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Natural Birth
WWYD: home or hospital for STM
So we had a home birth with DS and it was great. Would do it again for sure under the same circumstances.
We moved overseas and I'm due with our 2nd in January.
The medical system here is similar to where we are from - MWs and OBs working together, MWs deliver at hospital or at home - but there are a couple of differences.
Wondering if any of you experienced home or med-free hospital birth moms can give me opinions. DH and I are both struggling to decide which route to go.
Here are some pros and cons for each:
Home Birth Pros
- loved it last time and will love it again, right?
- DS would be near and get to see his sibling and us soon after the birth
- all the usual home birth perks, my own food, bathroom, yadda, yadda, yadda
Home Birth Cons
- in an apartment and floors are thin. Neighbours complain about our 3 year old walking around - worried they would come upstairs and complain while I was in labor. There is some tension with them already.
- per the pediatrician/hospital protocol here we would have to take new baby up to the hospital for some kind of assessment at the 24-48hr mark. Not optional and not possible to get a home visit for it. Call me lazy but this sounds like a pain in the butt (had NB home visits with DS until the 6 week mark last time).
- am GBS+ again and depending on who the on-call home birth MWs are, I may have to go up to the hospital for each round of antibiotic. It's a 15 min drive through bumpy curvy roads. Wouldn't be fun in labor.
Hospital Birth Pros
- they have a big labor tub. Just one so no guarantee I would get it but it sounds nice. They are very pro med-free birth so I am not too worried about interventions being pushed.
- they would be comfortable barring any issues (prolonged rupture of membranes) with me not getting the antibiotics and staying in 24 hours to have new baby observed *appealing to me because I wonder if all the antibiotics last time hurt DS's gut
- although they said you can leave if you have no complications 6 hours after the birth, I could stay in for 24 hrs to get the newborn assessment done and then not have to go back
Hospital Birth Cons
- reason I chose home birth the first time is that I don't like hospitals. They make me anxious. I have white coat syndrome and can have false high blood pressure readings - usually at a hospital or with an OB. Hospitals and doctors stress me out. So I think my odds of getting falsely flagged high risk are pretty good if I go to the hospital.
- they usually don't have private rooms available so I'd be in a 4 person room for 24 hours after the birth. Ugh. Have heard some not great stories from other mom's. I'm also a light sleeper so doubtful I will get much rest in between feedings.
Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? I'm really torn.
Ultimately I would like another HB but I wonder if it wouldn't be easiest to just go to the hospital this time.
Has anyone had a home birth and then decided to have a hospital birth for their next one? What was that like?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: WWYD: home or hospital for STM
Where are you living? I'm seeing a midwife this time, but will be delivery in a hospital. If I wasn't the midwife would do the first 6 weeks of care for the newborn and for myself, I don't think you have to go to the hospital/doctor that I have ever heard of. I'm in Ontario. Sounds like you'd like a home birth again. I'd say try for that, and you can always transfer. GL
Are you able to make peace with the neighbors surrounding this at all? Maybe give them a heads up now and let them know that you will have a HB around such-and-such date. Maybe even text them when you are in labor as an extra way to help them deal?
I'm overseas (a UK territory).
We had DS in BC and yes, the system there is great and our MWs came to our home for visits for the first 2 weeks.
They do things differently here so that 24-48 hr ped assessment has to be done at the hospital.
I think we have to have a conversation with them soon anyways. I find those situations really stressful so I think I will send my DH to talk to them.
You're right: if we can make peace with the neighbours I would aim for a home birth again. It's the deal maker!
I would probably stick with a homebirth, as I too am not a fan of hospitals. However, you are in a bit of a hard spot.
I also have to take my baby within a few days of delivery for a newborn screening, so I guess I dont think it is too much to ask to go ahead and get that done. However, for that screening, the mother doesnt have to be present (if I am having a bad recovery or something). Daddy can take her in.
If the neighbors are a sticking point, I would talk to them about it. If homebirths are rather common where you are, they may see no issue with it, having possibly had it happen before.