Homebirth General Discussion #10

[Cricket]

Feeling pretty much all better again. When I'm tired, the joint pain seems to return, but for the most part, everything is fine. Saw the midwife yesterday, and Anna was full of smiles for her. None for us at home yet, but for some reason, she just couldn't stop smiling at the office. Super cute. She was 8lb 5oz yesterday, up from 7lb 12oz at birth, so she's doing wonderfully.

Getting plans together for her baptism now. Arranging coffee, cake, and dinner for possibly 100+ people. Hope it all goes smoothly!

How is everyone else out there? The whole forum seems quiet lately....

[Ilithyia]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd pop my head in for a touch of advice.

Only early days but we're growing another babe due mid Summer.

So I really, really want to birth this babe at home but I'm caught in a bit of bind.

First is pregnancy risk factor - My GP reckons I'm high risk because of my history (Reids birth, previous PPH etc). I think its a load of wad and don't believe I'm high risk at all.

Second is cost of the IM - We really can't afford the fee's of an IM. I am willing to birth freely (plus I have a couple of friends who are RM's who would be willing to be there for extra support) but Im worried about the birth registration etc etc. Plus we live quite rurally where if we did need to transfer, the nearest hospital (with maternity faciliaties) is 45 mins.

Third is I would like a Midwife - I have the option of booking into the Mater and trying to get into MGP. I have Midwife friend who is in MGP and I would love to have her as my Midwife. HOWEVER, I want my girls to be at the birth and I want to birth the baby into water if I want to. This is NOT going to happen in hospital.

Add all that together and I'm in a spot of bother as to what to do.

I would prefer to just ignore it all and plot along with the pregnancy but if I want to get into MGP, I need to send off the referral ASAP.

My GP reccomended that I lodge the referral, progress with the antenatal care and not mention the homebirth. Just stay home come labour time.



Can you offer any advice???

TIA!
xx

[lady_neon]

Hey ladies, been a while since I dropped in here

So tomorrow is 31st May.. and still waiting on 2 more May bubba's to come I see. Will be hanging around waiting for those announcements!

I just got the paperwork in the mail with the appointment at my back up hospital (not my hospy of choice, but I'm stuck with the new 30min rule).. There was a consent form enclosed.. Bahahahah... Please bring the completed form to your appointment.
So Umm they want me to sign a form that says 'my condition and prognosis have been explained/the risks have been explained/outcomes cannot be guaranteed ect ect' now? I think NOT!

What hossy are you backed up at babe? King Eddie's sent me my booking (a very inconvenient one for 9am on a weekday. Will be hoping to have that more like 11am, screw driving & parking in that traffic!). But they obviously have no idea about my HB intentions and have not even mentioned it, just sent pamphlets about birthing there. Which I guess is standard.

AFM - finally have some birth photos uploaded and have put an album up on my profile - it's set to private so if you'd like to see it let me know and I'll add you I love them SO much - I had thought DH would have so much more opportunity to take photos (especially given that he's a photography student!) but he was too busy supporting me to take many. Next time I'll definitely be hiring a photographer or at the very least a doula who is good at taking photos.

Oh I would like to see them, I find HB piccies inspiring

Sara I'm sorry I don't have any advice for you. I hope you get some hun.

AFM, well September is AGES away so I just linger around here a little, it's pretty quiet. Don't have a birth plan written but I know what I went in my head. Found an article here on BB for support persons at birth so sent it to my mum (who will be there). She replied saying 'Hey I can be that birth support person!' as if she just had a great idea. Yes mum, that's kind of why I want you there LOL bless her heart.

[HotI]

My GP reccomended that I lodge the referral, progress with the antenatal care and not mention the homebirth. Just stay home come labour time.

Sara, i would start with this plan for now - lodge the referral and see how you get along with that process. You will know if that way is going to work for you, and you don't want to miss out if you decide later that is what you want.

At the same time, start chatting to midwives and see if you find one (or more) who you want to work with.

Birth registration is really a minor issue that you can work out later, especially if you already have a GP who you can see during the pregnancy.

At the begining of my pregnancy, i was talking to my IM but also going the birth centre route. I was able to access the 20 week ultrasound through the birth centre, but the other benefit was that i discovered i was sure that i did not want to birth there.

[BellyBelly]

Sara I would start now too. It can be really sucky, I had a last minute drama which had me in tears of frustration the other night. Was supposed to have a meeting with the CEO of the local hospital, midwife, GP etc - all the people involved with my care. I'd not heard back from the GP since the referral until the night before and he cc'd everyone into an email saying that he supports my decision to choose but doesn't support homebirth in principle, and that the unit here is fantastic and doesn't understand why I don't just birth there. The meeting was rescheduled as the CEO is too busy as she is leaving, but gosh, I am tired of the battles! Do it now because you never know what might come up, better to be prepared than not.

No May bubbas yet! Looking forward to two homebirth announcements very soon.