Just a question for those who have had/want a home birth

[FourAngelKisses]

Don't you worry about the neighbours hearing everything? The house we live in isn't very sound proof, raise your voice even a tiny bit and the whole street can hear. I couldn't imagine giving birth at home.

Just something I've always wondered.

[Zan]

Oh yes!! Both of my dd's were born in London in a typical London terrace house (mid terrace, but only had neighbours living on one side). With dd1 that was one of my biggest things. Though even more was the worry that I would have to transfer in and as we lived on a very quiet cul-de-sac all the neighbours would be watching me get into the ambulance, lol.

In reality the sound proofing was obviously better than I thought or I was quieter than I thought (or my neighbours were being diplomatic, lol) as my neighbours swear they didn't hear anything though they had guessed I was in labour as they saw the m/w go into our house.

With dd2 we didn't have neighbours on either side and having done it before it didn't bother me.
Guess it would make a difference where you gave birth, i was in the dining room which thinking about it would have been next to our neighbours bathroom so guess that would have been the only place they would have really heard, there lounge was at the opposite end of the house so if they were there they wouldn't have heard.

also once in labour I certainly didn't care anymore.

Zan

[becca74]

Nobody in the neighbourhood heard me, and DH said I made the least noise with this bubs, and I thought I'd screamed much more than with my 1st 3 births - especially since this time I was using nothing for pain relief, except water.

My kids were playing downstairs, and I thought I was screaming out like I was being murdered and was worried this would freak them out - but during the breaks between contractions I could hear them playing and laughing as tho nothing strange was going on upstairs......

I think it always sounds worse when you are the one making the noise.....

[spiritedfamily]

I'm not worried about what my neighbours think, they have plenty of their own strange noises coming from their house...lol

I don't tend to be noisy in labour, it fesls like I am, but according to birth support people...very quiet.

Our household is already noisy, so it wouldn't be a surprise to them, plus they know I labour at home...and none have come knocking on the door so far...to see what all the noise is about.

[mummyof5]

Nah, I figure it is far more embarassing to labour in hospital where people who don't know me from Adam hear my labour noise....:o
At home all my neighbours knew I was pregnant, so they knew what any noise was, not that any ever mentioned hearing any:D
They were all so excited every time, when they saw the midwives turn up, cause that would mean the baby was coming!:smiliedance:

[shell25]

My DP (and DSS for some of it) and I laboured completely at home.

(till I wanted to push and hit transition, only 2 1/2 hrs of active labour, the ambo's were called to give us a easier ride in to birth centre, as I was hanging off DP and he couldn't drive like that!!)

I really couldn't care less about how loud I was (and I know I sounded like a cross between a cow in pain and well....you know ....and I know that when DP spoke with my accupunturist he said I was making great sounds and I though yee har I can go louder and I did and I felt so safe and happy and pain free because I was in my home!!

No neighbours even came out when the ambo's came... the RN next door didnt even appear. I loved EVERY minute of my labour at home and if I could have stayed there I would have though I wanted to be with the midwives (silly really cause DP delivered anyway and they just watched).

I felt it was much easier to go with the moment, at home.
Woman can have a safe home birth, if they simply believe they can.
:smiliedance:

[FourAngelKisses]

Wow, thanks for answering everyone. It's so interesting to read all of these replies.

[AM]

Gee, to be honest, the thought never entered my head!
I'm pretty sure my neighbours all knew i was having a homebirth, as I talked about it to them, so they would have been prepared that way, but not something I did on purpose.
I don't actually think I made very much noise, but who knows, I could have howled down the neighbourhood, for all i know! :)

Pretty much a non-issue, as we lived on half an acre, however if I lived in an apartment or similar, I would probably whip around and let everyone know beforehand.

[Jinx]

We have neighbours very close to our house and our bedroom is right next to theirs. I gave birth on our bed at 2am - and trust me - I screamed the house down - I thought that the whole suburb, and beyond, would have heard me. Afterward I was feeling quite embarrassed about the noise I made only to find out that our neighbours didn't hear a thing!! Must all be heavy sleepers though because they didn't hear the 3 ambulances that turned up either!! :)