Here is where you left off...
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Here is where you left off...
Hi all. Just popping in as I'm getting closer now - 26wks today. getting very excited. A bit of a woo hoo for me - my PHI approved the homebirth, so we'll be getting $3k back (assuming all goes well and we have an actual homebirth). Very excited! As I have SPD, we're spending a lot of $$ on osteo, physio and acupuncture which we hadn't budgeted for, so this will come in handy.
We're also planning a water birth, though I see it as being a great tool that's there if I need it, but if I end up wanting to birth on land, I can do that while taking advantage of the birth pool to ease discomfort. Apparently with SPD i need to be careful not to slip in the water or something as that could make it worse.
Our IM is also quite conservative and won't take breech at home. I'm fine with that - there's breech and then there's breech. Some can be born safely vaginally and others can't. (though I'm hoping like hell bub isn't breech and will be using the acupuncturist for that too if necessary) the main reason we're having an IM is she is someone I can trust to be 100% on our side and not be intimidated by hospital protocol etc. She has her own rules, like no home breech, but that's cool. She also has a transfer arrangement with RWH, so we have that backup.
I'm also using hypnobabies home study course to prepare. It's very relaxing.
it's difficult to slip in a birth pool at home...not enough room! Plus, with SPD you're best on your knees bending over the edge, with the pelvis at its widest and fully supported. Avoid labouring facing out. I waited till the baby had crowned before turning around to have her pulled out (she took too long for me to wait while she kicked at my insides!!). No idea what it's like to birth on land with SPD, I did water both times, on my knees.
Don't be afraid of the SPD during labour. It's the only time in the pg that SPD will actually work FOR you - it's widened your pelvis and is nice and flexy. As long as you're not moving your feet apart during labour - feet planted evenly and only pelvis width apart for rocking and pelvis swinging, for instance. HTH, if not, there's the Pelvic Instability Association you can google :)
Thanks for that Mayaness - I've been doing a bunch of reading. It does sound like there's an upside to SPD. An it makes me look forward to the birth, not just to meet bubba, but to hopefully have an end to this horrible constant pain! btw - did you have any issues getting in/out of the pool? I can't visualise how to do that without widening my legs apart.
I know the feeling :):
Man I cant wait to do it again
Pool sides are sturdy enough (depending on the pool - you using the Made In Water one?) for you to sit on on the dry side and pivot on your bum keeping your knees together, with support from your partner to swing to the other side. I was in such a hurry to be in water that I stepped over, albeit gingerly, but still separating and doing the uneven weight distrib thing...but I didn't notice cos I was in transition!
Hello.. I'm nearly 7 weeks preg and planning another homebirth, just had my last at home in December! So very close together! I can't wait to do it again!!!
Hi ladies I hope you don't mind me popping in to ask a (silly) question?!
DH & I are looking into homebirth for any subsequent bubs we might have, and Ive just been thinking of random questions!
What did you do with things like the hearing test? Does it have to be done at a hospital? And the heel ***** test? (I know middies can do the heel *****, but does that get done at a later home visit?) Did you still do them?
TIA :)
Welcome stoked! That IS close together :D
Sneakysparkle- I just asked my midwife about these tests. She does the heel p.rick test at a post natal visit. She hadn't had any clients previously bother with the hearing test but as I am hearing impaired I woudl like to get it done. We still need to look into how to go about it. I may visit our backup hospital after the birth to get it done, or else get a referral through the MCHN. Not sure yet...
Thanks Meow!
Sneaky sparkle: Hearing test was done through MCHN and Guthrie was done by my midwife a couple of days after the birth (can't remember exactly how long after!, although i remember i cried my eyes out :( ).
Stoked- how old was your son when he had the hearing test done? Did you ask about it at the first MCHN appointment then book it? We had a terrible time with the heel p.rick test last time too- my son wasn't feeding well so he was dehydrated and they couldn't get enough blood. He was screaming and we ended up having to stop and try again a few days later :(
thanks guys :) hopefully I'll be back in here in the near future!!
Great tip Suga,.... I know with our last homebirth that we did claim our MW fees and other expenses as a tax offset.... Still would be better if we got medicare rebates, but it's better than nothing....
Just popping in here to say hello and thanks to all of you experienced home birth women who are sharing your experiences. We are meeting an IM this Friday to chat to her more about birthing our second child at home later this year. I'm aiming for a VBAC. My son was born by c-section last year - he was an undiagnosed breech. I had a chat to her on the phone today & I guess I broadly know what I want to ask but can anyone give me any tips about things they wished they asked or enquired about in the early stages? Any thoughts would be great.
Suga - I had no idea you could claim the fee for an IM as a tax offset? That's something to look into a bit more.
Hi all...
Hearing test was organized via the mchn, and she was about 10 weeks I think...so not straight away. I went to the Melbourne audiology place on Victoria pd. They did a full scan...very thorough and much better than hospital.
As for heel *****...that was on an antenatal visit a few days after the birth.
Things to know first up. What are the transfer rates, back up plans, second midwife arrangements, on call arrangements and antenatal care. You should also make sure you click with the mw...
Good luck!
I hadn't even thought about the post-birth tests. What's the Guthrie test again? Did ppl have to pay for the hearing test?
Hi girls!
Welcome to the newcomers! :hello:
Suga: ahh thanks for the reminder about the tax offset. so much to remember...
Infinity: for me, i didnt think to ask my midwife for ages about transfer times between waters breaking and labour starting (my waters broke last time without labour for quite a few hours). we discussed it and have come to an arrangement that we are both comfortable with. but maybe just have a good think about what his/her protocols are for EDD and going over, breech, transfer reasons etc etc. i found that questions are still coming up as it is pretty hard to think of it all at once. the BIG thing is that you and the midwife have a CONNECTION and get along. that's the biggest one IMO.
Tashy: yeah i'm not sure if i will end up birthing in the pool. i am very taurean and LOVE my land feet lol. but i did use the shower for a lot of relief last time, but once transition hit i wanted dry land to birth...wonder what this time will bring??!
AFM: travelling along well here. had a fall the other day that resulted in some pretty nasty pain across the lower belly, but bubs was active as ever and i spent the whole night resting. all good now thankfully. got to remember that i am a clumsy person at the best of times lol. seeing my IM soon :dance: it has been awhile between drinks and i am needing some face to face contact now. the calmbirth classes are going fantastically! although DH keeps falling asleep all the time LOL! told him he needs a good coffee beforehand so he can actually listen to the class instead of passing out during the relaxation lol.
Hey Cassius I am like you, I joked to my MW that I am a land animal and don't think I want a waterbirth. Have you hired an IM, or are you HBing through the Sunshine Hospital program like me? Initially the program was only open to women within the Sunshine Hossy catchment but most on the program are from your area - Brunswick, Northcote, Thornbury (ie: the hippy areas ;) ). Turns out I am the most "Western Suburbs" mamma in the program (I am in Glenroy).