Homebirth General Discussion #11

[Cassius2]

Rubyshoes: oh yeah the BF can totally hurt! i remember also yelping each time DD2 ended weaning when i was around 5 months pg as she was just sooo frustrated by the lack of milk supply that she gave up. in some ways it was a relief (the thought of tandem feeding did have me a bit worried) but also sad that like you mentioned that it wasnt the way i had envisioned her stopping ITMS.

can't believe you are 14 weeks!

[Bella29]

Rubyshoes, I had something similar. Real feeding aversion in the first tri, dd weaned at 13 weeks. I just told her that there was no more milk and she was really easy about it. She was 2 atthete and I was ok with it. However she still would come and pretend to bf with me and funnily DH when she wanted comfort (both sides, lol! Funny little thing!). The thing was, when my milk came in after birth, she asked if she could have milk an was sooo surprised when she got a mouth full. I can only say that there was no better relief from engorgement than what was given by a hungry 2 yo! Now at just past three she is still feeding each morning. It's not what I ever imagined for myself, but she LOVES boobie! So we manage. Anyway,the point is, you never know what you will be doing later, but don't feel bad. You child probably won't feel to bad. They are a lot more adaptable than we think sometimes. Good luck!

[Cassius2]

Bella: that is so interesting! I have noticed that in the last week where, previously DD2 didnt even seem to remember her 'boobie milk', that the last few times she has seen me getting dressed that her interest is suddenly piqued again! she's not sure what she wants to do, but does know that it is a comfort thing...be interesting to see what she does once the milk is in

[HotI]

Babies Arrived

Jennifer13- Baby GIRL born at home 4th January 2012

Bella29- Baby GIRL born at home 10th January

HotI - Baby BOY born at home 21st January

*Ash*- Baby BOY born at home 14th February

loulabelle - Baby BOY born at home 24th February

Cricket - Baby GIRL born at home 15th May

chocorama - May

...Em - Baby BOY born at home 7th June

BellyBelly - Baby GIRL born 11th August

Tanya - Baby BOY born at home 16th August

phynna - Baby GIRL born at home 8th September

lady_neon - Baby BOY born 27th September



Babies On Their Way


Ambersky - September

Ice cream - September

Cassius - November

mirriumu - November

pumpkinzulu - December

turtlejane - January

Sara - February

Ree*Ree - March

Aimz - March

Bellany - March

Beatrix - April

Rubyshoes - April

HomeStyleMumma - May

Dollyroux - June

[Bella29]

Look at that amazing list! You do a great job love

[Cricket]

Haven't been in here in quite a while, and I'm a bit out of touch with everyone, but I just wanted to say HI ALL! And yes, what an awesome homebirth list! I remember when I had my first homebirth, there were only a few fellow BBer's who were doing it too, and now there are LOTS! Wonderful!

[Cassius2]

I know right??!! I just love that it getting more accessible even the simple reason that we are on thread #11...i started out on thread #1 (and only joined just after conceiving DD2 i think! so lots and lots of action!)

[Dollyroux]

I'm having some doubts around home birth and would like to explore my feelings with you guys. I want to choose home birth to avoid unnecessary interventions but the fact is hospitals themselves don't bother me. I quite like the idea of spending a few days in hospital TBH.

I'm unsure how to go about creating a birthing space for myself in my house - I have a small house and I'm not really sure where I would birth or set up a birth pool...

Thoughts? Anyone else have these doubts or work through them?

[Ree*Ree]

I'm a bit the same as you Dolly I like the hospital stay (in the private hossy I was in with DS it was more like a hotel, def don't think I'd enjoy a public stay in a shared ward at all!) But feel the best way for me to get the birth that I want and think is best, is to stay as far away from the hospital as possible!

