Home birth?

[Skibunny]

Hello!

I've been contemplating having a home birth this time - for a number of reasons really - more relaxed at home, Bronwyn can stay at home too, my DH can't drive so I've no idea how I would get to hospital in the first place and then be visited etc, I would want to come home very quickly as well - but my biggest fear is the whole whether I'll manage the pain thing - I had an epidural last time round although to be fair I was on syntocin from the get go so I don't know whether or not this made the contractions more bearable. I've been thinking about trying a number of things - hypnobirthing, a birthing pool and aromatherapy - does anyone have any experience of this working? Damsella, I know you had a homebirth - would you recommend it?

Also, practically, should I have already mentioned this to my MW? I've still got to talk DH around anyway!

Any thoughts anyone on a very rambling post!!!

Skibunny

[Chocolate Lips]

I am thinking of a home birth next time I get pregnant. I felt very restricted in hospital, it didnt help being induced and I guess I wouldnt have been able to have a home birth anyway, but I was constantly monitored, couldnt move around when I wanted to etc because of the damn drip, the fetal monitor and the blood pressure monitor - I felt it was all very intense so I would like the chance of a home birth next time, although OH is 100% against it.

I think if it is what you want you should go for it, after all, they can provide gas and air for you and you can use TENS and a birthing pool - a lot of people find that enough to get by on. I know if things are different for me next time, I will try those methods - the pethidine didnt work and I didnt want an epidural.

Have a look at these links;

Homebirth (http://www.homebirth.org.uk/)

http://www.birthchoiceuk.com/HomeBirth.htm]Birth (http://www.birthchoiceuk.com/BirthChoiceUKFrame.htm?[url) Choice[/url]

AIMS (http://www.aims.org.uk/hbchoose.htm)

[Skibunny]

Joanna - that was exactly my experience the first time round - constantly monitored and virtually tied to the bed - I already know I want this labour to be very different and think maybe being at home will up my chances of that happening.

ETA aswell my local hospital is a 5 minute drive away so if the worse came to the worse and I did need more pain relief or some other intervention I could get there relatively quickly.

Skibunny
xx

[Chocolate Lips]

Same here, I am only 5 mins away from hospital.

I would definately explore it further Skibunny, it sounds like we both had similar experiences. I do feel that perhaps if it had been different I may not have been so shellshocked afterwards. I didnt feel I had any control.

[DKNI]

Not much help I know but I have decided to go for a homebirth this time. That is the norm here so the MW's are pretty up to speed on it.

We had made the decision to go to the hospital the first time round and we would pay for it but the mw from the practice would still take care of the birth (you need to hire the hospital room) sadly DS had other ideas and did a big poo so we had to go to the hospital and the hospital mw's took over.

(health insurance did pay the costs tho :laff: )

I felt in the hospital they were really uncaring and a bit abrupt and didn't care about me whereas the practice mw are all lovely. So fingers crossed there are no medical reasons to go to the hospital this time.

I am convinced that if I am in my own room and not being monitored for heartrates etc then i will deal better with the contraction pains etc.

But this time I really really really want to stay at home.

Andie

[Damsella]

Yes, I am a homebirth hippy!! :laff:

One important point is that I couldn't rely on the NHS to give me a home birth, so we hired independent midwives. Yes, I know that in theory the NHS has to give you the choice, but in practice it can be a big fight to get it and I wanted to know that everything was organised. My community midwife told me that if the labour ward was busy when I went into labour then I would have to come in - and I couldn't face the struggle to get the service I had a right to :-(

Anyhoo, back to actual home births - I find it extraordinary that husbands and partners can be against it, when it's what you want. You can do plenty of research that will show you that the main reason women end up being taken to hospital from home is that the labour isn't progressing fast enough, so there's plenty of time to make the journey. Especially if it's only 5 minutes! Let's face it, if you're in hospital it can take a lot longer than that to be given an epidural once you've requested, and as far as I know a labouring woman coming in to hospital is given priority.

As for birthing pools - I had one, and it did me no good at all, I got out after 20 mins. Same for the TeNS machine. I had OH rubbing my back, I watched SATC to take my mind off things, and when I got to about 7 cms I had gas & air. I was able to move around the house and choose where I felt most comfortable. I started off pushing in the sitting room, but then wanted to go up to the bedroom which is where the action happened.

It did hurt like ****, but I guess if it had been so bad I couldn't bear it then I would have demanded we go in to hospital.

It took me a long time to get DD out, as my contractions had stopped. Right at the end the mws found that her heartrate was dropping so they called a paediatric paramedic team to come from the local hospital. I think they arrived about 3 mins later, literally as I was pushing DD's head out! She came out with the cord round her neck, but that was no problem, and the paramedics didn't even have to open their cases as they weren't needed. She had an Apgar score of 9 30 seconds after birth which was great She was 8lbs 11oz btw!!

I see no harm in planning a home birth and going as far as you can with it - if it all gets too much then you go in to hospital. Best of both worlds!!

[Adelelee]

My friend had a homebirth with her first and she said it was an amazing experience :) :)

I am not sure on my feelings but its irrelevant as having had a section I would not be allowed anyway :no: :no:

[Hepzibah]

I was seriously considering a home birth but then I met my assigned community midwife and she's such a nutcase that I don't think I'd like to risk having her attend the birth. It's a shame because the first midwife I saw (a stand-in) was so lovely.

I know that the hospital midwives might be just as bad/worse and that I might get someone different at home but she is SUCH a nightmare.

I'm still undecided though...

[sunshine]

As you know Skibunny I also had a home waterbirth and for me it was a very positive experience. I am more than ahppy to answer any questions you've got about it!

[pooch]

I have planned for a homebirth as I really have a phobia of hospitals. I know that these things are very unpredictable so I if I have to go into hospital I will, but I want to give home birth a try first. I have had a very easy going pregnancy so the mws have been really encouraging about it.

Also, the hospital is 5 minutes away so if there are any complications we should get there pretty quick.

Another real issue I have with hospitals is that Dh's might not be able to be around after the birth when you are transferred to the postnatal ward. I don't want Mr pooch sent home in the middle of the night to an empty house while his wife and baby are at hospital.

The pain relief is one of my least concerns for some reason. I think if you are at home you will be able to cope better as its your own environment. Mind you, mws do provide gas and air and in some cases pethidine or equivalent so there WILL be some pain relief available. I am not trying to be superwoman!!!

I have a tens machine and thought about a pool but just haven't got round organising it.

So, you can discuss the pain relief issues you have with your mw and she can then advise you. Also do remember, that even if you decide for a homebirth, you can change your mind at ANY time....

Good luck and hope you get the birth you want!

Pooch

[Damsella]

Waking up in bed with OH the next morning, with DD in her crib next to us, was one of the nicest moments of my life :lurve:

That two minutes before the chaos started was worth it all :lol:

[Skibunny]

Thank you everyone. I think I've pretty much decided to book it - certainly it's easier to book it and change my mind later if needs be! I was eyeing up the birthpoolinabox as well at the baby show and that looked lovely and deep and so I'll definitely be getting a pool of some description - and I've got my TENS machine as well - and worse case, it's five minutes to the hospital! I was planning on staying at home for as long as possible anyway so I can't really see it's much different!

Watch me chicken out now!

Skibunny
xx

[DKNI]

I had a homebirth last week and it was fab.

Obviously the contractions still hurt BUT I was much more relaxed and comfortable and was having a shower 45 minutes after Kane was born.

Have a nosey at my birth story