Homebirth General Discussion #3

[Tegam]

well done Tegam i think that it was written from the heart and is a first step in getting what is best for you and baby xx (also, mebbe it is worth PMing Tanya on here for practicalities etc things to consider if you do indeed end up birthing without a midwife being able to make it...you've read her latest birth story no doubt!).

Tanya?? Whats her user name?

I think it's great Tegam. I don't think she would be able to give you too much advice in writing but perhaps your midwife might be happy for you to pay her for an appointment to chat it out. A pre-brief for this birth. I hope she supports an ante & post-natal package for you... sounds like a good idea. I've heard of freebirthers having an appointment with a MW to gain some emergency childbirth 'first aid' education too- maybe she might be willing to do that with you?

Yes we did all the emergency stuff with her last time. I am also NICU trained so a off baby doesnt worry me.

Thank you for your advice ladies. I have been meaning to email her for weeks but couldnt come up with the right words.

[Eenee]

Tegam: her user name is Tanya

[Tegam]

Tegam: her user name is Tanya

Wow thats a hard one, hehe

Ill go and take a look, i know i read a beautiful freebirth one not long ago! In a bath with DH and the kids!

[Eenee]

here it is just in case you had trouble finding it

[meow]

Tegam- I had to say too, when I first glanced at your letter I thought it was going to be a really bad rant because I thought you were calling your MW a swear word

[onthefly]

I think your letter is great - I hope the midwife is able to help you out.
I was thinking the same thing as Meow about the expletives

[water_lily80]

Hello everyone! Thought I'd pop my head in & say hello....planning a home waterbirth for #4...my first outside of the hospy. Can't wait till past 12 weeks so I can really start making some concrete plans....a few questions though if you guys don't mind?

Do you guys still meet with a gp when having a hb throughout your pg? I can't see the point in forking over $80 to my GP so he can tell me "yes, you are pregnant. Don't smoke. Don't drink blah blah...yessss Iknow all that!"

What about the blood tests you normally get (I don't do the NT testing, but the iron levels etc?)

The 19 week scans?

I am really keen on a little-intervention-as-possible birth & pregnancy letting nature do it's thing, I know my body deals with things when they go wrong in its own way, I'm lucky I've met a great HB middie down here & excited about birthing my bub in a pool in the lounge room, in front of the fire (yay winter bub!) with my music going as loud as I want, without being told to turn it down, & without hearing labouring women around me, & without nosy nurses poking their heads in when I'm in all my glory....and especially looking forward to not having to share a toilet with people who leave blood everywhere....gross!

TIA xxx

[Tegam]

Tegam- I had to say too, when I first glanced at your letter I thought it was going to be a really bad rant because I thought you were calling your MW a swear word

Ooops sorry for the boring letter after that! What a let down!

[meow]

Tegam- No, quite the opposite! It was interesting to hear what you have been through and where you are at... I really hope your MW can help you resolve it

Water_lily- congratulations on your pregnancy and choosing a HB!!!

I booked into my local birth centre at the beginning of the pregnancy so I could avoid seeing a doctor to order blood tests and so I could get the morphology scan for free. Independent midwives don't have prescribing rights for these things but do check with your midwife if she is working through a hospital/collaborative program.

I ended up going to the GP for referals for:
- initial blood tests (rubella, HIV, iron etc etc)
- 12 week ultrasound & blood test
- iron test around 26 weeks?
- repeat iron test at 35 weeks (to check supplements are working as I was anemic)

A GP can do your 19 week ultrasound referral too, but as I said I had that done through the birth centre then I dropped out of the public system and had my notes sent to my midwife. Hope that helps