homebirth general discussion #9

Oh Ash, that sucks! I've never had thrush but again this time around I'm managing blocked ducts. Last night I got home from the Face of Birth premiere (which was fantastic btw, more on that in a minute) and crawled into bed with bad breast pain and fever. I was so cold I needed DP to cuddle me under the doona to keep warm. This morning I'm all weak and wobbly, but it seems to have passed. I've got homeopathic remedies but ibuprofen is the only thing between me and antibiotics atm. It sounds like such a petty complaint, but with DD2 sleeping so long overnight it doesn't help! And she won't sleep during the day unless she's wrapped, so I can't have a rest to recover properly. Hope the thrush clears up for you. It sounds awful!

BBL, baby waking!

Oh Ash, i feel your pain. it was the fly in the ointment after DD2 was born too. we had mastitis twice and ongoing thrush for the first few months after she was born (but only really painful in those first 8 weeks). we visited the LC at the RWH in melbourne and at the first session they got me onto the drugs (the full nuke in aracadia's words lol). it was alot of hard work, but so worth it in terms of how hard and awful the thrush was (i too dreaded feeding DD2). I also used some complimentary therapies and took the advice of my LC and MW and booked DD2 into the Osteo as she appeared 'fussy' at the boob (it was put down initially to the thrush but after a single session at the osteo it turns out that she had a posterior tongue tie and needed some gentle readjustment of her jaw and upper palate). that was what really was the turning point for us in that journey. we also heeded some advice from our MW that told me on the sly that what she felt helped her thrush when BF was a good soak in the ocean :) so we packed the bags and kids into the car and drove 1700kms when DD was 7 weeks old to visit a friend in wollongong lol. it all cleared up that week. so my plan of attack: nuke 'em, osteo and the ocean!

Nuke'em ostro and the ocean. Seems like it covers all bases. Very holistic of you Cass!

How r u Ash?

How is it going, Ash? And our pg mummas! May is coming up fast.

Can I pretend I definitely belong in here, even though it's only the tiniest of tiny chances that I'll need it? :lol:

Teni, don't tease! Feel free to pop in any time.

AFM, I think my cycle might be returning - hormonal pimples a couple of days ago, hugely emotional on Wed and creamy CM. time for us to be a little more careful, I don't need another HB in 2012.

Today I'm telling DP about how a mum in my exercise class's DH has already had a vasectomy and their second child is only three months old. DP tells me he won't be doing anything permanent because you never know, he changed his mind about not wanting any more after DD1 and he might change his mind about no more again. ;) I don't think hanging around in here is going to be a good influence on me!

Wow Jen! Fertile already??? I'm almost 12 months pp and still no signs. Lucky I want to space out the next baby (babies).

Teni, I love seeing you in here!!! Come chat to us about anything!

Anyone else want to come say hi (I can see you all lurking...lol)

Oh Ash! I'm so sorry you've had such a hard time with BFing :( I don't know about thrush but it sounds painful. I had difficult BFing journeys with both my babies and while I was disappointed it happened again the second time around, it was also validating that I didn't do anything 'wrong' the first time- I have babies with high palates and attachment is very difficult for the first month or so so I end up with very painful BFing and low supply. It makes me a little scared of another baby because to me a newborn spells weeks of screaming, crying, suffering and angst. I agree that it's such a downer after a beautiful birth. I think the power of that amazing birth helps you ride it better though. the big thing that helped me was hiring an electric breast pump and resting a side for 6, 12 or even 24 hours if I needed to. granted, 24 hours on the pump and my supply was dropping but then lots of feeds and the supply some back up and it helped keep me sane. When I was at that point of almost loathing seeing my baby awake or being SO scared of trying to attach him then out would come the pump and I could give myself a break, relax again and keep getting through it. I hope things are improving :hug:

I think my cycle is returning too! My son is 15 months now and about a week ago I went through my ovulation signs- EWM and increased libido. Not really looking forward to adding my period to my already busy schedule but I'm loving the return of my libido. Finally!!!

Cassius- we got a bill for my son's pathology the day. Simple stuff really but fairly comprehensive blood work- vit D, iron, white blood cells etc etc and it was $1000!!! Wow! Thankfully our insurance covers that so it cost us $75 (still more than in oz) but woah, I can understand how an ultrasound without maternity cover is expensive now! Must. Not. Get. Pregnant.

