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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Denied a homebirth when in labour?

205 replies

PrettyCandles · 18/10/2006 15:06

Has this happened to anybody else?

When I phoned up to say that I was in labour and was booked for a homebirth, they could not find a midwife to come to me and I had to go to the hospital. I know that in theory that can happen, but have never heard of it happening before. Even the midwife who booked me for homebirth a couple of weeks ealier said that it had never happened as far as she was aware.

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Quadrofiendia · 18/10/2006 15:11

I think if you refuse to go in, which is your right, they have to send a midwife, not sure but I think its aginst some kind of regs if a women knowingly gives birth without one (not like in emergency iyswim)

ingym23 · 18/10/2006 17:43

Isn't this kind of selfish? If there is no midwife available, surely there is no midwife available?

I have heard of women in labour in hospital having their midwives run between them and other women, so isn't it extremely selfish to say "I want a homebirth so you have to send a midwife", so in effect depriving other women of a midwife in the process?

Not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers here, but just want to know others' thoughts!

lulumama · 18/10/2006 17:52

if you are booked for a homebirth- it is not selfish!

why should she have to go into hospital!!

the woman giving birth is not depriving anyone of a midwife -
its the NHS for slashing posts & funding and hospital trust closing midwifery led units, so if you don't want an obstetric led delivery, homebirth is the only option

and for many it is the best !

lulumama · 18/10/2006 17:54

the trusts have a duty to provide a midwife for a home birth - if they agree to it..then they must provide it...saying one isn't available is simply not good enough..

i have heard of a midwife being sacked for attending a home birth against the wishes of the trust...maternity services are diabolical in too many areas....

TheBlonde · 18/10/2006 17:56

Not heard of it happening to anyone else

PC - have you complained?

lulumama · 18/10/2006 18:01

good point...contact AIMS too...

kittythescarygoblin · 18/10/2006 18:10

They tried that one with me inDec last year. Luckily I had been warned and I told them I was not going in to hospital. Sure enough 2 midwives were found. It is their legal responsibility to provide you with care even if it means calling out a supervisor.

ingym23 · 18/10/2006 18:30

But if there is no midwife....do they conjure them out of thin air?

Or is there a secret supply of midwives out there for those wanting a home birth?

lulumama · 18/10/2006 18:33

the point is there should be a midwife!

and that is not the women in labour fault if the staffing is so short - not due to the women in labour but due to hospitals decision making.....

if the woman has given the hospital several months notice, there should be steps taken to ensure the cover....

how awful to have been labouring at home, all prepared , then to have to go to hospital

why punish the women for the wrong decisions made in the NHS?

2Babies0Bumps · 18/10/2006 18:38

i had waterbirth with ds1 and wanted same with ds2.
when i got to hosp they said no way- not enough midwives. i got hysterical, was about 7cms, and told dh to ring my mw who came to hosp pronto!!- bless her.
selfish, it was a sat night but she had nothing better on she said.
if it was my homebirth i would prob stay at home...

lulumama · 18/10/2006 18:39

it is a little unfair to say the least to ask all women to give birth in hospital because of a nationwide shortage of midwives.....

2Babies0Bumps · 18/10/2006 18:41

birth is truly amazing. if you want it at home you should be allowed to, like me in the pool.
you may never get another chance.

PollyParanoia · 18/10/2006 18:41

I think selfish is the wrong word, but I do agree with ingym that it seems a little unfair that someone at home should be afforded the sort of one to one (and two to one) care that every woman deserves but in hospital nobody gets. If a mw attending a homebirth means that the ratio becomes even worse in hospital (say three to one), then is that right?
All v difficult as of course nobody should be denied the care they need.
Hmmm Pol

lulumama · 18/10/2006 18:44

i do agree polly-- but again -

why should women's birth choices be curtailed due to complex issues beyond their control.....

everyone can ask for a home birth....its just not as common as it used to be....! but it is a valid and safe choice..

morocco · 18/10/2006 18:45

although I do agree that if you've arranged to have a midwife at home then in an ideal world one would be available, if you are told one the day there is no midwife available then you insist on your right to stay at home and 2 midwives are found for you, I would imagine that means they have been taken off the labour wards. It was certainly the case for my sil who found the hospital very understaffed when she went in cos that had happened- so she suffered instead from a lack of personal care and attention. I'm not saying you shouldn't insist, but that is the implication for other people at the hospital.

lulumama · 18/10/2006 18:46

you shouldn;t have to think about the implications for anyone else when you are in labour...it is the concern of the PCT in your area!!!

so someone who wanted a home birth should up and go to hospital as a purely selfless act to ensure everyone else has the care that should be given anyway?

2Babies0Bumps · 18/10/2006 18:47

in the thick of things, to be fair, i dont think you will be thinking about other people. selfish as that is, if we are all honest, you are only thinking of getting your baby out... fast and how you feel most comfortable.

jasnDISMemBERED · 18/10/2006 18:49

I had planned a home birth, but there were no midwives available whenI called and they asked me to go in to be checked and then come home for the birth.
In the end I had a short labour, and was too close to delivery to go home again, then had complications and ended up with a crash c sec.

The home birth coordinator came to see me while I was still in labour to apologise that I hadn't been able to get my home birth, but as it turned out, the baby may not have survived the journey to hospital, I am obviously very grateful for their staff shortage.

lulumama · 18/10/2006 18:51

absolutely

what if you were in hospital and were labouring...and told..get out of the pool, we don;t have enough, it;s someone elses turn!

you can;t have an epdiural as it will prevent someone else getting theirs and they don;t want to wait

go home and have your baby there...we've no room for you

you can;t have your emergency c.s now, someone else wants theirs now....you'll have to push the baby out...

no-one should have to make decisions in labour that are for the benefit of anyone except themselves and their baby...that's not selfish..that's human nature

morocco · 18/10/2006 18:52

it's a shame we have to 'fight' over getting a mw . I guess we should all be writing to our mp's about it rather than complaining on mn. I wouldn't do it if I'd been told the hospital didn't have enough staff to cover all the women there but that's my personal choice.

2Babies0Bumps · 18/10/2006 18:52

try telling a lady in transition any of those things!!

lulumama · 18/10/2006 18:53

i do agree morocco..am hoping to get involved in our local PCTs maternity liasion service.....somehow!

it is the women and babies who suffer ultimately...

SenoraPostrophe · 18/10/2006 18:53

ffs lulumama - what is the trust supposed to do, create a midwife out of thin air? if there isn't one there isn't one. Or perhaps they should compel the midwife who called in sick to attend? or recall the one who went on holiday? or, as you seem to be suggesting, should they take the midwife who is already dealing with 4 births at the hospital and let those women in the hospital give birth unattended?

home birth on the nhs is a priviledge. sometimes it doesn't work out for whatever reason, in which case you have to go to hospital. stamping your feet about it at the time would be very selfish indeed.

TheBlonde · 18/10/2006 18:54

I think what is supposed to happen is that the PCT gets some extra agency midwives to cover the hospital gaps
It's not as if they don't get notice of the likely number of labouring women

Lulu - during labour I was told I couldn't have an epidural because they didn't have enough staff

lulumama · 18/10/2006 18:55

that's the point 2babies---! exactly

if someone had asked me in transition to even open my hours i would have gone ballistic!

nevermind make a decision for the greater good!

not a one of us would agree to any of those things in labour...so why have to go to hospital?

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