Tell me about your freebirth...

[Nelle]

My second was unintentionally born at home (I'm sure you already know that, but you asked).

It was full on at first because I didn't realise it was happening so fast and the pain was unbelievable. But once I realised what was happening it was a very calm and confident birth, in the spa bath (not with the bath filled, just a shower trickling on my back...actually...I'm just now realising dh must have turned it off at some stage before he caught bub ).

The only issue I had (apart from being in shock from the fast birth), was a PPH, I lost about 2L by the time I got to hospital by ambulance, I've retained placenta both times now, and maybe it's different from state to state, but my ambos didn't carry synctocin, my birth support partner (now a midwife) asked the midwives at the hospital and they said ambulances didn't routinely carry it, but it's possible things have changed.

So I guess that's my concern with a freebirth really, it was my birth support partner who noticed the amount of blood I was losing, the paramedics were mostly focussed on bub. So it'd be good to have someone present at home who could identify issues that might need prompt attention. Not to be dramatic - but it's worth acknowledging that if it had just been me and dh, we'd have notched faintness up to a quick dramatic birth, and may have called an ambulance too late for me.

So in summary - I think a birth at home can be a calm, focussed thing, but I think you'd want to have your bases covered logistically, ie, I wouldn't do it if I didn't have access to ambulances and birth support experienced/knowledgable enough to identify and help with any issues.

[CrazyLady]

I am quite interested in this thread. I didn't know I was even having contractions with DD until it was time to push. DD was induced and a "slow" 6 hour labour because they had to turn the drip down til it was only basically telling my body I was labouring. Midwife was quite shocked with CTG machine going so nuts on the that I didn't feel the contractions. I think it was because I didn't let the labour scare me. All of a sudden I had to get DP to get the midwife just outside the door. I was told most likely next bub will be fast if I'm left to labour naturally.

[kawazuki]

This was the biggest thing people went on about "how didnt i go into shock"?

well because i had had a rather quick one before and had been warned it would be even quicker next time, So i was mentally prepared as well as physically!

You poor thing, it must have/is a huge thing to process!

my first birth was an induction, and once waters broke it was quick. but not the 20 min labour i had with ree.

i had 2nd degree tear which healed amazingly quickly as well.

hope all goes well this time tegam

[kawazuki]

My Birth Story with Maree

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I'm not sure if you've read DD1's birth story hun, i think you have.

My waters broke, she was out 20min later, i was on the phone to my mum when i felt FEET sticking out of me, she called an ambulance who talked me through DD1's birth, she was out before the ambulance or anyone got there.. she was a freebirth in every sense of the world.. i was home alone.

000 were AMAZING, DD1 was born 20min after my waters breaking the ambulance arrived 5min later.
If you want hun feel free to PM me, not sure if there are specifics you wanted to know.

It WAS scary, she was breech and her feet were BLUE and it wasn't something i was prepared for but my body did as it was meant to .

[Pretty Butterfly]

Nelle, I will double check about the synctocin... got me worried now!!! I was told they carry it after I had Kane, cause he came in under 40 mins and I asked at the hossy. But that was 3yrs ago, and coulda changed.

With reguards to blood loss, I normally lose a LOT in the first few days, but the very longest I have bled after a birth is 6 days.. so mine is heavy, but is gone quickly.

With Isaiah, I was losing a large amount of blood, but it didnt concern me, it looked normal, for me. But within about 5 min, it started to pour. I bunched a massive amount of loo paper against my vagina, and within 3 seconds, it was running down my arms... so WAY too much.

I *think* a normal loss is heavy period like?? Mine has always been heavier without concern though...even with Isaiah it settled down very fast after the placenta arrived.

[Rpat]

Does anyone know the forms you would need to register a freebirth?

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Does anyone know the forms you would need to register a freebirth?

We were taken to hospital to be checked so we still got all the same forms but at place of birth was written my address

[kawazuki]

same at ZF here

her birthcert says place of birth, our home address

[Ceili]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum but thought I'd post as I had an unplanned home birth.

After 3 hours of labour (we started out thinking I was in pre-labour until the intensity kind of sneaked up on us) my waters broke, I announced my body was pushing, our midwife (who was on the phone as we had just called her to let her know I was in labour) advised my husband that it was best to get me to hospital ASAP, my husband who could barely get me to speak (I was well and truly in labour land) started packing the hospital bag, realised it was all a bit too late and called an ambulance, while I was on the bathroom floor enjoying the incredible hormone high, hands between my legs feeling DD crown, my husband came back into the bathroom and realised DD was about to be born, crouched behind me (I had wedged myself between the shower and toilet in our bathroom) and caught DD as I birthed her. The ambulance arrived just after she was born, however in hindsight I wished we hadn't called them as I ended up fighting for them not to take her from me. I know they had protocol to follow but I am disappointed at that aspect of DD's birth.

We have the most amazing photo of DD arriving, as my husband also called my parents when he called the ambulance and they arrived in time to witness DD's arrival, taking a quick photo as she did. My memory is hazy due to the hormone high so it is nice to have that photo to look at and remind us of the incredible experience we had.