As i got closer to the birth, i spoke less to people who didn't get it. I just didn't want their energy to affect how i was feeling. I figured there was plenty of time after baby was here to spread info.
Oh it is so annoying Beatrix! I feel your pain! I know that, like HotI, it was one of the reasons that at the end of each pregnancy i went into my quiet space and didnt really discuss the birth or placenta thing with anyone that wasnt already on the same page. but yeah, it sucks that people are so ignorant and let their own fears inform their opinion of our decisions.
oh and FWIW, the placenta encapsulation is awesome lol. there is no taste or anything. i just pop them down like the rest of my multivitamins lol.
Also, my Mum was kinda anti-homebirth, but still tried to be supportive of me. I had an appt with my IM at her place so that she could meet her and ask questions. She was comforted by this, but still a bit wary. After baby was born, and through observing the benefits to myself, baby and family, she has now become a homebirth advocate. Throwing papers at her for her to read wouldn't have made a difference, but seeing it she sees the benefits.
I havent told many people really as I don't expect many people to understand.
Friends are the most supportive I think. Not all but the ones that matter. The ones who know me well and respect my decisions.
I've really become accustomed to just nodding and smiling now. Plus I like that fact that its a part of my pregnancy etc that I can keep to myself because people just assume that because you are pregnant, you will go to hospital to have the babe. So I just let them assume and smile on the inside.
It really is amazing how uneducated some people still are about homebirth. I was on clinical placement a couple of weeks ago and I did happen to mention to the ward clerk that I was having the baby at home. She said "isn't that illegal?" What the hell is illegal about having a baby at home?!
You take the good with the bad I guess. I mentioned to my friend on the phone the other night about the possibilty of a freebirth and I was amazed at how supportive she was. She is a friend who I've grown up with since we were babies so she knows me well and knows that I would never make a decision which would put either myself or baby in harms way.
Hi Everyone,
I am finally brave enough to come in and say hello!!! After two miscarriages in the last year I am now up to 13weeks with a great little heartbeat and lots of flutters. I had my first midwife appointment last week, it was very casual,mainly for family to meet her and see if it was a YES from us all.
This is baby number 4, due in June and will be my second homebirth. All of my babies have been born under two hours from the first contraction, so I feel alot safer at home then in the car holding on!!! My bigger girls are thrilled about another homebirth, especially my eldest she will be 11, she was brilliant support last time.
Forgot to mention - met another HBing Mum at DD2's swimming class. I'm starting to think maybe I do seem to run into more HBers than the average! And I hardly live amongst an alternative community. :/
jennifer: i am so impressed at how many HB mamas you meet! Man, i live in the HB capital of victoria (so my IMs tell me ) and i NEVER bump into anyone lol. although hoping to turn that around as my HB group is now having weekly mothers groups close by, so might pop along and say hello.
Also had my first home visit by the MACH nurse. my first as well as a HB mum (they forgot about me last time so never saw them at all lol). bit weird as i did get a heads up to ensure that our 'safe sleep space' looked tip top...not because of baby's safety but because as a HB family we are inspected a bit more closely...because obviously if i am willing to risk my baby by having a HB i must also be a reckless mother
dont think i will bother with the other appts. such a waste of time.
Lol Cass, N was saying how they hold of the MCHN visits for a while, I like that. With DD I felt the same, our sleeping space could have been neater, instead the bed had rather a few milk stains and old towels and terry squares over them haha.
Wow. I'll be telling mine to calm down if that's the case! Arte, I don't know if it's standard practice, but ours did with DD. she also told DH (on day 3!) to get up and do some dishes, he didn't just give birth. We were like We did get one good one though, later on.
You know I haven't had a MCHN come visit me since having my eldest. I just told them I wasnt interested and I was still seeing my midwife at home til 6 weeks so if i had a issue I would speak to her.
After the experience I had with my eldest I wasnt keen at all... They came out when she was 2 weeks old and I had JUST gotten her to sleep after a horrible horrible night and she wanted me to wake her and move her so she could weigh her, even though my notes said she was weighed the day before by the midwife. So i refused, she then rang my midwife and said she was concerned about my parenting due to my lack of interest to interact with my child... My midwife was floored, told her she thought I was doing a great job and there was no issues.
I dont plan on having them come here either after this bubs birth.
Had my 20 week scan on Tuesday and a midwife app at home today.. such bliss having them come to me. BP unfort seems to be creeping up but i have had a stressful few days due to exh and custody of kids so hopefully that's just it. Been told to rest and relax. Nest app is in 4 weeks, and going to have that one at the birthing unit so DH can have a squiz at our JIC place
Gave my midwife my info on having your placenta done and she was excited, couldn't wait to show it at their next group meeting!! They are super cool laid back ladies, I love knowing they are my birth people!!!
Yay, B, all sounds good! I never thought to take DP to the hospital where we would transfer if needed. You are much better prepared! Hope things are resolved with custody.
Cassius, lol, HB is such a rarity around here too. Although obviously I get plenty of HBing contact through my HB group get togethers and my Homebirth Access Sydney stuff too.
I had one visit from the MHCN who was just so excited we'd had a HB and wanted to hear how it all went and asked me if she could tell her other mums about it, so I certainly got no grief there. She didn't even look in the bedroom where we slept. So to those nasty MHCNs. I didn't bother to do any follow up appts, we see the GP for vax and I'm perfectly happy to do our own thing. DD1 only went to one appt too, although I did take her back at 2 just for a quick visit on the developmental stuff. No concerns, just wanted to tick the boxes.
such wonderful happy news!!!
) and i NEVER bump into anyone lol. although hoping to turn that around as my HB group is now having weekly mothers groups close by, so might pop along and say hello.
to those nasty MHCNs. I didn't bother to do any follow up appts, we see the GP for vax and I'm perfectly happy to do our own thing. DD1 only went to one appt too, although I did take her back at 2 just for a quick visit on the developmental stuff. No concerns, just wanted to tick the boxes.
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