I meant the classifications of low and high risk are sometimes skewed to suit the obstetricians (NICE guidelines are created by doctors not midwives) and what they want, a lot of 'evidence' used is not accurate or out of date but because there isn't anything better they use it anyway.
The recommendation is that women who are higher risk have a discussion with the midwifery and obstetric team to make a decision on her care, not to be TOLD what's she can and can't do.
Yes stillbirth does happen, but for instance, 82% of women will give birth naturally if they are left to by 42 weeks when term ends.....NOT when induced at 40, 41 weeks, too much intervention too early when women's bodies and babies are not ready leads to traumatic births and worse outcomes eg. Prolonged labour, increased instrumentals, perineal trauma, Caesarean sections. I am not referring to induction for a real reason here, simply women who are getting to the end of their pregnancy with no other risks or worse....social reasons, SPD where women move around quite easily and jump onto the bed!
I know what risk is and yes some women are DEFINITELY high risk I was merely pointing out that not all RISK is the same, and lot of issues arise in labour unexpectedly and nothing can be predicted, that is the nature of pregnancy and childbirth, with life comes death unfortunately, and the majority of stillbirth still cannot be explained, education and informed choice is what I want for all women so that they make a decision based on this rather than fear. Birth occurs exactly the same whether at home, MLU, in the car park, in the lift, in an obstetric room.
A midwife's role is being an expert in normal pregnancy and childbirth, obstetricians are experts in the abnormal, that is why an obstetrician will advise against a home birth for someone who may be classed as higher risk (eg higher bmi) they have probably never been to a home birth and wouldn't have a clue what happens in a normal birth and the normal process of labour, they deal with intervention when things go wrong. I am stereotyping here and yes there will be obstetricians who are better informed of normality, it just frustrates me when women are made to feel bullied into something they don't want because they haven't been told the full story to make them feel their decision was their own.
Right it's my day off.....I'm off to aldi.