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I had a planned home birth for my daughter. I was 2 ½ weeks late and had tried castor oil induction twice and it didn’t work. On my third attempt I just threw it all up. I ended up going to the hospital to have my water broken. The midwives broke my water and I started having really strong contractions right away. I walked around the hospital a few times and decided that I really didn’t want to be there. So I asked the on call doctor if I could go home. He said yes and I got to go home. Yea! I walked with my hubby to Subway because he was hungry it was close by. A little while after we got home the contractions really started to hurt. I called my midwife and asked her what was available for pain relief besides an epidural. My mom told me that when she had hers they didn’t place it right and only half of her couldn’t feel! She has had back pain to this day that she believes is from the epidural. My midwife told me there wasn’t much they could give and asked if I would feel better if she came over and checked me. I said yes and she came over. As soon as she got there I felt so much more comfortable. It was at night and my husband was sleeping, the midwife was sleeping, even I was sleeping/dozing between contractions and bathroom breaks. I woke my husband when I hit transition and it got even more painful. We had planned a water birth so we (meaning they) filled the tub and I got in. It felt great for a while and then it really started to hurt again. The midwife checked the water temperature and it was too cold. We hadn’t thought to turn the water heater up and there was no more hot water so I got out of the tub because the cool water made the pain worse. I was ready to push. I was laying on the bed, on my back and making not much progress. The baby’s heart rate dropped a bit and the midwife got serious. She gave me an episiotomy. While I was getting it done I looked up at my hubby he was crying when I asked him why he said, “That looks like it really hurts.” In truth it was very numb from the pressure of the baby’s head on my perineum and didn’t hurt as much as you think it would. I got up into a squat and pushed and a little bit later I had a baby girl. She had the cord wrapped around her neck twice but that didn’t cause any problems during delivery. I know now that when you lay on your back it decreases the blood flow to the baby and it is the worst possible position to push from besides being hung up by your feet. Right away (after st_tches) we got to settle down in bed and rest. Then for the next couple days the midwife came to us to check in on us and then twice over the next two weeks. I had a wonderful experience. I have a midwife again for my second and we are planning another home birth. I am looking forward to seeing my new baby soon. I am 39 weeks today.

My partner is scared I think. He said I can go to hospital cos thats what normal people do. It's what I want, and seems it's me who is in labour I think it should be my decision.

I have been reading some stories about home births on birthdiaries.com They might be useful to you in deciding. the one thing that seems to be common with all of them is a supportive partner. I would never be able to do one, because my hubby would be too freaked out. Really, though, I could see why folks would do them and I know they have been happening forever, but I just couldn't add the extra risk factor in during the birth of my baby. Good luck with your decision!

Studies have indicated that there are fewer complications with home births than hospital births as well as lower maternal mortality. So there is no added risk.

I never had a hospital birth but I had my first son at home Dec. 3, 2004. Our second is due Feb. 14, 2006, and we are planning another homebirth. I had hard labor for 14 hours. My water broke just as I was going to bed and the contractions started in with a vengeance. I never got any sleep that night. I also had multiple peak contractions which are extremely painful, one contraction would last around 12 mintues. I thought I was going to die. My midwife was there for most of it and was very supportive along with my husband who didn't know what to do, and my mother who cried right along with me. I even had my cat and dog waiting outside the door very worried about me. I think they even let the cat in once to comfort me. : ) I threw up several times during transition and once told them I was ready to have the baby cut out of me. But at 3pm, he was born and the pain was gone. Ahhhh.... As for home birth in general, I think it is the only way to go unless there is an emergency. I was much more relaxed and got to move around as much as I wanted to. The lack of painkillers isn't fun, but labor doesn't last forever so if you just keep in your mind that it's going to be over soon, then you can get through it. I have a VERY low pain tolerance level so I surprised myself that I wasn't begging for an epidural. Anyway, if you want a home birth, find a midwife you like.... and go for it.