Any old stylers given birth at home?

lauren_1

Maybe this should be on the families board but i consider a homebirth to be exactly that, Old Style

I have my booking in appointment tomorrow and fully want a homebirth, 2 hospital births, last one 4 hours with no complications.

Basically I cant be bothered with a hospital, firstly it feels like you have to convince them your in labour, secondly you actually have to get there, thirdly it appears the birth pool is in constant use (first labour 43 hours and still was in use) and lastly only one person is allowed in the room (i want my sister, OH's mum is coming over too, i had a room full of students last time so my self conciousness went years ago :cool:)

Any tips on how to swing it, any stories of your experience and tips for a homebirth if i get one.

Thanks, sorry if its in the wrong area, im sure it will drop to page 9 in a few hours anyway.

kateandpete

I have had my youngest two as home births (of three), the littlest was born in Feb. Found it a brilliant experience both times. It enabled the whole family to stay together throughout (I hated my husband being sent home after the eldest was born) and I felt so much more in control in my own surroundings.

I found the midwives really supportive both times - they seemed to really enjoy homebirths themselves and I had no trouble getting one booked (despite a somewhat borderline BMI!). When I was in labour they did say initially I might have to go in due to short staffing but my community midwife was at the hospital and managed to arrange things so that she and another could come out to me. It is so lovely getting into your own bed afterwards!

luxor4t

I had two home births, both by choice after a harrowing experience on the hospital 'conveyer belt'. As DS2 is now 20, my information on this is clearly out of date, but this website may be of interest:
http://www.homebirth.org.uk/

lauren_1

Thanks for the replies, my main fear is OH (cant even watch holby city) will flake out on me and no one else will be there, id rather be at home in the bath and if he cant watch there will be others around to willingly get their hand crushed.

Penelope_Penguin

lauren_1 wrote: »

Maybe this should be on the families board but i consider a homebirth to be exactly that, Old Style

Home birth might be a traditional thing to do, but Martin's definition of Old Style is what we used to call "Domestic Science". For that reason, I'll move this to the Families Board once you've had more input from Old Stylers, as it fits better there

My first birth was in hospital, no compliactions. My second labour, I was fine, no pain, bit of blood. Transpires that the placenta was breaking away and DS was losing oxygen and had a dipping heart beat. If I'd followed the midwife's advice, I'd have had a home birth, 25 miles from the nearest hospital, and he would have died, or had brain damage

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

kateandpete

Of course you do have to weigh up the pros and cons wrt safety, but for both of my homebirths I could have been transferred to hospital faster than theatre could have been prepared should a c-section/other intervention have been needed. If I lived somewhere more rural I may have chosen otherwise. The safety issues are well discussed on the site luxor4t mentionned which is a great source of info.

Courgette

I'm expecting number 2 in August and I'm planning on having a HB. Really looking forward to it Sorry, no help at all

hex2

I had DS2 at home and thoroughly recommend it. A lot less stressful, and far more of a family event than the complications of DS1 who I wasn't able to have at home due to health problems. Two midwives, one initially, and then a second one who arrived just before DS2 was born. DH spent most of the time trying to fix the faulty gas and air cylinder - but he is an engineer so was quite happy. 16mo DS1 was in the next room, chatting away over the baby monitor so lovely all round. DS2 was born, cried, DS1 in the next room said 'wah, wah baby' and very noisily and stinkily filled his nappy which even then I found very funny. DH didn't, he got to clean him up. I very much would recommend it.

Talk to your midwife, mine was all for it. If yours isn't then write to the senior midwife for the area.

Invest in some plastic sheets to protect the mattress, but not plastic ones which get hot and sweaty. the disposable bed wetting sheets are good too. Need enough for at least two changes. My midwife brought a whole pile with her too. You need room to get round the bed, and somewhere for the midwife to put her stuff. The midwives (here anyway) work on a rota basis so no guarantee who you will get. Accept that you will get nothing but gas and air, and a tens machine.

rachbc

I had a hb firs t first and it was fab. Second has 16 days late and induced so in hospital but discharged myself from delivery after 3 hours so home to bed! 12 years ago for first lots of PITA arguing to get what I wanted, second time round an amazing supportive mw and didn't step foot in a hospital til the day she was born and managed to never have to see a Dr at all!

My friends baby died after being born in hospital - it doesn't mean hospital birth is unsafe (though plenty of arguments can be made that it is)

gin

I had three out of my four at home and would thoroughly recommend it. I have always found the midwives to be very supportive, so long as you have an uncomplicated pregnancy. Best wishes, would recommend an old duvet with a shower curtain under it and your OH can make you and the midwives tea and toast afterwards.

Frith

I had my 2nd child at home. Don't worry about having to "swing it" - it's your right!

I had 2 midwives at home (one arrived about 30 minutes before the birth) and, to this day, my son has never seen a GP - he's nearly 7 now!

Like a previous poster said, homebirth.org.uk is fab and my son's birth story is on there...

P.S I had no interest in covering the bed with plastic because it seems to me the most uncomfortable place in the world to be in labour but I did have a big groundsheet on the bedroom floor!