Thoughts on homebirth (UK)

kerryradz · April 2014

Hi,

I'm just over 34 weeks pregnant with my first child and I'm thinking of having a home birth. Both my nan and mum had home births and hospital births and they both preferred the home experience. I'm low risk and the baby is healthy and happy so a home birth is an option, I also live less than 5 mins away from the hospital if travelling by ambulance if there were any complications during labour. Just wondered if anyone else could share their experiences of having a home birth and if they'd recommend it? Also any techniques anyone would recommend for relaxation etc?

Thanks
Kerry :flowerforyou:

kerryradz · April 2014

bump

DawnieB1977 · April 2014

I'm going for giving birth in a midwife-lead unit this time and hoping to use the pool. They have one birth a day on average so it should be nice and quiet in there.

I like the idea of a home birth, but we live in a 2nd floor flat, and it's a 25+ minute drive to the hospitals on either side of us in good traffic. If I had a home birth I'd want a pool, and I don't think our floor would take the weight of it as this is a converted flat. Also, this is my third, and I wouldn't want my 2 young children to see/hear me giving birth as I think it would scare them.

I had my other 2 in hospital, with my first I didn't get there until 2pm and gave birth at 3:34pm. By the time they checked me I was 10cm dilated and ready to push! I used a tens machine at home and just kind of went into my own little world and tried to think of nice things with each contraction.

I was induced with my 2nd as she was so overdue, and again I used my tens machine and just tried to focus on other things. As I was in hospital I could hear babies crying, so I just kept thinking that every contraction was a step closer to having my own baby. Luckily it was very quick, just over 4 hours.

In your position a home birth sounds like a good idea, and I think with home births you get 2 midwives, so you actually get more attention than you would in hospital.

tiggerhammon · April 2014

What is a tens machine?

I wanted a home birth very much with my first. But, my finances were not in a place for it. I had great medical insurance at the time and they would cover the hospital but not a midwife.
Now, unfortunately, a home birth is not a good option for me. I had some serious complications with my first and ended up having a Csection. So, I need to be in the hospital this time as the chances of these things repeating themselves is pretty high.
I have 3 sisters that have done home birth. 1st, has only had one child and it was her only experience but says she loved it. 2nd, has had both experiences and said she will never go to the hospital again. She is pregnant again right now and planning another home birth. 3rd, has had both experiences and says she will never do a home birth again. She loved the hospital experience and couldn't handle the home birth. She is trying to get pregnant again and planning everything hospital. So, everyone is different.
Just be sure you have an emergency plan in place. My mother did a home birth with her first two kids. My sister was smooth, everything was great. Then me. She almost died giving birth to me because of serious complications. Getting to the hospital wasn't planned ahead and want really an option - the closest hospital was 4 hours away.

meggwyn · April 2014

I'm planning a home birth, but don't really have much experience to share with you.

I have lots of friends who have done them, though, and have loved them so much. I've had two previous hospital inductions/births and hated them. I'm SO excited at the thought of going in to labor on my own and just being left alone for the most part. I am hoping someone will take my two younger kids when I go into labor b/c I dont' want to worry about them. I just want to be able to focus on what I'm doing.

My insurance doesn't cover a home birth, so I'm saving $ to pay out of pocket. I'm also getting regular prenatal care through the military treatment facility I go to. (We're Navy). In the event of an emergency, there are hospitals all around. But I don't foresee anything going wrong as long as I remain in good health.

A lot of people recommend hypnobabies or the Bradley Method. I plan on taking Bradley classes myself.

I'm super excited to have a doula this time, too!

DawnieB1977 · April 2014

Its not normal to have a doula in England. We don't pay for health care, so the only cost for a home birth would be the hire of a birthing pool if you wanted one.

A tens machine has little electrodes that you attach to yourself and it sends electronic impulses which are supposed to help with pain. You can get them for bad backs and things like that, but the maternity ones are slightly different. I used one in my previous 2 labours. Not sure if they helped or not, or if it's just psychological.

kerryradz · April 2014

Thanks for sharing all your experiences girls

I'm not sure if I would be able to facilitate a birthing pool as we pretty much have carpets throughout our place, although the idea of it is nice. What pain relief (if any) have you had? Being at home I will only be able to have gas and air which is fine as I wouldn't want an epidural or any other drugs. I am still in two minds about having gas and air or to go without any pain relief, I think as a precaution I'll ask them to bring it just in case - as it's my first I won't really know if I can cope with the pain until I experience it.

DawnieB1977 · April 2014

Thanks for sharing all your experiences girls I'm not sure if I would be able to facilitate a birthing pool as we pretty much have carpets throughout our place, although the idea of it is nice. What pain relief (if any) have you had? Being at home I will only be able to have gas and air which is fine as I wouldn't want an epidural or any other drugs. I am still in two minds about having gas and air or to go without any pain relief, I think as a precaution I'll ask them to bring it just in case - as it's my first I won't really know if I can cope with the pain until I experience it.

I used my tens machine and gas and air both times. With my first, I got to 10cm dilated with just the tens and had gas and air for pushing. With my 2nd I got gas and air from about 8/9cm dilated. I was induced 2nd time so contractions were stronger.

I'm scared of an epidural, really don't want a needle in my spine. Anyway, the midwife-lead unit doesn't do epidurals. I don't want pethidine either as it can cross the placenta and make the baby sleepy.

I don't think you know what your body can cope with until it has to! You could end up with a really long labour, in which case you might want a bit of relief.

kerryradz · April 2014

I am the same with the epidural, I'm bad enough with normal needles, have you seen the size of that one :noway: ? Also if it's not done properly you can get paralyzed so I personally don't think it's worth the risk. I've also heard pethidine makes the baby sleepy but also you feel sleepy and 'drugged' up which doesn't really sit very well with me. I think i'll ask for gas and air and see where it takes me

DawnieB1977 · April 2014

I am the same with the epidural, I'm bad enough with normal needles, have you seen the size of that one :noway: ? Also if it's not done properly you can get paralyzed so I personally don't think it's worth the risk. I've also heard pethidine makes the baby sleepy but also you feel sleepy and 'drugged' up which doesn't really sit very well with me. I think i'll ask for gas and air and see where it takes me

Gas and air makes your throat really dry, so have a drink ready. It also made me throw up at first, but then I was ok.

Fit, Fabulous, & Pregnant!

Thoughts on homebirth (UK)

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