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Advice and opinions very much needed please
Hii everyone.
I am 36 weeks pregnant on wednesday with my first baby and planning a home waterbirth. I've bought the sheets for the floor etc already, and oh is all set to order a la bassine birth pool tonight.
I have recently moved to a new home to make room for baby and went for my booking appointment with the midwifes today to explain my plans for a home birth.
What I was met with was not what I had expected and I spent a good few minutes sat there in tears.
First let me say, all the midwifes were really pro home birth, agreed it is better than a hospital birth, and even lower risk!!! They confirmed what I had already been told, that there are less interventions and it is a lot less stressful for the mother, etc. They were not at all against home births.
However the problem came here; they dont tend to do any! In the area there as just no women who really want home births. More so the big problem for me though.... They are not trained in waterbirths
Because my borough (sandwell) does not currently have a birth pool at the hospital. They are getting one put in, but don't have one yet. There for there is only one midwife there who has seen a waterbirth any time recently, and two others who have (including midwife I saw today) but going back like 7/8 years.
They said that they WILL still attend me in labour, and I can still use the pool, BUT depending on what midwife comes out to me, if they do not feel confident with me being in the pool, they may ask me to get out when it comes time to push!
I was distraught, as I really want a water birth, for many reasons I wont go into, but all the usual I would guess. However when I said 'is it really that different? the baby doesnt take a breath until they reach the surface anyway' the midwife agreed with me and said, if she were on call, she would do my waterbirth.. it just totally depends on which midwife I have.
She and the head midwife at the surgery are coming out to see me on thursday morning and do the home check anyhow, but my question is this:
Would you still proceed?
I do not want to do ANYTHING to put my baby at risk.... Do you think it matters if the midwife hasnt been trained specifically in waterbirth? They are still trained in every other aspect! They said that it would be left to me to guide the baby out of the water onto my chest anyhow! Which is normal practice for waterbirth?
I just want to know if you think it would be irresponsible of me to still go ahead with this knowing that the midwife who attends me may not be trained in waterbirth....though should they not feel happy with the situation they would ask me to get out of the pool to push anyway... at least its still in my own environment and by the time you come to push at hospital its too late for any epidural or pethedine anyway yes?
I have had a textbook pregnancy so far, my iron levels are fine, so is blood pressure, no gestational diabetes, no problems with baby, so the midwife said she see's no reason why I cannot have this baby at home.
Opinions please? sorry for the rant!
I am 36 weeks pregnant on wednesday with my first baby and planning a home waterbirth. I've bought the sheets for the floor etc already, and oh is all set to order a la bassine birth pool tonight.
I have recently moved to a new home to make room for baby and went for my booking appointment with the midwifes today to explain my plans for a home birth.
What I was met with was not what I had expected and I spent a good few minutes sat there in tears.
First let me say, all the midwifes were really pro home birth, agreed it is better than a hospital birth, and even lower risk!!! They confirmed what I had already been told, that there are less interventions and it is a lot less stressful for the mother, etc. They were not at all against home births.
However the problem came here; they dont tend to do any! In the area there as just no women who really want home births. More so the big problem for me though.... They are not trained in waterbirths
Because my borough (sandwell) does not currently have a birth pool at the hospital. They are getting one put in, but don't have one yet. There for there is only one midwife there who has seen a waterbirth any time recently, and two others who have (including midwife I saw today) but going back like 7/8 years.
They said that they WILL still attend me in labour, and I can still use the pool, BUT depending on what midwife comes out to me, if they do not feel confident with me being in the pool, they may ask me to get out when it comes time to push!
I was distraught, as I really want a water birth, for many reasons I wont go into, but all the usual I would guess. However when I said 'is it really that different? the baby doesnt take a breath until they reach the surface anyway' the midwife agreed with me and said, if she were on call, she would do my waterbirth.. it just totally depends on which midwife I have.
She and the head midwife at the surgery are coming out to see me on thursday morning and do the home check anyhow, but my question is this:
Would you still proceed?
I do not want to do ANYTHING to put my baby at risk.... Do you think it matters if the midwife hasnt been trained specifically in waterbirth? They are still trained in every other aspect! They said that it would be left to me to guide the baby out of the water onto my chest anyhow! Which is normal practice for waterbirth?
I just want to know if you think it would be irresponsible of me to still go ahead with this knowing that the midwife who attends me may not be trained in waterbirth....though should they not feel happy with the situation they would ask me to get out of the pool to push anyway... at least its still in my own environment and by the time you come to push at hospital its too late for any epidural or pethedine anyway yes?
I have had a textbook pregnancy so far, my iron levels are fine, so is blood pressure, no gestational diabetes, no problems with baby, so the midwife said she see's no reason why I cannot have this baby at home.
Opinions please? sorry for the rant!
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Replies
I have always had a problem with water birth training as you are right that it is mainly hands off and easier than a non water birth but there are certain things that I would feel happier if the midwife was actually water birth trained or very experienced (ie knowing how often to monitor you whilst in the pool).
I would suggest that you talk to the head of midwifery (is that who you are seeing on Thursday?) and let them know your concerns and how desperate you are for a water birth and see what they can come up with. It might be easy to solve.
Your only other option to guarantee a water birth and depending on finances would be to go for an independent midwife. I have to admit that if I have another baby I might save up for one as my last midwife has left and the other is now working in the hospital and I would be devestated to have the option of a water birth taken away from me after our last amazing water birth.
Why don't you see how it goes on Thursday then if you haven't found a solution we will have a rethink!
I can understand why you feel so upset (I felt the same when my mw said she had annual leave the week after lo was due but it all worked out when I met the other one at home birth group) but hopefully things will sort themselves out and you will have a wonderfrul home water birth!! xx
I am just hoping that one of those 3 midwifes are on call at the time, but as there are only 2 midwifes on call at any one time it seems unlikely. Oh well I will just discuss it on thursday, and then speak to the head of midwifery like you said.
We have ordered my pool now, as we couldnt really leave it any longer being 36 weeks. We went for the la bassine.
[Modified by: Lucretia on February 23, 2009 08:24 PM]
I will push for this when i speak to the head midwife!
After reading bits and pieces online last night I feel I am still going to go for my waterbirth as I do not feel I am putting my baby at any more risk than having him on my bed! However at the first sign of anything being wrong I will obviously comply with the midwife who comes out to me and get out of the pool or gods forbid transfer in to hospital.
Hope I am making the right decision, but my partner and MIL back me on it.