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Melbourne peeps
MC Movie night
BIRTH STORY - Ina May Gaskin & the Farm Midwives
This movie tells the story of counterculture heroine Ina May Gaskin and her spirited friends, who began delivering each others babies in 1970, on a caravan of hippie school buses, headed to a patch of rural Tennessee land. With Ina May as their leader, the women taught themselves midwifery from the ground up, and became an integral part of a new, entirely communal, agricultural society called The Farm. The people of the Farm grew their own food, built their own houses, published their own books, and, as word of their social experiment spread, created a model of care for women and babies that changed a generations approach to childbirth. Forty years ago Ina May led the charge away from isolated hospital birthing rooms, where husbands were not allowed and mandatory forceps deliveries were the norm. Today, as nearly one third of all US babies are born via C-section, she fights to preserve her community's hard-won knowledge. With incredible access to the midwives' archival video collection, the film not only captures the unique sisterhood at The Farm Clinic, from its heyday into the present, but shows childbirth the way most people have never seen it--unadorned, unabashed, and awe-inspiring.
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NORTHCOTE SCREENING
Date/Time:
Thursday 27th June, 2013
7:30pm
Venue:
Northcote Town Hall
189 High Street
Northcote
Cost:
$10 - Prepaid booking
$15 - at the door
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Teni - if i was bored and had time to kill I would finish off DDs baby photo album. I would make a quilt for my DD from her baby clothes, same for DS for me, make a quilt or clothes for the new baby. Maybe check out how to make cloth nappies or a wrap. research birth pools.... any of them sound appealing?
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when i saw this pic, i thought it fitted homebirth perfectly. anyone else see a link?
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forum stutter
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WARNING: Lots of gushing about midwife-love ahead!
Have I mentioned how much I love my midwife Kelly? I love my midwife KellyAmong other things, they gave the Doppler a shot but couldn't find anything - she kept reassuring me that it didn't mean anything sinister. At one point she even said "you know I'm not worried about the baby, I'm worried about the mother?"
She also did a blood test (bleugh) because one of my early bloods wasn't up to scratch and the GP hadn't done anything about it. I feel so much more comfortable in her care than the last two times! She got the radiology place to fax over yesterday's results as well - I didn't even know she could do that! PLUS she's going to see about getting my combined results sent direct to her rather than having to go through the GP for them. So, yay!
She's very adamant that we're getting me the birth I want/need, too. There was a student there today who conducted most of the appointment, so I told her my history and how I felt about Amelia's birth, and Kelly kept chipping in with things like "but that's not happening this time" and questions about how I thought I might feel when I hit that point again.
Next appointment will be with Jan, who's technically my secondary midwife. I haven't met her properly yet so it'll be nice to do that, see how we mesh
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I get my fill of m/w love tomorrow at our homebirth group get together. It's my monthly fix!
Guess I might organise an actual m/w visit while I'm there. It all feels very much like I've done all this before this time! So much normal in the preparation.
I am starting to feel a little excited about the birth though and totally looking forward to the babymoon high! Already hanging on to how it's gonna feel when bub is born. That was so unexpected last time - it's almost like I'm hanging out for another 'hit'! If it wasn't for raising all of the kids, I could do this again and again.Big reality check. I get glimpses of so much ability/responsibility, followed by Attitude (capital on purpose). So contrary! I don't like complaining about my ordinarily beautiful children, but oh dear, I hope this is a temporary phase. It's like if I ask her to do something, she'll say no, or do it on a go slow, just to annoy me on purpose. And she knows she's doing it. Little bugger.
I keep reminding myself I'm possibly going to have to do the seven-year-old-girl-thing three times. As nervous as I am about what I'd do with a boy - this last week has me thinking maybe it's preferable.
Booked in my 12 wk scan for 20 Jun and will get bloods next week so they're ready in time. Got referrals from my GP. Who is the best GP ever, knows about bfing and totally onboard with my homebirths. Good care providers just make such a difference.
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Just remember that each one is different.
If it wasn't for raising all of the kids, I could do this again and again.
I keep reminding myself I'm possibly going to have to do the seven-year-old-girl-thing three times. As nervous as I am about what I'd do with a boy - this last week has me thinking maybe it's preferable.
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We're working on responsibility with the older girls here right now too, and it is SO FRUSTRATING when they don't do what they're asked, or do it poorly, or do it with back talk and complaining the whole time. But I keep telling myself that this is just a part of the process of bringing up responsible citizens.Eventually they'll get it together. Or they'll move out. Either way it will end at some point!
And sometimes, they surprise me and do a great job without any complaining, and that gives me some hope too.
Teni - so glad your appointment was great! A good midwife is such a joy and makes such a big difference in pregnancy!
AFM - DH and I visited a good friend last night who was hoping for a homebirth with this pregnancy, but ended up having her water break just before 26 weeks, and delivering last week at 30 weeks. Little man is thriving though - 3lb 14oz at 30 weeks, and doing great so far. My friend is taking a little longer to recover, after a month of stress and very little sleep (her bleeding/leaking incidents always seemed to happen at night.) It was totally amazing to see the little guy - not so far off from where my baby is at right now, totally perfect, moving, yawning, stretching, hiccuping... This is baby number 6 for them, and so this whole time has been very stressful for the family, trying to care for the ones at home, and keep the household running. These are the times when having a church is so great - the whole church has been helping when and wherever they can, with babysitting, meals, baking, etc.
