Homebirth General Discussion #18

Ok, am working on my alternative plans (if my ultimate plan doesn't happen), and want to have some people that i can call on (if midwife gonna be awhile, dh at work, need help with kids....). So, i am looking at people who live close to me, and i have someone in mind, but i'm not sure how to address it with her. It seems a bit wierd to say "so, what's your thoughts on homebirth?", but i kinda want to know where she is starting from before i actually ask her if she wants to be on my list.

How have other people started that conversation?

I had couple of dodgy comments and eyerolls today 'you are not doing that baby at home thing again, are you?' followed by discussion on why i should be in hospital bc i have a hernia. ?? neh, whatever.

Teni, i had all my stuff in one place, but not actually in a bag. Just had a bag kinda in the same area so it could be packed if needed.

teni: i had all my birthy stuff in a bag that could be dragged either into the birthspace or into the car. i had another wee little bag with all my hippy birthy stuff stuffed inside the main bag so that i wasnt throwing bubs beanies all over the joint while trying to find clary sage oils and the like in the lead up to labour etc.

how much does placenta encapsulation cost? is it dependent on no of capsules or set price? (I have big placenta).

any recommendations for Melbourne based people?

ta

My sister usually charges $150, and it is usually just per placenta, not weight based etc. but talking with melb girls last time, they said it was closer to $250-$300 with the people who they got quotes from.

I encapsulate mine myself...really need to get around to doin it! As really needing it right now!

Totally and utterly exhausted...

Well, I've made the bold decision not to bother with a post-maternity (aka hospital) bag. Partly, I can't be bothered and partly I just don't see the need this time. It'll just be more of a PITA to have to unpack it afterwards or dig things out. I am very much into sorting things out and having it the way I want it pre and post birth at home now. It has been driving me nuts that we have stuff lying around, etc, and we are almost on top of things now. The last thing I want is an extra bag in my recently-cleared wardrobe/bedroom to bother me!

Getting all scripts and oxygen sorted this week. DP is getting the air compressor, picking it up Thurs at this stage. Then he can sort out the hose attachments, since he wants to redo it. Counting down here now. And quite pleased that the end is close. Feels like it's been a very busy couple of months to get to this stage.

I'm not sure of placenta encapsulation fees. My m/w does this, if I did end up with a decent bleed, I'll get her to take my placenta when she leaves and do it for me. If all is good, I won't bother. I'd be more concerned the placenta pills would accelerate my already overwhelming milk production!

Incidentally, I'm still managing to bf DD2 without a noticeable change in supply or change from milk/colostrum atm. I think it's getting to the stage where I'll be worried if I do notice a change - that it might indicate impending labour! I am starting to be a bit more assertive at ending a bf, just because I don't want to have to start when her baby sister is here. At least she'll be used to Mummy saying, "bye, bye, boo-boo" by then, so if I feel time is up, she can toddle off.

Thinking of you, Teni. Beautiful birthing vibes your way.

I don't think any transfer/post-labour stuff is making it into a bag here now either - I really can't be bothered trying to find the bag I want, and then making it all neat like I wanted to... Bleh. It's at least all in one spot now, so can be shoved into whatever bag is handy if I do transfer.

Sooooooo, been feeling a bit "off" today, started messaging PZ about it, and now I'm having small teeny tiny twinges :eek: I'm not holding my breath, I know it could still be ages until anything actually happens, but I REALLY hope this turns into something and bub comes tomorrow morning. It'd be wonderful to have another "10th of the month" birthday in the house :lol: I can haz labour vibes pleeeease? ;)

Soooo many vibes! I've put dinner on early, bathed the kids and I'm considering jumping in the shower, just in case :p

Oh Teni! sending beautiful birthing vibes your way! Light a candle and open your heart to this babe coming earthside. It won't be long now.

Afternoon all, this is my fifth baby but what I'm hoping will be my first home birth... I have wanted one since my first baby but lived in an area where there was no one available to home birth.
But have decided this is my final baby... So it is definitely something I don't want to regret later down the track that I never did despite desperately wanting it!

My last baby was "5 weeks early" according to ultrasound but 37 weeks according to my LMP which the doctor ended up agreeing with once baby was out and checked over so there were no complications there even though she was little :) ( barely 5pound!) (shes now 14months) baby before her was early term 37weeks and he was 6 pound 7 (he's now 2and 2months) DS2 was 9pound 11 and born 2days over due DS 7 pound 6 and born a full week over.

