Frequently Asked Questions
Can I give birth vaginally
after having had a Cesarean?
How safe is home
birth?
I am already
well into my pregnancy; can I still engage you?
How often do you
have to go into hospital to complete a birth?
What percentage
of your births take place in Hospital?
Why are all the
stories I read about midwifery negative?
Can I have my baby
in my own home?
What equipment will
you bring with you?
Can my husband cut
the cord?
What if my baby
needs oxygen?
What is the difference
between a birth at The Birth Centre and a birth at my home?
Does my husband
have to be at the birth?
What should I do
if I go into labour and no one is with me?
What should I do
with my children when I am in Labour?
How quickly will
I recover from childbirth?
Will I have to
go to hospital immediately after the birth?
What happens if
something goes wrong?
What are the purple
and green colours about?
How common is home
birth?
What is wrong with
hospital birth?
What kind of pain
relief will I have available to me?
Can I give birth vaginally
after having had a Cesarean?
Yes indeed, in fact its much safer to
give birth vaginally, than to give birth by cesarean section. At the
moment our "vbac" (vaginal birth after caesarian section)
rate is running at 95% of course this means that one woman in every
twenty who has had a previous cesarean section will have another cesarean
section, but nineteen out of twenty women using our services will give
birth vaginally. Top
How safe is home birth?
Home birth is very safe, and for some women it
is even safer than hospital birth. With a home birth you avoid the danger
of infection and the complications engendered by intervention in a physiological
event. The other plus side of home birth is that you are never separated
from your baby or your partner. However there are some women who would
be advised to have their baby in hospital. We can discuss this. Top
I am already well into
my pregnancy; can I still engage you?
Yes, if we have room. We do close our books when
we are full. Top
How often do you have
to go into hospital to complete a birth?
About 10% of women need to be transferred to
hospital. Often for prolonged labour, and the need for an epidural,
or enhancing and making the contractions more efficient. Top
What percentage of
your births take place in Hospital?
??????? ??????? percent of our births take place
in hospitalTop
Why are all the stories
I read about midwifery negative?
All news is bad news; you never read good news
in headlines, and this is a problem with the news itself and
not midwifery in particular. Every day thorough the world, midwives
assist women at births happily and safely. This is not newsworthy! (Although
we think it's the most exiting thing that happens!)Top
Can I have my baby
in my own home?
Yes. You are a mammal and you have a great need
for privacy, often darkness, and a place where you can get into comfortable
positions. Your own home is uniquely designed for your own comfort and
security. Top
What equipment will
you bring with you?
Large absorbent Pads to protect your furnishings,
resuscitation equipment for both mother and baby, Entonox (“gas
and air” which is used for pain relief), sterile gloves, appropriate
drugs; everything we need for a safe birth. Top
Can my husband cut
the cord?
Yes of course! Top
What if my baby needs
oxygen?
We will have some there. Top
What is the difference
between a birth at The Birth Centre and a birth at my home?
Very little difference; except that the Birth
Centre is in the back garden of a major London maternity hospital, which
makes for easy transfer if we need it. Top
Does my husband have
to be at the birth?
Not if he doesn't want to be. We encourage friends,
sisters, mothers, whoever you want to be at the birth. However we do
think that if there are a great many people there, the labour is made
slower, because you are a mammal, and you need to feel private and not
overlooked. Top
What should I do if
I go into labour and no one is with me?
If its your first baby, you usually have plenty
of time to call a midwife, because first labours take between 24 and
48 hours normally. You can ring up your partner, your midwife and take
it easy! The same goes for a second birth, but usually that's quicker.
Top
What should I do with
my children when I am in Labour?
Often they will be asleep; because you are a
mammal, you will often go into labour at night. If this is not the case,
we encourage you to find a friend who will take them for the labour,
to bring them back either for the birth (if that's what you want) or
it bring them back after the birth. Top
How quickly will I
recover from childbirth?
If it's a normal birth, many women go home from
hospital or the Birth Centre within two to three hours. However, we
do encourage you to rest after childbirth. Top
Will I have to go
to hospital immediately after the birth?
No. Top
What happens if something
goes wrong?
We work throughout London. A place with many,
many hospitals. we can transfer you to hospital very quickly if needed.
Top
What are the purple
and green colours about?
These are the colours of the Suffragettes. Green
= "give", white = "Women", violet = "Votes".
Top
How common is home
birth?
Nationally, about two percent of women (this
means two hundred women per day give birth at home) In our practice
62% of our clients give birth at home. Top
What is wrong with
hospital birth?
Nothing. A woman should be where she feels safest.
We are able to go into most hospitals in Greater London, and accompany
you throughout your labour and birth. Top
What kind of pain
relief will I have available to me?
Water, soothing words, the comfort of someone
who has done this journey before, encouraging you and supporting you.
The ability to move around into a comfortable position, gas and air,
pethidine, TENS and an (in hospital) epidural. Top
