Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

been warned we will probably have our planned homebirth cancelled despite being low risk

47 replies

MadreInglese · 10/03/2011 12:43

chatting to midwife the other day and she said to be aware that they have had many homebirths cancelled recently due to staffing levels being low and the labour ward being busy

a friend of mine who is also a midwife keeps telling me that legally they can't cancel or refuse you a homebirth if you are low risk - she basically said if you go into labour and call them and tell them you are insisting on a homebirth then they HAVE to send a midwife out to you (although you may not get the two required)

my friend lives in a different healthcare area but was adamant this is a national policy, I do see what she's saying but if they haven't physically got the staff there's not much that my insistance can do about it, is there?

I'd ideally like a homebirth but it wouldn't be the end of the world if I didn't get one, and of course we'd want to do the safest thing for the baby, but now I'm convinced that they're just going to cancel it anyway as my midwife was going on and on about staffing problems

has anyone come across this recently?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

VivaLeBeaver · 10/03/2011 12:49

I think you're both right. Legally you should be able to insist on a homebirth and have a midwife. But like you say if there isn't anyone physically there to come its a bit pointless arguing on the actual night. You can contact a supervisor of midwives before hand and tell them that you're not impressed and that you're aware that you're legally entitled to a m/w

I do know of a trust where a woman stuck to her guns thinking they'd have to send a m/w and refused to come in to labour ward. There wasn't a midwife available to go so when she rang back for the 20th time and said she was pushing they sent an ambulance.

nailak · 10/03/2011 12:54

i had an unassisted hb and it was fine, if you low risk and have had previous successful deliveries then i would stick to your guns. they always have the option of agency staff. they are just trying to put you off.

VivaLeBeaver · 10/03/2011 12:57

Not every hospital has agency staff, where I work we don't. The midwives work on the "bank" so will do extras. But I frequently get phonecalls saying can you come in, we're busy, etc. And I say no thanks, quite happy sat at home watching TV. What can the hospital do if all the midwives say no? I'm not under any obligation to go in.

Original poster

MadreInglese · 10/03/2011 12:58

yes had one completely normal birth previously with no problems in a hospital midwife-led unit

I'm concerned that if I insist it may end up being delivered by DP (a farmer so thinks he has some, if not slightly irrelevant, experience ) or a paramedic

I did wonder about agency staff - excluding homebirths they must have to have certain staffing levels on the labour ward and if they're short would that be topped up with agency staff?

I don't know if they have a valid point or if they're just trying to fob me off at this stage

OP posts:

VivaLeBeaver · 10/03/2011 13:01

Ha ha ha at the idea that if we're short staffed on labour ward then staffing levels are topped up - I wish. No it doesn't happen, this is why midwives end up looking after 3 women at a time on labour ward.

SnapFrakkleAndPop · 10/03/2011 13:01

I doubt they're trying to pull a fast one. It may be that they're very stretched and honestly have to weigh up the lives of women in hospital against one at home. It sounds horrible to put it like that but if they really cannot spare the staff then you will have to go to them unless you want an unassisted hb.

If there's only 1 team on call for hbs and someone else beats you to it what do you do?!

You have the right to give birth at home, you don't have the unassailable right to receive the service at home.

If, however, there's a MW with you at home at any point whilst you're labouring they then can't leave you.

lindy100 · 10/03/2011 13:08

Legally they don't have to send a mw. The least you will get is a paramedic, in which case you will have to go to hosp after anyway, as they can't touch the cord.

I've been to numerous hb groups run by various bodies, and had a doula who was on our hospital's maternity liaison committee for my ante-natal group leader. I haev met people who have given birth under these conditions.

However, it is very rare to be alone/with paramedics. Though I think that partly this is because people (understandably) decide not to stand their ground when in labour.

nailak · 10/03/2011 13:08

my dp delivered my baby then paramedics came and cut the cord etc then mw turned up after to check it out. was the best experience of my life my hb

nailak · 10/03/2011 13:09

they cant touch the cord? the paramedics cut my cord...

squiggleywiggler · 10/03/2011 13:10

Just letting you know the experience I've had supporting 2 couples who were told this in labour.

Both let the MW know they were planning on staying at home and expecting MWs to attend and both times after a second phone call MWs did attend.

The latest couple were last month. The MWs themselves themselves were at the end of a shift and did spend a bit of time in the other room trying to get MWs to replace them. This happened eventually and not until the baby was born.

They were lovely and although I'm sure they would rather have been at home totally understood and wanted to support the couple to have a homebirth.

Original poster

MadreInglese · 10/03/2011 13:11

Yes I think they are very stretched hence why she was warning me

Perhaps they do only have one hb team as she did say if the hb midwifes are already out up the dales with a hb lady then I'd have to wait my turn in the queue or go into hospital

It did surprise me as I don't live in the middle of nowhere but I guess everywhere is short staffed and stretched at the mo

Just goes to show you don't always get what you planned!

