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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. :)
...double post...
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.
HotI I'm November not October :).
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.
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.
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.
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 :p 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 :redface:
In other news, I seem to have exploded in the past few days :o 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. :wall: It's not exactly the easiest thing to explain when all they've known is baby showers and all the gaudy stuff...
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!
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.
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! :):
...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....
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. ;)
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 ;)
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?
Ugh! I just read this on FB from a local MW in California.
:
Well California, we won and we lost. AB1308 has passed and is now to the governor. Breech mamas, twins mamas, post dates mamas, you need to stand up and fight because your midwives can no longer serve you come January. VBAC mamas, you'll now have to get basically a permission slip from an OB. While the midwives will now be out from under physician supervision, women and their reproductive systems are now even more controlled by the medical establishment and the government.
Arimeh, why do you think that you would need to have an immediate c/s if you got to 42 weeks? Would you do that if you had never had a c/s previously? What compels you to feel that way. Some of us mammas just bake a long time is all.... You know that. Don't doubt your body. Maybe you need to go back to focusing on your trust in your body's innate wisdom. When your bubba is ready, the dance of labour will begin.
Because DD1 was a c-section at 42 weeks, and because her placenta and cord were having difficulties, I don't feel comfortable with going over 42 weeks. Just a personal thing for me thats all. I know I'm a slow cooker and thats fine, but I do give myself a cut off from what I feel is ok for my body. She could have died and that scares me. I'd rather have a c-section at 42 weeks than go over. I know it probably makes no sense, but her experience scared the bejeesus outta me.
Well I can understand that, we all have our own personal points where we would opt for a c/s. I hope I didn't make you feel like you had to justify your choices, it was from curiosity I asked. My grandma had her first at 43 weeks so I am know that the women of my family all bake long. That's just what we do.
My mum went to 43 and 42 weeks with my older brother and sister, but yeah, just based on what happened last time - I can't do it again. I think I would break down mentally.
Hi ladies, sorry to be a downer but HotI can you take me off the list? Our little one has left us. Hopefully I'm back in here soon x
Sending gentle hugs lady-bug. Take care of yourself.
Oh ladybug! So sorry for your loss :(
Sorry for your loss lady-bug. Hope you're blessed with a sticky bub again soon xo
Gentle hugs, lady-bug. Thinking of you.
Lady-bug, I'm so sorry for the loss of your much loved baby :( Lots of hugs.
:hug: ladybug x
Sorry for your loss lady bug :(
Huge hugs ladybug :comfort: Hope to see you back in here soon :hug:
Thanks ladies
Sorry for the loss of your little one, ladybug :(
So sorry for the loss of your little one, Lady-bug. :hug: Hope to see you back here soon!
Arimeh - don't get stressed about being 42 weeks yet. You're only just barely 40 weeks! And your baby is sitting head down (finally!) and he'll be ready to go when the day comes. You've done this twice already, and you can do it again. It will be just fine. He'll come when he's ready. Hang in there mama!
Sorry for your loss ladybug
Oh ladybug :( I'm so sorry :hug:
I don't feel stressed really, just releasing my control issues and being accepting of any outcome. Which is hard for me because I wont even let dh load the dishwasher because he doesn't do it right (ie, my way LOL):
Sorry to hear of your loss lady-bug, lots of hugs and hope you're back here soon xx
oh much much love Lady-bug :hug:
Yay, my home visit's booked for Monday :D I've actually got a lot done in terms of cleaning today, so I'm not going to be as embarrassed having people here :) I'd forgotten how nice my floors look after a good mop :lol: I'm also very proud of myself for actually making a phone call without panicking (much!) :leap:
So, should I expect anything different for a home visit as opposed to an office one? ... Aaaand as I say that, I remember I forgot to tell them I wanted to grab my GTT referral. Damn. I'd be able to get that from a GP, wouldn't I? Or would I be best off calling back and telling them I'll need it?