homebirth questions and more...

[porkchop]

hey, i need a bit of help and was hoping someone might know the answer to my questions or know where i can get the answers.
Right, question 1: if i had to be induced, could i still have a homebirth?
2: how much does it cost to hire own midwife? is it possible to do that here in England?
3: part of question 1 really, could you have your waters broke at home?


These may seem a bit random, but it has taken me nearly five years after a traumatic labour and post traumatic stress and depression to finally reach the stage where i feel i could have another child(thanks to God), but i do not wanna go to hospital and definately want a homebirth. But i had to be induced when i had Jonah and worry id need it again. Also, there is such a shortage of midwives and as a result terrible mistreatment takes place, like with me, and i wonder bout a private midwife, but we dont have much cash.
So if anyone knows much about this stuff, please let me know. Thankyou in advance.
Bethx

 

[Booko]

Hi porkchop: I'm sorry I can't give you more detailed info, because I don't know what things are like in the UK. Here, a midwife will break your water at home as a way to induce labor, if you need that. Midwives here don't like to break the water for any other reason though, as it makes labor more painful.

I can't imagine how you could be induced at home, or at least it's not something you can do here, but then medical practice is somewhat different.

Do you have combined obstetrician/midwife practices there? That's what I've used. If I needed to be induced then I would go to the hopsital, but as in most cases, the midwife would handle things.

We went to the hospital, but they had nice birthing rooms that were quite comfortable and homey.

I'm sorry to hear you had trouble with post partum depression. I did with both my kids as well. My midwife did tell me there are some treatments to rebalance the hormones that help with it, so it may be worth exploring that. Unfortunately, if you have it with one, you have a pretty good chance of having the problem with others.

Good luck!

 

[Runt]

Assuming practices are similar in the UK to those here in the US, my understanding (and this is not from personal experience) is that if your birth involves any complications, a midwife is obligated---by law---to turn you over to professional medical care. I think (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) this is because midwives are not licensed to provide more than the most basic care. If this is the case, then I doubt you can be induced by a midwife (unless she is a licensed medical professional).

 

[Buttercup]

question 1: if i had to be induced, could i still have a homebirth?

As everyone else has said, it might be different in the UK but in the US, I doubt you could have a home delivery if pitocin is used to induce labor. And sometimes the breaking of your water does not induce labor as was the case for me.

Usually one can go home from the hospital within 12 hours or sometimes less after delivery if you are healthy enough. Have you checked into that? I went home about 8 hours after the birth of my daughter.

And because of the post delivery depression from last time, your doctor will know to keep an eye on you this time around which is good.

 

[Booko]

Assuming practices are similar in the UK to those here in the US, my understanding (and this is not from personal experience) is that if your birth involves any complications, a midwife is obligated---by law---to turn you over to professional medical care. I think (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) this is because midwives are not licensed to provide more than the most basic care. If this is the case, then I doubt you can be induced by a midwife (unless she is a licensed medical professional).

Medical practice laws in the US and UK can be very different, and it would not surprise me if this were the case with midwives as well. Naturopaths in the UK can actully touch a patient in the course of administering treatment. Here in the US, you get locked up for that, and you need to be very very careful how you say things, or you will get locked up for that too.

I wouldn't be surprised to find that in the UK midwifes are allowed to do certain procedures that they are not allowed to here, simply because they don't have the A.M.A. dictating laws there.

 

[porkchop]

Hi porkchop: I'm sorry I can't give you more detailed info, because I don't know what things are like in the UK. Here, a midwife will break your water at home as a way to induce labor, if you need that. Midwives here don't like to break the water for any other reason though, as it makes labor more painful.

I can't imagine how you could be induced at home, or at least it's not something you can do here, but then medical practice is somewhat different.

Do you have combined obstetrician/midwife practices there? That's what I've used. If I needed to be induced then I would go to the hopsital, but as in most cases, the midwife would handle things.

We went to the hospital, but they had nice birthing rooms that were quite comfortable and homey.

I'm sorry to hear you had trouble with post partum depression. I did with both my kids as well. My midwife did tell me there are some treatments to rebalance the hormones that help with it, so it may be worth exploring that. Unfortunately, if you have it with one, you have a pretty good chance of having the problem with others.

Good luck!

I think youre probably right that i couldnt be induced at home, i wonder if i could be induced at hospital then go home? They dont have combined obstetrician/midwives here, man, your lucky if you get a midwife, i had a receptionist keeping an eye on me while in labour cause they were so shortstaffed, so it could be a homebirth delivered by Paul!!! (im not even pregnant, just thinking ahead!!)
Youve got lovely sounding rooms over there, not very homely looking here, bloody NHS!!!
Ive heard you can get PND again, but i wonder if it was bought on by the shock of it all and i was away from family, very lonely and Jonah was a terrible sleeper. Now, we live round the corner from my parents and sis, who i know would be a great support,but it does put me off, aswell as the rest!!! The Lord got me through it last time, so i know He'll do it again if needs be.
I suppose i need to prepare myself for the posibility of going to hospital incase i do have to go there. Just wish i could stop thinking things through so much and just get pregnant then deal with it later, but then ill probably start freaking out!! Yikes!!:run:
Thanks for your help.xx

 

[porkchop]

Assuming practices are similar in the UK to those here in the US, my understanding (and this is not from personal experience) is that if your birth involves any complications, a midwife is obligated---by law---to turn you over to professional medical care. I think (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) this is because midwives are not licensed to provide more than the most basic care. If this is the case, then I doubt you can be induced by a midwife (unless she is a licensed medical professional).

