Homebirth General Discussion #1

[BellyBelly]

Chat away ladies

[Ellibam]

well i will start!
i finally finished Arquenes birth story! there is still so much i could put in like that i was in the bb chat room when it was all starting!
im going to the homebirth conference in sydney in november which im so excited about and so scared to!
ricki lake is going to be there as she did a documentory on her homebirths!(yes ricki lake the chat show host! go ricki go ricki!)

[Claire]

I'm having a homebirth with this baby and I'm so excited!! I feel so much more confident about getting the birthing experience I want now that I do not have to go to the labour ward.

I had a very medicalised birth with my daughter with a classic case of cascade of intervention; induced, epidural, forced pushing, forceps, 4th degree tear. The thought of going back and having any form of intervention terrified me so I opted for a homebirth.

I'm due any day now.....

[Chalalan]

Hello,

I'm TTC ATM and am very interested in home birth and other alternatives to the labour ward. The whole idea of medical intervention and time limits on what is a natural process scares the bejesus out of me. My DF is a little scared about the prospect of a home birth, his aunt is a midwife and she doesn't recommend it in Australia, but I know that he would be supportive of whatever I wanted.
I guess I'm jumping the gun, not being UTD yet, but I am really keen to hear what other mothers home birth stories.

Also, maybe off topic but point me in the right forum direction , I'd love to hear more about the role of support people during labour, who women selected (mum, sister, best friend, doula...etc) to support both themselves and DP/DH) and how that worked out for them. My mum will want to be there but I'm not sure that I want her there...

[Antheia]

We're planning a homebirth for this bub too.

I had an induced labour with DD, had gas a peth(yuck!) and had vacuum extraction to get her out and then her shoulder got stuck it was just one disaster after another.

So with DS i went to a birth centre. It was great having one midwife as my main carer. I went into labour spontaniously but everytime i headed to the birth centre my labour would pretty much stop. This was due to him be posterior and also i think a lot to do with my fear of having another traumatic birth. I went 30 hours without the need of drugs so i'm feeling confident that i can go natural all the way this time. I had an epidural for the last 7hrs because i was just so tired and also i had to have the synto drip because my labour just wouldnt start again.

So this time i want a homebirth so that i can finally get the birth i want(or close to!). We're also hiring a doula which i think will help lots too. Not sure if i want a waterbirth yet though, still thinking about that one. I might though as it'll be winter and will be quite cold i'll want to stay in warm water lol.

Sorry for that epic intro lol

[Cricket]

Hoping for a homebirth here too. I had good experiences with the births of both my girls - no complaints, really, but I figured this sounded like a nicer way to go. I'd rather labour in my own house, sleep in my own bed, with my baby and DH beside me, be able to use my own bathroom, and not have someone waking me up every few hours (just after I got to sleep after nursing!) to check my pulse and blood pressure! I am not opposed to a hospital delivery, I just think it's not necessary when everything goes well (as it usually does!) I am keeping the option of a water birth open, because I do love to be in the tub when something hurts, but we'll see how that goes. I might not want that when the time comes.
Thankfully my DH is very supportive, and while my family might think I'm a little strange, they have kept their opinions to themselves, and have also been helpful and supportive. The only place I got trouble from was my family doctor - the nurse practitioner there thought I was reckless and crazy, and asking for trouble, and was generally quite rude and unprofessional, I thought. I was really disappointed with her reaction. When all is said and done, I might write her a letter, and present her with some of the research that has been done on homebirth. Anyways, all that aside, that's pretty much the story so far, and I hope in a few days to be able to let you know how it all went!

[~kaos~]

Another homebirther (to be) here.

I had my two children at the birth centre here in Brisbane, which were wonderful birth experiences. I put it down to the continuity of care and family centred care.

This time we opted for a homebirth, because the BC here is Bris is so popular, that you have to go into a ballot to access the service and a lot of people miss out. The thought of missing out terrifies me, so I went to the only other option to get continuity of care and that was to hire a private midwife. But in Bris you have to get in early as there are very few MW. All good, I got one booked.

I'm loving it though. Where I wouldn't have even had one appt at the BC yet, I've already had two appts with my MW. The appts have been in my home and I haven't had to chase my children around a hospital consultation room, trying to keep them away from the bright yellow bins that house the hazardous waste (um, someone needs to tell whoever makes those that they are toddler magnets ) which is how it use to be when I was pregnant with #2. The children are much easier to contain and amuse in my home. A complete bonus in my books for homebirth .

Anyway, here's to hoping everyone is having wonderful homebirth journey's

[Ellibam]

i really loved the continuity of care i had with my m/w and now she is a friend of our family!
i can still call her now with any questions there is no time limit! just like with labour there are no time limits!
for those of you that have to pay( its most of us) just wondering how much your m/w charges? and if its one lump sum or per appt? and whats included
my m/w was a lump some of $2000 that was all the normal appt 4wkly then fortnightly then weekly then once i went over i was on the phone to her every day! the pool was included andafter the birth it was the first 3 days then weekly until 3 weeks then at 6 weeks. she also supplied all vitamins and herbal and homeopathic remidies

[~kaos~]

Wow Ellissa, that is great value.

My homebirth is costing $4000. I am paying in four payments, at 13 weeks, 20 weeks, 28 weeks and 36 weeks. We negotiated that. The m/w was open to how we pay, that was what I felt suited us best.

