Forum : Pregnancy

i think it is very wise to plan for a home birth given the distance you are from hospital. like you said, you can always go in if you find you have time and choose to.
i havent personally had a home birth though. my first was a forceps delivery in hospital after a 3 day labour at home. my second i was already in hospital due to a premature rupture of membranes but my labour with her was only 1 hour and 15 minutes long so i was very pleased i was already in hospital!
good luck

Well I'm now 35+4 and enjoying maternity leave! Midwife has approved me for home birth and hubby is supportive but getting pressure from my parents and inlaws who are all worried about me having a home birth. My dad saw an article in the paper and on the news a couple of weeks ago saying that first time mums are at double the risk of complications with a home birth. I tracked down the full research the article was based on and yes it does show double the risk, however, it is still just under 1%. I have tried to find out as much info as I can on hospital versus home births and there seems to be pros and cons for both. One neutral site I found had good and bad birth stories examples for both. My friends who have got children seem supportive of home birth though I don't know anyone personally who has had one, though one friend had practically gone the whole way at home as by the time she got to hospital her baby was crowning! I still think I've done right planning for home birth as I can always change my mind when the time comes but I am feeling pressured into going to hospital.

i saw that article too.
right, all i can do is tell you my story - it isnt designed to sway your decision one way or the other!
with my first baby, uncomplicated pregnancy, midwife told me she'd be happy for me to have a home birth which i would have liked, but my partner was not happy! i laboured entirely at home for 3 days and when the pain did get bad enough that i went in to hospital it turned out i was already fully dilated - very pleased with myself that i had got that far without pain relief (tens machine only but that had stopped touching the pain days before!), slightly miffed that i could have had my home birth given i had coped with the pain! however, my contractions quickly lost intensity and i struggling to push (midwife did not recognise earlier enough that i was struggling and with it being my first time, i did not know what it was meant to feel like). after 4 hours, i was knackered and was taken to the delivery unit (i was on the midwife led unit as it was a middle ground compromise between me and the other half between me wanting a home birth and him wanting a hospital birth!), i was given a synto drip to get the contractions going again but on an internal exam the doctor found that my baby had turned her head sideways and was wedged in and i ended up with an epidural and in theatre for a forceps delivery. the midwife led unit for me was a perfect compromise - i had the luxuries of home but the added security of knowing that medical help was a one floor lift ride.
second baby - waters broke at 36+5 so i was admitted to hospital given it was premature rupture and put on antibiotics to prevent infection. i did not go into labour and was kept in due to be induced at 37 weeks. 45 minutes before i turned 37 weeks pregnant, i went into spontaneous labour (so narrowly avoiding induction!) and was taken straight to the delivery unit (again, i had planned for a midwife led birth (other half was once again not happy about a home birth given the complications i had first time round) but given my waters had been broken for nearly 48 hours i needed closer monitoring). i was in labour for just an hour and a half before giving birth on gas and air.
i can safely say that giving birth in the delivery unit was just as good an experience as if i had managed to do it in the midwife led unit. it was just me, my partner and a midwife in the room. after Freya was born and i had been sorted out, the midwife brought us tea and toast and left us until i was ready for a shower and to then be moved to the postnatal unit. she was born just before 1am and i was home at 4.30pm that afternoon.
midiwes are trained in spotting problems, they arent going to leave you at home if there is any risk. i think you should listen to all sides, but make up your own mind and dont let family sway you. at the end of the day though, they are just concerned about your welfare and that of your baby. as you said, if you plan for a home birth you can still go in whereas if you plan for a hospital birth, you cant then change your mind!

hey hum
i agree given your distance and the weather planning a home birth isnt a bad idea.. like you say you can change your mind if you want to...
i had a home birth with samantha who is 7 months and im 3 months pregnant, due in june 2012 and definately having a home birth again i was so relaxed could eat and drink what ever i wanted and it was more private and didnt have to listen to others screaming and shouting.. and best of all i didnt have to wait to go home which i hated with my oldest who is 16 nowwas born in hospital and i know things have changed in hospitals.. but i had my own midwife come out as she was on call and the second midwife came when she was needed sam was born they cleared up and left us when they were sure all was ok and a midwife called later that day to check on me and baby... if the midwife dosnt see any reasons for you not to have a home birth i would say go for it....
after all what if you go to hospital and then it snows???

Thank you both for your stories and support. Think I will stick to my plans and see how I feel "on the day".

hi i am a second time mum. i have a 3 year old daughter and i am 17 weeks pregnant with my second child. i have always wanted a home birth but with my first child i went into labour and gave birth within 45 mins. everyone was shocked as it was my first baby. all the midwife's said i should have a home birth. soooo i told my midwife that's what i want but now i am getting scared. i just wanted to know from some other mums what there experiences were and what i can do to make it be as special as i can and run as smoothly as it can ???? thankyou for everyone. love Emma Bailey and Bump xx xx

I haven't personally had a home birth so can't give you much advice other than I have a friend who has 3 children, all delivered at home with no problems or complications! X x