Midwifes do induce you, i had it done with my son, but i dont think it could be done at home. Of course if there were complications id get straight to hospital, its only 7mins away, wouldnt consider a homebirth if i were miles away from one.

 

[porkchop]

As everyone else has said, it might be different in the UK but in the US, I doubt you could have a home delivery if pitocin is used to induce labor. And sometimes the breaking of your water does not induce labor as was the case for me.

Usually one can go home from the hospital within 12 hours or sometimes less after delivery if you are healthy enough. Have you checked into that? I went home about 8 hours after the birth of my daughter.

And because of the post delivery depression from last time, your doctor will know to keep an eye on you this time around which is good.

I could leave wheever i want after the birth, i left the next day after Jonah, though i wanted to leave straight away, they convinced me to stay.

The doctors keeping a close eye on me is not a good thing, its horrible, i was labelled "high risk" on my pregnancy with Jonah cause of my background, they dont seem to think you can change, i am a totally different person to what i used to be, thanks to Jesus, but of course that doesnt count to them. i know they wanna make sure you not gonna hurt child, understand that, but its not nice to be labelled like that.

 

[Buttercup]

The doctors keeping a close eye on me is not a good thing, its horrible, i was labelled "high risk" on my pregnancy with Jonah cause of my background, they dont seem to think you can change, i am a totally different person to what i used to be, thanks to Jesus, but of course that doesnt count to them. i know they wanna make sure you not gonna hurt child, understand that, but its not nice to be labelled like that.

I don't know anything about your background before Jonah but I'm sorry if it was and is still hard on you. May I ask if you're still taking meds for depression?

 

[Booko]

Youve got lovely sounding rooms over there, not very homely looking here, bloody NHS!!!

Ah, but then I had insurance. If you don't have insurance...good luck.

Ive heard you can get PND again, but i wonder if it was bought on by the shock of it all and i was away from family, very lonely and Jonah was a terrible sleeper. Now, we live round the corner from my parents and sis, who i know would be a great support,but it does put me off, aswell as the rest!!! The Lord got me through it last time, so i know He'll do it again if needs be.

PND is mostly the hormones not balancing out quickly enough. You gotta figure, it took you 9 months for your hormones to get where they are at birth, and they're not gonna rebalance in a few hours. Good stress vitamins and resting as much as possible does help a lot, though. I learned from my friend the doula that you just sleep when the baby does.

My friends set up a network after our daughter was born, because I was at home with a toddler and an infant and my husband worked most nights, while I worked days. We had no family around. But they had a schedule all arranged where they would call to check up or drop by to see if I was okay, and that got me through. *whew*

I suppose i need to prepare myself for the posibility of going to hospital incase i do have to go there. Just wish i could stop thinking things through so much and just get pregnant then deal with it later, but then ill probably start freaking out!! Yikes!!

As we say around here "Don't buy yourself trouble." Some things are not worth worrying about -- but you can educate yourself about the possibilities so whatever happens you'll know your options. I know that's easier to say than do, especially if you had a bad experience the first time. Well, that's where the prayer comes in!

Best to you and your family!

 

[porkchop]

I don't know anything about your background before Jonah but I'm sorry if it was and is still hard on you. May I ask if you're still taking meds for depression?

In my teens i used to self harm and was on various antidepressants, then i got saved and i stopped needing them, i got the best counsellor there is!
But when i had Jonah, i was in such a state with shock and i couldnt eat, couldnt stop crying and my doc. gave antidepressants to my husband for me which i regretably took, and didnt help at all. In fact, paul said i was worse on them. So about 8 mth.s later i came off them by myself with alot of prayer and i will never take them again, they really didnt help. I think i had PND a bit when Jonah was between 1 and 2 but it could have just been circumstances, like i said, i wasnt actually diagnosed, so maybe i wont have it again.
Im fine now, Jonah was an extremely demanding baby, paul worked shifts and jonah was ill alot and not a good sleeper, but now he is so much better. And over the years God has healed me and helped me to get to this point. Whats hard is making a decision to have a baby or not and stick with it!! I would have had another earlier had my experience not have been so bad. I wish the NHS would get some decent staff, well, just staff would help as midwives are very sparse in these parts!!

