Homebirth General Discussion #18

[Jennifer13]

SJ, I never measured 'correctly' for any of my pgs. For DD2 I got to 36 by 40 wks. DD3 was even further behind - only to 35 (and she turned out to be my longest babe at 50 cm). My m/ws know I carry small. Are you at all concerned? In my case, DD3 dropped low around 32-33 wks and engaged early. What were your other pgs like?

[Smoke Jaguar]

I'm not worried at this stage, and neither is she (GP), and I can't remember what the last ones were like, but I told her they were the same The other two engaged early and this one is head down and right in there atm. I'll have to look up my records. It was all measuring fine until today's appointment - just a flag, not a cause for concern, just yet. I know she'd rather not interfere, anyway, which is a relief.
In other news, I just booked a mini photography session that we'll make our maternity session - beach location in a month's time

[Bella29]

SJ, I'm sorry you rant getting cherished at home.... That isn't cool. My dh makes jokes about me only not moaning about something for about two weeks in the middle of pregnancy. But I do feel cherished and card for and I guess that is the difference cos I don't resent it. Like you I think he wouldn't not moan if he had to do this work. Hugs lovely. I hope back to school brings you a new measure of down time

[Cassius2]

Oh SJ

It hurts massive when you hear along the grapevine that you loved one has been moaning about you BTDT...

I reckon he needs a good cup of empathy with his dinner tonight to remind him that we all have our battles and sometimes it is wise to put yourself in somebody else's shoes to feel how it fits.

I hope that your IM can shower you in some nourishing support xx Do you have a baby blessing planned or something like that at all? sounds like you need one sweet Mama xx

[Smoke Jaguar]

Coincidentally, tonight I've been knuckling down to make arrangments to have a blessingway! I've asked a girlfriend if she can help me coordinate it and I'll gather some materials (calico, crafts, string for the beads etc). I'm making enquiries about a henna artist, in the end I was thinking that I could buy some henna for guests to do hands and feet etc and I could be done the day before or something, so that I don't have to stay in one position when people are here (might be more comfy for me to just find a spot to slouch in!), depending on cost. I've got a list of people I'd like to invite, and now I'm afraid of leaving people off that I haven't remembered, realising that there'll be declined invitations, too. I've only been to one and it's one that I helped organise. If it's nice weather then our back yard will be perfect, and if it's not then inside is big enough and people could BYO cushion. Anyway, I'm suddenly feeling a lot more positive with the planning.
My poor, housebound kids are so bored they're getting up to ridiculous hijinks - they climbed our 2 week old haystack and decimated quite a few bales So much TV watching it's not funny, but I can't even walk around the house without feeling like Quasimodo, until my osteo appt on Friday!
Never mind, I'm getting there, and now just thinking that if my order for a 37 week birth goes through then I've really not got long to go of this
Thank you so much ladies, I feel like I've isolated myself from everyone, and I know that I have to a large extent. No Facebook mentions on my timeline and not much time out of the house and all. DP hasn't taken any photos of me, so I've had to do selfies (and I told him that resorting to selfies reflected really badly on him) that don't work out well, anyway.
It's probably time now to prepare my essential oil brew for freezing soaked maternity pads...next mission!

[HotI]

I watched a gorgeous birth dvd with the kids today. Lots of family around, everyone goes for a walk, shares a meal while mum is labouring. Mum and dad in the bath when baby is born, then big brother jumps in followed by another brother. Kids loved it. I showed the next bot that was birth of the placenta. DD thought it was 'ew, gross", but wasn't scared at all and wanted to know what colour her placenta was.

I had a fall a few days ago, and baby moved out of its nice head down position and has been a bit all over the place. Doing lots of strapping again, and holding baby in and over the pelvis, hoping to help her back into position again. A bit frustrating cos baby had been head down and low for quite a few weeks. Makes it hard to do usual active birth positioning cos i also have to get tummy/baby into position. Need a few extra hands.

