Unplanned home births

[nickle730]

I just wanted to address this question. I think you would be called because the baby is being born quickly with no option for any other health care providers to be present. For me, I would be calling so that you were present in case the baby or myself needed resuscitation. Surely that's what most people are calling for in that situation and that is considered enough of an 'emergency'?

One the baby is born and presuming mother and baby observed to be doing well I think we (by we, I mean society collectively) can respect the parents autonomy to allow them to decide what the next course of action is? They may decide they want to see a health professional (most likely hospital staff given an unplanned homebirth would be a mother who is booked into and intending to birth at a hospital) later in the day, or the following day or they may decide they want to go to hospital straight away. Surely your duty of care has been fulfilled as you attended the birth during the potential time of emergency and now your care is no longer required.

Hey Meow, We will have observed you for only a short time - if we spend more than 20 minutes on scene we receive a 'please explain'. Clearly, some cases take more than 20 minutes, but my point is that we are not able to sit around for an hour or so sipping tea and commenting on the beauty of your healthy newborn... as much as I would like to!! Nor or we permitted to sit around on scene waiting for you to deliver stage three, which may take quite some time. Yet, there is not a gnat's chance that I could justify leaving you at home to deliver the placenta by yourself.

Assuming your delivery is unexpected but straightforward, baby is well, you don't appear to be bleeding excessively, I can't (in all my lack of obstetric experience!) see any tearing which might need immediate attention and you conveniently deliver your placenta promptly, I still have a DoC to you to ensure that you have been adequately assessed by an appropriate HP, and in this case, I am not the most appropriate HP to assess you. Remembering that we are discussing a home birth which is both unplanned and unsupported. How could I assess you and your baby for 20 odd minutes and then leave you to care for yourself - and not just be able to justify those actions, but feel comfortable walking away from you? If you have an IM present, and you called us because she just couldn't make it in time, and she is now on scene and she assesses you (with her appropriate experience and qualification) and she determines that it is safe for you to remain at home then I would be able to walk away knowing that you were being cared for and monitored by an appropriate person. But consider the fact that that MW will stay with you and your baby for numerous hours - there is no chance that an IM would assist with a delivery and then leave 20 minutes later, even if all appeared well. Why would a paramedic leave you?