Finally!

[Linzi]

I have a pro homebirth husband

we went along to a NHS information evening at St James' in Leeds last night & it was fantastic and basically told him everything he needed to hear. We also stayed at the end to have a chat with the midwife and she was really nice & helpful. It's so refreshing to hear someone so passionate and supportive about it in the NHS.

I was quite shocked to hear that there are only 15-20 homebirths in Leeds in a month (1.8% of all births) and that there are only 6 midwives on the homebirth team based at the hospital. Quite sad really.

Probably not a big deal to anyone else tbh, my husband had always said he would go along with what I wanted and stuff but I wanted him to want it as well, and now he does I was having a 4 month wobble about it and now that he's on board I feel much more confident, excited and passionate about it, and I don't even think I'm going to get pethedine from the Dr either (again probably sounds silly but I also feel a lot more confident in my ability to give birth without it now that Ive spoken to the midwife).

She also said that because Seth was so quick I have to call as soon as I have a couple of contractions or my waters go and they'll send someone out immediately to check me over.

They also played a beautiful video which Im going to email her to get the address for to post on here, it had me in tears

So thats that! Slightly gushing thread, but now I really really can't wait to have my homebirth

 

[chuck]

Good stuff missus!

I know exactly what you mean about wanting your partner to be not just ok I'll go along with it but fully into it.

Sadly my hubby never bought into it. He 'allowed' me to try, he's not really very supportive or understanding bless him.

Have a wonderful time planning your HB together!

 

[Linzi]

I honestly never expected him to, he's been pretty negative about it before and when Ive taken him to groups & stuff he's not enjoyed it very much. He's not really into 'alternative' methods of anything & makes his mind up quickly about stuff, then sticks to it forever (aka stubborn ) but he knew how much this meant to me & decided to make the effort to change his mind.

Having said that he says we cant talk about it all the time coz he might change his mind again

xxx

 

[Samantha675]

Excellent. I am super lucky with my DH. He's as educated as I am about HB and MWs and natural birth and is crazy supportive.

Good luck on your birth!

 

[Mervs Mum]

Fabulous news xx

 

[Linzi]

Lisa I noticed as well she had put out some leaflets on the table from Doula UK & your name was on the back, I showed my husband I was like "EEEEE LOOK I KNOW HER!!" haha proper celebrity!

So just so you know, you're getting pimped out there as well xx

 

[Mervs Mum]

That's great!! xx

 

[Bournefree]

Brilliant news Linz!!!! Chuffed to bits for you both!

To me hospital has always been the "alternative choice" even though it is main stream it has only been around for a relatively short period in the hisotry of birth - and we have the advantage of skilled competant MW in homebirth to assist us. We are the very lucky few that recieve one to one care.
xXx

 

[NaturalMomma]

Awesome!

 

[Linzi]

Brilliant news Linz!!!! Chuffed to bits for you both!

To me hospital has always been the "alternative choice" even though it is main stream it has only been around for a relatively short period in the hisotry of birth - and we have the advantage of skilled competant MW in homebirth to assist us. We are the very lucky few that recieve one to one care.
xXx

Now that I have learnt more, I couldn't agree more

My husband still (or did until yesterday) think it was a load of hippy stuff as he kept kindly telling me

My plan was to start a midwifery course in a few years when kiddies have grown up & Ive got my legs sorted, but I would like to start asap now, this whole experience has opened my eyes (even though I haven't actually had a homebirth yet) I really would like to be there to give support to women who want to do it, and I think it would be really great to have a part in lifting the stats. But I think it would be really great to do it through the NHS rather than privately, it's really sad that people don't get the support always from the NHS that they deserve.

xxx

 

[Mervs Mum]

Think one of the reasons why there is limited support like this within the NHS is because mws in the NHS ultimately answer to the NHS. So policies, protocol and fear of litigation is central rather than women. I thought about being a MW at one time. I just couldn't within the NHS and even to become an inde MW you have to go through 3 yrs in the NHS. I've worked with student mws just 3 months in and it frightens me how much they don't believe in birth and are already becoming indoctrinated. I can't do that to myself or I wouldn't be able to support women fully. Sad though.

