Homebirth chat thread

[MissCellie]

Hi there, I'm new to this site. So glad to see this link here I have three children, 16, 15, 2 and I'm 11 weeks pregnant with our LAST!!! I had my first at a Birthing Centre, which was a fantastic experience. She was 9lb 10oz with a textbook birth and no intervention at all with only two midwives involved. When I had my second I intended to go through the same Centre, with the same midwives, until one of them suggested a home birth. It was fantastic. My husband was not overly supportive of the idea, but let me make the final decision. (He did run around and close all the windows when I went into labour lol) My second was born at home after an 11 hour labour and he was 10lb 1 oz (don't forget that ounce!!!!) I did at one point ask for panadol lol....It was absolutely an amazing experience!!!! The best of my births!!!!...and my most settled baby. Then fifteen years later I had my third. I have remarried and we live half an hour out of town and I was 40, so we didn't feel like we should do a home birth. I went through the private system much to my absolute horror and regret. I was induced two weeks early because my obs was worried he wouldn't be here for the birth to which I said, "that's ok, as long as the midwives are there"....well that was the start of a terrible relationship which I should have ended. Anyway, this time I am going to go through the Birthing Centre we have here. Wish me luck....and if you are thinking of a home birth, I would so highly recommend it

[BreeH]

I have had two wonderful births with the Community Midwifery Program (CMP) in Perth WA. They cost absolutely nothing as they are part of the WA health system so covered like a public hospital birth is.

My midwife was the same for both children and the difference that having the same carer all the way through pregnancy and birth made was HUGE I think. I am sad that more women are not able to take up this option and that the media and some doctors vilify home births.

Obviously if you are high risk or something is not going right then you have a choice to make and most will choose to get the assistance of Doctors in hospital at that time. If everything is fine then homebirths make for an amazing journey.

They are also not just for 'hippies' and 'hospital haters'. I am neither of those things (though being a hippie isn't bad!) and we chose homebirth as we believed we could do it safely, believed in the CMP, were ready to go to hospital if we felt it was needed and knew the benefits were huge.

[Namaste]

Hi MissCellie. I am pregnant with my 3rd (6 and a half wks) and I too am 40 (next week). I have two older kids, 17 and 14 from my first marriage.
I had two homebirths, both wonderful experiences but like you, wondering wether being 40 and living half an hr out if town I should have a hb this time. My DH as a first time Dad to be is a little nervous at the thought of a hb. I am hoping there may be a birthing centre in my area as I really don't want to go down the hospital road (I'm not sick, I'm birthing my baby!).
Anyway, best of luck and I look forward to sharing my experiences with you all.

[ChristieMargurite]

Hi Ladies,
I am due 6th November, with number 3. My hospital experiences with my two sons (aged 2.5 & 1) were absolutely horrible. This has pushed me so hard to wanting a home birth. All my friends think i am crazy, but with my last bub i didn't have any assistance or drugs what so ever. The only issue I have is the area i live in, I'm not sure that it is possible to have home births in my town :\ We don't have Doula's in this area, has anyone else had this issue, how did you overcome it?
Thanks Christie