Home birth

RoxieW

sooz wrote: »

Roxie - when are you due?

Have you looked at the homebirth website?

There is a page dedictated to arguing with your local health authority against their apparent 'staff shortages' complete with sample letter to write. Aims will also help you.

thanks sooz - i'm due mid february. I was surprised at the poster saying that you need to book home births early as I mentioned it to my midwife at my booking in and was told - 'oh we've plenty of time for all that'. I guess that was me getting the brush off.

sooz

clairec79 wrote: »

Were you under the Albany midwives by any chance? They care for all their own women so doesn't matter to them where they go - I think they have something like a 70% homebirth rate

No - but I've just looked at their website & wish I was (apart from having to live in Peckham )

At that time maternity unit at St Thomas' was being re-done, so they were shipping people out to any other hospital all of which were getting full & desperate for anyone to have their baby at home.

sooz

RoxieW wrote: »

thanks sooz - i'm due mid february. I was surprised at the poster saying that you need to book home births early as I mentioned it to my midwife at my booking in and was told - 'oh we've plenty of time for all that'. I guess that was me getting the brush off.

so you are about 20 weeks? [pregnancy brain dulling my maths skills!]
Speak to your midwife again, & start writing those letters. You still have time to change their minds

RoxieW

The National Birthday Trust report on home birth in the UK found that the average cost of planned home birth to the NHS was less than the average cost of planned hospital births. In that study, Henderson and Mugford reported that:

“ Costs for antenatal visits and tests, staff presence in labour and delivery, procedures and pain relief in labour, perineal damage, and most importantly, days in hospital, all confirmed the greater cost of hospital delivery.” [1]

I am aware of only one other study on this matter in recent years - 'The Cost-Effectiveness of Home Birth', by Anderson and Anderson in the USA. It concluded that:

“The average uncomplicated vaginal birth costs 68% less in a home than in a hospital.” [2]
I found this information with regards to cost - so really with the money a homebirth saves the NHS they should put money into more midwifes to encourage enable more women to birth at home - if that makes sense?

ALI1973

What a popular thread... just wamted to add my twopenneth

As I understand it you have the right by law to give birth at home, and the NHS has an obligation to send a midwife to attend. I would ask to speak to the Senior Midwife for your area.

Personally, I have never had any issues with my Midwives regarding any aspect of any of my pregnancies (3). In this area we are encouraged to have a home birth, and we are very much empowered to make our own choices.

My First two were born in our local Midwife Led Unit (almost as good as a home birth!), and were definately less traumatic than some of my family and friends experiences in a hospital.

My youngest was born at home, its a complicated story so to try and keep it simple: baby was breach and I was diagnosed with GBS, so was told hospital would be best place for my birth. Went into labour at 35 weeks (all my babies have been early, but last one was very eager:D), went to main hospital, got strapped to a machine, was given IV antibiotics (Im TERRIFIED of needles) which the nurse blew my vein whilst inserting, which sent me into shock - so labour stopped. Discharged myself, came home, very distressed, knew I couldnt go back there, so vowed to talk to my midwife on Monday (this was Friday night). Went into labour at 8.45pm Sunday, DH phoned my midwife who came straight here, I explained what had happened and that I wanted to give birth at home, and then if need be would go straight to hospital. She never argued was absolutely lovely and just "lets have this baby then!". We struggled a little as she didnt have a full kit with her but we made do, and our DD was born at 10.42pm on the lounge floor!. It was PERFECT, by 11pm we were all tucked up in bed with tea and toast (made by midwife). There was no mess AT ALL (I have cream carpets lol). Midwife actually said "this is what being a midwife is all about".

I actually feel quite sad that I will not be doing it again as I'd home birth without a second thought. I know its not for everyone but for me it was bliss (you wont hear many birth stories saying that :rotfl:).

If a home birth is what feels right for you then go for it!

Love Ali xx

RoxieW

Ali - your hospital story made me cringe! I too had a midwife with ds1 who collapsed 4 of my veins which was horrible.

bumpybecky

I've attemtpted to have a homebirth for all four of my pregnancies. The first time round we ended up transferring into hospital during labour as there was meconium when the waters went (can be a sign baby is in distress and needs more help, in our case all was fine, so was just very overdue).

Babies number 2, 3 and 4 were all born at home in water #4 arrived before the midwives, but that's another story!

From experience the best way of booking a home birth is to tell them that's what is happening. Don't ask for permission, but politely inform them of your decision. Check the yahoo homebirth list (addressnabove somewhere) as it's a fabulous place for advice.

Good luck

RoxieW

But according to my midwife, homebirths in my area have been temporarily suspended. So how can I insist on something that they say they're not doing?

Nicki

clairec79 wrote: »

No it's illegal for someone who isn't a midwife/doctor to intentionally practice / act as one (with a cause about being under the supervision of one - covering students etc) - you as a birthing woman being completely alone is fine (albeit crazy in my mind but legal) if someone steps in in an emergency that's also fine (unless you cut the cord). You call a midwife and baby decides to arrive prior to the midwife getting there and you'd be covered, you don't call and your husband delivers the baby you are on more dodgy ground legally.

I think if you read what I wrote that we've said the same thing!

It's illegal for you to plan ahead that you will give birth with anyone other than a midwife or doctor present to help you. It won't be you prosecuted but the person assisting you. It's not illegal for you to plan ahead to do it completely alone. Nor is it illegal for someone to help you without a doctor or midwife, provided you didn't plan this ahead of time.

So, if being denied a home birth you decided you were going to go ahead and give birth at home with your husband or mother to help you, then an offence would be committed unless they were qualified in either of those professions. Given that this is the case, all I was saying was I can see the argument as to why an NHS midwife should be provided for anyone who knows well in advance they want a home birth.

clairec79

But you AS THE MOTHER can plan to give birth without a midwife or doctor (just as long as you don't have anyone else acting as one - some would claim that would include being there) which is what I wanted to point out is not illegal, so a true unattended birth is not illegal