Both my girls experienced some distress during labour, but no mec - DD2 was obviously ready though as the midwives declared her placenta 'dead' when she was born at 41 wks, and she pooped all over my tummy while having her first BF DD1 was induced 2 days before her due date and didn't have time to get really distressed, I don't think - from 0 to cord cut in 4 hours, her heart rate dropped to about 20bpm at one stage during pushing but it was all over and done before anybody got a chance to really panic. Hopefully next bub of yours won't have meconium and you'll be able to get your homebirth