Homebirth General Discussion #17

[Special]

I'm in Victoria, but west of Melbourne.
My midwife was just over $3k last time. I haven't actually checked the exact amount this time.

I can ask her if she knows any over the East side.

I need to find a back up actually too.


The Mrs. I am also feeling exhausted and am basically not exercising anymore. I taught last night (at gym) and it was fun, but I am so unfit.
This is pregnancy number 4 for me and it is by far the hardest. Nothing even specific is wrong but I am tired, sore, nauseated. And emotional!!!

[Smoke Jaguar]

Brain fart...try Martina Gorner! She has a website called tenmoons and her quoted fee is $4k, but I'm not sure if she'll work alone.
Special, I think I can understand how you'd feel that way!! I'm stopping at 3 - I'm not doing this to myself any more, if I can help it

[TeniBear]

Can I ask where you got the flags from? I want to do them for this baby's Blessingway.

Made them myself! I just grabbed some cheap white fabric from spotlight, hemmed along the edges (very badly, if we're being honest ) and put little loops on the tops so I can hang them. I can send you a few if you like? I made far too many As I said though, they're badly made I'd send you the neater looking ones, of course.

ETA: If I can find the link again, I also considered buying specially-made ones from a blessingway shop I found online...

[Smoke Jaguar]

I organised two sets of flags for separate friends, and just ordered some calico from eBay, cut them into rectangles and at one blessingway we painted them on the day, many with ribbon borders (we had some other crafts and glue, as well as fabric textas) and I glued them to a thicker piece of ribbon to give to our friend. I had intended to sew them on but ran out of time to find my sewing machine and get it all sewn, but the flags weren't that heavy, so they glued on nicely
Sounds, increasingly, like I'm in a minority of hand-made, unprofessionally finished things, though

[HotI]

I hand make heaps of stuff, but try to finish them off. I tend to get creative ideas late though, so end up doibg early mornings or late nights to get them done.

will have to post a photo of the knitted mama that my friend made for my dd. she has breasts and a pregnant tummy and baby comes out her vagina. she is awesome.

[Cricket]

And I'm thankful again I live in a place where homebirth and midwifery care is completely covered by provincial health insurance.... .

About the pain and pressure - I got a support tank to wear and it made a BIG difference in how I felt. It was comfortable to wear and wasn't lumpy and awkward under clothing, and helped my back and lower belly out a lot. Mine was called a Blanqi, but I'm sure you could find others that would suit as well. I also found that when I wore a skirt without pantyhose, I felt more sore than when I wore snug fitting jeans - they seemed to add some support too. Finally, baby #3 was when I started getting a vaginal varicose vein. OUCH! Those really hurt, especially when they first start (didn't bother me in my last pregnancy, other than a bit of a swollen feeling.) You can get special supports to wear to help those too. (I haven't tried them myself - good underwear generally were enough for me.)
Oh, and don't DTD in the morning! Leaves everything too swollen and you'll be sore. Hope that helps!

[Mum2twoBoys]

I used belinda Henkel, I can go look at my receipts and Medicare rebates to let you know how much all up she cost me if you like??

[Beatrix]

Cricket- makes me feel blessed to have the hospital home birth program too. I have never laid a cent to have a baby. Even though technically I did free birth lol as in give birth without a midwife... Not on purpose though.

(Yes I realise the hospital home birth program has a lot of restrictions/limits but it worked for me and I was very happy with it, I live in Adelaide too though)

[Smoke Jaguar]

No hospital home birth program where I am - all GPs and ob's have been instructed not to 'collaborate', as with the hospitals I would qualify for the Casey or Sunshine programs if I lived near them. If we can't use our cattle sales to enhance our life, then what are they good for?
HotI, I got the work finished, and realised I should have used the word 'polished' - 'finished' is what I meant by completely tidy trimmings, whereas I opt for the 'rustic' look
I'm starting to get the questions now, from people finding out, about what hospital I'm choosing...I might just tell them I'm booking into the hospital my midwife works at!

[HotI]

i wouldn't qualify for the govt homebirth programs, and i don't think i could conform enough. i am so happy that i found my midwife when i did, cos i think she is the only one for my births.

