Placenta dilemma - does this sound like a good reason not to have a homebirth?

[naturelover]

DD is 18 months old, she was born at home, unassisted, long but straightforward labour. Placenta wouldn't budge, tried for two hours without injection, then had injection, still wouldn't budge. Ended up in ambulance to hospital where I was put on drip for hours while prepped for theatre, until an anaesthetist became available, but actually the placenta was manually removed in delivery room - not theatre - with gas & air only. DH seems to remember the doctor who pulled out placenta saying, "oh, it's just here" ie didn't really need much pulling to remove. I only had two drags on G&A and it was out. Home within a couple of hours.

Am now 12 weeks pregnant with DC2, had booking-in with mw this week, she said it would be "best practice" for me to have DC2 at MLU in case of repeat placenta problems, to avoid risk of huge blood loss etc. She said it would be best to have canula fitted as a precaution in labour so that in case of same problem I could be hooked up to a drip quickly.

She kept telling me how lovely the MLU is, hands-off, dark, cosy, calm etc but I REALLY want to be at home, I hate hospitals and the first birth went so well (despite eventual transfer).

My own theory for long second stage and problems with placenta last time are that I couldn't pee for love nor money in labour. After DD was born they cathetised me and LOTS of pee came out. So I suspect full bladder was big part of the problem.

Anyway, sorry this is long, I'd love to hear your experiences of this kind of thing. I have six months to decide and I will ask to see a copy of my notes from last time asap. Thanks

I remember someone writing (I think it was lulumama) that breast feeding helps release the placenta, there are experts on here so they will be along soon.

How was your 2nd stage handled before the jab? You want to encourage your body to produce lots of oxytocin - which normaly means plenty of skin to skin contact with your new baby and as much BF as they can be persuaded to do. Sadly, not all MWs are conversant with the process so assuming it would all have been done appropriately isn't safe.

Have you posted or looked on the homebirthUK mailgroup? There are ladies on there that have had personal experience of making this decision, and also a number of MWs (mainly IMs I think) with experience of handling this kind of thing in a home environment.

Thanks Tangle, I will look at that site.

I did tons of skin-to-skin and breastfeeding as soon as DD was born. Then the midwives encouraged me to push, squat, walk, climb stairs, stay vertical. They massaged my tummy and tugged gently at cord. I'd pushed for over 3 hours (big baby, hand by face!) so had probably run out of steam by then.

Hi,

my placenta wouldn't budge with DS1 after injection, with both my other kids it came away fine

Both my 2nd births were homebirths.

Took me a while to push mine out. In the end I sat on the toilet (midwives ran the water) which helped me to wee and then managed a big push which got it out. So did they catheterise you before you tried to push it out? Anyhow to answer your question, doesn't sound like a good reason not to have a hb to me. You didn't lose blood and didn't need theatre. There was no emergency otherwise you wouldn't have been left in a hospital bed for hours! If you want a hb stick to your guns!

it might be 'best practice' but that does not mean you can be forced to give birth at the MLU

sounds as though the placenta did detach, but after a longer than normal time.

but it might be wise to go through that part of your birth notes again with someone, and it might be apparent there was no emergency or big blood loss that would mean having to forget your homebirth

and lets face it, the worst that can happen if the same happens again, is a transfer in and then home again PDQ.

i would be more inclined to go for a second homebirth.your choice !

Lulumama, I was hoping you'd spot this thread! Thanks for your encouraging message. My doula believes the placenta did detach - just slowly.

Loopymumsy, I will try to get hold of that book, it sounds great.

I will re-read all my childbirth books nearer the time. I have the same doula booked as last time and I know she will be great. She supports my choice to birth at home as well.

The fact is that I didn't bleed heavily last time so I'm not convinced of that argument. And if the canular did rule out being in the pool, I would be really annoyed.

Sounds to me that the best place to have your baby would be at home so that the hormones for second stage can flood your body and not be inhibited by the hospital environment!!

Have a read up on oxytocin inhibition and neocortex stimulation - you'll soon realise that perhaps the cause of it taking a long time (which isn't in itself a problem, many 3rd stages take in excess of an hour, I saw one only 3 nights ago - at home I might add!) was the hospital itself, so you could argue that in your case homebirth is an incredibly sensible option!!

sorry the above should obviously read "third stage" and NOT "second stage" (it's been a long day already!).