Home Births

[ASD123456]

Hello,

This is a question for those of you who have had/ planning to have/ know anything about home births.

Firstly when do I need to decide that I am having one? I hadn't really considered it until now but have been thinking more and more about it over the last few weeks and am wondering if I have left it too late to show an interest.

How do I go about getting information, and planning this?


Thanks in advance,

Alex xxx

 

[maybebaby]

I had decided that I wanted a home birth really early on and mentioned it to my midwife on my first appointment. They didn't do anything until about 30 weeks when she came round my house to discuss whether it was a viable option & explain about pain relief etc. Then at 37 weeks they dropped off the labour pack.

I'm pretty sure you can decide at any time, but you can also change your mind if you want. I know someone who had planned a home birth from day one, had her first few contractions & decided to go to hospital!

Have a chat with your midwife & say it's something you're considering & she should be able to give you some more information.

Good luck

 

[ASD123456]

Thanks for the reply Mayebaby, I have my 28 week appointment in a couple of weeks so I'll mention it then.

I've just read your birth story and it sounds like you had a really good experience with your homeborth and an exeptionally fast labour- lucky you!

Alex xxx

 

[Sherlock]

Talk to your MW first. They don't book you in till around 36/37 weeks for a homebirth anyways, but need to know in advance so they can prepare, monitor and advise you. You can change your mind at any time also right up till you go into labour and beyond and transfer to hospital. So always worth taking the hospital tour etc nearer your due date so you are familiar.

I have my 36 week MW appointment tomorrow and she will officially book me in for a homebirth and give me my box of kit and also a list of other things I might need (though I have most already). If I go into labour before 37 weeks I should in principal go to hospital to deliver but a day or two before that I should be fine for home still. I can go 12 days overdue, maybe a bit more and then is hospital birth only really.

Homebirth site has some great info on it all. http://www.homebirth.org.uk/

Explains the pros and cons and also has decent info that is not scaremongering doom and gloom. Simply informative and useful.

Drop me a PM if you have any questions. I've really done masses of homework on homebirth and have loads of info if you want/need it.

 

[ASD123456]

Thanks for that link and the reply Sherlock, I've been looking at that website and it seems to be very informative on the subject. No doubt I'll think of some questions to ask you over the next few weeks so I might be PMing.

I just wish I could afford a private midwife!

Alex xxx

 

[trixipaws]

i'd decided really early and i mentioned it at my booking in appointment- she put me on the list right there and then! as early as possible, i'd say. x

 

[Kylie1007]

I have no idea what you need to to to prepare for a home birth as I adamently wanted a hospital birth, however I ended up having one and didn't need any specialist equipment (the MW had all the kit in her boot) and I would highly recommend it!