Well, it's official! I have my period back. And boy I had forgotten how comfy my cloth pads are. Ohhh... I wish I wasn't fertile again yet. I'm so damn clucky and we just really can't have a baby at the moment. We're planning on moving in about a year and my H will get another job with maternity health cover so maybe after then. Will give us more time to get on our feet too. Another thing to grieve about with the fall out of my son's autism :(

Anyway, excuse my rantings- totally off the HB track.

Bella- how are you??? I've been thinking of you lots since your fertility concerns... any news?

And where are you Audax? I thought you'd be in here by now ;)

Meow, it's nice to know you'll be ready when you're ready, ITMS. I'll find out in a couple of weeks if my suspicions are correct or not. Fx I'm not there yet!

It is quiet in here! Hope everyone is well.

Hi all,

Yes, I've been thinking about Bella too. I hope all is well, Bella.
Hi meow- I hope you can endure the cluckiness for another year. It's not easy. I was madly clucky for about a year before we conceived DS3- I thought about it constantly. I kept a journal so that I could funnel that 'energy' somewhere. Thankfully, I am not at all clucky now. The mastitis and nipple thrush have made me feel that my body has had it- it is telling me 'no more' lol! We'll see how I feel in 2 years. But I am thankful that I don't have that yearning. After DS2 was born, I knew he wasn't my last bub. But with DS3, I feel content at the thought that he is my last one.

Thanks to everyone for their kind and supportive words regarding my bf dramas. Things have definitely improved but I have spent a small fortune and shed many tears to get to this point.

I hope you are feeling well Cassius.
Em and Cricket- how are you both going? May doesn't seem so far away.
Jenn-So, you are expecting AF in 2 weeks? That would be a drag.

hi girls!! i am about but not receiving notifications for this thread :dunno:

Meow: yay for cycles returning! i see it as the next step away from tiny babies...i am like you, newborns kinda freak me out lol. sore boobs, crazy crazy nights etc :lol:
i'll need to question you up in a year or so on the cloth pads. i was looking into the mooncups and they also look they could be good.

$1000 for bloodwork?? waahhhhh! i am so happy that we get to go home for the end of the pg and birth...

Jen: oohhhh we all like it when our DHs think to wait....look where i am now after our 'last' baby hahahahahahahaha.

Teni: you are MORE than welcome!!! I hope that you can have a HB...they are totally awesome!

Ash: BF can totally suck when it just isnt working that well, i had it so so easy the first time and was completley unprepared for a challenging journey the second time. knock you for a sixer...

Arcadia: what gap are you thinking? we were planning on a minimum three for this baby :rofl:

AFM: we are chugging along nicely. i am already showing massively...at 6 weeks. my poor poor body lol. i have my first appt this wednesday with the midwife, we'll see how that goes. i am hoping that my PTSD doesnt kick in. i wish they had home appts...even the thought of going into their lovely offices gives me a freak out :(
My morning sickness has turned into the full-blown green machine. i am soooo off all day. thankfully not vomiting yet, so hoping to dodge that! i am in two minds about trying to convince DD2 to wean. i am trying to minimise the number of feeds...without any luck hahahahaha. i just dont think i would have the strength emotionally or physically to tandem BF ITMS.

Ash - you describe the feeling so well and I'm def not done going by that. Maybe my head will win out over my heart in a few years! ;) I hope you don't have too many more tears to shed for this bfing journey. :( Your poor bbs and poor you! Is there much improvement?

Cassius - so explain it to me, are you coming home to Oz for the birth or staying there? And at what point, if you are?

Definitely coming back to Oz! We are going to come back in August (all going well and all). in the end it would only be a month or so shorter than we had thought...we wanted to be back in time for DD1 to do orientation at her Big Girl School.

Hi all,

Ash! I've been thinking of you! Yes the money you blow on Pharma meds is insane!! I saw five drs, went through multiple courses of things and also spent a fortune at a naturopath! I have had some burning pain yesterday and this morning, so I'm feeling crap about it all too. I can't believe how persistent that bloody stuff is!! I'm hoping it's just because I have a cold and my immune is down. I'm thinking of you lots and lots though :hug:

Bella? Anyone friends with her on fb? I haven't seen her around?

Cass, I really hope we can meet up when you're back. Then I'll be able to give you belly rubs too!

Meow, how are things all going with your family?

Jen, I can't believe you may be getting periods again so soon. I'm feeling pretty lucky I've got to twelve months again with ds.

