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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Private Midwife VS NHS (Homerton, London)

53 replies

noodlekitkat · 12/03/2006 18:50

Hi Everyone,

I'm having my first child now at 40 and trying to decide between an NHS homebirth or a private midwife birth centre or home birth?

Grateful for any advice,

xx NKK

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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motherinferior · 12/03/2006 21:14

My community team was attached to my GP's surgery. I think otherwise you can ring the community team at the hospital. Which is, I remember, where it all gets horribly confusing: many commiserations. Can you ask, at your next midwife appointment, who would attend you from the team at a home birth? My second team had a 'meet the midwives' session, but it was for week 38 and I'd had the baby by then.

Original poster

noodlekitkat · 12/03/2006 21:15

Ah HC, so am I. I go to the market often also.

Are there any good schools in the area yet? I used to have friends with children a few years back but they all fled :-(.

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hoxtonchick · 12/03/2006 21:17

gayhurst has a good reputation, queensbridge is improving. will let you know in sept when ds starts school!

Original poster

noodlekitkat · 12/03/2006 21:21

Lockets - yes I will be proactive with them on my next visit. Good idea.

I take it you were not put off home birth despite your hospital's reluctance?

It sounds great but then I am so hopelessly ignorant in all things baby. I work in computing where you just delete things you find unsatisfactory. I'm useless in real world matters!

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Original poster

noodlekitkat · 12/03/2006 21:23

HC: Well that's great news. I really don't want to move. Did you go to any prenatal groups in the area?

OP posts:

hoxtonchick · 12/03/2006 21:27

we went to bridget baker in forest road. a bit flaky but a good way to meet people! that place on broadway market (holistic health?) does antenatal yoga i think. and there's bound to be some surestart stuff around.

Original poster

noodlekitkat · 12/03/2006 21:32

HC: thanks for your suggestions. I could do with some ante natal yoga. My current gym doesn't offer any baby oriented classes.

Well I'm off to bed I think. How sad am I, it is only 9:30...

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NotQuiteCockney · 12/03/2006 21:35

Oh, I liked Bridget Baker, we went there.

Our midwife was a godsend. She did all antenatal care, took bloods etc etc. Came along for any tricky scans or hospital appointments (took my blood once in the hospital, too, as the midwife had gone through the vein on one side, and I didn't want to give her the other arm. Particularly as I am easy to get blood from, but needlephobic!). Was there for both sections, and postnatal care.

If I could have been guaranteed our local community midwife for a home birth, I wouldn't have had a private midwife, but the deal here for home births was, you get some random person. It's better to have someone you know.

(It was also very nice to have antenatal care at home, when I wanted it. DH attended nearly all my appointments for DS1!)

NotQuiteCockney · 12/03/2006 21:36

Oh, there's antenatal yoga at Holistic Health in the Broadway. But the teacher has changed since I went, so no idea what it's like. It's close to you, though.

krabbiepatty · 13/03/2006 13:42

noodlekitkat, just seen this. funnily enough I have signed up with CF's Birth Centre but may well end up haviing my baby at the Homerton with the BC midwife coming with as Tooting is a long way to go. I found I wasn't getting much joined up care between my clinic and the Homerton and wanted someone I could talk to - so whilst the BC has cost a mint, it has felt worth it to me (so far anyway...)

dinosaur · 13/03/2006 15:33

I had all three of my DSs at the Homerton, in 1999, 2001 and 2004.

I had a doula for birth no. 3, which I have to say was a great help. I wish I'd had one for the other births too!

Original poster

noodlekitkat · 14/03/2006 15:27

Thanks Krabbie and Dinosaur,

I am thinking of paying BC for a homebirth/homerton if nec. as I am worried about the haul to Tooting also. Glad you think it is worth the wedge.

I am looking at my finances now to see if we can take the strain....

I like the idea that I am hiring a team of midwives so that there will be a back up midwife also if one of them falls ill.

Did either of you consider a home birth btw? I am leaning this way at the moment but will see what nature has in store as I go along..

xx00
N

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dinosaur · 14/03/2006 15:37

noodlekitkat, my DS1's birth was such a disaster that I was not allowed even to consider homebirths for DS2 or DS3 - or even to labour in the pool.

hoxtonchick · 14/03/2006 15:38

how many weeks are you nkk? have you got time to think about your options?

Original poster

noodlekitkat · 14/03/2006 18:17

HC: I am 16 weeks, just wondering what real people think (as opposed to the pregnancy books)!

Dinosaur: gosh I'm sorry to hear this. glad you had 3 successes though!

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NotQuiteCockney · 14/03/2006 18:23

nkk, other midwives are (or were, anyway) lots cheaper than CF. I think it was a difference of 30% or so.

And yeah, when you book with a single midwife, you only have her. But whenever my midwife was away or busy, she had other midwives (friends of hers) on call. I met a few of them, by chance, and they were all lovely.

She never booked too many patients in a month, and never took a holiday when any of her patients were due to pop, or nearly due.

I think she had missed a grand total of two of her clients' births. Both third babies, both just really really fast. She showed up to deliver the placenta.

So yeah, if finances are an issue, I'd look to someone other than CF. (Or a doula, as a much cheaper alternative. That still gives you someone who knows about birth and knows you, who's there to fight in your corner and/or give you support.)

Original poster

noodlekitkat · 14/03/2006 18:30

There is a woman who is listed as a local midwife but I am not sure how I would find out any independant opinions on her?

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NotQuiteCockney · 14/03/2006 19:14

You can ask to speak to old clients? You can do a websearch?

Actually, the home birth group people should know any local independent midwives.

(I'm assuming this person doesn't have the initials AH? If so, she might be my old midwife, who is great.)

Original poster

noodlekitkat · 14/03/2006 19:20

No EH!

The homebirth group woman has not got back to me as yet. I will look into this again....

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NotQuiteCockney · 14/03/2006 19:24

What area does this woman cover? Is she actually located in Hackney?

I am mates with the home birth woman for Tower Hamlets, so can ask her for a quick opinion. If you want. Email me on "[email protected]" (remove "_removethis") and we can talk more openly.

NotQuiteCockney · 14/03/2006 19:25

sorry, there are .s between stop, nicking, my and chips.

So it's [email protected]

pupuce · 14/03/2006 19:33

Not much to add except that if you do want a doula - better get your skates on as they get book very early in London. They cost anything from expenses only to £600 for the whole package.

Original poster

noodlekitkat · 14/03/2006 19:40

NQC: Have just mailed you.

Pupuce: I think I would rather have a midwife, but maybe I should look into this also.

OP posts:

NotQuiteCockney · 14/03/2006 19:56

NKK: have just answered. She sounds great, I had heard of her before, and have spoken to someone this evening, who had met her, a few years back, through the usual circuits, and said good things.

Original poster

noodlekitkat · 14/03/2006 20:04

Well I have emailled her now so will see if she gets back to me.

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