Home birth

7 replies

houserenohelp · 01/02/2025 12:57

I'd love a home birth but as a 39 yr old first time mum is that possible?

We're 30 mins away from the closest hospital but I just would really like one obviously pending not having any issues during pregnancy

Would love to hear others stories

My friend had hers at home all went well
Another friend the baby got stuck and there was an ambulance called but they managed to deliver the baby and he's now a healthy 7 year old

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Secularbeaver · 01/02/2025 16:37

It's completely your choice where you birth although you may be "told" otherwise - I'm almost 39 and planning a home birth (this week) but I'm using an independent midwife as the service is suspended in my area.

Dryshampoofordays · 01/02/2025 16:39

I planned a home birth for my first, would recommend everyone considers it if they can. Good luck OP!

Citygirlrurallife · 01/02/2025 16:47

I had two home births and I personally think that even by looking into it it means you are giving yourself a more educated choice on your options, even if you end up deciding not to go through with it, which is better than making assumptions as I reckon doing (or at least starting/aiming) the option that makes you feel safest is most likely to lead to the best outcome - a comfortable, safe delivery with a healthy baby.

be prepared for the hordes of people who will tell you their baby would have died if they’d not been in a hospital (homebirthers are never “allowed” to point out the babies that die in hospital due to severe lack of midwives and unnecessarily difficult and traumatic deliveries thanks to the cascade of intervention) But also mentally prepare yourself for the transfer in if you need it. Nobody knows what would have happened in another situation, but do your research and take the option that feels right for you once you’ve done so

LuckysDadsHat · 01/02/2025 16:58

I had my second with a homebirth. I absolutely loved it. I was rushed in after the birth for a PPH, but I felt safe and looked after. The only disappointment for me was I was too ill and I had to get to hospital quickly so I had to leave the baby behind with husband and they travelled separately to me at hospital. I'm too old for babies now, but I would advocate a home birth to anyone. I felt so in control, I felt empowered by the 2 midwives I had, and it was so much better than my hospital first birth.

Temporaryname158 · 01/02/2025 17:00

Yes two home births here. Excellent experiences. I really didn’t want a hospital birth. The beauty is during a home birth you have 2 dedicated midwives attending to you. In hospital, 1 will be shared between many women.

I did a private hypnosis course in preparation as well

pastapeteliketoeat · 01/02/2025 17:17

It completely depends but the only thing I would say in my experience (I have given birth twice, but never HB) is that birth is unpredictable.

With my first, I was on paper an ideal candidate for a HB and faced quite a lot of pressure from the midwives to have one. I was fit, only just 30, healthy and had a problem free pregnancy.

I said no because I wanted to be near to all of the drugs if I needed them and also emergency care if needed. I aimed to go to the midwife - led unit which is on the same site as our regular, well equipped hospital.

I'm glad I didn't have a HB because it's likely that both me and my baby would've died if I had have and that's without a shred of exaggeration. Baby got stuck and I ended up giving birth in theatre in a very serious emergency situation. I won't go into the gory details but it was very touch and go for us both. Even being blue-lighted we'd never have reached the care we needed in time.

Tons of women have lovely HBs and the idea of being in my own home did appeal to me. But as I say birth is unpredictable. You can appear as I did, to be the perfect fit with no risk factors for a safe HB and still things can go sideways very quickly.

Consider it very, very carefully.

Begby6789 · 01/02/2025 17:26

My first was hospital, felt like medical interventions were being unnecessarily pushed eg strap round belly to monitor heart rate due to some blood loss, waters broken, threat of ventouse if I didn't get on with pushing and ended up with stitches. Felt like I had been in battle at the end.
Home birth for second and it was one of the best days of my life. No painkillers and I was able to move my body as I wished. Still had the blood loss, but midwives weren't bothered this time. Waters allowed to break naturally (pushing stage), no stitches. Had a cuppa and a mars bar afterwards.

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