freebirthing

[aquariusgirl]

Having watched the programwe on it I wondered what people thought about freebirthing. I am told that it is becoming more common in the UK.

But by the same token you could argue that it's not fair on the baby to expose them to a truck load of opiates during labour, just for the sake of making it a better experience for yourself - and yet that's something that many of us have done in labour (include myself here) without so much as a quibble.

I suppose it depends on your perception of the innate risks attached to childbirth.

Most people feel that childbirth is intrinsically a medical emergency - even in a healthy, low risk mum who's had good antenatal care and who also has the backup of paramedics and emergency medical help within reasonably easy reach.

They could refuse the drugs for pain relief but if anything went wrong someone qualified to help would be on hand. Also if anything was going wrong in the preg then the mum could do everything to ensure a safe outcome for the baby. Not talking indentifying disabilities but just checking that the baby was growing fine.

We could all be heading that way !

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/7630870.stm

We could all be heading that way !

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/7630870.stm

another one

I was induced as high risk first time mum last time, had my waters broken then there was a shift change. The supervisor of MWs told us they didn't have a MW for us so we'd have to push the button if we needed anything.. Didn't see anyone for more than a min or two for the next 3 hours despite needing BP checks every 15mins according to the DR. Whenever we rang the bell we were treated like nuisances. Eventually someone came in and checked the results from the BP machine that was going off automatically, DRs appeared. Was given loads of meds and an epidural to bring BP down and left again despite saying i needed to push before EPI went in.. ringing the bell repeatedly got a mw back in who brought some toast for us and explained that they had a mad rush of women coming in on blue lights and most MWs were in A&E.

Rang bell again when DS's HR fell dramatically and was told I'd be checked in a bit. Lost it completely, was checked and DS was almost crowning. Just a few pushes and he was out..

I hated the whole experience.. but it is the governments fault, too much paperwork and management, not enough people doing the work

Maybe we should all start one of those government petitions to get more MWs made available