Homebirth General Discussion #6

Sara, if I had to pay I would probably opt for less visits, especially in the early days when not a lot is going on.

Ash, that sucks you are finding it so hard to find someone :(

They don't even offer strep b testing here - I asked last time and the midwife who has been doing hb's for over 20 years had never done one. She said that there was more chance of a mothers reaction to antibiotics than there was of baby getting GBS, and they watch for things like prolonged ruptured membranes etc to assess risk at the time.
I had GD in my first pregnancy so my midwife gave me a script for the testing sticks and I just took a few readings to make sure it wasn't back.

I feel a bit rude though, I have never offered my midwives a drink or lunch or anything! But they are around visiting people all day and reasonably busy so I figure they don't have time to sit around at each house visiting iykwim.

I'm having the Strep B test done by my GP. I need to get a couple of scripts off her closer to the end anyway, so I figure, while I'm there... :dunno: I have no issue either way, but I figure it can't hurt to have the ABs on hand or for the m/w to be aware at least.

:babyneutral: Babies Arrived :baby:

~Stoked~- August

Pip82 - September

Artechim - September



:pregnant: Babies On Their Way :bellyrubs:

eutra_phalia - November

Brogeybear- November

Bella29 - January

Jennifer13 - January

HotI - January

*Ash*- February

loulabelle - February

Sara - May

Check the BAs for the Sept babies... ;)

CONGRATS again Arte for the arrival of Baby Erin! I hope that it was a lovely welcome and that W and A are having a splendid time meeting their new baby sister :loveshower:

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:babyneutral: Babies Arrived :baby:

~Stoked~- August

Pip82 - September

Artechim - September



:pregnant: Babies On Their Way :bellyrubs:

eutra_phalia - November

Brogeybear- November

Bella29 - January

Jennifer13 - January

HotI - January

*Ash*- February

loulabelle - February

Sara - May

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just saw this and thought Artechim hasnt had her baby!

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Check the BAs for the Sept babies... ;)

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im a bit slow! thanks for the heads up!

CONGRATULATIONS Artechim

Welcome Sara!! Looking forward to hearing about your pregnancy/plans/birth :)

Congratulations Pip and Artechim on the arrival of your bubs'!! Can't wait to read more about their births!

Just noticed I'm next on the list - holy cra*p! Time is flying! No real news from me - am now having fortnightly appointments with my lovely midwife and really looking forward to finishing up at work...even if that is still 6 or 7 weeks away.

Thanks everyone. Went really well. Kids both slept all night which was ideal, but baby wasn't out before morning but it was all good - DH went out and did the normal morning stuff, the kids came in for the odd visit to see where I was and then the midwife called DH in for the actual birth which was only a couple of minutes and the kids were unaware out in the lounge. When everything was sorted and I was ready we took her out to meet her siblings. Really, really happy with how it all went.
I ended up having the off-sider midwife but I have had quite a few appointments with her because I have been having iron shots every two days for the last couple of weeks. She was perfect! She just sat quietly and let me do my thing. All decisions were made together and I didn't feel any pressure to do anything.

Aaaww, Arte it sounds glorious and wonderful. :) Congratulations on the birth of your precious daughter.
I am so happy for you. Enjoy your babymoon.

Congratulations Artechim! The birth sounds as though it was oh so casual - perfect!

Thanks for sharing your antental experiences all :) Appreciate it.

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Sara, if I had to pay I would probably opt for less visits, especially in the early days when not a lot is going on.

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This is my thinking exactly. Whilst the Midwife I have in mind would only cost $3000 all up for all inclusive, I guess I still want to try and save where I can.

I think in the 1st/2nd Trimester I dont need monthly appointments. But I'd appreciate them in the 3rd tri for the support and the opportunity to build a trusting relationship with her.

I meeting with her at 12 weeks to discuss all that business.

Her name is Tricia Stewart (Brisbane). Has anyone here "used" her?

Arte I cannot wait to read your birth story!

Arte, sounds as though it all went to plan!

