Why did you choose a homebirth?

[Jennifer13]

Guess I started thinking about it after pondering the necessity of my c/s. I decided I wanted to avoid such medical management. Research and stats showed I would achieve a natural birth and better outcomes for me and bub at home.

The final clincher was hearing the standard procedures I would be expected to undergo in hospital (classified as a 'high risk' VBAC - which my research did not support) and the lack of individual consideration for me and my pg. I did not see myself as a 'high risk' at all, given my health, that of the baby, etc, etc.

This time around it's a no-brainer. The rightness of our homebirth with DD2 makes it the only option this time, unless something untoward comes up. Also, I'm expecting a quick birth, so not having to go anywhere is a plus.

The irony to me is that now I've had such a straightforward VBAC at home, I'm no longer considered 'high risk' at hospital. But if I'd gone to hospital, I only had around 6% chance of a VBAC in the first place!!

[RubyShoes]

For me it was a case of "why not?" because I didn't feel that, for a low risk pregnancy and birth, there was any reason I needed to enter a hospital. I was also drawn to consistent, dedicated one-on-one midwifery care because my biggest gripe for my first (birth centre transfer) birth was that I saw so many unfamiliar faces during the labour, birth and post natal days and this made me anxious.

I felt so secure in my homebirth team that I didn't feel the need to write a birth plan because I just knew everyone was on the same page. I also felt very much that the focus was on the right things - that the labour and birth was my job, and the midwives' job was to monitor and support me to do it. Sometimes I think birth is credited to the medical staff despite it being the woman doing all the work.

There's also nothing like labouring and birthing at home in your own comfort zone and without having to think about "when do we go to hospital?" It was just so normal and well...normal to stay at home and give birth.

[HotI]

I looked into having a homebirth for my first baby, but family were not supportive (for a first birth) and so i decided i would do the hospital thing and then consider homebirth if there was #2.

My first birth was horrendous, and i ended up with PTSD.

When i became pregnant again, i knew that there was no possibility that i would go to hospital. I briefly entertained the idea of a birth centre (largely for my family), but after a triggering appointment i left knowing it was not for me.

I was fortunate to find an amazing midwife who supported me when i was going through the complaint process after my first birth, and i called her when i got pregnant with #2. She met with my partner and i, and after the first meeting he was also supportive of my decision. In the hospital system i was "high risk", but none of the extra appointments or attention were of benefit to me. I just felt like i was there to educate them on my medical condition (to different people each appointment), but got no benefit from doing so. For my homebirth, my carers were interested in how my condition could affect or be affected by pregnancy, labour and birth but i was still just a woman going to have a baby. When i was unable to speak, they quickly worked out that i could still communicate. The value of the love and respect i was shown during my pregnancy and birth can not be understated. Plus of course, there is the awesomeness of labouring in your own environment and not having to work out when to leave or what to pack.

Once you go homebirth, you never go back.

[meow]

I attended the homebirth of my younger sister and always knew I would have homebirths. I desperately wanted to birth at home as it seemed so beautiful and peaceful (even with the yelling) and nothing like I had seen or heard birth to be like. First birth I didn't have at home because the cost scared me off.

I guess I saw how the hospital setting wasn't what I was looking for and I knew the money was worth it second time around.

[HotI]

I guess I saw how the hospital setting wasn't what I was looking for and I knew the money was worth it second time around.

So true.

There was a bench in my backyard that i leaned on during contractions, while hanging out the washing , and whenever my DS sits on this bench it makes me smile. The arrival of a new brother was also easier on DD because it wasn't accompanied by an absence of her parents. i put her to bed and she woke in the night to a new baby, went back to sleep and then came to the family bed in the morning to check him out again.