I think I may stop discussing it with my midwife friend though as she gets quite irate about what I'm 'entitled to' when I talk about the service here

OP posts:

Bramshott · 10/03/2011 13:15

Paramedics cut the cord after my unassisted birth, but they did then take us on to hospital (which to be fair, was where we were on our way to in any case).

I think if I were you, I'd keep an open mind. Was your previous labour quick? TBH, I wish I had stayed at home with DD2 and not tried to get to hospital.

Original poster

MadreInglese · 10/03/2011 13:16

Oh I certainly wouldn't want to stamp my feet and make some poor midwife come and deal with me after doing a 12 hour shift!

I think I was just a little disappointed and felt she was giving me the impression that women wanting a hb are just a bit of a pita for midwives.

OP posts:

owlbooty · 10/03/2011 13:17

I think for the benefit of the MWs it would perhaps be worth writing to your hospital trust. Just looking at this from the other side of things, I suspect it must be very disappointing for a MW to help a woman get all geared up for a home birth then not be able to help her have one and be ridiculously over-stretched on the wards to boot.

I know there's a big shortage of MWs generally but if the hospital are aware that it is causing problems for patients like this then you'd hope it might get bumped up the priority list.

Having worked on a ward I know this may be wishful thinking but I don't think there's any harm in trying.

squiggleywiggler · 10/03/2011 13:19

It's also worth having a look at this link [www.homebirth.org.uk/homebirthuk.htm#staff

nailak · 10/03/2011 13:20

they tried to take me to hospital but i didnt go

VivaLeBeaver · 10/03/2011 13:20

Midwives don't think women wanting a homebirth are a pita at all. They generally enjoy homebirths.

heavenstobetsy · 10/03/2011 13:23

My understanding is that they do have to assist you if you insist on a homebirth - however, in my area the consquence of such insistance at times when the staff are thin on the ground is that the MW led birthing unit is closed so that the MW's can attend the homebirth and then women who are labouring and wanted to attend the unit are directed to the hospital!

Whilst I appreciate that women have the right to ask for the birth they want, I do feel for the poor women who end up with a hospital birth rather than a MW unit birth because of someone else's rigid insistance on their 'right' to give birth at home -the last time I was there three women ended up giving birth at a hospital 15 miles away so that one woman could stay at home.

Original poster

MadreInglese · 10/03/2011 13:29

no sorry VLB I didn't mean all midwives, that was just the impression this one gave me

(should add she wasn't the one I normally see, she was covering holiday)

OP posts:

Original poster

MadreInglese · 10/03/2011 13:31

there isn't a MW unit here anymore, just a hospital labour ward

OP posts:

Secondtimelucky · 10/03/2011 13:33

Oh God, I'm hoping for a homebirth with DC2 and this is one of my fears. I think my hospital is actually pretty good at this, in that the only time I've heard of someone being asked to come in was during the serious snow a couple of years ago, when there really was a chronic problem with staffing.

I think from my perspective, unless hospitals see the effects of not properly staffing the homebirth teams, they are unlikely to prioritise ensuring sufficient staff in those areas. If every women who is asked to come in does so without a murmur, doesn't it look like they can manage with the staff they have an undermine any case that the manager might have in budget meetings, etc?

Original poster

MadreInglese · 10/03/2011 13:38

yes good point second time lucky

I wonder how many women who have their homebirths cancelled because of staffing levels actually complain about it afterwards?

I don't know though if it's a case of they have't enough midwives employed in our area, or if they haven't enough money allocated to employ more midwives, or what

OP posts:

wildflowersinajug · 10/03/2011 13:39

I feel for the poor women who have to go into hospital because you are much better off having a baby at home if you are low risk.

I played them at their own game, when they said you have to go in I said you have to come here.

As a result of sticking to my guns despite the threats I got my fantastic homebirth. It's NOT the labouring woman's fault but if you agree and go in you are making it harder for the next woman to get a home birth.

There are plenty of independent midwives, the NHS will just have to hire them if there aren't enough NHS midwives.

It's pathetic for women to attack other labouring women for taking up a midwife's time, attack the policy makers instead fgs!

Original poster

MadreInglese · 10/03/2011 14:40

I wonder if healthcare £££ bods assess the number of cancelled homebirths when budgeting for staff...

OP posts:

NotJustKangaskhan · 10/03/2011 15:40

I had a similar experience nailak.

With my second (who was speedy), my husband called and they said they're wasn't anyone immediately available, did we want to come in or have them send paramedics to come get us. My husband told them it was a homebirth and they then asked to speak to me, and after asking me if I had the urge to poo (seriously, not urge to push, urge to poo) they asked me the same thing, I said I wanted someone to come out to me. They sent out paramedics to wait with us until the midwives arrived 45 minutes later. My favourite birth, went really well (though my husband wasn't so fond )

To avoid paramedics/DP delivery, contact them early (when you get steady contractions) to give them plenty of time to get two available (homebirth midmives come in pairs, at least where I am) and for them to get there.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread