Homebirth General Discussion #1

[meow]

Who have you chosen Cassius? We're near each other so probably looking at the same midwives I've chosen Helen Brown from midwives naturally.

[meow]

Helen just left after a very long chat and I'm SO excited. All just seems so perfect. She's very proactive about talking about what we'll "fix" from last time and has no problems with me staying public to finish up my tests. I'm going to have my 20 week ultrasound and last appointment at the birth centre then I'll see her again at 24 weeks and we'll take it from there. So exciting all the booking forms are done and having a huge chat about my past experiences etc. Love her

[Tegam]

That sounds great and yes even tho i didnt have any issues from my other births i was still suprised how nice it was to talk about the others!

[Smoke Jaguar]

I am so glad you love her! That's awesome!!

[~kaos~]

That's awesome meow! I didn't think that it should be problem for you to access public services. I think MW's are quite aware how the costs add up, considering they are part of the $$ outlay.

Last homebirth I decided not to do anything at the hosp and have the morphology scan privately. Then something came up with that and I had an amnio. And then the extra GP visits (paying the gap fee from my expensive, but awesome GP, I had to see her a couple of extra time for hyperthyroid issue that she was able to manage) then organising oxygen and a birth pool added about $1000 to my homebirth (that's just an estimate). And that was on top of the $4000 MW fees. Though expensive, I never regretted the cost. The whole prenatal, homebirth and postnatal care was awesome.

This time (different MW) the $4000 includes the birth pool and oxygen, I'm going public for morphology scan and I'll be mostly liasing with my GP via phone for management of hyperthyroid issue. Will save the $$... though I did have to shell out a lot of $$ for Zofran to survive morning sickness. And this is my last pregnancy and I'm determined to enjoy it, so I am going to put some dollars away for pregnancy yoga....

[Cassius2]

Who have you chosen Cassius? We're near each other so probably looking at the same midwives I've chosen Helen Brown from midwives naturally.

hmmm i thought i had replied to this this morning...but it is MIA LOL! (oh gosh i hope i didnt reply in another thread )

I am with Nicola Dutton (through Midwives Naturally!!). ha ha! it is pretty cool that we have found the same group of middies! i have heard excellent things about Helen...my second midwife has worked with her before and raved about her and her approach!

you should come along to the 'meet the midwives' night! we will be at the next one....

[Tegam]

DH and i tossing up FB as they just come so quickly but have really thought about it and i want the support, pity the cost but im not going to hospital for my last baby, not whenthe c/s rate is over 70% scary! Would love to try a birth pool but dont they take forever to fill up? this is going to be a summer baby, pity i cant just use the pool... OH YUCK the visual i get is gross LOL

[Smoke Jaguar]

OH, man, what a combination! Nic and Helen are excellent together and you'll have a laugh with them I really must find my birth DVD to send them for the MTMW nights, particularly the waterbirth info nights.

[Cassius2]

OH, man, what a combination! Nic and Helen are excellent together and you'll have a laugh with them I really must find my birth DVD to send them for the MTMW nights, particularly the waterbirth info nights.

ohhh i was so bummed to miss the waterbirth info night...but just couldnt find someone to watch DD. the next session is birth stories. should be nice...i just love the company and chatting lol!
soooo relieving to hear that you reckon those middies are great! i am happy and loving Nic, but obviously havent birthed with her before...just going by the recommendations of my support midwife (and good friend!).

Tegam: i guess it really depends on your hot water system with regards to filling times. but we were told to fill with cold water first then top up with hot water...so that might cut down on time say if you fill it when the niggles first start. they also told us to buy bubble wrap so that when it is full and steamy you can cover it and it retains heat (apparently) for some time. but my info is all theoretical as i havent done it before

[meow]

I have Helen as my primary and Nicola will be my secondary midwife. I chose Helen and she recommended Nicola as my secondary based on what I told her about my hopes/plans for the birth. Should be great!! Which midwife from midwives naturally did you decide against Cassius? Is that a bad rec? Should I ask you to PM? There was one I wasn't fussed on but I'm not sure I can say?

I went to the midwives naturally waterbirth info session- I wanted to check out the midwives. I was still in the first trimester and had worked that day so I was SO tired and didn't stay afterwards but I decided to call Helen based on seeing her chat and answer questions. I just knew there was going to be a connection there- had the right *vibe*.