I have a small house too, thinking the pool will only be able to fit in the kitchen/dining area at my place. I don't know if I'll really need much room to labour so I'm not *too* worried about having enough space, as long as I can set up the pool. Could move the dining table out that we rarely use in the weeks beforehand to kind of create a little 'zone' maybe? hmmmm
I'm also considering having a cleaner and possibly some sort of meal service come in the first few weeks

[HotI]

I had no desire to go to hospital, but only had a small ish space to set up, and it was in the kitchen/main living area so couldn't set it up weeks before. I had the birth pool blown up sitting in the shed (on a blanket) ready to bring up when needed. I got some elastic wire cord from spotlight to hang up as a room divider between the kitchen/ lounge area and hung a cool keltic design sheet type thing i have had for years. i hemmed one edge of it like a curtain so it could just be pushed back until it was needed.

The baby change table was in another room with everything on it needed for the birth. The plan was for DH to bring the whole table out but he forgot that was his job. Having everything in one place meant that DH or the midwife knew where to look for stuff when i couldn't talk.

I had some fairy lights that i planned to put up, but didn't get around to it.

[Ambersky]

My Sept baby is still comfy/stubborn in my belly. 41+3 i think and starting to get frustrated because the program only lets me HB to 42w. Rub my back while i have a little sook?

[Cassius2]

Ambersky: argh! like you need the added pressure of a time limit! So so close now though, I am sending you beautiful birth blessings, it is so close Do you think that you have emotionally got yourself in the right zone? I know that I really needed to 'let go' in the last day before DD2 was born (ie a big snotty cry hahahaha). But maybe some time for yourself in a quiet space to have a chat with that gorgeous belly xx

Dolly: we live in a super tiny 2 bedroom edwardian terrace, space is a premium lol. I do think it is important to set up a little corner in the room where you think you would best like to birth in. We have a firplace in the space that i have etched out and on it have gathered the oil burner, a special birth/baby necklace thingo that I found in the US and the candles and some photos. As the pregnancy progresses you go into that space and 'tend to it' ITMS. dust the shelves off, start picturing the birth pool/birth space etc.
for DD2 we had the birth pool set up in the dining/kitchen...we didnt have instant hot water so wanted the pool to be close enough to the stove JIC we ran out of hot water lol. i had the pool set up from 38 weeks in the corner of the room and the dining table was just pushed a bit further away. when i did go into labour DH put the dining chairs outside and the dining table was pushed against the opposite wall and was used as the table for snacks and the midwives things. TBH i preferred the fact that it was a tiny, cave-like safe space. i was planning on moving the pool to be more central in the room but in the end wanted it kept in the corner so DH put up my hand written affirmations on the wall in that corner and the photos. it was really really lovely.
I'll try to put up a link to a photo that shows the space...

ok, here goes...https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...9&d=1349218103
There was literally like 2 steps to the fireplace directly in front of me and maybe 2.5 steps to the next wall/doorway. But it felt perfect. The important thing to note is that you then also have the post-birth space set up too. which in that case for us was my bedroom. we had set it up with nice sheets and oil burners and some very low lighting so that when we were ready we literally walked the couple of metres to the next room and lay down for the night DH and the midwives cleaned up the dining room space and put dinner on and a celebratory feast was had by all!

[Mirimum]

I'm having some doubts around home birth and would like to explore my feelings with you guys. I want to choose home birth to avoid unnecessary interventions but the fact is hospitals themselves don't bother me. I quite like the idea of spending a few days in hospital TBH.

I'm unsure how to go about creating a birthing space for myself in my house - I have a small house and I'm not really sure where I would birth or set up a birth pool...

Thoughts? Anyone else have these doubts or work through them?

I like hospitals too, I grew up in them and had a lot of good times (strange I guess but true). I guess for me the key reasons not to birth there are:
* I'm not sick. When I'm sick, I want to be in the hospital. But, I'm not.
* Birth is a natural event, like taking a really big poo, having a period or having sex. Not really hospital material.
* Birth is intimate. I probably wouldn't be able to perform sexually in front of five random strangers, in a brightly lit room and under an obvious time restraint, so I can't see how I'd manage to spread 'em and push out a baby in the same conditions.
* Other people in hospital are sick. My immune system, and I assume my baby's immune system, are used to the germs in my house - but there's lots of things in a hospital I wouldn't want to expose my baby to.

