Homebirth at age 40+ Stories please... (I've been told the consultant 'may' allow it)

[ThereIsNoEleventeen]

I will just be 40 by my due date (I told the mw that I am a fit 40 year old but there doesn't seem to be a box for that...), I have been told that the consultant may allow a home-birth. We have a lovely home-birth team in my area too, I am really keen to have it as my first option.

I know a few ladies 40+ who have had lovely home-births with an independent midwife, that would be an option but I just can't take on the financial commitment (no matter how flexible they can be).

Has anyone had a successful NHS homebirth at 40?

I meant to add...this will be for DC number 4.

Have a look at www.homebirth.org.uk I am sure there will be some relevant stories. I think also you don't have to agree with the consultant, its your decision.

The consuktant doesn't choose - you do. None of this "allow" bollocks. Your body. Your baby.

*consultant - I'm so irritated on your behalf, I can't spell or type!

Haven't read any of the thread but just don't tell your consultant. No need to. Done that.

Allow??? Pah! Your body, your decision. Granted, make sure it's a carefully considered and well informed one first though.

When I was booked in a few years ago for DC2 I was booked in by the MW who is now one of the lead midwives for the home-birth team, she had a completely different attitude (super positive about home-birthing obv), I'd forgotten how different midwives can feel about home-births...I had a couple of the DC's with me for the booking in appointment (long story...) so I wasn't as on the ball as I usually am or else I would probably have been more annoyed too coconutring.

The midwife that I have just seen said that I need to wait until a certain amount of weeks before being referred to the home-birth team but I can't remember what she said. Perhaps I should just call the home-birth team directly? Their details are online...

I wouldn't make anyone aware of your choice just yet. You may have too many HCP trying to talk you out of it. Just smile and nod for the time being.

I had a home birth at 40+ and it was lovely (well, about as lovely as these things can be )

Initially sceptical, the MW came round to the idea as I was generally healthy. In the end she was on duty and delivered the baby.

It was a much better experience than the hospital birth I'd had earlier (though a HB wouldn't have been possible then).

I did a lot of research, was politely insistent but kept an open mind too.

I was just 40. It was a home VBAC. I wasn't slim and definitely not fit! I had 2 midwives, a doula and a birthing pool. It was a lovely experience. Magical.

I was a home birth team leader. I have no problems at all with fit 40 yearolds especially if they have previously had a normal delivery. I am much less anxious with a fit 40 year old than overweight 25 year old.

Another thing to look out for is policies that pressure to induce at term for anyone past 39! This is because of a small increase in stillbirth in older mothers at term (they says risk doubles but it is a doubling of an already small number).

We had a lovely home birth last year with a 43 year old first timer at 42 weeks exactly.

Lovely, that all sounds very positive. Will nod and smile for the time being...

Mayhew, may I ask how overweight people need to be for you to be anxious and the reason for the anxiety? I am just into the obese category I think (BMI 31) and would love a homebirth, do you think it's going to be a problem?

Take your decision after much speculation and all the best.

Women with a normal BMI (18-25) have a statistically higher rate of normal delivery without complications. As BMI goes up, especially above 35, the risk of slow labour, delay in second stage and haemmorrhage all increase. This is why midwife led birth centres usually have an upper BMI limit of 35.

The reasons for this are not entirely clear but it might be related to the increased adipose tissue interfering in the efficient action of labour hormones. This would be analogous to how it interferes with insulin efficiency and creates the conditions for type 2 and gestational diabetes.

That being said, I have delivered quite a few larger mothers at home without complications, so it is not a prediction that they will have a problem just an increased likelihood.

I just had a fantastic home VBAC for DC2, having turned 40 a few months ago. None of the MW or the consultant I saw said anything about my age being a factor (I saw the consultant because it was a VBAC). I am reasonably fit and have a normal BMI.

You have the right in law to have a home birth and your local NHS services have to support you in that to the best of their resources. It does not depend on your consultant's views! I would just say you want a homebirth and stay firm if anyone is sceptical. Perhaps just contact the home birth team yourself. You don't need to see the consultant if you don't want to.

Hopefully you won't need to argue very forcefully but check out www.birthrights.org.uk/ for more information on the legal position.