Home birth versus hospital birth (Home Birth Versus Hospital Birth)

Member Name: meumeu77

Product:	Home Birth Versus Hospital Birth
Date:	16/11/08 (105 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Home birth is more relaxed

Disadvantages: It doesn't always go according to plan

When I was expecting my baby I was adamant I wanted a home delivery mainly because I'd become very scared of the famous MRSA and also because I believed it would be a more relaxed experience and we would be able to enjoy being a family in our home without the stress of getting to hospital.

My decision was not taken too well by my husband. How disappointed was I! And when I finally managed to convince him and reassure him with the help of my midwife, I then had to deal with the disapprovement of my family.

I decided to ignore them.

When the contractions started I was at home trying to get some rest as I'd been feeling incredibly tired and thought I woudn't get the chance to sleep much when baby would be born. That was the understatement of the century by the way!

I was ok until my husband came home from work, then the contractions were becoming more painful. The midwife turned up to check on me. I was in the bath trying to relieve the pain to no avail. So she helped me with massages. Then I asked to rest. Then my waters broke, the midwife checked them and said there was meconium in the waters, meaning baby had pood because he was distressed and so I had to go to hospital. At that point, I was so tired and in such pain that I didn't care I wasn't having a home birth. An ambulance took me to hospital at midnight with the midwife and my husband. I spent the night having contractions and using a tens machine to help cope with the pain (which it did to some extent).
The next day I had morphine and epidural. Our baby was born in the evening. I only stayed in hospital until the following day as I just didn't like the place (one of the bathrooms was very dirty).

I don't regret being transferred to hospital as it meant me and the baby could be monitored but I think I'd like to either attempt a home birth again or try a water birth next time.

Summary: Try a home birth if you've had an easy pregnancy but bear in mind you may need a hospital transfer