ANTENATAL AND POSTNATAL CLASSES, SERVICES AND SUPPORT
BY MIDWIFE & IBCLC LISELOTTE HILL
Homebirth With Midwife Liselotte
If you are looking for individualized, home-based, unhurried antenatal, birth and postnatal care, then this is for you!
Your options when planning a homebirth with me:
I provide an independent homebirth service through the UK company "Private Midwives" (PM) to families living in the Wicklow & Dublin areas. PM provides and supports me to work as an Independent Private Community Midwife. All Midwives working for PM are fully covered by medical & professional indemnity insurance, enabling them to legally provide home-based clinical midwifery care.
If you consider working with me, please give me a call for a chat so I can explain to you in more detail about how I work and answer your questions. As much as I would like to offer my homebirth service to all families, I do take homebirth safety seriously and therefore I can only offer this service to those experiencing a healthy, low-risk pregnancy. I do not support twins or breech birth at home, I require that all mothers get at least 1 antenatal scan (ultrasound) done and that they sign up to a "back-up hospital" in case hospital transfer may be indicated. "Homebirth" may be your preferred choice, but an unexpected complication could arise at any stage, even for the most healthy and well prepared, in this case I need to transfer your care to a setting where more advanced medical treatment can be provided promptly and efficiently. In case of a hospital transfer, your clinical care will be handed over to the relevant health care professionals but I will still be available to guide and support you in whatever direction your maternity journey is taking you.
PM Ireland Package
-
Antenatal appointments at 28, 30, 32, 34,36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 weeks in your own home to help you prepare for birth, to check you and baby's wellbeing, 34 weeks blood tests included.
-
Birth preparation discussions to include relaxation / hypnobirthing techniques and tips for creating a safe & positive birth environment
-
Involvement of your chosen family members in your care as you wish
-
Access via telephone/text/email in between appointments to answer to those niggling questions or concerns that can’t wait
-
on call and available to support you during home or hospital birth from 37 weeks of pregnancy onwards
-
I can arrange for a brand new birth pool, liner and connection kit to be delivered to your own home
-
gas & air available for you at home
-
emergency drugs and equipment present if needed
-
the presence of a 2nd midwife at the time of birth
-
5 postnatal visits spread over the first 2 weeks, including baby's heel prick test, arranging baby's hearing test and newborn medical examination
-
newborn feeding & parenting support, baby weight checks
-
guidance & observation of your postnatal recovery
PM Ireland Package with additional visits
-
Same basic PM Ireland Package but with additional antenatal and/or postnatal appointments before and after your basic package
Supported Hospital Birth
-
Pre- and postnatal care at home, birth in hospital. Contact me for more information.
For more information on costs, insurance refunds, individualized care packages, contact me on 087 6457489 or check out
Background information and why homebirth may be the best option for you:
It is known that labour & birth tempt to proceed more smoothly when a mother feels safe, unhurried, in a secure environment AND supported by people who she knows and trusts, and who KNOW HER!
The process of building a trusting relationship and the familiarity between care giver and care receiver are super beneficial in the maternity care setting. Not only does it contribute to a positive birth experience, but also in order to prevent postnatal anxiety and /or depression.
From my experience of working as a midwife in the Irish maternity sector, mostly in hospital settings, I frequently sensed that something was missing. I noted that mothers and families did not always receiving the comprehensive care and attention they really needed and deserved.
Generally, the Irish maternity care system doesn't provide much continuity of care or better said "continuity of carer". This situation leads to little or no opportunities of building these important relationships. Typically antenatal and postnatal visits are kept short and the mother will see lots of different midwives and/or doctors along the way.
An expectant mother in Ireland, is most likely to birth in hospital with a midwife who she has never met before, neither will she see that same midwife during her postnatal recovery, nor will that midwife be there for her on the other end of a phone call...
Typically, mother and baby’s physical / medical needs will be well looked after, but there isn't much time and emphases for anything else like answering all your questions properly, talking about healthy lifestyle, nutrition and general well being.
Your best option may be the “DOMINO” scheme available at some hospitals. This program features a smaller team of midwives who rotate between antenatal, labour, and postnatal care, increasing the chances of familiar faces along the way.
Private obstetric consultants do provide a certain level of continuity of care, seeing their clients at every appointment and usually being present for the birth. However, they are not there throughout the entire labour and only offer limited postnatal care, typically consisting of a few brief check-ups during your hospital stay and you will be offered a doctors-office consultation at two and six weeks postnatal.
However, there is hope!
For those seeking more holistic and personalized care with the presence of a familiar midwife, dedicated to being there for you from pregnancy to birth and beyond, these are your options:
1: work with an Independent Private Community Midwife (like myself) or
2: work with a Self-Employed Community Midwife (SECM) through the HSE home birth service see here
I am extremely happy with the care I got from my midwife Liselotte Hill . She is a very nice person and a very good midwife. I am very grateful that she and Private Midwives Ireland took me as a home birth client despite my „high“ material age of 44. Liselotte was very reliable, was always answering the phone or messages at once. She has a very big knowledge. It was a very fast and surprise birth. I had no contractions but was already open about 6 cm. She kept very calm and I was so glad she was with me. She also respected informed consent, which was one of the biggest reasons I booked Private Midwives Ireland. If I had another pregnancy I would book Private Midwives again. Thank you so much for everything! It was perfect!