Am I crazy to think about a home birth?

Eat lots of fruit - it definitely helps.  I also have had porridge for breakfast every morning in the past week as well as some Benefiber drinks on most days.  I wasn't constipated in pregnancy, but I had a real psychological fear of the pain I might have afterbirth - luckily, it's been fine!  Also, I've been toting a pillow around the house to sit on, which definitely helps.  For me, the soreness hurt way worse than stitches (but I didn't tear like you) and soaking in a warm bath is bliss.  It's been a week now and I think I'm just now beginning to feel normal, so deffo prepared to be in it for the long haul

Gorgeous photos!!

Had the hubstar pick up some witch hazel this morning, and my mother-in-law brought over a tiny spritz bottle... I think it might've helped a tiny bit!  It's not so bad when I'm sitting around here, but it is pretty unhappily tuggy when I'm trying to get into or out of bed.  I'm still feeling pretty weak and ravenous, but it's getting better.   To be fair, I hadn't considered what all giving birth takes out of a person... *laughs*

Had the hubstar pick up some witch hazel this morning, and my mother-in-law brought over a tiny spritz bottle... I think it might've helped a tiny bit!  It's not so bad when I'm sitting around here, but it is pretty unhappily tuggy when I'm trying to get into or out of bed.  I'm still feeling pretty weak and ravenous, but it's getting better.   To be fair, I hadn't considered what all giving birth takes out of a person... *laughs*

When they're healing up, they might itch like crazy, too!

Send the husband back out again -for arnica tablets.  I swear by them.  They will really help with the bruising.  And if he sees a toy store tell him to pick you up a small inflatable ring (for the swimming pool).  It will make sitting so much easier.

Arnica - will make a note.  There's a pharmacy -literally- downstairs (and a maternity shop; we have the best row of shops EVER), so neither of us are leaving like... this tiny tiny section of our world. 

I don't know if there's any bruising; I guess one could surmise there probably is.  I still haven't steeled myself to try and see what the disaster area could possibly look like...

I don't know if there's any bruising; I guess one could surmise there probably is.  I still haven't steeled myself to try and see what the disaster area could possibly look like...

If you feel VERY brave, just stand over a mirror, IYKWIM.

But you gotta be pretty brave! 

*laughs*  And I'm not, not yet - bad enough I know it's all sore and jazz.

Congratulations Raeyn and Aless! 

I had a homebirth in May 2008 in London.  It was the best birth experience.

 I had my first child in a hospital in America, no pain meds, but it wasn't nice, the nurses were yelling at me about their legal responsibilities to monitor my baby's heart rate and to 'just calm down' when I was shaking after birth.  It was pretty rough and I woke up with nightmares about it for months afterwards.  I also had an episiotomy with my first and I would dream that I could feel people cutting on me, it was pretty traumatic.

My husband was totally supportive of the homebirth for baby 2.  Two community midwives came out.   They didn't do anything supportive for me except check my cervix and make their notes.  All the birthing support had to come from my husband.  This labor was really fast so I used the gas and air.  It was amazing. It took my pain away completely!!!  I never took it out and actually went to sleep while I was in transition for an hour.  I woke up while still on the gas and air with them telling me the head was coming out and not to push but just breath the baby out, which was really easy since I didn't feel any pain.  I tore and they stitched me up there.

They left two hours after she was born and I got to stay in my warm bed and have my own bathroom.  A midwife came out to the house later in the day to check us and then once a day for the next two days.  It was absolutely amazing and I can say I had a wonderful birth experience.

As for fear, I was terrified of something going wrong because of all the horror stories people like to tell you, but research from the BMJ shows that home births in low risk women carry the same risk as hospital births. And there are some situations where babies born at a hospital die because of the care there but would have lived with a homebirth, of course the opposite is true.
And it's also true about the emergency c-section taking 20-30 minutes to prepare which is the same amount of time it could take to get to the hospital.  Most pregnancy problems are known about  before labor happens and a skilled midwife should be able to notice problems if they arise.   Research everything and see what feels right for you.

The best part was being the midwives only focus.  On a busy ward that wouldn't happen.

Best of Luck to you

I had a homebirth in May 2008 in London.  It was the best birth experience.

 I had my first child in a hospital in America, no pain meds, but it wasn't nice, the nurses were yelling at me about their legal responsibilities to monitor my baby's heart rate and to 'just calm down' when I was shaking after birth.

Buh?!  My midwife told me that was totally normal due to the adrenaline, and to shake all I needed to. :s

Buh?!  My midwife told me that was totally normal due to the adrenaline, and to shake all I needed to. :s

It is!

After I had Roisin, fast birth, no time for any pain meds, I threw up.

Again, they said this was normal, too.

agreeing with the above.  Shaking is totally normal.

I had hospital deliveries with all 3.  Totally mellow midwives.  Had suspected meconium with number 2 (didn't mean it as a pun!) so was monitored, but it didn't bother me. 

I worked with a lay midwife in the US for a couple of years, saw tons of deliveries and (very) thankfully, no bad outcomes, but a couple of close calls. 

I had a bit of a hemorrhage with number 3, for which I was really glad to be in hospital.   

Personally I wouldn't opt for it, but a friend of mine opted for a home water birth for her 2nd child this past summer.  She said it went really well, despite all the midwives in her house!  I guess they need to have 2 to attend you at home (at least) and then 1 to supervise them (or something like that) plus a midwife in training.

I would probably opt for one if I didn't have my medical history to consider, plus I think DH would totally squick everywhere in the house with memories / thoughts of a home birth. 

I say if that's the way you want to go plan for it!  Hey, that's why it's called a birth plan, then create a backup plan(s) for that just in case scenario(s) if you end up in hospital - that way at least you have some say or control over the how of it all.