I talked to her on the phone Sara when i was trying to decide which MW to go with, she seemed nice but i just clicked with the other one :)

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thanks everyone. Went really well. Kids both slept all night which was ideal, but baby wasn't out before morning but it was all good - dh went out and did the normal morning stuff, the kids came in for the odd visit to see where i was and then the midwife called dh in for the actual birth which was only a couple of minutes and the kids were unaware out in the lounge. When everything was sorted and i was ready we took her out to meet her siblings. Really, really happy with how it all went.
I ended up having the off-sider midwife but i have had quite a few appointments with her because i have been having iron shots every two days for the last couple of weeks. She was perfect! She just sat quietly and let me do my thing. All decisions were made together and i didn't feel any pressure to do anything.

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sounds lovely

Oh Arte! It sounds just how it should be, normal and awesome all rolled into one!!!!!! :dance:

Oh Arte, that's wonderful!

Arte how lovely!!


Better add me to the list for May :)

:babyneutral: Babies Arrived :baby:

~Stoked~- August

Pip82 - September

Artechim - September


:pregnant: Babies On Their Way :bellyrubs:

eutra_phalia - November

Brogeybear- November

Bella29 - January

Jennifer13 - January

HotI - January

*Ash*- February

loulabelle - February

Sara - May

...Em - May

Woo! Em!! Congratulations :D

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Thanks everyone. Went really well. Kids both slept all night which was ideal, but baby wasn't out before morning but it was all good - DH went out and did the normal morning stuff, the kids came in for the odd visit to see where I was and then the midwife called DH in for the actual birth which was only a couple of minutes and the kids were unaware out in the lounge. When everything was sorted and I was ready we took her out to meet her siblings. Really, really happy with how it all went.
I ended up having the off-sider midwife but I have had quite a few appointments with her because I have been having iron shots every two days for the last couple of weeks. She was perfect! She just sat quietly and let me do my thing. All decisions were made together and I didn't feel any pressure to do anything.

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So glad to hear! It sounds beautiful! I want to do it again! I'm really struggling with the fact that Zac is supposed to be my last..

Oh Stoked, I am worried that I will feel the same way after this bub is born.

Congratulations em :happyforyou:

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Better add me to the list for May :)

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Whaaattttt???!!!! OMG! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!! :leap:

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aw man, now i am jealous hahahahaha! you go girl!

Thanks girls, we hadn't used any contraception since DD was born given how long it took to conceive her we though we would just leave it to chance, and didn't think considering DD is such a frequent feeder that I'd get pregnant this soon, but am ever so glad we did so happy just hoping little one sticks around. Can't wait to have another homebirth! :)

Congrats Em!!

I got my first 'you are brave' comment today (for choosing homebirth). i kind of just brushed it off, talked about positives of it, but gonna have a think about what i would say next time.

Earlier in the week when someone asked me why, i said 'cos i was assaulted in hospital last time, and prefer to stay home and be safe'. i was kinda proud of that, but i don't feel the need to share that info with everyone, it was more specific to the person i was talking to.

I wouls also like to put it out that there that at the moment i think you are all crazy for being sad you may not be giving birth again. I love the baby at the end, and i know my first birth wasn't that good (and i hope i change my mind) but currently i see birth just as something to go through to get the baby at the end.

(Actually now i write that out, i was excited before my DDs birth- maybe i will feel that excitement again)

HotI: that's kinda how I approached it all when pg with DD2. Th emost that i hoped for was a supportive birth environment and a happy baby and mum afterwards.

I had NO idea of the absolute joy that was awaiting us when i did go into labour. That is exactly how i can describe my second birth experience. just joyous. laughter and light. In that moment i realised what it was that all those HB mummas go on about (i'm thinking Mayaness et al lol...i remember her saying how much she loved birthing and i didnt get what she meant until i experienced it myself!). that is what is so frikkin' cool about having a HB is that the environment is just right. it allows for all the right combination of hormones to kick in and wow, that oxytocin - the hormone of love - really is a beautiful thing!

Change of speaker for the Maternity Coalition Movie Night- New speaker is Gaye Demanuele (Independent Midwife)

I have my tickets, a mate from work is coming with me. She is also trying to woo me so she can be official photographer at my birth. Although, she lost a few points when she said she was good at 'zoom'.

Who is going?

Cassius, yeah i hope i can read back here next year and see how my thoughts have changed.

