Yeah, there's no way I'm watching. I could hardly handle the preview. Plus it looks like I'm stuck at my mum's and I definitely don't want her to see it :wall:
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Yeah, there's no way I'm watching. I could hardly handle the preview. Plus it looks like I'm stuck at my mum's and I definitely don't want her to see it :wall:
i have heard both of these women speak about the human rights violations that occurred after they lost their babies. Heartbreaking stuff. I was hoping that if they were involved in this show that their stories may be told sensitively and appropriately, but reading the letter it seems they are being screwed over again. disgraceful.
Gah how aggravating!
If anyone does watch, let us know how it goes. IF it even goes to air...
I just watched and am left with feeling so much honour for these strong women.
They were set up, misled and misrepresented - simple.
The reporter clearly used these families stories to create fear and draw more negative publicity to home birth, home birth midwives and the legal cases surrounding the families.
Not watching, I'm now into the zone of focusing on the positive. This is the kind of thing I can handle better when not pg. but thanks for sharing. I hope things have improved for HB by the time our DDs or DsIL are preparing to give birth. Or sooner, preferably.
I am so deeply saddened that these women are having mud flung at them AGAIN. We should be able to swear on here.
Every time I sit in "my chair" in the lounge, I get the warm and fuzzies, thinking "this is where I want to give birth" :heartbeat: Where with Amelia and Ianto I was resigned to letting someone else choose where I went and what I did, this time it's my choice. How amazing is that?! I haven't had this much of a say over an important event in my life since my wedding :lol:
When do you reckon is a good time to start stuff like pregnancy yoga, rolling on my fitball, etc? I don't want to start too early and have it get boring, but I don't want to start too late and get no benefit... I keep wishing this pregnancy away and wishing it was later on :redface: I don't like waiting for things :p
I am ready to do pg yoga now and I start prenatal aqua next week too. I think that kind of exercise is beneficial however far you are in your pg.
The fitball I started once in active labour! Rofl
I'm doing a prenatal exercise DVD that has some cardio, some pilates and some yoga. I started it as soon as my morning sickness was done - around 10 weeks or so. I do exercise daily anyways though, and I really didn't want to lose the habit! It also helps my energy level substantially, eases the aches and pains, and makes me sleep better, along with getting my body ready for birth. I know the DVD back and forth, and in that sense you could say it's boring, but if you find someone you like, it shouldn't be a big problem. I had another prenatal DVD that I hated. The girl was really annoying and I just never liked doing that DVD. She did the same things over and over with stupid banter between her and her instructor, and it was boring from the start. The one I have is Erin O'Brien's Prenatal Fitness Fix. She changes things up every minute or two, and is very low-key - not peppy or super-smiley, while still being encouraging, and challenging.:
She has a post-natal one too, and you can get them as a set. The post-natal one is very gentle, and great for stretching out your sore back and shoulders (after nursing!) and recovering your tummy muscles. It's done in three levels, which you move through at your own pace, and when you're done the third level, you should be ready for a regular exercise routine.
teni: start as soon as you want!
Started last night (at 1am :lol: No time to myself these days!) and it was lovely until I got too tired to continue :) But why did no-one tell me how much yoga moves... um... gas down and out? I'm glad I'm doing it in my own house and not in a class :rofl:
I love my prenatal yoga DVD, although not for the gas-y reasons! ;) easier to grab 20 mins at home than go out. The postnatal one on the same DVD was less regularly done.
Booked into aqua starting next week - yay!
First m/w appt on Thurs (at 16 wks... kinda in less of a hurry this time). My birth pool from DD2 is available (borrowing it again), but I do have to patch an air leak in the top section. For one use, I think it should be okay. Right?
Yep Jen, both times my birth pool has had holes patched and been fine.
we had to patch our pool too, had it blown up in the shed for a few days to make sure it was good. - actually we left it in the shed blown up until labour started. :)
really struggling with midwife choice this time. argh, not even sure why.
I'm happy to give you feedback afterwards hoti, but you might want to know before then?
for those whose midwives are medicare eligible, do you think this affected your relationship at all?
how much did you get back from medicare for appointments?
would you go with a midwife who wasn't comfortable with breech homebirth? are there any conditions that would be a deal breaker for you?
My midwife and I have a relationship that predates Medicare, so it hasn't affected us. I don't remember how much you get back, but it's just for pre and postnatal not for birth. I will let you know when I get to Medicare in the next few days!
I think I would be uncomfortable with breech at home, so yes I'd want a care provider that matches my values. I think having a good relationship means you trust them implicitly and if they said go to hospital you wouldn't question it for a second- that's how I feel about my midwife.
