My gas and air is coming this week but my 'window of opportunity' for homebirth doesn't start until the 23rd....

[Ledodgy]

If I happen to go into labour this week and have got my gas and air is there anything to stop me ringing and telling them i'm staying put rather than go to hospital? I'm 37+1 today or is it just a case of resources that will mean i'll have to go to hospital before the window if there's no mw available or no ambulance on standby?

cross your legs! i was 37+2 or somethings and had oxygen etc but was not allowed. god was i pissed off rewriting my birth plan between contractions and hastily packing a bag.

oh and good luck hope you have a lovely homebirth.

It's silly isn't it? I reckon they should make your window from 37 weeks because that's classed as term. Hopefully I won't go until after 23rd anyway but was just wondering.

ty.

There's a section on homebirths before 38 weeks on the homebirth website Basically, the risk is that the baby may be slightly more likely to have breathing problems requiring oxygen, but the risk is small and you're within your rights to insist on staying at home. Good Luck!

Thanks Daisy.

I was only "allowed" a homebirth between 39-42 weeks as thats all they allocate cover for. Like you I had the HB kit and oxygen arrive well it was before Christmas and DD2 was due 14th January so about 37 weeks. Wondered what would happen if I was 38+6 weeks and a few hours?

Anyway you won't want to hear this but I ended up at 41+5 weeks.

37 wks + here, which is a good job as ds1 had been bang on 37 wks. And when ds2 started arriving at 36+6 I wasn't going anywhere.

You are allowed to do what you damn well wanta s longa s it doesn't involve someone acting as MW on your behalf (DH's etc delivering in an emergency exempted of course). beyond that, do the 'I am in labour and I require a midwife to assist me at home as I will not be coming into hospital' thing, said calmly to the MW on phone on loop.

But 'Allowed' and 'have to'- I used those phrases on a homebirth thread and was gently directed towards the AIMs website who pointed out we are alla dults who can make sensible choices, and we are allowed to labour as we wish! (and I followed their advice and got permission for a homebirth, albeit not for a while yet)

37 weeks here, thank heavens, as I was 37+5.

Depends if there is a midwife on call for you really.

In my area oncall starts at 38 weeks - we tried 37 but no women delivered at home before 38 weeks that the pressure was taken off the oncall midwives by reverting back to 38 weeks.

We do not have midwives oncall outwith homebirth commitment so there would be no midwife available to go to a woman at home who went into labour before 38 weeks unfortunately. Ambulances are sent tio unplanned homebirths and the women are transferred to hospital.

Don't know what the set-up is where you are Ledodgy.

Ty sorry only just remembered to check this thread again. Mears the set up here sounds like it's the same as your set up. Anyway dp and his dad are doing our bathroom atm and are being very slow, it will deffo not be finished until the weekend so if I do go into labour this week i'm going to hospital and intend to stay there until my house is sorted!