I definitely want another baby, so we're thinking of ttc later this year, or probably in the new year (since I turn 30 on the 29th of December woot!). I certainly want another home birth and I'm really going to try the pool this time...really! I think I'll still birth on land, because I like my midwife being right there at the action, but with any luck I can ask her not to touch the baby and try and be more active in bringing the baby out and up to my chest. With both my births though I feel so overwhelmed by the pushing urges, I can't connect my hands to feel the area and the baby...I have tried both times, and I just want to grip onto something and not let go (first time it was dh and second time it was the bed).

I love the thought of the baby floating out and being lifted out of the water by it's mama....ahhh....

Bella is in the process of moving so I'd say is either packing or similar! She has been around on FB, but not much.

Arcadia, isn't it amazing that we can tweak our births with the control you have at home? I love how well you know what your body is like when birthing! My pushing was relatively slow this time (compared to labour) and DD2's head was delivered slowly, stopping half way. I imagine that will be quicker if there's a next time. I guess you have the freedom to choose in or out of the pool at any stage.

Cassius, ah, that makes sense. Home in Aust isn't Sydney, is it? It feels so odd being so connected to all of you and so far apart! DD1 will get so much out of this baby's birth if you want her there. I often think how amazing it is that my six year old knows more about a normal birth than most grown women (and men) do. In Birthings mag once a mum of six who had most at home tells how her 11 year old son corrected their teacher at school after the class watched a birth video and said it was nothing like how it happened!

Jen I also love it when I hear my daughter playing with their friends. Once a little friend said something about having to go to hospital. Dd1 said 'why, just have it at home, its not like you are sick' and dd2 aka miss social justice said 'you can have a baby where ever you want' ;)
Later the little friend was making a lot of noise and the girls asked why. The friend said its sore having a baby, my girls said no its not. This started a fight, they came to me and I said 'no its just a lot of hard work to have a baby'

I have also heard one of my kids (can't remember which one) say ' oh would someone just stick a boob in that babies mouth'. This is something my DH says to me, in a loving way. It's nice to know I have raised kids to have such 'normal' ideas about birth and feeding.

I do worry that ds's wife will have a lot to live up to if she was raised differently. Do you get what I mean? I'm not saying its wrong, I just think my daughters will be able to change a mans pre conceived ideas to their way of thinking. But a daughter in law might hate me for letting ds think aural is normal??? Hmmm hopefully he'll fall for a tree hugger ;)

Ash how are your boobs?

Audaxs where are you?

Teni: welcome.

Cass: yay for coming home but poo to moving country when so heavenly utd!

Hoti. How is your baby already 8 weeks old!

Bella; hope your move is going well!

Em and cricket. In a few days (april) we'll be able to say you are having your baby next month!!!!!!!!

Kel: you stalking? You haven't dropped in for a whole? Your plans coming along?

Meow: if and it's a HUGE if I can convince DH of number 5 we will be trying in feb/march/April 2013 hoping for a jan 2014 baby. Wanna be pregnancy buddies??

Arcadia: belly buddies with meow and I? I'd love to have a water birth next time. If not I will at least stay in the shower:) do you do patchwork? I love the quilt in your avvy. I love sewing ;)

Did I miss anyone? Probably but on tapatalk so can't see old posts. Hugs

Afm: undecided as if I should still be in here. Not sure we will ever have anymore bubs and all this beauty of pregnancy and amazing birth pulls at my heart strings :)

Tegam you can just be here to impart your wisdom. ;)

Jennifer- my second stage was long in both labours. I was feeling so ripped off second time around when it happened again! :lol: It's not like I was pushing when I shouldn't have been (my body was making me do it) and I was in an optimal position both times. Just nothing would make those babies move down any faster. My second son crowned through 3 contractions (the first one bobbed in an out, but second one just stayed there, half way out for what felt like forever!) so I can relate. I was proud of my ability to be completely relaxed through that. Damn his shoulder getting a bit stuck and tearing me on the way out!! After all I had done to let his head come out so slowly!

I hope your appointment goes well Cassius! Let us know how you fare and good luck going to their office :hug: We'll most likely have baby#3 while we're in the states so I'm a little antsy about "the system" here. I have noticed our local HB MWs seem to appointments at their birth centre. I want home visits! I'm thinking I might look into a "freebirth" with an unregistered MW. It'll be such a shame not to revisit and grow on the relationship I built with my previous MWs too.

