Hi there, i am just looking for some advice really! I had twins 6 and a bit years ago. I had a perfectly 'normal' delivery with no interventions or pain relief. I have my heart set on a home birth this time as i don't really feel the need to be in hospital. I have just about managed to convice my hubby into doing this (with help from my wonderful midwife!!). I was so excited about it so called my mum to tell her as she knew that i wanted a home birth! About an hour later, my Dad phoned me back. He suggested that rather than have the baby at home, why not have it at their house? This made me so happy i cried! My only worry is that my Dad is poorly. He has emphysema, which makes him extremley tired and sometimes a bit bad tempered! I worry that i won't feel relaxed at their house and scared if i make their house messy (they are very house proud!) I know it would make my mum's day if i had the baby at their house, but i really don't want to put them both under pressure that could be avoided. My mum has a rare type of bone cancer which also makes her quite tired! I am in two minds as to what to do. I'm sorry for waffling on, but i don't know what to do. i don't want to hurt their feelings by saying no and i do really want to have the baby at their house!

Why not sit down with them and ask them to be flexible about it. You still have a few weeks to go and anything can happen. If it looks like ur mum and dad are fine and well enuff then why not go ahead and have it at theirs but if either seems more tired than usually an the approach to ur EDD then re-arrange and have it at urs.......if that happens u cud always have them come over and stay at urs instead? I'm sure ur mum and dad will understand ur thinking of them and by keeping the options fairly open, (while keeping ur midwife in the loop), then u won't fel as if ur putting pressure on ur parents.

Hey hun... im sorry to hear your parents are so ill :-( Anyway im sure they would have thought it through before offering. And also your hubby will be there to take the brunt of it all wont he? It must mean a lot for them to offer so maybe just sit down with them and ask if they real think they will be able to cope with the stress of it all. Good luck hun xxxxxxxxxx

Hi! I had my last baby at my parents house - we were there for Xmas lunch and decided to stay once I realised that I was in labour!

My father is also chronically ill - infact he ended up in Intensive Care 5 weeks after my baby was born. He also has multiple chronic lung conditions -

To be quite honest, your parents will probably find it easier being in their own environment if they get tired easily. It will be much easier for them to relax and to go and have some quiet without worrying about missing out. (My Dad popped of to bed quite often throughout the day!) They wont be stressed about travelling to see you- it would be much harder for them to pop home during a homebirth and get back without stressing that they had been gone too long. Also as tallkatie2 says, your hubby will be there to help out anyway.

Dont worry about the mess, the midwives take it all away with them and if you buy cheep shower curtains to cover everything - you can just throw them away! bonus!

I would say go for it. it obviously sounds like it something that they really want, or I dont think that they would have offered. They have obviously given it alot of thought, and I think that if you really want this and you dont do it you will regret it when you look back later.

I really hope that it all goes well for you
Caz xxxx