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

Original poster

Home Birth suspended

146 replies

OneLilacAnt · 06/02/2026 21:57

I am just after a little bit of reassurance…

I am 39 weeks pregnant and had planned a home birth however I have just had a phone call to say that all home births (in my area) have been suspended for the foreseeable.

One of my main reasons for home birth was because I had a very quick labour with my first child (5 hours from start to finish) and I live an hour away from the hospital. My midwife encouraged me to have a home birth as I am low risk and she also felt it was the safest option due to where I live. I also have to think about logistics of childcare when I go into labour.
I am worried I will end up having the baby in the car!

Has anyone else been in this situation? Did anyone else have a quicker birth second time round after a quick first birth?

Any responses would be appreciated- thank you!

OP posts:
Swaytheboat · 06/02/2026 22:00

First birth - six hours. Second birth - 40 mins.

I think you're right to be concerned. I think all you can do is head to the hospital at the first twinge and be ready to call and ambulance en route. Not ideal at all. How far away is your childcare? Can they come and stay with you?

Original poster
OneLilacAnt · 06/02/2026 23:12

Thank you for your response.

Yes, as soon as I feel anything I am going to head straight there. Childcare is 25 mins away - opposite direction to the hospital!
Would be good if they could stay but unfortunately don’t have a spare bed anymore!

OP posts:
Monvelo · 06/02/2026 23:15

My second birth was quite a few hours longer if that is in any way good to know.

Original poster
OneLilacAnt · 06/02/2026 23:21

Oh that is good to know - thank you!

OP posts:
Secretseverywhere · 06/02/2026 23:22

I also had a quick first birth. My second I was induced at 39+2 as tbh I was genuinely concerned about making it the 90 minutes to hospital. Which given my second stage was 10 minutes was a good idea in hindsight.

mixedcereal · 06/02/2026 23:23

I was induced with my first birth but the midwives said it was quick, I went from 2cm-10cm in 2 hours, I was told my second birth would be quick based on this. My second birth was 30mins at home unexpectedly

DrJump · 06/02/2026 23:23

I would also prep an emergency home birth kit in case baby does come super fast. Nothing special just a few clean towels, a container for placenta and a blanket for mum and baby. A bottle of water and some sweets. You can keep it in the car.

ToriMounj · 06/02/2026 23:24

Call them as soon as you think things are happening. If it suddenly ramps up before you leave don’t get in the car and call an ambulance. Better to have baby in the house than in the car.
If the baby comes, think
*warm room
*be in a position where baby can’t drop far ie get off the toilet

  • skin to skin and cover with towels to keep warm *leave the cord alone
OhDear111 · 06/02/2026 23:25

@OneLilacAnt Buy a camping bed? Or what we used to call a “put u up” if it’s only one person coming. It’s not easy being rural but a midwife could have taken longer to get to you !

stickydough · 06/02/2026 23:28

Would it be worth putting in a complaint given it is midwife advised and could increase risk? Perhaps they could reconsider in cases like yours. I’m sorry, this must be unsettling when it’s been your plan until now.

JLou08 · 06/02/2026 23:33

My first was 3.5 hours, 2nd was 9 hours and I hemorrhaged.

Bombinia · 06/02/2026 23:56

I've had two home births, first was five hours, second was three hours. And I personally go from nothing to full on contacting so no way could I travel once I realise I'm in labour.

Have you thought about getting a doula? She could help you work out the best time to go to hospital.

Itsalljustapuzzle · 07/02/2026 00:01

You must be gutted. I would be asking lots of questions here, what a shame.

We live almost an hour from hospital, went to set off within a few mins of first twinge of my second labour. I didn’t make it to the car before I started pushing and baby was born at home with no medical help (ambulance took hours). I have to say though I’d had on-and-off labour for days before, lots of sweeps etc but I hadn’t expected it to be that quick.

I don’t know what your options are but it’s definitely worth having plenty of towels, blankets, something to tie the cord with (they recommended tieing but not cutting), just in case. An as pp said, set off when you get the first twinges! Good luck x

HiCandles · 07/02/2026 00:05

Can you get a neighbour lined up to mind DC until your preferred childcare arrives so you can set off for hospital straight away?

ToriMounj · 07/02/2026 00:08

Don’t tie the cord. Just leave it alone.

