Senior Member
Pregnancy + homebirth in NZ
As tia maria and jubjub had posted their experiences but there was no experiences in homebirth that i was interesting in as homebirth in NZ must be different to UK's homebirth, it was turn out so far i was right!.
I opt for homebirth again after had my daughter at home and my son at midwife birth centre in UK, so no need for hospital birth unless any complications arise.
If there is anyone had homebirth or thinking about homebirth, feel free to join in!
Sophia
Senior Member
Currently i am ten and half weeks at the moment after the scan confirm my due date now moved to 17th instead of 9th september.
BOOKING
Saw practice Nurse for informations on pregnancy in NZ, she offered me pregnancy test to ensure i am really pregnancy. I did had it for no charge. She start the ball rolling by taking bloods, book appt with GP next day.
Appt with GP was different to UK, they asked about yourself and previous 3 pregnancies including missed miscarriage. Then she check your blood pressure, heart and your health.
SCANS
I went to St george radiology centre in Chch, referred by my GP at suppose to be 11 1/2 weeks. Bit shocked to find it is ten weeks instead. Because of the date moved, i was charged $132 instead of $40 for NT scans. At the moment, my GP is fight with St george on my behalf to get $92 back as there is no way i know about baby is ten weeks instead of 11 plus. My GP had referred me back for further scan in two weeks to have NT.
LMC
As I chose to have homebirth, I need to find midwife that are expert in homebirth! I found few link on website and contacted christchurch homebirth. Will look for link but tia had links in her forum. I was invitied to attend their open evening to meet midwives and learn about their role in homebirth. Very good information for people who are still thinking....
While there, i was given choice of few midwives still available for september and I picked Lynda. She came to my house on friday after meeting and had good chat to find out more about her etc. to find out more about homebirth in New Zealand. One things i wasn't prepare for it.....you have to get rid of your own afterbirth...placenta!!! my husband looked at me blank as he know it will be his job as i am no state to do it after birth!! It is against the law to dipose placenta in normal housewaste....so he had choice of burying in the garden!, burying in hagley park (there is special place for it, i was told) or other i can't remember...
Lynda have also booked birth pool just in case i still want birth pool as at the moment, i thinking of having birth pool....but booking get fill up quick..
Because it is homebirth, i don't have to meet midwife at the hospital, she just come to your house whatever suit you (and your children if any). Lynda will be see me next thursday for two hour sessions on booking in.
Sophia
Senior Member
On small note about homebirth, it is bit of taboo in New Zealand. Coming from very well support on homebirth in UK to New Zealand that other women find it bit of shocked and bit of hush hush at the playgroups. I mentioned to Lynda about it, and turn out only 4% of birth are homebirth in whole New Zealand and 8% of birth are homebirth in Christchurch. They are trying to promote homebirth in New Zealand is acceptable.
I had homebirth in UK, I know it is very good as very relaxing and have same midwife stay with you for whole labour instead of having different midwife that you don't know her/him. This reasons why I had my daughter at home after experiences at birth centre with my son that I end up with 5 different midwifes and I don't know them! Not relaxing experiences.
For your information if anyone ask.. no i am not hippy!!! just normal person!
Sophia
Senior Member
Sounds like you have made a great start.
There is a girl in my coffee group who is a midwife herself, and is going to have her 2nd child as a homebirth in about ten weeks time.... I will let you know how she gets on!
As regards to the placenta, you can eat it apparently..... I chose not to, and let the hospital deal with it! the burying in the garden is very common here, and then plant a tree on top.
Sal
In Auckland since June 2005.
Senior Member
Originally Posted by jubjub
Sophia
Junior Member
I stay away from female topics. But I want to post some relevant information.
The most expensive running costs for a hospital are the elderly and Mother with newborns and the complications that arise.
Here in NZ the women are geting married later in life. Women are having their first borb baby around late 20's 29,30,31,32. I am not a fertility expert but the biological clock for having babies is more difficult in those years than compared to say early 20's. Qualified Doctors / Gynaecologist sin NZ have a big arguement with the govrment over money and basicially a lot of them don't want to be involved.
Obstetricians complain they get called in too late in the process when complications arise and they say another negative that compounds the issue is NZ women haveng babies a lot later in life. Someone is going to shoot me down..I just want to point out why midwives are used prodominately and homebirths are low.
This is for the husbands...get the "best" medical care you can possibly afford.
The most complications arise out of child birth. Midwives act too late when difficulties arise. Have a back up plan that you can call in a specialist and rush to the hospital. Every minute is vital The mother informed the midwife the baby wasn't kicking. Said not to worry. Unfortunately the baby got tied up on the umbical... oxygen starvation. Fortunately, the husband took control and sought the specialist and it had a happy ending.
Senior Member
It is women's choice where they want to give birth or 'joint' decision, not husband's choice at all...after women are the one been carry baby/ies for 9months and going through labour.
Every homebirth midwife always have back-up plan and got resuscitate kits with them for baby if need (i know they have it as they got it out on the floor of lounge before my daughter was born, just in case as be prepare) and also they have extra midwife with them, one for mother and one for baby. They pick up the problems early on than hospital midwifes because they know when need to step in. I will be having three midwife as my midwife is in her second years but passed exams and used work in hospital so she know about birth but for homebirth, it is more training involved because of above they need to learn out to deal with any complications which is very rare, mean she is not yet fully qualified to look after me on her own.
Did this woman got her midwife from registered homebirth midwife group?
Sophia
Junior Member
Congratulations on going against the grain.I think it's wonderful! I have, unfortunately, had two hospital births in the USA. My first baby I was very naive about birthing and, after many interventions, had her cut out of me while I was under general anesthesia. My husband was very nervous about homebirthing with a VBAC. Being a partnership, and the fact that I didn't want his stress during the birth, I agreed to the hospital again, but with a doula. We have no birth centers here, the happy medium. I ended up laboring at home for a very long time and arrived at the hospital, ready to push. From the moment we arrived in the Emergency Room to the moment Charlie was born was 10 minutes.
I am planning on attending midwifery school within a few years of arriving in NZ. I firmly believe in a woman's ability to birth. I am very excited to begin this new adventure.
Senior Member
Go for it, good luck!
Sophia
Senior Member
Up to date.....
GP
Saw dr soon after last post for further check up on heart as normal standard for this surgery to check mum-to-be's heart as well as blood check
They found that i had heart murmur, so been booked for ECHO scan to make sure it is ok....my midwife is interesting in results
Book in
Finally got book in, she fill in a big thick book compare with UK's, asking every questions about past pregnancies, families history in all sort! Then she took blood pressure (very low!) and did what jubjub mentioned before..wee into stick!! All that last two hours then follow on appts will take an hour. She will be see me every month, then forthnight then weekly as soon as nearer to birth.
Scan
Went for second scan today, confirm the due date is now 17th sept, match the first scan. Nuchal scan were very in depth compare with UK's dating scan as they check for fluids in spine to test for downs etc instead of having blood triple test, as well as check for baby's heartbeat, head etc. Walk in to scan is very quick, just 5mins wait before your turn instead of over an hour wait in UK! Lady was very helpful and very nice this time, answer all the questions we asked about UK/NZ scans as she used to work in UK's hospitals for few years.
My son was watching the scan on the TV on the wall, he was squealing when he saw baby's face as it was so clear. Cost us this time $40, worth it as it was lovely and relaxing, no rush, very few people waiting, and also you book the appt with date and time that suit you!
Refund of last scan
We got $92 back after GP contacted Radiology centre
Will see midwife on 29th....still waiting for ECHO appt...
Debs, how did you get on with finding midwife for you?????
Sophia
