srisky

Sound of Silence - Simon & Garfunkle

Heart of glass - Blondie

Transplant

Hungry eyes - Eric Carmen

games

Death

Sign of the times - Prince

My intention was not to misinform, just to reassure MM should she not manage to meet her midwifery team beforehand. Sillywoman- we both clearly think that community midwifery services are a good thing, so i think we could end up going round in circles arguing about semantics when we're both essentially in agreement.

stale

paint

Heart shaped box - Nirvana

> I'm afraid I think that this comment is too > simplistic. Each of the local community midwifery > teams operates under their own set of criteria. So > for you srisky with whichever team you were with > the assessing at home may have been the 'main > advantage' whilst for someone else with another > local team who does things differently the main > advantage might be building a relationship through > the antenatal period with the midwife pair that > attends your birth; or not having to chose where > to have your baby (home or hospital) until you're > in labour and can see how you feel; or having a > midwife with a specialism in PN depression; or > your partner being able to build a relationship > with those who will be helping the two of you > through the crucible; or having someone who > already knows you overseeing your health & the > babies health in the first few days and weeks > postbirth. Some of the teams can commit to being > with you all through labour whether at home or in > hospital, some can't - sometimes it depends on > whether their team is at full complement or not. > The 'main advantages' are as different and > distinct as are the teams themselves & the women > that they care for. Sillyoman - I wasn't try to simplify the role of the community midwifery team at all. I think they provide an excellent service and I was very fortunate to be under their care. I think it would be great if more women could have the option of using their services. The reason I made the above comments were to reassure marvellous mavis, as she mentioned she was concerned about not meeting her midwife before going into labour. It was not to list all the advantages of being with a community team so she could feel bad if she doesn't get on their list!!

Try pest control - we got Colin from K&O (mentioned on the forum before) for mice in December and haven't seen any since. Doubt they can do anything for mice/rats in the garden but could certainly proof your house so they don't come in, unless they come through an open door.

plate

cricket

Common people - Pulp

Sorry MM for digressing. I do hope I haven't confused the issue for you. It can be a difficult decision and should be between you, your partner and the midwife. Anyway, enough of that! I was fortunate enough to be with community midwives but went into established labour on a Saturday and ended up with a midwife from the team that I hadn't met. It did not matter a jot, as in the end you don't care as long as they are caring, compassionate and competent. The main advantages of being under them is that you can have a home birth(!) and that they assess you at home rather than to-ing and fro-ing from King's.

The seatbelt analogy is not perfect but it's the general concept of (for me) that it's just not worth the risk even if it is very low. StraferJack - don't worry, my intention is not to convince you one way or another regarding home births. It was just to put out a different view point, as home births are generally encouraged by the community midwifery teams. I was lucky to be under one of them and they were excellent - it's a huge bonus to be assessed at home. It is great that they have 2 midwives at home births but for me the knowledge that, depsite a trouble free pregnancy and labour, things could suddenly go wrong (for baby or me) was too scary and the immediacy of medical care in a hospital was reassuring.

Yes, I am well aware of the difference! The paediatricians deal with the consequences of labours that have gone wrong (for the child, anyway). Edit to say: The obstetricians have absolutely no involvement with the baby once its born - the paediatricians resuscitate etc.

I'm sure I'm going to be shot down for this comment but this is my opinion (and that of 5 paediatricians I know): You could take your baby/child in the car without a car seat and over 99% of the time everything will be fine. However, it's against the law because that one time an accident happens it can be devastating. I feel the same way about home births. The majority of times it will be absolutely fine in low risk pregnancies/mums, as backed by research. However, I was just not prepared to take the risk. Obviously, home births are not against the law.

My Girl - The Temptations

tree

split

Routemaster 12 - looked fab going down leafy Barry Road on a sunny day

The Wind Cries Mary - Jimi Hendrix