I had a hospital birth with my 1st child as home birth wasnt mentioned to me, partner wasnt included in anything i.e cutting cord ect, smooth labour and only 4 hours no pain relife, went home following day.

Second child opted for home birth as midwife (same midwife as 1st baby) recommended one. Went into labour mid morning, got daughter up dressed and off to nursery. Managed to get housework done prepared tea, basically getting on with normal daily routines, when contractions got 4 mins apart midwife arrived, was allowed a warm bath watched tv and felt so relaxed, 2nd midwife arrived. Full labour and honestly was so much more relaxed and free to move about where and when i wanted, no pain relief but son's cord was tight around his neck, the midwifes used there breathing equipment on him and all was fine. midwifes cleaned all the waterproof sheets, made my bed, helped me into the bath and then left me with the 1 midwife for an hour or so to ensure everything was ok. my daughter came home from nanny's then to see me all relaxed and everything normal with the new addition. Labour 3 hours pain free.

Pretty much the same with third birth. Apart from with the exception of it happening lte in the evening. Both my other 2 children were asleep in bed, partner went and woke them to say there baby brother was on his way. They went back to sleep, we sat watching dvds and drinking coffee whilst labour progressed, again very relaxed straigh forward birth, once all tided up and sorted partner woke children to come and see me and there baby brother. Labour 5 hours with a little gas and air

The GP visits you then next day and examins baby and you. midwife visits as would with hospital birth.
All in all IF i was to have any more children i would deffinately have a home birth again and would recommend one to anybody.
Good luck with the pregnancy and birth and remember the choice is your at the end of the day

 

It's all down to your perception of risk.

Our first boy ended up as an emergency c-section after 4 days of labour (!!) - glad we were in the hospital for that one.

In the hospital again for our second son - started to have problems with the birth, but the midwife managed to get him out without the need to go for the sunroof.

Second birth would have been fine for a home birth, but thank goodness we were in hospital for the first.

 

Fin - Finley

 

I left the details out but those who want to have the details simple research forceps and epesiotomy and stick the word's 'heart rate vanished' in between and you will get the idea!

Also just to give you an idea Trout, my second baby wasn't breech at term, she was a 'floating transverse' and made the whole end of the pregnancy a right pain in the butt (literally) with extra scans. Was not what I wanted at all, but obviously, no matter what i wanted, it was about making sure my baby was safe.

 

Thank you so much for experiences, We have decided to ask the midwife when we next see her, So far we are having a good pregnancy, The lovely Mrs Winner is fit and healthy and the baby is moving all over the place.

I would never want MW or the baby to be at any risk but she feels a bit anxious about the thought of a hospital birth, she wants to sleep in her own bed that night and have the baby in his/hers own bed.

I will keep you updated and rack your brains for more tips and experiences, its a really big decision to make thats and I am grateful for all your input.

 

I agree with her when it comes to wanting your own bed. And the baby. Nothing worse than seeing a newborn in one of those horrible plastic trays!

Unfortunatly I saw why they are plastic when my son decided to keep throwing up all the mucus on his chest.

If she is more comfortable with a home birth, then I think the MW should allow her to do what will be best for her. The less stressed he can be, the better the birth.

 

Thank **** there were no pics of anything "peaking"

Own experiences - both kids born in hospital.
First took about 8 hours
Second less than half that - presumably because the exit was a bit bigger then

 

Lol @ ''peaking'', when a baby arrives surely you know there isn't much 'peaking' envolved?! lol

 

Lol, you edited while I posted

 

I forgot to add my own kids stuff

As regards "peaking" - when my first was being born the nurse said do you want to see the head.

**** - no thanks I said, I'll just say up this end thank you very much

 

Sister-in-law's 3rd a couple of months back, a pain-free labour only paracetomol as pain relief, 9lb 5oz boy comes out, looking to go home from hospital 3 hours later - i.e. very straightforward, just like her first 2. And then placenta doesn't deliver properly, over 2 litres of bloodloss, rushed to theatre, multiple transfusions etc. She would be dead now if she'd opted for a home birth, instead she has a healthy 3 month old. She fitted all the profiles of a "low risk" mother, etc.

So IMHO, it boils down to 90 odd percent of births would be fine at home and a lot of people will find it more pleasurable. A small fraction - no matter how healthy and normal you think everything is - have a risk of complications, and at that point fast medical intervention could be life saving.

As it happened our daughter had problems growing after 35 weeks, so needed to be delivered early in hospital anyway (now a happy healthy 7 week old), but we'd already decided we didn't want to take a small risk to health of mother/baby for the sake of a nicer environment. Ultimately, everything in life is a risk, it's just a personal decision of whether you believe the risk is worth it.

 

1st baby hospital
2nd baby didnt get a chance to get to hospital so un planned @ home baby arrived 30 mins after midwife turned up
3rd baby hospital

after the experiance of the 3rd with it all going pete tong there is not a chance on earth we would have a home birth if we were to have another.

classed as low risk as other 2 came fine! no such thing as low risk

 

My wife hemorrhaged(spelling??) after having our second which resulted in her falling unconcious and blood pressure so low the doctors struggled to find a vein to give her a blood transfusion, Christ knows what would have happened had she'd had a home birth.
Nik.

 

I am guessing if labour progressed so long, you would have still had a chance to get to hospital, even from the Outer Hebrides, by boat!

Glad it all worked out OK

 

I would have loved a home birth with both my kids (teenagers now), but I thank God every day, it did not happen.
Both were back to back babies. Basically being born face up. Not really ideal, apparently.
My Son got stuck. His chin was on my pubic bone, if I had pushed I would have broke his neck Forceps sorted him out, vile experience and not to be recommended.
My daughter was arm first, she was like a little supergirl. That was ghastly. I am so grateful I was in hospital, which really was not so bad and I made some friends I still have to this day.
Oh and Urban, I doubt it was bigger for the second one, it took me longer to get my daughter out than it did my Son and he was first
All the best and congratulations on your baby

 

I looked at the stats for home birth bit couldn't get enough info on how they had controlled for factors such as predelivery risk (ie generally peole don't go for a home birth if they are assed as being above low risk pre delivery), clinical policies and sample sizes.

In the end we went for a hospital birth and a bloody good thing too in the end (cant be bothered to go into the details). Partly influencing that was the experience of my wifes friend who had her second child at home, haemorraged and nearly died (luckily they were close to a hospital).

Wife is determined to go into hospital for number 2 - more drugs to be taken next time so she tells me!

 

Hospital for number 2 ?
I hope you mean second child not a dump

 

lets face it **** happens