Anyone have to go to hospital AFTER home birth for stitches / placenta?

[soundbites]

Dear all

Desperately trying to convince DH that HB with no 2 is a good idea. I got to the hospital with 15 mins to spare and able to feel the top of the baby's head when my daughter was born 2 years ago as they refused to believe all along I was in established enough labour to come in yet (long story!) so I see no reason why I can't manage at home as it was just do the last bit in the hospital last time.

BIG thank you to BOOBZ for your great article on the 7 secrets of being a home dad. Have printed it out already!

My one reservation is having to be moved to the hospital after it all because of needing stitching, or maybe the placenta hasn't come out properly. Has anyone had this. Is it a problem? How long do they keep you in? Do you get the injection at home that hurries on the 3rd stage of labour?

Thanks in advance

Soundbites

hi! I had HB with DS 2 years ago. Didn't tear or anything, no problems what so ever. You get the option of the injection or allowing nature to take it course (as in hospital i presume?). I personally had the injection to speed things up but it's your choice!

hiya, i had HB ten weeks ago which all went smoothly and to plan (water birth). i was given the option of injections or natural 3rd stage and opted for natural. Unfortunately, mine decided to stay put. They then tried the injections but that didnt work either (we later discovered that my placent just decided it was not going to budge full stop - so i would always have required intervention to remove it - just one of those things).

Anyway, this meant i had to transfer to hospital. As per protocol with my PCT it was ambulance transfer (i thought it all quite exciting actually). Got to hosp and was examined then sent to theatre straight away, very smoothly, no booking in nonsense (or at least my MWs took care of it if there was). Importantly, as i was n HB transfer my two MWs stayed with me throughout the op to hold my hand, which was great. new baby and DH outside theatres. Had to stay in til next morning til i could walk again (op was epidural). Baby stayed with me. DH went home fr couple hours kip. Then discharged and home again. No great shakes and for me infinitely preferable to having a hospital birth. Think I got better treatment as a transfer and not on the maternity ward conveyor - also 2 MWs being my advocates while I was there.

3rd degree tear and extended episiotomy meant i had to go to hospital for stitches after my (unplanned) home birth, which i didnt mind as my kitchen ceiling fell down the night before i went into labour , so they let me stay until it was fixed

yes I had the injection at home to help placenta come out. it was fine. I had one stitch done at home too lol

I think if you do need to transfer it's all fairly laid back though. In our area when they come out to a homebirth they have to alert the local ambulance station so that they make sure one is in the area should the need arise.

so you would basically be ambulanced to hospital (with baby) where they would be awaiting you. do anything necessary and once you were well enough you'd be able to go back home. you wouldn't be kept in any longer than you wanted to I am sure

had the injection at home with my first hb, but for following children i let it come out naturally

I had my second two children at home - had stitches with both and it was fine (I actually think they did a far better job with the stitches than they did in hospital with my first child!)

They will give you the injection to hurry up the 3rd stage at home (in fact they generally prefer you to have it I think). However - I've had a natural third stage with all three of my children (and plan to with number 4). Research shows that you are LESS likely to have complications with a natural third stage, it just might take a bit longer. I also found the delivery of the placenta was much easier with my second two children - it took about an hour first time, 20 mins second time and five mins third time!

I had my DD at home in October and it was fabulous. But, I had quite heavy blood loss (PPH) and after I'd had stitches for a 2nd degree tear and the midwives got me to eat some toast, they decided I'd better go into to hospital to be on the safe side. To be honest, I was so out of it that I really felt like going in, I'd already passed out before delivering the placenta and couldn't get upstairs for a shower! The placenta took ages to come out and I had no contractions at all. They let me try to do it natually for almost half an hour but then gave me the injection 'cos they were worried about the blood loss. It all came out fine and I was quite relieved. I was a bit gutted though, all that hard work and instead of being tucked up in my own bed with DP and DD, I was in the hosp.

Anyway, it was fine, didn't need a tranfusion in the end, just some fluids by iv and a horrendous amount of iron tablets for the next month. I was admitted around 3am on the Monday and discharged at almost midnight on the Tuesday night. But, I had to fight for it. We'd been waiting around with my bag packed for around 4 hours and really had to persuade them to sign me off because it so late and they'd changed staff. Once they get you in, it's hard to leave!

Still, I was grateful to be able to transfer as I didn't feel right and it wasn't too bad. I'd forgotten about food/eating and was really pleasantly surprised when they brought me lunch the next day! I missed the electric bed when I got home too, trying to sit up with stitches - yeouch!

Best of luck! I'm almost jealous but have not had enough wine yet

I had DD at home, wanted to deliver placenta without injection, after two hours nothing had happened so the MWs gave me the injection. Still nothing. Transferred by ambulance, waited for ages on a drip for a Dr to be available to manually remove it, which did work (gas & air, thank goodness). While I was waiting it was nil by mouth in case I had to go into theatre for spinal block. Was very relieved to avoid theatre, and could therefore be discharged quite early.

