Page 23 | nickelbabe's live birth saga part 3. There HAS to be a birth in this one!

nickelbabe · 2011-12-10T10:09:18+00:00

Just getting it ready.... Noone post until it's full, right!! [grin]

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Original poster

nickelbabe · 11/12/2011 14:01

normal nickel again!
We've just rung my MW friend - she works in London, so if she were to come and help, she has to get a release from her hospital in order to work here, otherwise she's unofficial and wouldn't be allowed to do it (risk losing her licence).
She's agreed to try and get a release, so would be able to cover when we need her.

basically, the current MW who's here is due to finish at 4:30, and there's no one else on call until 8o'clock.

I have no problems with transferring into hospital, but it's just taken me 3 attempts (through contractions) to stand at the sink and brush my teeth.
I am in no fit state to do the journey to Medway.

I am in Sittingbourne, Kent, those who were asking.

fucking annoying now because if i'd already been there, this wouldn't be a problem.
It was always about the journey itself, not about the hospital.

We still need another one on standby, from what I can gather (I don't think that this MW is able to stick around if it goes beyond 4:30)

this is where you all yell "come on uterus! contract harder, faster!"

OP posts:

teenswhodhavethem · 11/12/2011 14:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

HighHeidYin · 11/12/2011 14:05

Get MOVING uterus or you will have the wrath of frothing MNers to contend with. And you don't want that. Oh no.

Nickel hope you are not worrying too much about the MW situation. You have enough to deal with! Surely they HAVE to provide someone!

TheOriginalFAB · 11/12/2011 14:06

"Come on uterus! Contract a bit harder, and a bit faster!!"

Not too much as not good for baby ime.

If you need anything, nickel, I am 20 minutes away but can do it in 13.

MollyintheMoon · 11/12/2011 14:06

Walk up and down the stairs- sideways if possible. Bounce on your ball. Keep moving if possible, if not all fours.

Come on uterus!!!

lostinwales · 11/12/2011 14:08

come on uterus! contract harder, faster!

Don't think MW will be an issue, you have done so well this far. Don't think about it yourself that's what your friends are there for, just relax into giving birth and know no one can force you to go anywhere, you chill out and have your baby at home.

pixiestix · 11/12/2011 14:10

Don't stress yourself out Nickel. Let it be their problem, not yours. Just focus on your baby and your body.

TheOriginalFAB · 11/12/2011 14:12

I am meant to be wrapping presents too but can't keep away .

pixiestix · 11/12/2011 14:13

*sending

MightilyOats · 11/12/2011 14:14

They should be able to send someone from a neighbouring team out of hours (I had someone from Bridgford, for example) as there should be someone on 24/7. If all else fails you shd be able to go by ambulance - car travel in established labour not fun! Hope your mw friend gets her release - good luck!

MightilyOats · 11/12/2011 14:14

They should be able to send someone from a neighbouring team out of hours (I had someone from Bridgford, for example) as there should be someone on 24/7. If all else fails you shd be able to go by ambulance - car travel in established labour not fun! Hope your mw friend gets her release - good luck!

ZhenTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly · 11/12/2011 14:14

This is when your HB experienced friend could come in really handy (more detached emtionally than your DH). She could phone Medway and ask to speak to supervisor of midwives immediately and basically tell them in no uncertain terms that you will not be transferring, you have booked a homebirth and they need to find cover or else! They can call in bank midwives to the hospital so the community midwives can attend your birth.

This was on HB website for use in such a situation:
Here is some advice from Shawn Walker of the Norwich Home Birth group:

Over the past three years, we have seen this a lot among our group in Norwich / Norfolk. Here's what we recommend if it may happen to you:

   1. Have someone with you who is not your partner or mother or other close, emotionally involved person. This person should have ideally had a successful homebirth herself and at a minimum be entirely supportive of your plans to do so, comfortable advocating for you in a situation where you are being told that there will be no midwife sent, and able to be calm in such a situation.
   2. Prepare your supporter by practicing the 'broken record' technique with her. No matter what they say, your supporter should keep replying that you are going to give birth at home and are expecting a midwife to be sent. When they say they definitely won't send one, she should keep playing the record <span class="line-through"> 'Clare is going to give birth at home and we look forward to seeing a midwife.' Needless to say, you should not be involved in this exchange </span> you have enough to do! And we recommend that someone other than your partner be the spokesperson, so that your partner can concentrate on you. At no time should your advocate say, 'Okay' or 'I understand' or try to reason with the person on the phone. Just keep playing the record.
   3. Don't think of it as preparing yourself for a fight; think of it as preparing not to fight by being clear about your position and having support to keep strong in that position. 

