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Childbirth

Homebirths in lewisham

13 replies

enyaheadress · 26/02/2014 14:41

I live close to Lewisham hospital and I am expecting my third child. I have had two home births with Brierley Midwives but have just been told they cannot take me on this time. I live a bit too far out of their area having moved since my last child. The nurse at my doctor's surgery says she has no information for me. Has anyone out there had a home birth in Lewisham? Any advice appreciated.

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PenguinsEatSpinach · 26/02/2014 17:19

I haven't, but I know people who have a few years ago. It might help if you can explain what in particular you want to know?

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motherinferior · 26/02/2014 17:21

I had one, nearly 11 years ago. All I had to do was tell the midwives at my local GP surgery that I wanted a home birth. Community team will come out to you. There are some fabulous midwives on the team. All went terrifically well.

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enyaheadress · 26/02/2014 18:00

I just want to know if they have a good reputation, what is the best way to contact them? Lewisham and Greenwich are now a linked hospital trust. Does anyone know if home births are better in Greenwich? It just seems odd that my surgery cannot help me. It seemed a lot easier 10+ years ago when i had my first child. I did not go through Lewisham...For my second pregnancy my nurse actually laughed in my face when i said i wanted a home birth. She was openly scathing and i again asked for a transfer to Kings. This year i automatically asked for Kings but they refused my request. They are oversubscribed apparently.

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motherinferior · 26/02/2014 18:02

Did you ask the nurse or a midwife? Are all your appointments at the hospital? Ring the community team and ask?

No idea about reputations now. It's going to depend entirely on which midwives come out. Some of them are great.

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motherinferior · 26/02/2014 18:03

Here you are.

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PenguinsEatSpinach · 26/02/2014 18:21

I am not sure what you mean by 'are they good'. Sorry, not trying to be awkward. I know people who have had home births with both teams and home birth is generally supported there. You don't have a dedicated team though if that is what you mean. All your ante natal care is as with everyone else, so you probably won't meet your midwife until the day sadly.

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FrumiousBandersnatch · 26/02/2014 21:34

Are you close enough to the Forest Hill GP practice for the Oakwood midwives? They are an excellent caseload team like Brierly.

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motherinferior · 26/02/2014 21:46

Doubt if that practice will reach that far up - I was with them when I had DD1, had to leave when I moved further round into Catford.

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PenguinsEatSpinach · 27/02/2014 08:34

I thought that Oakwood midwives were based out of Kings so only took people who could go there? I might be wrong though.

To follow up, if people are talking about homebirth caseload midwives AFAIK neither Lewisham nor Greenwich offer that (or they didn't 18 months ago). You are treated as a 'normal' low risk pregnancy until 36 weeks, when you have a homebirth assessment and are formally booked as a planned homebirth. When you go into labour (at least in Greeenwich 2 years ago) you rang delivery, who contacted one of the on call home birth midwives and she then contacted you.

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motherinferior · 27/02/2014 09:41

You're absolutely right about Oakwood and King's - it's actually why they couldn't take me on for my second birth. And I'm sure you're right about local home births; my experience is over a decade ago, but all I did was tell the midwives at the surgery where I had checkups that I wanted a home birth, and then yes rang delivery when I went into labour. (I was told nobody could come out to me, but that's another story. And I did have a home birth in the end!)

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enyaheadress · 03/03/2014 09:31

@motherinferior
Thank you so much.

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enyaheadress · 03/03/2014 09:33

I am hopeful that i can get good care. I have had two straight forward home births...Thank you for all your replies.

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enyaheadress · 01/09/2014 11:37

Hello, I have a bit of an update and a dilemma. I got a call on Friday from Brierley midwives. They apparently put me on their waiting list but said nothing until Friday. Meanwhile I transferred to Guys and I am currently with the Riverside homebirths them. I was comfortable with them and I think they would do a great job. I just have had both other children with Brierley and now feel a bit of a sh*t even to think of moving to Brierley. Any advice out there