Homebirth General Discussion #17

[Dot Face]

I know but these three little days make a difference in that if (God forbid) I do get to 42 weeks it's given me three extra days before they will want to induce. Because it's a hospital based homebirth program the midwife has to adhere to the rules etc so I think she did me a favour by going after those dates from the 8wk scan! She is very much a "when baby is ready it will come" type of person but has to stick to hospital policies and they say over 40weeks is over cooking!

[Eenee]

They can't force you to be induced just so you know, but they can say no to birthing at home with the program. You have every right to opt for extra monitoring instead of being induced if you wish.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Ahh, I forgot it was the hospy program - get whatever time you can swing!

[Jennifer13]

I told everyone with DD2 that I thought I'd give birth a couple of days past my EDD, so no one expected anything beforehand. Turns out I was off by half an hour. This time, i think I'll be at least 4-5 days past the closest EDD I could guess, so no one is expecting anything before 7 Jan. I wonder if I can get it right twice in a row? Kinda freaky that I was able to predict and from so early with DD2. Anyone else guess their date? I even told my m/w at my final scheduled appt that there was no way I'd be another week, even though there was no obvious sign anything was happening.

I don't think I ever had a birth plan meeting. I have a birth plan, I just gave a copy to everyone and put one on file. I spent so much time discussing things with both my m/ws that I don't think there should have been anything left to wonder about. This time, I'm using the same plan with a small update on the front about expecting a fast labour. In my case, it's really only for the hospital's benefit, as birthing at home everything was set the way I wanted it anyway and my m/w's never suggested any exams or procedures that would have needed me to make a decision. I just told my m/w that this time she's not to ask me to get out of the pool to go to the toilet. If we'd realised I was already at the point of pushing, she wouldn't have bothered last time either!

M/w appt tomorrow, but nothing really to talk about.

Oh, and I'm still bfing DD2 and oh my, my boobs are HUGE! I don't remember them being this big until after birth with DD2. I'm venturing into my post-birth/engorged bbs bras already. Eeenee, hats off to you managing with two still bfing. I think DD2 is dropping her pre-nap bf (which she doesn't have when I'm at home) and the night time one is usually very brief, but as long as she sticks with the morning one, I think she'll be still going when DD3 is born. Probably close enough now for her to resume even if she does stop. What did everyone else find in terms of colostrum and toddler bfing?

[Eenee]

38 weeks today! 4 to go or something like that!

I never really had a formal birth plan appointment either as my MW was pretty much on the same page when it comes to knowing what I did and didn't want, actually half the time I wondered how she knew what I wanted as she just seemed to know without me actually saying something.

Had a trip up to the hospital today for CTG as for the last 3 days Bub had been super quiet and it was keeping up at night just worrying about it so finally let my MW know and she suggested I got there and get checked out. Was quiet up there so was in and out and of course Bub moved like crazy the whole time I was there, more than it had the last 3 days put together!

[Eenee]

Double post

[Smoke Jaguar]

I like to go over it all, and it will be doubly important this time round because none of the mw's are familiar with how I birth, unlike last time in Melbourne. Plus, I'm not having that many appts with my mw's, to keep costs down, so I think it would behoove me to get it all discussed in one meeting. The back up secondary mw will be coming from Melbourne and will charge travel costs, so I'm gonna make that appt count! Birthing 'choices' in the country are so crap, it's discriminatory. Now I can contrast the two experiences - metro and country. Metro HBers really do have it lucky, in comparison.

[Eenee]

39+1 just waiting waiting waiting!

[TeniBear]

39+1 just waiting waiting waiting!

I hope you're not waiting too much longer! Sending labour and easy birthing vibes your way if you want 'em

[Jennifer13]

Congrats DotFace! What did you name your little man? I hope you've been enjoying your babymoon. Sounds like you did a fantastic job with a bub not in the best of positions. Looking forward to reading your birth story when you get around to it. Also sounds like you are very happy with the support and continuity of care you received, which is the true bonus of planning a home birth (no matter where the birth actually occurs).

Baby has pushed right down into my pubic area in the last day or so. I've felt several sharp twinges from the ligaments and my bladder is being completely squished to the side or something. I remember this with DD2 as she started to engage. Once she moved down a bit further it got a bit easier, ironically (esp on the bladder), so I'm hoping in another week or so she's progressed past this uncomfortable part.

I am now nagging DP to get an air compressor so we can blow up and check the pool. I'm also hanging out to start using my fitball. Time to think about the practical getting ready for the birth stuff. I'll order the oxygen cylinder in a few more weeks so that it's here before Christmas. I think once I get past the Blessingway I'll get all of my supplies sorted from my list. Better go and dig that out.

Eenee, Teni, how are you guys doing? If I feel that time is running out, I can only imagine how you're doing!