Home birth denied?

[Spaceboundeminem]

I take olanzapine for psychosis and it can increase the risk of breathing difficulties after birth. My psychiatrist thinks I'll be denied a home birth. Any experience?

If you're in uk you can't be denied a home birth. They may strongly advise you against it though if risks. Check out www.homebirth.org.uk and AIMS x

Thank you very much.

You technically can't be denied medical care at home. But if they are very worried they may fulfil this obligation by sending you an ambulance. Do you know how the local midwives feel about your situation?

No it's still early days. It may seem to soon to be worrying but I'm worried I will miss carry so I am trying to focus on other things.

I have had a home birth whilst taking quetiapine, which is the same class of drug as olanzapine, along with other medication. Nobody so much as questioned it. This was with my second baby. My first was born in hospital and I was told that he would need to be observed for 12 hours in hospital...nobody came near us in that 12 hours, much less knew anything about the medication or what they were looking for.

Has your psychiatrist made a plan to taper your medication as you approach term, to minimise the risk of withdrawal? It can then be increased again immediately afterwards - of course, that might depend on the nature of your illness and balancing keeping you well, with minimising the risk of withdrawal in the baby - fo0r what it's worth, neither of the two who were born on quetiapine had any problems.

You are also at risk of having a much larger than average baby, which might affect your decision. My second was 10lb 5.

Is there a perinatal mental health team in your area? If so, I would ask to be referred to them as they will know much more about these issues than either a general psychiatrist or an obstetrician.

And it's true that you can't be denied a Home Birth. You can be advised but at the end of the day, if you decide to have the baby at home, midwives can't refuse to come out to you.

Have a look at the AIMS website, you cannot be denied a home birth if that's what you would like x