I am a pretty conservative homebirther though. I think acting before 42 weeks is important, twins and breech need extra care and other risk factors need to be looked at carefully.
I might change my tune if this baby is breech.
Yeah, DH and i were just saying that we probably wouldn't be comfortable with breech, however last time when DS was so mobile, and was transverse at 37+ weeks, breech at 40 weeks - he moved before labour started, it was nice to have a midwife who would support us if he was breech and we wanted to stay home.
I recently investigated breech hospital policies, and it was really scary. If you actually found a hcp to support you, then you often had to 'agree' to all sorts of interventions. in some ways, you had more options if you went for the c section.
i'm not planning a breech baby, but i am a realist and know that my tummy muscles are shot, and if an almost 11lber could do somersaults are full term, i don't have a lot of faith that this bub will be cephalic and in position early.
I'm not a renegade, but i do want to be the person making decisions for me and my baby. I do want my midwife to share her expertise, and opinion but i wouldn't want her to say "it's time to go to hospital", or do x, y, z. even though i most probably would follow her opinion ITMS?
Hoti: I had DD with MW before she had Medicare, since she's had Medicare it hasn't changed the relationship at all. Although she now has a clinic locally so most appointments are attended there, which I kind of prefer when they were in my home. She also has more clients now and it makes it feel different (lol struggling to think of the word I want to describe it lol).
As for breech birth I would be happy to be at home. As for a MW that didn't feel comfortable it would depend on why, if because of the current legal issues surrounding homebirth then yes ok can accept that. But if due to experience type feeling comfortable then that would probably be a deal breaker. Where I live I don't have choice of another midwife so haven't really thought much about what would be deal breakers. I find my midwife to be quite confident though and she's pretty upfront so know if she had issues with anything I'd kind of know about them.
My m/w was Medicare eligible. I found it fine. She even did all the extra appointments I needed after the birth when I was in the depths of PND at the rebate rate only :) I'd feel comfortable with breech at home, depending on my m/w's confidence, experience etc. If they weren't comfortable, that would probably make me uncomfortable itms?
I'm happy with my midwives not doing breech home birth because its obviously something they aren't comfortable with. And as much as I want to avoid a hospital birth or csection - I'm not prepared to make them feel less than confident about my labour when I'm in labour - itms.
I wouldn't homebirth a breech baby, I don't think. But for me, it's totally beside the point - there aren't even doctors around here who will deliver a breech baby naturally. :(
I've heard that wearing a pregnancy support belt can help get your baby into a better position for birth. It kind of makes sense, if your stomach muscles are shot and your baby has too much room to move, then the support belt takes over for the muscles and puts the baby back where it should be. Could be worth a try anyways. I've worn a blanqi pregnancy support tank for the past 20 weeks or so, and it has helped my back out substantially, and it's comfortable - no straps or velcro, more like a sports bra for your belly. They're kind of expensive, but I do love it. This baby has been head-down from the time they started checking, but I don't know if that's because of the support, necessarily. All my babies go head-down pretty early. I'm just hoping for a LOA baby, not a posterior one!
One of the key criteria I based my MW choice on was that she was experienced in breech birth. I was determined to stay home for as many reasons as possible and I was happy to have a breech homebirth with an experienced caregiver. I think especially given that I had had a large baby already I knew my pelvis was 'big enough' you know? Breech (and twin) homebirth is illegal where we are now and that really bothers me. I would want to homebirth twins too (given the right conditions). That said, my MWs official line was that she does not support breech homebirth (as she would risk losing her registration if she supported a planned breech homebirth) so it really just that we had her skills if we ended up with an unexpected breech birth and felt it was safer to stay at home than transfer.
I think it's natural to consider a MW change for a new pregnancy. Cassius and I discussed that too... I'm not 100% sure I would choose the same MWs again. My reasons for choosing them related to that pregnancy and the feelings I had going into a first homebirth. My feelings are different now and perhaps I'd want someone I could develop a different relationship with?
I guess there are a number of midwives who may not officially support breech homebirth. in current political climate, I understand them not wanting to or being able to talk freely. even here I choose my words carefully when discussing midwives and the practises. I don't think I discussed DS ever changing positions so close to birth until after. my 2 births havebeen at 41 weeks, I am not expecting to go early this time, and I loved not feeling rushed last time because my midwife was ok that he was still working it out. if I think of the birth, I want one midwife. if I think of the pregnancy, I want another. and I want to invite my student, who wasthere last time, but will have graduated by then. is that weird? maybe I just haven't moved on?
has anyone had a look at rhea dhempsey's new book yet? wondering how relevant it is if you have already made the decision to homebirth?
