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Childbirth

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

HOMEBIRTH - Any recommendations?

23 replies

mamamelly · 19/03/2008 00:48

I am thinking more and more about having a home birth, after a emergency c-section, i would like to try for a VBAC @ home. I do not want to spend a fortune, but want to try for a calm and peaceful experience. Does anyone have any experience or know any great independent midwives?? thanks mamas! ;)

OP posts:
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S1ur · 19/03/2008 00:59

I can't help with independent mws. You might need to specify area though for others.

Homebirth generally I can recommend and assume you have found this site

BoysOnToast · 19/03/2008 01:00

i looooved my homebirth. had a pool for water birth. was lovely.

do lots of research, information is power

good luck!

mamamelly · 19/03/2008 01:02

thx slur i live in northwest london.

OP posts:
BoysOnToast · 19/03/2008 01:05

look for Mars (marslady)

she is a doula in N london i think... theres a website, she is part fo a practice maybe? dont know exactly... im not pg for once!

S1ur · 19/03/2008 01:10

Oh well if this is a chance to reminisce, then may I just add that I have had two fantastic homebirths which were amazing and calm and where I felt utterly in control and powerful. I too did lots of research and am happy to try to help, with particulars should you need it

A good homebirth can be an awe-inspiring experience as can a planned homebirth and well-managed transfer so good luck with whatever you decide.

mamamelly · 19/03/2008 01:12

definately want to hear the WHOLE experience, that is if you dont mind sharing

OP posts:
S1ur · 19/03/2008 01:36

Okay since you twist my arm

I hadn't consider a hb but my mw suggested it for my first born, and after discussion and a bit of research we thought why not? We did encounter a fair bit of surprise and concern fron our families and having research and stats to back us up help counter that.

On the day with dd, I laboured at home for about four hours or so, I called mw after the first hour but it was so early she decided to come out later - very wise. Me and dp just hung out, feeling a bit exciting and went for a walk just to be doing something! Called mw again when contractions became more intense and she came round and asked if I wanted an examination. Apparantly I was already very dilated so she called 2nd mw and hospital for G&A. The 2nd mw did weird mojo massage on me and then dd was on her way! DD was born in a supported squat (think I caused untold neckache to mw ) and I was given her straight away then mw ran me a bath and while I cleaned up with dd in bath they cleaned bedroom. I spent my first night with her snuggled up in our own bed. bliss.

With ds the story is similar but much quicker. I called mw after about a hour and when she arrived (promptly) ds was just about ready! she called for 2nd mw and g&a but by time 2nd mw arrived ds' head was on its way out. I delivered kneeling and mw caught and handed him straight over, the 2nd mw had barely enough time to take her coat off.

I felt relaxed during both births. I used TENS and had the option of gas if I needed, I didn't but found it useful for stiching after . One of the best things was that we (dp annd I) had made the decisions and considered our choices so we felt in control. I think, I hope, you can retain this even you end up transferring.

It was brilliant to be in our own home and have our family there, free from the visitation hours restrictions.

Homebirths can be amazing in the right sit and definitely worth considering.

MarsLady · 19/03/2008 01:58

Love homebirths! Amazing!

lulalullabye · 19/03/2008 02:58

I had a great homebirth with fab independant midwife.

All went to plan and was great experience after induction, epidural, ventouse etc etc.

Independant mw cost about 2500 pounds but woth every penny and interest free credit !

Go for it.

ScarletPimpernel1976 · 19/03/2008 20:34

I had a homebirth - loved every minute of it but it was so quick i didn't get to use my pool! it was just so lovely to be able to have a bath snuggle up in bed with baby and partner straight after giving birth. I used local hospital midwives but would definately go for independent if i had the money, if only for the after care you get.

A very good friend of mine used one for her first child and has re-booked her for her second, due this September, as she absolutely loved her. The midwife is called Elke Heckel and this is the website www.londonbirthpractice.co.uk (my friend's birth story is on there). The group cover all of London and they specialise in VBAC. However, I think Elke may be having a sabatical from beginning of October onwards for 6 months or so...

MissChief · 19/03/2008 20:38

depends where you live but i had a fab NHS mw, so why not ask locally and save yourself some money?
also birthing ball (well reebok one, same but much cheaper), pool a must for me and relaxed atmostphere.

jennifersofia · 19/03/2008 20:45

Have had 2 hb's, via local NHS mw's, and planning 3rd in 2 wks. All have been great, can't fault mw's at all. Would at least consider NHS - your local mw's might be very into it.

readytoswiggin · 19/03/2008 20:49

do it! have had 2 fab ones, calm, peaceful and relaxed [am plotting another. but don't warn dh, dd2 only 3 wks old!] Also had a fab nhs midwife who was the main for both and the rest of the mw team are equally fab! I'm in oxford, and I know of a fab mw who is independant, can't remember where you are now [left handed typing and mouse use, alien feeling]

raye123 · 19/03/2008 21:08

I used the london birth practice mentioned by ScarletPimpernel... Elke was my 2nd midwife! I had a wonderful birth experience - in the pool at home, despite having to be transferred to hospital after! Would not hesitate to recommend them. My sister also had 2 VBAC births at home with them as well.

