Home birth through the North Midd Hospital

[sjp74]

I've just been told that I may not be able to have a home birth as the hospital is understaffed so they've stopped offering this as an option.

I've already been told by the Whittington hospital that they can't offer me one as I am ever so slightly out of the area.

This seems ridiculous to me that I am unable to have a home birth in our capital city.

Does anyone have any advice they can offer me on how to make this happen?

Be stroppy! Its the squeaky wheels that get oiled. The local MSLS (maternity service liaison committee) should be interested. Also the local NCT branch may well have a home birth support group.

www.birthrights.org.uk/
This organisation gives good advice and also has useful factsheets.Other women have been effectively supported by them.

Also AIMS (Association for Improvements in Maternity Services) will advise and support.

This is an increasing problem after a previous period of improvement as London Hospitals come under the joint pressures of rising birthrate and falling budgets.

Homebirth is always at risk of being marginalised in any service under pressure.