Home Birth

Hi All,
Planning a home birth in April, mainly due to childcare issues and was wondering if anyone else has had one? Im not bothered about pain/drugs didn't have them last time but im worried about the mess!! what do i need to get? and what does everyone think about child being there?
My dad is horrified at the idea and wants me to send my son to his for a couple of weeks , my mum and partners mum are 4 hour drive away.

I would speak to your Midwife hun, they will tell you what you will need. I don't know anyone who has had a planned home birth. I know a lady who went so quick the ambulance didn't make it in time but not sure about how much mess etc.

If Donna (anglemum) comes on she might be able to tell you about mess etc, she went so quick with Evie she gave birth on bathroom floor and Her DP delivered baby

Don't worry about the mess, it is all cleaned and taken away by the midwives, you just provide your own sheeting to protect the floor, I just used old bedding and a peice of tarpaulin sheet to save the floor. The placenta is taken away...unless you want to save it lol.

my daughter stayed with us, and if she was awake during lavour we would have let her have a nosey if she felt comfortable, but we got my mum to come over incase she was upset by it.

due to circumstances my son and i were transfered to hospital more or less straight after the birth (he had a knot in his cord so was distressed but this would have happened in the hospital anyway, and ambulance is always on standby when a homebirth is underway, so it was with us within minutes).

One thing i didn't do was pack an emergency hospital bag..thinking it would jinx me but i would say definitely do, but you should get a checklist from the mw, as well as a home visit to check that everything is in order.

HTH x

Not sure what i would do with the placenta...think i will leave it to midwives. Spoke to them today and they were all "there is A LOT of planning involved with this, you must have room for kit and a Midwive and Fire officer will inspect propert, plus you only get 2 small gas/air canisters"
Not a very positive response, plus "you will be responsible for the mess" Not going to let this put me of, im all set for having baby at home now.

Thats disappointing to hear, sounds like he/she was trying to put you off a bit. I had a very surprising, but fantastic response to my asking for a homebirth. They were lovely and I was very happy with the way my mw's dealt with everything. i never had to have a visit from a fire officer though, the mw did the risk assessment. Good luck hun

Just to add, I never used the gas and air (mainly because it turned up AFTER baby born lol) but i used a TENs machine throughout my labour which helped me so much. I know they don't work for everyone but, they are worth a try

Sammie said:
people cook and eat the placenta, its full of nutrients apparently, i couldnt do it but whatever floats your boat i guess

I remember watching a birth program on discovery and they made the placenta into a pate and all the family ate it...each to their own but it made me cringe when they spread it on crakers

I could make a nice bag out of it what do you think? lol very eco friendly!

LOL at last a bag that you can fit everything in!!

PMSL i just read this while having my breakfast i might add i just lost my appetite.lol

Im pleaed to read that no one hsa put you off as yet - thats a good sign.
Im a sucessful HVBAC mother, basically means home vaginal birth after caesarean - which is damn risky aparently.

I enjoyed every second of my home birth and i too obviously had the section child there too.
At the time he was 19 months old - but soon went to bed as i laboured day and evening then gave birth early hours.

I am pregnant again and of corse planning another home birth, and if im pushin through the day the children will be up stairs in their bedroom out of the way.

As for mess - the midwifes lay down plenty of pads square ones and believe me i gushed with the birth and guess what - not even a spot on the sofa !!

And as for the only 2 small canisters, they allocate each home birth 2 canisters but if your near to running out on the 2nd they bring another mw out with more - i used 2 and a bit canisters but my first canister had only a quater in it.

I wish you the very best of luck - if u need to talk further give us a PM

xx

imakeboys said:
Im pleaed to read that no one hsa put you off as yet - thats a good sign.
Im a sucessful HVBAC mother, basically means home vaginal birth after caesarean - which is damn risky aparently.

I enjoyed every second of my home birth and i too obviously had the section child there too.
At the time he was 19 months old - but soon went to bed as i laboured day and evening then gave birth early hours.

I am pregnant again and of corse planning another home birth, and if im pushin through the day the children will be up stairs in their bedroom out of the way.

As for mess - the midwifes lay down plenty of pads square ones and believe me i gushed with the birth and guess what - not even a spot on the sofa !!

And as for the only 2 small canisters, they allocate each home birth 2 canisters but if your near to running out on the 2nd they bring another mw out with more - i used 2 and a bit canisters but my first canister had only a quater in it.

I wish you the very best of luck - if u need to talk further give us a PM

xx

Good luck with your homebirth hun

Thanks - im stil having a fight with consultants what they dont seem to realise is that its my body, my house and my wishes - not theirs lol!!!

Tis frustrating when one doc 'advises' no to a home birth, then another doc 'advises' and we are in a circle - i will not let them put me off, i had a wonderful experience last time, it was so magical and everytime i look back at it - i cry with happy tears and that is a good thing. =]

thanks xx