Questions & Answers

I wanted a water birth, a natural delivery and no epidural......

I ended up having to be induced, hooked upto a drip, gas and air, diamorphine and after 18 hours labour I he got stuck and i only reached 4 cm and had to have an emergency c-section.

I really would vote hospital rather than home birth as you really can not predict how things will pan out.

I haven't done a home birth nor do I want to. It is a personal preference and I think to each its own. I had a wonderful experience in the hospital where I delievered my first and being a first time mother it was really comforting to have the support of all of the nursing staff. I am sorry so many people have had rough experiences in hospitals at such an important time. With that being said here is my advice....as long as you are not high risk you should do whatever will make you comfortable. That will go a long way for you and your baby during that time. Honestly labor is a very difficult trying time and with the stress that you will already have you don't want to add to it by being somewhere you don't really want to be. So as long as your prenatal care goes well and you have the green light from medical staff (midwife/OB) go for what you want!! Good luck! :)

I have had both mine in a hospital, the first was in a low risk hospital and it was wonderful, the birthing suites were set up like a bedroom at home and the whole time it was just me and my hubby and the midwife would knock and poke her head in every few hours or so and obviously I could press the buzzer if i needed her. I made it clear in the months up to the birth that I did not want to be offered any pain relief as I knew what was there and would ask if needed. I did end up asking for and using some gas but didnt need anything else and nothing was offered just as i asked, I did however lose too much blood afterward which is why my second had to be born in a high risk hospital. that birth was not as nice as it felt very "medical" if that makes sense lol however I was very greatful to be there when i bled ALOT after the birth so much so that they used every method possible to stop my bleeding other than emergancy surgery. Im now going to the same hospital this time :)

I had a horrible hospital birth, that sadly, cannot be erased from my memory. So, this time i'm having a home birth with a midwife.

She is licensed, brings oxygen incase resuscitation is needed, has lots of medicines, including injections to stop hemorrhaging and she can also repair any tears (should they happen, which is unlikely with non-medicated homebirth).

I will get to stay in the comfort of my home, with my sheets, my bed, my birth pool, my couch, my food, my tv, my family... my carpet... my safe place. I won't be in a hospital being treated like someone's lil bitch, and bossed around, and made to feel like a victim.

I am also 28 weeks, and I didn't hire my midwife until just last week. I've had regular OB care up until now, and will continue to have OB care, as well as midwife care, until I deliver with just my midwife. You dont have to start with your midwife now, you can late transfer.

But homebirths, for low risk pregnancies, with a midwife, are very safe.