Have been slowly and steadily getting the house ready. The birth pool got dropped off this week! Got baby's clothes in the cupboard, nappies washed and ready. Kids' toy room all sorted, kids' wardrobe gone through. Curtains in main room all washed. friend coming tomorrow, and hopefully will get all windows washed too. All washing done and almost all put away (again). I have put all my birthing stuff and things for baby and i for first few days in a bag. Bag works best for now, cos kids won't run off with things and i can just move it out when things start happening and everything is together. I made myself a kimono and baby couple of singlets with embroidered pics on the front. Want to get bag packed for DD and DS in case they end up staying somewhere else during the birth. And need to get some more food organised.

My DH doesn't take pics either, so ive only got selfies. and i can't get the camera back far enough to fit me all in now rofl.

i've decided not to do a blessingway now, i am ok with it. I am trying to share special moments with the kids and trying to limit my grumpiness. DD was using bath crayons on my tummy the other day. Have thought about letting them paint me and get some pics, but not sure how it will go. Maybe just let DD have a go.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Far out, I hope baby settles back into position PRONTO!
I was just thinking today that I'm going to need some help gathering our baby things from the shed, container and caravan at the farm so that I can start preparing the spaces in this house. I could barely fold towels and put them back in the cupboard, so good luck to me organising the nappies, clothes and blankets!
I started rewriting my birth plan tonight, too. I still haven't teed up a support person for the kids.
I think it's time to rewatch the last HB DVD - thanks for the reminder, HotI How gorgeous to have that time with your kids! Mine were hugging my belly again, telling DP how big my belly was getting...he didn't respond much, but I had two kids wrapped around me, so he can sod off

[Special]

I am in awe of you organised people!

Matthew washed lots of baby clothes - we seriously have way too much considering we ditched it after number 3. I have been staring at the piles to fold for a while now.
Picked up the birth pool, but it's still in the bag. I suppose I should examine it or something.
I need to get a pile/bag sorted. The midwife dropped her stuff off but I need to get our things ready. Just towels and a drop sheet, icecream container or something. I'm sure I'm forgetting lots. I had trying to be organised.

That reminds me - does anyone do anything with their placenta? I haven't before. My midwife mentioned she's learning how to make capsules. I'm not feeling compelled to do anything in particular.

[Arcadia]

I am getting mine encapsulated this time. I am also retaining some to bury. Which reminds me, I need to get a container for it!! Icecream anyone?

[HotI]

Ha ha, when reading Special's post, i thought oops, i need an ice cream container!

I buried the placenta last time. It killed our plant. If you are going to bury it, leave a long time before planting a tree on top.

I would like to get it encapsulated, but money is a bit tight atm. I have thought about doing it myself, but i don't think i could cut into it. The rest would be ok. Also considering smoothie. If i did any of these, i wouldn't make it public knowledge bc my 'real life' people are just completely grossed out by it.

In the vid, they made some placenta prints. Kinda cool, but i don't know what i would do with them after that!

SJ, maybe its time to call upon some friends or family to help with some of your baby stuff. I got Mum to help me sort baby stuff, also a friend and i went through some too. Most people would be happy to help out, and you can chat as you get things sorted.

[Jennifer13]

We buried DD2's and are getting a tree for it (gave it time to decompose and then disorganised); will do the same for DD3's. My m/w does encapsulate, but I don't lose much blood and have an over-productive milk supply as it is, so I don't want to encourage it further! I told my m/w that if I did have a big bleed or something to do mine. We just used a kitchen bowl with plastic bag liner to catch it.

Hot1 - you do sound organised! Can you see a chiro or get your m/w to do rebozo to help with positioning bub again? Are you okay despite that?

Special - I got out baby clothes less than a week before DD3 arrived, only to find my sister hadn't returned my 0000s and was on holidays in NZ. Grrr... I had to go baby clothes shopping.

