Anyone one had or having a homebirth but classed as highrisk?

[ebeson]

Hi im 33 weeks and really want a homebirth, the problem is, this is my 6th pg and im 40 so im classed as highrisk.Im not evevn allowed a water birth so im really scared to approach the midwife about wanting the baby at home, has anyone got any experiences they can tell me about please, thanks.

What were your othre pregnancies like?

I have been told a resounding NO for homebirth as my homebirth attempt ended in c-sec. Have been told that with MW support I can push ahead but I'm not going to.

Would try and find out exactly why you are high risk. is it just your age? With your experience I would've thought you'd be an ideal candidate!

Hope you get the birth you want.

Solely based on the number of births and on your age I'm not sure that you would be classed as high risk for a home birth. Are there other reasons why this pregnancy has been classed as high risk? If you've had five other low risk pregnancies and births, and there are no other specific risk factors for this pregnancy then I can't see why it should be an issue. Check out www.homebith.org I think it is, there'll be lots of info there.

Hi WowOoo, they said its not my age , but because i have had 5 children already there is a higher risk of my womb not contracting as quickly and more risk of bleeding after the birth, however i was fine with my last one and all my labours/births have been straight forward, i just dont know what to do.

Thankyou Sparkle, i will do that.

Ask your midwife if there's any actual evidence or research you can read that she can give to you. Ten to one she'll say it's just what they think, or it's protocol or the like. Say that you'd like them to quantify the risk to you and your baby on a specific, personal, basis and that you'll consider it - the risk of haemorage (sp?) after fourth birth is, fifth birth is etc Ask them about their drills for unexpected bleeding after homebirths, and their protocols for transfers during/after third stage.

I strongly doubt that there's any good reason they will give you that would sway me personally.

Ive had 2 high risk home births - DS2 was apparently going to be so big Id never deliver him naturally - his shoulders would get stuck and it would be all my fault - i gave birth at hom 8lb 9oz - 10 days late and he was absolutely fine.

DS3 - i had gestational diabetes (apparently) and was told i was not to have HB - i still went ahead because i didnt believe Consultant and he was born at home on his due date weighing 7lb 13oz.

IF you have a look at www.homebirth.org.uk you will lots of stories on there including mine (DS3 go to diabetes bit) and DS2 might not still be on there but if really interested i can send you his story!

Obviously i did my own research and talked to lots of people and decicded that i wasnt actually at risk from anything and i was right
I dont see why having your 6th child puts you at more risk but check out the homebirth pages - full of information

ok, i will talk to her at my next appointment, however im not looking forward to it, she really isnt the best of midwives in my opinion, not very chatty at all, sort of in and out as quick as possible. I wish there was someone else i could be advised by, without her knowing i had gone behind her back, i saw my consultant at 16 weeks and dont have to go back till im 41 weeks pg.

Hi Racmac, did you just tell your midwife that you were havng a homebirth, i really dont know how to go about asking/telling her, or should i make an appointment with my gp who i haven't seen at all.

If you feel strongly enough to want to change her altogether, ring the supervisor of midwives at your hospital and ask to be assigned to another midwife. Say that you feel your relationship with her has broken down and that you do not feel comfortable with her as your named midwife.

Alternatively can you ring your gp surgery and ask that another of the community midwife team call you back or set up an appointment? Basically unless you ask to see someone else you're not going to get the chance to talk it through.

I also think you need to move quickly as if you decide you do def want a homebirth and they are unsupportive, they are likely to put all sorts of (often imagined and not insurmountable) obstacles in your way and you do not want to be fighting your corner whilst in labour!

GP has nothing to do with it - you need to tell your midwife this is what you want, and see what she says. You'll soon gather whether or not she's supportive, and if she's not and you def want a home birth then you'll need to call SoM asap as outlined above, to tell her you want to be assigned to a midwife supportive of homebirths.

Do check out the homebirth website - it's stuffed full of all sorts of info on how to counter exactly these types of situation.

she is the only midwife at our surgery,so if i change to another one i dont know how that will work, ive been told she is mainly the one who comes out to you once you have had the baby which will be so awkward.Im going to have to be brave and just tell her how i feel, but i know she will talk me out of it, she said it was a def no when i asked her about a water birth too.

I would've thought there was a high chance of you having the baby very quickly, in which case a homebirth would make sense? My mum had her 5th at home (unplanned) as he was born 30 mins after she'd washed the kitchen floor on Xmas eve! (She was annoyed as she wanted a few days peace in hospital away from us rabble!)

You have a right to a homebirth if you want one. You also have a right to change Dr's surgery to get a different midwife (I did this to get a nicer health visitor!)

Not to be indelicate, but could you afford an independent midwife? They seem to be the homebirth experts and advocates.

Don't sorry so much about what your midwife thinks - for her its just her job, for you its your body, your baby, your life.

