Hi all,

I've soaked up tonnes of the info on homebirth.org as it's amazing, but I can't seem to find any stories of people with bad asthma. I really, really don't want to have a hospital birth, hospitals have always been places in which I've felt like I'm being treated like an idiot, and when you've had asthma and dealt with it as long as I have you learn to know what you're talking about so it's very frustrating! Since falling pregnant my asthma has bothered me a lot less than normally, I haven't woken in the night once to take my inhaler, so I'm hoping it's a case of it lessening during pregnancy, which I've heard can happen. I'm amazed, but don't want to take any chances!

I'd love to hear from anyone who has bad asthma and successfully had a home birth. I have my own nebuliser and I know when I need it, plus I've had no real complications so far except a tiny bit of brown spotting at 7+1, then a severe cramping pain at 9+0 which turned out to be nothing.

Any success stories or general advice is greatly appreciated, I really can't imagine having this baby in hospital!

Hi

Sorry not really much help myself but there is a yahoo group for homebirthers with lots of advice and support from midwives, people who have had homebirths etc.

If you go to the homebirth.org website and go to the links page it's the Homebirth UK Mailing list.

You have to request to join but I found their help and advice invaluable when I had issues in my pregnancy that may have meant a HB was out of the question.

Oooh, thank you teenytiny, I'll look it up right away!

I don't have asthma but a friend does. She found it wasn't too much of a problem, once she found a midwife who didn't think it was a problem. So long as you know what you normally do to control it and your OH/ midwives know too, I can't see why it should stop you.

I am hoping to have a home birth and like you my asthma has cleared up during pregnancy. I have discussed it with my midwife, and she can't see any issues. Had an appointment with the consultant anaesthetist on tues and he was also very supportive, but wished to err on the side of caution and did all assessments anyway incase I need to go in and be given a GA, which I have reacted badly to in the past.

Get support off your midwife, and if she is not helpful, my practice nurse who deals with monitoring my asthma has also been good, and made sure I was seen on an odd week when the midwife would be better, (the first one I saw was awful!).

Asthma is not a reason to disuade homebirth, like you I have done loads of reading on the homebirth website! But I am happy to transfer if need be, or if my asthma worsens as baby gets bigger I will happily change my plans for both our sakes.

Bets XxX

I'm booked for a homebirth, i was last time but lo was too early so i couldn't have him at home! i have quite bad asthma, i don't have a nebuliser at home but a couple of years ago the doctor was going to get me one because i was in and out of hospital so much, but anyway- my asthma is alot better when i'm pregnant and when i had my son i didn't even use my inhaler, even for a few days after the birth, i think your body just concentrates on the bigger task in hand, i really wouldn't worry, especially seems you have a nebuliser!!
I'm not worried this time round about my asthma at all-thats the last thing on my mind tbh LOL
Good luck
Samantha 34+6