:
Birth With Confidence: Savvy choices for normal birth
$29.95 + shipping
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Boathouse Press
ISBN: 9780987402905
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By Rhea Dempsey
Australia’s birth intervention rates are well above those recommended by the World Health Organisation and climbing. In Birth with Confidence, one of Australia’s foremost thinkers on the subject of childbirth explains why normal birth is almost impossible in our current birth culture—and what women can do to beat the odds.
In this accessible, straightforward book, Rhea Dempsey draws on over thirty years’ experience to show how a woman’s choice of caregivers, support team and birthplace, as well as her life experience and personal attitudes to pain, will affect her birth outcomes. Featuring real-life stories, the latest Australian statistics and opportunities for guided personal reflection, Birth with Confidence provides the knowledge and practical advice that women need for the best chance of normal birth in today’s birth culture.
Birth With Confidence will:
Outline the benefits for mothers and babies of a normal physiological birth
Help you understand how our current birth culture can undermine your attempts at normal birth and the steps you can take to make sure it doesn’t
Explain how the various ‘circles of influence’ around you — from your friends and family to the wider culture — can support or sabotage your birthing potential
Help you identify your own attitude to pain — your ‘pain type’ — and what it will mean for your birth
Provide practical and emotional steps you can take to raise your pain threshold
Give you a framework for deciding on the best caregivers and support people to help you work through any ‘crisis of confidence’ during labour
Yes I think it's normal to want different people at the birth and at the appointments. I also think you need a few options because midwives have other clients and lives that can prevent them from attending the birth. Why not ask for the backup midwife to be the one you want at the birth, then ask the student to be a support person. Then your primary midwife is the one you want for antenatal.
I have known I wanted my 'team' from last time since before I fell pg and thankfully feel strongly supported. It wasn't an option to have dd's team reunite for ds due to politics in the group, so last time was new again and that was ok too.
You just need a person who you feel safe with. With my midwife I get such a sense of relief when I see her. It's like coming home.
I wish I could use the same midwife as my last two births, but unfortunately she doesn't fly up to Queensland just for a birth (no idea why really haha)
My midwife may feel differently if he changes position all the time, but he's been stuck in this position for the last 4 weeks and hasn't budged, so I don't know if that means something is stopping him from moving position, or he's stubborn! I'll see the midwives tomorrow anyway.
I'm in the same position Arimeh. We've moved so if we have another baby I'll be having new MWs regardless. I am now FB friends with my MW and I love her more every day so I wish I was there still because I would have her again.
I'd love to have the midwife I had with DD3 and 4. Unfortunately, she broke her ankle badly just before I was expecting DS, and after her time off, switched to part-time work in a neighbouring practice. :( She was my favourite - experienced, capable, calm, and visits with her were always like a visit with a friend - lots of chatting about anything and everything, no feeling of being rushed, and lots of info and stories to share. :) My midwife with DS made me crazy, but the practice was very full and scrambling to fit me in, so I couldn't switch. She said the oddest things and was always second guessing herself. In the end, she knew what to do to deliver DS who was in a difficult position (brow presentation posterior) and I was thankful for that, but we never did click at all. My current midwife, who I also had for my last pregnancy, is closer to the first one - she's been practicing for ages. She worked across the border before midwifery was licensed in our province, and has lots of experience. I don't get quite the same friendly vibe from her as with my first midwife, but we get along pretty well. I was a little annoyed with her at my last birth though, because she kept wanting me to get out of the water! She wouldn't check me or break my water in the bath, (which had been done in previous deliveries at my request) and she was insistent on my moving into a different position for delivery, (which wasn't a problem before) and she was very hesitant to let me deliver the placenta in the bath. (in the end it came so fast, I was in the bath anyways, but had to get out immediately afterwards.) Maybe these are all things that kept me safer, and the other midwives were being a little sloppy - who knows? I also remember begging her to tell me how much longer it would be before I was done (must have been transitioning - it was tough at that point!) and she said "well.... you're not going as fast as I thought...." which was not a bad answer, but it made me feel like I was disappointing people, and that I should be going faster, and that it was going to be a long time yet, etc. (DD was born about 2hr after they arrived, if I remember correctly) Funny how those little things stick with you, eh? All in all though, I am happy to have her taking care of us during this pregnancy. She is doing a job-share with another younger midwife who I've met a couple times, and she seems fine. Common sense and down-to-earth. She may or may not be at this birth, depending on when I deliver. And then I have a second midwife who I like pretty well. She's the one who gave me all the info on GBS, and I really appreciate that! She will most likely be there as well.
