Do I go for a home birth???

[Candinha]

I wonder if anyone has some experience of home births and can give some advice. I am 28 weeks with No3 baby, 1st one was a ventouse, back to back, 2nd one was a breeze got to hospital fully dilated gave birth within 1/2 hour. This pregancy so far as had no complications, MW thinks a home birth is a good option for me. My worries are;

1. the other two children in the house hearing me screaming
2. me worrying abouth them hearing me
3. hospital 1/2 hour drive away

The plus are;
I absolutely hate hospitals!

Would love to hear from others who have had experience of this, thanks a lot.

Find someone who can look after your children and who is prepared to have them at any time around your due date. Then you won't have to worry about them

My hospital was also half an hour away and was no problem. If you need to they will get there quicker than that with the lights on!

I hate hospital too

Go for it!

i had homebirths for my second and third children

actually, I was so calm and relaxed being in my own home that I didn't scream at all. lots of loud groaning, but no screaming! lol

anyway, with the second I rang my mum and she came and got ds1 and took him to hers for the morning

with ds3 I laboured through the night so it wasn;t an issue, but i'd arranged that if it was during the day my dad or a close friend would come and get them both if necessary, thouhh i was prepared for them to be there depending on how i felt

Congrats!
1 - are you likely to scream? Based on previous labours? How noisy? Depending on age of kids can you prepare them for different possibilities (noises, going to hospital, staying home, people coming into the house).
2 - If you have enough people around to support you and they are officially on the kids its easier to focus on yourself. Before my mum came, I was patting DS back to sleep in the night whilst having fairly bad contractions - you just cope when you have to. Once mum was there I didn't think about him at all.
3 - ambulance will get you there quicker, they can also get emergency stuff to you at home quickly in rapid response vehicles,

I was closer to hospital, but had two great home births, first with DS was easier logistically and let me focus and control the pain. Second was just more convenient, only had to get mum round, had two midwives around, very quick, and great to not have to pack, stay away.

Having said that I'd consider a third birth in hospital if it got me some child free time and bits of sleep, rather than straight away juggling newborn and a toddler wanting me!

But home births were great, go for it if you fancy it!

Thanks for the helpful advice I think I will give it a go as long as everything progresses as it should from now on. My mum and husband will be around and I am sure friends will take them at short notice.

Will let you know how it goes in august!

Best of luck, I had a lovely homebirth with dd2. And compared to hospital it was such a different experience. My elder daughter, who was only 17 months at the time was blissfully unaware of why mummy was huffing and puffing round the garden. And tbh my labour got into full swing once she was in bed. I am sure I relaxed then, and dd was born at 9.30pm. I only screamed once - during transition and the mw was more concerned about the neighbours - sod them I thought we have had to put up with their racket often enough!!

Just remember that you can change your mind at any point and ask to go to hospital. Just because you have registered for a home delivery doesnt mean its cast in stone. And having two midwives to yourself is fabulous. Good luck .

I'm exactly the same. lousy first birth, 2nd one a breeze and hate hospitals. So I'm having this one at home I hope (I'm 36w and just signed the papers). My friend said she'd take the kids round to her house, if it's night we'll hope they sleep and we'll just have to hope that baby isn't born at breakfast time.

My view is tht the hospital don't want you anyway until you've groaned and yelled at home bit so if we want to shield the kids from my noise they'l have to go round to someone else's house anyway.

Thanks again it is lovely to know that people have had good experiences. I am seeing the MW in 3 weeks and will let her know I will go for it. My neighbour is in her eighthies and is almost deaf, so worries about that!

Hi, Just wanted to add my experiences ... I have had HB with both my DS's (water pool for DS2) and would wholeheartedly recommend it!!
As long as your childcare is sorted so you have no concerns for your other children it sounds like it will be great for you.
Re noise - I found that as you are in your own surroundings and so much more relaxed then noise isn't too big a deal (and it's hopefully not for too long anyway!)
Good luck!