Home birth

[Ceri111]

Hello :) was wondering if anyone would share their experiences of home births, Ive recently lost my father and feel very unsecure and I think i'd feel more relaxed at home than in the hospital. Also does anyone know if its easy to have a water birth at home, how do you get the pool ect and also how do they keep the pool warm throughout labour? thanks in advance for any advice :)

[sabbylopez]

my homebirth story is on my journal entry if you would like to read it

[Ceri111]

what?

[ariannanotarangelo]

****

[Ceri111]

thats such a shame you cant try it...good luck with the rest of your pregnancy :) x

[JayceeAtkins]

I live in the US, Idaho as well. And I am a high risk patient currently 37 weeks so I drive 90 miles to the dr/ hospital. I wish I could try a home birth I have a lot of friends who have done water birth and they loved it. Good luck to you!

[sabbylopez]

They come with a lot of supplies my midwife came with her own stuff she has in her birth kit, she came with oxygen tank, iv fluids. If worse comes to worse they know how to resuscitate you and baby that's what they are trained in.

[Ceri111]

I wish I lived a little closer to the hospital...do the midwives come with things to resuscitate a baby in worse case senarios? Iv looked at pools and to hire for 5 weeks its £115 which is not as expensive as I thought :)

[sabbylopez]

I live is the USA , Idaho.

[sabbylopez]

I lived 5 minutes away from a hospital. Paid 30 dollars for my birth kit and she didn't use any of it. Also I bought a pool liner because she owns a pool and I used the liner. If you have a water birth it is less messy your midwife will talk to you about it. Also I had to pay 1000 dollars out of pocket because insurance didn't cover all of it.

[Ceri111]

No insurance as healthcare is free here...But yeah we dont make birth plans with our midwives until our 35 week check up which will be in 4 weeks so I wanted to learn a bit more ready for seeing her next :) I will google pools to check availability, thanks! and we get a midwife sent out with all her birthing equipment in the UK I think, so hoping the pool is the only thing ill need?

[desa92]

Your best bet if your interested is talk to your midwife, or insurance company.  I know that there are websites you can Google to rent a tub for water birth that you can set up in your home. Also you will have to buy a home birth kit that they will send you with everything inside that you will need to deliver at home. But talk to your midwife first.  They won't do it unless your a low risk pregnancy.

[Ceri111]

wicked :) how far away are you from a hospital? I live in the mountains and it takes 40 minutes to get to the nearest town/hospital

[sabbylopez]

I had a homebirth with my second when I was 20 and I'm having a homebirth with this one. Currently 14 weeks

[Ceri111]

If im honest I dont know what an obgyn is..we only have midwives here and doctors on call if something goes wrong in labour. They were illegal? thats crazy..Im 19 and my mother gave birth to me in her bed, my father delivered me. seems much more relaxed here, thankyou..im still undecided! :)

[josh_2415]

Yep.  I live in the US.  Unfortunately, there's a stigma against midwives among a lot of Americans.  Where I live, it's standard to have an OBGYN and birth at a hospital.  Until a couple years ago, homebirths were illegal in my state.  But we love our midwife, and wouldn't switch back unless medically necessary.  Good luck with your homebirth!  :)

[Ceri111]

It does sound so nice doesnt it :) Im assuming your from the US? I think its a bit different in the UK and they send you out a midwife but only if the hospital has them spare but Im not quite sure, luckily ive had no complication so far, I did think that, would be a bit annoying making my boyfriend constantly refilling the kettle rather than being able to spend time with me, thankyou for all the information though :)

[josh_2415]

I haven't had a homebirth, but wanted to comment because it seems no one else is. :) My husband and I are both very interested in homebirthing and probably will with future babies.  With this being our first, we're using a midwife, but giving birth at the hospital.

We love the idea of giving birth in our own home without any time constraints and surrounded by a peaceful, loving atmosphere.  Plus, where we live, it's a fraction of the price of a hospital birth.

If you have a good midwife, to even qualify for a homebirth, you have to have a "perfect" pregnancy.  If anything makes you high risk, they'll refer you to an OBGYN and you'll give birth in a hospital or birthing center.

Some midwives provide a birthing pool with a disposable liner, but usually, you have to buy or rent one yourself.  I haven't done a ton of research, but I know you can purchase them online.  To keep the water warm, your birth companion will have to remove cold water and add fresh, warm water.

[Ceri111]

bump