 

[Isabella Lecour]

Sorry to be a downer but if you've had post partudum depression once and have had depression in the past, chances are very high that you will have ppd again. It's not from shock, wish it was that easy, but it's compleatly hormonal. It doesn't really matter if you haven't been diagnosed, if you have it, you have it no matter if it's been diagnosed or not as the case may be. Just to let you know, being labled high risk is just medical jargon for needing a higher level of medical care, it's not an attack on you or an insult. Not matter what the docs or nurses did last time around, it's supposed to help you get the care that's approate to your needs.

It sounds like your trying to have birth on the cheep. Good luck and do your research. I don't know how it's in the UK but in the US they would still charge us if we used the elevator to give birth in. lol I'd surround myself with women who have given birth at least without much medical intervention, if I had to do it at home. Even without a midwife, your still faceing the risks women have faced for centuries, hemorage. So please be very close to a hospital and know those signs so you can get swift care.

 

[Blindinglight]

I'm not sure if it would work, but you could ask if it is possible that a medical crew be present during the birth encase complications should arise.

 

[Booko]

Porkchop, can you put together a support team of women from your church? I think that would do wonders to get you through any PPD you might have after a 2nd birth.

And I hate to say it, but Isabella is right -- if you had it the last time, you likely will again.

Just remember that having PPD does NOT make you a bad mother, although I know people around you will give you those vibes, but do not accept them. They don't really know what it's like to be in that situation. Those of us who have, well, we do know better.

And don't fear it so much that you wouldn't have a 2nd child. It's right to take precautions and to learn everything about PPD that you can, because you want to take the best care of yourself and your family. But you got through it before, and that means you can do it again.

The 2nd time I went through it was actually not as bad, because I was not mystified about what was going on, and I was prepared for it.

Really, you can do this!

 

[porkchop]

Sorry to be a downer but if you've had post partudum depression once and have had depression in the past, chances are very high that you will have ppd again. It's not from shock, wish it was that easy, but it's compleatly hormonal. It doesn't really matter if you haven't been diagnosed, if you have it, you have it no matter if it's been diagnosed or not as the case may be. Just to let you know, being labled high risk is just medical jargon for needing a higher level of medical care, it's not an attack on you or an insult. Not matter what the docs or nurses did last time around, it's supposed to help you get the care that's approate to your needs.

It sounds like your trying to have birth on the cheep. Good luck and do your research. I don't know how it's in the UK but in the US they would still charge us if we used the elevator to give birth in. lol I'd surround myself with women who have given birth at least without much medical intervention, if I had to do it at home. Even without a midwife, your still faceing the risks women have faced for centuries, hemorage. So please be very close to a hospital and know those signs so you can get swift care.

Have a birth on the cheap? I live in England and we have NHS so its free, if anything it would make it expensive if i hired a midwife!
Im beginning to regret opening up and asking for help onthis forum, it hasnt been helpful at all.

 

[porkchop]

Porkchop, can you put together a support team of women from your church? I think that would do wonders to get you through any PPD you might have after a 2nd birth.

And I hate to say it, but Isabella is right -- if you had it the last time, you likely will again.

Just remember that having PPD does NOT make you a bad mother, although I know people around you will give you those vibes, but do not accept them. They don't really know what it's like to be in that situation. Those of us who have, well, we do know better.

And don't fear it so much that you wouldn't have a 2nd child. It's right to take precautions and to learn everything about PPD that you can, because you want to take the best care of yourself and your family. But you got through it before, and that means you can do it again.

The 2nd time I went through it was actually not as bad, because I was not mystified about what was going on, and I was prepared for it.

Really, you can do this!

Thanks Booko, ill see how it goes.

 

[Isabella Lecour]

Have a birth on the cheap? I live in England and we have NHS so its free, if anything it would make it expensive if i hired a midwife!
Im beginning to regret opening up and asking for help onthis forum, it hasnt been helpful at all.

I'm sorry you feel this way. I wasn't trying to pull you down. I didn't know that in the UK birth is free. In the US birth is as expensive as buying a car. It has been a shock to know that it's free...I really wish mine had been.

 

[Valjean]

I think we need A British healthcare practitioner to field this one, Porkchop. Have you tried e-mailing the NHS about this? It seems like a pretty straightforeward and easily answered query.

Isabella, I'm surprised you weren't aware that healthcare is a "free" government service, considering all the controversy and debate on the issue in every medium.

In just about every 1st world country except the US, healthcare is like police or fire protection -- a tax-supported government service.

 

[Isabella Lecour]

I think we need A British healthcare practitioner to field this one, Porkchop. Have you tried e-mailing the NHS about this? It seems like a pretty straightforeward and easily answered query.

Isabella, I'm surprised you weren't aware that healthcare is a "free" government service, considering all the controversy and debate on the issue in every medium.

In just about every 1st world country except the US, healthcare is like police or fire protection -- a tax-supported government service.

That I still didn't know. We debate healthcare till we are blue in the face here and the only country I knew that had basic free health care is Canada with waiting limits three months long. Still doesn't sound like a good system but something is better than nothing.

But I think Seyorni is right.