Absolutely no tearing excessive bleeding or any intervention of drugs etc at all through out any of my labours.

So hopefully this means the midwife I choose will agree to a home birth... Or I can at least get in to the birth centre...

I live just outside Toowoomba Qld. I am 7+1 today due july 27th and morning sickness is HORRIBLE.

I did read through the previous posts and am already so excited to hear all the stories and share mine with you all.

To all the mums getting ready to deliver I'm sending you some lovely birthing Ju Ju and hope its an easy happy birth for everyone xo

Hmm, so I've started timing these "twinges"/small cramps, and they're following an odd pattern. 30-ish second length, then an hour and a half, a minute-long one, twenty minute break, another 30-second one, and repeat. So nothing really substantial, no pattern that would usually indicate actual labour, but a definite pattern of sorts. :-/

Welcome ms taira:) good luck finding a mw, pretty sure there are ones out Ipswich way... Not sure if they service toowoomba or not.

Tenibear- how exciting it is all happening for you!! Do you know how baby is positioned?? Is it possible baby isn't well applied to the cervix or something and sitting high? Not that I worry to much about that stuff, but I notice in labours where things start out slow and intermittent that it can be due to funny possi, or baby sitting up high, which is fairly common with second third fourth babies etc. anyway wishing you many birthing blessings and a joyful birth. Xx

Last time a MW checked, baby was head down but a bit to the side (sort of between oblique and normal cephalic position, if that makes sense?) but I've felt a couple of large movements/flips since and *hopefully* he or she has moved into a better position. Still not engaged as far as I can tell though. I've got an appointment today anyway so we can check again. Though of course I'm hoping everyone will already be here by then and I'll be holding bub :p

Yay!! That would be lovely :). Good luck honey, and I hope you get some good rest in the meantime.

exciting stuff Teni. peaceful birthing vibes headed your way.

bella, any chance your sister is visiting Melbourne in Feb,? eenie, I looked up how to prepare the placenta for encapsulation, and I don't know that I could do it. do you have some help to do yours?

exciting stuff Teni. peaceful birthing vibes headed your way.

bella, any chance your sister is visiting Melbourne in Feb,? eenie, I looked up how to prepare the placenta for encapsulation, and I don't know that I could do it. do you have some help to do yours?

No idea hot1, but she does travel occasionally, so I will ask her.

i think i paid like $150-200 for encapsulation? it was per placenta as well.

sending you blissful birth vibes Teni xx

Well, everything tapered off overnight, but at my appointment just now we found that bub is in an excellent position :leap: So definitely accepting any and all birth vibes you can spare :p

Also, my IMs always stressed the point that third babies like to have a few cracks at the whole labour thing before actually committing...seems this little poppet is certainly living up to its role :lol:

Don't tell me that! :lol:

Jan asked today how I see things going, and I just went "nice and simple - I'm going to go into labour, then I'm going to give birth in my loungeroom!" :rofl: I don't really have any set pictures in my mind about the labour itself, I think I've watched too many birth videos that cut the hours of labour out :p

Cassius, who did you get to do yours? PM me if you prefer. thanks.

Teni, wishing you an awesome birth where you feel loved and respected and your baby is born in your loungeroom.

How are you Teni?

Feeling very heavy! Just came home from a family lunch where Amelia and I had a big swim, and I really think it's helped bub get into a good position :D It was funny when I got out though - I had to get help standing up because my legs just DID NOT want to lift my weight :redface: Once I was up all was good, but the initial getting up didn't work for me :lol:

HotI: I went through a lady called Adele and her business is Love.Life.Nurture. she is on FB. if you dont have FB, PM me and i can pass her details on.

Teni: ooohhh! i remember that feeling all too well! i spent a few precarious moments wondering after doing some laps in the pool if i would actually be able to get out hahahaha!

DD's most memorable thing about the labour and birth of DS2... She asks me this EVERY day "mummy why did you have the ball in the shower?" All because I took the big gym ball into the shower when I was in labour because I was so tired couldn't hardly stand due to still getting over gastro so wanted to try and make it more comfortable but it didn't really work lol

Hope everyone is doing well!

