Just out of interest...

[Twin Sister]

A home birth just isn't for me and is not something I would ever consider. Having gone through birth once already I was quite happy to be at the hospital surrounded by nurses and doctors. When I was in labour all I wanted was to go to the hospital and when they sent me home the first time I was quite upset. I was sooo relieved when my water broke and i was allowed to check in. It was quite messy and painful and I would not want to go through that at home. It was nice to have nurses to look after me and the baby for a few days and then be able to leave that all behind me and come home.

[Ozstar]

DH and I haven't started TTC yet but decided not long after DS was born that our next baby would be born at home. We have already started saving and looking into midwives. Before BB I would have never considered a homebirth but all the stories I have read have been so positive. I have learnt so much about birth in general from BB.

[fionas]

BB has definitely changed my mind on HB. I wasn't really anti-HB to start with but I did fall for the scaremongering that it wasn't safe.

Having said that, I had a very long labour first time around ending with forceps and my gut feeling is it's likely to be long if I go for a second one. Nothing really to base that on, apart from gut feeling.

So my ideal scenario would be to see a midwife AND an obstetrician throughout my pregnancy then labour at home with the midwife and if there were 'problems' be transferred to hospital with my midwife and my ob there to do any medical stuff if need be.

Given those options aren't available and/or would be outrageously expensive, I'll stick with my ob and hospital, possibly with a doula.

But if I'd had a quicker, less complicated labour first time around, I'd be keen for a homebirth and I actually defend it to the hilt (with the facts) when others talk about it disparagingly.

[thepixie]

Not for me. My DD needed urgent medical care when she was born (completely unexpectedly, perfectly normal pregnancy except for being 11 days post-dates and all monitoring 100% normal throughout labour) and if I had given birth to her at home I don't think she would have survived. Hospitals aren't the most fun places in the world, but when my baby needs urgent medical care there is nowhere else I would want to be.

[BellyBelly]

First births are usually the worst in the sense of time, anticipation, perception of pain... all that. Someone once said something like, 'You have to go through that first birth so you can have the accomplishment of the second... something like that. My first birth was crap but my second was a drug-free birth when I rocked up at 9cms expecting it to be much, much worse after a previous augmentation with synto. Second births are typically shorter and you have some idea of what to expect, usually less scared which breaks the fear, tension, pain cycle.

There is so much trauma and drama around birth and women aren't being educated enough to expect it, so it channels them nicely to continue down the medical route. At the end of the day, medicine saved the day, but if you didn't have medicine in the first place you may have not had that medical emergency. Best example of this is inductions with synto and how many first time mothers are having that! They often end in emergency caesareans (but not always) as the baby doesn't like being pumped full of artificial hormones much higher than the body would produce natually. Mum can't cope with the pain much worse than it should be. Epidurals go up, may or may not slow labour down, if so more of the drip to speed it up - so it's common to have an emergency c/s (there is clearly a relationship with induction of labour and c/s) or assisted birth. Thats scary stuff! Of course you are going to go back to the hospital if you had that in the past. But what if you knew that induction caused all of that and you could birth normally without it?

We know that over 60% of babies are not choosing their own due date or initiating their own birth, when you add up the statistics of inductions, augmentations and elective caesars. Crap happens when you mess around with baby's plans!!!

[Helly]

Homebirthing to me has always been my first choice. I think this site has certainly encouraged me, particularly in meeting other women who have already gone through the experience, and as a majority, would repeat it again and recommend it to others.

It just seems the most natural thing in the world to be in my own environment, to know that I am safe and protected from unneeded interventions (but also under the care of a professional who I trust), to know exactly what I can and can't do in my own space, and to know that I am on no-ones schedule but the baby's and mine. And to know that I can freely have those who I choose attend or not attend, and not have the room full of strangers to witness this very personal and private act.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

My DS needed urgent medical treatment - because the hospital pumped me full of drugs that I told them would stop DS breathing (DH has a genetic problem that would do the same to him). Without the hospital I would have been fine, as would DS.

Another reason for homebirth.

And "first births are crap so second births can be OK" - expletive that. Without a hospital my first birth would have been WONDERFUL. It didn't hurt (until the Obs got involved with his hand of pain). I may never have more children so that's no comfort either. I wasn't scared, I wasn't in pain, I was enjoying it... at least, the main bit. The first 25-30 hours were fine. The pushing was fine. The hospital and their rules and bullying - not fine. But hey, DH thought it was great because his opinion was more important than mine and he was more important than me because he "looks a bit pale".

Expletive hospitals. When I quit working in one I'm never setting foot in one again, ever. Not even if I'm ill.

[Snowy Love]

I just floated the idea to DH yesterday and he said "you've been spending too much time on that Belly website" and its true (not too much time ) But my view of homebirth has been changed (for the better) by BB. DH isn't overly keen, but says it is ultimately my decision.

I liked my hospital, but I didn't need an Ob for the first birth (he was in surgery & missed it, which didn't bother me at all) so why pay for one for the second (wish IM's were covered by Medicare & health funds though).

I want DS with me for the birth (which I think I can do at Selangor, must check) and I don't want to drive 20mins while in labour. So BB has definitely changed my view of HB and I am considering it - got a few months to make a decision I suppose.

[meow]

My first choice was always a homebirth. I've been more influnced by watching my mum homebirth than anything else.

While I don't regret that we went to a birth centre instead as all went really well, I do wish I had birthed at home and am very much looking forward to doing it next time. With my son I laboured at home for most of it so all the noise I was concerned about making in a small apartment I made anyway!

Bellybelly was the reason I wanted a doula though!

[BellyBelly]

And I am glad you did want a doula ren You were awesome hon - your next birth is gonna be amazing too xx

[meow]

Well, you're a pretty good doula My next birth is gonna be shorter I hope!

