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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Is it too late to request a homebirth????????

21 replies

mcfly79 · 15/07/2009 21:34

Am guessing it is, as am due in 12 days!!!!!But I REALLY don't want to go into hospital(you'd think I'd have thought of this long before)

Had a really bad experience there almost two years ago when I had an ectopic pregnancy and it's all coming back to me and freaking me out!

Has anyone else requested a homebirth this close to their due date and actually got one????

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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StarlightMcKenzie · 15/07/2009 22:35

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CarGirl · 15/07/2009 22:38

It's quite straightforward, they come around with a large box of useful stuff, they go through all the reasons why you would get transferred and the risks etc that's it IME.

Not that I ever got a homebirth (booked for 3) but that's a different story!

AnnieLobeseder · 15/07/2009 22:40

Never too late! They can't make you come into the hospital, can they? But it's better that your mw knows as soon as possible, to be properly prepared. I'd give her a call tomorrow to discuss it.

Homebirth rocks, BTW....

Original poster

mcfly79 · 15/07/2009 22:51

Thanks very much everyone,kind of scared of my midwife as hinted at it at a previous appointment and was told 'Don't be ridiculous'.

Will give her a phone tomorrow and be polite but firm(smile)

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Original poster

mcfly79 · 15/07/2009 22:53

OP posts:

Tangle · 15/07/2009 23:01

If you haven't seen it already there's masses of info on the homebirth site in general and this page in particular. I'd definitely agree with the "don't ask - tell!" school of thought. Good luck for tomorrow

StarlightMcKenzie · 15/07/2009 23:03

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ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 15/07/2009 23:04

I would definately go for the
"we have decided to have a homebirth" route
they may want to do a scan to check the baby isn't breech ( that is what we had to do)
But aside from that we had to do nothing else.

I had both the boys at home and I would thoroughly recommend it

Original poster

mcfly79 · 15/07/2009 23:06

Thank-you tangle,will have that page up on the laptop when I call, There's an answer for everything there!

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MoChan · 15/07/2009 23:12

I didn't sort out having a homebirth until about two weeks before, and it was fine (I had moved house at 36/37 weeks pregnant, and it took a while to get registered at new surgery/in to see midwife). Bit of a rush to get stuff together (plastic sheeting, buckets, what have you) but managed it okay. I am so glad I persisted; it made giving birth feel so much easier than if I'd had to go to hospital, and I'm sure things wouldn't have gone as smoothly as they did at home. Good luck.

hairymelons · 15/07/2009 23:16

I booked for a homebirth at about 38 weeks- baby was breech until ECV at 37 plus 5 so was out of the question until this point. I'd always wanted a homebirth so had sort of mentally planned, did a bit of hypnobirthing stuff and bought a plastic sheet etc!
My midwife was very supportive once I showed her my revised birth plan- she came and did a risk assessment of my house and that was that.
I REALLY didn't want to go to hospital either and had a wonderful time labouring at home. Ended up transferring to hospital because of crazy-long labour (72 hours) but was happy to have been able to spend so long at home. I'd highly reccommend it!
Best of luck, remember it's your decision, no-one elses. Even if your MW isn't supportive, we will be!
PM me if you want any more info

hairymelons · 15/07/2009 23:18

Meant to say, you can PM me for more info. I'm also happy to bare all here

Tangle · 15/07/2009 23:24

At the end of the day, any problems that come up are their problems not yours - their policy may state that you "can't" have a homebirth if you're over a certain age, or that you "have" to have a scan before you're "allowed" one, but as you're not their employee you're not bound to follow their procedures! You may choose to follow their advice (and there are some medical situations where it would be foolhardy not to), but it is your choice.

Incidentally, DD was born at home - she was my first, 10 days late, 9lb 12 and breech. I booked with IMs in the end as the NHS round here don't seem to have the skills or confidence to help a vaginal breech birth safely - but that was true in hospital as well, so for us it was IMs or a caesarian. In other areas, however, I have heard of women having planned (and unplanned ) HBs of breech babies.

The homebirthUK yahoo mail group is also very supportive, has mothers and MWs amongst its members and has, collectively, dealt with just about every obstacle to homebirth under the sun.

WaspElly · 15/07/2009 23:36

Hope it works out ok. I had 2 homebirths, one was even planned that way, but the moment we I decided was when I couldn't walk across the dining room between contractions and the (Surestart - LOVE them) midwife said are you sure you're going to make it? The second midwife was asked to park quickly so I was always going to be on the "easier" end of the spectrum - sending you good vibes for that sort of result too...

PrettyCandles · 15/07/2009 23:38

I moved house during my pregnancy and slipped through the net, so only had my HB visit (when the community midwife came along to discuss it and see what sort of preparations I was doing) at 37w plus. I was under consultant-led care, and only got her to sign me off for HB on my due date.

treedelivery · 15/07/2009 23:45

Agree with Starlight - simply state that having looked into the risks and benefits, pro's and con's you have decided to labour and deliver at home, unless events lead you in a different direction for reasons of safety or analgesia.

There should be no need for you to hear any concerns about timing etc, but should they begin thinking aloud, my tip is to say 'I understand there are some things you will need to get sorted so I will be in whenever you need to visit and will provide any info you need promptly'

Have a great labour and birthing - exciting times

Original poster

mcfly79 · 16/07/2009 00:11

Aww thanks everyone for the support, you've made me feel much more confident about making the call, I will let you know how I get on.

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Original poster

mcfly79 · 17/07/2009 02:40

Hi, all went well in the end, MW not too happy about short notice etc but accepted my decision!

Feel much calmer now, just have to get plastic sheet and buckets at the ready

Thanks again

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HorsechestnutBlossom · 17/07/2009 02:59

Just wanted to add I had booked in a homebirth for months only to be told on the day there isn't a midwife available so you'll have to come in!

As an experienced homebirther (3 previously!) I was not going to be fobbed off so I told them the contractions were coming every minute! (lies lies lies)

I told them I could not come in and see you soon!

Heard them muttering to each other on the phone in the background she's too far gone we need to get a midwife to her she refuses to come in, then I did some extra yelp-in-labour for good measure and hung up.

A midwife rang me 2 minutes later saying I'm on my way

So I got my way

You could not wish for a better birthing experience so good luck!

Original poster

mcfly79 · 17/07/2009 03:48

HCB I love that,I will keep it in mind if they try and pull that on me,LOL

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StarlightMcKenzie · 17/07/2009 17:19

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