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?

Free birthing at home would be extremely risky in current situation. An independent midwife could make this less risky. Otherwise a doula with you at the hospital can dramatically reduce risks of interventions.
I understand because I also am afraid of interventions and would rather a home birth. But I would never do a free birth, it's just too risky. X

@RainMinusBow my post wasn’t aimed at you, it was another poster who I thought was a bit insensitive to you.

@IslayBrigid I'm looking at the cost/availability of an IM. Doulas aren't medically qualified and would also mean I wouldn't have my OH there. This will be his first and definitely last baby.

Yea it's your 'right' to have the baby at home, but it's jolly unfair to do so, given you hugely increase the risk of something bad happening to your baby, you may be taking up a valuable ambulance at a time of crisis and will be putting the hospital and midwives under extra stress.

You can decline anything you want even in a hospital. So you don’t need to have VE’s in a hospital setting.

It’s a shame HB isn’t being offered, I know some trusts have actually increased home birth services because they can be cheaper than hospital birth and lots more women now reluctant to come into hospital.

Have you considered hiring a doula? If you have a good researched birth plan and a supportive birth partner then there’s no reason you can’t have a positive birth in a hospital setting.

@TwinkleStars15 the OP has said that homebirths are suspended in her area, but yes sorry, appreciate every area is different and every hospital is different. Apologies for the scaremongering, can see OP is very anxious so that’s not helpful. I’m irritable and stressed IRL with suggestions that just aren’t possible, and i’m exhausted and worried, but obv on here a lot people in the same boat that need positivity so I apologise!

But ateotd it is my right to have my baby at home if I choose to

I’m so sorry for the hard time you’re having, but please consider that if you have your baby at home and an ambulance is called for you, you would be diverting it from other people. They are an extremely scarce resource at the moment and it is going to get worse.

I’m pregnant and I’m upset too about the position so I am not trying to be harsh but it isn’t necessarily just yourself you’re putting at risk. Please speak to your midwife

OP I believe by saying you are NOT having the baby in hospital, you are setting yourself up for a potential massive disappointment, which would almost guarantee you'll develop PND if you do end up in hospital.
You need to have a plan B in case of emergencies. Suggesting that you'll freebirth if you can't get a midwife organised is just plain dangerous. Putting yourself and your baby at risk in this way is huge concern. Perhaps your dp is going along with this idea to keep you happy, rather than him actually believing it's a good idea.
Sit down with the midwife and draw up plan b with will include if you have to go into hospital. That way, you stay in control as much as possible and the outcome may be much better for you.

Just to add (I had to dash a minute ago, so pressed send too quick), I do understand your anxiety over this, and I have huge sympathy for you and your situation. But free birthing is the most risky thing you could do, as well as being unfair.

This virus is very low risk for babies. Free birthing will be the riskiest decision you ever make for your baby.

@Babyboomtastic Not sure what you mean by this? Given you hugely increase the risk of something bad happening to your baby.

I'm assuming you mean if I were to freebirth?

I've made the choice not to go to hospital. I just need to find an independent midwife to help me now 😊

What if the Independent midwife tells you that there is a complication with the birth requiring hospital treatment to save the life of you and/or your baby?

I've made the choice not to go to hospital. I just need to find an independent midwife to help me now 😊

And what if she's there and something goes wrong and she recommends you go to hospital?

Then I would go in on her medical advice.

@Soontobe60 has it spot on here. OP, you need to get your head around the potential need to go to hospital.

I think that this is a very sensible decision by your trust, probably at least partly based on the fact that if something were to go wrong, an ambulance might take longer to get to you during the pandemic.

Please, please do not free birth. It’s risky anyway but if something went wrong and you needed an ambulance, and there was no HCP there to help manage the situation whilst you waited...

OP, I won’t chime in on your decision to homebirth/free birth.

I just wanted to say my friend went into hospital last night with an honest to god life threatening emergency, her ambulance took HALF AN HOUR to arrive! This was a blue light, life or death emergency. Half an hour. They gave up and drove in the end!

Does your partner drive in the event an emergency occurs? Or will your midwife?

Just bear in mind when that even if they do you won’t have the respiratory equipment etc the ambulance would have should something go terribly wrong!

x

@PatchworkElmer Yes if an IM advised to go to hospital - because it was medically necessary - then I would go in.

If you have to go into hospital you will not be on a ward with women who have the virus. You may not even be in the same hospital, depending on where you live. In many cities they are keeping “ clean “ hospitals and putting all the patients with suspected Covid 19 in others.

So the chance of you or your baby catching it there is probably less than you catching it at the supermarket. Or your fiancé catching it and bringing it home.

Please discuss this with your midwife or doctor who will be able to tell you what’s happening locally . You need all the facts to make a logical decision that’s best for you, your baby and your older children.

I know it’s a frightening time to be pregnant and you are upset that you can’t get your first choice of a home birth. But you need to work out what’s best to do now, in this far from ideal situation.

@MrsRose2018 A home birth does not present greater risk than birthing at home. In fact, there are a huge number of advantages especially for very anxious ladies.

The IM would be there to advise if I needed to go in. If I couldn't get an ambulance then my OH would take me.

OP I didn’t say you were at higher risk, I just said if something went wrong!

There are complication risks with every pregnancy whether at home or in hospital - albeit lower at home if that’s what you think.

I was just enquiring about your ability to get to the hospital after the birth should you need to! Is it far from you? x

A home birth does not present greater risk than birthing at home.

Under normal circumstances yes, but we’re in the middle of a pandemic. The nhs wouldn’t have cancelled home births lightly.

@I0NA I understand all of that and it is not my primary reason for choosing a home birth over hospital. I made my decision last August before cv had even presented itself.

Op you aren't thinking clearly and you are going to risk yours and your baby's life by making rash decisions like you just have. What if you can't get an IM for any reason? The world is in a health crisis and you are willing to use up an ambulance when you could just have the birth at a hospital. Do you understand the strain the NHS currently is facing? I sympathise that you are anxious, I really do. But it's not fair for you to risk using up emergency resources at a time like this.

I really feel for you OP. This is such a hard time for everyone without the added stress of having your birth choices taken away.

Sorry if I’ve missed it but when are you due?

Also depending on where you are based there are some “stand alone” midwife led only units in the country. Not the same as home I know but certainly better than a hospital if that’s what you are Trying to avoid

I don’t see why they are taking this option away, I personally wouldn’t chose a home birth for myself but do feel very strongly about the mother needing to have the choice

@MrsRose2018 Yes, a short drive to nearest hospital.

@PurpleDaisies Not sure how that makes hb more risky? That's not the reason the hb team have been suspended.