Homebirth General Discussion #5

Lady-bug - baby boy

Liz - baby girl

PumpkinZulu - baby girl Isla-Mae

Tashybabe - baby boy Jude born sleeping

Helly- baby boy




~Stoked~- August

Brogeybear- November

Bella29 - January

Jennifer13 - January

HotI - January

*Ash*- February

:grouphug: helly

Stoked, I'm glad you're feeling better...I always remembered the importan things after my midwife left!! Don't be afraid to call her. I really recommend setting up a birth alter. I have a photo of mine in my album here on bb. It had a candle affirmations and crystals. I found it so great for connecting with ds in the lead up to his birth.

Jen I am so excited for you!! I find it funny the ob mentioned mess...it's seriously not an issue and the midwives clean up anyway. It's birth! So much more is going on to be worrying about mess!
And as for monitoring...I felt ds kicking the whole time, although the Doppler was used too.

Helly: :hug: dont feel that you have to deal with it too quickly ok? It's totally OK to be angry/hurt etc etc. You are awesome and you and your baby did an awesome job, but that doesnt detract from the crapness of the situation. FWIW, i had a PTSD after DD1s birth and technically it was a straightforward affair and i *know* that despite everything we were totally fab and awesome, but it was still traumatising. dont let them sweep that under the carpet for you. let them know at your 6 week appt i reckon!

But that said, massive massive phat hugs :hug: :hug: :hug:

Hey ladies, sorry it's taken me so long to post!! Been so busy with a newborn, it's fantastic :) My birth story is up. We ended up transferring as there was a lot of meconium in my waters, but I am 100% happy with that choice, surprisingly. I thought I'd be shattered, but I don't think I truly understood the words, "Homebirth is a philosophy, not just a venue", until I had such a fantastic birth in a setting I didn't expect to be in. We had our HB program midwife with us instead of a hospy one, and our doula. It was a powerful an uplifting experience, and even though I had some gas in the ambulance, I am okay with that decision too. I had a pretty huge crisis of confidence initially whilst and shortly after transferring, and the moment my middie and Doula arrived, I found my calm again :) I even ended up breathing Isla out, it was just the most peaceful and tranquil birth I could have hoped for :)

Helly: :hug: but congratulations on the birth of your little boy.

Pz: thanks for sharing your birth story, glad you are happy with the decisions you made with your birth. Hope Isla and yourself are going well.

Congrats to Helly and PZ on bringing your babies into the world.

Helly, hugs for your feelings right now.

Oh Helly :hug: I know the pain and grief that comes with mourning a hoped for birth journey. My first birth was very similar to your experience. The birth of my son, at home, healed me. I hope you can heal too. :hug: congratulations on the birth of your precious son Finn.

Congratulations PZ!

Helly, I've been thinking of you, and I feel upset for you that you were robbed by a stupid administrative rule. That was my greatest fear planning a homebirth.
I hope you and your little one are doing well :hug:

PZ, that sounds great. So glad you had the birth you wanted

Thanks so much everyone... I somehow feel like I sabotaged myself by worrying about the deadline or something. Or maybe not. The question is, after two failed home births, the second so much worse than the first, am I game to go back again? I've always wanted three or more, but its kinda scared me off now.

:hug: helly. I always think we should plan for the best possible scenario as well as the worst...so I would still recommend a Homebirth...but I totally get why you are questioning it.

Congratulations PZ! I look forward to reading your story!


Helly :cry: I am so sorry, sadly i know how you feel.... its ok to talk, just because it was a fairly 'normal' birth for most it was terrible for you! Know that you have support and friends here! HB next time for sure, dont let a horrid system stop you from being a mumma to another bub! Just learn to be quiet about when those old water break! Hugs and best wishes and you cope with all those mixed emotions about the birth and the joy of your new son!

How are things going Helly?

thanks for the hose/tap attachment suggestions ladies! Still have plenty of time to get to bunnings and get sorted but good to know where to start!!

The last few days my back has really started to ache by the end of the day and either side of my belly feels so tight I feel like I can't possibly stretch anymore! Also have started with the heartburn/reflux and spent my shower this morning spewing stomach acid...yuck! Just when I was starting to feel strong and healthy and energetic!

Helly, I'm sorry your birth didn't go as you had hoped and planned - big, gentle hugs to you xoxoxoxo

Hi ladies,
Just wanted to say... There is a birth pool in my house! One week to go before I'm 'allowed' to birth at home.
Been having pains all morning, hoping it's just because baby has changed positions and is maybe irritating my uterus. You're not allowed out yet baby!
Am feeling a bit better about things. Feeling more prepared, although this week is going to be busy getting all the last minute things in order.
Hope you're all well x
Thinking of you Helly x

Very exciting Stoked! What colour is your birth pool? what room are you gonna set it up in?

i watched a doco on the 7 ages of pregnancy, and they had a waterbirth and i've seen a couple others lately and they all seem to have armies of people adding hot water, removing cold and doing whatever else. For those who used one, did you have specific people on birthpool duty? I don't reallly want many (any?) people around, and am wondering whether the birth pool is a lot of work.

It's a blue pool, 'La Bassine' or something? I haven't decided exactly where to set up my birthing space yet.. Going to blow up the pool and see where it fits best. We have a very open plan house so finding a more 'private' nook is very important to me. I like to be on my own while I labour so I want somewhere I can feel the most isolated from everyone who will be here (hubby, main midwife, backup midwife, trainee midwife and ex-midwife who is coming as a support person).
We only had to top up my birth pool once. The midwives did it while I went into the toilet with hubby. I was in labour for 5.5 hours and only used the pool for about 3.5 hours of it. It really wasn't a drama at all and so, so worth it for pain relief!

Stoked- So exciting having the pool!!

Eutra- Hope you feel better again soon.

Helly- thinking of you and sending lots of love.

hoti- my filled the pool from the tap with a hose. He put pots on the stove too and was going to add them when the hot water ran out but I was happy with the water level. We didn't refill (3.5hours of using the pool). I did notice it was cooler in about the last 10-30mins but baby's head was due out any second at that time so I didn't comment and we never did anything about it. I was keen to get out straight after though :lol:

Just had an awesome appointment, in my loungeroom, with midwife. Scared and excited, but will have to make decision soon which way to go. Stay tuned.