"Homebirth and amazing midwives"

I had the most amazing team of homebirth midwives, who attended my home for all antenatal appointments. I felt that building a relationship with these midwives made me feel so much more relaxed and reassured about going into labour at home. They totally respected my wishes and birth plan, and supporting all the things that I had wanted for my first born baby. 

I had everything planned and organised, down to the snacks we had in the house. 

Things took a turn when I took covid a week before my due date, and was then told I would have to go to hospital, I believe this put my body under stress and it was just something that I hadn't wished for. When I started early labour and contractions started getting closer together which I contacted the Midwifey assessment unit, I was told that I would have to go into the hospital alone. Thankfully the homebirth team helped me in getting my husband into the delivery suite with me, as I was isolated anyway. The regulations within the hospital for having cold symptoms was absolutely ridiculous, however I did meet the most wonderful midwives in hospital who reassured me. I hadn't actually been in active labour and was sent home, and stayed in latent labour for another 24+ hours. I was able to have the homebirth team back on call as I was testing negative at home. 

When I went into active labour I had the most wonderful midwife Andrea come out to our home, she was the most gentle, caring lady anyone could ask for and was just so reassuring and comforting the whole way through labour at home.

However I wasn't progressing anymore and I got my waters broke to find meconium. Therefore I was transferred to hospital via ambulance, where I spent the night still in very painful active labour and still not progressing. In the end I made the decision to have a C-Section and we finally got to meet our amazing, beautiful daughter. I am so grateful for the 2 lovely young midwives who looked after me during labour. However when I was transferred to the Midwifery Led Unit I was told my husband wouldn't be able to join me as I was still covid possible. I know this was no fault of any of the midwives working, but 100% down to the trust having ridiculous rules around covid. At a time when I needed my partner the most, to help support me and spend quality time with his daughter I was told I wasn't allowed it. In the end he got in for a short visit, but this totally made me an emotionally wreck and having a mini meltdown before I was able to see him. I felt so isolated and as if I was the plague when I was in MLU, all because I had a cold a week before, which I no longer had symptoms when I went into labour. Thankfully we got home a couple of days later, and we were back as a family unit and able to all heal together. 

I am so thankful for the homebirth team and I cannot recommend them enough. Paula was just a lady to work with and made everything so smooth. I 100% plan on a homebirth for my next baby and hope that I get to work with all the amazing midwives again. I would love to see the homebirth team grow more and more, promoting natural and comfortable births for women within the Southern Trust!