Homebirth General Discussion #3

[onthefly]

Woo hoo congratulations Meow!
And well done cracking the 10lb mark

[Lady-bug]

Congratulations Meow!! Welcome little Felix!

[Tegam]

WELCOME
FELIX
CONGRATULATIONS
MEOW

[meow]

Thank you gorgeous women!! I thought of you when I posted the weight Marcellus... I said "I cracked 10 pounds!" to my MW too

I have a second degree tear on my perineum again and decided against stitching so I have to spend 2 weeks lying in bed. It's hard to type lying down so I can't post much. Up feeding Felix now so sneaking in some one-handed typing! Labour was fairly quick... 4 hours of pre & early labour then 3hours 20mins of established labour. 2nd stage was 1hour 40mins so 1/2 the labour was pushing him out! Thank god for water immersion!!! Birthing in the pool was much better. 3rd stage was 30mins with quite painful contractions- was very happy once the placenta was out Big brother had an up & down first 24 hours but is already smiling at, and kissing his baby brother

[Tegam]

Oh meow i had a 2nd degree with DD2 and stitched and then had a 2nd degree with DS and didnt stitch. I didnt find any difference and i most certainly didnt lie in bed for 2 weeks. I just went about everything as normal. I had an OB have a look at it when i had my last pap smear and he was mid rant that it was stupid not to stitch when he had to stop and say i healed nicely... Not sure what ill do this time if i tear.....

Rest up and thanks for keeping us upto date with little Felix!

Oh and this little 10pound club you have going....i dont want to join - i on ly just managed to crack the 8pounds with my biggest! I take my hats off to you!

[Cassius2]

my mw put me on 2 weeks bedrest with my 1st degree tear lol! but i have to say that it was sooo much better not having it stitched (last time was really uncomfy and sore).

i too was sooo surprised with 3rd stage! it was sore! and it took aggggess for it all to come out...something i didnt expect...

oops Marta is awake, bbl!

[Tegam]

mine is the breastfeeding after pains!!! whats with those, they were worse than the labour with DS!

[onthefly]

Great work Meow.
I didn't even realise you could forgo stiches for tears, so there you go. Is it more comfortable without? LAst time I had an epi that tore further - dunno what degree, I guess 2nd - and that was not nice. I'd like to skip that this time.
I punched the air for you at 10lb I dunno if I'm going to make it... we'll see

[Tegam]

it didnt feel a bit different for me marcellus and like i said i recover super quick from birth and DH went away on a work trip when DS was 2 days old so i had to be running around like normal...

Am wondering the a epi with tear is probably a 3rd degee but youd have to ask a MW that one!

My MW suggested i use medi honey but i never got the time!

[meow]

I didn't even realise you could forgo stiches for tears, so there you go. Is it more comfortable without?

I didn't know you couldn't either! After my trauma from stitches last time I chatted a lot about tearing and stitching this time with my MW... and discovered you don't have to be stitched! A tear heals in either case but stitching helps hold it together so it will heal in place. Which is why without stitching I've been advised to keep my legs together and upright to aid it in healing in place. Great to hear you healed well while not staying still though Tegam! Personally I never found actually having the stiches in to be uncomfy or painful and I'm not in any pain now either, but my MW did say many women prefer healing without stitches as it is more comfy. Your body works to reject the stitches as they are a forgien object so they can cause more pain.

[onthefly]

Ok, must ask Laura about this on Tuesday. Thanks!

[Tegam]

if one looks back at remembers that people have been birthing forever then its not so suprising that our bodies have the ability to heal themselves after birth trauma..... Just another way the medical system has made us doubt our bodies!

I sometimes get stress wondering what else im missing or havent learn yet....Nice BB is another place to learn and share!

[Eenee]

Oh wow didn't know you didn't have to get stitched! I'm hoping I just don't tear lol. Oh and i'm with Tegam i'll think i'll give the 10lb club a miss!

[LionsandBears]

Congratulations Meow! Great job. Welcome to Felix - what a big boy! (Love the name)

I've read seaweed can help with tear healing - just grab that stuff they make sushi with from the supermarket. I read it on a Midwifery e-magazine. I tried getting manuka honey on mine but couldn't manage it well. It was just a little 1st degree tear, so I left itfor the most part. A few weeks after birth I started massaging vitamin E into it (straight form a capsule).

[Tegam]

A few weeks after birth I started massaging vitamin E into it (straight form a capsule).

Dh and i tried that but that doesnt end well same as the massage you are meant to do before baby comes...., probably why we have 4 kids LOL!

[Eenee]

Dh and i tried that but that doesnt end well same as the massage you are meant to do before baby comes...., probably why we have 4 kids LOL!

[Tegam]

[Arimeh]

Congratulations MEOW!!!! I'm so ecstatic for you on your beautiful home birth!!!

Just popped in to say hi now that I am back online, but I'll have to leave this thread anyway cos there is no way I'm getting my homebirth now unfortunately. Looks like we are staying in Tassie, and the best thing I get is my birth at the birth centre like last time. But its better than the hospital - although not as good as home.

So I wish everyone well!!!! *mwah*