Homebirth in South Bristol

[ChinaSurprise]

Hi
Have any Bristol mums had experience of arranging homebirth in South Bristol? I live in Knowle and my midewives are based at the Broadfield Road centre. My pre-booking appointment is in a couple of weeks and my booking appt a month after that and am planning to raise it then but I want to know whether I'm going to face opposition. Have any of you had a homebirth in S Bristol? I'm trying to find out how helpful the area midwives are about it, do they try to dissuade you etc etc.
I've always known I'd want a homebirth but am worried I'm not going to get the support I need.
Unless there are serious complications I would not consider a hospital birth - what can I expect locally?

Hi, my midwife in Clevedon dissuaded me from a home birth on the grounds it was my first, but remember that most midwives will support your decision. After all it is YOUR birth and if you're adamant about a homebirth then they must support you so I wouldn't get too anxious. Just do your homework before you go so you can counter any negativity but hopefully they will be behind you. : )

MaeWest had a homebirth for her first in Bristol. Not sure which area, but it she may have some good advice.

SHe's not on here all the time though. I'll look out for her.

Thanks. Will see if I can spot MW too.
Cheers!

SHe hasn't been on for a while, I've just checked.

I'll see if someone has her number to direct her here.

You called?

Aha - no wonder I didn't get anything on your name, you've changed it! Sneaky

Pathetic attempt at Halloween japery

Anyway... back to homebirth in Bristol. I'm in East Bristol and had DS at home in July 06. Not sure how the different community mw teams vary in supportiveness, suspect it may depend on your individual midwife. DH and I went to a homebirth group in St Werburghs as part of birth prep (not sure if this is still going, worth a google). There was an independent mw there, and women told their experiences. Particularly good for DH who was quite nervous.

My mw was not terribly supportive of homebirth throughout my antenatal care - I think she felt it was her job to be 'realistic' with me. This involved saying things like "I had 16 ladies booked in for hb last month and all but one transferred to hosp". Thanks for that! SHe ended up delivering DS and was pretty good when push came to shove as t'were.

I did end up going into the mw unit during labour as my temp was up and they wanted to check me and the baby over. I took my birth ball with me and kept active, we came home having been there about an hour and DS was born in my living room at about 2pm the next day. Fantastic experience

HTH

That was fast!
Thanks for the speedy reply.
I have heard of the St W group and think it's still going - am planning to check it out. As am over the other side of the city my mw won't be the same as yours (unless she has a new job - haha) but it's good to hear you didn't get bullied too much.
Will let you know how I get on. First appt next Friday...
Ttfn and thanks again
China

I am a homebirth bore Good luck with the appointment next week. If you need more info and stats to back yourself up try www.homebirth.org.uk if you haven't visited it already...

Thanks - I have had a good trawl there already. Lots of info to back up what I'm after but it's just good to hear a real success story.
Will let you know how I get on. :-)

Hi, im in the middle of planning a home birth myself and was wondering if anyone knows of anyone in Bristol who has a birth pool to sell???? Im looking to buy one of those inflatable ones second hand and buy a new liner rather than hire one...? Thanks

alovelyday - can't help there as I didn't have a pool myself (did use the bath quite a lot to start with tho). Maybe try the St Werburghs homebirth group - they might know someone who has one?