Homebirth General Discussion #16

[Eenee]

Glorious I was hospitalised for a few months at its worst. We are working on getting me to see someone but services here are all too busy.

[glorious]

Eenee I hope they get you in ASAP. Is there anything,we as your online ears, can do for you?

[Eenee]

Eenee I hope they get you in ASAP. Is there anything,we as your online ears, can do for you?

Thanks, because I refuse medications services are more reluctant to take me on and I feel like I don't matter. So very thankful my MW is the only one that seems to care.
Listening is good, other than that I'm not sure what else can be done...just have to believe that all will be ok I guess.

[Cricket]

Eenee - I really hope this ends up just being a little "bump" on your pregnancy journey, and that soon you are feeling healthy and well again.

Some bleeding (which really surprised me!) and mild contractions here today, steady for an hour or so, but everything has settled down again.... Just having the occasional mild contraction every 15-20 min now. My primary midwife is off this weekend - comes back on tomorrow morning. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

[*The_Mrs.*]

Cricket- Eek! It sounds like things are preparing to happen!

I have a question concerning where we will sleep after birthing at home. We are having the birth pool downstairs as our upstairs is cramped. Will I have the energy to climb the stairs right afterwards? Or should I figure out a way to make up a bed downstairs next to the pool?

[Cricket]

It's impossible to say exactly what you will feel like after baby is born, but if you're like me, you'll feel exhausted initially, and want to just rest for a little bit, and wherever you gave birth will probably do fine for that. Then you might feel the after birth "high" and feel like you could climb a mountain. The stairs won't be an issue if that's the case. And, if you find that they are, send your DH or a midwife or someone to just grab a pillow and a blanket or two, and rest right where you are.

Still sitting here, with DH home, kids shipped out, feeling like a watched pot.... Occasional contractions, but nothing major at all right now. I told DH that the kids should come home, but he says he wants them to sleep over at his parents, just in case things pick up tonight. Moving them at 2am wasn't super great, from his perspective (and theirs!), last time. If all is quiet in the morning still, they'll come home and we'll carry on.

[Arcadia]

Cricket! Thinking of you!! It might be time to start lighting candles and bringing baby into your heart.

Eenee, sending lots of hugs. I'm glad you have your IM. Do your family understand the strain you're under? I think you need lots more help!

The Mrs, I always feel shaky after baby is born and can't walk unassisted so I would struggle with the stairs. My second stage is fast though so my body goes into shock. Both times I have struggled to sleep but you need a comfy place to lie down. I would consider making a little nest near the birth pool with a mattress and pillows and blankets and some books or magazines or iPad etc so you can get cosy after baby is born.

[HotI]

i don't bounce back quickly after birth. i had a mattress moved down after the birth close to my birth spot and near the midwives.

Blessings for a beautiful birth, Cricket.

[Arimeh]

OMG Cricket!!!!!!! I knew you would be the first haha! Many blessings for a beautiful birth going your way xxx

[Jennifer13]

Haha Teni, you won't be at all sweaty in a pool.

Lots of drinks on hand is a good one though! If it makes you feel any better, DD2 was also a HB in January, so not long past you. And we had the coolest January I remember! So much for all that time I was going to spend in the swimming pool in the lead up to her birth - it wasn't even warm enough to go for a swim until after she was born (and I couldn't then for a few weeks, thanks to post-birth).

I'll be birthing in the same spot and at night it won't be hot at all and if by chance DD3 arrives during the day, well, that's what the air conditioner is for.

We do have a woodfire, but honestly, that would just be one more thing for DP to worry about. And I hate bfing in the middle of the night during winter! So plenty of positives to a spring/summer babe too.

The_Mrs: just remember because of the lack of drugs, etc, you probably will 'feel' more initially, over the first few days. But that's gotta be better than a drugged-out zombie sensation and then the pain. Just felt more like I'd run a marathon and would rather not walk far after DD2. And by the afternoon for the first few days to a week, boy did I need to put my feet up and not move anywhere!

[Artechim]

And then there are those of us that just pop out a baby in the morning and then life just goes on as normal. DD1 was born at 7am, home by 9am and I was making morning tea at 10am lol. I was a bit confined to the couch for most of the day after DD2 because of a post birth bleed but I felt normal (besides the freaking killer after birth pains!!). My midwife and I decided against the syntocinon shot for the bleed because it makes the after pains worse so I just kept quiet and all was fine. By day 3 I was back doing the kindy run.

[Arimeh]

After my bleed with DD3 I was pretty wiped out, had her at 12, was home by 5pm (midwives wanted to keep an eye on me at the birth centre because of the bleeding) and my mum cooked me dinner - which I could barely eat. I was so exhausted I went straight to bed when I got home and just stayed there and mum and DH took turns taking care of the kids and making sure I was eating and drinking. And that was only a 7 hour labour (2 hour active all up!) so obviously I wasn't in very good shape. I was reasonably fit when I fell pregnant this time though so I'm not sure if that will make a difference to how I feel? I was active before but haven't really exercised since about February. I want to start going for walks now but also aware of my SPD - its fine at the time of walking, its the day after that I can barely move.

[Mum2twoBoys]

Ooh exciting cricket. Will be stalking.

[Cricket]

Nothing here yet ladies. Did have one stronger contraction that started the bleeding up again. Baby is really low, IMO, but I don't think I've dilated a whole lot yet. Mostly just resting and enjoying the quiet house.
DH has let me know that he's quite willing to help the process along in whatever way he can.....

[Arimeh]

Hahahahahahaha!!! I bet!!!!!!

[Cassius2]

many many birth blessings Cricket

Can i ask why y'all got outta the pool to deliver the placenta? I have birthed both in the pool....they float like jellyfish through the water

[meow]

I was cold and sick of hanging around in the water. It suddenly lost of of it's appeal and I was tired and wanted to lie down.

[Mum2twoBoys]

I haven't birthed in water yet, but my mw said they prefer that I birth the placenta out of the water so they can monitor blood loss.