I have calmed down a little since my appointment earlier, so hopefully this won't be too ranty...
1st baby, 28 weeks pregnant. I am 32, in great health apart from a few back problems due to ridiculous roller skating incident a few years ago (don't ask...)Pregnancy is going very well - midwife says 'textbook', and 'very happy baby'.
I did however, whilst at uni in my first year, whilst very, very thin, not sleeping (at all! to busy enjoying myself...) under a fair amount of stress, not eating well and on fairly huge amounts of drink and a little light drugs (we are talking cannabis, shrooms - nothing serious, but still...) have some epileptic fits - about 5 over a year. Was never any reasn, was never medicated, just the way my body decided to cope with stress I think.
I mention this to midwife as it is important they know my history. I don't normally bother mentioning it to anyone, because it isn't part of my life now, and isn't important. I drive, I am a teacher, I am under stress fairly regularily - and nothing, for years. The only fit I have had since was after I fried myslf on a beach, got sunstroke, and then went to the pub, and didn't drink water - again, we are talking 5,6 years ago.
So I am referred to consultant care - the first one says yep, completely understand you want to be as calm, stress free and relaxed as possible, therefore I will leave it up the midwives to decide if they support you in a home birth. Don't need to see you again, but oh, pop back at 28 weeks, just to check nothing has changed.
Second appointment today, nothing has changed. I wasn't even going to bother going, but thought, no, let them sign me off. This consultant? You are more likely to have a fit in labour. therefore no home birth for you. wouldn't give me any answer to the questions about what actually would happen if I did have a fit, took no notice of all the above, just no.
So WTF do I do now? Up untl now, midwife very suotive, but has said its up to her lead midwife - going to see me at hme in a few weeks and decide then. Fair enough. Now don't get me wrong, I am not wanting a home birth because it could be lovely, or whatever, I just want there to be the least chance of me having a fit - and the least chance is i I am relaxed, using hypnobirthing, and at home, watched dilligently by my husband, and attended all the time, able to move around so my back pain does not become an issue, and using water - not in my local hospital, with no control, and very little possibliy of a water birth. If I have a fit, all she would say was that it could slow the babies heart rate - but that once the fit was over, it would go back to normal, just would need monitoring! How is it going to help being in hospital?
This just seems mad - any consultant could have picked up my notes - it just seems like a lottery!
So...what can I do? or am I mad to be considering homebirth, with my history? Is it likely the midwives would say no now?
Right, sorry, that was really long. If there is anyone still reading....help?!