Having the baby at home (1 Viewer)

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FWIW if anyone pregnant here is living in Louth they have a midwife-led unit in the Lourdes hospital in Drogheda. We didn't use it (couldn't - long story) but apparently they're very encouraging about natural births and apparently there you're much more likely to have the kinda of experience described above than you would in a normal hospital

 

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A bill expected to become law next month makes it illegal for midwives to assist home births unless fully insured; those attending births outside certain criteria risk a fine of up to €160,000 and 10 years' imprisonment.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/22/hungary-midwife-agnes-gereb-home-birth

 

[Serpico]

There's a march planned and I, for one, will be in attendance. The enforced medicalisation of birth is the greatest affront to civil liberties in this country since the formation of the state and it's creeping through without much of a whimper from the irish media. We're on the way to a situation like Hungary and make no mistake, this is all about money.
Like some kind of 1984 comedy sketch, the irish government will be able to force everyone to have they're births wherever they see fit (meaning Irish hospitals) regardless of your feelings toward the conditions of those places (see Sarah's post above for an insight into the current state of Irish maternity hospitals and does anyone see the massive cuts proposed improving those places??).

 

[Serpico]

This shit is real:

Hi Everyone,
As you may be aware (or not) the government are about to enact a new Nurses
and Midwives Bill in this session. One of the sections of the bill will make
it illegal for self employed (independent) midwives to attend a woman at
home if she falls outside very tight exclusion criteria. Basically most
everyone that you know who has had a home birth probably wouldn't be able to
have one now. These criteria were lifted wholesale from the NICE (National
Instituate for Clinical Excellence) in the UK guidelines, *BUT and this is a
BIG but* - the NICE guidelines stated that if the the criteria are not met,
then the woman's situation *may "suggest*" a birth in an obstetric unit, or
*may "indicate*" the need for a second opinion. Ultimately the NICE
guidelines says that provided the mother is aware of the increased risk
related to her own personal condition the ultimate choice of where to birth
rests with her.NO SUCH OPTION WILL BE PROVIDED IN IRISH LAW. If you don't
make the criteria, the right to choose will be taken away from you - you
will be forced into a hospital setting OR to go it alone at home without
professional care. This is an option some women who have been so traumatised
in a hospital setting would actively consider.

Who will be forced into hospital?
Previous c-births (even if they have successfully birthed subsequent babies
at home)
Fat women
Old women
Women on their 6th baby
Women with a heart condition
Women with previous pph
Women with previous strep B
Women whose waters go for more than 24 hours at home
Women with meconium stained liqour
Women with anemia
and I could go on ........

If you want to protect the rights of home birth mothers in Ireland please
sign the petition on

http://www.gopetition.com/petition/39693.html#fbbox

Many thanks

Krysia

PS Please pass this on through email or facebook to anyone that you think
might be interested

 

[Squiggle]

The criteria are already tight enough. And it makes absolutely no sense, financially (for the govt) or otherwise, for them to make them even tighter.

I've already signed the petition, and already there are rumblings of women going it without a trained midwife if they can't qualify for a home birth. So, the net effect of this legislation would be to increase the load on the already overloaded maternity wards, making the level of care available even worse, and to cause women who wish to avoid that situation to risk unassisted births.

Stupid, but sadly I wouldn't expect anything other than stupid from our Government.


When and where is the march planned?

 

[Serpico]

Here's the details as emailed to us:

Dear Home Birth Supporter,
Please take the time to sign the petition and if possible attend the picket on Wednesday the 3rd of November from 11am to 3pm at the Dáil .If you can attend the picket please let us know as the Gardai need to have an idea of numbers to expect
Helena Mc Mahon
Treasurer
Home Birth Association

Can't find anything online about it though. Doesn't seem to be getting much coverage. Another article about it here but still no mention of the march (which is actually a stationary protest so you could bring a chair I suppose):

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/97910

 

[Squiggle]

Thanks Will see if one of us can make it at least.

 

[Serpico]

Further info on the protest:

Hi There Everyone

Things are hotting up now in advance of tomorrow's protest at the Dail. Here
is the latest news that we have for you.



1.

*Timings. *AIMSI had agreed a time of 11am - 3pm with the Gardai.
However, given the fact that 20,000 students are also going to descend on
the Dail tomorrow at about 1.30pm we are hoping to focus our HBA protest
between 11am and 1.30pm. However, if anyone was able to make it any earlier
we would really appreciate the help, as a few of us are hoping to hand out
fliers to Tds as they arrive at the Dail between 9.30am and 10am. The
session starts at 10.30am.
2.

*Location.* We have been allocated the Kildare St dise. FYI the students
will be on the OTHER side - the Merrion Sq side.
3.

*Children. *We are hoping for lots of kids to be present and have
requested railings from the Guards. We will be bringing balloons and
hopefully a bit of entertainment for them.
4.

*Placards and banners.* Whilst we have about 20 banners being made up it
would be great if you could also bring your own. Below is a suggested list
of slogans. We would prefer it if you steered clear of the word CHOICE and
use the word RIGHT. We DO NOT want to be confused with a Pro-Choice
campaign.

Home Birth a (constitutional) Right NOT a Crime'

'Informed Consent NOT Enforced Compliance'

'When Push Comes to Shove ...The evidence suggests Home Birth or We choose
Home Birth

'Our Bodies, Our Births, Our Rights !!!'

Protect our voices and choices in birth

Protect the rights of birthing mothers / Let midwives do their job [on own
or together]

Informed choice in birth-it's a human right

Homebirth A Right, Not A Crime

Birth - every home should have one

I homebirth and I vote

My body, My birth, My right

Peace, love and homebirth

Homebirth not Handcuffs

First, they came for the homebirthers...

I want my rights not your options

Support Birthing Equality

Hands off My Birth Rights

Midwifery is Catching or Homebirth is Catching

Birth Choices - Protection not Restriction.

1.

*Spokespersons / organisers*. We have arranged for a few of us to have
high visibility jackets so you will be able to pick us out on the day and so
you can direct press to us on the day (if there are any).! My phone number is
087 7543751


See you tomorrow!!

Krysia and the Committee

 

[Lili Marlene]

imho you should threaten a boycott on breeding

Home Birth or NO Birth

 

[Squiggle]

Philomena was on call for us as Colm was away for the due date. She's supposed to be great.

We've changed midwife now, to Colm. Suits us better and Eric feels a lot more comfortable (and included) with him, which is a good thing. Philomena was lovely though.

From the noises being made by AIMSI at the moment it sounds like life is going to become very diffiult for Self-Employed midwives, which, in turn, will make it even more difficult than it already is to arrange a home birth.

This country is led by very stupid people. Cut hospital funding AND make it almost impossible for people to avail of any altermative. Brilliant!

 

[HMD]

Tell him we said hello.