HotI, after all the planning, stress and waiting etc, it is such an enormous high when everything goes right, when it all unfolds as you hoped or better and it is such an amazing feeling that it really does make you want to do it again. When DD1 was born I was soooo happy with how it had all gone, how little pain there was, how she just came out with basically no help from me - just my body doing everything so naturally. It made me want to do it again just to have the feeling of elation after a perfect birth. I was sad that I wouldn't have that again. Then #3 decided to join us. I didn't really get the rush this time - much longer and harder labour but it was still a great birth and it is really nice not to have the 'what ifs' and a list a mile long of things you would like to change (like I did with DS).

congratulations em!

Im having a bit of a freak out, probably prematurely because I'm not seeing the doc until monday.
I had a scan yesterday. I had hematoma early in this pg. it didnt concern me because I had one last time too and all was fine and it was gone by 13 weeks. The ultasound showed a very large bleed, about 3 times the size of the last bleed. Looking ay the position though I think its a new one. That scares me. Also I just had a look at the film and the she had taken a lot of pictures of my cervix and placenta, they look awful close to each other. Placenta looks as though its covering my cervix. The senographer was very vauge with me, and said I needed to speak to the doctor and that a repeat scan was necessary in two weeks. I know I shouldn't try and analyse the film, I'm not a professional. I wish I hadn't because I very may well be totally off the mark and now I'm scared.

This is my last child and I feel stupid for thinking this because if there is any problems of course having a healthy baby is my priority, but I'm scared that I won't be able to homebirth. This birth means so much to me, its my healing birth and I'm so scared its going tio be taken from me.

Sorry for the freak out, I just needed to let it out.

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Oh loulabelle! So sorry to hear that you are scared. How far along ate you? I know that bleeds are more likely when the placenta is close to the cervix. That being said the lower section of the uterus only develops in the third trimester and generally it will move away. I hope that you get to see someone to explain it all to you really soon. On the otherwise of things a gf of mine attempted a hbac about 2 months ago. It ended in transfer and a cs (second birth like that for me in 2 months) but it was still a really healing birth for her. Mostly because she felt really supported in her choices. I hope that you can know deep in your heart that you can still have a healing birth regardless of how the baby comes out if it is done in a supportive manner. Xx Bella

Loulabelle: :hug: that would be a bit freaky xx Are you bleeding atm? Hopefully the Doc or your midwife can put your mind at ease and that the placenta will move away nicely in the coming weeks. bit of a bummer that it will have to be watched until it does move, but i am sending loads of happy placenta in great spot vibes!!

I hope you have a totally different perspective after your birth HotI. No zooming at your birth then...?

Oh no Loula! I hope you get some clarity and good news on Monday. Are you still able to come to the meet?

Thanks guys, it felt good to write it out. I feel less stressed now. I'm just going to forget or at least try until I know more.

Still coming monday,appointment isnt until 2:30. Looking forward to meeting you madb.

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Hi all

Had my m/w visit yesterday. Only one more and I'm down to fortnightly visits already. :o Can't believe how fast this is all going. All is looking very good, I'm measuring bang on for dates. And I have been right about DD2's position - she's been head down for weeks, very cooperatively. Her back is pointing outwards on my RHS, so no posterior bub. Clever girl! ;) She hasn't changed position for weeks, so even though I know there's room, I have a feeling she's very settled in that spot, much like DD1 was for about half of the pg. It explains why the muscle on my RHS gets sorer than anywhere else too, it has the whole baby leaning on it.

My m/w brought over a whole heap of books and I'm half way through Ina May Gaskin's latest ed of Spiritual Midwifery. The birth stories are all in hippie speak, but great to read. Makes me feel completely normal for having a HB! My m/w went to the conference in Newcastle (last month, I think) where Ina May came to speak and was totally impressed with her. She had about half a dozen books for DD too, including Hello Baby, Runa's Birth (my fave) and a couple of others. DD has them by her bed and is reading them to herself each night.

Does anyone else feel like they're flying the flag for some kind of HB crusade? Word got around my prenatal aqua class that I go to at our local private hospital that I'm having a HB and I got heaps of questions. Some seemed really impressed and the others were just interested. So far I've only had a couple of "you're brave" type comments, so I just let them slide. I tell them I'm really excited about it and looking forward to seeing how it all goes.

