Anyone thinking about a homebith?

[Sherlock]

There is a thread on homebirthing in the Ask A Mum section. Hopefully it'll be of use to you

viewtopic.php?f=62&t=86464

I loved my homebirth and if we have a second I plan on having that one here at home also (all being well).

 

[pickled_onion]

I'm certainly considering it and the midwives in my area support homebirths so that's a plus. I lean more towards a home birth as time goes on because I don't want the unnecessary intervention that hospital births can sometimes involve. I want things to be natural and stress-free. But at the same time I'm concerned because this is my first pregnancy, my mum and my MIL don't seem to think it's a good idea and if a complication were to arise, I'm a good forty miles away from the nearest hospital with a delivery unit. I'm not sure what to do for the best

 

[Cixes]

Yeah i am a bit the same now i have talked to my mum - whilst she thinks that a homebirth would be lovely (and she hates hospitals so understands why i would want one) she is very worried that if anything did go wrong i wouldn't be in the safest place. I kind of agree because at least in the hospital you have all the dr's there on hand for both me and baby and my health hasn't been great over the past year. To be honest i can feel SPD starting again and its earlier than last time so i think that i will be in agony by about 30 weeks and will asked to be induced again at 38 weeks.

I know that they say an induced labour is worse but mine was actually no worse than my 2 naturally induced labours. I get that wobbly moment where i scream for an epidural but thats usually mins before i start pushing.

At the hospital where i would give birth the have a birthing suite that you can use if low dep, you partner can stay the night with you in your private room, but if i get induced that won't be an option!

So i am back thinking i will be having a hospital birth - simply because my mum would panic and if something went wrong i would think that it was my fault for not being in the medical setting. I am going to insist on little intervention though, have an active birth and use hypnobirthing techniques.

 

[LittleLambe]

I would love to have a home birth but I have Group B Strep, so will have to be given antibiotics when I go into labour

 

[Potbelijo]

I like the idea of a home birth purely becaues I'm a little phobic of hospitals. When we went for our first scan last week I was clutching the OH's hand, everyone said how terrified I looked.

However I mentioned a home birth to him and he went white with horror, he doesn't do well with blood and guts

The only thing that is really putting me off is that I'm really worried that the stress of labour might trigger my Bell's Palsy. I think I need to be somewhere where they can deal with that if it happens.

Maybe next time

 

[valentine]

I had a home birth with my first baby in summer 2007. It was the most magical special experience of my life, I can't recommend it highly enough.

Here's the link to my birth story (warning, it's long!)

Valentine Xxx

 

[valleygirl24]

Ive been thinking of a homebirth and was all for it but now Ive been starting to think rationally, Im due in February, it could be snowing so what if something goes wrong? will an ambulance get to me in time? As its my first will I be able to cope with labour and only having gas and air or pethidine?
I think Im more against it in case something goes wrong, at least in hospital there are doctors etc on hand to help if need be, while at home Id have to wait for an ambulance and then get to the hospital (about 20 mins). But I dont like the thought of being left in hospital on the first night without having Ian there with me.

 

[mynemma]

i would love a home birth but had a 30 hour labour with me first ended up useing forceps 2 get him out.so my partner thinks its a bad idea i would rather me b in hospital in case sumthink goes wrong.but i would love 2 as i have starting suffering from panic attacks since i had my first an i would b alot more relaxed at home.but dont thinks its going 2 happen as my partner dont wont me too.

 

[claire_louise]

i'd probably consider it if i had my own place and a partner who'd be there, at the moment i wont be moving to my own place till january. and having visited the maternity ward (after a horrible scare) and having a nosey round and meeting the staff who are lovely i'm more then happy about giving birth there .... saying that now i'll prob end up having a super quick labour and giving birth in the bath (my worst fear for some reason)

Cixes i think in your situation it sounds perfect

EllieBelle sorry the bit about the border collie creased me up, we've got 2 and i can just see ours doing the exact things you said !

 

[Sherlock]

Ive been thinking of a homebirth and was all for it but now Ive been starting to think rationally, Im due in February, it could be snowing so what if something goes wrong? will an ambulance get to me in time? As its my first will I be able to cope with labour and only having gas and air or pethidine?
I think Im more against it in case something goes wrong, at least in hospital there are doctors etc on hand to help if need be, while at home Id have to wait for an ambulance and then get to the hospital (about 20 mins). But I dont like the thought of being left in hospital on the first night without having Ian there with me.

You know you are no less safe having a homebirth than delivering your baby in hospital. MW's are well trained to spot problems and can ensure you are transferred in plenty of time should you need to go to hospital.

FWIW you can always opt for a homebirth but if you change your mind while in labour you can still be transferred (this is with things going well also) should you wish.

I had a homebirth, first time older mum and loved it. Did so on TENS machine, a bit of gas and air and a birthpool. I live 45 minutes from the hospital out in the sticks and I was never worried about transfer times etc. It was all so well explained to me about what would happen should I need to go to hospital that I was fine with everything. Even if you need something like an 'emergency' C section it still takes them 30 or so minutes to prep you for one and prepare the operating theatre. Longer than the time it takes for you to get to hospital. As my MW told me, they would then be ready and waiting for me when I arrived.

Also remember that first labours tend to be slower and therefore problems have plenty of time to present themselves. You'll have one on one MW care at home (which you won't in hospital) and then 2-1 care when ready to deliver.

Gas and air is good, you can also use water to labour in, TENS machine, hypnobirthing. So many more options available. Pethedine is only given if pre agreed and isn't a drug the MW's will administer unless pre arranged if having a homebirth. I think being at home (if you opt for it) actually makes for a more relaxed labour and birth experience. I certainly found it wonderful and not one single problem occured that my MW's were not able to deal with brilliantly (and actually better than they would have done in hospital IMHO). That prpblem was my contractions stopped and didn't start again but I was 8cms dilated. My MW gave me a massage in clary sage and got me moving lots to get the contractions back. I know if this had happened in hospital I'd not have had those things or been allowed the time. It would have ended in medical intervention in hospital. My baby was born naturally with no intervention Made all the difference.

Its really worth reading up on homebirthing if you are interested, at least so you can be properly informed and have the facts. Most of your concerns are things that many women think about but once researched it actually becomes a lot clearer and actually not so scary or worrying.

There is a thread here on it all with loads of links.

viewtopic.php?f=62&t=86464

 

[trixipaws]

i had a homebirth and it was one of the best decisions i ever made