[Smoke Jaguar]

I"ve still got our other two placentas frozen! We'll freeze this one, too, and decide what to do with them after. We had thought we'd plant them at the farm, but now we're aborting our building plans and selling the farm, so more limbo time!
HotI, great idea about a friend to help sort clothes - of course!
Osteo was good today, and I just need it to last at least till Sunday because I have a gig on during the day I need to make it through.
I worded up my girlfriend about the blessingway and she's on board I need to turn this pregnancy into a positive before it gets to the pointy end of things.
I can't wait to see my mw next week to organise the birth plan and pool!

[Special]

SJ - I hope you can get a friend to come help. My pelvis is 90% good now and I still hope my brother's girlfriend will come help me. She wants to stick the stickers on the baby's wall too. I won't stop her - that's the kind of stuff I just don't have the inclination for.

I'm guessing this baby is engaged. Every time he moves down towards the bottom now I flinch or squeak in discomfort. It only lasts a second or 2 but my cervix feels abused and the big movements make my sciatic nerve feel weird and/or my right leg go tingly.
I have never had any of this with my last 3. I said to Matthew today that I'm worried I won't realise I'm in labour since I get all these other feelings that I have never experienced before.
Of course I am sure it will be obvious at the time. Lol.


We've picked up the Birth pool. Says birth pool on a box, but it's in a bag. I couldn't find instructions so I hope it's obvious.
Does everyone do a practice run? Or should I blow it up at leave it up?

I feel like a newbie. I hope my brain works again soon.

[Arcadia]

I have found my cervix more sensitive each time. This baby was grinding on it a few weeks ago and I truly thought I was in labour! You'll know though, because you'll recognize the la la labour land and the pains will be unrelenting.

39 weeks on Monday here. Birth altar is set up, made my birth necklace, I've printed affirmations and birth art and done some of my own art on candles and some on paper. Contact list is on the fridge, box of birth stuff is organized, had birth plan meeting.

Yep. Oh and hubby is on leave so baby, you're welcome anytime!!!

[Tegam]

Hello so many familiar faces! And new faces have been stalking for a week. Anyone one that knows me knows how totally over the moon announcing that ill be happily joining you ladies in here again. Baby number 5 has decided to join our little family. Again totally wanted but very much a surprise. I've been pregnant now 7 times.... I still went to bed with a pad on three nights running, expecting my period!!! Then started googling low Hb and missed period as I'd donated blood just before Xmas and my Hb was only 117 so I knew I would be fairly low for a while, I was tired but I'd been working, sore boobs....well that just means my periods can't be far away, right? Then DS says 'there's a baby in your tummy!' I still didn't do anything for another 24hrs, then I brought a single test and still didn't want to do it cause I thought I was being silly! If I'd thought I was pregnant I would have brought 5 test to satisfy the the whole pregnancy **** on a stick addiction! So then I got a positive, well just the second line was faint.... I sms'd a photo to Ennee (thanks em) and she said that it was that positive that its was the control line that's as faint!!!! Oh wow. 24hrs to admit it to dh, which thankfully he has taken it so beautifully. I mean we did the deed at the 'wrong' time, used withdrawal (which has worked for 16yrs for us) and I only have one tube. Bubby was meant to be now to have a scan next week to rule out another ectopic and to meet my midwife that em also helped me find what a lovely friend you are xx


Shhhhh on Facebook. We didn't tell any one with our last until 20weeks, I'll be aiming for longer this time

[HotI]

Then DS says 'there's a baby in your tummy!'
I still didn't do anything for another 24hrs,
24hrs to admit it to dh,
Bubby was meant to be

All these sound familiar to me! It my DD who told me before i had worked it out.

Congratulations! Can i add you to the list now?

[Tegam]

I guess Hoti: I'm due September

[meow]

Yay!!!! So freaking excited for you!!!! Haver everything crossed for your scan and looking ahead to planning a wonderful home birth xxx