homebirth advice

[Jud]

Hi everyone...I was wondering if somebody will be able to help me

I am planning for a home-birth (since the beginning of my pregnancy), I am now on my 35 weeks and I just found out that it seems to exist community midwives offering home-births working independently from the hospital and offering a much more personal guidance through pregnancy, as for example the Albany Midwives and the Brierley Midwives.

I know that the Albany its been close, and the Brierly are already fully book for June (when I am due) and they also told me I live out of the area. I live in New Cross Gate. Does anybody know any other community midwives where I could try and give them a call to see If they would be able to help me with my birth. I really would like something more personal, as I still don't know much how my birth is going to work from the hospital midwifes, until now I just met different midwifes in every appointment, and of course, I don't know the ones that do home-birth!!

Thanks!!!

[apenn]

If you haven't been referred to community midwives by your hospital, how have you been planning to have a home birth? Are they going to send a hospital based midwife to your home? I would have thought that if there are community midwives affiliated with your hospital that you would have been referred from the start. At Kings, they refer you at your booking appt.

-A

[Jud]

well that's the thing... I don't really understand how things really works. We still haven't talk about where I am planning to give birth, I remember to ask by the second appointment about a home birth, they explain me about two midwifes coming to your place to help you with the birth, but anyway was still too early to talk about it (was their opinion). I am with St Thomas Hospital, all the midwives I met until now are very nice, but I would really appreciate something more personal.

[linzkg]

saw a recent thread - hopefully it helps?

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?25,460083,461936#msg-461936

[apenn]

I don't know Jud. As the requests for homebirth are growing rapidly, around here it is recommended that you request it as soon as possible so you can get on the community midwives' list. I would contact your midwifery unit ASAP to discuss it with them and clear up any confusion, and make sure you are on the right list.

-A

[The Nappy Lady]

Jud,

Reading your post I'm not sure if English is your first language, and if not maybe this has led to confusion with your midwifery team (apologies if I am wrong).

I agree you need to get this clarified ASAP - if on the community midwife list I'd expect you to be given details of who to call when in labour, and a list of what to have at home ready for the birth.

Could you get someone to go to an appointment with you as translator to help if need be?

Really sorry if I've got this all wrong. Do hope you can get things sorted.

Molly

[craigy]

I think what you are looking for is caseload midwifery care and at 35 weeks you are usually too late for that as they are usually fully booked for each month very early on. There are caseload teams at St Thomas' but none that are based within the New Cross Gate area- they are in Bermondsey, Surrey Quays, Clapham, Walworth, Streatham, Kennington.... For the rest of the women there is a homebirth rota where two community midwives are on call each night for those wanting homebirths and can usually be contacted by the team phone number that is on the front of your nots or by contacting the labour ward in the event of labour.. and all of the midwives in these teams are affiliated to the hospital.. In this area it was only the Albany that ran on a different contract.

They will usually go through all of your options at 36 week appt and if this doe not happen then you should ask for further clarification,

Good luck

[BellendenBear]

I just wanted to reiterate what Craigy has said. It might be too late to find a caseload midwife (like Brierley) but you don't have to be registered with one of these groups to have a home birth, not with Kings anyway. There are Community midwives who work on a rota, and at Kings you get the opportunity to meet all of them in advance. I would contact your MW asap to clarify things - I expect St Thomas' will be similar. Good Luck

[pebbles]

I had a last minute decided homebirth with no.1 (decided at 36 wks and gave birth at 37 wks). I was with Kings so phoned them up and they had 2 community teams - East and West team and they sent a woman around who talked me through what i should do when i went into labour but also to drop off the goody box (everything that they'll need in labour). I hired my own pool. This was 2 1/2 yrs ago however I don't think things have changed.

Please don't panic cos if St Thomas' aren't able to offer you community midwife i'm sure you can phone Kings and change.

I would get on the phone first thing tomorrow morning.

Good luck

[craigy]

I don't think kings will take someone who lives in new cross gate for a homebirth, only hospital

[Ann]

King's will definatley not offer home birth in the New Cross area even with caseloading midwives. I'm fairly sure New Cross comes under Lewisham Hospital in which case you would have to transfer your care to Lewisham Hospital.

With such little time left you had better do it soon!

[Jud]

Yep! I think what I was looking for is a caseload midwife. However now it seems to be other things to worry...tomorrow morning I will call the midwifes from St Thomas to understand a bit better how things are suppose to work and when should I make my booking for a home birth with them.

Thank you for all your advices!!