by GardenRosie » Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:46 am
Hi there
I had my baby (first and only one so far) at home, with the team at St Georges. I think they are called the Rainbow team now. It was the most fantastic experience - part of my reason for electing for a home birth was the amount of aftercare the NHS provided in comparison to a hospital birth, and it really was great. During the labour there was a midwife present (often two) and then when my daughter was born there were two present (one to look after me one to look after the baby). After she was born my midwife gave me a bath and washed my hair in my own bathroom - the most lovely experience - and then tucked me, my husband and our new baby into our own bed with clean sheets. She came back the next day first thing and then (because I had a heavy bleed) every day for a week. Maybe I was very lucky, but I think the home birth midwives at St Georges are an absolutely brilliant team and I can't see how private care could have been any better, they were superb.
The best thing was I never had to get dressed and venture home with a new baby, just out of the house after about 5 days, and got to know her steadily in our own environment. We had a 'birthpool in a box' which worked really well and I did a hypnobirth course, which helped me to be very relaxed.
In the event of needing hospital care, I would have been in an ambulance to St Georges and I understand if there is any concern an ambulance will be on standby outside the house.
Homebirth isn't for everyone, but for me (someone who is totally afraid of hospitals) it was a very clean, safe and calm way to have a baby. If ever we have any more they will be born at home too.
Its worth considering that if you book in for a home birth, at any stage (including early labour) you can change your mind and go to hospital, but it doesn't work the other way round as they need to visit your house and drop off a load of kit in advance.
Good luck, whatever you choose to do!
Rosie x
Hi there
I had my baby (first and only one so far) at home, with the team at St Georges. I think they are called the Rainbow team now. It was the most fantastic experience - part of my reason for electing for a home birth was the amount of aftercare the NHS provided in comparison to a hospital birth, and it really was great. During the labour there was a midwife present (often two) and then when my daughter was born there were two present (one to look after me one to look after the baby). After she was born my midwife gave me a bath and washed my hair in my own bathroom - the most lovely experience - and then tucked me, my husband and our new baby into our own bed with clean sheets. She came back the next day first thing and then (because I had a heavy bleed) every day for a week. Maybe I was very lucky, but I think the home birth midwives at St Georges are an absolutely brilliant team and I can't see how private care could have been any better, they were superb.
The best thing was I never had to get dressed and venture home with a new baby, just out of the house after about 5 days, and got to know her steadily in our own environment. We had a 'birthpool in a box' which worked really well and I did a hypnobirth course, which helped me to be very relaxed.
In the event of needing hospital care, I would have been in an ambulance to St Georges and I understand if there is any concern an ambulance will be on standby outside the house.
Homebirth isn't for everyone, but for me (someone who is totally afraid of hospitals) it was a very clean, safe and calm way to have a baby. If ever we have any more they will be born at home too.
Its worth considering that if you book in for a home birth, at any stage (including early labour) you can change your mind and go to hospital, but it doesn't work the other way round as they need to visit your house and drop off a load of kit in advance.
Good luck, whatever you choose to do!
Rosie x