Homebirth General Discussion #17

[Arcadia]

I've never had to go to a booking in appointment. The midwives just sent everything off.

My back up is at the Women's.

[Smoke Jaguar]

I actually enjoyed my booking in! I have never used the hospital here since we moved (thank goodness!) and I am keen for them to have my details, to avoid any delays in the case of a transfer, and I wanted to present myself so that they would have a face to go with the homebirth plans. I think it was well worth it, in my case. The other reason I wanted to go was (the mammalian instinct!) to see the environs I'd have to be in if I transfer, for whatever medical reason. I didn't get to do that with the last one because I was booked in to the Royal Women's, at a time when they allowed that (they don't now - it's all about catchment area now).
I had a great FBC experience the first time, and was apprehensive about going to book in to a maternity ward but the mw was so good in her manner and understanding that apprehension left me as soon as I saw her.
Out here in the country I don't have the luxury of the midwives booking in for me. My mw works out of the further away hospital and we discussed booking into the closer one. It's like guerilla birthing out here for homebirth, and I was really glad to do my bit to raise awareness for what homebirthers have to do that other birthers don't have to worry about, just to plan a safe birth. I'm used to being a standard-bearer, though, for many things
My own mw and I discussed that I could see my preferred GP and the ward mw's for most of my check ups, to keep the costs down, and the hospital is a 5 min drive away and not out of my way for appointments, and it's not an imposing place. So, in a way it sucks to plan a HB out here, and on the other I know the hospital is just in the same town with no traffic lights to get to it!