[Kazmar]

i will deff look into having a home birth next! I f I in the end feel more comfy in hospital scene has I had a fantastic 1st hossy birth then I wont hesitiate.

Im so excited to share Annabelle growing up on this forum and also sharing my next pg, birth etc on here
I would really love to have a doula the next pg/birth I have but I have no info on it. Kelly how do I go about this?

[thepixie]

Just to clarify:

Best example of this is inductions with synto and how many first time mothers are having that!

I resisted a scheduled induction, but when I rocked up to hospital in labour 11 days post-EDD I wasn't completely against it. I had already been in labour for 8 hours and without the kickstart from the induction I could easily have become too exhausted to finish the labour and ended up with assisted delivery or C/S, both of which I was keen to avoid.

Mum can't cope with the pain much worse than it should be. Epidurals go up, may or may not slow labour down, if so more of the drip to speed it up - so it's common to have an emergency c/s (there is clearly a relationship with induction of labour and c/s) or assisted birth.

I was pretty proud of how well I coped with the pain, I only had gas and even then it was only turned up to 60% from 9cm to full dilation. So I didn't have an epidural or even a shot of pethidine.

But what if you knew that induction caused all of that and you could birth normally without it?

The point is, I don't know any such thing. Another member posted only today that the exact same thing happened to her DS after her home birth. It's a recognised complication of post-dates pregnancy, but its not possible for anyone to say what caused it or when the relevant thing happened - in our case DD swallowed/ inhaled mec. That could have happened during labour or it could have happened days before. There is no real way to know.

I am quite confident that I could birth normally without the synto, especially since I birthed normally with the synto. The birth was fine. The problem was that my baby didn't breathe independently for 20 minutes after she was born and I was very, very thankful to the medical staff who took care of her. Because of them I have a beautiful baby girl instead of a broken heart.

I am not against anyone's choice to have a home birth. It's just not my choice.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Pixie, how do you know what the syncto does to a baby? I know full well that my baby was paralysed and unable to breathe due to the drugs I was pushed (not in pain, just "no one gets this far without drugs, you must need them" from the midwives and even DH!) and I know full well that even a "late" baby at home would have survived. In hospital, he needed resussitation and I'm bloody lucky he is here now. Would NOT have happened at home, I can say that with 100% conviction.

Plus the midwives bring recovery stuff with them at home for emergancies.

[Kazmar]

I think I would feel bubs and myself would be 'safer' in a hospital but then again Im not educated enough on homebirthing.

[Cricket]

BB definitely influenced my opinion of homebirthing. And that's why my third baby was born at home, in the bath. However, it was not just BB. I had heard stories from other mums, and not ONE of them, that I spoke to, ever regretted their decision. They spoke about their homebirths as wonderful experiences. I couldn't say the same for everyone I had heard hospital birth stories from. I have no hatred or anything, for hospitals. They have saved many lives - mothers' lives and babies' too. BUT, there seems to be a mentality, especially at some hospitals, that birth should be regulated and controlled, and procede according to a schedule, and that is a dangerous attitude.
I had my first two babies at the hospital, and they were good experiences. But home was better. And I love the care given by the midwives here - similar to a private midwife in Aus, I believe. Prenatal appointments were 45min long, care before, during, and after birth was amazing (three midwives available to me in my home, but staying out of my face, and only checking progress if I wanted, etc.) and the post-natal care was superb! Home visit every other day for a week, on call 24-7, and office appointments at 2, 4, and 6 weeks.
OK, now I realize I've really rambled off-topic, but in a way these things all belong together. Better care is available, and BB helped me see that I had more options for pre/post-natal care. The OB in the hospital is not the only or the best way to go for everyone.
Thanks a million Kelly - you've done good work.

[thepixie]

Pixie, how do you know what the syncto does to a baby?

Rosehip Fairy, maybe it was caused by the synto and maybe it wasn't. The medics who attended the birth and the baby afterwards weren't able to say for sure and neither can I. The exact same thing can and does happen in spontaneous unmedicated births - as I said earlier, another member posted that this happened during her homebirth https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...in-moving.html.
I'm just glad that medical backup was available when it was needed, and we didn't have to transfer after something went wrong.
We were given the choice whether to augment the labour or not, and in the circumstances we chose to do it. Also with pain relief, while the midwife and the OB (who were both awesome btw) both said that the augmented labour was intense and I would probably need an epidural, at no point was it pushed on me. I was given the options for pain relief and allowed to make the choice that worked for me. I was lucky I progressed quickly and so I didn't need much.
Even if I hadn't had this experience with DD I would still choose a hospital birth for the same reasons Jac and Janie mentioned. As it was my first baby, I appreciated the 24hr help with BFing etc, and for a subsequent child I think I would appreciate the space from the responsibilities of home.
Maybe a lot depends on the hospital and/ or your OB if you have one. RF did you have your baby in the UK or in Aus? As I understand it in the UK you wouldn't have any choice about the hospital or care provider. Here you can choose your hospital/ dr and if you don't like them you can change them.

[christy]

I'm going to pull this back to the OT and say, Yep 100% if I get pregnant again and go to term I will be having a homebirth. We nearly ditched the hospital at 10 days post EDD anyway and almost tried for a homebirth.

I believe in natural birthing. My first birth was traumatic and involved every known intervention known to birthing. My second wasn't.... and it was empowering. I went into labour when we were ready and Jovie was perfect.

Yes, I haven't had to deal with after effects of my birthing choice with Jovie, but with Matilda I have and STILL am having issues. She has issues with her left & right brain connecting which apparently can happen to c/s babies.... she's 4. I only just heard this on the weekend at a training session for parents with kids with sensory integration.