Homebirth general discussion #8

[Cassius2]

Hi girls!

Jen: i just love that photo the pure joy is just amazing xx

Ash: oh man! so so so sooo close now!!

[Arimeh]

Hi guys, haven't ventured in here for a while! Congrats to all the lovely ladies who had their babies

Have a question though, and thought it would be best answered by you guys - I was discussing home birth with a friend of mine who is a student midwife, and we were talking hypothetically about me having one (haha) and she said I would never get a midwife to support me because I've had bleeds after DD2 and DD3 - and because it would be my 5th pregnancy that its too risky, and I'd more than likely have a big bleed and never reach the hospital on time (ie, I'd die....)

Soooo... is that all true? Are you more at risk to bleed more each time?

[Bella29]

Yes u are more at risk with each pregnancy, but then again what kind of management did you require with the last births? My sister had small pph's with b2 and b3 and for her fourth we made sure she had synto and there were a few liters of fluids on hand for her. Yes she had another bleed, but it was well managed at home and she was fine.... I guess it all depends on what u have needed in the past as to whether there are further things you could do at home practically. Also on how far from hospital u were and what midwives were around...

[Arimeh]

Ahh ok thanks DD2 I can't remember how much I bled, not sure if its in my birth notes I would have to take a look. DD3 was 850ml (or 800? I'd have to read my birth story again!). Both were managed with, well Synto i guess, they gave me a needle and I stopped gushing straight away. I didn't need any transfusions, or other fluids, and went home from the birth centre a few hours after each birth.

All purely hypothetical you know... of course...

ETA - just checked it was 800ml with DD3.

[Jennifer13]

I lost about 250 mL, but I believe that's minimal? I know there are things you can do beforehand to minimise blood loss. and they can certainly check your iron levels (apparently that's an indication of whether you'll bleed, or there'll be an issue if you do?).

Eutra - added you to my list, hun.

[HotI]

There was an article recently in Birth Matters on things that one woman and her midwife did during pregnancy to reduce pph. if you pm me your e-mail, i can send you a copy.

[*Ash*]

Hi MNB, I discussed this issue with my MW recently. I have never had a PPH but I had also heard the the risk increased with each bub. My MW said that was not necessarily true. Also, she told me it is important to maintain adequate ferritin level (iron stores) and zinc levels in order to reduce the risk of PPH. I read a great article about zinc recently- it is very important to maintain good zinc levels during preg.

However, I think you should get the opinion of homebirth MW's in your area. Some may regard you as high risk, others may not. And as Bella said there are steps that can be taken to mitigate any risk.

ETA- the article that HotI refers to is a good source of info too. Thanks HotI

[Tegam]

Hi Mel.....number five hey....im not going again either

One of the many f%^k ups of my pregnancy with Molly Number 4 was the bull about me being ....almost number 5..... not five but almost number five so my chance of PPH were huge......

I have never had a bleed after a baby but it was just another thing they used against me...

So if i went again i can just imagine the $hit id be given for it being number five...... HOWEVER ......IF........ we go again i will NOT be stepping foot near a hospital so luckly i will not be there for said lecture If i cant find a MW to HB with i WILL freebirth....

Hugs to everyone with the sad sad news from melbourne. I hope it wasnt anyones MW (only so they arent devisitated at the events...whatever they were) Sadly again it was probably something like a stroke that nothing could have been done but the media will use it as a cause to blame HB MWs AGAIN All very sad

[Artechim]

There is an iron level cut off here in NZ for home birth because you are more likely to have a pph if you have low iron.

When are you due?? Hypothetically of course...

[Arimeh]

Hot - my email is ms.mellie77@gmail.com, I'd love to read it, thanks heaps.

Tegam - so you had a hard time finding a midwife to do number 5? You're in Brisbane yeah?

Arte - pmsl, no hypothetical due date. But we are in discussions - I just wanted to know my options.... No trusty independent birth centre here in Brisbane!

Thanks all for the info re:iron levels, mine were quite low during my last pregnancy so maybe that's why I lost a bit? I was on iron supplements though so I dunno...

[*Ash*]

Regarding iron supplements, some are ineffective at raising ferritin (iron stores). You need a high potency chelated iron supplement. There is a great one made by Metagenics. It is practitioner only, so you have to buy it from a Naturopath. Some health food shops that employ naturopaths will sell it over the counter. My ferritin levels were really low at 30 weeks. I started on the Metagenics tabs immediately, and by 36 weeks my ferritin levels had quadrupled. My haemoglobin levels had also increased. MNB, do you know what your platelet levels were like? It is also important to have good platelet levels to reduce the risk of PPH.