Arcadia- thanks for asking, our family is going great! My eldest son is doing freaking amazing things and is really healing. But it's intense. I am cooking and organising his therapy & education all the time. There is just no way we can have a baby until he is MUCH more healed and things are more calm. I'm looking forward to waiting because I'd like him to understand what is going on next time around and it'll be lovely to be able to share with both the boys... it just makes me sad when I think of how much more comprehension other children his age have and how much more ready we would be to have another baby if we didn't have this hurdle already. I have to spend some time detoxing after baby#2 weans before we can safely get pregnant again too... I'm thinking we wont be able to TTC till about late 2013, so I'll probably be 38 for the next one :)

Stick around Tegam- I always liked hearing from those that had been there before when I was planning my HB :D

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Jen I also love it when I hear my daughter playing with their friends. Once a little friend said something about having to go to hospital. Dd1 said 'why, just have it at home, its not like you are sick' and dd2 aka miss social justice said 'you can have a baby where ever you want' ;)
Later the little friend was making a lot of noise and the girls asked why. The friend said its sore having a baby, my girls said no its not. This started a fight, they came to me and I said 'no its just a lot of hard work to have a baby'

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This is funny!! When I was working with some preschool children while pregnant with my first son, they started acting out having babies. OMG! Doctors, waling mother flat on the back, c-section!! I entered into a conversation with them about how babies aren't always born with doctors around and some are born at home. They were amazed and rather fascinated by the concept of a midwife.

Meow it's just weird to imagine a time when kids don't know any better about hospital birth and formula feeding :(

Sounds like you are doing an amazing job with you ds! You must get so tired being 100% all the time. You should be super proud. Another reason to hold off having another, you will need a little me time to nurture your new little one :)

Hi everyone!
Oh Arcadia, has the burning pain gone? Oh how frustrating and disheartening :hug: I still have a burning sensation when he first latches on and for about 1/2 hour after the feed. But this is a big improvement. I ended up at my GP in tears on Fri. I had done the Diflucon (finished on Thurs) and had noticed an improvement. But still feeling down about the pain. GP prescribed a cream- Kenacomb. Have you used it? I was sceptical. How can a cream help with deep, internal pain? It cost $54 for 30g! Anyway, 3 days later and it has obviously had an impact. I should join bf thread but I wouldn't want to turn anyone off!
So exciting that you might start ttc at end of year! You should definitely have the pool on stand by for your next birth.
Sorry, I'll catch up with everyone else later- time to feed on my 'dodgy' side!

Ash- I pmd you so we don't hijack this thread with the terrible woes of ****ing thrush!! But I think of you every day!

Team, yes I like to sew and have made a few quilts...I'm a novice patchworker, but I make curtains, upholster furniture, make clothes for myself. My main focus for the last five years has been leather bags.

Meow, I'm so glad things are going so well for you. Maybe we'll be belly buddies for our next (with tegam)

Jen, thanks for your kind words. I do feel like I know my birthing body intimately. It's an awesome feeling! With dd I pushed her head and body out in one go, but ds I pushed his head out and then had a good break and then his body. I infinitely prefer the slower version lol, because dd gave me a graze as she came out (she had her hands at her face).

Gotta run...so sorry for those I haven't included....

Waaaaahhh not joining you yet! But I'll hang around and stalk you all. For doula research... Yeah... Research...

Well I have no idea how it happened, but somehow I got unsubscribed to this thread. How annoying! I just had to read three pages. I went looking cos after all this time since I last saw a thread come up from here, I figured someone must be chatting on the hb thread.

Anyway thank you to all the girls who missed me and noticed I wasn't posting. That was really lovely to know you all noticed. Yes we have been hugely busy packing to move. Mind you settlement has now been delayed by anywhere up to 2 weeks cos we found out that usually ppl in hubbies line of work arnt charged mortgage insurance. Which we were gonna be. So we are saving $23k but it is costing time to renegotiate with the bank. If they won't choose to waive the fee we will go with a different bank who will. Anyway enough about that! I just wish we knew when we were going to move. I have half the house packed and boxes everywhere.

Btw whilst we r off topic *does a little turn*. What do u think of my new Avi?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk..... I'm probably feeding my cherub :)

I love love love your new avi Bella! You all look gorgeous! DS1 has a beautiful hair colour. Stunning background too.
Of course we noticed your absence. Good to see you. :)

I would definitely stalk a belly buddies thread with Arcadia, meow and Tegam in it!

