Refused a waterbirth!

[alicemama]

Hi girls,
well just had a midwife call round today after a home assesment yesterday for my homebirth and after monthes of planning I've just been told that I can't use my pool at all, as there is only 1 midwife trained in waterbirths.

I'm absolutely furious! I've talked about my home waterbirth to every midwife I've seen at every antenatel appointmentt and not once has anyone even hinted that this might not be possible.

I'm 36+3 and waited to order my pool from made in water until monday this week and it arrived yesterday and now the following day I'm told I can't use it. As you can imagine I had plenty to say to the midwife who is now going back to her supervisor to discuss it again taking into account that I've already received and paid for my pool! But she's off on annual leave now so won't find out til at least Monday and I know what the answer will be.

Not sure what to do now as I've been planning this for months and had my heart set on using the pool for labour and delivery! HELP!!!!

[Mummyvicky]

Pay for an independant midwife ?
What a shame for you!!

[auntymandy]

it will be a great pool for the baby to play in when its older!!!

[DinoScareUs]

alicemama, could you use it for pain relief during labour, but get out for delivery?

Is this your first pregnancy? If so chances are that would still give you many, many hours to use the pool!

[bonym]

I thought that all midwives now had to have training in waterbirths? This is what I was told anyway. When I had my homebirth 7 months ago I could have had any of 8 midwives attending - not all of them had apparently been at a waterbirth (although they had all been trained). I was lucky in that the two who attended me had both had experience, but tbh, the whole thing was pretty hands-off anyway. The only real difference is that they had to have an waterproof doppler to monitor me.

Would an option be to labour in water and then get out to deliver? I know this is not what you planned, but tbh this is what I did (even though I had planned to deliver in water) as I felt I needed to be more "upright" for the pushing stage.

[bonym]

Another thought (and I may be wrong) but I thought that you had the right to any type of birth you wanted - even though certain things might be advised against depending on individual circumstances.

[alicemama]

This is mt 2nd pregnancy and really do not want to go into hospital as I had quite a traumatic delivery with my dd.

I would be more than willing just to labour in the pool and get out to deliver but the midwife said not even that is an option.
I just don't understand what the problem is..what is so complicated about sitting in a pool of water while in labour?????

[DinoScareUs]

How infuriating. Can't think of an answer, I'm afraid. How on earth can they only have one midwife who is trained in waterbirths?

Do they have e.g. a consultant midwife at the hospital, if so make an appoiintment to see her and plead your case.

[bonym]

alicemama - I think she is talking rubbish and honestly don't think she can stop you. Would she stop you from sitting in the bath when you are in labour? What's she going to do? Drag you out? I would speak to the supervisor yourself if I were you.

[bonym]

Aha - see here - AIMS site

A woman's right to choose a water birth is now enshrined in Government policy:

"We recommend that all hospitals make it their policy to make full provision whenever possible for women to choose the position which they prefer for labour and birth with the option of birthing pool where this is practicable." [1]

[bonym]

Another excerpt -
Arranging a water birth at home can be difficult for some parents unless they have a sympathetic midwife. Fortunately, since the First International Water Birth Conference many more professionals are better informed, more confident, and better prepared to assist parents with this option. If you are faced with a midwife who is uncertain, and a health authority or Trust that is unwilling, you should make sure all your contact is in writing. It is not unknown for officials to make statements which they would not be willing to put on paper because what they have told the woman is misleading or sometimes completely untrue.

"If we can't find a midwife who can deliver you in water you won't be able to have your baby in water." Julia Boulger, Redhill

The Trust has a duty to provide a midwife, and if you are wishing to have a water birth they have a responsibility to ensure that she is adequately skilled and trained. When challenged about such misinformation the defence is often "Mrs X must have misunderstood."

Many women are told that they have to seek the approval of their GP or obstetrician, or that there are circumstances where a home water birth will not be "allowed."

Unfortunately, there are many staff who are not aware that it is not in their, or anyone else's, power to "allow" anything. They may recommend, or advise, but they have no authority to "allow" as the decision is entirely the woman's. All women have the right to give birth in water in their own homes if they choose, and an appropriately skilled midwife must be provided.

[hunkerpumpkin]

"Arranging a Water Birth at Home
Arranging a water birth at home can be difficult for some parents unless they have a sympathetic midwife. Fortunately, since the First International Water Birth Conference many more professionals are better informed, more confident, and better prepared to assist parents with this option. If you are faced with a midwife who is uncertain, and a health authority or Trust that is unwilling, you should make sure all your contact is in writing. It is not unknown for officials to make statements which they would not be willing to put on paper because what they have told the woman is misleading or sometimes completely untrue.

"If we can't find a midwife who can deliver you in water you won't be able to have your baby in water." Julia Boulger, Redhill

The Trust has a duty to provide a midwife, and if you are wishing to have a water birth they have a responsibility to ensure that she is adequately skilled and trained. When challenged about such misinformation the defence is often "Mrs X must have misunderstood."

Many women are told that they have to seek the approval of their GP or obstetrician, or that there are circumstances where a home water birth will not be "allowed."

