Contemplating homebirth over birth centre - your views and advice appreciated!

[Noodlejuice]

Hey ladies,

Hoping some of you can offer some perspective or tips! I've considered homebirths before, but ultimately liked the security of having the delivery suite just down a corridor should I need anything.

However...last time I had a totally all natural birth - no pain relief at all throughout, not even for the majority of transition, gas and air only once I got into the birthing pool when I was ready to push (and pushing only lasted ten minutes).

I'd planned on birth centre again this time, but would really, really like a water birth again and know that there's no guarantee of this, with one pool between something like 12 rooms... Also, while midwives etc are supportive of a homebirth, they're making noises about me not being allowed to be on birth centre because of a history of depression (which makes no sense to me...do they think I'm going to suddenly become too depressed to push?) I also don't want to have to stay in hospital again; with my daughter they closed the birth centre after I'd delivered and then couldn't get a paediatrician, so wouldn't let me leave...leading to what was ultimately a horrible horrible experience on the wards that left me in tears and totally panicked for most of the night/morning!

Reading threads in here, I'm wondering if a homebirth might actually be for me, wondered on your views.

Cons (for me):
I worry about something happening and having to transfer to hospital at a crucial stage
I'm with a new partner for this baby and he's a bit of a worrier - he's not supportive of a homebirth and I have concerns that he'd panic throughout (even if he tried not to show it), which wouldn't be the greatest environment to give birth
I don't find my house particularly relaxing! I chill out better when elsewhere and wonder if I'd be able to get comfortable at home during later stages of labour.

Pros (for yours truly):
Guaranteed water birth - not having to wait for the pool to be vacant!
Less chance of being told to go onto delivery suite for a daft reason (liek the birth centre being understaffed)
Definitely no chance of being transferred to a ward and staying overnight in hospital
Two midwives/community midwives who I've already met/no shift changes leading to suddenly having to get used to a new midwife in the later stages.

I need to talk this over with my OH, but your input would definitely be very helpful.

Thanks for reading my epic post

xxx

 

[JenStar1976]

You may as well go for the home birth - even at a birthing centre, you'd have to transfer to a hospital if anything were to go wrong. x

 

[TattooedMama]

There are many statistics that you can look up about how safe homebirths are. Many of the stats will be homebirth vs. hospital births but still it will prove that homebirths are no more dangerous than a birth center birth and safer than a hospital one. I think it also makes a difference how far you are from the hospital to help convince him. Also as far as something going wrong, midwives are equppied to deal with the complications of labor that could arise, many times they can fix a problem. If they however cannot fix a problem they will let you know and it will be time to transfer which would be no different then if you were at a birth center.

They say an operating room for a c-section takes 30mins to prep so if you live close to the hospital you would only be showing when the room is almost ready or still being prepared. In my personal opinion and through my research, the only 2 instances that ABSOLUTELY require a c-section that cannot be fixed by the attempts of a midwife are placenta previa(cervix blocked partially or completely by placenta) or a prolapsed cord. In some instances the baby is coming too fast to get to a hospital even for a prolapsed cord so you have to deliver ASAP to ensure oxygen supply to baby.

 

[Janiepops]

GO FOR IT! If the thought is there in your mind, then it's for you. I worried too about some aspects, it's only natural, but I think you would do marvellously. My OH is a born worrier too, he wasn't up for it at all at first, and when we saw the MW about it she told us all the horror stories and he was scared to death! But he knew how strongly I felt about it and trusted my instinct, and it turns out he was brilliant throughout. Give your oh a 'role' to play - filling the pool, back massage etc, if he feels important and he's busy, the less chance there is of him going to bits
I think there's more risks giving birth in hospital because of intervention and you say yourself, you could be moved due to staff shortages, or not even have the care and attention you should be getting. At home you have the undivided attention of your midwives, it's great

 

[Cariad_bach]

I highly recommend home births and if i was you id go for it, is your MW supportive of the idea? your OH just wants whats best for you and your LO im sure, you might find other family members and friends think you mad too but they just dont know how safe it is, once they find out the facts they soon come round.
If i was you id do it xx

 

[Freya]

can you go for a homebirth, but looking at your con' list can I make a couple of suggestions? Can you have a birth in a home where you do feel relaxed? Like your parents home/family best friend? You mention you dont find your home relaxing - which I would say may hinder the labour process. Can you work on making it more relaxing lol (hard to offer suggestions when I dont know the reasoning behind it).

Also, your OH feeling anxious etc. COuld you ask for a second birth partner? Parent/family best mate option again? This way your OH wont feel as under pressure being the sole support for you and you can concentrate on birthing your baby knowing he's happier.

Your 'pro' list is flawless and all the reasons you need to want a water birth at home.

xxxx