I'm just popping on with an update re my possible homebirth - have copied and pasted this from my post in September Stars in third tri, and it's a bit of a rant really!!!
I went to the MW appt yesterday, and she was lovely, but the whole homebirth thing (the way I want to do it anyway) appears to be out of the window. Initially when we discussed HBs, she advised me that there was nothing I needed to do, that they will bring out the kit when I am 36 weeks. This was to include a birth pool which is owned by the community midwife team. I would have to pay £10 for a new sterile liner, but that would be it. Well, I asked her about it, and she said oh she doesn't even know where the pool is at the moment. She promised to have a look but I don't hold my breath on that one. Then she said I need to get to Saturday morning (37 weeks exactly) to stand any chance of the homebirth, which I knew anyway, but that the soonest anyone can bring the kit out to me would be Sunday, if the MW on duty doesn't have too much on on that day. But, don't worry, because if you go into labour before then, we all have the kit in our car. But nothing would be set up in the house as she told me there didn't need to be anything set up, and not to even think about it until 36 weeks! The icing on the cake was that she then followed this up by saying that this is the busiest time of year for them, and that the chances are that there won't be anyone available to come out as they'll need the staff on the delivery suite! Argh!!!!!! I work for the NHS and understand staff shortages, I just wish I hadn't been promised something which seems totally unreachable now!
Getting to the 37 weeks has always been a big thing for me, as I've never done it before, and it's really important to me this time, as this will be our last baby, that if I do get to that elusive 37 weeks, I get to have a go at giving birth the way I want to do, and not strapped to a monitor. I would really like to be active, and ideally wanted it to happen in my own surroundings. Now I am thinking, perhaps plans need to change slightly for if I do get to Saturday. I think if I do, I would rather opt for the hospital option (they have a birth centre too in the same building) with the chance to be active and use a birth pool, than to try for the now unprepared homebirth. I'm not 100% sure, but think that's the way I am thinking. I don't want to get all excited and start getting ready at home for Saturday and then it all go wrong.
after my ringing the triarge i think they may have spoken to her but not sure. She said atm she would prefer my iron levels to be higher, she is redoing them at 33weeks which will mean i will have been taking iron tabs for about 4 weeks so hopefully they will have done their jobs, and if they are normal or almost normal she will put me in for my HB visit 
Between my sister's wedding, my business and of course my children I am hardly able to check on here.
tbh hon' I would simply write to the supervisor of midwives for your area and let them know the situation. I'd be telling them that a. I planned to stay at home and b. that it is extremely disapointing that given the time the trust have had to ensure adequate staffing levels to accomodate my birth choices, that this is now being cited as an excuse not to attend you at home. It's unnacceptable and staffing is their problem not yours. They have had adequate time to sort this and women giving in without question just allows them to continue with this crap. 
Like i said before they wouldnt bring mine until i was 37+5 and then wouldnt come out until i was over 38 weeks 
Doesnt seem to matter now though.
