Told I have to see consultant to argue for homebirth...

[emskaboo]

Because I had third degree tears. I am totally clear I want a HB, I had a two and a half hour labour with my first and given my mum's and sister's birth histories expect this one to be faster, like under an hour! I really want to be at home.

I only ended up in hospital last time as I went into established labour in M&S's loos (didn't realise I was in labour until then).

Does anyone know of any medical evidence which would support my opinion that just because I had third degree tears first time round my risk isn't greater this time? (The tears were caused as I was told to push when I didn't want to and my ds didn't have time to turn his shoulders.)

Thank you

Sorry don't have any medical references. However I do have a positive tale in that after a 3rd degree tear with DD (7lbs 3oz), I went on to have a planned home birth with DS (9lbs 5oz - OUCH).

DD came at 37wks 4 days after SROM. I did plan for a home birth but ended up being induced after 48 hours. There were 3 hours of pushing, an episiotomy and she arrived with her hand up to her cheek. I was stitched in theatre and healed well after 3 weeks of discomfort.

With DS he arrived bang on due date. Labour was 6 hours from very first twinges, only 3.5 hours established labour. Pushing for about 20 minutes. I did have a 2nd degree tear though which the midwives stitched. The stitches fell out after 2 days and I was left to heal 'naturally', it took a bit longer this time but generally seems OK now.

My midwives were very relaxed about the third degree tear, though they did send me in to see a consultant to check the repair over first. However I have heard from other women who are pushed into a much more medicalised route because of their 3rd degrees - even to the point of elective CS . Stand by your guns, and I hope you find the medical backup you need.

They have a duty to attend you wherever you go into labour. They may use language like "We can't allow you..." but it's not about being allowed -- you are an adult and you have a right to make your choices and request their services accordingly.

Not that I am completely inflexible in my militant outraged response to your situation if a MW unit said that they were short-staffed & could I please come in and skip a homebirth I would go in but the lines you've been fed are a load of sh*te.

I'm sorry I can't help you with the medical evidence -- there is a homebirth email list & website which is extremely useful, where people WILL know how to find the info you want

no, you don't

you merely need to repeat, ' i am making an infomred decision to have a planned homebirth'

if your labours are v fast, a planned HB is far safer than giving birth en route to the hospital or alone

contact AIMS.org.uk. their chair, beverley beech is amazing, and will ensure you are responded to

you are legally entiteld to be attended to at home for your laboru and delivery

i would speak to the consultatn midwife and supervisor of midwives to discuss further and to ensure you will get the support you are entitled to

you can deliver at home, if the tear is bad again oyu can transfer in for stitches if needed..there! Everyon'es happy

FWIW I was referred to the consultant to discuss my homebirth plans...went in expecting a fight only for her to roll over. I know I didn't need her permission but I did appreciate and want to know her medical opinion...she has a bit of experience in this area. So my advice would be to go and litsen challenge anything woolly but knowledge is power and it may be useful to you and go much better than you expect.

I had a home birth after a 3rd degree tear. MW's had no problem at all with me having HB. They said that likelihood of having a similar tear depended on why it happened first time. For me it was because DS1 shot out all in one go, there was no panting while the head came out.

It seems like you have good reason to not have a bad tear again. I also wanted a HB because of speed of labour. It is much better to have the MW's doing the travelling when you are in full on labour than it being you.

Good luck and make sure you get the HB.

Thanks everyone. Lionstar, that's a lovely story, thank you.

I am fully intending to do my broken record thing of just repeating again and again, 'I will be having a home birth, I have weighed up the risks and am satisfied this is the best option for me and my family'.

I was just hoping I could blind them with science too!

Eglu, that's really reassuring as that sounds just like my first labour, thank you for posting.

Forgot to add that like Lionstar I had a second degree tear, which the mw said was not preventable as the birth was as controlled as possible. I was stitched by the mw in my bedroom and all was fine.

look here, navigate to the:

Can I have a homebirth if? section
then, if I have had a previous bad tear.

Hopefuly there's some info there to help you

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