But of a disappointing appointment yesterday, K&J were at a birth so I saw one of the other midwives. We just didn't gel together. She was nice enough, and I can't point to anything in particular that was wrong, it just didn't feel like she was the right person to be taking the appointment :dunno:
All is well though, and I am going to have the morph scan after all. I wanted to discuss it with Kelly but instead just grabbed the referral and went on my way. No harm in it, and we might even get printouts for the first time this pregnancy :)
I think my favourite moment in the appointment was Amelia handing my mum a knitted vulva/vagina, complete with pubes :rofl: Poor mum didn't know what to do :p
My m/w was not eligible last time, but is this time. I just need to get my GP to sign the referral form (which won't be a problem because my GP is supportive of my HB). Made no difference to my choice, but then, if I keep picking EDDs in the first week of Jan, I'm a bit limited for m/ws!:
Not sure how much I'll get back, but at the end of the day, most of her fees I get back from my PHI. Thank goodness we kept the expensive cover, we'll practically break even over two years on HB payments.
My m/ws and the group they practice in support breech birth in hospital, but not at home. I haven't asked if it was a surprise breech what they'd do, but since they have attended I would guess it would proceed at home. They have a second m/w attending as well.
In Sydney, I think we're fairly lucky (now). Westmead has a vaginal breech clinic and a couple of the m/ws have visiting rights at that hospital. Alternatively, Dr Andrew Bisits (breech guru formerly in Newcastle) is now at RPA Randwick. If I was able to choose, I'd go with the latter, but I suspect the proximity of Westmead to my m/ws would probably win out. Mind you, as little as two years ago we had no options for vaginal breech birth here at all.
Had my first official m/w visit today and thanks to DD2 waking about seven times last night, I felt like complete crap. I am not enjoying pg with a toddler! I think DD2 might be my most high maintenance child. She takes after DP so much in personality. She'll make a lovely adult - now just to get her there! :wall:
16 wks now. Almost half way. :o
Jen that's great you have a few vagunal breech options.
Pg with a toddler is certainly interesting. I think it's more challenging than a newborn and toddler because of the lack if energy and nausea I get in early pg. can't believe you're 16 weeks already!
We have a couple of vaginal breech birth options in hospitals around here. One requires you to get the works- epidural, CAT scan, birth in OR etc etc. Another one lets you labour in a pool and then you have to birth in the OR but there are no more 'restrictions'. The whole thing still creeps me out as birth in hospital doesn't seem very safe for mothers or babies in my opinion. All that poking and prodding after birth. But at least you would go in with a private MW and crazy birth plan I guess. I think I'd look into freebirthing options with an unregistered caregiver if it came to that.
ETA: And BTW how the hell does having an epidural assist a breech birth?? Surely being flat on your back and closing your pelvis is a terrible position for breech birth?
I have heard about a vbb guru in melbourne too, and then i saw a breech birth video where he was the dr and it scared the crap out of me. so many restrictions on the women and interventions, and women are so grateful for having a dr that will 'support' vbb that they kinda have no choice but to accept what he says or face losing a chance at a vb.
Yeah, restrictions, epis, etc, seem counterintuitive for what we do know about breech birth. Ass-covering, to say the least.
I read a birth story in the latest HAS mag on a breech birth with Dr Bisits and his philosophy is very hands off. I'm pretty sure if you went in with an IM and clear birth plan you'd have a better shot at Westmead too, since I know our m/ws have collaborated with that ob before too.
You'd think they'd be more pro-drugfree for vaginal breech, considering it's even more important to "wiggle" baby into a good position, but there's so many standard interventions it's surprising anyone manages it! I'd be happy to give it a shot at home myself, but only if my midwives were.
Pretty sure Jan doesn't do home breach, she prefers transfer. She's one of the more conservative midwives I believe, not that that's a bad thing.:
Yep, I was going to add that I thought she wasn't comfortable with breech at home because I know L&B transferred under her care, but I couldn't remember if that was the reason or not. Obviously I hope that doesn't happen, but if I had to transfer I'd prefer it happened for a reason like that than something a lot more serious :)
After all my complaining about my appointments not coming around fast enough when they were three weeks apart, I went and booked the next one for FIVE weeks later :lol:
hahaha Teni...you are going to find that final week before the next appt drag lol!