homebirth general discussion #9

[lady_neon]

Hi ladies can I join?

Planned home waterbirth

[Tegam]

Hi ladies can I join?

Planned home waterbirth

Yippy! Congratulations on your pregnancy and choice of birth

Cricket: Its plenty early enough for baby to move around. Remember us multis have heaps of room in their, so that can lead to bubs being in lazy positions but its means we have one well trained uterus to know what to do when labour starts! Ive had two posterior births and the 2nd was no where near the same as the first I dont like the sound of the 3rd MW.

Congratulations PZ!!!! I look forward to hearing about your journey picking a MW

[Cricket]

Cricket: Its plenty early enough for baby to move around. Remember us multis have heaps of room in their, so that can lead to bubs being in lazy positions but its means we have one well trained uterus to know what to do when labour starts! Ive had two posterior births and the 2nd was no where near the same as the first I dont like the sound of the 3rd MW.

Thanks Tegam. I *know* that's true, but it still has me a little worried. I'll just have to keep reminding myself not to worry, and have a peek at the Spinning Babies site to see if I can encourage this little one over to the "good side".

Welcome lady-neon! Congratulations! Water birth is a WONDERFUL way to have a baby.

[Tegam]

Cricket have I ever told you how totally and utterly green with loving envy I am that you are having another baby hmmm any tips on getting my DH to give me another baby?

[Cricket]

Cricket have I ever told you how totally and utterly green with loving envy I am that you are having another baby hmmm any tips on getting my DH to give me another baby?

Thanks for the kind words, Tegam! It's always nice to hear someone speak like that, rather than "Are you crazy?!" (Although, TBH, I haven't had too much of that either, thankfully!) What's holding your DH back? Finances? Fear of other's reactions? Feeling overwhelmed as a dad? I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to have one partner feel like they're "done" when the other one isn't.

DH and I probably have approached the whole idea of parenthood from a different perspective than most. I'm the oldest of 8 kids myself, so my family doesn't feel overly "big" yet, and DH's is one of four, and his parents always wished they could have more. (MIL had severe PCOS, and then cancer.) Plus, we belong to a church with many young, large families. So, we don't feel too out of place, and have lots of support around us. That makes a big difference! The deciding factor for us though, is that because we are Christians, we believe what the Bible says about children - that they are a great blessing from God. So, the more, the merrier, right? We have never used any birth control thus far, and I can honestly say that we've been given everything that we've needed to deal with the crazy times, and occasional chaos that comes with a house full of little people. The kids give us a GREAT deal of joy, to go along with the grey hair.

DH and I are trying to decide how/if/when we will decide that we are done. This pregnancy has been more difficult and painful for me, and I'm not sure how many more I can do, if they get worse! DH totally sympathizes and respects that, and does whatever he can to help, and I'm very thankful for his support. Right now, we're saying one more, after this baby, and depending on how that pregnancy goes, we might be done.

For us, my health is probably the primary consideration in our "family planning". Finances and everything else is secondary. The conception of a child is the creation of an eternal soul - what can compare with that?

Not sure if that helps you out at all - pardon my rambling. Hope you can convince your DH to have another! I've never heard anyone say they regretted having another baby. Sometimes it comes as a shock, and you don't feel prepared and wonder how it will work out, but it DOES work out, and the love and joy that a new little person brings far outweighs the challenge they present.

[Jennifer13]

Yes, I'm not pregnant either, Bella. I was concerned when I had a few iffy symptoms over the long weekend and tested yesterday. So phew, my cycle has not yet returned. DD2 is bfing through the night still at this stage, so I'm tempted to wait another month and then tell DP we can dispense with birth control until AF returns. Feels like we're using the damn things for no reason, but there's no way I would want an oopsie before DD2 turns 1.

If I had chosen a different path I'd have half a dozen children. As it is, I'm very happy with the two I've got and I'd be over the moon if I managed to convince DP to go one more time.

Bella - do you think the wonderful birth you've had this time and the transition to no 2 has made it easier for your DH to think about more? I know it's certainly shifted DP's perspective ever so slightly. DD2 has come into our family so seamlessly that his concerns about more children are practical and financial (for the future). Plus, he's aware of his own age and the things he wants to do after we've raised our family. But what's a few more years of doing that, really?

[meow]

Lady neon- a birth plan isn't about writing done how the birth is going to go, it's about writing down your preferences for whatever may happen. Such as whether you want baby to have vitamin K or hep B shots. Whether you want an episiotomy or if you would prefer to tear. I didn't write my preferences down for my HB, I wrote a list of instructions though such as contact numbers, what music I would want if I asked for music etc and I wrote a birth plan in case of transfer that outlined what I did and didn't want including baby care in NICU such as no formula and a request that my milk be expressed even if I was unconscious.

[Cassius2]

Hello girls!

Cricket: in my case i love EVEN MORE the smell of my essential oils as it brings me back to that wonderful time (but i had one of those disgustingly fun births where there was only one painful contraction....and of course i immediately wished for a C/S...but thankfully after it passed we were back on track ).

Ladyneon: i used music in early labour (what i thought was pre-labour). it really helped to ground me and connect to the baby rather than the niggles and tightenings, so i found it useful. this time i want to to use it during labour as well....just gotta remember to get the ipod in the right room this time!

Jennifer: we were done at 2 kids...until i had that wonderful waterbirth at home! for both of us, it changed immediately and we couldnt imagine life without another. we also thought a few years down the track too

Bella: i had the same strategy when moving! a box a day!

as for warmth, we live in melbourne when DD2 was born in early sept and it was still pretty cold. we cranked the heating up and the pool keeps warm for like 4 hours on its own. we bought thick blankets for lying underneath the pool and for on top in case i wanted to get out and pace around.