Now no home births - options?

[RainMinusBow]

So my hb midwife informed me earlier a home births are suspended in my area. From the moment I was pg I decided on a hb for many reasons so this isn't just a knee-jerk decision.

I am not going into hospital for many reasons - a significant one of which is I refuse to put my baby and myself at unecessary risk of becoming infected with Covid-19.

Does anybody know what other choices are available to me? I have heard of freebirthing but don't know much about it?

Hi OP, just to let you know so you can make an informed decision; the hospital are not obliged to send a midwife to you if you decline to go to hospital and decide to labour at home. You are also not obliged to go to hospital if you don’t want to, but you’re likely to have to have a very frank discussion with your MW/obstetrician so that they know you understand the risks of birth without professional support and that you have the capacity to make that decision for yourself (ie no delirium/coercion/psychosis etc)

If you get into trouble, they will send an ambulance to take you to hospital (obviously how quickly that happens depends on pressures on the ambulance service at that time)

I’d recommend you book a chat with your midwife to explore your options so that you can come to a safe decision that is acceptable to you (I appreciate that’s difficult when services are changing week by week!) Is it possible to address your anxiety too? If you have post traumatic stress from your previous birth, please talk to someone that can help

For those saying have you considered birthing centres....
I really don’t think there is a consideration for anyone to make here at all. I was told weeks ago that the mw led birthing centre at my hospital will be for corona infected mums only, with no partners, and the labour wards will be for all others. No choice for anyone. Homebirths will categorically not be happening. You will be home within a few hours of giving birth and there will be no pre or post natal care basically. My midwife told me this. There aren’t choices here to be made for those of us giving birth any time soon - much like there isn’t for intensive care patients right now. It’s frustrating me the naivity around this, if one more person says to me ‘have you considered a homebirth?’ Its all everyone says to me. On what planet is there the resource right now for 2 midwives to be sitting at my house for hours when they are going to be working at extremely limited capacity with sickness/self isolation/childcare issues among the midwives.

@123456kent that may be the case for your trust but for my hospital, the MLU is still very much open. Sorry you aren’t having a good experience but things do vary considerably by area.

If you can afford a private midwife, get one so you can still have a home birth.

If not, consider getting a doula who could support you and maybe help alleviate some of your fears about a hospital birth.

Hi guys. Thanks for all the info. I am drinking but basically stopped I've stopped eating so hopefully there will be an end to all of this for me soon x

Are you saying that you've stopped eating because of severe anxiety?

You should call your GP or midwife ASAP. Get a referral to perinatal mental health.

You’re not eating and drinking because of the situation? You need to speak to your midwife.

I am very pro home birth, both of mine were at home.

Having said that in the current enviornment if the NHS cannot support home birth I would 100% be looking at a midwife led unit or hospital birth. A birth with private midwives would be too risky at the moment as a quick ambulance transfer if needed could not be guaranteed.

Yes. My OH is very poorly, my mother has cancer and my two young boys are being kept by their dad "for the forseeable future" apparently due to coronavirus. It's been 10 days without them now.

When are you due? Why aren't you eating? Get some help

What is the usual contact arrangement? Is there a court order or an informal arrangement?

I've left messages for my mw but she's not called me.

OP you sound like you might need some urgent help. You need to eat for the good of your baby.

Can you use an IM

Is this your first baby

Court order but police say can't enforce.

You and your baby will be much safer in hospital than giving birth at home in this current situation.

@cultkid what's an IM?

Independent midwife
Where are you?

I can recommend Kent midwifery practise, Kay Hardie
she can deliver at home xx

Why have you stopped eating my love

Are you usually the resident parent?

See childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/contact/

And get legal advice if you can, Child Law Advice and Rights of Women have free helplines.

(See Enforcement of Child Arrangements Order or Contact Order at bottom of page)

@NameChange30 It's exactly 50/50.

OP you really need to start eating, I know it's a response to your anxiety but if you don't you may end up with a stay in hospital as a critical patient which both you and the NHS don't need at the moment.

Please think of the welfare of your unborn child and the fact that you need to be fit and healthy to give birth wherever that happens and also for your little boys when they are returned home.

Do what you can do right now, a glass of water, a bowl of soup and some dry crackers or bread and sit down and research private midwives.

Please please, the last thing you want is to be admitted to hospital under a section, I'm sorry to scare you but a pregnant woman going on hunger strike would ring all sorts of bells, as it should, to anyone in midwifery.

One step at a time to keep control over what you can right now.

@Bloomburger Thank you. I'm trying little bits only to bring them up about 20 mins later!