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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Not allowed to give birth in a midwife led unit -advice needed

21 replies

beckynbump · 27/12/2010 21:40

I have been informed that I am not allowed to give birth in a midwife led unit for my third child as first child, I had a normal birth then retained placenta and second child I had very normal birth but then high blood pressure for about a week after giving birth.

My midwife has submitted a special circumstances form for me so I am hoping they will decide answer is yes. If it isn't, i would like to pursue it further for various reasons so wondered if anyone else had bee in a similar situation and had any advice. Thanks

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thisisyesterday · 27/12/2010 21:46

have you considered a homebirth?

MotherSnowyMountainGoat · 27/12/2010 21:48

Not exactly the same, as I was in a different country, but I had my first in a 'birth house' in Germany, which is effectively a privately-run midwife centre, and got transferred to a hospital to have a retained placenta removed afterwards. With my second pregnancy two midwife-run centres refused to have me, but the third was more confident, run by a very experienced midwife, and very near an excellent hospital - I gave birth there, very quickly, no retained placenta, no problems, home within three hours of the birth. Go for it. I'm convinced giving birth in a hospital environment would have been bad for me and the baby.

itsawonderfuldarleneconnorlife · 27/12/2010 21:49

How long was you placenta retained for? Did you need surgery? Did you have a natural 3rd stage? Did this cause any problems the nexxt time round?

Did you go to the MLU with DC2? How high was your BP? How was it resolved? Why did it happen?

If your midwife is on your side then that's a good start. Could you try to book into another MLU? Is it a particular consultant who has made this decision or is it hospital policy?

Have you considered a homebirth?

Maybe contact AIMS

BoffinMum · 27/12/2010 21:56

It really does depend on the medical circumstances, but a retained placenta can happen to anyone, and high BP could be for a number of reasons as well. I wouldn't give in too easily and maybe pursue a HB.

Original poster

beckynbump · 27/12/2010 22:04

The retained placenta was not deemed to be an emergency, it was over 4 hours after birth that it was eventually removed in surgery. Second child, they made me go to a normal hospital and my blood pressure was high initially (due to the stress of being at the hospital i believe)but they let me transfer to the midwife unit, 6 hours after the birth. Stayed in the midwife unit for 2 days the they let me out with no concenrs. It was only a few days later that it started to rise again but not enough for them to start treating it until day 5. Then it alternated between sky high and down in my boots as they could not decide correct dose of Lobitalol. I eventually stopped taking it and within 10 days after birth it was back to normal.

I have informed the midwife that not being able to go to a midwife unit will force me to have a home birth. Just annoys me that I wa told by one of the unit staff after I had second child that I would be fine to come back for a third. Midwife thinks I am very stubborn and stroppy but as I explained, I am good at giving birth very quickly and need to be somewhere where I can labour in my own way, without being told what to do.

Its stressing me now and I still have 6 months to go!

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BoffinMum · 27/12/2010 22:08

Well, they do play god in these places. Here at Addenbrookes the MLU was mysteriously closed to patients quite often and then it was apparently discovered that there was a group of mw who couldn't actually be bothered to open it up, and preferred to treat everyone on the main ward, as it made less work for them. Perhaps there is a bit of that going on with your MLU?

BoffinMum · 27/12/2010 22:09

Perhaps it would be worth seeing a consultant about it and asking some very pointed questions?

Original poster

beckynbump · 27/12/2010 22:13

Yes, I am going to be patient and wait for the result of my appeal, just annoying that I have to rely on a midwife I have met twice to fight my corner. If the answer is still no, i will take it further I think.....hope it doesn't get that far. Not good for a stress free pregnancy. :(

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KellyBronze · 29/12/2010 09:36

Yes, familiarize yourself with the AIMS website and read any back issues of the journals with topics about the circumstances you suffered in the past as well as those about the legalities of how they are supposed to care for you now and intrapartum.

Also familiarize yourself with the homebirth website as it has a lot of information about these things too.

Contact AIMS if necessary. Every pregnancy is different and this pregnancy should not have its circumstances prejudiced by what has happened in the past without robust peer reviewed evidence.

They sound like they are trying it on.

dessen · 29/12/2010 09:48

How difficult for you. Why have they refused your request? Retained placenta can happen to anyone. Do you know whatb caused the placenta to be retained?

