Home birth - How do I get one?

[weirdbird]

I have tried to talk to my midwife (at my one appt to date!), but she put me off saying it was far to early to talk about.

I am 22 weeks pregnant and would like to know whether we would get a Home birth through the local authority or whether to start saving up for a private midwife.

I had my daughter 3 hours after arriving at the hospital with just gas and air, I had only been in labour for a few hours before that and actually went to sleep

I really want to plan a homebirth rather than have one by accident which I think is likely to happen.

How do you go about this, everything has changed since I was pregnant nearly 5 years ago...

I had my booking in appt with my midwife lst week (I'm 10 weeks)
She asked me 3rd question in, where did I want to have my baby. Home/hospital or midwive unit.
I said home
she wrote it on the front of my notes in bold letters.
Yesterday consultant said oh home birth, good on you.
I think I am very lucky though...
It is not too early for your midwife to talk about it
I also had my two children in under 1.5 hours of labour so my reasons for staying at home are much like yours, plus I really want to have my last bbay at home!

Likewise with piffle (btw, how did I miss that news - congratulations m'dear. Lovely news). My midwife asked me at the booking stage. I was lucky too though as my midwife is also a personal friend, so I knew I'd be looked after. Sadly, because of a severe shortage of midwives, my friend across the road is telling me it might not be possible for her to have one this time despite having her previous baby at home with no problems.

It meant the world to me to have my last baby at home though, so if it's what you want, then I'd push hard for it now.

I absolutely agree - no way is it too early! My midwife asked me at booking appointment and have been planning it since then. It's worth doing your research on here and other places online as it is your right to have a home birth if you choose.

My booking in appt was at the hospital as I ended up having my referral there for hiatus hernia with the Consultant before my booking in, so they had to do it as they needed most of the info supplied to do the Consult!

Unfortunately I had some experience of this midwife first time around and although she is very "nice" I found her diabolical from a medical/info POV.

Will look on my notes, so is it the midwife who tells everyone else?

This is what I would do

1. Tell your midwife you are having a home birth and to please arrange it. Do not ask.

2. Tell your midwife you have sent a letter to the HOM informing her of your decision.

I was about 28 weeks when we moved up here asked for a homebirth as soon as I saw MW she wasn't that keen TBH v rare up here (Scotland). had "Requests a homebirth" stamped over my notes. After that the MWs did get a bit better, only thing was I only had MW cover from 39-42 weeks as this is all they can afford to have the MWs oncall for (I know bizarre). I had DD1 at 37+1 so was upset at the thought I might again go early and end up in hospital even if I was 38+6 I would have to go to hospital. Anyway of course when the time came DD2 was late and I was looking at an induction she eventually made her appearance at 41+5 weeks!

Anyway I digress, I had to see a consultant who was totally against homebirth treated me like a complete idiot who knew nothing. I completed ignored him and about everyone else as no one was supportive of me having a homebirth (apart from on MN of course).

I got a homebirth kit supplied by the hospital which had loads of lovely gas and air in it. My labour lasted 2 1/2 hours and was horrendous but afterwards it was bliss, I got up had a shower in my clean shower MWs made up the bed and DD2, DP and I got in for a cuddle, then DD1 got up and came into bed with us all, a lovely moment.

Stick to your guns tell them you want a homebirth, it's your choice, best of luck x

I guess it may be different in different areas - and some are far more pro-homebirths than others.

I too was asked at booking appt, because i said homebirth i am looked after under midwife led care rather than consultant led - which is what you get if you have hospital birth although u don't actually see a consultant unless u have any complications.

So i'm not assigned to any local hospital - only community midwives.