Homebirth General Discussion #11

[Cassius2]

DD1 was a bit older (just turned 3) but we did alot of prep as i just assumed that she would be there, i had my mum down to look after her and give her attention or take her to the playground if needed.

we read "hello baby" (the HB one, not the baby animal one lol). we also screened a few youtube videos of birth where other kids were present (a good one is linked on here somehwere...i'll try and find it!).

DD1 coped really really well. she was just plain excited she was a good helper in rubbing my back and then helped DH in pumping up the birth pool. it was super cute! when i got into full labour-land mum took her next door for a playdate. i was really bummed though as i was happy to have her around and in the end she missed the actual birth bit by 30 seconds...happened much quicker than we thought it would.
This time i will have a good neighbour friend around to help with the girls. i am a bit more concerned with DD2 as she is younger like your DS and when she wants me, she *really* wants me. but i am hoping that the neighbour being here and playing with her will be enough...that and i dont plan on being in labour long
but also, TBH i was having such a fun time, that i loved sharing it with DD1, and i really hope to be able to do that this time too...i was able to read stories and potter around in the garden etc. it's part of the awesomeness of having baby at home, there is no need to rush or think about packing up and heading off...it really changes the perspective and stress ITMS.

[Jennifer13]

My DD1 was there, but at six is a fair bit older. We read books together and YouTube videos too. Having her there was important to us, but I did offload her for most of the day while I was in early labour (to a friend nearby, we had asked beforehand) and we had to make her around midnight for the birth itself.

In my HB group there are others who've had littlies at the birth. Most play it by ear and have a contingency plan if they decide they need it (I also thought if we needed to transfer we should have a back up). My Mum was here too JIC.

[Bella29]

Dd1 was there at 2yr6months, she was only home for the last 2 hrs tho. I was worried when DH said she had arrived that she would cope, cos I was quite noisy, but with the prep we did, ( hello baby) and a mamamour doll, she got it. She wasn't in the room at the time of birth, but she was fine. Her impression of the aftebirth blood, was to ask me to clean it up! Lol. Search madelines birth on YouTube and you will see. She was just fine. I was more worried than she was. Children have been present at birth for forever. If you want it and you think as her mother she will cope then she probably will. I also had a friend who believed on birth be with her during. To dd it was very normal cos we had talked so much prior.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk..... I'm probably feeding my cherub

[HomeStyleMumma]

I should clarify ladies that my do all (except the one year old lol) understand the concept of natural birth and in no way do they see it as something to be scared of or think that its not normal. I just personally didn't think it was something my toddlers needed to witness just yet. The more difficult thing I have to deal with is explaining (when they ask) why friends and family members go to hospital instead of stay home when there's nothing wrong! Of course its not really hard to explain and they know I went to hospital for two but its very cute that they feel the best place to birth if possible is at home... I guess that's why dh has always been so proHB because he grew up with it being normal too

[bellany]

My dd was 19 months at her brothers birth and slept through most of it and then as he came out she joined us and stayed by his side the rest of the day. It's an incredible bond I can't even describe.
At my 3rd birth they were 6 and 4 and they watched tv in the room while I labored by them and they weren't phased.
I'm devastated they are going to miss the twins birth.

[HotI]

my dd slept through and woke up at about 4am and met her brother then went back to bed. i had a few different plans depending on when i went in to labour and how dd and i were coping.

[Cassius2]

Bella: i just watched your birth video again and got all teary (again!!). i want to show my girls that one as it is just so lovely and normal for them to see another kid being involved. (i LOVED her expression when she was eating the snack....soooo cute!)

[Ilithyia]

Bella: i just watched your birth video again and got all teary (again!!). i want to show my girls that one as it is just so lovely and normal for them to see another kid being involved. (i LOVED her expression when she was eating the snack....soooo cute!)

Same here.

My girls were here with me while we watched it together. Both said at the beginning "Is that at home?".

They know that this little fella will be born at home and it makes my heart swell that they almost think its the norm.

Yours was the perfect film for them to watch Bel. Thank you

I'd really like to get my hand on one of those dolls too. I think they could be quite beneficial for the girls.

I must admit I am highly envious of you being able to have a GP video done. I wish wish wish we could afford a film like that. We'll just have to make do with our own video camera

[Eenee]

My DD had just turned 17mths and was at DS birth. She usually is very clingy towards me and wants mum all the time but she was fine. She was pointing yelling baby baby baby as DS was coming out which was quite cute. I wanted her to see his birth rather than a baby just show up IYKWIM. In the end she pretty much helped in the birth of DS because without her breastfeeding to bring on my contractions I would have had to go to hospital. I had my mum there though to be there to help with Dd when needed.

[PumpkinZulu]

DD will be 18 months when DD2 is born. Back up plan is my mum come and be with her and take her if need be, but we have our doula who she knows to support her first if need be. Hopefully she will sleep through some of it.

[Cassius2]

Hello lovely ladies! been a bit quiet in here!

I missed the screening but it is also kinda cool because we had an unexpected offer from the neighbours to babysit the girls so we could have a couple of hours to have a romantic dinner! so we did that instead!

my birth pool arrived the other day (YAY!). bought one...it was the same price as hiring it, so thought, well, why not?! we had a go at pumping it up and it was AWESOME! so so happy to see how it looks in place...it was sad packing it back up lol.

[Dollyroux]

Just quietly joining this thread

[Bella29]

Cas and Sara thanks girls . Sara it is one of the most treasured things I have in life, that video. I would have paid anything she asked to have it..... I think that since you will be in TV when u birth it will be a little hard.

Welcome quietly

[Jennifer13]

Hello, Dolly! Lol

Still have to get DP to watch the video, but I'm taking it up to Brisbane to show mum on the weekend too. Have to drop off a copy to Christy to okay too.

Cassius - yay, the pool! I was sad to take ours down and pack it to send back to its rightful owner. Hopefully I have to ring her in a few years and ask for it again.

I was complaining about DD2's stinky nappies yesterday (food poos, blergh!) and DP said, "and you want to have another." Joking aside, at least he's aware of my intentions.

[lady_neon]

Just dropping in

Welcome Dollyroux.

Well, stretch & sweep yesterday started enough random contractions that were uncomfortable enough to keep me up all night.. but have fizzled out. Boohoo 1-2cm dilated, surely cannot be far off now at 40w1d.

One very impatient mumma right here lol

[HomeStyleMumma]

Welcome dolly!

Jennifer at least dh didn't sound totally opposed to the idea of another

Oh LN I'm sorry you're feeling deflated (very understandable!) Will your mw come do another s&s today? Sometimes it takes a few days in a row or even in the same day. Epo capsules seemed to definitely work for dd2 and it wouldnt do any harm... Hope you get to meet your little one really REALLY soon!

[Dollyroux]

Is anyone having a doula and a midwife? Can you help me explore the whys and why nots?

[lady_neon]

HSM no my midwife is convinced ill be in labour before the weekend.. but has planned another stretch & sweep for early next week if not.

Dolly I have 2 midwives however I am going through the Community Midwifery Program here in Perth so 2 is standard. Personally I would always have a midwife, freebirthing is not for me. God forbid that the very small chance that things go pear shaped at home, I like the idea of an experienced medical professional being there to intervene - be that advising hospital or stopping a haemorrhage and stitching a tear