[Arimeh]

I have no idea Ash. I know they were low but not sure what the actual number was - don't think I was ever told?

[Tegam]

Mel: yes I struggled for when I was due and my speedy labours. **** that for a joke in the end but hey u never know what number five could bring.

Really five? Kind of feel nuts suggesting it but I am not done and I love my family

[Cricket]

Really five? Kind of feel nuts suggesting it but I am not done and I love my family

Why? Do only crazy people have five (or more!) children?

DH and I believe that children are a great blessing from God, so that's a big part of the reason why we have so many. But aside from that, I think if the pioneer women in the 1600's could begin their families at 15, and raise 10 or 12 or more children in a one room cabin in the woods, with no running water, no disposable diapers, no washing machine, no grocery store, no clothing store, no sewing machine, no laundry soap, no central heat/cooling, etc., etc. and survive it, then surely I, with all the conveniences I have, can handle 5, or 6, or however many we end up being blessed with! (And I know that some of those women were probably unhappy, but there are also records of many happy families!)

Of course, I don't mean that everyone has to think the same way that DH and I do, but I wonder sometimes why people think that 2 or 3 is all they should really have, because any more than that is just unmanageable. We as a human race have never had it so easy!

Anyways, that's just my two cents on that. Feel free to take it or leave it.

PPH - It was never mentioned when I had #5 at home, but I did have a synto injection, which I was fine with. Haven't had any issues with PPH so far. My midwives always bring synto to their births, as well as IV fluids, just in case.

Ash - you're getting so close! So exciting!

Hope everyone else is doing well!

[Arimeh]

I love the way you look at it Cricket - DH has basically said that if I want it, I can have another one, however, I'm not clucky at all - yet I don't feel my family is complete either? Its very strange. I'm not the biggest fan of newborns (and I admit it!) they are cute, squishy and everything, but they frustrate me cos I never know what they want. I'm a toddler/kid person I think. When I start having an idea of what they need, I don't feel so useless so perhaps thats why I'm not clucky? I don't know. So confused.

As for PPH - does it matter if it was before or after the placenta was birthed? Both of mine happened after my placenta had come out. (apparently - DH told me!)

[*Ash*]

Thanks for thinking of me Cassius and Cricket - I am starting to feel very excited. I'm not sure when this little one will arrive. My first child came at 37 weeks, second at 40 +4, and third on the EDD. I do have a slight inkling that this one will come just before the EDD (ha! famous last words), but I am not phased. I am aware that my preg journey is nearly over, and that is a little sad. This is probably our last baby. Yep, we are stopping at number 4 too

[Arimeh]

Probably....? Hehe Ash, I said that DD3 was definitely my last.... and now we are contemplating another one. Probably never happen though...

But all the best for your upcoming birth! How exciting!

[*Ash*]

Thanks MNB when I was preg with my 3rd child I told a few people that he was our last bub. By the third tri, I knew I wanted to have another bub. So now I just say this is 'probably' my last birth or 'probably' my last bub. The logical part of my brain tells me that this should be it but I don't feel 'done'. I am kind of hoping that I feel 'done' after this bub. But I may just be one of those women who has to grieve the end of her child-bearing years. I sort of envy women who know that they are 'done'. It would be reassuring to feel that way. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined that I would have 4 kids- 3 seemed radical! Up until my mid-20's, I wasn't having any kids! DH and I never said 'lets have a big family'. I just assumed I would only have 2 kids- like my own mum. But during my preg with #2, I knew that I wanted another.

Interestingly, DH told me years ago (when we were newly 'dating') that he wanted a large family -4 or 5 kids. I remember thinking 'this guy has got to be joking' While ttc this bub, I told myself that he/she would be the last one. But now I'm not so sure. DH and I haven't really discussed it, but he knows about my frequent use of the term 'probably' - and he hasn't commented negatively. I have also had a few friends and relatives say that they can easily imagine us having more kids. That probably isn't helping at the moment Maybe I need them to tell me we are mad!
I was speaking to a close friend- who stopped at 3, despite considering 4. She reminded me that, of course I will be clucky in the first year, and particularly after the birth. I don't intend to decide straight away anyway. I wouldn't be ttc for 2 or 2.5 years anyway.
But now is the time for me to focus on this little bub, whom I can't wait to meet.