just about ready to give up on the hospital round here*rant*

[Manda&Thomas]

well as you now my last midwife appt was cancelled and no1 had bothered to let me no so i dragged myself down to the hospital to get checked over and have everything test ect that was 2 weeks ago yesterday,
while there i was told that some-one would be coming out the next day (tues) to go over my birth-plan and give me my home-birth kit,
well that evening i get a phonecall to tell me she couldnt make it afterall but will get some-one to ring me the next day and come out (weds) weds came and went so did the weekend i dint hear anything so i thought maybe i had heard wrong and she ment next week that weds come and went i thought well il give it to the weekend and ring friday,
well i forgot to ring on friday so hubby rang them yesterday for me,
he spoke to a really unkind women who stated that babies hardly ever come on thier due-date so i wasnt to worry that i hadnt been seen by anyone in 2 weeks for any checks and that she has no idea what im talking about when i say home-birth kit all they give you is sheeting (i was told i have to provide my OWN sheeting they provide gas and air and a ressuss (sp?) kit just incase), she then went on to say to hubby that if he thought i was going into labour to give them a ring they will come out and if i am infact in labour they will then go back to the hospital to get the gas and air for me!! that could take atleast an hour depending on traffic ect and if they dont get held up at the hospital.
well she also said that she wont come out and see me but will try and get some-one to come out tomorrow (today) to visit me although it would help them if i can go to the hospital (i cant go out my feet are so swollen its agony to walk anywhere).
so all in all it looks like hubby will be delivering our son as doesnt look like they really give to craps about me as im not going into hospital or dropping everything and putting myself in pain to go see them,
me and hubby are definatly going to go for an independent midwife next time we were going to this time but everyone said we should atleast try with the nhs, just wish i hadnt of bothered
sorry this has turned into a huge rant just needed to get it all out my system
manda xx

 

[Sherlock]

Awww hun

I do feel for you. Grrrrr at them for being so sodding useless and unhelpful. You really should have anything from the MW's you will need in the house as it may vary on who comes out and they are supposed to have it all waiting for them.

If its any help I have a list from my MW of things I need to make sure I have that they don't provide. Would it help if I listed those things for you? Its not masses, but its a step closer. And would help you cover your bases.

As for the rest of the box, mine appears to be mostly resuscitatation kit, sterile stuff (if needing stitches and injections of any kind etc) and paperwork for the MW's but I can have a poke around in the non sealed stuff more if you'd like.

I do hope they get more sorted for you. Its a shame you don't have a community homebirth MW and are having to have hospital ones come out.

Anyways, let me know if you want the list of goodies to get in.

And have some more of these

 

[sarahk]

Oh my god - sounds like a right shambles. I'm not suprised your peed off!!! In your pregnancy folder there should be a contact for a senior midwife - i'd complain?? It doesnt give you much confidence for a home birth does it?!!

Ive had a pretty good experience with my hospital/midwife - I think I have been quite lucky - but I have had some complications, so i'm in hospital a few times a week. The only thing I would say about it, is I do get conflicting opinions about my diagnosis and treatment and the consultant i'm under doesnt speak English very well!!! My partner and I had to get a midwife to explain what he had been discussing. I saw another specialist yesterday who was fantastic, I think I might ask to be transferred.

Sorry to hear your having a stressful time with this. I'd love to have a home birth, but unfortunately its not possible, so i'm very envious!!!

Good luck - hope the midwifes pull through for you!! (geez)

 

[xJuliex]

Bloody hospitals eh!! Do thay not think we have enough to deal with without stressing us out even more!!! xxxx

 

[maybebaby]

I'm not surprised you're peed off! My home birth kit (all sealed & sterile recuss & stitches stuff) & paperwork was dropped off at 36 weeks but it was the second midwife who brought the gas & air - chances are you won't need it straight away anyway.

