Home birth

I'm keen for a homebirth next time. Basically when we had DD she was born at 8.08pm and we got to post natal at 10.30 and DP was told he had to go home - visiting hours were over. And so he never got a proper chance to sit with DD until about day 3... Just so many visitors etc. So that sort of 'sold' him too on the idea.

I had no problems with my birth last time so yeah, perhaps get him to write a list of all his 'concerns' and maybe get your MW to have a chat to him about it iygwim. Like how they'll monitor you and bubs... What would happen IF an emergency did occur... etc.

What sealed the deal for my DH, was having a sit down with my midwife to discuss the parts of birthing at home that he was concerned about, and having a 'plan' of what to do if xyz went wrong.

We hired a pool from Aquabub, but didn't end up using it in the end as my birth was a bit quicker than we anticipated (I was still labouring in the bedroom when I hit transition), the cost wasn't hideous and my DD1 was excited as she got to have a swim in it after LOL

Here's another article I love about homebirths and fathers to be:

Secrets of a Homebirth Dad


I would sum it up by saying that the decision to homebirth was the absolutely right thing to do for us, it was *amazing* how different and how much more relaxed / comfortable things were. DD1 wasn't shunted off to someone else's house (I had a support person on board for her), DH occupied himself doing useful 'stuff', I laboured in my own familiar surroundings, didn't have to endure a hideous car ride to wherever, and then sat in my own lounge wrapped up with my new baby having morning tea made in my own kitchen... not to mention how amazing the shower I had afterwards felt!

The one thing I tell most women to remember though, is that YOU are the one making the decisions, don't do things to make other people happy - your body is the one doing all the hard work, find a midwife who will respect you and help you make informed decisions, and just go with the flow

I kind of want one, DH does because he hates hospitals and doesnt think he will be able to handle being in one for so long....and we are only like a 5 minute MAX drive to the hospital if something was to go wrong....but this is my first bub so don't even know if the midwife would be keen or not, not something we have talked about yet. but it would be nice to have the support at the hospital as i will be a total noob with everything and really want to make sure i can get the breastfeeding thing sorted so maybe hospital would be better....i don't know yet lol. but am definately thinking about it. or at the least will stay home for as long as possible before going to the hospital.

I'd love to have a home birth but being high risk (stupid genetic condition) if I went for a home birth it would most likely have to be an unassisted one which I wouldn't be keen on at all!!

I am planning on labouring at home for as long as possible though since the hospital is a hop, skip and a jump away (2 min by car, max 5 min with traffic)

Heaf, talk to your MW if you are keen for one, my daughter's stepmum had one with her first, she lived in Kapiti coast at the time (she tried with her second but lived in Australia at the time and labour didn't progress and they are a lot less reluctant there to do them,but she had her last at home too )
So long story short, there are definetly MW's that are ok doing them for your first

Yeah my MW definitely wasn't keen on a homebirth and pointed that out when I said 'What if I don't know when to go to the hospital?' - I was almost a home birth for my mum because she got to almost pushing stage before my dad (who had 4 kids before) realised something wasn't quite right with my mum and shoved her in the car!

But there are mws who will do them as others have said! The thought never occurred to me with my first though it sounds appealing now!

Thanks for your conitinued dialog. I spoke to my dr about the possibility yesterday as she was very supportive. My DH has said ultimately its my decision. I'm still very undecided and have a long time to make the decision although I do need to get onto booking a MW. I thought maybe I'd try find a midwife who would be happy to support me giving birth in either of my two prefered options (birthcare or home) and then maybe as time goes on i can firm up my decision.
For those that already had children when you had you home birth what did you do with you children? Were they around? Did they get frightened seeing/hearing mummy in pain?

My DD1 was 3 at the time and was totally unphased, but I think what was critical was having someone (or someones) ready to help keep her busy - I remember being mid contraction and she came in to the bedroom to ask if I could help put her fairy dress on I fully had a plan that if neither she nor I was coping with her being around, then she'd just go out to the park for a bit (weather permitting) but otherwise I really wanted her there, to normalise birth (and homebirth) for her, especially if she has her own children one day.

My daughter's dad and stepmum (just to use them as an example again) had her best friends there(, the kids Godparents ) when she had number three, they just played with the boys outside basically, I don't know if they even checked on mum lol, "mum...slide ...hmm , slide ! "

I couldn't have my kids with me, when im in labour I push through my pain by making a lot of noise and the kids would get scared.

lol hippy mama.

T-Rex my midwife is fiona mccrae from the midwife at the palms. she is really great and calm at dealing with things. the only thing is that she does not do a lot of home births, only 2 or 3 a year. But I completely trust her.