Allowing to be talked out of HB by consultant due perceived increased risk. Hel

[4athomeand1cooking]

This is 5th birth. All previous births have been straight forward (except first which was simple back to back and vontouse)

Never had a pph, hypnobirthed really well Etc.

So this time I thought I would really like to try a HB. Especially as 3 of my children have birthdays within 2 weeks of each other and this one is due bang smack in the middle. I also transition extremely fast (last time 2 minutes for second stage) and family live a fair way away.

At my consultant appointment, he highlighted the risk of pph with a 5th labour. When I mentioned my concerns about making it into hospital he advocated induction. I know this increases risks of pph but he said at least I will be in the right place.

I am just having a bit of confidence lapse and want honest opinions. I was planning on sharing the experience with my children but this has got me thinking of all the things that could go wrong and it would be awful if this happened in front of them, especially if it was one of their birthdays.

Don't let yourself be frightened. I had my second baby at home and it was great. My first was a hospital delivery - baby facing wrong way, very long labour, epidural, drugs to accelerate labour, episiotomy etc. and I was advised against going for a home birth second time round, and given all the dire warnings you have been given. I had a lovely, supportive midwife though and she was happy to deliver me at home. It all went very well even though my son was big (10lb 4oz!) and it was a much better experience than my hospital delivery. As long as your pregnancy goes smoothy and there's nothing to suggest you will have problems, then a home birth is very safe. Being speedy from transition, you would risk having baby in the car anyway! Far better to be settled at home with proper midwife support than rushing to hospital and giving birth by the side of the road. Also, it's much better NOT to be induced as induction makes for harder labour with more risk of complications. Remember, the consultant deals with high risk deliveries every day - of course he's going to assume the worse, because that's all he knows. If your community midwife is happy to deliver you, go for it! Hope this helps.

Well you can always transfer to hospital if necessary and with all that experience who the heck IS suitable for a home birth if you're not? Don't the midwives have the drugs for a bleed mine did? My consultant grudgingly told me he would 'allow' me to have a home birth at my final scan . I ended up transferring in the end but was glad to be at home with pool etc for most of it. Stand your ground.

Yes, the risks increase, but having done some research it gous from 0.01 to 0.02%. I had my 5 th baby at home, I'm having this baby at home. If you haven't had problems previously there is no reason to suspect you will this time.

Well... You asked for honest opinions, and everyone so far has been positive so I'll sort of give the other side...

Don't have the dc there - even if its all fine, normal labour things can be scary for them (seeing mum in pain, doing a poo, mooing , blood, etc). Plus you really don't want to have to make sure they're alright when you're in labour. Make sure they know the basics about what'll happen just in case it's really quick but otherwise: " muuum, I'm thirsty", "muuum, he's not letting me have a go on the iPad/ds/whatever", "Muuum can you wipe my bum" (this may just be my kids, but do you really need that in labour?!). That doesn't necessarily rule out a hb though.

Plus... Although I had 3 ultra straightforward births and 2 were hb (fab never even torn, never mind anything else going wrong), with dc4 I had a massive bleed with no warning, no risk factors, nothing. Unfortunately it was before I even went into labour so it was more risky for both of us and he died. There was no reason for me to be in hospital, but even if I had been the odds wouldn't have been very good. I'm not saying this as anti hb, but just to illustrate that when things go wrong, it can happen to anyone, whatever your history; pg and birth is risky whatever you do, and if things do go wrong it's you that has to live with it - the consultant or mw to a much lesser degree. Whilst I'm sure mine were upset as they were very caring,I suspect they haven't thought about him every second of every day for the last 5 months. This is why it's your decision and not theirs. Don't be pushed into the wrong decision for you and your family, but equally make sure your decision is based on facts about your risks, and your feelings on how you would best cope (including in the situation where things go wrong - either because you don't make it to hospital in time -which was my fear as I wouldn't have with one of mine - or because you're induced and have complications that result, or because you have a hb and things go wrong that might not have in a hospital).

It's a hard decision I think, and I weighed it up individually each time. I hope I don't magnify your fears, as its far more likely that everything will be fine than otherwise, whatever you choose. I just felt that hb was right for the ones I had, and actually despite having now had the worst happen I stand by those decisions. How I'd feel if this had happened during labour whilst at home I'm not sure - but I think it probably wouldn't change things as what went wrong wasn't predictable or likely to be better if in hospital. Sorry for the essay and the best of luck whatever you decide.

So sorry for yur loss Blueskyandrain

I am 35 wks with my 6th baby. I have had 4 hb's all quite fast, and want another this time, at my booking mw said I had to be referred to a consultant for the same reasons as you.

Consultant, signed me off to go to the mw led unit, as I have had very straightforward labours and pregnancies, as long as I agreed to have the injection in the 3rd stage of labour (which I have previously refused)

Then at my 28 wk appt, my mw said that once I had been signed off it was up to me where I give birth, and said she would be more than happy for me to have another home birth. In her words I would be safer at home than in the car on the way to the hospital!

She also said I must not refuse the injection, and would have given me iron if my levels had dropped lower than 10.5 (although she hasn't as they are currently 11.8), as iron levels are imporatnt in preventing blood loss.

I would agree with what Blueskyandrain says about your other dc though.....depending on their ages. mine have always been around with the other births (although not necessarily in the midst of the goings on), but I have a big gap this time, (my dc are 16, 13, 12 7 and 6) but I think this time I am concious of them being older and understanding more of whats happening, and do not want to be worrying about them - i want to concentrate on me.

Good Luck with whatever you decide xx

Thank you for your replies and sorry for your loss Blueskyandrain

My local hospital has a lovely MW led unit which I would consider as an alternative but for some reason I have to jump through more hoops to get their agreement than I do the HB. I think this is because I would have to labour spontaneously and no-one wants that.

The consultant does not want me to go into labour naturally, My 3rd DC, I was induced but labour took 15 minutes.

With DC4 I went in for a routine check as 3rd was so quick and they found I was 5cm and kept me in, I kept dilating and began to feel tightenings (I was hypnobirthing through these which probably helped) but had I been at home I would have assumed these were early labour as they were 10 minutes apart and not unlike Braxton hicks.

I was drinking tea and eating biscuits when the MW suggested I get in the pool. I jumped in and felt baby drop and he was born in 2 minutes.

I agree it would probably be risky going into labour naturally.

From a completely selfish point of view an induction can be scheduled to fit around birthdays