homebirth general discussion #9

[Cricket]

Em - how are things at your house? Any relief from the shingles yet? Hope you're doing OK!

[meow]

Cricket you're going to be amazing!!! I'm one of those that struggles to be motivated for big events. I don't even want to start a marathon because it would be too hard and I'd hate it. I had to be pushed to bungee jump. Could only do a tandem skydive because there is no way I could jump myself... and thank heavens I don't get to choose to go into labour or I probably wouldn't do it. But then you're there, and you're doing it... and you're amazing and powerful. And you DO IT! You ride through it and you birth your baby and it's so, so, so very worth it.

You can do this. You will do this. And it will be amazing.

Thinking of you em. I'm so sorry you're not well. I hope the shingles pass quickly

[HotI]

inamaygaskin.jpg

For Cricket and Em. Your bodies are strong, your minds are strong, your baby will help you to birth them.

[HotI]

Cricket, this article/blog on membrane stripping came up on my FB feed today. thought you might be interested. i was kinda surprised that you were keen on a stretch and sweep, haven't really seen much advocacy for them in the homebirth setting. Love to hear your thoughts!

Membrane Stripping, Membrane Sweeping–just say NO | Gloria Lemay

[Cricket]

Haven't read the article yet, HotI, but I definitely will look over it and see what she has to say.
I know there are some risks associated with it (ie. water breaking) and for some women it just leads to cramps and discomfort without any progress. But for me, they seem to have been helpful. With my last three, they have helped me move from "prelabour" into "real labour", or at least, it certainly seemed that way. Who knows what may have happened without them, I guess. They won't do much if you're not ready, and the cervix has to be dilated somewhat already, so the midwife can get a finger in, so you'd have to be sort of close to labour anyways. I'll see what they say tomorrow, I guess, and I'll have a read through Gloria Lemay's article and ask them about it too.

Thanks so much for the encouragement!

[Cricket]

OK, just gave the article a quick read over, and it seems she's saying that there is no proven benefit to the S&S, and some associated risk, so why do it. I'm not OK with doctors who just go and do it without informing or asking for consent from the pregnant woman, as my GP did in my first pregnancies, and as my friend's doctor just did for her. (Going to check and see if you're dilating at all... hmmmm.... OOOOWWWWW!!!)
My midwife told me the risks, and explained the results she's seen in her experience, and asked if I was interested. In my experience, I think it was helpful, so I'm willing to accept the risk.

[Cassius2]

Oh cricket i hope that those good contractions turn into the real deal soon for you!! Many birth blessings for you

Em: how is the itch going? hope that it is clearing up quickly...not much fun. i remember last pg that they thought i had shingles...but nup, for me it was some weird reaction to non natural fibres in the clothes...soooo annoying! i remember reading up on shingles when they thought i had it, and yep, the itching was teh numero uno symptom i can only imagine

[Cricket]

Thanks Cassius!

No news here. Saw the midwife, and all is well - active babe, good heart beat, no more weight being gained, etc. She didn't do a vag exam, so no S+S either. She's off tomorrow, and doesn't want anything happening when she's not there. That's fine - I'm hoping for a good night's sleep tonight, and we'll see what tomorrow brings.

[Jennifer13]

Thanks for the article, Hot1. I passed it on to my sister whose ob offered her one at 38 1/2 weeks.

Cricket, I already wonder if my birth was a fluke and I'll probably stress a bit more if there's a next time! This time I lived in a state of faith and blissful ignorance. Just keep reminding yourself not only that you can do it, but you have done it before. And remember that feeling of euphoria when you birth your baby and hold them for the first time. That feeling is worth all the labour! I am always a bit envious of women about to birth, that was the best feeling of my life.

Thinking of you, Em and Cricket. Not long now!

[Cricket]

Just popping in to say hi. Things are very quiet here today. Not a whole lot of BH, and baby is quiet too. (Still moving around, don't worry! Just not as much as other days.) Picked up Ina May's book from the midwives office. Getting into a better head space about labour and birth.

On a slightly different note, does anyone else feel like having a homebirth makes nesting worse? I feel like my house must be "company-ready" at all times, just in case. And I know the midwives aren't "company" and won't be there to check if my house is clean, but I can't help it. I've been cleaning and tidying constantly since 36 weeks or so... Some of it is just the normal pre-baby nesting, I'm sure, but I feel like it's worse because I know people will be coming into my house when this baby comes.

[Eenee]

Hi everyone.

Still here and no sign of baby yet. Still have shingles but it's not too bad. I went over with DD and would like not to do that this time lol.

Cricket: yes I have to have the house clean at all times too. What's the bet I go into labour when it's messy lol trying to get DH to help me keep it clean is hard because he is so untidy.

[Tegam]

Cricket yes I do think it makes it worse. Lol. I guess I'm a little jealous too of the women that stay in a private hospital being waited on hand and foot while their mum cleans their house and looks after their other children. However in reality I was so well/happy/hyper after a birth I change my own bed sheets and put dinner on. We had a new years eve party here two days after dd3 was born. It just seemed normal lol. Happy birthing.

Em! Wish I was closer not long now!

[HotI]

CRicket - yep! and i went to 41 weeks so my house got cleaned over and over... AT the start of labour, i was hanging clothes on the line (at 10pm at night) so the midwife didn't see my basket of wet washing!

[Ambersky]

Dont you love those crazy things we do in labor.. I had a hospy birth with DD1, my waters broke with a gush as i was walking from the en-suite back to the bed... DH went to get the middy and when they came back in to the room i was on my hands and knees mopping up the carpet.. Middy thought it was hilarious!

[Cassius2]

cricket: oh yes! i was super crazy with the cleaning. i had this thing where everything had to be 'birth ready'. i couldnt stand the idea of birthing somewhere cluttered or dirty: which is hard with a toddler, DH, mother, dog and two cats hahahaha. also i was super crazy about the toilet. had to be sparkling at all times. poor DH really got hounded over that one

[Jennifer13]

Ambersky - that is hilarious! You may as well have been at home. DH was on holidays since DD2 was born 4 Jan and my Mum arrived 1 Jan, so I didn't get overly cleaning mad. I still had my cleaner too, in fact, she came the day after DD2 was born while my m/w was there and was shocked that I had given birth the day before right there!

Em, hope shingles are all cleared up soon and then baby arrives.

[Cricket]

Nothing new over here, still... I know, it's early still - not even quite 39 weeks, but my last two babies were born at 38 and 38+2, and I really thought (hoped?) this baby would be here by now too. Thankfully my days are busy enough still that time is not dragging too badly. My primary midwife goes on vacation right after my due date, so I hope I don't go over!

Anyways, just thinking about the whole stretch and sweep thing again, and I came across a little blurb about it in Ina May Gaskin's book, and she counts it as a standard part of the midwifery model of care, as opposed to other methods of induction. She refers to two studies in which labour was successfully started in 50% of the attempts.

Interesting to see the different perspectives on this from two women (Gaskin and LeMay) who are basically in the same "camp". Guess it's one of those things to do your own research on and discuss with your midwife before you decide.

Hope all is well with all the other mums, especially those who are in the final count down with me.

[HotI]

I love Ina May but lots of the birth stories in Ina May's books have quite a few VEs too, more than i am comfortable with.

Guess it's one of those things to do your own research on and discuss with your midwife before you decide.

Think that is the key to homebirths, the relationship between woman and midwife