raye123 · 19/03/2008 21:10

Must add, my first midwife, Sandesh, was exceptional. They'll be happy to talk to you on the phone about any queries too.

mummypig · 19/03/2008 21:28

I had a hb with ds2, using an indep midwife, and it was absolutely wonderful, everything I might have wished for. My midwife cost about the same as the other poster mentioned (£2.5k) and I wouldn't have thought of it except that (a) we were moving house and I wasn't sure if our new local hospital would even accept me as a 'normal' booking, let alone for homebirth and (b) my mum gave me the money.

This time round I am using the same midwife as I think it is definitely worth it. Quite apart from anything else, they really respect your wishes during labour and delivery, rather than just following whatever the hospital protocol is, and the post-natal support was so much better than it was for ds1. I love my midwife .

You can search for an independent midwife here and for a doula on the doulauk site.

As well as looking into independent midwives or doulas, it's a good idea to take a look at birthchoice.uk.com and see what your local hospitals and birthcentres are like for home birth. A friend in Cambridge has had two home births on the NHS now, no problem. But some hospitals/midwives are less supportive, and I've heard of several stories of people being put off right at the last moment and told they have to go into hospital, for some rather spurious reasons. This happened to my sister in Birmingham. I don't know how much difference a doula could make in this situation, although I'm sure it is great to have an extra person fighting in your corner and saying 'is this really necessary?'

And finally... I have a friend who gave birth at the Edgware Birth Centre and thought it was great, so that might be another option.

mamamelly · 19/03/2008 22:19

Because I have had a previous c-section it is impossible to get into any birth centers in my local hospitals, if UCL wont take me in their birthing center i highly doubt they will be all for a homebirth. p.s i had a c-section b/c i was induced due to big baby, she was big, but i really believe i could have managed it had i waited to labour naturally 9.5lbs!
have started phoning around and all the midwives i have spoken to are very friendly, so am starting to set up appointments to see how is goes, i think it will be money well spent, regardless of the outsome,after a traumatic 1st birth i suppose it could only be a positive experience even if i end up at hosp.

OP posts:
Pedrolina · 20/03/2008 13:44

Good luck and I think you are going about it just the right way meeting a few midwives and seeing who you click with. Just had my first at home this weekend and am so glad on so many different levels I made the decision to have independent midwives - most of the reasons have been mentioned but for me: You get the birth you want with huge support, excellent ante-natal care in your own home, the most relaxed birth possible in you own environment with your stuff around and no hospital bugs to worry about, a bath in your own bath and tea in your own mug then tucked up in bed with you new baby and husband (instead of him being sent home)and finally - and I didn't realise how important I would find this, fantastic post-natal care, help with breast feeding, general confidence boosting. It was a fair bit of money to me (£3K) but honestly it is the best money I have ever ever spent!

Creena · 21/03/2008 12:39

Can I join in and ask a quick question, please?

I'm expecting my fourth and final baby in November. I really have my heart set on a home birth. I had hospital births with my other three children and do not want to repeat the experience. As this is my last baby, I want everything to be as positive and stress-free as possible and most importantly, I want my DH to be there throughout. I also want to be in the comfort of my own home, knowing that the children are nearby too and that we can all be there to welcome the new baby together.

However! Midwifery care when I live is limited. When I had my second child, the are was covered by a team of six midwives. Following cutbacks, the team was reduced to just two midwives when I had last baby in May 07. I have my booking in appointment with my community midwife next Wednesday and she knows that a home birth is something I want to talk to her about. I'm worrying now that she will tell me that because there are just two of them covering a huge area, they don't have the resources to attend or facilitate a home birth. How far would I be able to go if I insisted on a home birth? I know that I have a right to ask for one (but not a legal right) but is it then up to the PCT to decide whether to provide one? If they say no for reasons of resources too, is my only route an independant midwife? Having looked at the link given by mummypig, there aren't any independant midwives in the area where I live, the nearest bein about 20 miles away.

Peachy · 21/03/2008 12:45

Creena, have you looked att eh AIMs website? they have laods of information on your situation. I was refused a HB but after their help have had no problems arranging one for this next baby (also my 4th, due in a week- gulp!)

Peachy · 21/03/2008 12:46

here

Creena · 21/03/2008 12:50

That's great, thanks so much Peachy! Will arm myself with lots of info from AIMS now ahead of my booking in appointment and then take things from there. Thanks again!

Good luck with your new arrival - am so glad that you were able to get the home birth you want.

mummypig · 21/03/2008 15:28

Good luck with your appt Creena, I hope it all goes well.
Just wondering if the 20 miles are an easy drive away, it might not stop the indep midwife covering your area, so you could check with them as a back-up plan. But Peachy's story sounds positive .

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