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Childbirth

Birth choices - a worried ramble (probably a bit premature when I'm only 12 weeks!)

28 replies

hunkermunker · 30/06/2005 23:34

OK, wondering about birth choices.

I had DS at hospital (big, busy, in west London). I had a lovely birth with very nice midwives - DS was born in the birthing pool.

However, I had never met the midwives I had on the day, and from what they said, and other people have since confirmed, the birthing pool isn't used very often (about 30 times a year) - the unit is often too busy for the one midwife continually present and two at the actual birth care they require. In the event, I had two midwives with me almost the whole time.

Now I know I could "get lucky" again, but I've heard too many stories of women who are left for ages during labour and who have midwives who don't listen to them or respect their wishes (and whilst I'm very feisty and willing to stand up for my rights, I really don't want to go into labour thinking I might have to be doing this!).

I also have problems with pain relief. I didn't have anything but the water when DS was born. I have had very bad reactions to opiate-based pain relief in the past (blood pressure dropping through the floor, shivery shock, etc), gas and air made me retch (the one puff I had with DS), and I have a massive allergy to all things plaster (anything that sticks to my skin, yes, even hypo-allergenic nobody's allergic to this stuff provokes blisters...) so an epidural doesn't sound promising either - plus I don't fancy not being mobile in labour.

I am wondering whether I would be able to go to a slightly out of area birthing centre (Edgware) or to Queen Charlotte's (again, out of area) - but even then, would I be guaranteed the birthing pool I loved so much when I had DS?

So I think that the way forward is a home birth, with a hired pool - but I'm very worried about tearing - I had a second degree tear with DS and it took MONTHS to heal. The next bit may be tmi...sorry - basically the scar tissue is very "hard" and totally without "give", so I'm very worried I'll just fall in half when I have the next one!

I realise that if there are problems, I won't have a waterbirth anyway, I'm not dopey. And I do have to convince DH that a home birth is a good plan - plus although I know that severe tears are less likely with a home birth, I do wonder whether I am likely to tear badly however relaxed I am because of the solid scar tissue dilemma.

Blinking heck, this is long! Is it cheeky of me to put Mears in this post in case she does a name search?

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dizietsma · 01/07/2005 01:49

I'm about to have my first, I also have a bad reaction to opiates and hate the idea of an epidural (though I'm terribly fond of gas 'n air ), so I've arranged to have a home birth with an inflatable pool I've just bought, all going well. Plus side of a home birth is you'll definately have the undivided attention of two midwives at the birth, which from the sounds of it is not so common in hospital!
Lots of people in my area rent or buy their pools even for hospital births 'cos the local hospital can't guarantee the pool rooms will be free.