Homebirth General Discussion #16

[Mum2twoBoys]

I could use some helpful tips/info on giving birth vaginally with a breech baby. We still have time but I am getting everything prepared in case this baby is breech like her sister. Washington is a no-go when it come to vaginal breech births but Oregon is okay with it. I found a lovely midwife center that said if this baby was breech they think (if everything was great) they would feel comfortable delivering my baby at my aunts house in Portland (has to be in IN Oregon). My aunt is all for this but the rest of my family is not supportive. They think I am being crazy and don't understand why I would go through this hassle (its 1 1/2 hours away) instead of just having a RCS. My mom thinks giving birth to a breech baby vaginally is a death sentence and even asked me if I would go to jail if the baby died This is my last baby and I just want to fight for the birth I want! This midwives in Portland are WELL known and have done TONS of breech deliveries. I am starting to doubt myself now that death has been brought into it. Im still holding out that this baby is head down so we can have our home birth

Don't know if you've read this blog, but I found it really interesting regarding breech births.
http://www.homebirth.net.au/2011/03/...mber_259440400

[meow]

I only had one MW appointment at her home, rather than mine. I agreed to it as she was on a license suspension due to speeding too often I have noticed that here in the states the trend is absolutely to do office visits. All the post-natal visits are office visits too. Ugh. Travelling with your newborn post birth?? That's the perk of homebirth for me! I've found a few MWs advertise that they do "european style care" which translates to appointments in your home rather than office visits.

My MW was frequently late (up to 2 hours late) but always with a phone call and me saying it was fine. It was just because her day would vary so much depending upon another family's needs but she never missed an appointment. Unfortunately for me, my son's birth was one of about 4 in 3 days or something crazy as I went a week over and a few mum's went early and my MW dropped off the radar. It really sucked balls and I was disappointed with my post-natal care as that's the most critical time for support for me.

The_Mrs- I think traveling that far for great breech support could be really worth it. So awesome to have women which a high level of experience available to you- it's becoming very rare! I wouldn't think about the fact that it's a VBAC breech. The VBAC bit is pretty irrelevant. And I agree- don't worry what the uneducated 'scare of birth' people have to say.

[Cricket]

My midwives do all in-office visits, with one home visit at 37 weeks or so. Then, they visit you at home after the birth as often as you need until 2 weeks pp. After that, they'll see you when you need it at the office again until 6 weeks.

And I was at the midwife's office today for a post-natal appointment (happy due date to Caleb!) and the little piglet is up from his birth weight of 6lb 12oz to 8lb 2oz! Not bad for just over 2 weeks old.

[Cricket]

...double post...

[Lady-bug]

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

All of my midwife appointments were at my home, but I know of a few others who had most of their appointments in an office.

The_Mrs-I had a homebirth not at my home because of location etc. I would definitely go down this path again if it meant I could have a homebirth. Good luck on finding the right answer.

[Dot Face]

HotI I'm November not October .

[Special]

My midwife comes to my home. Not knowing any other homebirth midwives, I just thought it was the way they all did.
Obviously the hospital homebirth program you attended a clinic. It was another negative for me as it was far away and not a nice place.

For me it is a really nice touch, although I can see why it isn't always practical.

[Arcadia]

My midwife opened a clinic after ds was born so this pg I've had all appts there. I actually like going there because I don't have to clean the house or worry about catering lol. I know they will come to me too though so I will choose that option towards the end and in the postnatal period. I like knowing where my files are and that there is a receptionist to talk to these days. It's about striking that balance though between personalized care and professionalism.

[PumpkinZulu]

I had all of my appointments at home with 2 of the 3 midwives I had. With DD1 in the hospital HB program 2/3 of the appointments were at home, the rest at a clinic. One was with an OB at the hospital.

[TeniBear]

I keep swinging between liking and not liking having to go to them. On one hand, it's great that I don't have to worry about the state of my house anymore than I usually do. On the other, I'm lazy and it'd be nice to only have to open the door, then kick back in my lounge room. Most of the time the shame of an untidy house keeps me on the former side Arcadia put it better than me though, I also like that it feels like something's actually happening rather than having people over. And I like their offices, I like looking at the little library they have set up, and the products they have on sale. It strikes just the right balance between professional and friendly, just what I think I need Not sure I'd feel the same if I'd had all my appointments at home, but that's how it is for me. If I wanted to, they'd come to me for all of them, but it's probably easier for all involved for me to go to them.

