Homebirth General Discussion #2

[Arimeh]

Thanks for the sum up Tash xox

Freya - yayyy hellloooooo!!!! I don't post that much in this thread either because I'm not sure what we are doing yet next year, but either way I'll be having a water birth - although I am a bit nervous about pooping in the water.. LOL (seriously though, what happens if you DO poo in the water!!??)

Unlike my FIL's worries - I'm not worried about drowning my child in the first few minutes of its life though

[meow]

Get a fish net scooper from a pet store- I've heard they are good for someone to quietly remove your poop from the pool should that happen

[Arimeh]

Get a fish net scooper from a pet store- I've heard they are good for someone to quietly remove your poop from the pool should that happen

Maybe my brother would let me borrow his - he has fish at home

[Smoke Jaguar]

You won't notice the poo - the midwives will be too busy attending to that AND where you're at to bother telling you at the time Also, your partner may never speak of it again, so I wouldn't worry about it
A plastic sieve is better, cos it's firm and contents will just fall out, rather than get caught up in netting. And it will cost a couple of dollars, no big loss when you toss it in the bin. Unless you use a steel sieve that you can sterilise after
So many babies being born in my circle - DS is getting clucky (and has put an order in for another brother and a sister!), that I'm already thinking ahead to our next birth, the farmbirth. It's a while off - I hope - because I really like the 3 year age gap between the first two. And I really need DS to be at school before I contemplate any more little people, especially when we're likely to be either still in the caravan, or in the first installment of our strawbale home!

[Freya]

At the birth centre they had a collander like thingy; I can remember my midwife scooping something when I started pushing but it didnt really cross my mind so dont worry. Dh didnt even notice

[Cassius2]

Hi girls!

Tashybabe: *mwah* thank you so much babe! so great to have a record of those lost weeks

Freya: as recently graduated 'first-timer' homebirthers i can highly recommend it! once you have a HB there is NO other way. it's that good. no joke.

Arimeh: we hit the $2 shop for a cheap plastic sieve...

AFM: we are travelling well! my recovery this time is amazing. not having birth trauma really helps lol! i LOVE filling out the forms that ask 'where was baby born' and that on the 'blue book' it reads 'at home'

my reflection on the experience is that i LOVE it because it was normal. there was no drama, hurry or worry. labouring gently at home while reading books to your toddler and hanging out washing and pottering in the garden sooo beats labouring in a hospital birth suite. and being able to watch my DD1s face when my waters broke and her big grin is priceless. and having her there to cut the cord and kiss the baby while we were still in the pool is a memory i will hold forever.

[Freya]

Oh Cassius you sound so happy with how everything went, thats just wonderful!

Another question; when did you book with your IM/Homebirth program? I feel a bit silly thinking about these things when Im not even 5wks yet but I know they can book out quickly.

[Smoke Jaguar]

I called my IM the day after the positive POAS! I wanted a particular midwife to be my primary MW, so I told her she was mine at that particular time of the year Don't feel silly - you won't see her till a bit later, but at least you can start booking in your ante natal appointments now

[Cricket]

Thanks for putting some of the thread back together! What a shame to lose all that stuff.....

About poop at a waterbirth - I never noticed anything with DD3. I imagine it happened (usually does, I'm told) but I never saw or heard a thing! When we were done, I just got out of the tub, pulled the plug, and had a shower. The midwives rinsed the tub out and refilled it for our herbal bath. This was my own bath at home though, so filling, rinsing and draining were maybe a little easier than an inflatable birth pool.

Congrats Freya! Here's hoping your DH comes around to be a wonderful support to you for this birth. And yes, book in with your midwife soon. One thing to cross off the list, and you'll be sure that you won't miss out because you waited too long, or anything like that!

As for me, I'm getting pretty close here, I think. I was awake all last night with contractions that have died down now. My lovely DH sent the girls to his mother's house, and cleaned everything for me before he headed off to work. (I love him!) Yesterday at the midwife's office I was about 30% effaced and maybe 1cm dilated, cervix still well back, but very soft. This morning by my own guess, I'm much more effaced and the cervix feels a little closer to the front. We'll see how things progress from here. Still having occasional contractions, but nothing regular. I'm heading off for a nap!

[Roryrory]

Hello all - 2.12am here

I am getting all broody and teary. I am 37 weeks today (well, yesterday now) and I want my baby now.

On the up side, the oxygen was delivered yesterday and my mws are coming on Friday to check out our house...

[Cricket]

Hey Rory! I hear you. Here's hoping for smooth, swift, uncomplicated deliveries in the near future for both of us!

[Cricket]

Well, contractions have been coming and going all day here - anywhere from 5-15 min apart. My midwife came to the house and checked me and did a stretch and sweep. Baby is nice and low now, cervix about 75% effaced and 1cm dilated..... Lots of bloody show after the s&s. Contractions are picking up again too. Maybe baby....?

[Arcadia]

Woo Hoo Cricket!! You're gonna have a baby!

We're all here holding the space for you while you bring this baby earthside!

So excited!

Oh, and on the poo topic...my midwife had a poo scooper she uses, but since I birthed on land I didn't need it (although she did 'clean' the area while I was pushing since your whole bum goes inside out and yes I have photos...its why we love them!)

[meow]

Woohoo Cricket!!!! So excited and looking forward to hearing your beautiful news

My last birth was on land and I have the photos of the poop and bum too I think if anything it'll more discrete in the water

[Cassius2]

Go Cricket!!!!! !!!!! waiting (not so) patiently here!

as for poo...my midwife mentioned that it is no design fault that babies are born so close to the bum...apparently the flora contained in poo is beneficial for their little bellies so it is common for a wee bit of digestion as they come out...something to keep in mind lol!

[Freya]

Hmm my post disappeared.................

I guess I will go with a IM instead of the homebirth program because I discovered today my health fund covers $1000 of private midwifery costs Yay! So I will do the shared care option (GP/IM) as its a bit cheaper meaning we will only be out maybe $1700 instead of $2700 (or $5700 for the full care option). Should make Dh happy about the cost at least; and also because I will still book into the stupid hospital through my GP as a JIC anything goes wrong.

Go Cricket Go! Hope baby isnt far off being earthside, so exciting!!!!!!!!!!!

[LionsandBears]

Cricket - waiting for your exciting news!

Freya - my IM booked me into a hospital as a backup. It's what she normally does. I'd find the midwife first.

[Cricket]

Seth William arrived safe and well after a VERY fast and easy labour to 10cm, followed by 1 hour of very hard pushing. Little man came out sunny side up. (OUCH!) Managed to avoid any stitching though! 7lb 1oz, 19.5 in long. Handsome little man. So thankful!