DP and I were talking about his role last night and I used some of the things I'd read in Ina May Gaskin's book to give him some ideas on keeping the atmosphere light and that kind of thing. How did everyone else prepare their Hs/Ps? How did they go during your HB?

for us DH was at every appt at home. he also did the calmbirth course, read the books to DD, listened to me read interesting bits and bobs from my books and read right through 'birth without violence'. thankfully, he was on board 100% and was the one to insist the year before we got pg to go to the HB rally in canberra :)

But, that said, he was a bit nervous about his role and what to do, so we watched alot of inspiring birth vids on youtube that showed other partners doing wonderful jobs, just made the presence of partners normal ITMS. our midwife was also totally awesome in including him and just expecting him to be part of the process as well, which helped as he never felt he had to ask permission ITMS. we also were really lucky to have watched some docos on how male partners witnessing and being involved in the birth of their babies also then produce super high levels of oxytocin (the love hormone) and how this can assist in bonding with the baby and sending off the right smells etc etc. pretty cool IMHO!

During the really early labour (like when i thought it was just pre-labour or BH) he was super calm, but able to think a bit clearer than me, so was able to guage when to call the m/ws to give them heads up. he was totally awesome and calm for pretty much the whole time. the only time where he was momentarily lost (for all of 15 mins i reckon) was once i was in teh birth pool and in heavy labour and the midwives hadnt arrived. this was mostly because i was in labour land and was not wanting to be consciously present...so was off in calmbirth visualisation land. but within a few minutes of the m/ws arriving he was fine and relaxed and was able to come up to me and just sit and whisper sweet nothings into my ear :)

Hi guys
Ther was a thread somewhere about the ACM's stance on HBAC. Cant' find it. Want to compose something and need info... anyone know where it is?

DH didn't do anything to prepare himself. He was just there for me - totally in his element so it was easy for him I think.

The hippie speak in that book is wild, hey?

ETA - oh never mind, i found it on google

Did anyone make it to the MC movie night last night? it was packed, and they had opened up into 2 rooms. we got seats up front, which was nice.

i talked to a student midwife who ws there, and noticed she has put a thread here looking for follw throughs. she seemed pretty nice if anyone is looking for a student around melbourne.

i spoke to a doula who told me she had never heard of women being assaulted during labour. mmm, then why do you think there is a role for private midwifes and doulas if the system is so good? she was a wierdo

A doula that thought that?? Wonder where she did her study....

Sounds like it was a good night though.



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i spoke to a doula who told me she had never heard of women being assaulted during labour. mmm, then why do you think there is a role for private midwifes and doulas if the system is so good? she was a wierdo

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maybe she was an OB infiltrator hahaha :rofl:

i missed out :(. was too slow and it had all sold out!! waahhhhhh :wall: pretty bummed about TBH. but that was my fault as i got super sick and didnt get my A into G.

For this birth I think DH will mostly stay out of the room and let me be cared for by my Doula and Midwife and friend. He has some major fear issues because of his background. He is really supportive of me personally even if he is less comfortable with the concept of home birth. He has however read all of the studies about home birth and conceptually understands and thinks that it is a safe option for us, but he spent 3 years working as an anaethetist and 18 months of that working in obstetric anaesthesia, so he has seen some really sad things and he would bring those sad and scary experiences with him into my space if he were allowed in the birthing room.

That being said I think that when the baby is actually being born he will come in and either hold me or catch the baby. Whichever is right in the moment.

Went and saw a local OB here yesterday to see if she would support us in case of need to transfer and it went pretty positively. I think she is willing to support us but it will be up to whether the rest of the OB's who could also be on call, are willing to accept part of my care given that they could be the ones to accept me. She said they have a meeting on Friday afternoons and then she would call me. Will see how that goes. I know she had 2 women in labour yest so I dont doubt that kept her busy. We will wait to hear back from her.

PS... I also can't understand a Doula not having come across that.... maybe she got into birth on the other end of the wagon, amongst all the women who love their OB's for the episiotomy they got that tightened up their lady bits and has never met a woman wronged..... With so many ppl becoming Doulas these days it isn't surprising that there are some weird ones in the mix... just like you get medwives and midwives I guess...