Hi Lee
No one can deny that things can and sometimes do go wrong at birth, be that a home or hospital birth. Midwives are trained to look for any signs of things going wrong. Many of these things can be treated at home but sometimes it is better to go to the hospital. All IM’s should know their limitations and be afraid to transfer should the situation dictate.
Kelly is right when she says that “It also takes the same time to set up for surgery in the time it takes most people to get to hospital in an ambulance than already being there”. Should I need to transfer I would first call the ambulance then I would call the maternity unit and fully explain why I am transferring. By doing this the hospital is fully aware of the problems and are usually ready to go as the ambulance arrives.
Some of the equipment I carry include Oxygen (enough for about 45 minutes), bag and mask, suction, IV needles and fluids, a small amount of drugs, various tubes, suture equipment, lots of dressings.
Thanks everyone. It's a big help getting your input.
I think my main concern is getting transferred to one of the outer city hospitals (which scares me a bit).
If my baby comes in July, would that mean that with the changes I wouldn't be able to get an IM? (I've been looking into getting into the CMP as I thought that would be my only option for a hb?) All a bit confusing!!
You are doing a great job of being responsible for yourself and your baby - and that is the first support for a safe birth. As Alan and others have pointed out - there are inherent risks always with birth - even with low risk pgns.
I am very small framed - 5 ft 1/2 in and have birthed two bubs at home with two different IMs - with the support of my midwives, pg yoga and upright positions I have experienced little trauma in the way of collatoral damage to self thru birth.
Seeking out an IM and finding one who you feel comfortable with, who is informed and gives you a sense of confidence both in yourself and her/him is the key to deciding whether hb is for you. Both my midwives were very different people but were both excellent in their continuity of care and their expertise.
You have a good understanding already of birth and an inherent chance to believe in its success and your body's capacity for it - this helps immensely too!
In terms of July, the Fed Govt has created a two year extension in terms of the registration provision - so really there is little difference in how they are operating - there is the declaration of operating without insurance (as they have been forced to since 2001) and your acceptance of that circumstance and the implication of it - different IMs have different ways of doing this - some get you to sign contracts, some have 'handshake agreements' but really until we can resolve this one way or the other - IMs are still operating under the status quo that has existed since 2001.
I understand the opposition you have faced and how that can undermine faith - it is very hard sometimes!! I hope all the contributions here have helped you to decide which path you might like to pursue - and whichever one it is I wish you a joyous and healthy pg and birth!
I had 2 homebirths and I'll never forget walking into my passage way just after my MW arrived for my first birth and it looked like a mini hospital with all the stuff she had bought with. The second birth I was wanting to 'push' before she arrived so she ran into the house with a pair of gloves and she had her friend and my mom-in-law help bring in all the other important stuff. My second child was born 45 min later and I did start to bleed quite a bit once the placenta was born and she had drugs on hand to help that stop.
Having studied as an advanced doula in South Africa and learning all that in’s and outs and emergency care, a good midwife should have what she needs on hand and should treat accordingly if there are any complications...
Keeping in mind that if there's major problems at a homebirth the midwifes livelyhood is "in danger" - hence why they have such high safety standards, where as in a hospital if there's complications, it can be hidden in the paperwork and can be paid out by their insurance company (which don't support midwives even though they have such strict standards...) But that's now coming from having worked in South Africa so...
I feel if you are fit fine and healthy then you should be offered homebirth as a birthing option from your OBGYN so they can focus more on the moms who do have pregnancy problems and other moms who might be having birthing complications... but I guess they don't see it my way
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