home birth worries

Faith1318 · May 2013

I'll try to make this the "short version," but no promises.

I am considering a home birth as one of our options to have #3 later this year. We are moving to a state that is not (generally speaking) very natural-friendly, and my local hospital options are limited - not terrible, but not ideal.

So in comes the option of a home birth. One of my issues, though, is that if we had attempted a home birth with #2, we almost certainly would have been a hospital transport, because I had a partial placental abruption during labor. And that's scary! (Still ended up a natural delivery with great Apgar scores - but labor was just a scary time.)

That said, I have no reason to think I would be "risked out" of home birth with this history, and the midwives I have spoken with have told me as much - that this current pregnancy is still low-risk.

But I guess the experience of having things not go according to plan is making me more apprehensive - even though I would LOVE to have a home birth, I feel like I may have lost some of my trust in the natural process.

I guess my point is, if anyone has/had similar concerns, or if you had a successful home birth after a previous delivery that didn't go as expected... I'd love to hear your thoughts, and maybe how you came around to believe that a safe home birth was still in the cards for you. TIA!

alliejoe · May 2013

I think asking your MW or potential MW's what their transfer policy and plans are would be helpful to you in making your decision. Also knowing the doctors they work with and what their stance is on natural birth, etc.

Celyn · May 2013

My neighbor has had two homebirths after an hospital birth turned emergency c-section. The midwife I work with most often has about a 1 in 10 transfer rate, because she is cautious about the process. I think that's a good thing. It's one thing to transfer with time (which very often is what happens, and almost always it's a successful vag delivery that just needed some of the things that hospitals have and midwives don't) and to transfer in a rush. I know it's scary to have an emergency arise, but where I am very often people actually get a spot in the OR faster with a hospital transfer than if you were already there at the hospital.

meltoine · May 2013

We had a discussion about an article on this board a few weeks back. The article was about the birth culture in Scandanavia and how their process and results compare to ours. The article really focused on the relationship between midwives and OBs, and how they work together the get the best outcomes for moms and babies.

The general feeling about birth in that situation is that, so long as mom and baby are healthy at the end, the birth was a success. They don't use phrases like "failed home birth". Most people plan home births, and some do transfer because sometimes you do need a hospital - that's the nature of birth. But a transfer isn't a failure and it isn't something to be afraid of. It's something to take comfort in - your midwife is trained and knowledgeable and will transfer you if she needs to and at the right time, and you are fortunate to live in an area where you have hospital care available.

Find a great, experienced midwife that you trust, literally with your life (and that of your baby) and have faith in her. That's the most important thing you can do here.

*LrCg* · May 2013

My first was a homebirth, my second was suppose to be but at 37 weeks I had an 80% placenta abruption (I was not in labor), it was amazing our baby survived so I can understand you're being scared about another abruption. After the birth my midwife recommended that I get some tests taken and one was the MTHFR which I tested positive for and is probably the reason for my abruption. DH & I met with a MFM specialist and went over supplements I would have to take at least 3 months prior to trying to get pregnant and also during my pregnancy (which I followed). So when I got pregnant with my 3rd, I had no issues with having a VBAC at home- frankly I feel safer at home than at a hospital. I ended up having a healthy baby at home who was 2 lbs bigger than my first 2 and stayed in 2 weeks longer with no abruption (placenta or uterine).

Haley.Beth · May 2013

I suggest you talk a little more in-depth with a midwife about her transfer rates and policies. A placental abruption isn't really something you can foresee or avoid, but there are signs that show long before it becomes life-threatening. Any well-trained midwife would chose to transfer at the first sign of such a complication. We had a very long talk with the midwife I eventually chose about her reasons for transferring, and how she would transfer me to the hospital if something goes wrong. We also talked about exactly what she is able to do at my home in case of an emergency until the ambulance arrives. I strongly suggest you do the same...it would probably calm your nerves a LOT. Home birth midwives are generally very well trained in emergency situations and are able to do a lot more than most people think. Also, any well-trained midwife will consider a home birth the "best case scenario," and at ANY sign of trouble will transfer you to a hospital.

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