Low intervention - homebirth

[thismonthsfad]

Hi. Just wondering if any ladies are currently pregnant and planning a homebirth?

I have self referred and noted on my form that I’ll be having a homebirth. I have my first booking appointment in 2 weeks.

Just looking for some positive stories on the process so far and how to navigate avoiding landing on the intervention conveyor belt.

not looking for opinions from people who are against homebirth/haven’t experienced it

So many babies and mothers are experiencing birth injuries and death in unsafe hospitals at the moment, anyone planning a hospital birth should really be careful.

Why?

LOL! Oh deary, this genuinely made me laugh! My husband doesn't give a flying frigg about what state the baby will be in, blood, poo, vomit, it's his baby!

You're assuming I will need stitches and you're assuming I would refuse to be stitched.. Flipping hell!! You people really do need things explaining to you don't you... Let me be clear for the people at the back -

1. I want to be left alone during labour - meaning I don't want to be poked prodded, asked about any upcoming holidays, or when my cats birthday is! I am happy to be observed, I don't care about knowing how far dilated I am because this does not indicate how much longer is left
2. I am happy to be observed by a midwife - meaning the midwife will be present INSIDE the room but taking a handsoff approach. This is not unusual.
3. Plan B, C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y..Z - Yes I have thought about other plans and am 'open minded' to 'worst case scenarios' but I have also thought about 'best case scenarios'... If I wanted to know more about the worst case scenarios I would have asked this question - my question is about homebirth and homebirth only which has gone right over the heads of the self righteous.
4. Never posting a question on mumsnet again!

It really isn't. The cervix can dilate and contract again in seconds. A woman's cervix can be at 5cm for hours, then all of a sudden get to 10cm within a few minutes. These internal examinations are actually rather unhelpful in the majority of cases.

The poster who replied is being realistic. It’s an open forum, not en echo chamber.

Please don’t sue the NHS if it goes wrong or not quite to plan.

Go write a birthing plan, then write a plan B. Be prepared to adjust your expectations and make sure your husband advocates for you early if something goes wrong and you can’t make safe choices anymore. Aim of this game is to have a healthy child and live to see them grow up. I say this as someone who wanted a dreamy water birth delivery and then I don’t dilate and I was exhausted - drifting in and out of consciousness. Too exhausted to speak and ended up with a c-section. Look at the big picture and be prepared to adjust to whatever reality transpires. I so hope you have the birth you planned for. ❤️

It’s actually not.

The cervix isn’t a crystal ball 🫠 and how dilated someone is at any given time isn’t an indication of anything.
Any good midwife will also observe her patient’s behaviour, watch for “the purple line” and look for the “rhombus michaelis” for indications of actual progression.
I had two of my three babies without anyone sticking their fingers in my cervix 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don't think many people have an issue with home birth (save for those whose babies would have died if they'd had one), it's more the lack of flexibility and hands off approach.

I was the opposite to you and had maternal request c sections due to a phobia of childbirth (and other medical stuff). I totally respect and understand your decision to homebirth.

But things like scans, bloods, and (if having a vaginal birth), letting the midwives check on baby etc are important. I didn't want to get bloods done due to my needle phobia (linked). But I did because it was important for baby, and actually it picked up something which could have been fatal for my baby which we were able to resolve.

I'd also put it out of your mind that you are low risk. You have no idea yet. Your age alone probably pushes you out of that category tbh. Low risk pregnancy doesn't necessarily equal an easier birth either. I'm fat and unfit and had textbook easy sections, and besides increased BMI was low risk for pregnancy. My friends with difficult labours, requiring surgical repair, long recoveries etc were mostly thinner and fitter than me. With birth you roll a dice.

I think it would reassure people here that:

1)you're going to get food antenatal checks including scans
2) you would allow the midwives enough access so they could be confident of knowing if there was an emergency
3) that you'd allow post natal care, like help delivering the placenta if needed, stitching (remember 90% of FTM need stitches).

Thank you for sharing this! My nearest MLBU is about an hour away - it is very nice and if I do believe that if I don't get the homebirth I want, then the MLBU will be the next best case as it seems like a nice place.

Wow, 90%, I did not realise that.

In these circumstances does the patient need to sign a disclaimer stating that it’s their decision and there is no medical responsibility on the midwife?

You misunderstand me. But that's because you've never had a baby. I don't mean the baby - I mean you. How does your husband feel about your decision?

This report is interesting. Maybe the op should read up about the concerns of the coroner.

I thought if you were having a home birth and needed transferred, it was usually to hospital because of an emergency of some kind?

edit to clarify. And therefore a transfer to a midwife led unit is unlikely?

Just because something’s optional, it doesn’t meant it’s not a good idea that’s in the best interests of the unborn child.

No. I didn’t sign anything. I just said that I was declining cervical examinations. I did have intermittent fetal monitoring (midwife kept an eye on baby’s heart rate with a Doppler periodically) and she checked my blood pressure intermittently as well.

Oh get lost - honestly! yes I said I 100% made up my mind about homebirth but that doesn't mean that should things change I would still press ahead with that! Jesus, you lot are unhinged! Of course, should the worst happen, I will go with whatever is recommended but for right now, the plan is a homebirth.. Do I need to be any clearer with you?

Why don’t you want to be spoken to -chatting can pass the time. I watched the Wimbledon final.

What will the role be of the doula ? Won’t your DH be there to support you?

Best experience of my life - all went very smoothly and I felt super-human afterwards.
What makes homebirths as safe as they are is that you have one-on-one care of a midwife who is keeping a very close eye on you. Don't let your desire for no intervention prevent that care from happening, or problems may not be spotted in enough time to deal with them.
Personally I was reassured by my midwife's surveillance - she left me to labour but did check heartbeat etc very regularly. First sign of any distress and we would have been in an ambulance.

You have the option at any point during a homebirth to transfer into hospital.
Not sure if all NHS trusts do it, but mine had stats available about the reasons for homebirth transfers and a lot of them were “maternal request” - usually because the woman decided she wanted pain relief not available at home.

Only the 20 week. Opting out of the 12 week.

I know it's 90%, I can't remember if I'm honest whether that's just the number tearing, or those that require stitching as well, but in any event, her vagina is going to need to checked to see what repair is needed.

While in active labour? The OP isn't going to have had an epidural at home, the midwives will be there for the actual birth not early labour.

Why?

Would have been "waiting for an ambulance", not "in an ambulance". Midwives can't make an ambulance appear any more quickly than Joe Bloggs, you go on the waiting list with everyone else.

😂😂😂 Wimbledon!!

During my second Labour, I spent most of it bouncing on a ball, watching old re-runs of Greys Anatomy while me and the midwife chatted between contractions about our favourite episodes 😂 Definitely helped pass the time!