Homebirth General Discussion #12

**Aimz** · February 4th, 2013, 04:09 AM

Yay for a birth photographer Ree Ree! I wonder if I know them?!

**HomeStyleMumma** · February 4th, 2013, 05:52 AM

YAY turtlejane! Congratulations on the birth of another beautiful baby girl!!!

Sorry can't post anything else I really need to go back to sleep (dh woke me leaving for work) coz its 5am here.... Yawn.

**Ree*Ree** · February 4th, 2013, 09:32 AM

Yay for a birth photographer Ree Ree! I wonder if I know them?!

It's B. elle V. erdiglione Photography

Hope you got some more sleep HSM!

Ladybird, how cute that your kidlets are getting so excited

Re: the GD testing, I like Cricket's suggestion. I did decide to do the test in the end.

**Mum2twoBoys** · February 4th, 2013, 09:34 AM

Getting nervous now, just about to head out to see IM.

**Mum2twoBoys** · February 4th, 2013, 02:58 PM

Appt went absolutely great. She seems like a great advocate for home births and natural labour. She was asking if I wanted scans or bt, saying they weren't necessary if I didn't want them. She wasn't really for the down syndrome test, saying it causes more stress than eases it, and gd test, saying I was young and healthy and that it is very unreliable. She went on to say how much of these are encouraged to increase intervention.

She was the first professional to praise me for bf whilst pg, and even recommended talking to a lactation consultant about my future bf plans. She was saying how my body sounded perfect for natural labour, saying how all the symptoms that were worrying me were purely my body doing what it was meant to be doing.

It felt so nice to talk to someone about my pg and labour plans, who actually seemed really interested and totally ready to back me up throughout my whole journey. It's nice feeling like I'm going to have full control over MY body.

**Ree*Ree** · February 4th, 2013, 03:36 PM

Sounds like you're onto a winner there WM, what an awesome appointment!

**HotI** · February 4th, 2013, 06:42 PM

That is awesome WM!

**Mum2twoBoys** · February 4th, 2013, 07:08 PM

Thanks for the referral hotI.

**Cassius2** · February 5th, 2013, 05:57 AM

It felt so nice to talk to someone about my pg and labour plans, who actually seemed really interested and totally ready to back me up throughout my whole journey. It's nice feeling like I'm going to have full control over MY body.

This is totally what it's all about! So thrilled for you! And so excited as well! wahoo!

**Beatrix** · February 5th, 2013, 06:20 AM

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** · February 10th, 2013, 10:26 PM

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** · February 11th, 2013, 12:11 AM

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.

**Cricket** · February 11th, 2013, 12:15 AM

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!

**HotI** · February 11th, 2013, 06:50 AM

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.

**Mum2twoBoys** · February 11th, 2013, 07:09 AM

It doesn't sound like too much to me. It depends on how you feel.

So far I have: dh, ds, 2 midwives, student midwife, and a friend (who'll be videoing it). I'm also considering to invite my SIL so she can watch my ds. But if this labour is anything like my first, I won't really notice anyone but my midwife and dh. I kind of go into my own zone.

I was thinking of inviting my mother, because she would love to be involved. But in the end she's not very well, and I don't want to have to look after her or worry about her whilst I'm in labour.

**ladybirdflies** · February 11th, 2013, 07:23 AM

Hi Everyone!!

Ree Ree like the others say, it is up to you. THis is part of building the birth team, asking questions and getting a few plans in place that may or may not happen. A doula will mean that your partner will be more supported and if she is good, the midwives will feel supported by her too. No amount of people is too much, it's totally up to you. Even having a conversation with the midwife about the doula is part of you building trust with her which happens as you get closer to birth, the depth of you dropping and trusting those around you deepens and the birth team keeps shaping right up until the day of the birth. We have quite a team lined up this time. Each child (three) will probably have their own support person, and then two midwives and of course my husband. We also have offers of people to come after the birth to clean up and take children and cook. That is if everything goes to that plan, if it's the middle of the night we won't call the helpers probably. My births have been super quick in the past, my longest has been two hours from first contraction, so i just want the children and hubby to make it!! Last time I wanted no-one supporting, but this placed a whole lot of stress on DH and he really found it difficult to drop in and be present with me when he was worrying about our girls, heaters on, water in tub and all the other little things.It was then that I realised how important it is for him to feel supported so he can stay present next time. Go well in the next few weeks.

Plodding along here myself. 25 weeks and feeling pretty tired this time still. I keep waiting for that burst of amazing pregnancy glow. and whilst I feel pretty good I am just not as spritely as I have been in the past. I guess that happens when you keep having babies?

I have a midwife apt in the morning so I am going to talk to her in depth about the diabetes testing, I am not getting a clear yes or no about what I should do, so I guess I will gather more information and wait for the answer to drop in. We have the birthpool collecting dust in our spare room, I am just so excited to be able to use it, I love that part!!!

Hope everyone is traveling well xx

**Beatrix** · February 11th, 2013, 08:31 AM

Rae rae- for this birth we have so far being there... DH, the 2 midwives, student midwife, my 3 kids, my mum and possibly my MIL (my mum is my girls support person) I havent asked MIL yet cause Im slightly undecided, she is a lovely lady but labor sometimes makes me feel very vulnerable and not sure yet.

My midwife app is wed, then I think I will be on fortnightly ones for two weeks then weekly ones.. which means I guess its getting closer. I am yet to organise the mattress as well for my lounge room so I better get onto that!! Gonna see if any friends have a old mattress they wish to get rid of.... before i hit the classifieds