It depends on just how strongly you feel about it. There are always ways round these issues - I doubt she's the only community midwife in your area, and she's def not the only hospital midwife, so as first port of call talk to her and see what she says. If you really do want a hb and she's totally unsupportive, you should them strongly consider calling the hospital and asking for a telephone or personal appointment with the supervisor, which you must then follow up in writing so that things are on record.

You need to decide what you want first - she's bound to pick up on any uncertainty and nervousness, and might well actually be trying to help by presenting you with some of the downsides so that you can make a decision. But you also do need to get her to quantify those risks for you if possible, as it won't be an informed decision if she can't outline how those general risks apply to your specific situation.

I have looked for an independent midwife , but there arn't any in our area, which is such a pity as it would solve many problems.

I know I seem hectoring but you sound as if you do want a homebirth but are highly likely to get talked out of one! The right to a home birth and a supportive midwife is that of every woman. You may well choose not to have one - it isn't necessarily the right choice for everyone - but you should be fully supported in making that choice iykwim.

Have that chat with her and keep us posted

Oh and I forgot - you sound like an ideal candidate for a doula. I've no real experience but google "doula's in [your area]" and see what comes up.

I was lucky i had a very supportive and wonderful midwife who was fully supportive but i had previously changed my midwfie when she made comments about i should have noticed the loss of symptons when i had a missed miscarriage! I changed and it was fine although i had to change my GP.

Do not discuss it with GP - they will ahev no idea - i talked to my GP because i wanted prescription for Pethidine - he just said Ill write your prescription but i havent delivered a baby in over 25 years so i trust youll call the midwife!

You may need to be very bloody minded with midwife and just tell her you ARE having a home birth and ask when she will drop the birthing pack round. If she keeps trying to put you off - tell her you have considered all the options and researched all your choices and this is the one that suits you the best so that is what is happening. She may refer you to the head midwife or Consutlant to persuade you otherwise - i have heard of this happening - just refuse to go to the app.

Hope you manage to get the help and support you deserve. Just to say, if you are interested in Doula support you can find one in your area by looking at www.nurturingbirth.co.uk and www.doula.org.uk

Some research does show an increased risk of haemorrhage and placental abruption birth number 6 plus. I think it's something you need to discuss with your midwive and if need be consultant so you can make an informed choice and consider how any difficulties would be managed.

I certainly wouldn't recommend the approach suggested by racmac. You may consider you have a "right" to a home birth, but your midwife also has a "right" to not feel she is placed in a position where she is frightened and her professional skills are compromised. If you just insist you may end up with a nervous midwife who will "call time" and suggest transfer to hospital without giving you a proper attempt at a safe home birth. Talking to the head midwife may result in you being assigned to a more confident/ experience midwife, or you may have to be open to the possibility that in this case a hopsital delivery would indeed be safer (not saying it is - but I think you need to keep an open mind and listen to the evidence).

Check out this homebirthing support website www.homebirth.org.uk, there is a section on being a Grand Multiparas (many births) and having a homebirth. Look under the "I can't have a homebirth because..." section. Good luck

basically she says the type of births you experienced previously is more of an indicator than how many births you have had...but that is my VERY brief summary!!

sorry just realised the homebirth site has already been suggested by racmac - sorry
Note to self..must read all posts on thread next time!

I don't think it sounds like you're all that high risk if your previous births have gone well. I would try to bring this up for discussion again. And back it up with as much information about similar situations as you can.

On the other hand (though not really relevant to your OP) I feel very at sparkle's comment that "The right to a home birth and a supportive midwife is that of every woman". Some of us have genuinely high risk pregnancies. My ds would almost certainly have died if they hadn't been monitoring us constantly and been able to whip him out the moment his heartbeat went down.

Are you saying that my right to have the kind of birth I had set my heart on would have outweighed his right to live and not to be brain damaged?

Every woman has a right to do a risk assessment, that's as far as I'd go. In the OP's case that may well lead to the conclusion that a homebirth is the best alternative. Doesn't mean it would be the same in the case of every woman.

No I'm not saying that cory and I'd have hoped you'd realised that. I'm saying that yes, we do all have a right to choose where we give birth, and the choice we make should be based on evidence that is as independent and reliable as possible, and that is applicable to our own circumstances. If a pregnancy has been classed as high risk for specific reasons then it would be a foolish woman indeed who disregareded the well being of her baby for her own wishes. I wouldn't do it for one. And my post of 12.31 says specifically "it isn't the right choice for everyone" - I think it's perfectly fair to read that as including mothers and babies.

But I do think that if ebeson wants to make a good choice, she needs a midwife who's prepared to listen to her and understand her. I don't know anything about specific risks of multi para births, Artic Lemming has prvided some indications and if ebeson's midwife can give her some solid facts then she may well decide she's more comfortable in hospital. But she surely needs the information first, no?!

ebeson, I know someone who had homebirths for her 6th and 7th babies, and had planned one for the 8th until she ended up being induced.

you can read her stories on the homebirth.org website (Doris)