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?

From my mat notes.

Hopefully this a bit clearer!!

Having read through the full post again, I believe you are now being reckless in your decision making. You are putting yourself and your unborn baby at significant risk. Yor main argument seems to be that your previous birth was very bad and as it was in hospital therefore all subsequent deliveries will also be as bad. Your secondary ndnargument, of it being safer at home rather than in a hospital with its risk of Covid infection, holds no water. It's absolutely pointless self isolating for a couple of weeks before the birth as you would also need the IMs to do the same. I would be extremely surprised if they said they are prepared to do this. In effect, you'd want them to be available for up to a month in isolation and would expect them to want paying for that Length of time.
You may well have significant anxiety linked to previous births, but the time you are now living in is unprecedented. Stop being so unrealistic, start opening your mind to all possible scenarios. Suggesting your dp would drive you to hospital in the event of an emergency if an ambulance were not available shows just how naive your thinking is. An ambulance would allow for the IM to travel with you along with a paramedic both of whom could continue to give you medical care during the journey. Sitting in your DPs car, even if you could get in, would not afford the same care. This is a recipe for disaster.

Anyway, as you're not due for a further 9 weeks, all this could be unnecessary and you may well get the birth you're so insistent on having. I do hope, for the sake of your baby, that this will be the case.

Don’t think if you refuse to come in midwives will come. Under normal circumstances yes they probably would. But you have no idea how bad staffing levels are already due to staff self isolating because of symptoms or health conditions. This will get worse as midwives do get properly poorly.

Not suggesting OP you’d do this but another poster mentioned it.

They can’t staff the labour wards. So my local hospital is supposed to have 7 midwives on shift, currently 5. There’s no way they’d send even 1 never mind 2 midwives out to you from those 5.

Another local trust has closed their smaller consultant led unit for the duration. Everyone has to go 45 mins away to the bigger hospital.

Don’t think if you refuse to come in midwives will come.

I have a feeling that's exactly what the OP thinks.

@Soontobe60 Are all of the midwives in hospitals self-isolating as well as all of the ladies on the ward? Of course not.

If myself and OH self-isolate and in contact with nobody else then this immediately reduces the risk of catching the virus. Hence current government guidelines.

Yes of course IM's would not have self-isolated but by avoiding a busy hospital and labour ward with potentially many patients and many staff (and curently no CV testing happening), I am still putting myself and my unborn baby at lesser risk regarding virus spread.

I've said it so many times before but once again, I am seeking an Independent Midwife. They do not work on NHS labour wards!!!!

Is it 100% guaranteed you will get an IM? Is there any chance that could fall through at any point if the crisis worsens over the next 9 weeks?

Will you freebirth if you can’t get an IM it would you go in?

x

What if you IM has to quarantine just before your birth? Are you mentally prepared for that?

Unfortunately I think the coronavirus fear is all out of proportion. Statistically there are much more significant risks of complications in childbirth that could cause death or permanent injury. I would rather get coronavirus in a hospital than risk me and/or my baby die at home waiting for an ambulance that doesn't make it in time.

Of course every woman has the right to make her own choices, including choices that others disagree with. It's a difficult thread to read, though.

My prediction is that you'll pay a LOT of money for an independent midwife and end up transferring into hospital anyway (hopefully at the stage where you can still go in car rather than needing an ambulance) at which point I don't believe the IM will be able to do much, as in hospital the consultants and midwives there will take over.

@AnotherEmma I don't understand why I will need "transferring to hospital" anyway?

I have had a home birth and strongly support them normally. In these circumstances your anxiety is biasing your decision making to a point where I think you need to question your own judgement. Do you have close friends or family you could discuss this with?

I think we'll leave this here because ultimately myself and my partner have made our decision. We both believe strongly it is in the best interests of myself and our baby to have a home birth, particularly in light of the current situation.

I wish all of the pregnant ladies on here the very best, wherever they choose to labour

You keep saying that the safest place for you to have your baby is at home. Do you at least accept that given present circumstances, strain if NHS/ambulances, that isn't the case? It's just your anxiety is making you feel like it.

You mention bad experiences of previous births, lots of interventions etc. That means although your pregnancy isn't high risk, you are more likely to need help with this baby. 12% of women (having second+ baby) get transferred to hospital, so you're midwife's over only done it once in 12 years' either means she doesn't work much, she's lying or she takes crazy risks in transferring clients herself in her car ,(often dad will be staying looking after the other kids). The fact there is a 50% transfer rate for first time mums makes her claim sounds even more crazy. Remember, she is looking for your business so take what she says with a pinch of salt if it doesn't sound right.

If you can't get a IM will you be going into hospital? You know you don't have to say yes to interventions right?

What will be happening with your other kids if you get transferred to hospital?

