickie, I had a home birth with my first and I was 38. I had nothing to compare it to except the experience of other women who had their babies at the same time and I definitely had the best care and best experience despite a long labour. I'm hoping to do it all again in May (hopefully with a shorter labour).

I didnt get mine - another blardy CS. I am still sad about it 1.5 yrs later....what a wally i am.

i had a HB with my ds who was my first (and only so far!) baby. Bloody long labour but so glad i was at home, think if i had been in hospital i would have had every intervention going. Had a birth pool which i would really recommend if you like being in water, and a doula who was just amazing, with your first you (and prob your DP) will probably feel a bit clueless as to what is going on and having a doula is so reassuring - think we would have stressed and panicked a lot without her as the mw will just come and go til things really get going.
Even if you plan a HB i think its prob a good move to think thru what would happen/what it will be like if you have to go to hospital/be transferred, just so you don't feel disappointed if that happens.
But go for it, all the best!

ps forgot to say that i am only 2 mins from hospital and might have felt differently if i had been out in the sticks, but sure there are country mummies who HB!

I had my second baby at home (I was two weeks past my 40th birthday, btw). It was lovely. Marvellous.

However, I also agree with fairylights - it's highly unlikely that even if I'd planned to have my first baby at home I'd actually have done so. It is worth just making contingency plans!

Had lovely homebirth for second after horrible hospital experience first time.

If it's your first though it's more unpredictable and you MUST make sure there's medical backup quickly available.

i envy all you lucky ladies who can choose to have a home birth
i would love one but i have to go into hospital due to probs which is a pain
but it just sounds so nice and relaxed especially afterwards,its all so clinical in hospital and not personal

Alot of people have said that its too risky for my first, and my nerves tell me they are prob right, i guess ill have to do hosp but stay at home for as long as poss! im DEFO havig a HB with my 2nd!xxx

hi Kezza, of course it is absolutely your decision but just thought of a book i read which really helped me decide when i was jittery about the HB idea, its called "homebirth" (original!) by Sheila Kitzinger. And if you decide you would still rather go to hospital then that is great - having peace with yourself is the most important thing! All the best