to think this can't even be true and want someone who knows to tell me?

[catgirl1976]

Whilst reading a Guardian article on-line about home births it said that the Nurses and Midwives bill currently going through the Dail (article is a few months old) would criminalise any midwife who doesn't take a woman to hospital 24 hours after her waters have broken, even though this can happen up to 12 hours before contractions begin and the labour might be proceeding well, requiring no medical intervention. Really? That sounds insane

Does anyone know if it is true?

Article is here:

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/apr/16/home-birth-trial-or-rewarding

Jesus, I really hope that isn't true.

I seem to remember a friend talking about this, iirc, you would go to hospital if you haven't started contracting (or haven't gone into active labour - can't remember which)
If you are in labour and everythings fine I think you're ok.
(disclaimer: she may have been talking rubbish)

I have just skim-read through the whole Bill and can see no mention of having to go to hospital ater 24 hours.

I couldn't see it either and it sounded bonkers but the guardian article sounded certain and then went to the trouble of linking to the bill so I thought maybe it was me. Didn't read line for line but skimmed like you and couldn't see it. If it is true it would mean home birth is illegal and given a lot of Ireland is fairly rural and not that near a hospital I wouldn't have thought that would be practical or popular.

Odd

Goodness me! I'm about to have a home birth (fingers crossed for Fri everyone!) and after 2 different antenatal classes I really can't see why anyone would think being drugged up in hospital is a "safer" option? I'm not a hippy by any stretch, and actually when I first decided to get pg asked if they could just install a zip and let me get on with it on as many drugs as possible... It is the information I have trawled through, classes I have attended and RL stories from friends etc that have convinced me G&A is the way I want to try it.

However, the HB idea came relatively recently. My Birthing Centre (literally 2 min walk from my house) shut down last month after nearly half a year of uncertainty. Now there is no where else in my town to give birth! I don't drive and would have to get a taxi to the next town (costing appx £50/70 each way) and the next town' hospital/birthing centre is having to now support 3 surrounding towns births with a rising birth rate. I heard a horror story whilst waiting for my last MW app that a girl had been turned away, came all the way back and ended up giving birth in the local birthing centre waiting room as she waited to see her MW and ask where she should go as she was in agony. Surely THAT is more dangerous?

Personally I would rather give birth in the pool up in my local centre, which is now lying unused for the foreseeable. However, I feel far more confident knowing I will have 2 midwives with me (more than you usually get in a BC or hospital) and can only hope that the massive rise of home births locally (confirmed by my MW) will prove to the local authority that it is a false economy shutting down the local centre.

Btw, if anyone has seen OBEM USA you can't help but be shocked at the way they are treated. Babies not crying because they are so drugged up, the kiwi vbac torture that poor woman who's epidural only half worked for went through, nurses being thoughtless and uncaring (telling the other woman that if she didn't get baby out in 30mins they would take her in for a c-section - she had been there for 3.5hrs and apparently that was long enough) and not to mention the lack of knowledge about the drugs or any other birthing positions! I cannot express how thankful I was to be giving birth in UK after watching 3 episodes of that!

God I thought that too about OBEM USA! I am also pg with my first and am seriously thinking of a home birth (hence reading the article). OBEM USA has HORRIFIED me - it seems like an epidural is just standard practice and immediate as soon as the first twinge hits. They are all in bed, all lying on their backs - no active birth, no water births no nothing. It has really made me

Good luck with your home birth. I am 22 weeks and am planning to speak to my MW at my 25 week app about having one. DH is not keen but I think if we go through the stats etc he will feel a lot better. I hate the thought of being kept in afterwards. I just want to be at home with my baby, my dh, my bedroom and my own bathroom. Really hope you have a wonderful birth x

I can't see it mentioned either. I'm a midwife and first I've heard of it.

The research shows that the risk of infection rises 92hours after waters have gone. So there is a big argument against saying there is any need to take a woman in to hospital after 24hours. Especially if you are monitoring temp to check for infection which a midwife should do in labour. Anyway even if it did become law the woman can always refuse. They can hardly penalise the midwife if it's the woman that insists on staying at home.

i would of loved a home birth, but so many people put me off i never even asked my MW

instead i was strapped to the monitor with an induced labour on both of my DC and i see nothing natural about my DC births.

op good luck with the home birth

Thanks OP and good luck with yours :)
Our MW's are actively encouraging them I think as not only will it highlight the need in the area but they are also a bit at the use of drugs at the next hospital along (much higher than in their birthing centre, obviously) so it wasn't a struggle for me at all to get one. Only thing I would say is to keep your iron levels up as they will worry about hb if they get too low. Spatone from Boots is good but obv if very low the iron tablets they will prescribe you will be better.

I'm very excited tbh and have made cake and flapjacks in preparation and to thank the lovely MWs

Just a quick good luck from me too, DD2 was born at home, delivered by two lovely NHS midwives and it was just the most beautiful way to bring her into the world.

Thank you all for the nice wishes! :)

Orbinator - try and let me know how yours goes - (although I appreciate you will have your hands full of your new gorgeous bundle so you may be rather pre-occupied)

Thank you for the iron tip :) Lots of love and best wishes for the birth :)

ive had 2 hb (well, ds2 was supposed to be a home birth but i was in labout 15mins and the mw didnt make it) and planning 3rd in january and my mw never said that... im seeing her monday, i'll ask