Midwife has just told me that because of previous big baby I should shelve my home birth and have this baby in hospital.... advice needed

[LaidbackinEngland]

Hi everyone. Hoping for some advice here.

I am 37 weeks pregnant with baby number 3.

DS1 (aged 10) was born in hospital with no problems - weighed 8lb 4 1/2oz

DS2 (aged 2.6) was born at home - mild shoulder dystocia - had 3rd degree tear which required hospital suturing but healed well.

Have been booked in for home birth since 20 weeks. Midwife has always been supportive of this and my geographical area encourages home births and has a good take up.

Have just had telephone call from my midwife saying that she has " spoken with her supervisor" and that the supervisor thinks that due to large size of DS2 I should go into hospital and give birth there.

My GLT was fine. No diabetes. BP fine. No indication that this baby is huge.

I asked :

1. What treatment would I have in hospital that I couldn't have at home if baby gets stuck ?

Answer - no different - both would use the McRoberts manouevre

1. Why the sudden change of heart ?

Answer - supervisors discussion - I need to be aware of all the risks !

I live 5 mins from the hospital and so presumably transfer to theatre from here would be almost as quick as from the maternity ward if required ?

I feel like I am being told that I am making a crap decision to have a home birth that may put my baby at risk. Don't know what to do - Any suggestions ?

I can't see any reason why you shouldn't go for your hb. How big was your ds2? I had had two big babies (8lb10 and 9lb3) and was encouraged by the midwives to hb with no3. I then had to have a fight with the consultant to actually sign me off for hb, as no3 was clearly going to be a biggie. But I got signed off in the end, due to both my persistence and the support of the midwives. Didn't hb in the end, but that's irrelevant. I do wonder whether your mws are confident, but the supervisor has other issues on her mind, such as staffing, rather than your best interests.

oh FGS! there have been a few threads like this ...what a shame

firstly , the royal college of obstetricians and gyneacologists do state that the McRoberts manouvre is the best and most effective way to deal with a shoulder dystocia..

and that is presuming the baby would get stuck..whihc is not a definite, even if it happened before

also, delivering on hands and knees can help

is this supervisor the head of midwifery? i would maybe request a meeting with her ..you can sit down, tell her you are aware of the risks, and are making an informed choice and therefore will be going ahead with the homebirth as planned

how big was DS2 ? if you have birthed 2 good sied babies, then there is no reason why you should not birth a third

i would have a read of Ina May Gaskins Guide to Chilbirth as there are some really encouraging birth stories re big babies and dystocia...

you are not making a crap decision, you know that you are not!

BTW, ds2 being a wopper didn't make any difference in the end, as his birth was actually easier, faster, and less damaging to me than either of his smaller siblings' had been!

hi,

my first was 9lbs and i tore badly, tho no shoulder dystocia

i wanted a homebirth and they stood in my way alot, they told me my iron level was too low (i insisted on a retest and it was fine) they told me my forst baby was 9lbs so this one would be at least 10, blah blah blah

in the end i persevered and gave birth in a pool, in my livingroom with NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER to a beautiful 7lb 11 baby! (predicted weight about 10lb4)

Lulu - DS2 was 10lb 4 oz - forgot to write it in my initial post - sorry !

I would dig my heels in but I'm a stroppy cow
You've had a big baby at home before, you know what to expect. Sounds like you have more experience and confidence in things then your midwife's supervisor.

so you birthed him, without a need for ventouse, forceps etc..ok you had a tear, but you can tear with any size baby

you sound like you trust your body to do this and there is no reason you cannot do this.....no reason that this baby will be bigger is there, or even the same weight? especaially if there is no reason to think this baby is even bigger!

Laidback, you sound confident in yourself about the home birth and I think you should stick to your guns. The mw should be working with you rather than imposing stuff on you.

My personal feeling is that you might well be less likely to tear or even to experience shoulder dystocia at home (sorry to mws if this is inaccurate, it's just what I've heard/read) because you will be able to work with the labour as you wish, without unnecessary interruptions, at the pace your body dictates. And as you've said, if a problem does arise, you can be transferred then.

Well if he was so big then he's prepared the way in any case, wo what's the big deal? Babies' sizes don't follow an arithmetical progession, and even so, if you've birhted a big baby before without proemblems then there's no reason not to suppose you can do it again.

Thanks for your speedy responses ! I feel a bit better already. I think I will phone the midwife later and say that I would like to continue with the homebirth and that if things aren't progressing during labout I will "consider" coming in to hospital. If the supervisor wants to meet with me or if I need her "clearance" - I will go and and be firm !

Laidback I've ranted a reply on the March thread

Laidback, you don't need 'clearance'. (Stomps away even madder than before)

Thanks kitty !