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.

arcticlemming, I think racmac's approach IS the right one.
ebeson's midwife sounds like she is very negative, and isn't giving any reasons WHY she shouldn't have a homebirth, jsut telling her she can't.
it's unlikely that she would be the attending midwife anyway in the event of a homebirth. you get ssent whoever happens to be on duty at the time, so it certainly isn't a case of forcing someone to attend a birth who isn't 100% happy about being there iyswim?

ebeson, another thing, check out www.iwantmymum.com you'll need to register to use the site, but there are definitely a few threads (inc Doris's) about homebirths and risks for mum's of more than 4 etc.

Just to confirm that my midwife was extremely supportive and very experienced - she had been delivering babies for 30+ years and i trusted her completely - if she had said listen i dont think you should have a hb i would have listened - but she didnt she listened to my arguments and listened to what my baby was saying - ie he wasnt a massive beast that id never deliver.

On the other hand the Consultants refused to enter into discussions and lied to me on many occasions. They couldnt/wouldnt answer questions and generally thought they were all important and knew everything.

At one point a Consultant told me that the midwifes dont carry resuscitation equipment with them to births - when i questionned it she eventually backed down and told me she was lying!

Another one (Registrar) told me that i was at risk from all these problems because of GD and i asked why and she couldnt answer! I asked midwife she told me straight away what the connection was.

They told me there was no way they'd let me go past 39 weeks with DS3 but that fell on bank holiday at busy time (Easter) so guess what he didnt actually want to see me until id gone past due date! - He arrived on his due date.

Big fuss about being in Hospital because had to check babies blood sugar levels - told me couldnt do that at home and he would have to go to SCBU - rubbish - midwife told me i was bf - unlikely to have any problems but told me the signs to watch out for and confirmed can test at home - they didnt even bother in the end.

Sorry i have gone on - but it annoys me as SOME of these professionals do not LISTEN to their patients - they tick the boxes in the book and thats all they are interested in

I would like to echo the earlier link for Angela Horn's Homebirth site. Loads of info and good research.

sorry to have misunderstood you, sparkle

am a little jaundiced from having had the conversation with an NCT teacher about how much better it would have been for me to have given birth at home or at least in some nice clinic where you get a more natural experience

she knew about my medical problems, but couldn't get over the fact that I somehow should have had the right to a non-medicalised birth anyway and that my caesarian was just wrong

the truth is that there are a few women who take irresponsible risks or who are at least happy to encourage others to do so

not the OP, I am sure

not fact: feeling

I don't think ignoring the concerns of professionals is ever the way to go. I quite agree you need to arm yourself with information so you can ask the right questions, and certainly get them to back up their concerns with research. But refusing to engage with the system is pointless. If you're convinced enough by your arguments, why not meet with he head of midwifery, particularly if you think your midwife is being unnecessarily pessimistic? I personally would never want to be attended by a midwife I did not think was confident, and yes, you may not get that midwife for the birth (although in our area they do try to have your named midwife to deliver you) but you will probably get someone from that team so it is possible to know how they feel.