Would it be possible?

[Love is all you need]

Hi Girls :wave:

Just wondering if you are able to enlighten me....we are thinking about TTC #2 and I really want a homebirth, now I am deemed as a high risk pregnancy having Lupus SLE and arthritis, I had an Epidurial and Episiotomy with DD so would I be able to have a homebirth or is it too risky??

Also what pain relief is available at homebirth (hopefully won't need it but just in case!)?

I'm fairly new to the concept of home birthing but the more research I do the more I want one for #2.....

TIA Jess

[La Que Sabe]

as far as i know most midwifes have gas for pain relief but that's all.
and you probly can have a home birth, but i'm not a midwife so it's probly best to call one and ask =]
i know a great one in SA if you're there?

[V8]

Hi there. I suffer from hypermobility which is a chronic pain condition, i chose to have a homebirth because i didn't like the drug options at hospital, i wanted my labour to be uninhibited, and i wanted to be in water, pain relief in a birth pool is just bliss, i also used some meditation and relaxed breathing to help with the pain.

You can read my birth story in the homebirth section where lots of other birth stories are posted. For me my midwife didn't have problem with my condition as apart from that my pregnancy was quite normal, she was very surprised that my body held up though, and she was really stoked for me.

[Love is all you need]

Thanks Girls,
I'm in Vic so thank-you for the offer Katie but I don't think they'd travel this far!
Cool have done some reading of home birth stories and they sound amazing....now to convince DP :detective:

[Tam-I-Am]

There are some really good midwives in Victoria, and your best bet would be to give some in your area a call to find out whether they would assess you high-risk for a homebirth or not, and then go from there :)

Good luck!

[lilpearl]

Homebirth midwives tend to look at women as individuals, not simply mark them as "high risk", "low risk" for the sake of convienience as hospitals do. Phone a few I.M and they should have plenty of info for you. :) I think Melb hospitals are for more quick to box women into the "high risk" category and place restrictions on them.....Melb has a long way to go in the maternity care industry!
As a VBAC woman, I wont birth in a hospital in VIC, as I believe it to be a dangerous choice for me - so I happily choose homebirth, as my midwife uses evidence-bassed care.

As for pain relief - midwives do not carry any. It's fiddly, expensive, and unessesary in a homebirth situation - the power of labour is far more managable at home. I had Nitrous during my birth centre labours, and then nothing at my homebirth, and it was no different. No more pain at my homebirth, just more aware, which was great! Free access to birth pools at home, too, which is just bliss.

All the best!

[stellarella]

Everything is possible with a HB. Except maybe total placenta previa.

Different midwives will take on different things. From your quick description there my midwife wouldn't consider you high risk at all :D

Midwives don't bring any "drugs" for pain relief. Actually some might bring nitrous oxide, but most don't
You can use baths, heat, massage etc. for pain relief though :)

[PookieLady]

You sure can have a homebirth. I say go for it and dont let anything hold you back from having a beautiful birth.
Sarah