Home birth

[SCHBR'smom]

I'm about 7 weeks pregnant with #6. I barely made it to the hospital with my last one. I don't know if I'll be so lucky again. I think a home birth might be a good option for us. I've already had 2 without drugs, so even though its not fun, I know I can do it. The hospital would be nice because I would have 2 days to rest, but I don't end up with a home birth I didn't plan or give birth in the car on the way to the hospital. So, for now, I'm going to research all that I can and make a decision after that. I've already learned about a doula in the area. And, a friend has emailed my info to another mom in the area who has had 3 home births.

Anyone have information they can share?

 

[Mrs. Charming]

The midwives I used to go to attended many many home births. I think if you're comfortable with it, and without complications, go for it.

(I'm hoping you get other positive responses. )

 

[java]

Having had one emergency c-section(second baby) when the baby wasn't dropping- turned out she was way tangled in the cord around her neck. Had I not been in the hospital she would have died.
That alone made me have my next 2 in the hospital. Not worth the risk to me. My hospital is very mom friendly. It was low key- I had my own room. I got out of there asap after though.

Now I also do know a friend that had a very successful home birth.
You just have to decide what your comfort level is. For me not my thing.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

Having had one emergency c-section(second baby) when the baby wasn't dropping- turned out she was way tangled in the cord around her neck. Had I not been in the hospital she would have died.
That alone made me have my next 2 in the hospital. Not worth the risk to me. My hospital is very mom friendly. It was low key- I had my own room. I got out of there asap after though.

Now I also do know a friend that had a very successful home birth.
You just have to decide what your comfort level is. For me not my thing.

I've been fortunate to have 5 complication free deliveries. If I have another quick delivery (the last 3 ranged from 2-4 hours), by the time DH gets home from work (45 min drive) and then gets me to the hospital (another 45 min drive), I might end up looking at a car delivery on the side of the road. Not exactly ideal. DH was paranoid that was going to happen last time. I made it with 28 min to spare. And, DH was already with me, no waiting for him to get home first. If I have any complications, we'd call an ambulance in any scenario. I honestly don't know if it is my thing or not. I never thought I would consider it, but it is really starting to seem like good idea. I think I just need more information to make an appropriate decision.

 

[Aisling]

My SIL had two home births with a midwife and doula, and it was a beautiful experience for her. There were no complications, although she did labor for over 12 hours both times. I'd be too nervous to do it, but if you decide on it, I wish you the best!

 

[lucas]

Just wanted to say...... CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[lspst8]

I have a friend who recently had a home birth, and it was VBAC. She was very happy with her decision. Even though I'm not even preganant yet, I'm considering having home births with any future children. I just ordered the book "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin because she is one of the leaders in home birthing. I hear it is a little "earth-mother and hippie" but still full of great information.

 

[HelenePA]

I just wanted to say Congrats!!

 

[bettymae1121]

Personally I'd be too afraid of complications to want to plan on doing a home birth. But if you're really worried about making it to the hospital in time (and it sounds like a reasonable concern bassed on your past deliveries) maybe you should consider having a back up person available if you need to go to the hospital ASAP and your husband isn't around, and also study what to do for a home birth if you really don't think you can make it there in time. This way you plan to try for the hospital if you can, if not then you have a back up "home" plan and you're prepaired for that as well. Just a thought!

For me, my DH works nights and is about an hour (good traffic) to two hours (bad traffic) away. If I ever manage to get pregnant, I plan on having a friend stay with me at night once I get into the last few weeks of pregnancy. Cuz murphy's law says I'd go into labor at the worst possible time!

 

[SCHBR'smom]

Just wanted to say...... CONGRATULATIONS!

I just wanted to say Congrats!!

Thank you!

 

[Mermaid02]

I am far too cautious to have ever even considered a home birth. DS had the cord around his neck, in the hospital he was monitored and did fine- not so sure what the result would have been if we had not seen his heart rate dipping on the monitor during labor....

 

[HelenePA]

I just wanted to say my last 3 deliveries were wonderful Less than 2 hours each.. I would have loved a home birth! He was a no go on the whole idea I hated spending all that time in the hospital. I was just ready to go home asap. The ped would not discharge our babies for at least 48hrs what a pita! If I ever have another I need to find a new ped.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

I just wanted to say my last 3 deliveries were wonderful Less than 2 hours each.. I would have loved a home birth! He was a no go on the whole idea I hated spending all that time in the hospital. I was just ready to go home asap. The ped would not discharge our babies for at least 48hrs what a pita! If I ever have another I need to find a new ped.

My DH was a no go, but the whole birth in the car thing terrifies him. There's more control with a planned home birth. Our ped is great. She lets us leave early. Thank goodness because baby R was born on Dec 23rd at around 4:30 in the afternoon. They let us leave the hospital Christmas morning around 10. I made the kids wait to open gifts until I got home and I don't think they could have waited until after 5.

 

[Tinkermommy]

Congratulations!

