Thanks MadB I'll have a look
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it was excellent!
Don't know emma. You can find a link to DD's birth story HERE (DD's arrival)
Also, this thread contains a copy of a letter I wrote to our health minister in support of the CMP, if you're interested
Stoked is on her 2nd birth with the CMP too
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Thanks MadB I'll have a look
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Thanks Mayaness. I know I really should prepare DS a bit more. I think he will be alright once he realises what is happening. DD on the other hand is very young for her age iykwim. She just doesn't understand much (at nearly two is just putting together animals with their sounds etc). I really don't think she has the capacity to understand what is happening. We don't have any support people so it will be up to DH to look after the kids.
Why can't things just be easy!
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How often did you see your midwife? When was your first appt?
We had a meet-up at our place, and then spoke a couple of days later and confirmed we were going ahead but nothing since then. I know i can ring her, just wanted to find out what other people did.
And i'm still waiting to feel bub too.
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Hi sorry to butt in here, howabout a student midwife or student doula at the birth to provide extra support for your kids? Maybe have a little bag of goodies for each of them to distract them, I know at that age they probably won't amuse themselves but anything to keep them feeling good. I'm kind of worried about my 2yo at the birth but will just play it by ear - I want my DH to be there for me!
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HotI, I saw my midwife monthly from 8 weeks, then fortnightly from 30 weeks and now weekly from 36 weeks.
Pip, thanks but we are rural NZ - I don't even think we have Doulas in NZ and only get the occasional student midwife. The children have never been left with anyone else.
Will have to put my thinking cap on and come up with some way to make it work with the kids here. I feel rather unprepared for the whole birth atm, just haven't had the time to think about it properly. Midwife wants to do a birth plan next visit so perhaps that will give me the kick up the butt I need
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Artechim your homebirth will be beautiful!
My son was 2 years 9 months when his baby brother was born. He's autistic so we couldn't communicate with him much to prepare for the birth. He's very sensitive to loud noises, very clingy to mummy and would bang his head and get scared when I tried to practice the "noises mummy makes when the baby comes". We don't leave him with other people and debated what to do about support people for him. We ended up choosing my aunt and two pre-teen cousins who live an hour away as he enjoys my cousins company, but they missed the birth anyway.
We tried reading Hello Baby but he was obsessed with a small selection of books and would mostly ignore us reading it. We watched some births on youtube and that seemed pretty good.
On the day he was beautiful with me in early labour, as labour progressed my H was able to be in and out with him watching the TV then he put him down for his sleep. He woke up about 1 hour before baby was born. I was getting loud then and my H was in the pool with me. My MW checked on him and he chose to lie in his room for a while. When he got up he was brought into the room for a bit but he chose to leave and spent the birth playing with playdough in the kitchen. He clearly knew things were not like normal but he coped well and it wasn't till about 2 hours after birth that he started to flip out a bit over all the people and fuss (my aunt and cousins had also arrived by then) so we asked everyone to leave. He was calm then, we had a good cuddle and my H settled him to bed for his evening sleep.
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I really just dont think you ever feel as prepared for the births after number 2. Birth one you prepare and often we prepare more for birth two as we try finding out all the 'i wish id known xyz..' With the 3rd or more birth you have two small children and a busy life!
I have read a million HB stories and i have just NEVER heard of kids flipping out....basically at the end of the day children are more inturned with their inner animal instincs than adulds are and birth is a natural process.... nothing to worry about!
And i promise that lack of preparation with the birth does not equal love for baby! Just wait til that little one is in your arms and the others are their meeting their new baby! Life will feel rather perfect!
STOKED:::: Where are you? Or have i missed something?
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Kate I met my midwife at 14 weeks and then around monthly until 30 weeks but we often had to reschedule. After 30 weeks it was fortnightly then weekly from 36 weeks.