Unfortunately, there are many staff who are not aware that it is not in their, or anyone else's, power to "allow" anything. They may recommend, or advise, but they have no authority to "allow" as the decision is entirely the woman's. All women have the right to give birth in water in their own homes if they choose, and an appropriately skilled midwife must be provided."


This from \link{http://www.aims.org.uk/aims.co.uk}

[hunkerpumpkin]

LOL! Bonym quicker on the draw than me - and got the blinking link right

Good luck with it - and get them to put it in writing.

[bonym]

Great minds hunker

[Katemum]

This is your decision not theirs isn't it?
I would be furious as well.

[inkyminky]

Sounds like a load of Cobblers to me too, poor you, I know there was no one trained at my Water Birth as it was the first one the midwife had been there for, However I did have to deliver on land in the end, so maybe someone qualified would have rushed in at the last minute if I had continued.

Sounds crazy you cant labour in there, as Bonym said, no different from a Bath at all except easier access to get you. Take it all the way, You have a right to have what you want.

[alicemama]

Thanks for that girls I've just been reading that as well.

When I had my first booking in appointment I was offered the choice between this hospital which is refusing my waterbirth and anothe local hospital....I'm thinking that perhaps I could ring the other hospital and see what their policy is. Does anybody know who I would need to ring?????

[bonym]

alicemama - I would write to the supervisor of midwives at your chosen hospital and also to the chief executive of your local health trust- quote the AIMS site and tell them that you are aware it is your legal right to have the birth of your choice.

Stick to your guns and use the pool - as the site says - it is not up to them to allow or disallow anything that you want.

[alicemama]

I'm so frustrated I know that I won't manage to get this sorted within the next 3 weeks before I go into labour. Thay'll just keep fobbing me off until I go into labour.
Forgot to say as well that if my waters go before I go into labour I will have to be admitted straight away and won't even be gien 48hrs to see if I go into labour naturally and my waters broke 2 days before I went into labour with dd. Arrrrgh!

Bonym, if you have 8 trained midwives in your local community team....can I come and stay with you when I go into labour, I'll be quiet I promise you won't even know I'm there!!!!

[flamebat]

I would be being bloody stubborn . If you're already in the pool when they arrive, I'd love to see em try to lift you out without your husband's help, and with waters... as far as I know its 48 hours before the whole risk of infection, so don't call anyone until then if labour hasn't started.

[hunkerpumpkin]

AM, that's what they're hoping - bastards

You could get in touch with AIMS - they want to hear about things like this.

And just tell them you're having a waterbirth at home - I know it's not ideal and it's a stress you don't need, which is why you need to put it all in writing rather than have convos with midwives who can then deny what they've said. And do get in touch with the head of midwifery at your local hospital too.

[DinoScareUs]

alicemama, if its any consolation, my waters broke before I went into labour with both DS1 and DS2 but second time around my labour started very very quickly - basically my waters broke at about 4.30 p.m. and he was delivered at 8.15 p.m.!! So even if your waters go first again, it needn't mean the end of your homebirth - just give it a little while at home to see if the contractions start. In my case, by 6 p.m. they had kicked in and I knew I was in labour.

[julienetmum]

Alicemama, I had the same problem. I got around it by labouring in the pool, I was in there when the midwife arrived, then I just didn't get out. My midwife had never done a waterbirth before but she said it was pretty much the same principle as being on dry land.

[CADS]

Hi Alicemama

Think you have a strong case for getting your waterbirth. Don't give in. As everyone said, I would just get in the pool when you're ready, they not going to force you to get out when they arrive.

Had my assessment yesterday and my midwife mentioned that not all the communtiy midwives are experienced in delivery the baby in water but that I can labour in it. She also mentioned that I can get in it when ever I like and don't have to wait for the midwife to arrive.

Also, I am only allowed to stay home for 24hrs if my waters break. Don't see why you would have to go in immediately. Get on to AIMS, this morning and see what they say.

Don't let this upset your plans. Good luck.

[motherpeculiar]

alicemama

you poor thing - you don't need this right now. agree with the others about sticking to your guns but I remember well that at that stage of pg you just don't really want to have to fight.

wrt th ewaters breaking thing - like you with DD1 mine broke 2 days before labour, but second time round they broken just when I was getting ready to push, so you never know. Try not to fret too much about that anyway, and as someone else said, as long as you are feeling well and teh water is clear you can always just "forget" to call them

good luck, I hope you manage to get what you want (and are fully entitled to)

definitely worth giving the other hosp a call too, try to speak to the head of midwifery

[tessasmum]

I'd say go for it too, if you are in there, smiling serenely,
there's nothing they can do. But I would also write to appropriate people as suggested.

I laboured in water the first time round, which was FANTASTIC, but got out to deliver because I think I was too laidback in the water and not pushing properly! That was in Bedford Hospital where they really encourage you to use the pool. I'm now in Luton where I have been told that the 'not enough midwives are trained' arguement is used a lot.
Going for a homebirth this time but no water as no room for a pool, unless we rig it up in the unheated garage which I don't fancy in November!

Good luck AM