thread: Homebirth General Discussion #15

  1. #253
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    vic
    2,886

    Had MW appointment today...I've lost weight since last appointment (a week ago) only 600g but she wasn't happy with that given my history so wants me to take a supplement. Will see how I go as not sure how I'll manage...easy for someone normal but for me it's extremely difficult.

  2. #254
    Registered User
    Add TeniBear on Facebook Follow TeniBear On Twitter

    Oct 2009
    Lalor, VIC
    5,051

    Just occurred to me that having a December EDD means I'm fully justified in buying lots of fairy lights to string up around my birthing room That solves my potential problem of "how can we get a low-light environment?" too, as well as being pretty for photos etc.

  3. #255
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    vic
    2,886

    Lol
    I found even candles were too bright although both times ended up birthing under the brightest heat lamps in the bathroom lol just ended up being the way it was haha but definitely needed to labour in low level light

  4. #256
    Registered User

    Apr 2011
    251

    first time i used the light of the frog tank sounds so romantic!!

  5. #257
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    Arimeh, I would go with either neighbour of SIL if she can make it. Have your neighbour come over for a visit or two to meet all the kids beforehand. The kids will be fine, but you don't need to be worrying about your Mum's reaction. In fact, I think if your Mum is like that it's more likely to worry them than if they had someone who was relaxed. I'm not having Mum this time, she was fine in the sense that she was supportive, but when she was having difficulty with the video camera she wouldn't shut up! Drove me nuts. Lol

    DD1 and I watched heaps of videos to prepare her, but the reality of Mummy making some noise did unsettle her at first. Had I known, I'd have prepared her better. DP and my m/ws and doula all reassured her and it was fine. Actually, I think DP was more concerned than DD1. He should've watched the videos with us!

    Looking forward to a new batch of HBAs soon!

    Eenee, I hope the supplements help.

    I had my m/w appt. Bub is fine, totally head up, but I'm only 21 wks. Everything looks good. We spent more time talking about baby-led weaning. Lol

    I saw my wonderful GP beforehand and got a referral so my prenatal visits will partly be covered my Medicare now. My GP told me she's reading Call the Midwife. She's already supportive of HB and it's great to be surrounded by care providers on the same wavelength.

    At my prenatal aqua aerobics class I told one of the girls I was having a HB and all of a sudden I was surrounded by a group all wanting to know about waterbirth, etc. They're all first timers, which is great when you share a positive birth story. I'm often told by pg mums they only ever hear horror stories so I think they appreciate the alternative. I then have to bite my tongue when they all discuss their obs and what they're 'allowed' to do or not, not to mention when they get to policies, etc.
    Last edited by Jennifer13; August 22nd, 2013 at 07:37 PM.

  6. #258
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    Sunshine Coast
    2,075

    Jen, I told mima that I would be "singing" to the baby to ask it to come out . She was pretty excited. But saying that, she is a very fearless kinda kid. I think dd2 might be slightly more timid about it.

  7. #259
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    Yeah, I'm undecided on DD2. If it happens while she's asleep, we won't wake her. At least DD1 will be here for her too though. My sister is going to be there to video and support the girls. Although DD1 is more experienced than she is!

    Bella, does this mean you 're officially joining back in?

  8. #260
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    Sunshine Coast
    2,075


    Bella, does this mean you 're officially joining back in?
    Well I have had two very faint positives, yesterday and today . Eep!! But it is very faint and I am not counting my chickens yet . Lol! But yeah . Due may if I am

  9. #261
    Registered User

    Apr 2011
    251

    DD has said she will make sure I have food and drink! We have a book called mumma midwife it's awesome and I think she will be a great help.

  10. #262
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    Sunshine Coast
    2,075

    How old is your dd glorious?

  11. #263
    Registered User

    Apr 2011
    251

    She is 6 but almost 7 when bubs is due! Very affectionate kinda kid who wants to be a midwife like her ma and grandma

  12. #264
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    Sunshine Coast
    2,075

    She is 6 but almost 7 when bubs is due! Very affectionate kinda kid who wants to be a midwife like her ma and grandma
    That is a lovely age to see sibling born I think. So are you a Mw glorious?

  13. #265
    Registered User

    Nov 2005
    Ontario, Canada
    1,624

    Arimeh - if that was my mum, I think she'd be about the last person I'd want in the house. I think I'd get the VBAC/doula/SIL. That sounds like the ideal person to have in the house for you. Your kids love her, she knows what you're doing and can support and encourage you and them too. Have the friend nearby on call as back up. It would be great for your mum to change her mind on homebirth (and childbirth in general) but I don't think that needs to happen at your house with this birth. You were feeling apprehensive enough about this birth, without having the added stress of a negative, worried person there. Unless of course, having her there will give you the extra push to "prove her wrong". I think you mentioned something like that in your previous births - that you were less afraid about them because you wanted to show everyone you could do it. Well, if that vibe can help you again, then by all means, call her up when labour starts.