It's hard with midwives sometimes because they're often so busy with births, but dont worry you're rising in their priority every week and before you know it they'll be calling you every day to check in! Please please ring if you want to chat to your middie. They like feeling needed and I'm sure would hate to think you're not feeling looked after.
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Meow, your home birth sounds great! Must have been a relief when your DS coped so well.
Tegam, thanks. It is hard to prioritize the new baby in the order of things atm when the kids that are here take up so much time. I think it will be easier when but is physically here and we can get on with sorting out some sort of new order.
I had a talk with DH and we think that we will be alright with the kids - if they can't be resettled then DH will just watch telly with them calmly so there won't be any screaming. I just want to be left alone during labour so he only needs to make it in for the last 10 minutes anyway.
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Artechim I was worried about dd and my labour, but my midwife said most labors happen at night and the kids meet their new sibling at breakfast...and thats basically what happened. Ds was born just after midnight and dd woke around 3am due to all the people leaving (3 midwives). It was perfect!
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Yesterday i had a fall and i have hurt my self. Not sure exactly what i have hurt, it feels like i have maybe stretched something in my pelvis, and also have pain in my lower back and tummy. I think it's something i just have to rest up, but not sure whether i should see someone about it? And if so, who?
2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
HotI, I would give the midwife a call. Probably a pulled muscle or something and bub is fine, but it doesn't hurt to be on the safe side.
Arcadia, that is what we are planning to happen, hopefully it will be done and dusted with the kids none the wiser.
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HotI: yeah I'd call your MW. Hope all is ok!
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Pip82 I had my last two with CMWA. My midwives were fantastic, I haven't met Emma though I hear she is a lovely and very capable young midwife. I would have to say though that my experience of the actual 'program' was better the first time as they have changed quite a lot in the time between dd2 and ds2 (less than two years!). And I can't honestly say that I would use them again as it has become really quite 'systemized' for want of a better word, and not really how I (or my midwives) feel homebirth should be!
but I really hope that your experience is a happy and enjoyable one and you don't feel too pressured to do anything you don't want.
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oh and ARETECHIM.... I was a little concerned about having my other children around when labouring/birthing as they were only 1 1/2 & 2 1/2, then just under 4 1/2, 3 1/2 & 2 this time... but it was FINE!! first time I went into labour about an hr after they were in bed and they slept, DS woke right at the end but that just meant he was able to meet his newest sister quickly before heading back to bed. And I was fortunate enough to be able to have my Mum come keep an eye on the three of them this time as it ended up being late arvo/early evening & I wanted to know they werent going to be worried about what was happening or bother DHs grandfather too much (hes 85 and we were staying at & birthing in his house). But Mum said she wasn't really needed, they just played in the lounge room happily, meantioned me or DH once or twice but didn't even ask where I was or what I was doing! Very unusual I thought as I can't even go to the loo without one or more wondering what's happening normally LOL! So this they were ALL able to meet their little brother when he was brand new before heading to bed this time
These things have a way of working out. And if you do find yourself worrying at all just be reminded that it would be much harder if you WEREN'T at home, imagine trying to find someone last minute or worse still take them to the hospital!!!
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mrsbaj, that's really interesting to hear. From what I understand they certainly have been changing in recent years. It's such a shame - it seems homebirth adn private midwifery are being eaten away from the edges (and from within, thanks ACM for your statement on homebirth. not.)
I know I'm now classed as too high risk for the CMP homebirth program- thus the consideration about relocating to NZ since IMs are few and far between in this neck of the woods as it is.
Ouch HotI, hope you're ok.
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MadB If you would like a few recommendations for good IM in perth area PM me as I do know of a few. It becomes more of a cost issue though as most have upped their prices to $7000!!! And that is between being the start of year when I was searching and 3 weeks ago when I birthed... Just another way that it is getting increasing difficult to HB! There is two that are really good that will be working 'together' so to speak backing each other up that will charge $5000 with the possiblity of negotiations depending on individual circumstances. I know one of these women personally and the other was MW for one of my SIL's.
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