Home Birth Considerations: Large Baby & Labor Concerns

Question
Hi,
I am considering a home birth for my third child. My first two labours were short and straightforward. I dislike hospitals and th upheaval, and I think it would be far smoother for the whole family (inc the new arrival) to have a home birth.
My only cncerns are that my last children were 8lb, and then 10lb7oz. If this baby is any bigger I'm not sure how straightforward labour would be. It was extremely painful last time. Is it liekly I will produce another large baby, and is there anyway to check the baby size. The medical staff seemed very shocked last time at the size of my son. I carried hardly any water and so was very small.
My other question is what should I do abotu my other two children. I have a son 2, and a daughter 4. Should they be out of the house at the time?  My poartner and I have recently moved to a new area and don't have anyone to look after the children. This is a big problem, as my partner would like to be present at the birth.
Thank you for looking at my questions,
Kely


Answer
Hello Kelly- ALL of these concerns will be best addressed by the midwife you engage for the birth. You certainly can have the children in the house at the time of birth, but you MUST provide a caregiver for them. Get to know some neighbors etc FAST. Get started NOW finding a midwife as many of them are booked LONG in advance. You are a good candidate for homebirth and don't worry about the size of your baby- you will grow the right sized baby for your body. All the best- Cheri.