Forum The birth

Hospital or home birth

28 replies · page 1 of 2

Nijntje86
Hi,

I was wondering if people consciously choose to give birth at home or in the hospital. On one hand, a hospital seems nice because of the reassuring thought that all medical care is close by. But on the other hand, home feels so cozy and "close."

Hugs, Nijntje

Replies

Page 1 of 2

  1. melis1606 #2

    I'm going to give birth in the hospital. I'm quite a panic-prone person, but the idea that all doctors and care are nearby if needed really puts me at ease!

    But I can totally understand someone wanting to give birth at home. I just know that I'd get really stressed out about everything if I were in that situation!

  2. sanjo #3

    I have to give birth in the hospital anyway, since I'm a thyroid patient. I also gave birth to my daughter there. And it was actually good too. I got the urge to push quite quickly and had an epidural after asking for it several times. And she was first a star-gazer and then she turned a bit, but her head was tilted. So she was delivered with a vacuum extractor. I was in labor for 24 hours too. And I'll keep the rest to myself hihi.

  3. Mandy #4

    I really hesitated with the first one. The birth itself was super fast and I didn't need any pain relief, so I could have done it at home. But unfortunately, because of a complete tear, I had to stay in the hospital for another 3 days. Imagine if I had given birth at home? I would have had to be picked up by the ambulance with my 'war wound' to get stitched up on the operating room. Neuh.... The hospital is good like this, again this time! But I do understand why someone chooses to give birth at home, it's a much more intimate atmosphere....

  4. sanjo #5

    @mandy. I was also cut and had a total tear afterwards. But I was allowed to go home the same day. And indeed, giving birth at home seemed nice to me because you're in your own environment. But I've heard many stories that some had to go to the hospital anyway during labor. Somehow it felt safer in the hospital.

  5. irma Guest #6

    I'm also going for the hospital's open delivery wards...
    If something happens, you're in good hands. I would have preferred to give birth at home, but I thought, I guess I'll still have to go to the hospital if needed. And if you really want to give birth at home, it's an extra setback if you can't.

    Although a home birth is just as safe, and as you guys say, after a few hours you're home if everything goes well.

  6. sanjo #7

    I gave birth at 8:45 AM and was home around 4:30 PM. So I stayed in the hospital for quite a while.

  7. Anonymous #8

    I’d really prefer to give birth at home in my own familiar surroundings, but unfortunately, I’m having a planned C-section, so that’s not possible...

  8. Wipeout #9

    I'm not pregnant yet, but unfortunately, I don't have the choice of whether to give birth at home or not... I live in an old house with very steep stairs, and my bed can't be raised. These two factors mean I have to go to the hospital...

    If it weren't for that, I think I would choose the hospital. Everything is conveniently nearby (pain relief) and no mess in my house!

    Nijntje, what's your choice? At home or at the hospital?

  9. B #10

    Wipe out, what do you think about having a bed downstairs? That your bed can't be raised using blocks, ok, but also thought about an extra mattress. We discussed this with the maternity care nurse recently and it's allowed!

  10. Wipeout #11

    Hey beertjenicky

    Thanks for thinking along, but I also live in an upstairs apartment... This makes having a bed downstairs a bit tricky... Unless I lie with my downstairs neighbor, hahaha

  11. Nijntje86 started this #12

    I'm going to go with a hospital after all. On my partner's family's side, it's quite the tradition to give birth at home and then end up going to the hospital anyway due to bleeding and stuff. I don't want that for myself.

    We also live in an apartment, and the idea that I might have to go to the hospital in the middle of the night and the whole building could enjoy watching me come down those stairs, no thanks.

    Unfortunately, giving birth in a hospital without a medical indication costs almost 300 euros. But I'd rather pay that than deal with what I described above.

  12. sanjo #13

    I'm going to go with a hospital after all. On my partner's family side, it's quite the tradition to give birth at home, and in the end, you still have to go to the hospital due to bleeding and stuff. I don't want that for myself.
    We also live in an apartment, and the idea that I might have to go to the hospital in the middle of the night, and the whole building could enjoy watching me come down those stairs, no thanks.
    Unfortunately, giving birth in a hospital without a medical indication costs almost 300 euros. But I'd rather pay that than deal with what I described above.
    Nijntje86


    I totally get you. And I think if you get an epidural, it's considered medical, I believe. At least that's what I heard from a friend.

  13. gerainice #14

    Of the first two, I gave birth in the hospital. It took 5-6 hours. And the third one at home, 2 hours. I went to the hospital for the pain medication.
    I was with the third one, with 2 sleeping kids, and didn't want to wake them because I had to go to the hospital. This was my best experience. I was clear-headed and not high from the medication. I woke up at 2:19 AM from the contractions.
    At 4:41, I had my boy in my arms. I probably didn't even need the hospital.

  14. Marieke Guest #15

    I had to give birth in the hospital unfortunately. I would have loved a home birth. My mom and my sisters all gave birth at home too. I really wanted to do it at home too, but that wasn't possible. I was pregnant with triplets and had to have a C-section in the hospital.

  15. ii Guest #16

    I’m going with the hospital. It’s nice to be close to the operating room in case it’s needed (which I don’t expect), epidural is possible, and no more car rides over all those speed bumps if you unexpectedly have to go to the hospital.

  16. ii Guest #17

    And besides, what's 300 euros compared to the total amount you're spending on decorating the baby's room, baby stuff, and the stroller?

    I paid 600 euros for a NIPT test in Belgium, and it was worth every cent.

  17. Karin Guest #18

    I had a C-section for my twins, so the hospital would have preferred it differently. I would have liked to give birth naturally, but still in the hospital. I find that the most comfortable, and it's easier too—no hassle with organizing things.

  18. anyka #19

    I had chosen to give birth in the hospital. When the time came, the midwife suddenly asked, "Are you sure you want to go to the hospital? You're already 9 cm dilated!!" I really wanted to go to the hospital. It was good I made that choice because I had a blackout, and suddenly my room was flooded with nurses, and the gynecologist delivered the baby with a vacuum extractor. No matter how well things are going, everything can suddenly turn completely different!!

  19. ienimienie #20

    100% sure, back to the hospital! With our first baby, we needed medical help half an hour after the birth, and with just one press of a button, ten doctors were immediately around him, and he was taken straight to the neonatal unit! They took excellent care of him there. I also found it comforting that I didn't have to rush into the car right away; it wouldn't have been pleasant at that moment. Plus, it was nice that all the mess stayed there too—no dirty sheets or anything that needed washing at home. When you come back home, everything is still nice and clean.

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