Kaos- those extra medical costs are what scare me! I don't mind paying for my midwife, but I hate that that excludes you from other maternity care that you could otherwise get publicly. I've decided to do the GD test privately so fingers crossed I get the all clear or else Helen said I may be able to go to the Royal Women's for GD care. Otherwise I could pay for the testing equipment and manage the GD myself. I doubt I'll have it though.

[Tegam]

Cassius: My first niggle to bubs in my arms was 10mins flat out. Timed properly as we phoned MW straight away and 10mins later to say bubs was born. I was in the shower and said to DH no dont leave me i want you near me, DH said, im just getting the kettle on, i said no stay with me, then sat on the bed and pushed, then asked for a mirror as i couldnt see if that was a head or cord, 2 more pushes and baby and placenta was out! OMG quick LOL. Waters didnt break til head out. No time to run a bath LOL

[meow]

Wow!! I hope things go the same for you next time... but I guess every labour IS different and the next baby could decide to be posterior for example and slow things right down. Milk your midwife for after birth support if nothing else!

[Cassius2]

Cassius: My first niggle to bubs in my arms was 10mins flat out. Timed properly as we phoned MW straight away and 10mins later to say bubs was born. I was in the shower and said to DH no dont leave me i want you near me, DH said, im just getting the kettle on, i said no stay with me, then sat on the bed and pushed, then asked for a mirror as i couldnt see if that was a head or cord, 2 more pushes and baby and placenta was out! OMG quick LOL. Waters didnt break til head out. No time to run a bath LOL

Hooley dooley lol! that must of been INTENSE. and yup, def no time to fill a tub lol.

Meow: the midwife we decided to not go with was simply cause i met Nicola first and we really hit it off and i felt weird seeing someone else considering that we got on so well. kinda like cheating on a lover LOL! so bummed that we missed the waterbirth one...was it good? sooo need to organise a proper babysitting arrangement for DD....darn it not having extended family!!

[Antheia]

DH and i tossing up FB as they just come so quickly but have really thought about it and i want the support, pity the cost but im not going to hospital for my last baby, not whenthe c/s rate is over 70% scary! Would love to try a birth pool but dont they take forever to fill up? this is going to be a summer baby, pity i cant just use the pool... OH YUCK the visual i get is gross LOL

It took our birth pool approx 1 hour to fill. However i never got to use it because DS came too quick. He was born in the bath instead which only took a few minutes to fill. No idea how i managed to birth in there though cause it wasn't a very big bath.

[~kaos~]

they also told us to buy bubble wrap so that when it is full and steamy you can cover it and it retains heat (apparently) for some time.

What worked really well for us was putting a space blanket over the top of the birth pool until I was ready (I spent a lot of time in the shower). I thought I'd try it out because it was less bulky than bubble wrap, and cheaper.... and it worked really well.

As for freebirthing just because bubs comes so fast, I think that homebirth is more than just giving birth at home. It is all the antenatal care and education that you get in your home, and the postnatal visits. I wouldn't be worried if my middy wasn't actually there for the birth, it is all the before and after stuff. If bubs comes so fast that MW doesn't make it, then everything is probably going to be fine. It is if the labour drags on that having that support and professional eye there is important. I don't have a huge issue with freebirth as long as you've educated yourself really well, but are you willing to go without antenatal and postnatal care?

[Antheia]

As for freebirthing just because bubs comes so fast, I think that homebirth is more than just giving birth at home. It is all the antenatal care and education that you get in your home, and the postnatal visits. I wouldn't be worried if my middy wasn't actually there for the birth, it is all the before and after stuff. If bubs comes so fast that MW doesn't make it, then everything is probably going to be fine. It is if the labour drags on that having that support and professional eye there is important. I don't have a huge issue with freebirth as long as you've educated yourself really well, but are you willing to go without antenatal and postnatal care?

This is exactly why i am paying $5500 this time only to know they are most likely not going to make it again. Bub came so fast last time that i called her while i was in transition because that's when the pain started after only 5 contractions. But having that care before and after is just priceless. And i consider them my friends. So as soon as i found out i was pregnant, i contacted her straight away without a seconds thought.

[Roryrory]

Wow I love hearing these stories of speedy births

I had another appointment with my MW today - she is so ace Her approach (and that of the MWs in the Sunshine Hospital) is that they don't tell the woman to push unless there is an obivous need for the baby. This is unlike the Mercy FBC where I was told "if you don't start pushing now you're never going to meet your baby (after only 3.5hours of first stage). Plus they are 100% for a natural 3rd stage.

The only things that will rule me out at this stage are breach or GD - neither of which I am planning on LOL!