It is legal in the UK to birth unassisted. If you feel competent enough to do this after doing lots of research of the pros and cons and what emergency situations will look like, that is your right.
Alternatively, do your research on areas still offering home births and stay there. If you have a relative that has a place to stay (they're stuck abroad?) Or friends who respect your privacy and decision to home birth in a different area, this could work.
IMs are expensive (4-6k) but worth every penny.

I've said it so many times before but once again, I am seeking an Independent Midwife. They do not work on NHS labour wards!!!!

This is not true OP. I’ve had an IM for both my births, and all three of them (main midwife had a different business partner the second time) did extra shifts in the NHS and obviously attended my births which ended up being in hospital.

On a separate note, I’m shocked you’re risking significant chances of very real harm to you and baby, over the much smaller risk of issues from COVID19. I hope this all works out for you.

@H1ghC0r0na

It is legal in the UK to birth unassisted. If you feel competent enough to do this after doing lots of research of the pros and cons and what emergency situations will look like, that is your right
You're correct in that there is no legal obligation to receive any medical care during pregnancy, but crucially an unqualified person, such as a friend or partner, cannot assume the role of doctor or midwife and assume responsibility for delivering the baby. This IS illegal and could result in prosecution. What about the rights of the unborn child to have a safe, risk free birth?

Alternatively, do your research on areas still offering home births and stay there. If you have a relative that has a place to stay (they're stuck abroad?) Or friends who respect your privacy and decision to home birth in a different area, this could work
And go completely againt the Stay Home messages we are being given? This is a woman who is supposed to be self isolating for 12 weeks! I'd find it incredibly hard to believe that purposely moving to an area where home birth are still being offered will get the OP what she wants.
IMs are expensive (4-6k) but worth every penny
The OP is a TA on a low income and has no savings. On other threads she has spoken about being poor. not everyone has a spare 4K hanging round.

Your 'advice' is dangerous.

OP I sympathise a lot with you as I'm similar amount along (32 weeks) and had planned a home birth from the beginning due to a pretty horrible experience with the first. Not possible not for a few reasons (not just CV) and I'm pretty gutted and feeling anxious because I was trying to avoid all of the negative associations I have from my first birth. But having read some of your posts I think you are misreading some of the home birth data:

• Home births are only safer for low risk second and further births if you factor in the option of transferring quickly to a hospital if things go wrong. If your midwife is joined up to the hospital in ordinary circumstances a transfer in blue light ambulance to theatre can be quicker than transfer within the hospital (midwife thought we could get there in 5mins from home and call ahead, prep time in hospital is at least 15mins).

If you have an IM and particularly in these times with low staffing levels and the strain on ambulances, these figures could be totally different. If you had to drive to the hospital, wait to be seen, you and the baby assessed etc, this time could be SO much longer and I would find that really scary in an emergency scenario.

• Many hospital trusts are only allowing a single birth partner into the hospital at the moment. So if something did go wrong and you had to transfer you'd have to choose your partner or your midwife - you'd need your midwife to be able to explain things to the hospital team but then your partner would miss the birth.

Personally I'm trying to focus my energy in getting over my anxiety around a hospital birth and make peace with it. You don't have to consent to internal exams or interventions. I'm worried from reading your posts that your main concern is to try and avoid the hospital, when actually for any birth there are loads of reasons why you might need to be in hospital so it's important to be prepared for and comfortable with that eventuality.

There is some very sound advice here.
You need to remember this is not all about you and your emotional needs. You have vulnerable child who is potentially being denied fast access to healthcare, all because you are fixated on potential risks of covid 19 and missing the bigger picture. As a HCP I have seen previously "low risk" pregnancies result in cord prolapse and obstruction needing immediate surgery. Please don't make the mistake of thinking it won't happen to you and please put your child first.

@RainMinusBow good luck with your home birth with an independent midwife. I think the fact that you’re able to pay for an IM is fantastic. I’m not due until September but also planning a home birth, and also hoping the worst of this will be over by then!!

@Annabel28 Not just the coronavirus risk, many other factors. It is a definite possibly that partners may not be allowed into labour wards before long. Whilst I fully understand why, with an IM hb my partner will be there (unless of course he is symptomatic). This is his first and last baby.

It sounds like you're prioritising your partner's presence at the birth over you and your child's safety.

@Cohle Not at all. A home birth with an IM is safe. Look at BMJ journals for stats etc.
Yes I know about the ambulance shortage but in the event of having to go in (3rd baby, low risk) there are other options eg partner car which would be quicker than waiting for an ambulance. Even under normal circumstances a quick ambulance is never guaranteed. Roads also less busy.

And I'm also weighing up chances of coronavirus infection here. Busy labour ward currently with woman and partner does present greater risk than home birth with both myself and OH self-isolating for weeks prior.

Have you found an IM who will support you though? Because it sounds like you're putting the cart before the horse, and absolutely deciding you must have a home-birth regardless of securing the support that will make that safe.

I really think you need to listen to the NHS advice and give serious thought to what is safe for you and for others.