Money Saving and Homebirth

RoxieW

missyg wrote: »

What a lovely thread - congratulations izoomzoom

I had my first and only child at home. I don't think I bought anything especially for the birth except for a 'miracle healing bath' herbal concoction for afterwards (won't go into detail but this massively overperformed - completely amazed the midwife - and was worth every penny!)

I laboured for a while in the bath but found this of no help whatsoever, so I was very glad I hadn't bothered with a pool.

The midwives requested fresh fruit so I made sure I had plenty of choices, and that was all

Please go into detail! I wanna know what it is!

missyg_3

RoxieW wrote: »

Please go into detail! I wanna know what it is!

Hi, I've had a look for it and I think it's the same or similar to the "organic healing herbal bath" on the Active Birth Centre website. If you buy it, read the instructions beforehand because I think you have to add fresh garlic when you use it

RoxieW

thanks. I'd also recommend arnica tablets for bruising.

Mrs_P_Pincher

I got quite misty reading this. I had my first baby at home in 1983 and it was a wonderful experience, far better than the hospital birth of my second in 1989, so congratulations!

Definitely Arnica for the bits that have been traumatised - take tablets if you can't bear to rub the cream in - otherwise with what the midwife brings anyway and what you have in the house, you should be able to manage. It doesn't actually have to be a gorefest.

The more I hear about hospital birth now, the more I say go for home birth if you're fit and healthy and not at obvious risk for any reason.

Mrs P P

RoxieW

Mrs_P_Pincher wrote: »

The more I hear about hospital birth now, the more I say go for home birth if you're fit and healthy and not at obvious risk for any reason.

Mrs P P

I agree - my two hospital births were horrible experiences which left my traumatised with post traumatic stress syndrome, postnatal depression and OCD. I know the births weren't the only factor but I'm sure they contributed in a big way. I'm really hoping for a home birth were I'm in control of my body and surroundings.

Loretta

I have had all 3 of my babies at home they are now aged 37, 36 (yesterday) and 23, I did not consider going to hospital and had quite an argument about a home birth for the first one and he weighed 10lbs

I was even more broke then than I am now and don't remember thinking about the cost, there really was no cost. The midwife leaves you a pack a few weeks before with everything in it, I collected newspapers and someone gave me one of those big rolls of industrial plastic sheeting, but really cheap shower curtains from Asda or tescos which are about 99p would do fine. The midwives brought bin bags for all the rubbish, 1st 2 afterbirths were buried in the garden, 3rd one midwife asked if she could take it as the hospital gets 50p for each one from a cosmetic firm.

All the births were part of a normal day, no upheaval, especially 2nd and 3rd, no childcare to arrange. Both older children watched birth of number 3 and took photos, older son cut cord as husband chickened out at the last minute, 23 years later he is still staring at the ceiling saying 'you are going to take her to hospital now aren't you'

3rd time midwife asked if she could bring a student with her as she may not get another opportunity to see a home birth, I suppose I was a good choice as I had done it all before. Me and the midwife got on with the business, no drugs, not even gas and air just in and out of the bath, and student told older 2 what was happening. Student later said that she could not believe that it was the same event as the births she had seen in hospital, up until then she thought it was a medical condition, or disorder, she didn't realise that you just did it yourself.

I have heard from friends about their births in hospital and have seen them on TV and I really don't understand all those drips and drugs etc. Surely all these people don't need all that medical intervention, I think women have had their confidence taken away and seem to think that they cannot manage it themselves.

I also breast fed all 3 with no trouble for far too long and I am sure that this was because I was relaxed at home with no traumas.

I think that most people could benefit from a home birth, these days any problems would be spotted well in advance from scans and tests etc. I think that hospital births can in themselves cause unecessary problems. I think that Holland has the lowest infant mortality rate in the world and home births are the norm there and they are well organised for it with only people at risk go into hospital. This way large amounts of money are not spent on people who don't need it but spent on Mums and babies who need extra help

I am afraid that this is one of my favourite subjects, you can tell can't you.

In 1971 when I was pregnant for the first time my GP and the hospital were trying to convince me I should be in hospital, well more than convince me, I would say bully, me into having a hospital birth, my local maternity was brand new having opened about 3 months before I was due and they interfered with every birth as a policy, you just turned up and they did it all for you, drugs as routine etc, you had an appointment, they started you off and you were then on a timer. I was a big strong strapping 20 year old and gave birth, at home to a 10 pounder like shelling peas.

At the same time my sister was pregnant with her 3rd in Devon about 12 miles from her local maternity unit which was desperately overcrowded and not coping with the numbers. She had a heart condition, she had her 1st heart attack at 29, and severe asthma, had her 1st baby 6 weeks early weighing 3 1/2 pounds which in those days he did survive against all the odds and she was being told that she should have a home birth.

It didn't take me long to realise that 'they' would tell you what suited them and what suited the facilities available and had nothing to do with your well being. I got my home birth and she got her hospital birth and I think that if she hadn't neither her or her baby would have survived.

I will stop rambling now, home births are wonderful, you get the undivided attention from a midwife who is doing the job she has trained for and gets a chance to do it the way she wants to, and the hospital will be ready in the very unlikely event something goes wrong.

missyg_3

Lovely post Loretta thank you for sharing

I'll never regret opting for the home birth. It was tough, went on a looooong time and there were a few difficulties/minor complications but thankfully nothing that the midwife and I couldn't handle.

Fully natural birth with no drugs, no gas & air or anything else. I did require a massive amount of stamina - 5 hour second stage amongst other things - so fitness was a very important factor.

Isn't it wonderful immediately after the birth, to have the comfort of your own surroundings and be able to do everything at your own pace

Toto

Thank you Loretta, your post was really helpful.

traciekan

we used a shower curtain on the floor and the bath cost nothing!!

pariskate

I've had my second and third babies at home (the eldest I had in hospital which was why I had a home birth second time round!). My third was in Paris where the medical profession really do think you're completely insane if you don't want an epidural, let alone actually wanting to be at home - suffice to say I had to lie a bit to the hospital and engage an independant midwife!
Toto and Roxie, you have to look at what your other deliveries have been like - if they were uncomplicated and 'normal' (eg a baby will get through your pelvis without intervention) then why not have it at home if you can stand the pain? It doesn't even seem so painful when you're chilled out on your own sofa. Being on your home turf is so nice, much more relaxing for everyone concerned - I can't recommend it enough.
Kate