I have had two c-sections (DD was breech and DS was transverse) so it was never an option for me.

But if I were to consider it, I would want to know:

Do they bring any monitoring equipment (doppler, etc) to check the health of the baby? I would have to know that they are going to be able to detect if something is wrong and get you to a hospital ASAP.

With your short labor time I would be just as concerned that a midwife would be able to get to me in that time frame. What if they have another birth going on or there is traffic?

Just some thoughts running through my head.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Congratulations!

I have had two c-sections (DD was breech and DS was transverse) so it was never an option for me.

But if I were to consider it, I would want to know:

Do they bring any monitoring equipment (doppler, etc) to check the health of the baby? I would have to know that they are going to be able to detect if something is wrong and get you to a hospital ASAP.

With your short labor time I would be just as concerned that a midwife would be able to get to me in that time frame. What if they have another birth going on or there is traffic?

Just some thoughts running through my head.

Yes, they definitely do bring monitoring equipment. If they feel at any point that you need to go to a hospital at any point, you go!

 

[monkeybug]

I am currently pregnant with my third, and also have super quick deliveries.
My son was in my arms 45 minutes after I arrived at the hospital and less than 3 hours from the time I first felt a contraction. (and yeah, that means no time for pain meds. for me! Ouch!!!)
I am seeing a midwife this time and their office has a birthing center that is connected to the hospital via a hallway. I thought I would be the perfect candidate for a birth center birth, seeing as how I don't expect pain meds, have no medical complications, and have two previously fast and uncomplicated births. The midwife said "No way!"
I will be induced before my due date and give birth in the hospital as this is the safest option given my quick labor history. She doesn't feel comfortable with me trying to drive to the birthing center. I joked about a home birth (something I would never feel comfortable doing) and she told me even that wasn't a great option for quick laboring moms, because the midwife may not make it in time.
She said the safest way all around is to be induced, and they only induce in the hospital.
Maybe discuss with your doctor if an induction is a good option for you.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

Congratulations!

I have had two c-sections (DD was breech and DS was transverse) so it was never an option for me.

But if I were to consider it, I would want to know:

Do they bring any monitoring equipment (doppler, etc) to check the health of the baby? I would have to know that they are going to be able to detect if something is wrong and get you to a hospital ASAP.

With your short labor time I would be just as concerned that a midwife would be able to get to me in that time frame. What if they have another birth going on or there is traffic?

Just some thoughts running through my head.

Thank you!

I do worry about a midwife making it here in time. I certainly don't want my almost 11 year old DD having to assist with a birth. If a midwife is stuck in traffic, so would DH. I think that would require a call to 911. I don't think I could give birth at home by myself with 5 kids.

Another concern, which makes me lean towards a hospital, is that I also deliver early. All of my children have been early. The last one was 3 weeks early. Any earlier than that and it would be pre-term, requiring a hospital visit. Of course, she was so early because I developed a stomach bug 16hours before she was born. The dehydration alone could have sent me into labor early. Hopefully, that wouldn't happen again.

There's so much to consider.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

I am currently pregnant with my third, and also have super quick deliveries.
My son was in my arms 45 minutes after I arrived at the hospital and less than 3 hours from the time I first felt a contraction. (and yeah, that means no time for pain meds. for me! Ouch!!!)
I am seeing a midwife this time and their office has a birthing center that is connected to the hospital via a hallway. I thought I would be the perfect candidate for a birth center birth, seeing as how I don't expect pain meds, have no medical complications, and have two previously fast and uncomplicated births. The midwife said "No way!"
I will be induced before my due date and give birth in the hospital as this is the safest option given my quick labor history. She doesn't feel comfortable with me trying to drive to the birthing center. I joked about a home birth (something I would never feel comfortable doing) and she told me even that wasn't a great option for quick laboring moms, because the midwife may not make it in time.
She said the safest way all around is to be induced, and they only induce in the hospital.
Maybe discuss with your doctor if an induction is a good option for you.

I tend to deliver to early to be induced. The hospital won't allow inductions before 39 weeks, my last two were born at 38 weeks and 37 weeks. Otherwise, I think that would be perfect.

 

[Catananche]

Congratulations!
I'm a midwife in the UK, and attend home births quite frequently: we sometimes recommend planned homebirth to women who have had rapid labours before, a planned homebirth being safer than an unplanned one.

There is good evidence now about the safety of planned homebirth, when the pregnancy has been without complications. I do often hear comments about what happens if something goes wrong. Booking for a homebirth doesn't mean you have to stick it out at home if complications occur, and we transfer women in by ambulance when needed.

We regularly monitor the heartbeat during labour, amongst other observations. Most obstetric emergencies happen slowly or with plenty of warning, giving plenty of time to transfer, but we strongly recommend hospital birth for women at increased risk of things like haemorrhage or shoulder dystocia.

I know the system is very different in the USA. Best wishes for whatever you choose!

 

[momrek06]

CONGRATULATIONS, KERRIE!!!! ​