Free Birth For Number 3??

[MummaTaira]

I am seriously considering a free birth if not a home birth at the least for number 3 I have plenty of time to plan and what not as bubble doesn't come along till late October..

Just wondering is it wise to be booked in with the hospital just incase??
I suppose can always call an ambulance if I'm worried... siigh I want this just worried as although it's baby number 3 for me it's baby number 1 for my adoring fiance..

[traseal]

i didnt bother..not like they canl turn you away

[MummaTaira]

Cheers
Now I guess I just start reading up on this stuff and find out what I need to do this my way :)

[changethestars]

I think it depends on what you are comfortable with. It might "feel" safer if you know you have a back-up hospital booked just in case - especially for your partner!

I'm planning homebirth for my and my partner's first baby, and one of the things that helped me convince him was that I would have a back-up hospital booked just in case - makes him feel better about it!!

Of course I hope my birth goes smoothly - but birth is unpredicatable, and at least if I am for some reason required to go to hospital, at least they will know who I am and we won't have to waste time with clerical bla bla like figuring out what your address is etc!! Last thing you will want to be worrying about!

Just a thought :-)

[MummaTaira]

yeah that would probably ease his worries still trying to find a midwife...

[AM]

I didn't for my freebirth, as soon as you let the 'establisment' into your birth, I just feel it creates problems TBH.

All the best. :)

[pinkdolly]

we are planning a midwife assisted HB in September.

Like some of you, not my first baby, but first for my partner.

I am not booking into any hospital, but will happily transfer if anything goes wrong.

In relation to the hospital 'turning you away' I was turned away from a hospital when DS was 6 weeks and I had mastitis. I was told to return to the place of his birth for treatment, however I was on an interstate visit which made it impossible.

I was finally admitted after going thru the ER dept, and one of the midwives came and said sorry, and told me they didnt realise how sick I was. I stayed for 4 days, but they wanted to keep me longer.

Worst bit was the antibiotics made me vomit really badly, and the breastfeeding NAZI yelled at me for not feeding my son. I asked her to give him a bottle and was abused by her.

Happy ending: breastfed DS for 2 yrs, and mastitis didnt come back after hospital visit.

[kymmy]

I was given a referal for the hospital as I visited my family GP at about 34w with J. She knew I was planning a homebirth and was not impressed in the least. I was given an appt at a diff hosp (GP gave me referral to the hosp where I had my first 3 but rules dictated I go to local hosp instead - RWH was built smaller than originally intended - yep great idea with a baby boom) that didn't suit me and didn't bother going but doubt I would have anyway.
Now I am almost 34w and do not plan to see any GP or book in. If in the event I do tranfer it will because or dire emergency and we will call the ambulance.

[NonnyMouse]

I always have a hospital back up booking, but found it useful more for other reasons than the thought that I might need to birth there.

1. When I needed some physio because of pelvic pain, I got it for free because I was "booked in" to birth there. ;)

2. When I had unusual pain towards the end of the pregnancy they had all my records so I didn't have to keep repeating myself.

3. ANd of course, if I did need to transfer, they would have all my details already to save hassle when I arrived (it also meant that my midwife sent coipies of all the notes from our antenatals there each time so they were always up to date with how my pregnancy was going.

I've yet to birth in one, but still see it as a good idea. (Of course, our middy did all the booking in paperwork so I never had to actually go there and explain to them I was homebirthing etc).