I'm still feeling good. Some sciatic pain, which happens every time for me. Getting better at stretching it out and avoiding the movements that trigger the pain. Exercising as often as I can manage it, and trying to keep the weight gain a little more reasonable this time... (Last time I gained 55 lb!) I got a pregnancy support camisole that is making a REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE. I highly recommend it! It's comfortable to wear and I wear it every day. When it's in the laundry, I'm in a lot of pain by the end of the day, so I know it really does make a difference. (I've started handwashing it at night and hanging it up to dry so I don't have to go without it!) My kids are done school in a couple of weeks, and we'll be in to summer holidays here! Hard to believe. I know how fast that time flies by, and this baby is due just when the kids head back to school. That makes it seem really close, all of a sudden. Looking forward to meeting this bean, that's for sure.
Hope everyone else is doing well!
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I felt that way after my first and I had a ton of problems during the babymoon but it was still ecstatic. I think my health was in such decline that I didn't really feel it with the second baby. That time I found the breastfeeding troubles and all that just SO hard. I kind of still want another but I'm scared of going through all that again. Maybe I would feel a babymoon high again?? I could cope with another baby if I could be sure of an easier time post-natally.I am starting to feel a little excited about the birth though and totally looking forward to the babymoon high! Already hanging on to how it's gonna feel when bub is born. That was so unexpected last time - it's almost like I'm hanging out for another 'hit'! If it wasn't for raising all of the kids, I could do this again and again.
It's so lovely to hear you looking forward to that!
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Teni Im so glad you love Kelly. I really love her too. She's so kind and caring and very present but not intrusive. She was great at the birth too.
Cricket, I love hearing about your family and how each child brings something unique. I hope the rest of you pg is smooth.
HotI thanks for the link, I might try and make that screening.
Jennifer - yes the post baby high is very addictive. I've found though I really crash after those first couple of weeks, like a massive come down haha. So for me the toughest time is around eight weeks pp when everyone is back at work and baby stops sleeping so much and your body stops being so invincible and just plain tired!
Meow, yes I think the post natal period plays a massive role in my desire for future children. If I could get dh to take maybe a few days off, heck even a week it would help. Birthing sat, full time with two by Tuesday was so intense last time. I am requesting more family support for sure next time.
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My husband took three weeks off last time. It was going to be two weeks as he had paid paternity leave for that long but then I needed more healing time lying down so he took another week.
His new job pays for 7 weeks leave!! I said "right, that settles it, let's have a baby then!" but then I'm scared about life after those 7 weeks still.
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Any Melbournites interested in this?
Childbirth Rights Rally
“because childbirth rights are human rights”
When: Thursday
27th June 2013 10.00 – 11.30am
Where: The Women's Hospital cnr Grattan St & Flemington Rd Parkville 3052
What: A peaceful gathering of people holding placards with messages demanding women's right to choice in childbirth.
Why: Medical interventions in childbirth are at record highs with no concurrent gains in safety for mothers and babies. Many women report feeling abused and disrespected in their experience of maternity care. They feel disempowered rather than empowered by their birth experience.
It is time that we claim back our own power in childbirth.
Our right to informed consent and informed refusal.
Our bodies, our babies, our right to decide.
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Hi
I am currently researching some info for a friend whose bub is not in 'optimal' position. Oh, it has made me so more appreciative of the midwife that supported me with DS. There is so much misinformation, so much fear being spread and non evidenced based medicine happening out there. So many restraints on women attending hospitals to birth that then often cause issues for mother or baby. And when women do attempt to enforce their basic rights or ask for treatment that is supported by evidence, they are either ridiculed or ignored. And then so much acceptance of these practises in the world. urgh
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well, i am biased....i want you ALL to have MORE babies
Meow: you are a lioness Mama...and you make cute babies...DO IT. 7 weeks leave??? that is amazing! can we get a job there too?
Arcadia: wow, that must of been incredibly full on having your DH go back so soonI cannot imagine it...i have been incredibly blessed that DH has been able to take incredible amounts of time off after each baby (except our first...he was back that same morning....).
HotI: basically your friend if going through hossy, has no real options. she will be bullied and coerced no matter what. she needs a good independent midwife at her side.
Teni: WOO HOO!!! i LOVE meetings with my midwives! i miss it...
2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
Goodbye second trimester, hello 3rd
So when did people start getting things organised for their home birth. I should say, other than organising midwife, I haven't done anything.
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Anyone see today's news on the MJA study? Good news for home birth!
William'sMummy, I don't think I got the practical things sorted until a few weeks before, although I kind of had the pool sitting in a box, liner delivered, drugs on hand, hospital back-up booked in, etc. Being so soon after Xmas, I couldn't leave some things too late. But oxygen, supplies, etc, that was after Xmas, so the week before DD2's birth.
Coming into 2nd tri here.
2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
Oxygen and drugs? My midwife said I didn't have to book into a hospital.
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Naww! I'm very tempted. I'm doing a bit of preconception care in case. I just signed up for an Ask the Experts evening this Thursday- we'll see how I feel about birth here after that! I've been following a local big-name homebirth MW and things seem pretty good. Our insurance would cover just about all of it too (we pay 10%) so that's a great bonus! The evening covers:
Can't wait! They're going to have a doula, two MWs, a childbirth educator, a chiropractor, a therapist, two acupuncturists and a naturopath.Ask the Experts is a panel discussion for expectant parents, those planning to be parents, and those interested in the current birth climate in the Bay Area. Come listen to a Midwife, OB, Lactation Specialist and other birth professionals and ask questions.
WM: We didn't have oxygen or drugs- our MW brought her own. Does your MW have a list of things for you to prepare? We got things together like a hose for the birth pool, plastic drop mats, buckets etc off a list from the MWs. I also had homeopathics and herbs from Blissful Herbs and I highly recommend both
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I haven't been told I need to book into the hospital or prepare anything either. Guess I've got time up my sleeve?
I think Cassius and Meow should definitely have more babies. Just because they haven't caught up to Cricket yet LOL
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