Hospitals are great for a lot of things, but I can't help but feeling that birth should probably take place in the same kind of environment conception did.

I hear you on the small space though, DH and I live in a tiny inner-city one bedroom unit. The whole place is my birth-cave, and there's no room for a pool - even if I did feel comfortable risking my landlord's carpet I think that's alright though. Even in this tiny unit I figure I have more of my own space than I would in the public hospital - and if it gets too cramped, I can go labour in the park across the street or something

[HotI]

I have having a read of the past homebirth general discussion threads, and found some references to tax offset of homebirth expenses. i then checked out the ATO website and found this

http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/co...72.htm&page=12

We submitted tax a few weeks ago, but i just rang my tax dude and he is going to put an ammendment in for us. He said that the threshold is $2000. So, i am adding up our medical expenses now.

Just thought i'd mention it cos i hadn't heard of it until i went back to the homebirth general discussion #2 thread, and the info might help others having homebirths.

i'm working on something pretty cool too

[onthefly]

oh bum Ambersky. It used to be 43 weeks. Come on baby!

[Cassius2]

ooohhh HotI you cannot leave me hanging like that lol!

and yep, can vouch for the tax offset. We did with DD2 and have kept all our records etc for this pregnancy (well, what we have accumulated since we returned from OS).

[HotI]

Ok, i was hoping to finish it myself but i need a little help to fill in the gaps. These are all the planned homebirths i could find by going through the HB general discussion threads. Can you help me fill in any gaps, and check i have your details right. Ta

Planned Homebirths from the Homebirth General Discussion Threads

2008
Tegam – baby BOY born at home 22nd? August 2008

2009
*Infinity* - baby GIRL born 25th June 2009
Mayaness – baby GIRL born at home October 2009
Stoked – baby BOY born at home December 2009

2010
Lionsandbears – baby BOY born 26th July 2010
Alina0210 – baby GIRL born at home 7th August 2010
Antheia – baby BOY born at home 18th August 2010
Cassius2 – baby GIRL born at home 7th Sept 2010
Cricket – baby BOY born at home 15th September 2010
Roryrory – baby GIRL born at home 1st October 2010
Meow – baby BOY born at home 25th November 2010
MadB – baby GIRL born 23rd December 2010
Tegam – baby GIRL born at home 24th? December 2010

2011
Em… - baby GIRL born at home 6th January 2011
Limeslice – baby GIRL born 9th February 2011 vbac
Arcadia – baby BOY born at home March 2011
MrsNerdBurger – baby GIRL born at home 26th March 2011
Lady-bug - baby BOY born at home 19th? May 2011 vbac
Liz - baby GIRL born at home 13th? June 2011
PumpkinZulu - baby GIRL born 16th June 2011
Lions andbears - baby BOY born sleeping 16th June 2011
Helly- baby BOY born at home 27th June 2011
~Stoked~- baby BOY born at home 18th August 2011
Pip82 – baby GIRL born at home 10th September 2011
Artechim – baby GIRL born at home 13th September 2011
eutra_phalia - baby BOY born at home 20th November 2011
Sara - baby BOY born sleeping 22nd November 2011

2012
Jennifer13- Baby GIRL born at home 4th January 2012 vbac
Bella29- Baby GIRL born at home 10th January 2012 vbac
HotI - Baby BOY born at home 21st January 2012
*Ash*- Baby BOY born at home 14th February 2012
loulabelle - Baby BOY born at home 24th February 2012
Cricket - Baby GIRL born at home 15th May 2012
...Em - Baby BOY born at home 7th June 2012
BellyBelly - Baby GIRL born 11th August 2012
Tanya - Baby BOY born at home 16th August 2012
phynna - Baby GIRL born at home 8th September 2012
lady_neon - Baby BOY born 27th September 2012

[HotI]

i can make it pretty when we have details right, maybe put it as a sticky? do you want vbac etc details added?

ok, gotta take ds to dr but be back