I have to say the worst part of the whole experience was after the injection because it gave me a non-stop contraction which lasted for hours, whereas I'd coped with no pain relief, not even gas & air, for the actual delivery, with long second stage. By that point I was begging for an epidural (but anaesthetist was busy...). One of the MWs from birth came in with me, as well as our doula, DH and DD, so I felt well cared for.

Anyway, I'm still planning a home birth for number two, even if the same thing happens again (I do live very close to the hospital though). Will discuss with MWs nearer the time about having the injection early or trying without.

Had second degree tear which was stitched in hospital, but apparently could have been done at home if it wasn't for the retained placenta meaning I was in hospital.

DD was born at home with IMs. She was 9lb 12. Physiological 3rd stage, which took about an hour but was very low stress. I had a PPH, with a significant volume of blood from a 2nd degree internal tear - when I started to react to the blood loss (3 hours after the birth) we decided moving to hospital might be a good idea, so I went in by ambulance (paramedics most upset to have missed the birth ) and got stitched up under good lights. They offered a transfusion, but didn't push it and I declined. I guess I arrived about 5 or 6 in the morning, was stitched up by about 8 or 9 and then slept most of the day while DH went home. I left about 6 in the evening once I could stand up without falling over and go to the loo, etc (they gave me food, but it was vile - could wait to get out!)

Even though I had to transfer in, I still found the HB fantastic. I just really wish I could have had the whole "tucked up in your own bed" bit as well.

Incidentaly, a hospital isn't a prison and they can't stop you leaving if you want to. If there's a valid medical reason why they want you to stay that's one thing, but its still your choice whether you accept their advice or not.

Thank you very much for sharing your stories, ladies. Much appreciated. Glad to know that even if you were transferred you still think the HB was totally worthwhile and to understand better the reasons for an after birth transfer (none of them trivial, so it must be reassuring to know that the transfer was really necessary).

DH surprised me this morning by saying that if all is still fine when I reach 36 weeks (booking HB time) in 4 weeks time that we should book the HB! It has only taken 32 weeks of persuasion so far! I'll show him this thread. He was comforted when I relayed thisisyesterday's experience that a HB results in the ambulances being alerted. He said he'd like to find out if it is the same for us (Mid Sussex).

Soundbites

Booking a HB now doesn't mean you can't cancel it if problems develop. In all seriousness, if you know you want to plan a home birth call them and tell them now - the longer you leave it the greater the scope for them to start talking about staffing issues (and making it sound reasonable).

You can tell them at any point during your pregnancy that you intend to give birth at home and expect a MW to be provided - and if your CMW says they can't book them yet, put it in writing to her and whoever is in charge of midwifery services.

Sorry - I know I sound horribly beligerent, but there seem to be so many stories of women that are given so many spurious reasons why they "can't" have a HB, and staffing issues seems to be a favourite. You'd be doing them a favour by giving them more notice

Thanks Tangle

I thought you could only book in at 36 weeks ?

Midwife says she is totally behind a home birth and that I am an excellent candidate but I said that a decision hadn't yet been reached because of DH's uncertainty. But I see your point that as much notice as possible creates less room for backing out. So I could actually book it now? She has to do 9 weeks in the hospital and it will be her substitute that I would see at 36 weeks so maybe it would be just as well to catch her first?

Soundbites.

You can tell them you're having a HB whenever you like - as soon as you find out you're pregnant or at 41 weeks (if you haven't already popped)! Some PCT's have a policy that you can't book a HB till 36 weeks, but you can inform them of your intent before that if you want to.

If you have another appointment before 36 weeks you could raise it then, or you could call the Supervisor of Midwives and inform them by phone (call the hospital switchboard and ask for her), or you can inform the Supervisor of Midwives in writing. If you'd be happier doing it with the MW you know, you could always ask her to give you a call and tell her over the phone - I'm sure mine often found it easier to fit in a 5 minute phonecall than to squeeze in another appointment.

Lastly, this site is a font of knowledge if you haven't come across it already, and the homebirthUK mailgroup is also very active and supportive. You might find them useful resources and very helpful if you have any questions or issues.

Good luck

Hi Tangle

Called my community midwife at the hospital today and told her we had decided on a home birth. She has made a booking for another midwife to visit me at home in week 36 with the home birth pack and it is all on record now apparently. Thank you for pushing me in the right direction.

Soundbites

good news, soundbites.

I had physiological 3rd stage (only delivered placenta after an hour when midwives led me to the toilet and made me sit down and cough. MW caught the placenta as it fell out and fished it out of the loo )

i had 2nd degree tear which the MWs attending were not confident to stitch so they phoned another off duty MW who came round at 11pm just to stitch me up. what a star. all the MWs I had were ace and totally supportive of my home water birth even after a very long labour.

all the very best, i was so glad we had a home birth so i hope it works out for you.

PS I would also say, i had a doula who was awesome and well worth the money. it took a lot of pressure off DH, particularly whilst i was in labour but before the MWs came.