homebirth question.

[KAEKAE]

Can anyone help....
I am currently in early stages of pregnancy with DC2 - I had a horrid first labour at Kingston hospital which resulted in a csection. I have been to my GPs twice about this pregnancy and seen two different doctors, I have mentioned I would want a homebith this time round and they have both said I will be refused one.

I really do not want to go back to Kingston but I hear it is better than Epsom so I have chosen to have my care under Kingston and a homebirth.

If I am refused a homebirth, where do I go from there?

have they said why they would reuse you one?

The doctors at my practice say I will get refused because my last pregnancy resulted in an emergency section after failed ventouse and foreseps. I was two weeks overdue and baby went into distress during labour.

I have had 4 hb, although I can' imagine waning one in your situation. Can you not think about another hospital, where you will be better looked after??

If you are dead set and they still refuse you, I guess you need to speak to a senior mw / or your consultant.

Good Luck btw x

You might find this useful. It has a template for writing a letter to the powers that be to insist on your right to a homebirth. I happen to know that the Head of Midwifery at Kingston is keen to increase HB numbers. Stand your ground and best of luck

Cazbold I was really neglected at Kingston but I hear its the best hospital out of the options I have. I also think I will stand a better chance of delivering naturally in an environment I feel safe and happy in. There were lots of things I feel could have been prevented during my labour, which I think would have resulted in me delivering DC1 naturally.

puzzlerocks Thank you for the info very interesting and thank you for the link.

Sorry meant cazboldy

Would paying in instalments for an independent midwife be a possibility? Especially given that you have lots of time to plan? We have lots of HBAC ladies at our homebirth support group (also check whether you have one of them ) but not with NHS midwives.

here

KAEKAE. I can understand why you want a homebirth. As far as I'm aware most hospitals have a policy of only offering homebirths to women who are 100% normal (that is obstetrically of course ) and unfortunately because you've had a c/s your pregnancy will be classed as high risk. So I think it will be very hard for you to get a HB on the NHS. I think your best bet is an independent midwife if you can afford it.

Were you induced? If so, this could be the reason that you ended up with baby in distress and so much intervention. Unfortunately, once you go down the intervention route it can so easily escalate.

What you say is probably true, that by giving birth at home, in an environment in which you feel safe, you are less likely to need intervention.

The homebirth site that PuzzleRocks linked to is excellent - there is also a section - "you can't have a home birth because.." which is really helpful.

Good luck.

If your NHS midwife is supporting you under duress though, how relaxed and confident are you going to be? I have heard of women using homebirth palns as a negociating position in order to birth in a birthing cetre. There is one in Andover....could that work for you?

Our local PCT actually procures the services of a local independent midwife for women adament that they would like to birth at home against conventional advice.

Starlight. For me it was easy. I've had 2 normal deliveries and normal pregnancies and when I said that this time around I wanted a homebirth the mw just said OK and that was that. KAEKAE on the other hand will have a battle on her hands to have a planned home birth. She'll have to discuss it with the consultants, convince them that it is the right decision for her, counter their arguments against with points in favour, etc... No they can't make her go into hospital when she goes into labour, but it wont be planned and that will make it a more dangerous occasion.

Yes, but you can't say that it's easy to go against what drs and mws will be advising. I think you've got to be a strong person to be able to stand up to them and stick to your guns. Not all women could do that, I know I would find it hard.

Kaekae, try contacting AIMS as well, they have a helpline and can probably advise you on how to negotiate your homebirth.

As others have suggested, can you get an independent midwife or a doula to help you?

Also, when you go into labour you can ring the hospital, say you're staying at home & they have to send a midwife to you. As belgianchocolates says, you need to be strong & confident to take this route though!