Homebirth baby No:6

[Shellywelly1973]

Im expecting my 6th baby. I've given birth 3times in hospital. Twice in a birthing center and i would like this baby to be born at home.

I contacted the hospital i intended to use but was quite surprised by the head of midwifes. She said i wouldn't know until i was 36 weeks after a home visit to check my home if a homebirth was possible. She also said i would need to have the consultants agreement...i wasn't even planning on seeing a consultant!

No health issues, no complications with previous births or pregnancies. So Im expecting this pregnancy to be the same. Has anyone else had this experience? Im in London.

yes, but you've had 5 previous babies, so depending on your age and other circumstances you might be in a low-mid risk category already.

no point listing my pregnancy & birth complications, with my 6th we had to be observed to say the least, so had no choice, ever (plus love epidurals!!!) and that makes me slightly biased and pro-hospitals.

quite apart from that I can't say I'd approve a home-birth for 1 single reason: after 5 pregnancies & births the uterus muscles are getting quite worn out, so the risk of the womb's not contracting down after the birth is probably significant enough for the midwife/consultant to try and talk you out of it!
if the uterus doesn't contract down after the placenta is out, there's a bleeding wound the size of a dinner plate, and the only sure way to stop you from bleeding to death is an emergency hysterectomy...

it's one of those things that's probably quite rare, but the results can be catastrophic - even if I had a choice to give birth at home I'd be not choosing to, despite living only 10 mins away from the hospital. but that's me. (total wuss...))

best to be open-minded, but if you want a home-birth insist on it!
after you spoke to the consultant you'll have a better idea of how your care can be handled and if everything is good and well they should support you and give you all the info and practical help you need to have a happy healthy baby!

Hi Shelly and congrats. I think as a mum of 5 you are classed as a grand multiparous mother which means you've had more than 5 pregnancies. This means risks are increased for certain things like bleed post partum etc. someone qualified might come along but as a very pro homebirther myself (one fine, one transfer which was also fine) I'd research carefully the risks before a decision. Maybe a more detailed chat with the midwife to find out how they classify risks etc??

You have a right to insist on a homebirth if you want one. When you are dealing with midwives/obstetricians they should provide you with advice, not instructions so the one you spoke to would have already lost any credability with me. Homebirth.org is an excellent resource for helping you assess the risks and benefits of a homebirth. Don't be afraid to be assertive if you need to.

My SIL was told something very similar when first pregnant with no 6. She panicked, thinking she wouldn't be allowed a homebirth.

Actually, it was all very simple and the consultant was happy for it to happen.

Gather information to show you understand potential risks but want to go ahead, and speak to the consultant.

At the end of the day you can insist, and there are groups who can help you with that, but it might not come to that.

OP, take a look at Angela Horn's Homebirth site. Its very informative about loads of issues and being a sixth baby is on there. Angela Horn had five babies at home.

Here is the Angela Horn website - www.homebirth.org.uk/, which I think is the same one referred to by Notmyidea too.

I've looked at it before as it had some really useful and encouraging info on there regarding Hb levels and also being an older mum (I'm 41 and hoping to have a HB in the next few days, and my iron levels have been an issue at some points of the pregnancy). There are also some great birth stories which are encouraging to read.

I didn't have a home visit until I was 37+5, but had had quite a few discussions with MWs and docs before then about it. I think for most people, there is no question about whether the home is suitable, it is more a case of what the risks are for the mother. In my case, HB will hopefully go ahead as planned, but once I get past 40+4, I will have to consider induction as an alternative.

Good luck OP - hope you get the birth you want!

Thanks for the replys & links.

I find it so strange that anyone would want to give birth in a hospital!

I used to think like some of the people who replied but when i was pregnant with my 4th dc i realised being in hospital dosn't guarantee good care. I also became incredibly stressed about the birth. I started to research ways to handle my fear&came across hypnobirthing. I ended up having a waterbirth in a birth center, it was probably the most liberating experience of my life!

I might have had 5 babies but Im well, very active & physically fit. With no previous complications during births or pregnancies. Unless this pregnancy is very different to the others, i will be having a homebirth.

You don't need a home visit.

You don't need to get a consultant to ok it.

You don't have to see a consultant.

I don't intend to!!!

Thanks.

Your Head of Midwives sounds a bit of a dinosaur. I am an NHS homebirth mw in London. You do not need a consultants permission to birth at home. You don't need anyones. And inspecting your house! Pfft. However, with a 6th child there is a small increased risk of PPH (if you have never had one before), due to the uterus having done a lot of work over the years and might have lost its contractile efficiency.This can also cause labour to be longer?.. The other problem with a well worked womb is that it might be less good at lining the baby up for an efficient delivery, so awkward presentations can happen which sometimes need cs. Very annoying.

In our area, for women in your situation, we suggest (not order!)
: syntometrine to ensure the womb stays well contracted for the critical few hours after the birth. There is a tendency for them to relax in high parity women even if the placenta came out nicely by itself.
: an iv cannula in the hand for rapid access to treatment in case of PPH
: midwives carry misoprostil, a backup drug to control heavy bleeding.

If you have any aggro. Ask to speak to a supervisor of midwives for support in achieving the birth you want.

Thankyou mayhew!

You've answered my question in relating to managing pph, i had read somewhere about managing pph at a hb. I was planning on having a medically managed 3rd stage this time to reduce the risk of pph, though i didn't with no:4&5.

I know people/family will consider me mad for having a homebirth but Im well not stupid& should any problems arise i will go to the hospital.

Its just i don't see giving birth as a medically managed event as long as long as the mother & baby are well.

Im of the view that I've done this 5 times, my first dc is now 24, i know myself & i wouldn't put this baby at any risk. I will have every test available. I will listen to all the HCP's & research hb until I've read all that can be read... But ultimately its my choice.

Thanks again, i appreciate your replys.

Excuse typos-Im on my mobile.