SJ, do they not know you have had previous homebirth/s? I didn't volunteer the info last time, but offered it if people asked. Most people just assume that i am doing it again.

[Smoke Jaguar]

I don't know how many people know, but I don't hide it if anyone asks. I had the other two in metro Melbourne, and this time I'm out in the country where homebirthers are a much rarer breed!

[Eenee]

Yeah I wouldn't qualify for hospital homebirth program either (not that there is one even anywhere near here) but at the same time would hate to comply with their restrictions.

I love my MW, she is more than just a MW to me! Due to my mental health issues she has been a huge support where mental health services around here have been seriously lacking and appointments I was told I could get months ago never happened. I'm only just keeping it together thanks to my MW that has been happy to see me weekly. If I didn't have her support I would have crashed and burned long ago! We are building a house at the moment and are in massive debt and so DH is working 6-7 long days a week so we can scrape together what is needed for me to have a homebirth. This will be my 3rd homebirth within 3 years (unless I have to transfer but I'd also take my MW so would still have to pay) so has been a huge chunk out of our savings as DH is the sole income earner. He runs his own business so if he doesn't get work or doesn't work we don't get paid, a lot of the time to we are waiting on people to pay which can be a few months overdue at time.

[Special]

I actually did qualify for Sunshine Homebirth program. I went to one appointment, because I like to get all the info before I make a decision, but I knew it wasn't for me. Lots of ticking the boxes, and since I have gone past my edd and had decent sized babies in the past, she acted like I was a ticking time bomb. I would never have relaxed, just waiting for them to say, nope - hospital for you.
As soon as I saw my midwife from my last birth, I felt at ease. She is actually away for the week around my due date. I need a back up for then, but for some reason that isn't stressing me out. (Anyone recommend an IM out West in Vic?)

Paying for an IM is obviously a choice I made, but it is coming at a cost. Our car won't fit our whole family in once the new baby gets here, but I figured that a birth was a one off thing that I will remember 10 years from now. I doubt I'll remember having to wait a few more months to buy a car. We will just flip a coin and see which kids get to come.

[Jennifer13]

There is no govt homebirth program anywhere near me, although the great attitude I've seen at the local public hospital towards homebirth would make me think they could make it work. I wouldn't have qualified las time as a VBAC but probably would be okay now. But I love my midwife and it seems more like I'm a part of a community that includes some excellent midwives now. Feels more traditional somehow.

My sister is doing the flags for me, she's got sewing skills. I can even get her to have my interstate family members put their own messages on it too that way.

Booked into the local hospital as back up via phone yesterday. They only wanted me to fax over my details on this pg for their files and have a quick chat. The midwife I spoke to said my m/w's notes were excellent. I'll take bub up for the hearing test after birth there too.

[Beatrix]

Hospital home birth programs arnt for everyone, but I really really loved my midwives I had, I had a fantastic bond with them and I was never pressured or told I had to have any tests I didn't want. I didn't have the gestational diabetes one and the midwife didn't even bat a eyelid.
Personally if I wasn't allowed to homebirth through them I would have felt that there was a reason for it and happily gone to the hospital but thats my opinion. luckily im blessed with pretty good pregnancies and fantastic labours.

[HotI]

There is nothing in my pregnancies or labours that would disqualify me from a govt homebirth program. They have restrictions on many health conditions that have nothing to do with birth, and this is where i would not qualify.

[Beatrix]

There is nothing in my pregnancies or labours that would disqualify me from a govt homebirth program. They have restrictions on many health conditions that have nothing to do with birth, and this is where i would not qualify.

fair enough...

I am only sharing how wonderful they were for me and how they could be a option for others. I know that the majority of homebirthers don't rate the programs as highly as i did and that's their opinion so I guess im in the minority regarding them but I strongly believe they have their place and can be a positive experience.

sorry but sometimes I get the feeling that because I used that program its less of a 'real' homebirth experience

[PumpkinZulu]

My experience with the sunshine hospital HB program was great, not amazing like private midwives the second time around, but pretty great...right up until my waters broke, were slightly mec stained, and I had to transfer. And then neither of my two midwives were available. I do think they're a great option and I wish every hospital could offer a homebirth stream. Having said that, I'll most definitely be going with IM's again next time.