advice about Homerton Hospital? homebirth, waterbirth, or asylum?

[joyasha]

Hello,

I am a 42 year old preparing for a first birth. I have had quite an emotional time as I had two miscarriages before. I have my care at Homerton but rightly or wrongly am having my doubts about having a hospital birth. When I started care at the early pregnancy unit they were lovely and I thought I would opt for hospital birth hopefully in their birthing pool. As pregnancy progressed and I started care in a new ward I have felt like a number being processed and while they haven't been horrible they haven't been helpful either. I have a new midwife every time and they have been delaying questions about a birth plan till later (I am 28 weeks) My GP is awful so I feel I have no one to go to for advice. Anyway should I try for a homebirth or go to the hospital. Any recent feed back on Homerton would be fabulous.
Thank you in advance

Hi Joyasha

If you are worried I would definitely recommend calling the Head of Midwifery Joan Douglas - I went to see her last week and she was great. She showed me round, answered all my questions etc. I came out feeling really calm and reassured.

I think Homerton do make a real effort to make it mother-centric, active and reduce interventions. I have also heard a lot of positive stories about birth there.

You could also consider hiring a Doula to support you. I found it really fantastic just talking to a few on the phone - they make you feel like you CAN take back control over the process, even in hospital.

My preference would have been for a homebirth (not an option for me in the end) but check out the hospital anyway.

Pazza xxx

Really glad to hear what you put Littledancer'
My baby is due in May and have had various responses
from different midwifes about trying for a homebirth in water.
The last MW was really encouraging, but first two said they would have to check policy...whether I could have a homebirth with a first pregnancy.
I really want to try in water and I was told you would obviously only get to use the pool at the hospital if there wasn't already someone else in it ! I live two streets from the hospital so figured if there were any problems with homebirth I could be whisked round the corner !!
Anyone else in Hackney Homerton area due early May !!

I am due to give birth in Homerton mid June so far the care I have received has been excellent. no problem about getting emergency scans when I was 6, 8 and 16 weeks pregnant as I was having so much spotting. Also on 20 wk scan had great sonographer who noticed a problem nothing too serious and swiftly whisked me off to the fetal welfare consultant where I only waited 10 mins to be seen and got a prescription and a date for a further scan in 4 weeks so they were very on the ball with my care.

I am yet to see the actual birth facilities so hoping for a water birth but I guess I will see if available

I'm due May 21st, starting my Homerton antenatals on the Wednesday evenings next week (27th).

Abbyx - I would have gone for homebirth and hiring my own pool like you want to, first birth too and I live a bit further away - but I'm due twins so I've decided to go to hospital this time.

You can definitely have a first birth at home if you want to.

Glitterbird the pool looks great. Don't you dare be in it when I need it!!!

Hello, for Clairemo and Pazzaplustwo, my mobile is #07817352866, feel free to call and if you're still interested I can give you the number for the lovely doula who assisted my last labour.
Best, LD

Hello Abbyx, Yes homebirth for first baby definately "allowed", in fact as far as I understand you really have the right to deliver anywhere you want, although I too got some confusing/negative responses from the professionals. Many people think the home is the ideal place for first births as you're more likely to be anxious and so benefit more greatly from the relaxed atmosphere of your own home, worked for me anyway!
Best, LD

Hi there - I am 28 weeks and due to have my first at the Homerton end of May 08.

At first I felt pretty down about the midwife care as well but I quickly realised that it's just that I am low risk and they are therefore not very interested in me - this is probably much preferable to being high-risk and them being over-interested! certainly the level of interest and engagement has increased as I am getting further along. My midwife suggested we do the birth plan together at 34 weeks which I think is fine.

I had a little scare last w/e when I hadn't felt my LO move all day - phoned the delivery ward at Homerton and they asked me to come in for monitoring and I have to say that the care and attention I received really put my mind at rest. Everyone treated us really well and explained everything they were doing and didn't make me feel like a useless first-time worrier (which is obvs what I am). It also put my mind at rest slightly about the people who will be there on the day.

I really hope we both manage to get a good experience!

I've been going to the antenatal classes on Wednesday evenings at Homerton. It's been interesting so far, noot too scary! Anyone else started theirs yet?

Hello, i gave birth at the homerton in nov last year. was first baby. i found the maternity care pretty ropey lots of different midwives, no one interested in a birthing plan, even at 39 weeks, etc. But when the big night came, it was really good. Went to the miwdife-led bit, had one midwife the whole way through (though shifts do change of course, depending on your timing), who was lovely and strong. Used the pool and found it really good in terms of pain relief (didn't use anything else). Afterwards i'd recommend a private room if there's one free much quieter and calmer than the wards. And the Hackney helpline is great for both maternity and afterwards.

I had my DS in April 2008 at the Homerton. I followed the mumsnet threads on hospitals for several months and was not sure if I had made the right choice. I must say that apart from having to wait for a bed on arrival (all hospitals will be understaffed at some point or other) when I did get a midwife, the care during my delivery was amazing. There was a changeover of midwives at my final pushing stage and even that didn't phase me because the care was great and the midwives made me feel at ease and really helped me through it. Afterwards, I was lucky enough get a side room away from the general postnatal ward so got some good sleep and tended to my baby without fear of getting told to pipe down. I would have another there without fear. I would say that everyone's experience will be different so just go with gut feel.

I LOVE the Homerton. Had my second baby there yesterday and had to write somewhere how amazing I think it is.

Have spent time in A&E, Dermatology, Gastroenterology... er... and now had two babies there (one epidural - lots of intervention and this one no pain relief - very quick) and have to say I am constantly impressed. Apart from a couple of miserable midwives on the (daytime) postnatal ward- who even they were fine if you approached them slightly differently - everyone I have ever met there (security guards, doctors, midwives, everybody) have been LOVELy and sweet and professional and caring and I cannot praise the hospital highly enough. I was absolutely terrified that i wouldn't be able to get my epidural this time... and actually, circumstances meant that I was in fact too late (arrived almost ready to push - had baby in under an hour!) but I think it's testament to the hospital and midwives that I felt confident and capable and the experience wasn't terrifying but empowering.

Dh and I are genuinely baffled why Homerton continues to get bashed in the media as we have experienced nothing but impressive and impeccable care there