Home birth (not because I want one!)

[Oopsypoopsy]

Hi,

I would really love some ideas/opinions on my situation please. I am due my third baby in a couple of months, my track record is very fast labours and the last one I barely made it to hospital and that was only possible because my son happened to have gone for a sleepover at his cousins house that night, the chances of that happening again are very slim we were very lucky!

So we have planned a home birth to avoid all the stress, however the midwives have said that the chances of someone getting to me on time are not good as the midwife could be travelling from up to an hour away, in which case they'll be too late.

I have explored the option of a private midwife but even they're only near to bigger cities and about an hour away! (And it would cost around £3000!).

Do I just call 999? What if I do that and the midwife does get there within a few minutes?! I'm freaking out about this a little bit!

Any ideas, absolutely anything please help!? xx

[Semaphorically]

I had a planned home birth but the midwives didn't make it on time. DH called 999 when it became clear that DD was in a bit of a hurry to arrive, they took about 10 minutes to get an ambulance to us.

Not something I would willingly repeat!!, but nothing bad happened. The dispatcher on the phone talked DH through what to do. And the paramedics were lovely - they were so happy to attend a call that was nice rather than grim

If you have precipitate labours you have a higher risk of PPH, so make sure your birth partner knows what to look out for. The midwives gave us a list of what to do (and not to do, e.g. do not pull on the cord or try to cut it) if there were no health care professionals there when the baby arrives, which yours should too if you are under a home birth team.

[Rikalaily]

Same as Semaphorically Planned homebirth but things happened too fast and DH delivered DD4, no idea why but it didn't occur to us to call an ambulance! I instinctively knew what to do when she didn't start breathing, she was still attached to the cord so I knew she wasn't in imminent danger and I rubbed her and sucked the mucus from her mouth and nose which got her breathing then kept her warm on my chest under a towel and fed her. First midwife arrived about 10-15 mins after baby arrived and the second about 15 mins after that. TBH it was amazing and I would do it again tomorrow!

If I were you I would prep as much as possible and have everything close to hand, you don't need much, couple of packs on inco pads (toddlers bed mats) lots of fluffy clean towels and a clock so you can note the time, they are the only things we used! If you plan a homebirth they usually deliver a HB pack when you are 38 weeks so anything the midwife would need (apart from meds) would already be there. Call an ambulance if you think the midwife is too far away to get there fairly quickly, if they turn up together it's fine, the midwife will usually deal with you and they will wait until she gives them the all clear to leave if you and baby are fine to stay home, if you need to transfer in she will join you in the ambulance back to the hospital.

[Oopsypoopsy]

Aww thank you ladies that's reassuring. I actually had pph with DS so that is a worry, and my placenta didn't want to come out with DD! It does sound quite pleasant to be at home but I'll probably end up being taken in. Might just ring 999 anyway just to be safe, like you said they probably won't mind helping a cute baby enter the world for a change. x

[McBaby]

Last time the midwives had a plan in place for the first one to come straight here the second to go to the hospital to pick stuff up so they could get here in less time. I ended up being induced but had a 45 minute labour.

Due in 7 weeks and hoping to get the same homebirth deal but also hoping to be induced again!

[Hawkmoth]

I had a planned homebirth last year. The midwives didn't make it. Hospital advised to call an ambulance. They took 45 minutes to come, it's clearly not a priority for a straightforward birth. DH delivered the baby :)

[AllMyBestFriendsAreMetalheads]

My MW arrived 15 minutes after baby was born. With my first birth in hospital, it took over 2 hours for my placenta to come out so I wasn't really worried about that bit at the time and was happy to wait for the MW, and I knew she was on her way.

I should have called earlier but I'd convinced myself that I was going to be in labour for a good few more hours rather than, erm, half an hour

But it was because it just so happened that the MW on call that night was further away than other MWs. If she'd made it on time, she would have called the 2nd MW, who would actually have got here quicker but it just seemed to be a quirk of the on call rota.

I was slightly famous amongst the local MWs for a while though!

[Oopsypoopsy]

Thank you for your comments. I have found out there is a doula who lives 5 minutes away so I'm meeting her for a chat to see if she could be the support that we need. My husband is a little nervous about it all resting on his shoulders so if he had someone giving him support to deliver the baby he would feel so much better! He kind of really wants to do it but would appreciate someone with experience being there as a backup. Hope she's less than 3k though😜

[Babyiwantabump]

Doulas normally only offer emotional support- they shouldn't be involved in the birth and it is actually illegal for them to act as a midwife as they are not qualified to do so.

Calling 999 at the same time as the home birth team would be the best option .

Hope all goes well- I had a lovely home birth with DC2