Homebirth General Discussion #10

[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.

[PumpkinZulu]

Sara, my only advice is, is it possible for you to find someone willing to take some of the baby bonus as payment? That's my plan, otherwise I'm in the same boat as you.

[Tegam]

Oh Sara. That is a bind. Will return later. We had similar issues with Molly and I really mad the wrong decision.

Ems baby was always going to be born in June. She is a lovely mumma and her bubs feels so safe in there

[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.

[Ilithyia]

Thanks girls.

I was thinking of just booking in but I get anxious at the thought of my homebirth getting taken away from me.

Obviously my aim isn't the home birth, it's a healthy babe, mother and birth experience but I really want this to be a family experience. To me, this is the families baby and I want everyone to be apart of it all the way.

It's cr@p that we're forced into making several different decisions to get what we want. I wish I could just forget about it all and just cruise along with things but it's not gonna be that simple it seems.

Wow Kelly! It's such a stuff around isn't it. I was facing the same challenges with Reid. I'm lucky to have a supportive GP who is happy to do what I want as long as I know the risks.

Well I'm off for the dating scan next week (told you it was early days lol) and I'm totally expecting an empty sac but should there be a babe in there, I'll get the ball rolling ASAP.

Thanks so much girls!
xx

[Jennifer13]

Cricket I'm doing invitations for DD2's christening next month too.

Sara, I booked into the local hospital as my back up in case I needed to transfer. So you can always book in with that intention, it's only there if you happen to need it at any stage.

Most IMs will take a payment plan. They are worth every cent! If you could bottle that post-Homebirth euphoria you'd sell it for a fortune. I know I will take it with me for the rest of my life. Congrats btw and good luck with your plans!

It'd be lovely to have a June bubba in here, spread them over the year. Thinking of you, Em!

[Cassius2]

I second what HotI has mentioned. book it all in (as i did!) get the scans etc done by the hospital (saves $$$) and then after the morph scan (if you have one) you can inform them that you are taking a different care arrangement. this can be a good way to save on costs in the early days so makes the cost of an IM much more feasible.

I would also be prepared for the news that the hossy wont take you in the MGP. if they do really class you as 'high risk' the policy will no doubt bar you from that program...

Kelly: oh gah! i hope that it is all sorted ASAP for you

Lady Neon: hehehe that is so cute of your mum! is she excited to be there?

AFM: all good here. finally getting consistent rolls and kicks and pushes from baby which has exponentionally made me more excited
i have the morph scan coming up in like 2ish weeks where it will be done in italy... i am nervous as it is a very medicalised system and i am worried about my PTSD being triggered. but i will have to work through that i guess....

[lady_neon]

Wow sounds like a such a task in some states for a HB. I feel so lucky to have such a simply process & a pick-of-the-bunch supportive GP. I don't understand why they system thinks it's *so* dangerous! Women have been birthing at home with the aid of other women for thousands/millions of years (whichever you believe) and quite obviously it's been pretty successful. Our bodies were made/evolved this way (again, whichever you believe), why oh WHY can't they just let us do it the way it's meant to be done?! Ok I better stop because I could go on forever haha. So I hope you all manage to sort out your drama's with having HB.

Love what you said about birth being a family experience Sara. So true.

Cassius you bet my mum is excited! She is way over the top lol. At first she was telling everyone she was delivering the baby LOL. So you live in Italy?

[e_p]

Sara - it's so tough isn't it Our homebirth cost $4k - worth every cent, but still so tough to come up with if you just don't have it! I agree with everyone else - try to book into the MGP at the least and see how you go negotiating with mw's

Thanks Jen and lady_neon for your kind comments about my photos!

[Eenee]

Am 41+3 today and going slightly insane!!! Just want to go into labour already!!! I need to have Bub before Wednesday because DH has to work and MW goes away.

[Cricket]

Ugh - my sympathies to you Em! Come on baby! It's nice out here!

[Jennifer13]

Sending labour vibes to you, Em! You must be doing a fantastic job baking this little one. Well done for trusting your baby and your body this long.

[meow]

Thinking of you em!

Eutra- I would LOVE to see your photos!! Can you please add me??

[PumpkinZulu]

I haven't seen them either Eutra.

Em, any day now! I think bubs is like you and hates the cold

[e_p]

meow & PZ have added you both

Em - thinking of you and hope the next time we hear from you, you'll have a babe in arms. Wishing you many birth blessings!

[loulabelle]

Hey guys, so sorry I've been Mia last couple of months, have hardly had a chance to read bb let alone post. We've had colds, gastro, ear infections and conjunctivitis in my house the last few months.

Cricket congratulations, I'm so happy for you.

Em, been thinking of you and checking up. Any day....

I


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