Probably been done many times before, but what do MIDWIVES on MN think of homebirths?

[Flamesparrow]

Everyone has their own opinions, often very strong, on home births. Many based on their own good/bad outcomes, but when it comes to stuff like this, I am intrigued what midwives think.

Both my midwife last time and this time seem very enthusiastic about home birth, was just really wondering what the rest of you feel, and why etc.

What would YOU do for your births?

(This isn't meant to be a pros/cons debate for all of us to squabble on, it really is aimed at the midwives. Oh, throw in doulas too )

Thanks Tree I appreciate your advice - I think working on xmas day is fine tbh - it means having xmas day on xmas eve I think my biggest issue would be the responsability issue. I will look into it carefully before I leap, but I would love to help women enjoy their pregnancies and births as much as I have.

Rofl at toes. Poor you!

Yes. Responsibility. It weighs a tonne. The note keeping is something else.

But...........ace job when given the support, time and guidelines to do it.

Politics figures hugely in the training, as you may imagine.

Ahh should have started my own thread having guilt trip over my hijack

Think I will have to do just that when no4 is old enough for me to make the descision. Its going to be tough one will keep thinking about it tho.

Thankyou.

Sorry posted and left! I think that in the right population, homebirths are safe, and there is plenty of evidence for that.

To answer the what would you do question- I had lots of obstetric complications (as you do when you're in the trade) so ended up with a hugely medicalised labour and emergency section, but if all had gone well, I can't think of anything better than being at home if that's what you want. You need to know when to head for hospital - but experienced midwives are good at this.

I am a nurse, and 26 wks pg.

I was planning on a HB, after two previous normal deliveries, and my midwife fully supported me.

However talking to doctors in work who also work in Obs/Gyn, I have changed my mind. I wont even consider the local midwife led unit.
There are far too many horror stories from doctors, and although there are lots of nice homebirth stories too, I am not prepared to be one of those 'few' who's baby would have been saved, had I have been at the hospital. I also have a friend of a friend who is a midwife and would also recommend a hospital birth over a homebirth for those reasons.

I am now planning to deliver in the midwife led unit at the hospital - one floor down from the consultant led unit. I know women can and have had babies at home, but for me I dont want the risk, however small. And FWIW neither of my previous two births were medically managed by doctors under time constraints, in fact I dont remember seeing one either time, just midwives

Mosschops problem with talking to Drs about it all is that doctors only tend to see the more complicated cases where they need to be involved rather than the uncomplicated 'normal' pregnancies and births where doctors don't need to be there so they end up a bit biased towards medical support and intervention.
But if that is what makes you happy and safe then that is what is best for you.

and kitkat - I'm (a bit) older than you and plenty of retraining in the old gal yet!

and flame - thanks for your belief in my exam prowess. will let you know how i did.

mosschops - I also think Dr's have no actual insight into normal labour, as they never see it. But what ever works for you is the thing.
But my point was that it's great to hear that you had 2 hospital births and didn't feel medically managed or at a disadvantage for being 'in'. It's good to hear! I hear so many awful stories and hear so many angry voices here on mn. I get quite down hearted!

Hurray for a positive hospital story

I work in anaesthetics so the doctors I speak to are all anaesthetists so see both women in normal labour and also those have electrive c/s or emergency c/s so I think they have a fairly open view.

But yes I suppose my experiences were good, and Im hoping that this time will have no intervention from a doctor either, but at least I know Im there if I need one. Surely I cant be the only person with good hospital births?

mosschops - anaesthetists never see women who are in normal labour coping without the need for pharmacological pain relief. I would say they have a marginalised view.

As a midwife I totally support homebirth - a great book to read is Safer Childbirth by Marjorie Tew. She is a statistician with no axe to grind and can demonstrate that homebirths are in fact safer than hospital births in many respects.

Personally I required hospital births because of an antibody problem but the births themselves were straightfoward.

I am a hospital based midwife and therefore see things that can go wrong but usually there is a reason linked to high risk pregnancy or interventions that have been undertaken for a variety of reasons.

Homebirths are natural and uninterfered with, ideally with low risk women.

I know youre the professional mears and I have a lot of respect for your opinions.
However for me 'normal' labour is hugely painful and need pharmacological input, although I didnt go as far as an epidural.
So I would suggest that anaesthetists (or at least ours) do see 'normal' women in labour who simply cannot cope with the pain for whatever reason.

No disrespect meant, just backing up my previous post

Thanks eccentricagallumbits.

mosschops in that case obviously that is a consideraton for you in deciding for a home birth or not.
at home your pain releif options are restricted tha tis a given.

i am lucky as had 2 hospital births that were fab and no painrelief with either.
The fact i know i can do it with no pain releif is why i am choosing a home birth. also so i can be in my own bed and not have to stress about what to do with my other DC.

