Home Births

[Hypnorm]

Anyone planning to have a home birth or have you had a home birth?
I am due my 2nd kid in Feb and i really want a home birth this time as i hated the way i was treated in hospital with Ewan. I will get better care from my hubby at home and i will be much more relaxed i think.

Did you find it hard getting a home birth? i had slightly raised BP last time, so got transfered from the maternity unit to hospital and it was horrid!

Would have been treated better at the vets where i used to work!!

 

[Daffodil]

I am having a home birth.

If you experience any difficulties see this site http://www.aims.org.uk/

also http://www.radmid.demon.co.uk/

The first organisation, AIMS are compaigning for home births to be better available for everyone.

It is your legal right to give birth where you wish, but at the moment the nhs does not have to provide a midwife. The government is backing plans to provide midwives for anyone birthing at home though.

Dawn

 

[Daffodil]

http://www.birthchoiceuk.com/BirthChoic ... eBirth.htm

 

[Daffodil]

A study by Mehl compared a group of 1046 women giving birth at home with 1046 women having hospital births and found:

9 times as many episiotomies
15 times as many women receiving analgesia or anaesthesia
3 times as many caesareans
2 times as many forceps deliveries
3 times as many postpartum haemorhages
3.7 times as many babies requiring resuscitation
newborn infection rates 3 times higher
respiratory distress 17 times higher
lower Apgar scores
mortality figures were the same for both groups.

http://www.homebirth.org.uk/hbstimes.htm

 

[monster_munch]

I was all set for a home birth but George was 2 weeks late and a lazy git and because they didn't like the fact he was lazy they induced me

good luck

 

[Sherlock]

Link to my birth story in my sig

I'd think you should be ok to opt for a homebirth. Most areas have MW's who can attend, some sent out from the hospital, others community MW's who only deal in homebirths. I had the latter for mine.

I was advised against a homebirth but decided to have one anyways. TBH I always felt safer and more confident in having a good birth being at home than in hospital. I had a great MW and hubby was on board with it all also.

We had no problem having a homebirth. As I said my MW only deals in homebirths so was more than happy for me to try at home. Had things altered and I'd needed to transfer to hospital I know she would have ensured I was sent in time and so on.

You may be advised to not have a homebirth but you don't have to take the Doctors advice Weigh up the pros and cons, what your actual considered risk/s is/are and see how you feel. I was facing a higher BMI, a larger baby and also my age as a first time Mum (37). I had a straightforward birth and LO was fine throughout. I think its as much a mental thing as a physical thing and really did prepare and embrace the entire homebirth experience. I don't believe you can be half hearted about it. You either want it or you don't. If you are confident in your body then trust your instincts and stick out for a homebirth if the HA try to make things difficult.

Good luck

 

[Redshoes]

We're hoping for a homebirth again this time, although Isaac was born in hospital. I wouldn't worry about wanting one, they cannot stop you, slightly raised BP isn't a cause for major concern Personally I didn't find the hospital experience a negative one but still hope not to end up there I was met with a terrible lack of support for my homebirth choice with Isaac, but this time around no-one seems bothered, think subsequent children are seen as you've been there done it so you know what's coming The homebirth and aims websites are great for info and support too, very best wishes with whatever you decide

 

[Hypnorm]

A study by Mehl compared a group of 1046 women giving birth at home with 1046 women having hospital births and found:

9 times as many episiotomies
15 times as many women receiving analgesia or anaesthesia
3 times as many caesareans
2 times as many forceps deliveries
3 times as many postpartum haemorhages
3.7 times as many babies requiring resuscitation
newborn infection rates 3 times higher
respiratory distress 17 times higher
lower Apgar scores
mortality figures were the same for both groups.

http://www.homebirth.org.uk/hbstimes.htm

Thanks for that but dont quite understand what it is highlighting? is that 9 times as many caesarians if you have a home birth?

 

[Redshoes]

It's highlighting that hospital births have a higher intervention rate, but it doesn't reflect real birth as in hospital most women will ask for intervention where its not needed, and the staff will oblige as they wish to get baby out asap as it were. The thing with labouring in hospital is that you aren't always allowed the time to labour naturally and therefore drugs that otherwise wouldn't be necessary are administered, and these drugs can affect labour and birth to the extent that further intervention is needed, leading to forceps, c-section etc it's a catch 22, hospital doesn't mean intervention, just more likely as it's not an option at home.

Sorry Daffodil, I just posted in on your stats link it's the thought of intervention again, gets me typing

 

[Daffodil]

Yes, its showing that home births appear to require less interventions.

I think its important to give the mother a safe and relaxing environment in which to birth - evidence shows that if she's happy then the labour is much better.

Dawn

 

[Hypnorm]

Ah i see, i was only given 20 mins pushing time before they used a ventouse on me, i felt if they had left me a bit longer i would have found the strength to get him out my self.
I was shoved in stirrups and on my back not the way i wanted at all.

 

[uncle_bens]

O, this thread has convinced me now, I think i'm gonna have a homebirth. My sister was treated like crap in hospital, they kept calling her a 'late-booker', we didnt kno wat they were on bout. They didnt believe her wen she said the baby was coming down, they left us in the room and wen they kept back and examined her baby was there.

I've got such a temper and i know i'd much them in their faces so i think HB is safer for me, my neighbour upstairs has a pool coz i want a water birth as well...

 

[BabyMagic]

If I am lucky enough to have another child, I will DEFINITELY opt for a home birth as the most stressful thing last time was going to hospital. I was perfectly fine at home as I managed to stay calm and didn't struggle too much with pain. Travelling to hospital and them trying to do all the checks wasn't nice as I was already ready to push!

Plus I disliked staying in hospital afterwards.

Having said that, I would still keep an open mind if things weren't going according to plan.

Good luck!

 

[trixipaws]

BIG UP THE HOME BIRTH CREW! 'twas one of the best choices i ever made

good luck with yours xxx

 

[Hypnorm]

saw my midwife today and said that i wanted a home birth and she said ' ooh we dont get many people asking for those... great' didnt even bat an eye lid! so fingers crossed.

 

[valentine]

Go for it - my home water birth was the best experience of my life.

Valentine Xxx