‘My home birth was chaos and baby was not breathing’ — so is Meghan Markle right to have royal baby at home?
Jodie Clarke, 28, played music during her 'relaxing' home birth, while Heidi Crawford, 43, found it so traumatic that she chose a hospital birth for her second child
WHEN it comes to the Duchess of Sussex’s birth plans, there’s no place like home. Meghan allegedly hopes to have her first child at Frogmore Cottage, the Windsor house she shares with Prince Harry.
But is this her best option? Here, two women with different experiences reveal the highs and lows of giving birth in the living room.
We lit candles and played music, it was so relaxed
YES — Jodie, 28
JODIE CLARKE gave birth to her son Harry at home last December.
The healthcare assistant, who lives in Bridport, Dorset, with husband Ash, 31, Harry and Gracie, three, says: "For me, giving birth at home felt empowering.
"There is no option to have an epidural, so I trusted my body to get through the labour without pain relief.
"Being in my own surroundings meant I was far more relaxed than I was during my hospital birth with Gracie.
"Getting into my own bed afterwards, knowing I didn’t have to leave, was the best feeling.
"When I fell pregnant with Gracie, I didn’t consider a home birth. I had no idea what my labour would be like, so I wanted the reassurance of being in hospital.
More people are having home births and it’s refreshing to see a royal like Meghan keeping up with the times
Jodie Clarke
"Apart from a scary moment when the umbilical cord was stuck around Gracie’s neck, the labour went smoothly.
"When I fell pregnant with Harry, I knew 100 per cent I wanted a home birth. A friend had told me about her amazing experience, and I wanted to try it.
"I was seen by the same midwives and my antenatal appointments were at home.
"When my labour began and my contractions became regular, the midwife came straight out. It was reassuring to know she wouldn’t be called away by another expectant mum in the next room.
"We hired a birthing pool, lit candles and had music playing. I felt so much more at ease and when the contractions slowed down, I went for a walk with Ash. It was all so relaxed.
"There must be two midwives present so as soon as I was in the final stages, a second one arrived. I felt I was in the best hands.
"My recovery was quicker, too. I have nothing but positive things to say about home births.
"More people are having home births and it’s refreshing to see a royal like Meghan keeping up with the times."
It was chaos and my baby was not breathing
NO — Heidi, 43
HEIDI CRAWFORD opted for a home birth with son Forrest, now ten, but the experience was so traumatic she chose a hospital birth for her second son Cassius, now eight.
Heidi, from Brighton, says: "I was encouraged by my midwife to try a home birth.
"What should have been a magical time turned into the worst day of my life.
"I rang my midwife, Kerry, at 6.30pm to say my contractions were close together. By the time she arrived at 8pm, I could barely breathe from the pain.
"Checking me, she realised I was fully dilated and said I could have the baby in hospital but would need to go in an ambulance — and might give birth on the way.
"She suggested we stay put. And that’s when it all went wrong. My contractions stopped. I was told to push anyway and an hour later I gave birth to a lifeless baby. My husband, Duncan, rang for two ambulances as Kerry tried to resuscitate Forrest. All I remember is a blur and a sense of complete chaos.
"Still not breathing, he and Kerry were whisked to the Royal Sussex Hospital. I had no idea where my baby was or if he would die. I stood numbly as Duncan packed. We left home looking, as Dunc put it, 'like a murder scene'.
"At the hospital, I checked they knew the placenta was still inside me — the midwife had been too busy trying to save my baby — and they visibly paled.
It was honestly the scariest thing I’ve ever been through
Heidi
"I was prepped for surgery — and the news was even worse for Forrest. Our boy had only a 50-50 chance of survival.
"There was also only a one-in-eight chance he would have no brain damage. As they wheeled me into theatre, I prayed: 'Please let him survive.'
"Luckily, Forrest was fine and eight days later we were home.
"I talk about this often in my work for the Early Birth Association. It was honestly the scariest thing I’ve ever been through.
"To me, a home birth is just not worth the risk."
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