Forum : Pregnancy

hi
I havent had a home birth, but would really like to if my partner would let me!
With our first baby, i asked if he would be happy for me to have a home birth and he said no. he wanted medical help to be easily accessible so would rather i was in hospital. luckily, our hospital has a mdiwife led birth unit, just one floor down from the delivery ward, so i went there. it had all the comforts of home, but with the extra comfort of knowing medical help was so nearby. as it happened, i neded that medical help as my baby got stuck (she decided to turn her head sideways as she was coming down) and i ended up being taken up to theatre, put on a syntocinon drip, given an eipdural and a forceps delivery (was not particularly happy as after a 73 hour labour pain relief free, ending up not being able to feel the moment of birth was not what i wanted).
i am expecting our second baby in 4 1/2 weeks and again, he wont let me have a home birth, so again, i'm going midwife led. hoping this time i will just be able to hve a straight forward birth and be in a 6 hour discharge so i can get home to my daughter.
the benefits of course of being at home are that you can just go straight to your own bed, you have your own comforts and it is supposed to make it less likely you'll need any medical intervention (although i did read an article just last week which actually said that evidence is now in dispute as they now believe that the risks with a home birth were slightly higher than originally thought)(or something to that effect, i only skim read it as i know my partner wont let me have a home birth anyway)). with you already having a child , then it makes things a bit easier to manage and not worrying about leaving for the hospital in time! my parents and my sister have sorted out between them who is looking after our daughter on what days etc and what will happen when i go into labour - so at least i dont have to worry, i just ring one of them and they will sort it out between them!
in reality, if the midwife noticed any sign of trouble, then they would have you in hospital quicker than you can blink! you, of course, just need to be confident in yourself that you can manage it without pain relief as obviously your only option with a home birth is TENS and gas and air.
i think if you, your partner and midwife are happy to go for a home birth, then go for it! it will be a lovely experience.
good luck. do you have long to go until you are due?