William Arthur's Home Birth - Born 17th May 2014

[J_Anne]

Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful little boy!

I'm 10 weeks pregnant with number 2 and at my booking appointment today, my midwife wants me to seriously consider a home birth. My first was born under 6 hours after the first contraction so her argument is its better to be prepared than to find myself alone with who will be an almost 2 year old with no time to get to hospital! I completely agree as I'm terrified of being alone. However my concerns are probably ridiculous and I know I won't care at the time...but there's obviously a lot of mess involved..! I literally had to crawl from the bed to the shower in hospital last time and don't much fancy the carpet bill! So do you mind me asking what happens in terms of that?

My husband is against it completely as he just worries if something goes wrong and the baby needs help, I am less concerned about this as in an ambulance we are 4 minutes from the nearest hospital.

It's lovely to hear your positive experience, a good start to my research!x

 

[SuffolkMum]

Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful little boy!

I'm 10 weeks pregnant with number 2 and at my booking appointment today, my midwife wants me to seriously consider a home birth. My first was born under 6 hours after the first contraction so her argument is its better to be prepared than to find myself alone with who will be an almost 2 year old with no time to get to hospital! I completely agree as I'm terrified of being alone. However my concerns are probably ridiculous and I know I won't care at the time...but there's obviously a lot of mess involved..! I literally had to crawl from the bed to the shower in hospital last time and don't much fancy the carpet bill! So do you mind me asking what happens in terms of that?

My husband is against it completely as he just worries if something goes wrong and the baby needs help, I am less concerned about this as in an ambulance we are 4 minutes from the nearest hospital.

It's lovely to hear your positive experience, a good start to my research!x

Congrats on your pregnancy!

We bought a pack of 3 large dust sheets (the kind you use while painting) and they easily covered our entire living room floor with some excess draped over the edge of our sofa and chairs. We covered these with old towels in the areas I was most active (under my birthing ball and where I was standing and rocking). I was only really active in an area of about 40 square feet, the exception being when I went to the toilet - this was unprotected, but we chanced it lol. The midwives were actually pretty vocal in making sure I stayed in the designated area.

I honestly don't know how much mess was made as the midwives were so efficient at clearing up. They put everything disposable in clinical waste sacks and took all the soiled laundry to our utility room ready for washing. I was laying on a towel on the floor after the birth, but that was all cleared away while I was in the bath. When I came in, my living room looked completely back to normal.

I really wouldn't worry about making a mess. The midwives know exactly where to put protective coverings down and will guide you throughout your labour so you don't end up losing your waters etc over anything else. If you do find yourself wanting to stand somewhere else, they'll just move the coverings to where you are. If you are worried about getting to the bathroom, you can lay coverings along the route.

I completely understand your hubby's concern, it can feel riskier because you are not in immediate reach of advanced medical aid or equipment. That said, the home birth midwives are highly experienced, will attend in pairs and can spot a potential problem in plenty of time for a hospital transfer. There was not a single moment I felt unsafe during my labour, I had complete faith in the skill and experience of the midwives. Bear in mind that I am half an hour from the nearest hospital, so if it was a major concern I would not have had the home birth. Every midwife I saw during my antenatal care was supportive of home birth and one even said it was safer than a hospital birth because the mother generally feels more at ease and is therefore less likely to need intervention.

Remember that if at any point during labour you don't feel happy about birthing at home, you can just go into the hospital and have baby there. You won't be turned away.

You've got lots of time to get comfortable with the idea of a home birth. I hope your hubby takes time to consider the benefits, I'm sure he will think it's a great idea once he realises how safe it is.

 

[J_Anne]

That's wonderful, thank you so much for all the info! It's great that the midwives cleared up so much-I'm a bit house proud!

I'll tell my hubby what you've said now, I'm sure he will come round, he'll be a nervous wreck even in hospital so I don't think it would make much difference!x

 

[SuffolkMum]

That's wonderful, thank you so much for all the info! It's great that the midwives cleared up so much-I'm a bit house proud!

I'll tell my hubby what you've said now, I'm sure he will come round, he'll be a nervous wreck even in hospital so I don't think it would make much difference!x

You're very welcome.

It really was fantastic. I've never been looked after so well, including when I was in hospital with my oldest. I felt rather sad when it was all over because I could get used to having people run around after me without feeling the slightest bit of guilt lol.

I think your hubby will be fine with it. He's just going with his gut instinct at the moment, which is to make sure you and baby are in the safest place possible. Once he realises you are just as safe at home (and a lot more comfortable and not stressed), he'll probably be quite keen on it himself.

Our OH's tend to like feeling useful during labour. Mine felt pretty helpless in hospital, but at home he felt like less of a loose tool, even though he was just making tea and offering cakes to the midwives lol. Plus I can't tell you how nice it was to climb into our own bed together with our newborn barely an hour after he was born.

Do you have someone to look after your 2yr old during the birth and immediately afterwards? Although I originally wasn't averse to my son seeing me deliver his brother, I'm now very glad he didn't as I think he would have been quite upset seeing me in apparent distress. It was also a very welcome break having my SIL entertain him in the living room while we napped for a couple of hours.

 

[J_Anne]

That's the main draw for me, that we won't need to be separated. It was a complete shock when I was put on the ward and he was forced to leave, we didn't know that would happen just hours after the birth. Then that was it, I was alone and didn't see a midwife until one came and asked me to leave because they needed the bed the following afternoon! It would just be so lovely for him to be there the whole time.

Yes, luckily my mum only lives around the corner so I would definitely ask her to come and get my daughter, I wouldn't like her to witness it I don't think. She would probably be pestering me to read books to her the whole time anyway!!xx

 

[SuffolkMum]

That's the main draw for me, that we won't need to be separated. It was a complete shock when I was put on the ward and he was forced to leave, we didn't know that would happen just hours after the birth. Then that was it, I was alone and didn't see a midwife until one came and asked me to leave because they needed the bed the following afternoon! It would just be so lovely for him to be there the whole time.

Yes, luckily my mum only lives around the corner so I would definitely ask her to come and get my daughter, I wouldn't like her to witness it I don't think. She would probably be pestering me to read books to her the whole time anyway!!xx

It really does sound like a home birth would be perfect for you. I get incredibly anxious at the thought of staying in hospital by myself. With my oldest I was very lucky as I was discharged the same day he was born and therefore hubby never left my side. I doubt I would have been able to avoid a stay on the ward a second time though.