From aims.co.uk:

Hospital birth also increases the risk of the emotional/psychological disruption of being in an unfamiliar institution. It is well documented that other mammals, when disturbed in their nests in labour or moved to unfamiliar surroundings, have longer labours with more complications. Entering hospital undermines a woman's need to feel safe, secure and in familiar surroundings. This in turn interferes with her ability to relax and ultimately give herself up to the experience of birth. This 'letting go' - the ability to respond to a deep, instinctive knowledge of how to give birth to your baby - is an important part of letting the birth process unfold a smoothly and safely as possible.

it really shouldn't b his choice to make hun...

from all my research i've found the key to a quick and easy birth is the mother state of mind. u need to b somewhere u feel calm and relaxed so u can release 'happy hormones'. if u feel scared or uncomfortable (which i feel in hospitals) u'll release all the wrong hormones which slow labour and make u tense and the whole thing more painful (its an animal instinct- if u feel scared ur bodies gonna try to fight labour and slow/ stop it coz it thinks ur not in a safe place for the baby to b born). So its really important u choose somewhere u wanna b and not do something just to make ur OH feel better. i know its his baby too but at the end of the day its u that has to do the labouring/birthing so it needs to b ur choice where and how that happens.

I am! my midwife said getting a water pool was a great idea as it can really help with this...apparently epidurals aren't advised when suffereing spd so midwife said a home birth is a great way of dealing with labour if u have spd.

We are planning a homebirth!

I decided i wanted a home birth before even becoming pregnant, then in the early weeks almost talked myself out of the idea with all the "what if's" and the idea of maybe having to fight for it if i came up against opposition. However, i've spent a lot of time on the homebirth uk website and doing my research and OH has got involved and read through a few things too and we're both very keen for me to have LO at home.

I haven't told many people of our plans yet, mentioned it to the midwife at my booking in appointment but i'm moving out of area in a few weeks so she said i'll have to discuss it with my new team of midwives after i move. Told my mum who's comment was "you're braver than me!"?! and my best friend, who thinks it is a fantastic idea but wanted to know if i thought i would cope...?!?! I'm not telling anyone in work, as i am a neonatal nurse and all we see is the abnormal, all day every day we see everything that can possibly go wrong with pregnancy and labour and delivery, and i just know some of the horror stories people will come out with so i'm keeping it to myself! It's our baby and our decision and we're pretty well informed so i am feeling quite good about it all really.

I am unsure whether i want a water birth or not, it seems most people who chose to birth at home do so in a birthing pool, i was wondering if anyone knows the pros and cons? I have read that the water is supposed to help move things along but whenever i imagine myself in labour i imagine myself pacing about and standing and kneeling and squatting etc, and i don't know if i might feel a bit trapped in a birthing pool? I suppose you don't know until you're actually in that situation, so we may end up buying a big paddling pool just in case i fancy it!

We also have pets, a dog and a cat. OH is planning to be with me throughout labour (providing he doesn't get freaked out/pass out etc!) and my closest friend is going to be 'on hand' i.e. in the house but not necessarily "at the front line", i think initially she'll be in charge of making cups of tea, answering the phone, and keeping the animals under control, and then if she feels like it, and i want here there, she might come see where the action is at. Maybe not though as she is extremely squeamish! So we'll see.

I don't know whereabouts in the house i'm planning to give birth as we're moving in just a few weeks so i want to wait until we're moved and see how i feel then.

I didn't use a pool but only because im not a huge fan of water .. i used a sofa bed to give birth on and it was great.


You'Ve plenty of time to sort out the rest of the details but it sounds like you know what you want for the most part, as for people who say "you're braver than me" etc i dont get that lol .. im a huge wimp whos scared of hospitals thats all lol

I am thinking about a pool as well. I hope you don't mind me asking, how bad is your SPD? With my DS I had it so bad that in the end I ended up on crutches (couldn't sit/turn, not even talking about walking) and I am so scared it is going to progress to that again...

I don't really know how bad it is...i've never had it before but it started quite midly in late first tri but barely bothered me however its since got to the point where i can't walk very far (some days i can't make the shop at the end of the road without nearly crying but other days r better if i haven't been doing much the day b4) or stand up long enough to wash up/cook i saw a physio therapist who offered me a zimmer frame!!! but i knew i just wouldn't use it for fear of being seen! i'm thinking of going back to see her and ask for some less embarrasing crutches!

Rebaby Im having a homebirth without involvin a water birth but I may have a bath before hand, but depends how quick things develop, but the actual thought of givin birth in water does not appeal to me at all

this may sound a bit random and Ill try explain best way I can, but In my view if your in hospital and something goes wrong, you will hav to wait whilst they set stuff up etc to sort you out, ie if you suddenly need a c section or anything (worst case scenario) then whilst thats being set up your waiting round in a room,
if you at home and something like this came up, in the time you would be waiting in hospital you can be taken to the hopsital..provding you dont live to far does that make any sense?

when do we need to start talkin to our m/w about this Im seein mine again at 27 weeks do we need to talk about it then?

thanks for all the replies on this!


OO found some blinkies dont know if of any good to anyone for there siggys?

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when do we need to start talkin to our m/w about this Im seein mine again at 27 weeks do we need to talk about it then?

thanks for all the replies on this![/COLOR][/I][/B][QUOTE=star-dust;2128945]

I told mine around 27 weeks...she said to hang on til my last growth scan which is at 34 weeks then book everything then. Apparently theres no need to rush but then again if you've made ur mind up theres no need to wait. i was told i can always change my mind and go to hospital even if its right at the last minute or halfway thro the birth!

where did u get ur homebirth blinky? i want one!

I had my 28 week appointment yesterday - she said we would discuss my birth plan at my next (36 week) appointment, then organise her home visit for 37 weeks.

She also advised me to write to the director of my local hostpial trust to assert my right for a hb.

I have tentatively organised to borrow a birthing pool from the local NCT homebirth group (for nothing!), which is sorted, so assuming it all goes according to plan I'm pretty much sorted.