Homebirth General Discussion #11

[PumpkinZulu]

DD was born in June, not July. Wow! How long did that take you? Big list. And look at all those names! How awesome is that?

[e_p]

Wow HotI! Great work! Love seeing how much it's grown every year

Ambersky - keeping you and your baby in my thoughts - hope your bub starts making it's journey earthside very soon x

[lady_neon]

Grraaaar just posted the longest post and lost it!!!

Shall try again later. Stupid laptop.

[Cassius2]

AH-MAZING work HotI!!! i was just thinking last night if there has been an increase overall in the last few years on Australia's homebirth rate. i feel that there is, but maybe this is just because i am now more aware of it?? but with the hospital programs etc surely there must be a rise??

Starting to get all my birth affirmation cards written up!! wahoo!

[Ambersky]

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

Thank you

I don't know if this makes sense but i actually think i have been through my zone and come out the other side. I was so ready last week, now the pressure is there. But i have one thing very clear in my mind, and thats that i want to stay under the care of my MW. If i birth in hospital next week then i am absolutely confident she is the best person for me to be with. I know at this point there is no need for hospital, but i chose the program rather than an IM so that was part of the deal. Going to ask for a S&S tomorrow i think.

[Cassius2]

I totally get what you mean! will your midwife be able to attend with you (if the HIGHLY UNLIKELY) hospital birth happens?
I also recommend checking out some sites that have acupressure points etc that you can apply...i found them really helpful (there is one that is near the ankle which i found disturbingly effective lol (being a person that previously was a bit skeptical lol)

[Jennifer13]

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...tm&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

Yep, we did this with our tax too. I'm getting a nice return this year.

Thanks for that wonderful list! Maybe we should make a sticky in the HB area so you don't have to keep it within the thread? I'll ask. Might be handy for those looking for HB stories too.

Ambersky, not long now. Hope the looming date is not putting you out of your groove too much. I saw a great phrase on FB the other day: it's an estimated due date, not an expiration date. Made me giggle!

We live in a big house, but the dining room was my birth space. I just moved everything out of it, dining table just outside with everything we needed.

I finished my birth video! Just need to drop off a copy to my doula and m/w and get DP to okay before it goes live. It'll be on my m/w's blog, so public, but not identifying us ITMS. Gave it to Mum the other day, along with the story in Birthings (which she loved). I feel like such a dag, but I've watched it several times for no reason and it still makes me cry.

Dolly - I love the idea of being tended to for three days, like you might get in hospital. But if my memory serves me correctly, there was nothing I got there that I didn't get at home (except for those nasty germs!). My Mum was here to do all our washing, DP took over the cooking, the midwives cleaned up after the birth, my cleaner came the next day for the house cleaning and my doula brought around yummy snacks and activities for DD1. I wasn't woken up by unfamiliar noises or for unnecessary checks. The menu at home was broader and adjusted to my taste and my m/w came to me in my own bed. We were so well prepared there was nothing to do for a week or so anyway. And I didn't have to worry about what to wear lol.

Best of all, our new DD2 was never handled by anyone unfamiliar, or poked, or prodded, or taken out of my sight. The only sounds she heard were those she knew from inside me. The only faces she saw were those who loved her. The voices that spoke to her were welcoming her. Both of us were cocooned by love and our normal family life.

I love looking at her birth certificate and seeing our home address next to place of birth. And I love that our midwives are special to us and we to them.

My second m/w gave birth to a baby girl at home on the weekend - can't wait to meet her!

[Eenee]

Just a quick one

Here's my little Man's birth story

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...-my-little-man

[HotI]

Hoti - That's a nice offer. Do you have any pics?

sorry it has taken so long. they went to the back of the cupboard.
mei tei.jpg

i think the photo might be upside down. one is navy with a bit of tartan trim and the other is a light blue with delicate flowers.

happy to deliver in melb, or post if you pay postage. they might both fit in a small prepaid postage bag.

[Cassius2]

Loved reading your birth story Em!! What a birth journey girl!

And a BIG congratulations to Ambersky on getting your home waterbirth!!!! WAHOO!!

[e_p]

Congratulations Ambersky!!!

Em - loved your birth story and am going to go and comment there now

[Beatrix]

Congrats Ambersky....

Ok so in prep for our home birth I have brought the book Hello baby, just waiting for it to arrive.. but Im sure I remember seeing a homebirth video of a member who's daughter was their and the daughter had a doll, the doll gave birth and also had the placenta as well.. does anyone know where you can get this doll? The only pg dolls i have found are stupid barbie ones which you take the belly off to get the baby out... not what I want

[Cassius2]

i have seen them on etsy...but the best person to ask is Bella29 as that was her birth video!

[HotI]

check out MamAmor dolls. just gorgeous!

[Beatrix]

check out MamAmor dolls. just gorgeous!

i saw them but unfort they are very $$$$$$$$

will check out etsy

[RubyShoes]

I have a Mamamor doll, she is beautiful. She has a placenta and baby that tucks up in the tummy, and little latch-on buttons for nipples and the baby's mouth. And a wrap for baby wearing. Just lovely. I'm so glad I can use it for teaching DS about the process of birth.

ETA: my DS has weaned. Which is a relief, in a way, as it was becoming too painful. But a little sad to finish on a low note. We're still having lots of cuddles, and I expect he might relatch later in the pregnancy or after the birth.

[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

Ambersky - Baby BOY born at home 3rd October


Babies On Their Way


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

[HotI]

FYI Anyone in sydney,

Maternity Action Coalition
Just a reminder that we are giving away tickets to the Childbirth and the Law forum on this Friday in Sydney. Email president@maternitycoalition.org.au by 5pm TODAY to go in the draw. Please note the tickets are for the actual forum not the webinar so you need to be able to get to Parramatta in Sydney on Friday.