Homebirth without a pool... how & where? (plus lots of other Q's)

[Mummato2]

I wouldn't encourage birthing at home any less than 37 weeks.

Reason being, midwife in attendance or not, bubs is an unknown until it's out and the level of care needed is variable.

There are some 36 weekers that have trouble with breathing and temp regulation, for the temp kangaroo care is fine but if bubs is having real trouble with respiration then the best place is the hospital where it can be seen to immediately. Of course, the other variable is the 35 weeker that breathes beautifully and only needs some warming up. Newborns can crash very very quickly and I wouldn't feel confident not knowing bubs status until birth less than 37 weeks.

But that is just my opinion

Aside from that, midwives will cover any scenario for you stitches, oxygen etc - so your best bet is to get in touch with a local IM and ask them what you need to worry about (if anything)

Sounds like you'd be a great case for HB!!

ETA - as for not having/wanting a birthing pool, mess can be managed pretty easily. I plan to not water birth but to birth on my bed leaning against beanbags (if it feels comfy at the time). Just get a painter's dropsheet, cover your mattress completely, then use old sheets over that. Have a smallish shallowish bucket for the placenta - but everything else will get absorbed into the sheets and the plastic will protect the mattress.

The room I'm birthing in has an ensuite 3 steps from the bed, so I plan on getting into a shower when I'm ready while my mum and DH make a nice comfy bed and then it's snuggle time for bubs, DS, DH and I. Mum can get everything else cleaned up at that point.

So you really don't need a birthing pool