Home Birth

[smidge1717]

Hello everyone.

I am 20 weeks with my first baby and very keen on having a home birth... I have done research on this and I know if I changed my mind or there were any complications further down the line I would get booked into a hospital.

I am not going to have a birthing pool as reading into it I am not sure our hot water system would necessarily sustain filling up a warm birthing pool on regular basis and it's not something I am particular keen on....

I was just wondering if I could hear about people's experiences of home births where they haven't had a birthing pool and if it is really messy and hard to clean up?? Don't relish doing lots of cleaning once I have baby!!

Thank you xx

[NickNacks]

I've had 3 and no pool.

It's really not messy. Midwives are fab at cleaning up and they take it all with them. Things to help though...

Buckets x2
Old or cheap duvet for the floor (I gave birth on my knees leaning on the sofa)
Shower curtain as a waterproof base
Old towels for cleaning up.

Midwives bring lots of sheets too.

[imisssleepandwine]

I had DD1 at home at everything went great. I'm 16 weeks pregnant and planning a second home birth. I did rent a pool the first time but didn't have the foresight to measure the hot water tank size versus pool size etc. I used the bath and did find the water helped. I plan to get a pool this time as we are in a different house with plenty of hot water!

I second what Nicknacks says, the midwives clean everything up. I also bought cheap shower curtains for the bed and carpets.

It's lovely to be at home with your baby from the start. good luck

[EyelinerQueen]

I had my first at home and am currently 20 weeks pregnant and planning another HB.

I had a pool and it was great for the early stages but once things really kicked off I wanted to be on my knees and kept slipping and sliding in the pool so got out.

I spent most of my labour on the toilet and leaning over the sofa. You definitely don't need a pool.

Y to towels and old sheets. Good luck!

[TheRaniOfYawn]

I didn't get round to filling the pool with DC1and it was fine, although the pooll birth was nicer. No mess. I had a shower curtain but I hated it as it slipped on the carpet and I wanted more traction. But the midwives had info pads which they laid underneath me which were perfect. For my second birth I went out and bought some because they were great.

[oodyboodyboocs]

I've had 2 home births. I gave birth kneeling on the big sofa cushions and leaning onto the sofa. We covered the cushions and surrounding floor with value disposable plastic dust sheets from b&q and then put towels and old sheets on top. The midwives were fantastic after I'd given birth they ran me a bath and whilst I was in the bath they cleared everything up. Honestly you would never of known someone had just given birth in the room. It was so relaxed and they didn't rush me. After the birth I had time for cuddles and the first feed before getting in the bath.
It was a lovely experience and so nice to have my own bed and home comforts after the birth. Hope it goes well for you.

[NickNacks]

Isn't it telling that so many of us home birthers wanted to be on our knees leaning over? It was definitely my natural position and I just couldn't push in any other.

Makes me to see women flat on their backs to labour.

[smidge1717]

Wow thanks so much :-) that's been so reassuring, yeah I had a feeling I would be on my knees over the sofa.

I just suffer such anxiety in hospitals and I would feel so much better being in my home and knowing I can get in my bath and my bed once my little boy arrives:-)

Any other positive stories are greatly appreciated as I am a first time mummy:-)

Thanks again for all your advice

[NoodieRoodie]

Another one who gave birth on her knees leaning over the sofa, it was fantastic. Post birth DH, 2 midwives and I sat around chatting with cups of tea while I did first feed, then I got into the bath that the midwife had run for me while they tidied up.

Currently considering having a third and if we do I'll definitely be having at home

[Trinpy]

So do most women who have hb choose to give birth in the living room?

[PenguinsEatSpinach]

I had my second at home. I did have a birth pool though.

I just wanted to say that there are options if your hot water is less than reliable. Firstly, your water probably only needs to cope with filling it once. After that it is more a case of scooping a couple of saucepans out and adding a couple of hot to maintain the temperature. Also, there are solid pools you can assemble in advance and maintain their heat. You only need to change the water once a week, but they can be more pricey to hire.

Assuming you don't feel water is for you, I agree with others. Just plenty of cheap towels, some shower curtains/other waterproof covering and you'll be fine.

[whereisshe]

I had a pool with a filter / heater unit. So it was filled a week in advance and kept itself warm. Which was lovely to wallow in 41 weeks pg and overdue! It was invaluable during my birth, I refused to get out because it hurt less in the pool.

[weebairn]

I had my first at home. I had a pool but barely used it (midwives said it was slowing things down). In it for about an hour, maybe.

I have no idea about any mess. I didn't clean it up! The midwives will do it. I had some old towels and sheets, some plastic sheeting to chuck over my sofa, and the midwives brought lots of incontinent sheets which we spread everywhere.

I also did a lot of it on leaning over the arm of the sofa. Later on mostly sitting backwards on a chair (with a inco sheet on it). Could NOT bear to be on my back for even a minute, so painful.

It was quite long and tough but oh, to be at home afterwards… I had proper food, shower, bed, unhurried breastfeeding, more food, sleep, peace and quiet, then champagne! The midwives were brilliant.

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

Both my DC were born at home. I didn't have a pool but I did use the bath quite a lot in first labour. I ended up delivering in the living room both times. First time I was sitting in DH's lap using him as a sort of impromptu birthing stool (!) as I'd been pushing in a standing position which was great for progress but I got so tired.

Second time was the classic kneeling up by the sofa routine, much quicker labour too.

I hired TENS machine and found that really useful (they can be a bit of a marmite thing). Also had a large birthball which I used in pregnancy, labour and afterwards for bouncing non-sleeping babies.

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

Oh and DH/my mum and the MWs cleared up the mess, I only had eyes for my newborn

[DramaAlpaca]

I had DS3 at home & it was amazing. My previous labours had been long & slow, and I felt I would be much more relaxed at home. DS3's birth took about five hours from start to finish, much quicker than the other two, and I'm sure that was because I was at home in surroundings where I felt comfortable & in control.

I had an old mattress on the sitting room floor covered up with plastic sheets from a DIY store, and like others above gave birth on my knees on the mattress, leaning over the sofa on which were piled lots of beanbags & cushions. I had gas & air, but didn't need anything else for pain relief.

There was no mess, the midwives just wrapped up the plastic sheets afterwards & got rid of them.

I then had a lovely hot shower, some food & snuggled up in my own bed with my lovely new baby.

It was a wonderful experience.

[NaturalBaby]

I had a home birth without the water pool and forgot to put the towels down! My waters only break at the last minute so the towels were in a nice neat pile in the corner, but the last hour was a bit quick and before I realised they had gone all over the carpet. We then used the towels to mop up and the mw's bagged everything and took it away.

I was leaning on a gym/birthing ball and on my knees. The ball could go anywhere in the house. I used the spare room and turned it into a birthing room with everything I needed a few weeks before. The hospital bag was in there as well so I could just grab what we needed at the time. I also did hypnobirthing which turned me from a nervous/anxious wreck to calm and in control of everything. The mw's didn't really do anything except write up notes and clean up a bit.