was on at 9pm last night on 5?

basically three women who wanted to give birth at home with no midwife of medical attention/pain relief..

just wondered what people thought if they did watch it?

to be honest i have no problems with home births in general but i do think they are putting the babies at risk-what if something went wrong or the baby went into distress??

rachx
7+4 weeks.

Yeah I watched it.

I am very open-minded about things and say each to there own but even I was a bit hmmmmmmmm!! I dunno why they couldn't have a midwife there even if they just said stay in another room etc??

I agree the lady in the water had the most peaceful birth ever, I was rather awed at her control as I doubt I will be like that.

I dunno, to me its about putting you and your baby in a safe environment. Like I said the OH yes years ago there was no help when giving birth, its was a case of aunties, moather, neighbours popping and delivering in the 30s, 40s, 50s etc but look how many babies and mother died! If the health care was available I doubt many people would have chose that option.

I know its on the news loads at the minute that maternity care in this country in supposedly rubbish but I personally think its a case of the media etc finding a few horror stories and expoliting them. I know for one that here in Newcastle we have one of the best maternity units in the country at the RVI. There is always someone who has a bad experience, but I bet they nevr seek out the good stories and show them because they would have loads!

Caz & 31wk & 2 day Flump
xx

I think you should have the birth you want, but its irresponsible not to have anyone medically trained with you. Anything could happen, though thankfully the babies all arrived safely. Most of the births were very calm and serene and all of them were so quick. I couldn't believe one of the American mum's tying the cord with a shoelace though! OMG! I've got nothing against home births, each to their own, but for myself I'd definitely want my baby in hospital just in case something happened. The thought of getting this far and then putting us both at risk, I couldn't bear it.

Good to see other birth stories though, even if it wasn't for me!!

Misschiefy & Girly Bump (34wks+2) xx

"Oh i missed it! "

I would have liked to have seen that, it does sound interesting! I wanted a home waterbirth, but I think a MW would be a necessity. Anyway due to my location Im going for a hospital birth this time anyway, using the birthing pool, hopefully. Reading the threads below, one of the girls mentioned MW intervention at hospital births. You can request that vaginal exams are kept to a minimum and any other requests put them on your birthing plan. The pool is good in a way cause you arent as easily accessible to the MW and you get a bit more privacy. I will know better when I have had my little lady, but I do think the birth plan is important and what is also important is for us to be flexible on the day as things can change so much. Fingers crossed that we all have safe, happy, calm deliveries girls!

Hugs...Sharon 32+4wk pink bump xx

i heard about it but it sounded a ittle gruesome to me so i didnt want to watch it.
im glad i didnt, seems it was horrible, would have probably scared me to death cuz i keep dreaming that i wont make to the hospital when im in labour!!

I'd say those women were mad, shouldnt mothers want whats best for their babies?!

xx

and think that the mothers are totally insane to put their babies at risk like that, i am having a home water birth but there will be midwifes present.

one of the women was so stupid though it was unbeliveable asking if the baby would be ok for 20 mins without oxygen, i was like wtf? are you stupid. she even did her own ante natal checks in wallmart!!!! never saw a midwife even though she suspected she may have a low lying placenta.

what these women should have done is had midwifes present and told them not to do anything at all except if there was a problem.


emma x

wow looked lovely, the lady with the red hair had an amazing birth, made me cry! It was all so quiet and the baby was so chilled out! I dont know if I could have quite had it completely unassisted but definetly thinking about a home water birth for next time. Brought back all the labour memories, I enjoyed mine so much, crazy eh!
But yea they definetly are putting them at risk, I mean thats why there were so many infant and mother deaths back in the day.

Emily and Lily 11 weeks!

someone else who actually enjoyed labour!! Me too, i'd love to give birth again! I had such a posotive experience in the Midwife Led Unit, gas & air and pethedine as pain relief with fantastic care providers, I felt at home! In future i'd may consider a home birth (with midwives though!)

On 'This Morning' they were talking about having one on one care, woman to midwife througout pregnancy and labour which sounds fantastic to me!

I don't agree with the self birthing with no medical intervention, you need someone there, just in case things don't go to plan.

To expectant mothers, the best advice I would give is don't expect a perfect birth, or follow too many plans because if things change you may be disappointed, just go with the flow at the time.

Rachael & Eleanor (16weeks, 1 day old)
xxxx

I watched in shock - at how stupid some of these women were. Not being experienced in this only being 6 weeks, i felt i knew more than they did regading child safety. However asking the experienced above - is it possible to have a home birth with a mid wife present which doesn't intervine unless necessary??? I hope so, coz i am thinking that's what i would like. I hate the thought of giving bith in a hospital - i feel it would be impersonal for what is such a beautiful experience.
After watching the lady do the water birth - it got my thumbs up! Only coz she was the one that didn't scream - gonna take her advice tho, "expect the pains and go with what your body is doing, do not stress, do not worry just go with the flow." It was something like that.
My concerns on having a home birth being - i live 3 flights up with no lift! :0
Micaela and a thickening around the middle with is the size of a grain of rice!

all I can suggest you do is ask about it at your booking in appointment, I had a relaxed birth in hospital and midwives were there just to do their checks on me every so often, see how I was dilating etc, and other than that we were all just chatting, listening to music and so on, but they were with my throughout which was fantastic, I had one midwife and one health care assistant, I could not have wished for better...like I say, at your booking in appointment, ask about your options with home births and so on.

The line you quoted is so very true, you just have to go with it...

Rachael xxx

I watched it. Having only given birth 6 weeks ago and it ending in c section, I felt this was a terrible idea to have no help if its required. Erin was back to back and I only got to9cm, what would i have done in that situation? I have 6 other close friends who had babies in May like me, and only one of them had a natural birth, only gas and air and no intervention. Among the other experiences was c section from ruptured placenta, ventouse, episiotomy without anasthetic, 2nd degree tears, forceps etc etc. I'm not trying to scare people, but the reality of birth is that you don't always get the experience you want. I'm very jealous of the ladies who loved their labours, as I would only consider another baby if I had an elective section as I never want to experience what I went through again, sad but true, but I want a sibling for Erin. Sorry for going on, its still a bit raw to me.
xx