    About the bum up after water breaking thing - my midwives said to do that only if I feel a pulsing sensation in my vagina after my water breaks, or see/feel cord hanging down.

  14. #266
    Registered User

    Nov 2005
    Ontario, Canada
    1,624

    Well I have had two very faint positives, yesterday and today . Eep!! But it is very faint and I am not counting my chickens yet . Lol! But yeah . Due may if I am
    A line is a line! Congrats!

  15. #267
    Registered User

    Nov 2005
    Ontario, Canada
    1,624

    I kind of wish I was OK with having my girls at the birth. I think it could be an amazing experience for them. But I'm pretty sure I would hate it. With my last birth, the kids were sleeping when labour started and we debated about just letting them sleep, but I felt like I would be too worried about them the whole time, and in the end, I was glad that we sent them over to my in-law's house. I want as few people as possible in the room, and I love those first few hours with just DH and me and the baby, before the chaos of the rest of the crew arrives. Plus, DH finds the whole idea of kids at the birth very weird. He's sure they will be traumatized.

    Having a lot more pre-labour in the last couple of days. It gets me excited every time, and I have to remind myself that there will likely be days/weeks of this coming yet before the real thing starts. The midwife is coming today for a home visit, which should be good. I wonder how uptight she'll be about having everything prepped exactly as they request on the list. I did most of it with my first homebirth baby, and we didn't use it then, and didn't need it with any of the others since then either.

  16. #268
    Registered User

    Jun 2005
    USA
    3,991

    Arimeh- I don't think you should have your mum there. I'm actually more concerned with how she'll affect your children than you. I think she's very likely to make it a negative and scary experience for them by projecting all her fear. We had my aunty and cousins planned to watch my son. I wasn't thrilled about my aunty (elective c-sect births) though she was supportive, the main reason was my son gets on really well with my cousins who were about 10 and 12 at the time. I knew they would be the only people he be comfortable leaving the house with if he needed to take a break. In the end they didn't get there in time (my aunty waited for them to finish school, then stopped for dinner etc etc) and our student MW took care of our son when he woke about an hour before the birth. That worked well and it was nice not having other people around.

    I'm all for children at birth! My son was almost 3 at the time but he has autism and a lot of anxiety and speech delays. I prepped him with youtube birth videos and I would 'make the noise mummy makes when the baby is coming'. He didn't mind the youtube videos but HATED hearing me make loud noises so I kept working on it with him. On the day he didn't want to be in the room and he played with playdough in the next room. I think he was okay and sort of knew what was happening. Once baby was born and I was lying in bed I noticed him trying to skirt into the room full of people so we told everyone they had to leave as he hates crowds and we wanted him to be able to come close and snuggle with us. We also chose not to have a birth photographer though I would have loved one because it would have been too many people.

    I hope the supplements help eenee.

    Yay for spreading the HB word Jennifer! I know what you mean about listening to everyone talk their OBs. I stopped going to a certain pre-natal yoga last pregnancy because we had a circle time thing and it was killing me to listen to all the OB stories.

    I hope the prelabour isn't too tiring Cricket. I'm also looking forward to the flurry of births coming up in here!!!

    Congratulations Bella!! My last pregnancy I was testing early and got a few days of faint lines before they got darker. I think you're in

  17. #269
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    Middle Victoria
    8,924

    There is a blog has a list of 30 vids to help prepare kids for birth. They are arranged in order from least intense (just photos, no birth noises or vaginal shots) to more intense, so you can work through them or just choose where you think your kid is at.

    They sell a book so i don't think i can put the link here, but i can PM the direct link if you want it. Otherwise you can google "codenamemama" and then in the search box type "natural birth videos". This takes you to an article on Preparing your child for a new sibling, which has some great tips and resources. If you go to V. Prepare for and Involve your child in childbirth- 6. Look at Pictures and watch videos There is a link to "30 natural birth videos and slideshows to prepare children for labour and birth"

    Alternatively, just google "30 natural birth videos and slideshows to prepare children for labour and birth" (without the quote marks) - only just worked out this worked after i typed out the other bit.

    The site has some great articles and resources.

  18. #270
    Registered User

    Jul 2008
    summer street
    2,708

    Yay Bella!!! A line is a line!!! Bring on more HB babies!

    I don't want my kids at the birth intentionally. Dd slept last time and that was perfect. I need 'me' time to get into the labour and birth. I think it would be ok if they were there without me really knowing, but I would plan around it (in fact I plan for them to be asleep lol).

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