Hospital or home birth?

[Juicy Lucy]

I've chosen to have a home birth this time around, after a less than pleasent experience of a hospital birth with my first baby.

I only know one person who has had a home birth and i don't like to talk to her about her experience because she's the type to force her opion down your throat and seems to think that under NO circumstances should you let any one interfere with your plans, where as i believe if complications arise then it's too the hospital for me.

I wonger if any one else has had a home birth, and how did they find it, were you nervous of things going wrong and a dr not being close to hand? Was it a better experience than a hospital birth? What can i expect? And is there loads of mess!?

I've got five weeks to go and i'm excited but a little apprehensive!

[xXx.Lesley.xXx]

I wanted a home birth this time round too. But it took so long to persuid my partner it was too late

I know noone who has had a home birth. I also made a thread on here a while ago asking for advice on it, but got no replies

I am not sure about how much mess there is, but I do know the midwife gives you all the sheets and everything in advance. They can also bring pain relief. so you not without that.

I think home birth would be great. You have the 2 midwives all to yourself, no matter what. You also in comfortable surroundings, but the downside is rather big. What if something goes wrong.

It takes about 15 mins to get to my hospital from my house, that 15 mins could save my babies life. How long does it take to get to your local hospital? You need to think about every possibility. The best person you can talk to about it is your midwife. Maybe she can put you in touch with someone else who has had one?

[Juicy Lucy]

it's about five mins no traffic to the hospital, about fifteen in traffic, so it's not far.

My midwife has told me all the stuff i need to get, and i'm sorting out the perscriction for pethadine in case i want it, it's what i had with my daughter and i got through that!

I'm looking forward to having my mom and my hubby with me through the whole thing, they sent my hubby home last time and he nearly didn't make it back cos my labour went quite quick. and my daughter will be with my father in law who lives next door, so she'll be able to be there as soon as every thing is cleared up a bit.

Im just hoping the midwives will be a bit nicer this time, they weren't very nice to me last time round. (they were so mean it inspired me to go back to college to retrain i did well and i got offered a place at a good uni not too far from home to do midwifery but decided to concentrate on my family for the next couple of years, def going back to it tho!)

I've had consultant care through this pregnancy as i had a few niggles in my last one and every thing has gone really well so i'm quite happy that things will be ok on the day, but you can't help but worry can you?!

It doesn't seem that common by me to have a planned home birth and most people i tell look at me as tho i've gone mad, but i think it will be so much calmer in my own enviroment and i'll feel more in control of what is happening to me as i felt very over taken last time.

[xXx.Lesley.xXx]

Home birth is what everyone used to do years ago, so why is it any different now! Given the chance I would love to have one.

Theres one thing I am not too keen on, and that's bringing my baby home before the kids meet him. They are so young, and I don't know how they will take it. So I want them to meet him before hand, so it doesn't feel like he is intruding in their home (if you get what I mean).

[RosieBaby]

I dont have any kids but when I do I really want a home birth. I really hate hospitals and avoid them at all costs. Your story is also common of al ot of stories Ive heard of women being treated really badly by hospital staff during their labour (dont go mad, I know not all midwives and hospital are staff are bad. I know its a tough job and all the rest but Im just sharing my experiences.) Good for you for standing up and daring to be different, hope your birth goes well,
x

[TyrantOfTheWeek]

You can have a home birth here in the US too. I am really lucky I had my son at the hospital because he had an unexpected problem at birth. If we would have been at home, he would not have made it. So, I say hospital. You never know what MIGHT happen. It's just not worth the risk if you ask me.

[Juicy Lucy]

I agree that the midwives have a hard job, and at no point in my last labour did i think that they weren't out for the best for my baby, they just treated me as if i was a complete inconvinience.

I've only got 7 days left now and i've had my final scan and visit with my consultant and it's all set, i'm nervous and excited and just a little fed up now. Just waiting for it to happen.

The hospital is the best place to be if there are any problems, or if a home birth just makes you too nervous but according to my dr the baby and i are perfect specimens of health, and in such cases research has shown that planned home births can have less complications or interventions than a planned hospital birth. i guess only time will tell now. hopefully i won't have to wait too long!