Overdue homebirth

[Badassbreastfeeder85]

How late are you allowed to go and still be able to have a home/water birth?

Last I knew... You have a right to be attended wherever you go into labour. There isn't a "will they let you" question. You might be going against medical advice, is the dilemma. But they can't force you to go to hospital without your consent.

When I had my youngest, local policy was to admit for induction, every woman at 40+10. I cancelled my 37 week appt with consultant just to avoid this policy. So effectively their policy would have been 40+10 at latest for homebirth (finish not start). I don't know what policy might be now.

There is no 'allow'.

You have the right to birth wherever you want, they can advise you not to as it's outside of their policy but you can still have a home birth.

Keep all your midwives in the loop, let them know it's important to you. They have to inform you of any risks, which can feel like them trying to persuade you not to, but they just have to make sure they've told you.

All being well with the pregnancy, they will just put you down as 'birthing outside guidelines' and off you go.

Thank you, this is my 2nd and I felt presured into an induction with my first,which failed my waters went naturally at 42 but due to being late i wasn't allowed to do a single thing in my birth plan,I'm hoping to have more control this time,another thing they've said is I can't go into the pool until ive been checked and I'm 5cm,problem is I don't want vaginal exams so wondering how to navigate this as don't want to be pressured into an intimate exam I don't want

My daughter's due date was the 26/1 and she was born at home on the 10/2.
For the last week I had to go to hospital daily to have her heart rate checked.
All the best

@Badassbreastfeeder85 the ‘rule’ with the water is due to it possibly slowing labour down so they like you to be in established labour first. I also refused checks but I think it’s fairly obvious when you’re going through transition! You’ll know your own body and the midwives are trained to spot the signs themselves also. I’ve had two home births - the second ended up being unassisted as it progressed very quickly but both were beautiful in their own way. I knew 100% when I transitioned with my second! Good luck, I hope you get the birth of your dreams x

I HIGHLY recommend you join ‘Ten Month Mammas’ on FB and ‘Home Birth Support Group UK’ for advice and to read the stories of countless women who have had a homebirth when ‘overdue’. Unfortunately, unless you have a very supportive home birth NHS midwife, it is very difficult to fight against the system for a homebirth in the UK once you go 40+10. I had an amazing homebirth with my first child at 42+6, but I hired a private midwife who was incredible. I recommend you read AIMS guide on being ‘overdue’ as well as the work of Dr Sara Wickham. Sorry for the overkill response, I’m just so passionate about this topic and wish more women would be supported by the systems that be!