Three mums relive the ups and downs of having a baby at home

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THE death of Caroline Lovell during a home birth has reignited debate over delivering babies away from hospitals.

The 36-year-old went into cardiac arrest while having daughter Zahra at her home in Melbourne, Australia, last month.

In Scotland, the official rate of women having home births is one per cent, but the actual number is estimated at 0.6 per cent - around 350 in 2010 - as the other 0.5 per cent are babies born on the way to hospital.

That's almost a 50 per cent increase on 10 years ago. We spoke to three women who chose to have a home birth.

Louise's story
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LOUISE McDonald, 25, has two kids – Cara, four, 正大综艺
and Orla, 11 months.

She had a home birth with Orla after an unhappy experience giving birth to her eldest daughter.

She said: “I ended up in the consultant-led unit with Cara.

“Because she was two days early, I wasn’t allowed a natural birth in the midwife-led unit.

“I felt as if all the control was taken away from me.

“I was told to lie in the bed and was hooked up to machines.

“It was so disappointing for me. I felt like I had no choice with anything.

“The whole stay in hospital ruined such a special moment for me.”

Immediately after having Cara, Louise, of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, decided that her next birth would be at home.

When Louise found out she was pregnant 韩国综艺节目
with Orla, she told staff at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital precisely that.

She says: “They were actually all really supportive.

“The community midwives helped me plan the birth I wanted and were a fantastic help.

“By the time I had my sweep on my due date I was already 5cm dilated.”

Childminder Louise relaxed on the couch watching Coronation Street with her mum as her contractions increased.

She said: “It was all so relaxing. My mum ordered pizza and I was curled up on the sofa.

“At 7.50pm the midwife told me things weren’t progressing and she could try breaking my waters.

“The contractions then came on really strong, but I still managed with just my Tens machine.

“I just focused on not falling off my birthing ball.

“It was all a bit of a blur for that last hour or so.

“Orla was born at 9.20pm that night, weighing 9lb 6oz.”

Louise’s daughter, Cara, then three, had wanted to watch the birth, but had fallen asleep because she was so exhausted.

She said: “Cara could hardly keep her eyes open.

“She woke up literally moments after the birth and came to give her baby sister a cuddle.

“I was still lying on the floor holding Orla and the chord was still attached.

“It was magical for Cara to see her baby sister like that and it really helped her adjust to having one.

“I wasn’t ever worried about having a东方神起综艺
home birth. We’re not far from a hospital and I felt completely safe in the care of the midwives.”