I really hope it all goes well for you

 

[Manda&Thomas]

thanks everyone and sherlock a list of things i need to have would be great i have old bedding, shower curatins (plastic) an old duvet, a couple pillow, some bed protector mat type thingys lol not sure what they are called!!
thanks again
manda xx

 

[maybebaby]

For my Home Birth I found I used loads of towels so have some old ones handy that you won't mind throwing out. I got 2 big waterproof sheets from Wilkinsons to go under the birth pool - I didn't have time to use the pool in the end but the sheets were still very useful. I ended up leaning on my birth ball for most of my labour as I found it really helped with the pain.

Also have a bowl handy in case you're sick - I wasn't expecting to be and threw up all over the carpet!

You'll also need a clock with a second hand to time contractions, and an angle lamp or torch so that the midwife can have a good peer at your bits

Have some strong black bin bags for the non-medical rubbish too.

I think that's all I had - Sherlock will probably have a much better list!

 

[Manda&Thomas]

For my Home Birth I found I used loads of towels so have some old ones handy that you won't mind throwing out. I got 2 big waterproof sheets from Wilkinsons to go under the birth pool - I didn't have time to use the pool in the end but the sheets were still very useful. I ended up leaning on my birth ball for most of my labour as I found it really helped with the pain.

Also have a bowl handy in case you're sick - I wasn't expecting to be and threw up all over the carpet!

You'll also need a clock with a second hand to time contractions, and an angle lamp or torch so that the midwife can have a good peer at your bits

Have some strong black bin bags for the non-medical rubbish too.

I think that's all I had - Sherlock will probably have a much better list!

towels hehe i have some of those had to buy new ones as all mine are egyptian cotton so i opted for brown ones lol
will get hold of a bucket might have one kicking about somewhere infact
hubby should have some sort of torch thing will check that with him though and binbags i have pleanty of
thanks helps alot to know what i will need more of or need to find lol
manda xx

 

[maybebaby]

Ooh I forgot I bought a special new towel for the baby to be wrapped in when he was born - I knew I'd probably have to throw it away but I wanted him to have a new soft towel. My super star mum manged to wash it completely clean in the end so I've still got it now

 

[muppetmummy]

It sounds to me like they are being unhelpful in the hope that it will put you off a homebirth, and you will agree to go into hospital and fit into their conveyor belt system.

I agree that complaining to someone senior is a good idea. There are some good websites around too that have advice about what to do if you aren't getting support in your homebirth plans, and what you are entitled to by law.

I would love an independent midwife, but I think they can cost about £3k!

I hope you can get things sorted, you can do without this stress now

 

[Charlie:-)]

Thats really rubbish Manda, cant believe they have been really rude and horrible. This is supposed to be a nice experience (well maybe not the actual giving birth bit but everything else should, no?) and they are making it very difficult for you.

Good job you have lots of support from PF girlies who are having home births. I hope they send someone out to you today and you get some one who might actually have a clue what they're doing and who gives a s**t

 

[Tillytots]

useless *******s! sorry they are being so unhelpful hunni xx

 

[Sherlock]

OK, some of things, lots I've left off as you will have those I am sure. But here are the main things we have to get in so to speak

For bed

Old sheets x 2 and clean ones for after the birth
Plastic sheeting - enough to cover bed, flooring etc. Depending on where you hope to deliver of course.

For you

Prepared meals such as soup for eating during and after labour.
Ice cubes - plain or made from fruit juice or raspberry leaf tea
Towels x a few
Flannel
Bendy straws/energy drinks etc

For baby

Somewhere to warm up babys clothes when in labour
Clean towels x a few
Hot water bottle to warmcrib
Cotton wool

Been told room should be about 22C to deliver in, might want to check this for yourself.

For MW

Birth plan if necessary
Clean towel and antibacterial soap
Bucket (for peeing/throwing up in if not able to get to bathroom)
Angle poise lamp or torch (in case of needing stitching etc)
Bin bags
Clear work area for equipment to go out on to
Bed pads (my MW supplies about 10 of them and leaves any leftover ones with me. Meant for if you are mobile etc or to put under you for delivery etc. You can buy them in Boots for yourself)

Other equipment

Clock with second hand
Old newspaper (in case you move around away from sheeted area)
Plenty of hot water on supply

Hope that helps

 

[Manda&Thomas]

thanks so much for that list seems i have everything or can get the bits i dont have easily
thanks again
manda xx