Any one had a home birth with Lewisham midwives?

[brockleyD]

I am pregnant for the first time and I would very much like to have a home birth but if I want to do this I must go with Lewisham Hospital, which doesn't have the best reputation for hospital births (or at least that is what my medical friends tell me) but good for home births. I am worried I may need to be taken into hospital at last minute..Did anybody else have this dilemma?

Thanks,
D

Hi BrockleyD and congratulations on the pregnancy.

I am also in Brockley, am 29 weeks pregnant with my first and had a similar dilemma. My GP's surgery works with Lewisham Hospital and my scans/bloods have been there, which has made it easier but also have my fears reservations about Lewisham Hosp. and have not had the best experience there. The sonographers have been brilliant but some of the nurses have been terrible and would not like to end up in hospital there, being looked after by them and am hoping for a waterbirth at home.

My midwife was initially unenthusiastic about the homebirth, not because of any complications but because of their homebirth team staffing levels. When I asked about this, she further explained that I would be transferred in if they didn't have enough staff on call, there was any sign of meconium in my fluids and if she was not happy with the progression of the birth. I was upset and disappointed at first because I felt that she was putting forward the worse case scenario and had nothing positive to say. I questioned myself whether I was putting the baby in any danger by not going straight into hospital. I have done my research and feel more comfortable with being at home, in familiar surroundings and feel that it is the best decision for me and will help me cope better during labour and after the birth.

I've had another talk with her at my last appointment(25 weeks) and she was very positive about the home birth and said there should be no problem with having one. It's made a huge difference knowing that she is onside and will not blue-light me into hospital as a first option but respect my wishes to try to have my baby at home and only send me in if there is any risk to myself or the baby. I feel that I can relax and concentrate on getting myself ready for the baby without worrying about the midwife and whether she will be supportive or not.

Good luck.

I've got four friends who've had homebirths with the Lewisham midwives.
I attempted a homebirth but transferred and ended up EMCS.
I'm pregnant again and having this baby at Kings.

I don't rate Lewisham hospital however they do have a new birth centre opening this month or next so could be a compromise if you are worried about the possibility of transferring.

I do have to say I thought the midwives were excellent on the labour ward.

Hi Mumabee and Mumcah,

Thank you so much for your advice, I didn't know Lewisham had a new birth centre opening, need to look that up.

Mumabee would you be interested in meeting at the Broca or somewhere for a cup of tea and chat about this? Seems like we have exactly the same worries.

I am now looking at St Thomas and Guys as they have excellent reviews and have a home from home birth centre, but than you can't guarantee to get a water bath which I really want and it would be so nicer to be at home.

Thanks,
Davina

Hi Davina,

I would be interested in meeting for a tea and chat. I've tried to send you a message with my phone number via 'contact poster' link but it says you are not receiving any messages. Please send me a message to let me know when you'd like to meet and I'll ring you back.

Regards, Natalie.

My sister had 2 lovely home births with Lewisham Community midwives (I was there for one) and I was booked in for one but ended up being induced at Lewisham Hospital instead. I won't lie, I did not have the nicest experience at Lewisham Hospital but this new birth centre may make all the difference - and you may feel that the niceness of Lewisham Community Midwives makes the risk worth it (I am considering what I would do if I get pregnant again, and I think I might risk it tbh).

Hi Mumabee,

I tried sending you a message and it denied it! I have changed my settings so you should be able to contact me now...Try and let me know via talk again.

Thanks and it will be nice to talk to you about this.
D

Hi Davina,

I've changed my settings and it should allow messages. Would you like to meet up this Saturday afternoon?

In the meantime, I have found these 2 threads that I used to get more information about the options available. I hope they are helpful.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/623071-choice-of-four-lewisham-st-elizabeth-39-s-in-woolwich?pg =2. I got some very useful information from pinkfizzle's link about each hospital's performance against England's national average.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/897120-which-hospital-lewisham-kings-st-thomas-39

N