Homebirths in the Redhill/Reigate area (Surrey).

[Enthusia]

Hi

I have just finished my NCT courses and have been introduced to the idea of a homebirth. This was never discussed with me by a Midwife or anyone else as everyone has just assumed I would have a hospital birth, including me. However, after hearing about hospital births vs homebirths from my NCT teacher (who was very factual not biased one way or the other) and from doing some quick research today and yesterday, I am now thinking that a homebirth would be much closer to my own idea of giving birth.

My DH is very wobbily about this, and I am confused, especially as no one (medical) has discussed this option with me before.

Has anyone around my area (Redhill and Reigate) had a homebirth and if so what support did you get and how do you feel about the whole experience?

I am currently 33 weeks pregnant with my first child, have had no complications really (none serious, and none since 14 weeks) and live 5-10 mins from East Surrey Hospital.

Any thoughts, from anyone would be gratefully received.

I believe that Pupuce (a doula on this board) is in your area, and has experience of East Surrey hospitals. She also has experience of homebirths.

Unfortunately she isn't visiting the board at present due to the Milupa advertising, but you might be able to contact her through "contact another talker" at the top of the page.

Hello. They probably haven't mentioned it because they're not a health trust which is particularly supportive of homebirth. And - because it's your first child - they'll give you loads of stuff about how you don't meet the criteria, untried pelvis blah blah blah. What you have to remember during these conversations is that midwifery is understaffed, they send two midwives to a home delivery compared to (say) a ratio of one midwife to four women in a hospital (which is the case at my local anyway).

There have been a few home birth threads on here recently, which you might want to search back through. Also you could join This yahoo group .

This site Birth Choice is very good for statistics (and I notice that East Surrey Hospital has quite a high Caesarean rate).

These two sites are good for links to research and discovering your rights, best tactics, etc.

Homebirth
AIMS

Enthusia,
Could your NCT lady point you in the direction of the nearest Home Birth Support group - that's the sort of info she should have to hand, if one exists.
Failing that, post a message to the yahoo group RedZuleika has a link to, to see if there's anyone in your area.

Have you thought about an independent midwife?

Hi Enthusia

I have a little experience of this, and live in the same area as you.

My stories are probably in the archives somewhere, but in a nutshell I was induced and ended up with an emergency caesarean for DS1 at East Surrey, and by the time I was PG with DS2 had decided that I wnated to try for a different birth experience with DS2. I'm afraid to say East Surrey was NOT very helpful, and basically were trtying to bully me into their way of doing things (i.e. elective casearean at 38 weeks). After significant discussion they were going to let me 'try' for a vaginal birth...
They were just not 'into' home births at all, probably for the reasons Red outlines below.

The long and the short of it was that I ended up hiring a private midwife (costs about £3000 - £4000) who does mostly homebirths/ minimum intervention deliveries etc, and I switched my care to Guildford hospital where they were a bit more supportive.
We planned for a homebirth, but in the end actually went into hospital as I went to nearly 42 + 3 weeks.
But I don't regret any of the decisions - it was a MUCH better birth.

(And we used all the (unused) plastic sheeting we bought as a kids water slide down the garden !! )

If you want to push for a homebirth be prepared for a fight and the need to get yourself armed with all the arguments/ stats to refute theirs...

CAT me if you'd like any help with this - I think I still have all my stuff...

Good luck
Mo2
xx

Sorry - private midwife = "independent midwife"
(don't know why I wrote 'private' ?)

Your NCT branch will probably have a "homebirth support" person. If not, Caterham & Oxted (neighbouring branch) does. Email caterhamandoxtednct at yahoo dot co dot uk and they can give you her number.

Message withdrawn

Go back to your NCT teacher and ask her for the name of the Head of Midwifery at East
Surrey. You could then phone her and ask to be put you in contact with a community midwife who may specialise in homebirth to discuss your options. They need to ensure that they would be able to allocate 2 midwives exclusively to you. Your NCT teacher may even be prepared to attend the appointment with you.

A friend of mine had a happy homebirth in Horley but that was 5 years ago (resourcing and structure of Maternity facilities around here has changed since, to take in Crawley and Horsham) and it was her second baby. I think she just discussed it with her allocated midwife during the course of Antenatal appointments.