Home Birth-no longer the norm?

[Goodlife1970]

Having had baby number two at home (baby number one was down as a home delivery but luckily for us both I went in knowing there was a problem) and having a natural breech hospital delivery for number three,Ive decided to try again for a home delivery for number four. The problem(s) Im having are that although the midwife is extremely supportive,Im feeling that the consultant would rather I just went along with usual protocol and delivered in hospital,so far Ive managed to avoid seeing him,knowing that he will just spend the appointment trying to talk me into a hospital delivery. Has anyone else had a home delivery and how did you make sure that things went the way you wanted? I have also been warned that there may be no-one available to assist if the labour was a quick one (baby two arrived in 11 minutes) due to the fact that we live in an awkward to reach location. Its a bit worrying to think that OH may have to cope alone or is this another way of making me conform?

[glenniedragon]

Mmmm, I may be alone here-and I do hate to be the forbearer of doom but...
Before I had children I worked in Operating theatres, as an anaesthetic nurse, this included doing caesareans and birth complications where baby needed to be out quickly. Once I became pregnant with son no1 I was made aware of all my choices, but having seen what I had seen (some very traumatic births, not everyone surviving the event, that kind of thing) I crossed home delivery right off. Delivery choice is important, don't get me wrong, but THE most important thing is that you BOTH leave hospital and start living the rest of your lives together. In the end I opted for a natural delivery but complications arose and due to baby position (unpredicted) and babys heartbeat slowing I had to undergo an emergency caesarean- my choices came second to the survival of my child. So don't be too hard on hospital deliveries, you can refuse all medical interventions and you don't have to stay in, you are in charge! but I hope you are not put in the situation that I was and everything goes swimmingly... good luck

kind thoughts
Deb

PS son no2 was also a caesarean
PPS NO MORE!

[Goodlife1970]

Thanks Debs. Sounds like you had an awful time with both,no wonder you wont be having any more! It just got me angry when I was told that because Ben,my 1 year old,was breech that I would automatically have a caesarian,despite already having two natural births and him being in a good position to be delivered vaginally.I stuck out for a natural delivery although I did have an epidural just in case and he was born so easily in an hour and a half! i had spent the last few weeks of pregnancy believing that he would suffocate should I have not dilated enough for his head to be delivered and be unable to get to hospital in time (its an hours drive during the day) this spoiled what shouldve been a happy time for us all and Ill always be angy that they put me in such an awkward position,to add insult to injury I was due for a 6 hour release but they wouldnt let me go as Id had an epidural! Its a good job that Daisy,number two,was born at home as Id have had her in the car on the way to hospital if Id have tried to leave the house! Im just hoping that this little chap is going to be the right way up and at least give us a bit of warning!

[Hepsibah]

I went for a happy medium with my third (and last) baby. I desperately wanted a home birth but did worry a bit about possible complications.
I thought about my reasons for wanting a home birth and the greatest was having a midwife I trusted doing the delivery and being there just for me and my baby. I hated the feeling of being on a production line and having my midwife delivering four other babies at the same time as mine. Not to mention the shift change in the middle of my labour when I had to have a different midwife come in and deliver my baby without even being introduced to me.
After pushing for a home birth with my doctor and obstetrician, I agreed to go into hospital if my community midwife would deliver my baby. They agreed and my midwife was over the moon to be given the opportunity to see the pregnancy through from beginning to end for a change. It was all I had hoped for, I was relaxed and comfortable during the labour and birth and I went home the following morning on a high.
I would suggest you think about your own reasons for wanting a home birth and see if the hospital can acommodate your wishes. That way, you can cover all your bases and if the worst should happen, you will already be in the best place to deal with it.

[Goodlife1970]

The reasons I would like a home delivery are simple,firstly,every hospital delivery Ive had have resulted in an infection,the last requiring very strong antibiotics for what seemed like forever,I missed out on that treat with Daisy who was my home delivery. Secondly I hated being in a medical environment for what was essentially a natural event not a medical one,and thirdly its the pospect of having to give birth on the Swansea road on the way to the hospitalif the birth is quick! I have a brilliant midwife who is used to delivering in odd places (she used to deliver travellers babies) and Ive really enjoyed not having to see doctors,consultants ect this time,apart fro seeing the midwife and having two scans at the village hospital we have been left to "get on with it" and Im having far less worries than Ive had before (and the pregnancy seems to be going a lot faster!)

[Tigerhair]

I had SUCH a complicated pregnancy that I just went along with everything and to be honest, for me, I was up for all the help I could get! I guess it all depends on how you feel, and if you want something in particular (without placing too much risk on your or your baby's head) then PUSH for it! Sorry, pun not intended. However, I do feel that we are incredibly lucky. In under-developed countries LOADS of babies and mothers still die every year - we, at least, have more support than they have to avoid this. After all, the way your baby comes out may affect you emotionally to a certain extent, but surely the most important thing is that after a few days you are home and both you and the baby are well? Josh spent 6 weeks in the baby unit and I had a nasty C-section, but we are happy and healthy(ISH - don't get me started on this one!).... and ALIVE!

Derby City hospital is very clean but if you see something in a hospital that we all PAY for that isn't up to scratch - for GOODNESS sake make a fuss. They are OUR hospitals.

