no vacancy at the birth centre :-(

[Oorki Galoorki]

you have access to some STUNNINGLY Wonderful midwives in the Homebirth network.
Homebirth Network of SA ~ South Australia ~ Homepage

check them out im know your 97% more likely to get the birth you want with them then the 40% chance in the birth centre (my figures)

[Roryrory]

Bluetree I would seriously consider a homebirth in your situation....

[bluetree]

Thanks everyone, I had a quick look at the WCH website about their midwifery group practice (this is where i had my son), it says birth centre is only available to women in their catchment area which im not, which is why i am with FMC, so it doesnt look like they would have me.

As far as home birth goes, Im giving it some serious thought! BUT The reason that I am reluctant about it is because there were complications when my son was born and he went straight to the special care unit ... I dont know what would have happened if i had been at home having him and the thought of things going wrong scares me!

I dont think i can afford to hire a private midwife (anyone know how much they cost?)
I'm a stay at home mum on a single parent pension :-)

Tomorrow I'm going to make some calls.

[Oorki Galoorki]

Most will do payment plans or work out a deal with you for payments..
what was your sons "complications" midwives are brilliant at knowing what is normal and what isnt so will be able to know if something is out of thier scope.. but these women have decades of experience and will often know better ways to treat babies then take them away from mum

[bluetree]

my son was set to be born in the birthing centre but when i arrived i had a high temperature and my son had a fast heartbeat so i was lead to believe he was in some distress, and i was put on IV antibiotics so was moved out of the birth centre suite to the regular rooms, when Danny was born he didnt make a sound and they gave him oxygen while he was on my tummy, then whisked him off to a "crash cart".. then they whisked him away to the special care unit :-( He was in a humidi-crib for a while getting extra 02 and monitoring. Eventually he was on IV antibiotics too for a chest infection - fluid in lungs! Probably GBS (group B streptococcus) that wasn';t detected in the routine screening caused us both to get sick, i had ruptured membrane for almost three days before labor started! .... My baby was the healthiest one in the special care unit and there weren't any further problems, he's a perfect healthy normal little boy, in fact I think he's gifted (but im biased cos im his mum).

Also, I caved in and had pethidine for pain relief which I totally regret - I was too sedated and I feel that there are big gaps in memory :-( Also, thats what could have affected my sons breathing, I guess he was sedated too :-(

This time I will do it differently.


What I want this time: As little intervention as possible! Prevention of GBS cos they say that can re-occur but now i know how it can be cleared up before it affects you and the baby during birth ... I DONT want antibiotics in labor and NO WAY do I want my newborn on it again.. I read the post somewhere on here about GBS - brilliant info..I DONT want drugs, I just want to be fully present, I want to be there for it!

[Arcadia]

It sounds like you are a perfect candidate for a homebirth. I didnt start researching homebirth until about 16 weeks, but as soon as I started reading, watching videos and speaking to midwives I knew it was for me. Just think of the homebirth as the same as any other kind of birth (including a birth centre). If things are not going to plan, or the midwife feels she needs more help, then you can transfer to a hospital. My biggest positive about that is you're only going to get intervention when you actually need it...otherwise all else goes to plan and you breathe your baby earthside (or roar them there as the case may be) in your own home...its just magic.

Oh and on the GBS test, my midwife doesn't push this test because things can change so quickly...meaning you have the swab at 36 weeks and things are clear, but you have the babe at 41 weeks and you might have it. Do you have your hospital notes? I am also surprised you were 'let' to go for 3 days with broken waters...my waters broke and there was immediate talk of getting labour started because of the risk of infection...my midwife knew exactly what to suggest and things got going quickly.

HTH! Good luck with the decision.

[Raupe]

Oh hun, that really sucks.

I would beg and scream and cry until they let me in. If that doesn't work, I second the homebirth. Could you have a private Middi and still birth in their birthcenter? Is that possible? Maybe might be worth enquiring about.

Good luck!