Hi Everyone,
So just come back from first consultant appt, well I didnt get to see him. I saw a midwife and a doctor, but glucose tolerance test came back as normal, bp is normal, urine is normal. I have to come back next week for a growth scan, why? Because of my BMI,it was 35 on booking in. Sigh. The midwife and the doctor were shocking, they completely shot down my consideration of a home birth saying they think its completely unwise to do that for a first birth and that if they were me, they would " go where the drugs are " . They said, " why dont you want an epidural? I said, I wanted to have as natural labour as possible and they said..." Ah thats what you say now! 
" They then started joking around saying " she is confident isnt she? " Well actually, I am not confident at all! 
Seriously, I must have idiot written on my forehead since becoming pregnant as I have never been spoken to like this in my life. I called the birth centre inside the hospital, and they said that because my BMI is 35 they wont let me have my baby there so that back up is out of the window. They were so negative about homebirth it was untrue, and I feel like I am losing my will to look into it further as no one I talk to seems to be pro-homebirth at all.
Just called community midwife, and she said there attitude wasnt good really but even she cant give me a definate answer as to whether I would be allowed a homebirth as she says its way too early to consider one and they usually like to look at me at around 37 weeks, feel the position/size of the baby and make up there mind then. Sigh. She said she will talk birthing plans with me at 34 weeks and will put her " homebirth hat " on ( her words ) to see whether I look fit enough to have one. Oh ok, so she has suddenly got amnesia and cant remember what I looked like from last week friday?
I just feel like giving up to be honest. I am losing faith fast in the health profession, and to think I want to be a doctor someday 
Sorry for the rant on your thread Lisa as I know your trying to keep it positive on here just needed to let someone know x x x
I'm up on my soap box!!! sorry ladies - I did encounter alot of this!!
ER - please don't think that any of this is to have ago at you, in any way - I just want to use your experiance to highlight, which I think is a problem generally.
Here we go...
I think that sometimes, some medical people (not MW's in the whole, I add) have a real problem with Home births.
Don't give up your resolve, if it is want you want go for it - of course, be well informed, consider all the facts (and I really mean facts, not just opinions) Your a mother from the moment you are pregnant - you will not do anything to harm yourself or your baby intentionally. WHY, oh why don't they understand this??!
Like the other ladies on here, I'm shocked about the "allowed to" "let you" terminology used. I had my home birth with gestational diabetes. I saw my consultant (who incidentally, had a vested interest in GD - the wonders of research)
I took him head on. (but I had to add that I wasn't going to NOT see him, I did value his education, and opinion, and wanted to see if there truly was anything that I had missed)
I was aware of all the risks and his clinical research - and didn't feel there was any clinical indication that applied to me. (long story short; but baby wasn't measuring big at term - I had agreed to a scan - I wanted to know and take my decision on clinical evidence, not policy, or self interest)
At the end of an hour appointment, (~scheduled for 15min.. sorry to the ladies that had to wait) he knew he was on a loosing battle - he said "what about if you go over term, what then?" I said I was happy to go to 42 weeks, but I worded it this way - I would compromise with him, I wouldn't want to risk, me or the baby, I would agree to have another scan at 41 weeks to check if the placenta's functionality was sufficient, and baby was still not measuring big. (which I knew was going to be very unlikely)
I left there, saying "I appreciate your help, you expertise, guidance, and experience; but you should admit to me, that being a hospital-bound consultant, with many years in this hospital environment; you should concede to me that, you had had very little contact with ladies who have entirely normal births, as your forte was best used in emergency situations - for which, the ladies under his care must, as I would be, be very grateful.
but, I'm not his candidate. My body is prepared for this, and has be preparing for 9 months, there isn't a single clinical reason (the really significant reason for me be defiant), that you can give me to be under your care, and be induced, or have a c-section (as yet - I admitted, that if needs be then, fair enough). I was, and determined, to experience a normal delivery.. as nature intended!" - he couldn't refute it!!!
He made no subsequent appointments for me; noted an open referral to see him. I agreed, and I would make my own appointments with him, if required for his help, if necessary, and I would be grateful for his help if the need arose.
I also saw a Diabetic nurse who commented that I "WILL" now be having my baby in the main hospital unit, to which I replied why, and they said “they wouldn't allow you to birth in the birth center - I just starkly told her I was having a home birth, and she told me they wouldn’t sanction that - I let rip on her!!! Poor woman. I told her it was my body, there is no “let” or “allow” - there migth be recommended, or policy… but never let or allow, I did in no uncertain terms, told her to “watch her language” (that’s a direct quote) ahhhhh the frustration!!!! I can totally understand why women are slowly coxed into hospital care - even when they don’t want to be!…. I’m not saying that being in hospital is bad, just trying to keep the options open.
I also had a similar conversation with my G.P (a 38 wk appointment, as my midwife was on holiday). He commented "your brave" , when hearing about where I had planned to have the labour and delivery, to which I just let out a lung full of air, and said "yep, I'm getting allot of that" He immediately backed dow and felt embarrassed (not sure he had much choice!!!).
I told him, during medical school, didn't you first study the natural process of the body to help you understand it's complications for which you would be required; well child birth is a natural physiological process and it CAN be natural - even in the 21st century!!.. and in fact, for the majority of women it IS.
I earnt his respect. (which I must add i shouldn't have had too. His was a personal comment, which shouldn't have had any place in my appointment with him) He was, to his credit, very interested, in me and my home birth, and later, when he did my little babies check up at home, (first Dr that she ever had seen!!), he commented and congratulated me, on awaking him to the "beauty of birth" (his words - no kidding!!) I felt all rosy after that!! G.P'S sometimes have a rough, front-line ride, but it is the part of there job they love, and so will, with a little less persuasion than the clinicians at the hospital, embrace you and your child!
I do have to say that it is awful, that you have to really go armed with these people... childbirth is a natural physiological process.. (sorry to repeat myself - but I found myself doing allot of that), as yes things can go wrong, but they are there if you need them, and it is a small proportion of the population..
Believe in yourself, we are not so badly evolved!!! There is nothing to be scared of.
xxxx
Smashing!!
Hello and welcome
I know in my heart it is the right thing to do, and I believe my body can do what it was designed to do. 