My doula colleague and I have been successful with this technique many times, even when they are absolutely insisting they will not send someone. The only time it wasn't successful was when a close family member did the advocating -- and that person was very concerned about there not being a midwife. None of the couples who chose not to have another supporter with them chose to stay at home when told they had to come to hospital. When you think about it, that's a lot of pressure for a dad-to-be to be under in such a situation.

Shawn
Norwich Birth Group -- www.norwichbirthgroup.co.uk

CaptainSexypantsMcFantastic · 11/12/2011 14:16

Pfft stop panicking. Baby will be here before half 4 ;) (I'm keeping my bet at 16:12 so you'll be cutting it fine but I doubt the midwife would be able to just abandon you)

I can't believe they've left such gaping holes in their homebirth cover, surely they have no choice but to sort something out. What happened to every woman having the right to a homebirth etc etc? Don't let this stress you out. You will be fine, they will sort something, this is not your concern. You just focus on birthing your baby, let them deal with everything else, it's their job x

Sparklingbaubles · 11/12/2011 14:17

I have started to think it may be before half 4 too.

latrucha · 11/12/2011 14:18

IME (not personal but of friends) if a woman is past a certain point to make the journey, the MW is not going to leave or make you take a journey you can't do.

ZhenTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly · 11/12/2011 14:20

Oh and my midwife stayed past her hours at the hospital with me when DD was born so I doubt this MW would leave you anyway if things were close.

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 11/12/2011 14:21

stop thinking about cover and focus on havig your baby.
the rest will sort itself out.

Dance it really helps!

CupAndSorcery · 11/12/2011 14:22

Can't the midwife just stay or am i being naive?

Original poster

nickelbabe · 11/12/2011 14:23

we're okay, now, i think!
there's a MW who turned up, who actually goes to the other church in our benefice!
she's due to finish at 4, but has agreed to stay on because she knows me
they've found a MW who's on between 4 and 8, and my MW friend has agreed to be on stand-by (obv as long as her supervisor is okay with it) - she'll be the 2nd MW if she's needed.

phew.
I was panicking so much.
apparently my BP is now up - it was 80 earlier and now it's 85, but that because a) of the worry, and b) because I'm not actually getting long enough between contractions (and low level whingeing) to go back down to normal.
I don't think it's a probelm, but MW1 is worrying and keeping an eye on it.

It's all still very surreal, and things are moving, but I still can't imagine being at a stage where a baby will come out of my underbeneathsies!

OP posts:

pixiestix · 11/12/2011 14:25

Its all going to be fine. Now stop worrying woman!!!

ZhenTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly · 11/12/2011 14:25

Ok now that is sorted, breathe and relax into those contractions. Enough stress, now where is your DH with that piano?

andSothisisChristmasme · 11/12/2011 14:26

So glad it's all sorted, you're doing so well! I am that you can still post with such clarity.

Go nickelbabe!

travellingwilbury · 11/12/2011 14:26

That is all really just

Been lurking since the first thread and I am so pleased for you that you are getting your HB

MrsSnaplegs · 11/12/2011 14:27

Oh Nickle you sound as if you are doing really well - believe me none of us believe a baby can come out of there until it does but it can and ISBN will today
As for MW cover - I used to be a nurse and if I was with a pt who couldn't be left I wouldn't go until someone else arrived - I doubt they will leave you on your ownsome now (obviously not completely alone with Dh, 2 friends and thousands a few mumsnetters

Tangle · 11/12/2011 14:27

Can't help thinking that stressing you might be told to get thee to hospital probably won't have been helping your BP either.

Try not to stress about it - especially now there's a Plan - but it really isn't your problem. The PCT could also call on an IM if they really can't find anyone (and there are at least 3 within about 25 miles of you).

And breathe...