 

[Linzi]

The lady who was there last night though who gave the talk was totally the opposite.

Everything they spoke about shocked me because it is SO different to how I was treat in hospital, and she works on the same ward as Seth was born, but she's one of the 6 homebirth midwives, so she usually works on the ward, and when a homebirth comes about she or one of the other 5 go out to the birth I always thought (well I still do actually) that I had a brilliant experience in hospital, but in fact theres so much I would change now Im more educated.

I was just talking to Matt about it & stuff like... at home their policy is an hour skin to skin with cord still attached, and placenta is left to come out on its own. my placenta was quick, but I didn't have hold of Seth when i delivered it, Matt did so I must have just had about 10 mins skin to skin with him before he got taken off me, given his jab & handed to Matt.

Apparently they also encourage women to be active, and she said that theres no way they'd allow a woman to give birth in bed - first thing that happened to me when i went in was I got a bed, got told to lie down and stay there

I guess it just depends what kind of midwife you get. & even if you're not into homebirth & natural birthing, and you maybe don't know about optimal positions for getting baby out - if there is a supportive midwife there in hospital it could make the experience ten times better and I'd like to think I'd be able to do that.

I appreciate that maybe the NHS isn't the greatest place to work for some people but there has to be a point where there's change, and change can only come from different ideas being brought in

xxx

 

[Tegans Mama]

Linzi, that's FANTASTIC! I really think us BnB ladies are a home birth revolution in the making

There are no babies on the scene for us any time soon ( ) But my OH is totally in support of HB and gets gung ho about it now, which I am glad about because when the time comes for number 2, it'll take a fork lift truck to get me in a hospital

 

[Mervs Mum]

I'd happily work in the NHS (almost all my family doand we are die hard socialists!) just not very effectively as a MW! I'd be sacked after a fortnight!

 

[Tegans Mama]

I'd happily work in the NHS (almost all my family doand we are die hard socialists!) just not very effectively as a MW! I'd be sacked after a fortnight!

Me too! It's something I would love to do, but with the impending doom of IMW's (we all know it will happen eventually... the government has control issues), NHS is likely to be the only choice. Pretty sure some of us know more about the physiological side of childbirth than some NHS MW's do anyway

 

[Nikki_d72]

That's great, Linzi, it will make all the difference. I think it will be so much nicer for the Dad too, not being sent home or sidelined, but having an active role and being able to snuggle up and bond in his own place with his new family on the first night after the birth. All the best to you, you can really get excited now! xxx

 

[Bournefree]

That's great, Linzi, it will make all the difference. I think it will be so much nicer for the Dad too, not being sent home or sidelined, but having an active role and being able to snuggle up and bond in his own place with his new family on the first night after the birth. All the best to you, you can really get excited now! xxx

Prego-hormone overload! That is so lovely, it made me well up!
Xxx

 

[Linzi]

That's great, Linzi, it will make all the difference. I think it will be so much nicer for the Dad too, not being sent home or sidelined, but having an active role and being able to snuggle up and bond in his own place with his new family on the first night after the birth. All the best to you, you can really get excited now! xxx

Yeah I think that's what he liked as well... the midwives made him like 'official bag carrier & giver of bad news" (when I was begging for an epidural because of my SPD but it was too late, the MW promised me it was on the way but took my OH to one side & made him tell me it wasnt coming ) which wasn't very pleasent for him. I think he likes the idea of being in his territory, feels like a bit more control iykwim?

xxx

 

[Linzi]

Linzi, that's FANTASTIC! I really think us BnB ladies are a home birth revolution in the making

There are no babies on the scene for us any time soon ( ) But my OH is totally in support of HB and gets gung ho about it now, which I am glad about because when the time comes for number 2, it'll take a fork lift truck to get me in a hospital

xxxx

 

[Mervs Mum]

It definitely made my OH feel more empowered by being on his own 'turf'. He also enjoyed making food for the MWs which makes him very happy! Oh and the fact that he could still watch a footie game and have a beer and not worry about needing to drive anywhere!