Redheadgal · 29/12/2010 11:21

At 38 weeks I only sorted out where I'm giving birth last week. Like you I was deemed 'high risk' by the MLU (although my consultant agreed it was a 'normal' pregnancy). Ultimately the decision came down to the midwives at the MLU and not the consultant which was annoying because they were effectively worrying about covering their backs and not about me. Like you, I was concerned that I would find it very stressful having to give birth (to my mind, unnecessarily) on the labour ward and it was beginning to really upset me. Thankfully the consultant midwife who is in charge of the local birthing centre, a nearby MLU and homebirth arrangements was really supportive. She put together a really good 'grey area' application for me and did a lot of research - I was really impressed. Finally, on Christmas Eve, she convinced the midwives that I could use the MLU and transfer to the labour ward just upstairs should there be a problem. What I'm trying to say, is don't give up and try to get someone on your side. If your cmw is not supportive, there may be someone at the MLU who is who can champion your cause. Also I prepared a summary of my case which I kept in my notes which expressly stated why I felt the MLU was a better place for me to give birth and my medical history. I hope you get this sorted out and get the birth you want in the MLU.

BoffinMum · 29/12/2010 15:03

Technically I had a retained placenta a couple of times if you're going by the clock and the strict definition, but we just all decided to get on with it, and fuss less about timing, and concentrate more on encouraging the thing to come out eventually by itself. Which it did.
No problemo. Just needed to be patient.

Northernlebkuchen · 29/12/2010 15:07

I think a lot of people find saying 'right I'll have a homebirth then' is a good way to open the doors to the MLU. Good luck

BoffinMum · 29/12/2010 15:18

Completely right, NL. Demand they come out to you instead and suddenly the MLU probably seems like less work for them!

MarsLady · 29/12/2010 19:55

It is also worth having a chat with your Consultant Midwife.

I would talk through your options with her before dropping your ultimatum. They can be extremely helpful.

I hope you get to birth where you want.

Manicmummyhavinabiccy · 30/12/2010 20:52

Feel for you hun, having my own roubes with mw's, its very frustraiting and some times i feel midwifes play 'god' in our lifes and dont care how us mummys feel :( and mine keep moving the goal posts all the time. no doubt your hbp wadown to being in hospital, im having nightmeres about going into hospital beacause of my treatment last time! hope you appeal goes your way hun.

midwifemuse · 31/12/2010 14:33

It may all be down to hospital policy, it usually is. That is why speaking to the Consultant Midwife generally gets things moving and allows a 'plan' to be drawn-up. Individual midwives HAVE to stick to the rules the obstetricians, head of midwifery consultant midwife and supervisor of midwives have decided upon, they are usually not being uncaring etc. and are certainly not God as they are caught up in a local web of protocols, policies and guidelines.
Talk to the chief as the servants (midwives) are powerless.

SlightlyTubbyHali · 01/01/2011 11:43

Presumably as you are deemed high risk you have concultant-led care?

Speak to your consultant and get him/her onside.

Speak to the consultant midwlfe who will liase with your consultant to determine whether the perceived risks are anything to worry about.

Hospital staff can (and do) deviate from policy, but you need to find someone senior enough to not worry about flushing their career away by making a policy-breaching decision.

The hospital staff also possibly think it is a bit early to be discussing this. I went for a WBAC in an MLU but was a good 36 weeks before it was signed off (having talked about it at every appointment), and was subject to certain conditions (natural labour, rough time limits on stages, meeting with consultant midwife so she could check I understood risks etc).

I met a few recalcitrant registrars (one meeting in particular was followed by me phoning my DH in tears to say I wanted a home birth) but in the end asked to see my consultant instead and lo and behold things got better. Hospitals are quite policy driven IME and it is all about speaking to the right people.

Original poster

beckynbump · 02/01/2011 21:34

SlightlyTubby Hali - it seems that I am not at all high risk, I have no consultant, midwife will have only seen me twice in the first 6 months. Maybe that will help.

Thannks to all of you for the advice, first time I have really asked on this forum. Its given me lots of ways to take things further if the answer is no. Will let you know how I get on.

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SlightlyTubbyHali · 02/01/2011 22:06

Really? Weird then that you're not a shoe-in for the MLU. Well, try to the consultant midwife. I found the one at my local hospital hugely supportive and constructive.

Good luck - hope you get what you want.

Original poster

beckynbump · 26/01/2011 22:03

Its with a huge amount of relief that I found out this week that I am allowed to give birth at the midwife unit, provided there are no other complications. I feel so much more positive about the whole experience. At least I am being given a chance to do it my way, if fate decides that its not to be, well I tried and I am more determined than ever to demand my own way of doing things even if I am forced to go to a consultant unit.

thank you all, for all your advice and comments, I am very greatful.xx

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