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Agoraphobic mum-to-be forced to go to hospital for the birth

259 replies

UppityPuppity · 13/05/2021 21:48

Judge states she doesn’t have the capacity to decide to have a home birth.

Not enough information to form a view about the supposed risks, except that I am so sad for her and wish her and the baby well.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57108649

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 13/05/2021 22:00

This is bizarre - there is absolutely no way this is the full story.

You are allowed to request a home birth for any reason. As I understand it, the NHS can't refuse although they can strongly advise you against it.

A home birth in a low risk pregnancy has no "increased risk" compared to hospital birth. Probably there are factors either about the pregnancy or possibly the home environment which increase the risk, but they've reported it as though home birth in itself is some terribly risky irresposible decision, which it isn't!

I also don't see why her mother or partner's opinion is of any relevance in the slightest Confused it should be between her and her midwife and/or consultant.

Pota2 · 13/05/2021 22:00

@PanamaPattie

It's not about the mother - she is nothing but an vessel and incubator.
Ffs. She lacks mental capacity. Women have free choice over where they give birth if they have capacity and even if this harms the unborn child. This woman doesn’t and that’s why a decision was made for her. Comments like this are very unhelpful. It’s exceptionally rare and it’s definitely not the case that the law views the woman as nothing but a vessel. It really doesn’t. In fact, the fetus has no legal recognition until it’s born.
trilbydoll · 13/05/2021 21:58

It does sound like there are risk factors that mean a home birth wouldn't necessarily be in her best interests. Although if she's in full fight or flight response that doesn't sound like it's going to end in a lovely calm natural birth either.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 13/05/2021 21:57

@PanamaPattie

It's not about the mother - she is nothing but an vessel and incubator.
That is totally unfair and has no basis in law. The baby has no legal entity until it's born. The court is not allowed to put its interests before the mother, even if an individual judge wished to do so. The decision can only have been made on the basis of the mother's best interests because there is no basis in law for any other option.
EvilOnion · 13/05/2021 21:56

I think it would be better to provide adequate mental health care to this woman to help her with the Agoraphobia in the first instance to help her prepare and hopefully work towards overcoming it rather than forcing her into an environment that she doesn't want to be in.

I hope that mental health and social services are able to step up and support this family when the baby is born.

SunshineSuxx · 13/05/2021 21:56

I'm a bit torn here.

It's her body, and her choice. I get that. But is it right that her baby could potentially die or suffer life changing medical complications as Mum won't go into hospital?

And how on earth do you parent when you can't leave the house?

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 13/05/2021 21:55

Awful, but judges do not take these decisions lightly, The UK courts have a history of defending patients' right to make decisions that their doctors consider wrong or foolish, as long as the patient has the capacity to make the choice, Jehovah's witnesses, for example, have been allowed to refuse life-saving transfusions, except in rare situations where the courts feel they are not making the decision of their own free will.

Sally872 · 13/05/2021 21:54

That is a shame. Have to assume of her mum, partner, medics and judge all agree then there must be something in it.

Hope she can get help with her fear so she can manage to leave more easily when the time comes.

PanamaPattie · 13/05/2021 21:53

It's not about the mother - she is nothing but an vessel and incubator.