A little abckground:
ds1 was a bad birth ir ecognise, eclampsia and IUGR but I have since gone on to have 2 perfectly normal deliveries, both in MW led units and both as smooth as possible. Someret had no problem with me registering for MW led care as longa s (with ds2) I changed if there was a problem; with ds3 we had a homebirth booked and that was only cancelled due to electrivity cuts in my village!
This hospital however (newport) are saying that not only can I noy ahev a homebirth, I can't even have MW led care and I have to see the consultant every fortnight from 20 weeks.
I am not old- 34.
This presents me with huge problmes as two of my boys have ASD, and we have no family close by so if I went into labour and had to transfer to hospital quickly (being a 4th baby and Dh working away from here so often it can take 901 minutes for him to be tracked down and return) Ic ouldn't just pass the boys to a randomneighboyur, they would have to go into Social Services care, None of the boys hae had contact with SS, bar one disability assessment a few years back- ds3 isn't even on their books. Also, the respite care team are unlikely to be here very quickly, so if labour progresses quicklya s with ds3 (about an hour from being certain I was in labour to admission at 5cm dilated) they'd be unlikely to find a carer able to take 3 children, and I would most likely end up having an unplanned homebirth, which has to be more risky than a planned one surely?
I have beensummoned to a meeting with a Consultant soon, but have been ordered in no uncertain terms that I have to do what I am told!! I don't, do I?
Clearly if there's a medical reason to go into hospital I would immediately go, and with DS1 I had notice of every admission and then could arrange for Mum to come up on the train, or Dh to make the 2 hour return journey down there (family dont drive). If an emergency arose during albour Dh would have ahd a substantially longer chance toa rrive ehre and I would have to go in alone- actually something I dread as my first birth involved them nearly killing mea nd ds1, but hey ho .
Another 'minor' issue for me is that I ahve a severe casein (in milk) reaction that led to the hospitals before not feeding me when I was in, for ds3 he was born at 3am and it was 1pm before they could provide anyting to eat other than milky cereal.
Advice please? every site I read says they can't make me go in, but the MW says they can and will.