Home Birth and Hospital Birth on the NHS:discussion[SPLIT TOPIC]

It's not an option for me, but I know some folks for whom it's been brilliant. 

My dad and all his brothers and sisters were born at home, but his mum was the type who would have a baby in under an hour.  Dad was her third and born in 45 minutes start to finish with only 4 contractions.  She was 47 when she delivered her sixth and last.  At home.

My dad and all his brothers and sisters were born at home, but his mum was the type who would have a baby in under an hour.  Dad was her third and born in 45 minutes start to finish with only 4 contractions.  She was 47 when she delivered her sixth and last.  At home.

My grandma was the same. Had 11 kids, all at home, and the last one when she was in her mid-40s. I don't know how those women did it!

Amazing isn't it? 

The thought of being pregnant and having a baby in my mid-40s makes me shiver. 

I mean, I'm 34 and my a** is already dragging I can't imagine what I'll be like in 10 years but I'm glad I won't be running after a toddler at that age.

The thought of being pregnant and having a baby in my mid-40s makes me shiver. 

I mean, I'm 34 and my a** is already dragging I can't imagine what I'll be like in 10 years but I'm glad I won't be running after a toddler at that age.

No kidding!!!  I finally appreciate all those tacky fridge magnets that said "I'd rather be 40 than pregnant!" 

IF we have another I would like to have a home birth. I wanted one this time around but the doctors weren't keen because I am over 35 - and nor was my husband, he was scared to death at the prospect!  In the end I had a long labour at home and by the time we got to the hospital I was already fully dilated and only had to push for 20 minutes.  The midwife said next time I'll probably have a much shorter early labour and even shorter pushing time (is that what they call 2nd stage labour?) so I'm really going to stick to my guns for a home birth even though IF we have another I will probably be 40 at least.

IF we have another I will probably be 40 at least.

You're a far braver woman than I!  Better you than me  .

Notice I did say IF!! I may change my mind or who knows it may not even be possible.  I'm 38 this year and I want to wait til Ethan is about 3 so he's a bit independent but we don't want him to be an only child.

I'm thinking that if I had continued on at home and things would have gone bad there is no way we would have got to the hospital in time to get him out before he suffered from lack of  O2.

Nicole, I'm really sorry for such a traumatic experience.  How terrifying.

I thought midwives (both here and in the States) bring O2 with them to homebirths?  That's been my experience in the UK and US.  Midwives knew how to treat any respiratory distress/emergency in a newborn and brought the appropriate medical equipment and supplies.  I know the midwives I had could bag a newborn in seconds, as well as give 100% O2, if needed.

For whatever it's worth, loved my homebirths.  I was safest at home, as were my babies (and husband!)  My births were awesome not by chance, but because I was at home.

Yes but Midwives cannot do a forceps delivery which is how the baby was delivered fast enough.  The midwives would have been stuck waiting for me to push him out or transporting me to a hospital.  The longer he stayed in me the longer he goes without O2 because the cord was around his neck and with each contraction it was getting tighter. That's how they explained it me anyways.

I requested a private room, which you could get in my hospital if a private room was available and not required by somebody who needed it.

Both of my labours were exceptionally long; two and half days.  The babies were posterior and I'll leave out the gory details.

Needless to say, I was exhausted after the deliveries.  The first time, there was no private room available but I was lucky the second time.  I just needed the rest and privacy.

You might want to ask your midwife if you have that as an option.

I'm 38 this year and I want to wait til Ethan is about 3 so he's a bit independent but we don't want him to be an only child.

  I love hearing about women over 35 not only giving birth for the first time but contemplating having another in a few years 
 I'll be at least 36 by the time I conceive my first and am worried that I'm getting too old.. and I would LOVE to have 2 as well    DF has 3 from his first marriage and I've always wanted 5 and if I manage to have 2 of my own I'll get my wish

You are NOT too old, no way! I was 36 when I gave birth to Ethan.  We thought it would take ages to conceive but it only took a month and I had a good pregnancy and good birth.  And I'm not the only one I have quite a few friends mid- late 30s who have done it. One friend of mine was 40 when she had her baby.  Unfortunately the medical profession still places you in a "high risk" group if you are 35+ and encourage you to have an amnio (I didn't by the way) but don't be put off.  In fact another friend of mine who is 35 is due in about 6 weeks and again has had a problem free pregnancy and conceived very quickly.

My sister and I were (we're not now!) the youngest to conceive on my dad's side.  And I'm 34!  Expecting no. 2 in December.  My dad's mum was married at 15 and had a baby at 16.  But she lost both her husband and her two-year-old daughter to the Spanish Flu epidemic.  Now back in those days, even a widow was considered a bit tainted, so she didn't remarry until she was 30.  She had 5 more kids!  The youngest, admittedly a surprise, when she was 47!  Both my dad's sisters were in their mid-30s and up when they had kids.

For me, however, I'm not a very energetic person and don't particularly like being pregnant, so I'm glad to be 'done' soon. 

 Thanks for the encouragement ladies.. I know it's not impossible and that it might actually happen right away, but I also know a LOT of women in their 30's who've tried for 18months or more and are still not pg.    That being said my Greatgrandmother had 14 childern (all single births), she had her second one(my grandfather) when she was 30
   
  I'm more then ready to get started on the trying bit