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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

OK Independent Midwives, 20 Questions...

58 replies

Ceolas · 20/12/2006 21:07

... at least!

I have just found out I'm pregnant with baby number 4. 3 previous hospital births but no major complications. I wanted a homebirth last time but was talked out of it at 36 weeks. I am determined to have this one at home.

I am considering an IM for continuity of care and knowing that she'd be an expert in homebirth. It would be a lot of money to us so I want to hear your reasurrances that It'll be worth it!

Also, I'm not sure of the ettiquette of it all. If I book with an IM, do I see my GP? Community midwives? Consultant? Those who have, was there any resistance from your GP?

I'm literally only 4-5 weeks at the moment (tested on Monday), but want to get it right from the beginning!

More questions to follow

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Original poster

Ceolas · 21/12/2006 23:13

We are near Glasgow and I feel my choice will be very limited. There seem to be a few in the country who will travel up to an hour from home. Might have the choice of 2 or 3 at most.

OP posts:

Mincepiedermama · 22/12/2006 11:51

If I were you I'd meet the available ones first of all. Also would there be any in Edinburgh willing to come through?

If you don't get on with the indie mws there, you could consider staying with the NHS and having a doula.

Although there's no reason why you wouldn't get on with the available mws.

Glassofwine · 22/12/2006 19:26

Mincepiedermama - the bad exeperience I had was with Birth Rites !

Original poster

Ceolas · 22/12/2006 23:39

I am thinking that for the moment, I'll see my GP, make appt with community MWs and see what the lie of the land is.

First hint of negativity and I will be phoning round IMs!

OP posts:

Mincepiedermama · 24/12/2006 00:22

Glassofwine I'm really sorry to hear that. I'm astonished at your story. Birthrites used to be one group, then they split off into two groups and the good ones (in my opinion) became Sout London Midwives and the - erm - shall we say the ones who I didn't connect so well with kept the name Birthrites.

I wonder who you had, when and why your experience was so bad. I had my first one with Birthrites in 1998, then my second in 200, then they became SLM and I had my next two with them. I used to go to the BR's parties and now the SLMs parties and we all rave about them.

Mind you I guess those with bad experiences are unlikely to go to the parties.

mummypig · 24/12/2006 01:07

I had an IM for my second son - and she was one of the SLIM midwives too! I thought it was wonderful, and I was so pleased I had booked with an independent midwife. One of the most important things was that they knew me so well by the time it came to labour, it really didn't matter about writing down a 'birth plan' and trying to get them to read it, as they knew exactly what I wanted anyway. Plus I trusted them to make the right decisions should anything unexpected happen.

I had wanted to have ds1 at home too, and the community midwife team seemed pretty keen on the idea, but I was sent to hospital due to 'high' blood pressure and suspected pre-eclampsia at 37 weeks and ended up staying, and was induced at 38 weeks. The delivery was okay but after care was terrible, especially the lack of breastfeeding support, and ds1 ended up in special care, which I don't think would have happened had I had the kind of support I had from the IM after ds2 was born. Also I was suprised to find that many midwives on the pre and post natal wards didn't like attending labours, and I didn't get much acknowledgement that I really was in labour until it was very well established.

Then when I was pg with ds2 we were moving house very close to his due date, so I knew it would be tricky to persuade mw from hospitals in either area to cover a hb, given that we didn't know where we might be when I went into labour. Luckily my mum came into some money and I knew exactly what I wanted to spend it on.

I am so sorry to hear your story, GlassofWine, and yours too, poppet. Both midwives sound quite unprofessional. At the very least, you would expect them to have arranged cover for their moving day. And surely it should be routine to make sure the gas and air was working before they came to your house.

anyway, ceolas, I hope you do well in your search.

Original poster

Ceolas · 04/01/2007 14:08

I have been to-ing and fro-ing about this and haven't been to GP yet. Have just spoken to an IM on the phone and have arranged to meet her in two weeks.

OP posts:

Original poster

Ceolas · 04/01/2007 17:31

Keep the stories coming if you will please

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