Homebirth General Discussion #7

[chocorama]

Hey everyone, I'm new here, expecting a May babe (but possibly June, as I tend to be a longish gestater). Looking forward to birthing this little one at home, in the cottage we're moving into this weekend Already have two kiddos aged 6 and 3, boy & girl. Expecting another boy this time round, so excited. Look forward to getting to know you all.

[Jennifer13]

Congrats chocolate a on your pg and great to have another HBer in our group. GL with the move!

[*Ash*]

Loulabelle, I hope your scan went well today. Thinking of you.
Welcome chocorama! All the best for your pregnancy.
Bella, I hope your bathroom renos are completed before bubs arrives.
Yay for the oxygen tank arriving, Jen. Have fun in the garden. I hope bubs waits until after your photo session.
Hi Eutra!

[Cassius2]

welcome Chocorama!

Loulabelle: i hope that everything went well today. have been thinking of you

Bella: bathroom renos...now i am officially envious! we have the smallest bathroom in the world and i swear that there are days i dream of taking a sledgehammer to it all

[Artechim]

Hi Chocorama

Ash, good luck getting your iron up. Do you have an iron level cut off for HB? Here they are hesitant to deliver at home when your iron gets too low because it makes you more at risk for a PPH. That is why I had so many iron shots before E was born. Have you tried floradix? It makes me feel spewy but some people like it.

[Bella29]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes for my Blessingway

Ash, I had low ferritin too. My GP reckons it would have been making me more tired. I am taking fero gradumet and also a powder that has lots of concentrated greens called Green Qi. I feel great!!! I found out around your gestation too. I hope you feel better when it is resolved. They also found my B12 was low so I supplimented that too. Oh and it is normal for your hb to drop in the second trimester and it is actually associated with better birth outcomes according to Michel odent. He says that it is due to haemodilution occurring which is what increases your blood volume. You do still need to have good iron levels, but if you have normal iron levels then it is normal for your hb to drop... does that make any sense?? You shouldn't just routinely take iron suppliments due to low hb, becuase a low hb in second - third tri just shows that your body is performing all of it's tasks right iykwim??

Welcome Chocorama!

Jen- well it looks like the ensuite could be finished before Christmas, but then the other Bathroom still needs to be done But it won't matter if that isn't finished. My MW dropped the pool off at the blessing way the other day yay!! But I still have to go get a hose..... Lotsa things to still get done, but hey I am only 37 weeks right, ages to go!??

Cas- I have waited so long to get these done!! Can't wait to see the finished product. So exciting!!

AFM- had a maternity shoot today. Lotsa fun!! I even got naked on the beach at one point!! Naughty girl. Lucky it was so close to raining that no one was around!!

[loulabelle]

welcome chocorama! contracts on your pregnancy.

bella- enjoy your blessingway.I would have lived to do that, but being interstate from my friends and family its not an option. the shoot sounds wonderful! bet you get fantastic photos and go you for getting it off!

ash- low iron and ferritin here too. I'm taking iron tablets and also black strap mollasis. my mw recommended it, you get from health shops. as well as iron, its full if other good stuff.

afm, I'm homebirthing!!! got given the all clear. am so so happy! placenta has moved well away from cervix and the extra lobe is above placenta. placenta looks to be functioning well. baby is on the smaller side but they are not really concerned as my others have been little too. back up hospital wants another scan at 34 weeks, but the ob who did ultrasound didn't think it was needed unless something comes up or I start measuring even more behind. all in all, a great result!

[e_p]

loulabelle - wonderful news!! All systems go now huh!!! Yayy!!

Ash - good luck boosting your iron levels! My ferratin dropped a bit in 3rd trimester, which is normal as your blood volume has expanded hugely...but my m/w suggested making smoothies and adding some spirulina...I also added some chia seeds for extra protein. They were delicious and helped with my heartburn too

Welcome Choco and Christy!!

[HotI]

36 weeks for me today. All good to birth at home now.

[Cassius2]

YAY HOTI!!!!! ahhh such a nice feeling when you reach that milestone!

Christy: oh you lucky woman! i would LOVE to attend a homebirth (mine, someone elses lol!). they are truly special!

[e_p]

woww HotI!! Not long to go now!! So exciting xx

[Bella29]

Yay Hot1!!!! Awesome to hear! We are all so close in dates! I wonder who will go first?? Any bets??

[HotI]

Jen - new years day baby
Bella - 11th Jan
HotI - 21st Jan

[Bella29]

hmmmmm

Jen- 5th Jan
Bella - 20th Dec
hot1- 10th Jan

I have been having some slightly painful BH... not sure if anything is happening, it has been my opinion that I will go to 42 weeks so it will either be the 20th of Jan for me or in a couple of days and catch me completely unexpected. Bubby seems to have slowed down it's movements too so who knows if that is in prep for birth. I doubt it, but anything can happen right??

[Jennifer13]

Thanks Tegam. We haven't heard from Bec for a while, although this explains why. Sounds like she's had a very challenging pg and now to have to say goodbye to her angel.

Thanks for thinking of us. TBH I'm so self-centred at the moment that I'm genuinely sad for her, but it's not making me fearful for myself. I've spent so long this pg blocking out the negativity in my own mind that it has become habit. I won't let my mind go there.



I'm sending out Christmas cards today and then I can clear away the dining room for my birth space. As soon as I get my work finished this morning! Is great to be sitting in my office in my PJs though. And I just found out yesterday I'm going to be auntie to another beautiful niece, so it's girls all the way in my family!

[HotI]

Jen - new years day baby
Bella - 11th Jan
HotI - 21st Jan

i was a few days off with Jen, but might be closer with Bella! Sending lots of love and energy as you get ready to meet baby.

[*Ash*]

Yay! Loulabelle, that is awesome news. I am really happy for you.

Oooh, I am feeling excited anticipation for Jen, Bella and HotI - you are all so close. OK Bella, I'll place a bet - you will 'go' before HotI. Of course, Jen will beat you both!

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions re: ferritin. I have started taking a high potency iron supplement, called Hemagenics VegeCare. I took it during third tri last preg too. I make sure that I take it at the same time as I consume green leafys and foods high in Vit C. I have started having green smoothies again too. The funny thing is, now that I know how low my levels are, I have started to feel weak and tired. I must have been in denial before!

Arte - I like the taste of Floradix. I usually have a bottle in my fridge. My MW said it is good for raising haemoglobin levels but not terribly good at raising ferritin levels. My MW hasn't spoken to me about a cut off level. As you know, she has worked in the NZ system, is there a specific cut-off there? We have an appointment this week. I have absolute faith that my ferritin levels will rise in time for my 36 week bloods - well, that is what I am telling myself anyway!

Hi Christy - lucky you. I have never been at a birth that wasn't my own. I would just suggest talking to your friend about what she wants or expects from you, and follow her cues on the day, as what she wants may all change anyway! For me, I never want anyone to really 'do' anything. I like to be left alone. But if I want DH to do something, I want him to do it NOW. Usually, he just holds my hand and offers his claming presence. I want to know that he is totally available to me and not distracted by other demands.

Eutra- How is your precious bub? I LOVE chia seeds. I add them to whatever I can.

Hi to everyone else.

[Jennifer13]

I'm guessing 3 Jan for me. Bella - hmmm, 10 Jan. Hot1 - 11 Jan. Why not?

Nothing imminent here, but I have the next couple of weeks to relax (finally). Just had our photos done, so nothing left now. Really happy with how they went. I'm planning on watching plenty of HB videos this week!