[Shirley]

Firstly... congratulations.... !!!!!

My first baby was born in a hospital... In hindsight it was not a good experience.

My second - was born in hospital but in the midwifery unit. That was good - the medical type back up was there on the premises if anything went wrong, but otherwise the midwives were in control (and in my opinion they are the experts!!!)

My third... and I had to fight for this one... was born in a community hospital that didn't have any medical intervention at all. The only staff that were there were midwives - if any complications arose there was a blue light journey to the main hospital in Bath. I had to fight because we found that Jonathan was going to have a cleft lip and palate and this threw up all sorts of alarm bells. I did want to have him at home, and actually I do wish that I had pushed that bit harder (no pun intended) to have that - especially as it was my third baby and the other two births were natural and with no complications.

Do you post on any home birth boards?? You could try asking on the homebirths board on ivillage... http://messageboards.ivillage.co.uk/iv-ukpbhomebir

[hedgewizard]

Goodlife, talk to your midwife. She's duty bound to point out the risks but it should be fairly obvious is she's happy enough to do it at home with you. Doctors much prefer the old 'osp because they can call for help if things get hairy, and of course the machine that goes *ping!* is within easy reach. Your point about hospital acquired infections is a very good one, though.

Heps - if that shift change happened with birth imminent you might have cause for a complaint. That's frowned upon, that is.

[Mandyz]

As for the initial question about home-births not being the norm - this is certainly true in North America.
There are also significant studies about the prominence of c-sections conducted even when not necessary.
This isn't just North America, either. At least among middle-class famillies in Latin America, particularly Brazil, the same is true.

Being on contact with a lot of homebirthers in North America though I know it is not uncommon, but definitely not the norm.

[Goodlife1970]

Thanks Shirlz,will pop in and have a look at that when time permits. Tigerhair,your hospital may be very clean but heres the tale that is hard to believe,I went into the local hospital (not in Wales,before we moved here) at 28wks with my first pregnancy just to be monitered as Id had a fall.As I lay strapped to the monitor I ran my finger over the top of the machine,it was so dusty! I showed the tip of my finger to the OH,it was grey with dust.At 40 weeks I went into labour,although I was down for a home birth I knew that something was amiss and decided to go into hospital anyway. The midwife bought in the monitor and both myself and the OH were amazed to see that it was the SAME monitor that Id ran my finger across at 28 weeks! You could still see the groove my finger had left albeit a little shadowy with more dust! I was a bit busy to say anything at the time but with hindsight its no wonder that I caught a raging infection,the machine had obviously not been cleaned in 12 weeks! Also to add insult to injury once Id given birth to my daughter I was left,paralysed and stuck on drips,in bloodsoaked bedding for three hours and no nurse bell! The OH had been told 10 minutes after the birth that he had to go home as I was being moved to a ward! It was sheer chance that the midwife who had delivered my daughter had popped back into the room as she had left something behind and found me still there. I tried to complain after the event but was told that "they were probably busy" on the night in question. Sadly I bet I wasnt the only one to have that kind of experience.

[Tigerhair]

Goodlife, jeez! That's disgusting!! Do these people have NO conscience? I work in a vets and we are forever cleaning to "maintain a clinical environment".... I even saw that the receipt printer on reception had a bit of dust on it this morning and felt dreadful! Honestly! Did you write a complaint to your MP? Stamp on his/her toes..? I understand that after you've had a baby you've little energy but I would have sued the monsters!

A little cross on your behalf... x

[Shirley]

OMG - you should also have a look at the AIMS website - www.aims.org - Association for improvement in Maternity Services.

On this site you will also be able to add your support to the 'one woman one midwife' campaign.

[Magpie]

Here in NZ we have a pretty good midwifry system, you select your midwife at the beginning of the pregnancy, and she is with you all the way. I even had her come to our home for the check-ups, as I don't drive, and had 3 YO twins at the time. I did end up going to hospital for both births, but that's just me.

The twins were born in Melbourne, where the system is that you turn up at the hospital for your visits, and get whatever ob is on duty... their birth was very medicalised, as they were born at 29 weeks.

Homebirths seem common here to me, but I'm sure that's just the circles I move in... just like I thought breastfeeding for 2-3 years was normal, until I dropped a clanger about it at a recent birthday party...

[shiney]

I'm afraid I am a weakling in the herd, I have had two cesars, one emergency the other, on a weakling 'opt out.' Both babies HUGE, first a 9lb 1 oz 'er along with a 10lb 3oz er, I am small, 5ft 3 and just not cut out for the natch birth! First labour 36 hours, second baby ~ NO WAY, operation PLEASE. A baby that size would have killed me.

Needless to say, filthy hospital gave me complications after the second birth with a very bad infection of the wound.

[Goodlife1970]

Oh my goodness Shiney! Im certainly with you on that one! I may be into the non medial approach but I would be begging for a ceasar if I thought that my baby was going to be THAT big and Im 5ft 8! I just have little dots 7lb 11oz the heaviest and 7lb 4oz smallest,so far............ Sorry you had to suffer infection too,theres no need,which makes it all the more annoying,bring back The Matron!