FWIW I wish someone could talk me into a homebirth, but so far no-one has and I cannot justify any risk
(ooh yes raindrop I love the odd cannister or 10 of gas and air, plus a good dose of pethidine, although I could have both of these at home also)

A slightly different perspective from me

hd I nt had a homebirth, ds4 woud have been born in the carpark of the Tesco Express

Fortunately we had reason to consider he might be quick (ds3 was 3 hour birth) and I ahd significant other problems- such as a complete ack of accessible childcare, and I have difficulty in hospitals as just find them difficult- by have difficulties, I mean I fitted after ds1'sdelivery and was too shy to tell the MW. I also need a df diet and found I wasnt provided for after the births and just left without food.

I think one of the most valuable thing about HB's is the options it offers for atypicalpeople. had ds4 needed it I would ahve gone in immediately (we hred a Doula tocover the efentuality) but it just was not necesary for me,indeed MW's had been delivered baby and gone in under 2 hours.

Peiopledo need to relaise though that it does reduce intervention chances- I do think some people assume birth will go fine, and there's no guarantees. But neirther are there with a hsopitaldelivery,and I do think the very poor care I received with ds1 caused the fact thatb every time I entered hospital in labour with ds2 the contractions immediately stopped- fear.

The only way I could reasonably have delivered in a hospital woulod have been c-section or induction (I deliverd less than 35 minutes after first realising I was in labour). So it'simportant that the options exist forpeoplelike me,.mind, I ahve still been told by my GP and the HVA that it was an irresponsible choice- as far as i can see, it's better at homewith professional staff, water, heating and a full complement of G&A / birthing pack than on the roadside with 3 small boys in the car PMSL.

I did know I wouldnt need anaesthesia though, I did ask for epidural (and could have benefitted medically- BP) with ds1 but it wasn't vaaailable due to workload on the ward, so I had always birthed afterwards in the knowledge that A) I can do it if I have to, and B) I have stupidly fast second stages- longest was 20 minutes.

Moss can you have Peth at home? I now you'renot far from me and I couldn't, apparently some peoplewereusing it without disclosing addictins so reacting and therefore decision was taken not to allow it at all.

apparently yes peachy, at least I think so (pregnancy brain is not doing me any good), I was sure they said I could and I know my friend who lives up by Abergavenny deffo had all the drugs ready.

Sill isn't it? yes in Aber / cardiff, no in Newport. Typical!

Id have it anywhere there was pethidine
Is the Gwent your only hospital option? Did you see that dreadful programme they did about them being under special measures. From what I can gather, Cardiff isnt far behind, but what choice do you have?
Its a very sorry state

I didnt see it, we can't get Welsh TV (racist Telly ) but that report came oput when ds4 was 7 days old, so did rather confiorm my decision for me!

I was in there for a day, there was a woman screaming obscenities on the ward (mostly in another language so no idea what about) and nort being dealt with (she could have been a nutter or had a valid point afaik, but nonetheless she shouldn't have been just left); the only loo available due to other being broken for the whole unit was blocked by one person for 2 hous and frankly, they'd have had to drag me in there!

DS4 went in to SCBU for a check over n day 1 (heart mutrmur- ok) and they were wonderful but the delivery room we were placedin to wait was just falling apart, paint peeling off the walls etc- horrible.

Im hoping the new mw led unit at the Heath is going to be good as thats my plan now.

I know what you mean though, when I had ds the delivery was fabulous, the aftercare was appaling, and the toilets had blood smeared on the wall the whole time I was there (3 days) never cleaned, sanitary bins overflowing with used mat pads placed on top. It was like a third world hospital.

Fingers crossed it willbe rgeat, I do find the general falling apart state of teh Gwent reduces moral massively

Hi kitkat, not a mw but am 40 and hoping to retrain as a mw in a couple of years after I (hopefully) have DC4. During my labour with DS3, midwives (lovely they were) told me they had a 50 year old training with them.

Last week at a birth I was at, the "student" who was with us during labour was a 49 yr old woman who had received her degree the day before, This was her last day as a student.

She has given me fresh hope tha t I might go for it too.

Not completely convinced yet though as I am 42 and ttc#6. I do have plenty support though and have no problem with odd hours.

you can't get pethidine at home here, i would double check that.

Gah, Mosschops please don't comare hospitals here to third world hospitals. Having worked in a 3rd world maternity hosptal believe me no matter how bad things are here they are nowhere near the horror of a 3rd world hospital with no drugs, water, electricity, equipment.