Ha, I didn't mean for that to be a big block of me justifying having office appointments! I kept thinking of things I wanted to say

In other news, I seem to have exploded in the past few days My bump is suddenly very big and obvious (not so much when I'm sitting or laying down, to my annoyance) and baby is going nuts on the inside. I've got 14 weeks to go! I've got about half my supplies ready to go, including my big bag o' capsules to put the placenta in.

Getting my mother blessing organised, too, I have almost everything I need for that. My cousin's annoying me though, I sent out FB invitations as a "Save the date" kind of thing and she keeps bugging me to tell her exactly what's happening. Last night I kinda snapped at her that she'd get the invitation and explanation letter in a few weeks, so wait until then or use her own initiative to just GOOGLE what happens at a mother blessing. It's not exactly the easiest thing to explain when all they've known is baby showers and all the gaudy stuff...

[Dot Face]

Anybody know where I can get a reasonably priced birth pool in Victoria? Starting to stress out now because I've left it to a bit late, due in 7 weeks! :/

In other news...ran out with dh before to get coke. I hated coke before pregnancy, hated hated hated it! Been craving it bad since about 5 months!

[HotI]

Not having to clean up would be a big positive of appointments being at an office. However, trying to keep my kids contained, and making sure they didn't damage anything or climb out a window would make appointments alot more stressful than having them at home, where i know they are relatively safe.

It is a little like how some people prefer ABA meetings at people's houses, where other people feel more comfortable to have them in a public hall. Both have their benefits.

Dot Face, if your midwife can't help with a birth pool, you could buy one and then sell it again afterwards. The cost would be similar to hiring, and they are pretty easy to sell on ebay.

[Cricket]

In other news...ran out with dh before to get coke. I hated coke before pregnancy, hated hated hated it! Been craving it bad since about 5 months!

I never drink coke otherwise either, but when I have a summer pregnancy, and it's hot and I'm tired, a cold coke is such a great kick in the butt to get you going again!

[Cricket]

...why does this always happen to me?!...

[Arimeh]

...why does this always happen to me?!...

Cos you are super special and say such nice supportive things that bb gives you another opportunity

Due date tomorrow people - how did I get here again? Gosh it goes so quickly....

[Jennifer13]

Not too long now then, Arimeh, and you'll have your little man in your arms. Sending lovely birthing vibes your way.

Dot Face - you can also try Gumtree, or ask your m/w. My m/w asked around for me (old clients, for eg) and I was able to borrow my birth pool and just buy a liner. I'm doing the same thing again, although I think this time the pool is being lent for good, due to no longer being needed by its original owner. Local HB groups might also be a good place to ask. Advantage is that sometimes you can even get pump and hoses thrown in for good measure. I have to buy a pump this time, but no biggie, since that will come in handy for other things. This time I'm going to clean and keep the liner too, JIC.

[*The_Mrs.*]

Arimeh- Baby soon!

I wish my midwife came to my house! She has a private practice built on the side of her home though that isnt too far and it is nice and home-y. It has a queen size bed I lay on and she has a huge fish tank with relaxing music. I find it more relaxing than my dirty house haha...plus it gives me a reason to get OUT of my house!

Can I just say spinning babies is NOT comfortable I can never sit on a comfy couch and I get so dizzy from all the inversions! Not to mention the cold ice I leave on the top of my belly to keep cutie pie head down..or transverse...whatever she is

[Arimeh]

Don't think there will be a baby very soon for me - baby is still floating VERY high and totally mobile, moves from hip to hip basically. *sigh*

I know I've done it once before with a baby that wasn't engaged, even when I was in labour, and I still got her out, however there is that little seed of doubt in my mind that I won't go into labour once I reach 42 weeks and it will be an immediate c-section....which is what happened with DD1.

Little bugger just isn't co-operating!

My midwife said she could do a S&S next appointment for me (so at 41 weeks) but only if I want her to, and I know you can prep your body as much as you want to, and if bubs isn't ready, then there really isn't anything you can do - so not sure whether I should get her to do it? My cervix is very far back, and it hurts to do them so I've always avoided them after my first one at 41+2 with DD1 (which did NOTHING anyway!)

ETA - I guess my "fear" of not going into labour is also because I'm going with a midwifery group that I sort of dealt with when pregnant with DD1 - same OB works through there that I had with her, their hypnobirthing person is the same one, the midwives were the ones that were at Selangor.... argh. I dunno. Am I making sense?