Theserockingchicks · 07/02/2026 00:09

I guess you’re in Gloucestershire, presumably Forest of Dean? How stressful for you to be in this situation, I can imagine this must be a worry. It’s so frustrating that the home birth service has been suspended considering the lack of hospitals in the area, and also the lack of access to hospitals in the surrounding counties. I had a short second labour with a similar length hospital journey and gave birth half an hour after arriving, all worked out fine but an alarming experience thinking I’d give birth in the car!

EarringsandLipstick · 07/02/2026 00:11

It’s not a given your second will be especially quick.

With DC1, I was 7 hours, but possibly in labour earlier, without realising. DC2, definitely things were happening during the day but I carried on with my day & then was about 2/2.5 hours in active labour, and DC3 (that I expected would be so quick & easy) was 3 (quite brutal) hours, with an hour or so before that of twinges.

Presumably home births are suspended for a reason. I’d work out childcare arrangements with a neighbour, and whoever is coming can take over from them.

RocketLollyPolly · 07/02/2026 07:48

Could you ask the hospital to induce you so you’ll already be there?

Original poster
OneLilacAnt · 07/02/2026 08:33

Thank you so much for all of your comments.

@Theserockingchicks - I am in Herefordshire and assuming the suspension happened just yesterday as that’s when I had the call. Frustrating as also spent money on hiring the pool too!

I will definitely have an emergency birthing kit prepared and call at any signs of labour! I am also going to ask my midwife about induction and being safer than risking car birth! The floods this weekend also aren’t helping as it would take me even longer to get to hospital with all the road closures if I go into labour!

@Bombinia i have thought about looking into
doula and asking for some advice.

Thank you everyone again for all of your help and advice - really appreciate it.

OP posts:
Swaytheboat · 07/02/2026 09:30

OneLilacAnt · 07/02/2026 08:33

Thank you so much for all of your comments.

@Theserockingchicks - I am in Herefordshire and assuming the suspension happened just yesterday as that’s when I had the call. Frustrating as also spent money on hiring the pool too!

I will definitely have an emergency birthing kit prepared and call at any signs of labour! I am also going to ask my midwife about induction and being safer than risking car birth! The floods this weekend also aren’t helping as it would take me even longer to get to hospital with all the road closures if I go into labour!

@Bombinia i have thought about looking into
doula and asking for some advice.

Thank you everyone again for all of your help and advice - really appreciate it.

I'd also say that if you're considering a doula it might be worth looking at cheap accommodation close to the hospital as it might not be that different in cost

ladyofthemanor24 · 07/02/2026 09:53

My first labour was 6 hours and I also worried about second being fast. In the end I had lots of warning and time to get to the hospital (although I wouldn’t go home like the recommended!) it was fast when I got going (4 hours active) but I had warning before that point.
I made DH read the section about what to do if baby comes a few weeks before. A kit is a good idea.
but just to say, I had the same concerns but it was ok and I hope it is for you too.

dizzydizzydizzy · 07/02/2026 09:56

I can understand your concern. My first birth was 5 hours, second 4 hours. DC2 was born about 10 minutes after arriving in hospital and I was living 10 minutes away from the hospital.

The only options I can think of is to lobby your midwife or obstetrician, get a private midwife, get the grandparents or friends to stay in your house so you can head for the hospital at the first twinge or get an Airbnb near the hospital.

ToriMounj · 07/02/2026 10:02

Also, it’s less likely to happen if you are anticipating it. Most babies born at home unexpectedly are where mum has had a longer first labour and thinks they have hours to go so they stay home and it suddenly accelerates.
I don’t think I’d spend on a doula for this reason, it’s a lot of money if you just want someone to agree when is the right time to call- you have to decide when to call the doula too. Don’t rely on having a doula there to keep your home birth safe, they don’t have medical training and this isn’t their remit.

handmademitlove · 07/02/2026 11:17

My second was born at home without midwife even though home birth was planned, for the same reasons you have given. I would not get in a car if I thought there was a chance I would give birth there - at home without medical support is definitely better than in a car without medical help! I would ask the midwives for a plan - ours simply said to call 999 if there was any issue.

lhsf844 · 07/02/2026 11:21

That’s really frustrating OP. I had a home birth with my second for the same reason and my labour was less than an hour from start to finish and I had no signs it was coming, he absolutely would have been born in a car if I’d tried to get in. Midwife didn’t make it in time.

I think you’ll have to play it by ear, if labour comes as fast as mine did I wouldn’t have got in a car, but trust your body when the time comes, if you get some early signs just get yourself in. If it feels like it’s progressing quickly, don’t get in the car. Call your midwife.

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