Home birthing - any UK experiences?

janetay01

My husband and I attended the first of our antenatal classes last night and the midwife running it asked if any of the couples were considering a home birth. When we all laughed hysterically at her, she proceeded to talk through why it might be a good idea and the benefits of it. To be honest, my husband and I had not given it any consideration but it got us talking on the way home from the class and thinking we would look into it - she made some fairly compelling arguments for it! Is there anybody on here (Uk based ideally) who has done this, did it work for you, would you recommend it? I liked a number of her reasons for it - particularly the one about having a dedicated midwife rather than sharing one in the hospital - but the cynic in me hopes that it isn't just an attempt to reduce the pressure on NHS beds!!

At the same time, she did make it clear that any complications or concerns may mean that they over-rule any choice and that they could take me to hospital at any time. Having said that, I'm pretty low risk (apart from my age ) and haven't had any problems yet so it might be an option. Any thoughts appreciated!

lilchino4af

While I don't live in the UK, I've heard many positives for homebirths from friends who have gone through it and from doulas who have assisted. Where I work, I'm required to go to a hospital if I want insurance to pay for it otherwise I'd do homebirth in a heart beat! Thankfully the hospital I go to has midwives and operates as "naturally" as possible, recognizing that unnecessary medical interventions means it takes longer for them to get their employees back to work. Whatever their motivation, it gives me as close to a homebirth as possible so I won't complain too much

I will say, having a homebirth is preferable because at a hospital they put you on a liquid diet and you can't eat anything after you're admitted. So going 36 hours with nothing more than jello and juice for sustenance was not fun - a definite plus for homebirths!

janetay01

thank you! Much of the midwife 'selling' of home birth focussed on the more natural methods, relaxing stress free environment etc. What I absolutely wasn't aware of was the liquid diet element - whilst I don't know how hungry I will be, inability to eat proper food on a normal day would be a really bad idea for my general state of mind - so there is one good reason for being at home!

DawnieB1977

thank you! Much of the midwife 'selling' of home birth focussed on the more natural methods, relaxing stress free environment etc. What I absolutely wasn't aware of was the liquid diet element - whilst I don't know how hungry I will be, inability to eat proper food on a normal day would be a really bad idea for my general state of mind - so there is one good reason for being at home!

I've had three children, one induced, and they do not put you on a liquid diet at all, at least not at my local hospital. I was drinking cappuccino and eating a flapjack when I was induced and having contractions! I did later puke up the flapjack from too much gas and air though lol.

I like the idea of a homebirth, but as we live in a 2nd floor flat and our floor probably wouldn't support the weight of a birthing pool, I wouldn't do it. If I were in a house, then maybe.

I had my 3rd in a midwife lead unit, which is the next best thing.

If you don't go for a homebirth, either see if you have a local midwife lead unit, or simply stay at home for as long as you can when you're in labour. I arrived at hospital 10cm dilated with my first. I was induced with my second, but home 5 hours after, and I arrived around 5cm dilated with my third, my because the midwife unit was further away and I didn't want to end up giving birth in a car!

meggwyn

I'm in the USA and I haven't actually done it yet, but I'm having a home birth this time! And I'm SO excited!!! I'm due in 6 days, so could be any time in the next week or two (or three, but I try not to think about that! LOL)

I know the UK is pretty lax, though, so I assume a hospital birth there is much different than here.

Here in the USA, they are pretty strict at the hospital. PP was right about no food, only ice chips allowed. This is in case they have to do a C section, which is pretty ridiculous that they design protocol based off something that should NOT need to happen. C section rates here are like, 33%, which is also ridiculous! They make you give birth on your back in bed. My experiences with my first two babies were having to lay in bed to labor! I was hooked up to iv's and monitors and not allowed to move around at all. That is why I'm so excited for a home birth.

The thought of being left alone to listen to music and move however I like, eat what I need, use the bathroom when I need to, give birth in the water if I want (I have a birth pool), and afterwards, being able to bond with my baby without having it rushed off to be given shots and tested, etc is so beautiful in my mind!

I think you have a better chance of having the birth you desire in the UK anyway (hospital or home) , but home birth is a great choice for low risk mothers!

DawnieB1977

All my hospital births have been good. I arrived at hospital with my first, was left a bit, checked, walked to delivery room, gave birth, done! The midwife was fab and I didn't need stitches.

I was induced with my 2nd (overdue) with a pessary. Hubby and I left alone except when given the pessary I had to be monitored for half hour, and I had to be monitored for half hour when I was in established labour. Apart from that, we could've walked around the hospital grounds if we'd wanted to. I was home 5 hours after giving birth.

With my 3rd I arrived at the midwifery unit 5cm dilated. I got in the birthing pool and we listened to music, drank tea and were left alone a lot, but baby's heartbeat was checked regularly. She was born at 2:31am and we went home about 14 hours after.

I've used my tens machine and gas and air with all three...no need for medical intervention, no epidurals, no c-secs, no being hooked up to monitors for hours. And I've had my baby for skin to skin pretty much immediately after.