Ash why would we have a belly buddies thread when we have a home here already!! But stop already your getting me excited for something that might not ever happen again.

Bella. Did you use the new app? It seems if you reply in the new app you lose your subscription unless you hit subscribe again, every time you post! Love the avvy! And the pretty turn you did to announce it :)

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Audaxs where are you?

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How did you know I was stalking? :lol:

We love lurkers and 'researchers'! But be warned, that's a temporary classification at best. ;)

Audax, how are you doing? Did you get my PM? Just want to help out your HB fund. ;)

oh Bella that new Avvy is delish! i am starting to think about a new one to reflect a baby bump...but gosh darn it i suck at designing them lol.

Teni: you belong in here, no stalking necessary!

Hello women, Thought i had better stick my head in here :-) DD2 was born at home, and all going well this belly babe will be too. Now i just need to find my positive belief again, so I'm here to surround myself with fellow 'believers' :lol:

welcome to the thread :hello: Ambersky!

Hello and welcome, Ambersky! :)

Not too much to report here. 31 weeks, or thereabouts. Sore. Tired. Achy. Jealous of all the mums near me IRL who have just had or are about to have their babies! It's just about spring here in Canada, but the weather has been almost summer-like already! 22 C today here, and just lovely. :) Looking at all the new summer clothing coming out in the stores, and hoping that I'll fit some of it by the time summer arrives.... Maybe? Please?

Hi everyone. Gosh I'm lazy I've read all posts but to tired to reply.

Had blood tests today to check if I'm anaemic considering I'm so tired but them again could be because I'm chasing a 14mth old around that doesn't like to sleep.

hey everyone, welcome to the newcomers to the thread!

I love coming in here and seeing lots of people talking about their future plans for HB :) I think mine will be a few years away purely for $ reasons but I already can't wait!

Sorry to hear that a few of you have been battling mastitis and thrush :( I've just had a couple of days of fighting off what I think was the beginnings of mastitis but all clear now with lots of feeds and some hot and cold compresses. Even just that was so painful - I cant imagine how awful it must be to have full blown mastitis that lasts for days/weeks! :(

C is 4 months old today! 8:55pm tonight I'll be remembering when I picked him up out of the water and said hello :)

oh! Also, I booked my ticket to the homebirth conference in July - is anyone else coming?

Eutra - I would love to, but we have a holiday just before it. My m/w is presenting this year.

Got my Spiritual Midwifery and Rediscovering Birth books in the mail yesterday. Made me feel all sentimental! I have two of the children's books to give to my m/w to replace the ones that have disappeared in DD1's room. Abebooks came to the rescue. I'm posting them to my sister next week.

Welcome to the newbies! So happy to see so many planning HBs.

Hi all!
Eutra- I can't believe C is already 4 months old! My little guy is 5 weeks today. I get all sentimental each Tuesday as he gets a week older, lol!
Hi Em, I'm not surprised you're exhausted hun. A 14 month old is exhausting enough without adding pregnancy to the equation. :hug:
I have my last MW appointment next week. I feel a little sad about it. I don't think we will see each other regularly either. She lives an hour away. And we are fairly sure we aren't having another baby. DH offered to get the snip- and I actually feel ok about it. I will live vicariously through the rest of you as you go on to have more glorious HB's and more beautiful children.

Welcome Ambersky!

I have uploaded some photos to my BB profile page. I have set it to 'private'. I just have to work out how to allow access to those who want it. Jenn you should be able to see the album. Could you let me know if you can? Thanks.

Hello HotI I'm here, said I'd turn up :o)


And hello all the rest of you, not much of an intro for me, not even a birth story written yet (2 years on, better get off my butt), but my Elly is a waterbaby born at home, born en-caul, and placenta delivered naturally too (and still in the freezer as I have no idea what to do with it yet lol). Have bubba2 due in early Sept/Late Aug who'll be another home baby too!

:baby: Babies Arrived :homebirth:

Jennifer13- Baby GIRL born at home 4th January

Bella29- Baby GIRL born at home 10th January

HotI - Baby BOY born at home 21st January

*Ash*- Baby BOY born at home 14th February

loulabelle - Baby BOY born at home 24th February





:pregnant: Babies On Their Way :bellyrubs:


...Em - May

Cricket - May

BellyBelly - August

phynna - August

Ambersky - September

ladybirdflies - October

Cassius - November