No baby yet but just waiting...waiting... :)

Yes the waiting bit is fun ;) hopefully not long now the mrs

I am so uncomfortable! Seriously, this baby is alternating between sticking a knee and/or foot right out where my tummy muscles have separated or just burrowing so far down that I'm totally over it! I know it's all good, she's starting to line herself up.

Home visit with midwife this week, thank goodness. Air compressor is in the house (yay!) and DP has checked the hose/tap attachments. Now we just have to wait until after Christmas to get the tree down and the pool up. Last two aqua classes this week and I am in our pool at home every chance I can get, the weightlessness is fabulous.

Not much left to sort here and really looking forward to getting to the birth now. I'm trying to prepare DD2 more for a new baby and what she'll be like, talking about sharing boo-boo and how the baby might cry.

Me, I'm looking forward to meeting my new girl and holding the squirmy, slippery newborn fresh out of the water. Only a few essential supplies (scoop, arnica, not much else) to organise and I'm all set.

Teni - sending lots of lovely birthing vibes your way. I'll take them after 31 Dec. ;)

Full moon tomorrow, wonder if bub's just waiting until then? :p

I keep guessing and being wrong - eventually I'll get it! :lol:

They never stay in there forever, Teni. ;)

Chugging down the raspberry leaf tea now. Getting the few final things on my birth supplies list and the synto and vit K drops today. Nearly organised and then I can rest! M/w organising oxygen this time, which I did last time. So disregard my previous comments about that. ;)

About to pick up DD1 and then I am hopping in the swimming pool for a nice long soak. Bliss!

you are also so so close Jennifer! so many beautiful birth blessings being sent your way xx

Yeah, reality is def starting to sink in. Oxygen being delivered tomorrow.

Two homebirth bubbas to come before me (I think)! Heaps of vibes to TheMrs and Teni. Hope that full moon worked its magic. ;)

Well, today's my EDD... And I'm still here. Was NOT expecting to get this far. I'm being a big ol' grump today, which isn't being helped by the heat, so DH is trying to avoid me :lol: I'm not *actually* angry, just very "blah" and overdramatic - I want to have this baby now, dammit! :p

Oh Teni... :hug: you sound a bit over it. But really, you've been a bit of a watched pot over the last couple of weeks. We should've left off expecting anything until a bit later. Time for some pampering, I think. Book in a hair appt, or a massage, or a pedicure.

Afm, m/w appt today and all at home now. Much more relaxing. Everything good, still measuring small but growing. M/w reckons baby feels just over 2kg, which would be much like my others at this stage. DD2 was so cute, she wanted to help so felt the baby just like the m/w, used the tape measure and the doppler. It was really lovely having her involved. M/w took some photos for me. She brought over a couple of books to lend me to read to DD2 as well and I found one of our other hbing picture books (DD1 has misplaced a couple :/).

Oxygen arrived and I pick up synto and vit K this afternoon. Couple of minor birth supplies to get, but generally feeling prepared. Discussed plans for the placenta and I won't be encapsulating unless I have a big bleed, don't want to encourage my milk supply any my usual abundance! It'll be planted as we did for DD2's.

Teni- oh i remember that feeling... and I also remember venting on FB early in the morning, only for my princess to arrive that very same day

good luck

my baby is quiet. tips to get it moving pls

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my baby is quiet. tips to get it moving pls

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Warm/hot shower, then a big glass of ice-cold orange juice (or any cold drink really, OJ always worked best for me), and lay down and just focus on your belly for about an hour. You can skip the shower if you like, I only do that to create more of a temperature drop when the cold goes through. Hope everything's alright :hug:

Jenn: oohhh! exciting! i love this business end kinda stuff :D you bake on the smaller side like me! My DD1 was 2.7kgs at 38w.

HotI: i found putting myself in a different position helped to feel my babies roll around in there. so i would get on all fours and sometimes lean forward with my chin towards the floor....i mean, it was a sight for sore eyes, but did allow me to feel that reassuring roll (kicks were less likely for me to feel in my third pg....all that lack of muscle lol.

Teni: happy EDD! well, happy grumpy EDD :lol: I never expected to get to 40w with DD2 either!

Eat something then lie down: that always gets my bub moving.

Thinking of you Teni. This heat is horrible! We had the kinder break up party at 11 in the park and it was torture for me. I'm lying down under the air con now watching Peter Pan with the kids. Maybe I should sleep instead.

Those final days are so tough. Look after yourself!