I don't think the pool is included, I'm not too worried because I have a friend who will lend me one. All the usual appts (as outlined above) but have also called her outside appts to ask questions which is nice to have a care provider who is "on call" all the time, not just when I'm having a baby.

I know it is a lot of money, but we have always "self insured" health wise and I guess this is one way we are spending that part of our savings. And so far, the quality of the service and care that I am getting, when compared to the hospital, is significantly superior, and therefore worth it

[paradise lost]

Hee hee, i'm in the UK so mine was free

I loved my homebirth and can't even imagine going into hospital for birth now.

Bec

[Schmickers]

My DF is a little scared about the prospect of a home birth, his aunt is a midwife and she doesn't recommend it in Australia, but I know that he would be supportive of whatever I wanted.

Not to be narky, but is this because babies are born differently in Australia, to the rest of the world?

We have had both of our babies born at home, and my wife is currently practicing independently as a midwife - we are in the process of setting up a practice here in Port Macquarie.

As for cost, we paid $3000 each for ours. At the moment, we are looking at charging $3500 for a first baby, and $3000 for subsequent baby, only because there is considerable more time involved in the education and support side of things for first babies.

[Trish]

I think all up from memory my HB cost me approx $3000 for Tehya. I did have my visits broken down though and had more antenatal care with my Gp, in a shared care arrangement to try and save some funds too.

Ellissa, I am with you. I too love the extra and continuity of care. My midwife, who happens to be Schmickers wife Victoria, is now a close friend. I even recently (just this week) went and stayed at their home for 5 days. Now what hospital midwife will have you doing that Victoria will also be supporting me with the birth our new baby in December. Something I am really looking forward to sharing with her.

Make sure you take time out to appreciate and support your independant midwives girls. They really are doing an awesome job for us, and the flak that some of them cop is ridiculous. For these lovely people it really is more than just a job to them. It is their way of life

[~kaos~]

Make sure you take time out to appreciate and support your independant midwives girls. They really are doing an awesome job for us, and the flak that some of them cop is ridiculous. For these lovely people it really is more than just a job to them. It is their way of life

Oh, I completely agree. Supporting groups like Maternity Coalition and other local homebirth and maternity services lobby groups goes a long way to help say "we appreicate what you do and we will support you". I'm involved in a few such groups.

I just treats, pressies and the like also go a long way too huh

[michelle_j_r]

hi all!
i signed up on BellyBelly ages ago while going through IVF but the thread moved so fast that it was impossible to keep up so i am not sure if i ever posted or not! LOL!

But kaos just pointed me in the direction of this thread so i thought i'd jump in.

I am planning a homebirth (also in Port Macquarie). My last birth did not go as planned- partly because of some bad decisions that i made but mostly because i gave control over to the hospital rather than remain focused on my original birth plan. While i would not complain about the care i received in the hospital (the midwives really were wonderful) it is not a birth i want to experience again.

So while DH has some reservations he says that how i labour is up to me and he'll do whatever i choose (personally i'd love for him to be excited about HB! But i'll take indifferent for now!)

We had our first meeting (just a getting to know you type chat) with our midwife last weekend and that calmed some of DH's fears. The cost is the biggest killer for me. I second guess that side of things quite often and wonder if i am being selfish spending that much on me when i can just go to hospital for free. ??

[Cricket]

There are some great books out there for those who are considering a homebirth, and aren't sure, or who want to convince a reluctant DH or other family members. One that's coming to mind is "Special Delivery" by Rahima Baldwin, and also "Homebirth" by Sheila Kitzinger. I'm sure if you talk to your local midwives' association, they could give you more resources to go on.
As far as costs go, I guess you could say it's an investment in the health of yourself and your child, but I don't know what my decision would be if I had to pay! Here in Canada, it's totally covered.

Anyone else thinking of a waterbirth? I just read Kelly's article on it, and am more curious than ever to try it. I'm not making any firm plans though, 'cause I don't know what I'll want at that moment, but my midwife is open to the possibility, so we'll just go with the flow.

[Trish]

Cricket, Tehya was my homewater birth baby. And I am planning on having the same with this baby. Alot of women do feel the need to be grounded when they give birth, however I just loved doing it in the warm water.

Jump on in it hun, you might just get so comfortable you don't want to get out. And, if when the time to pushing comes and you want out then up you get. Easy

Michelle, I know a great midwife in Port Macquarie. I can promise you she is well worth every cent you would spend and then some Let me know if you want any details. Or perhaps you have already met with her. There really aren't that many Independant midwives in Port.

[Antheia]

I think i'm having second thoughts here about a homebirth, im not sure. Maybe i'm just really scared of the unknown? And like someone else mentioned, i feel a bit selfish for spending all that money... i dunno maybe i jsut need some more reasurence?

[michelle_j_r]

Thanks, Trish. There are 3 MWs in Port that i know of (incl Victoria, as i have heard of her even though i have not met her). I think i am pretty happy with our choice, but thanks for the offer.

We are also planning a water birth. I have not bought the pool yet (no rush) but i am looking forward to seeing how it works and giving it a test run over xmas. My son was posterior and the only thing that relieved the pressure was being in water. I should have stayed at home longer in the bath and things would have been easier for me. So even if i don't actually choose to birth in water this time around i want everything in place should i need to.


ETA- Tegan... if you are training to be a doula yourself what makes you fearful of HB?