Homebirth General Discussion #12

[Beatrix]

Sounds like a great MW there Williamsmummy!! I never had the GD test with any of my pg's. I did do the downs test though but thats personal choice

Well only 9 weeks left for me.. which means the supplies will be dropped off in 5 weeks and we are good to go. Im actually so ill prepared, which is unlike me but Im so tired. I need to get a second mattress which is what i plan on birthing on in the lounge room and also need to pack mine and bubs transfers bags JIC. I dont even have any type of birth plan written or really even though off... just birth = baby out!!

This is one very active child, the girls were no where like this. It wakes me up during the night with extremely powerful kicks and all day long I can feel it spinning and moving. Not head down yet completely does go that way occasionally but seems to like transverse position mainly... bum on one side and head on the other while stretching is so much fun. But im enjoying it while I can as this bubs is my last. My poor body can not handle this again.

My student midwife seems to be more excited about my possible homebirth then I am ROFL.. apparently all her friends she is studying with are jealous because its a rare oppertunity and her other 4 births she has attended have all ended in CS.. so she is praying she makes this birth on time!!

[Ree*Ree]

Beatrix I can't believe how fast your pg has gone! LOL at your student midwife, how cool. Hope she does makes it there in time!

AFM I started buying some aromatherapy candles for B-Day. Not sure if I should be getting calming/relaxing scents, or energising, so I got both, lol!
Also, do you ladies think I could have too many people present at the birth?
So far I have:
Me
DH
DS
Midwife 1
Midwife 2
Photographer
Mum (maybe, see how I feel on the day, but she would love to be there. As would 2 of my Aunties!)

And now my photographer knows a student Doula who would like to support me if I'm interested. I would like to help her out with the experience she needs to finish her certification, and she sounds really lovely and calming, but I think maybe I have enough people involved already? Or is a doula always invaluable, no matter who else is there? But then I also don't want the midwives to feel like I think their support is inadequate and I need someone else to help me through...
Thoughts? Experience?

[Cricket]

I think it's really up to you who you have at your birth. I wouldn't worry about how other people feel about it too much. It might be wise though, to tell some of these people that you *might* decide not to call them, depending on how you feel. It could well be that you'll get into labour and really feel the need to be private and alone, and if you've got a crowd of people there, that could be difficult. But if you feel like you want a nice group of people there with you supporting you and cheering you on, then you'll have plenty to call on!
I would maybe suggest that there be someone who can care for your son, who won't mind missing the birth, if necessary. Your mum might be a good choice for that. He might be upset, or just bored, or whatever, and he'll also need his usual care - snacks, meals, etc., and someone who you really need with you can't be running off to do all that for him.
About the doula - I haven't had one myself, but I've heard that midwives generally like to have a doula there. Her focus is different than the midwives'. They are going to be looking a little more at your physical wellbeing and safety, as well as the baby's, whereas the doula is focused more on your comfort and emotional state. There is definitely overlap - a good midwife will also be concerned about your comfort and emotions too, obviously, but they might not be her primary concern during the birth.
All the best with getting the final details together!
Oh - about the scents - more choices are always better I think. You never know what you're going to want in the moment.

[HotI]

I think it's really up to you who you have at your birth. I wouldn't worry about how other people feel about it too much. It might be wise though, to tell some of these people that you *might* decide not to call them, depending on how you feel.

I agree. I had this philosophy both times. First time i didn't call the student because of personal happenings the day before that made me wanting less people. Second time, i did call my student. Both times it was the right thing, and both students understood that they may not be at the birth. First time, my student visited couple days later and i got to debrief a little which was nice.

[Cricket]

My student midwife seems to be more excited about my possible homebirth then I am ROFL.. apparently all her friends she is studying with are jealous because its a rare oppertunity and her other 4 births she has attended have all ended in CS.. so she is praying she makes this birth on time!!

My midwives have been kind of the same. At my last birth, they wanted to call in one of the other midwives (at 3am!) who was just about to take her own maternity leave, so that she could see my nice homebirth and have some good memories before her own baby was born. I guess the last two births she had attended got complicated, and they wanted her to leave on a good note. At 3am, heavily pregnant, I think I'd shoot someone who called me out of my bed to attend a birth I didn't HAVE to be at!