Pregnant and in Victoria?

Dear lovely ladies,

This year I began a wonderful course in Birth Attending, which ironically goes for nine months. Originally I did this course with the intention of then wanting to study the Bachelor of Midwifery but I am really enjoying the Birth Attending for the time being - I love the whole idea of supporting the mother and being with her for her whole labour, one on one continuous support, hopefully helping her to acheive a natural labour if thats what she wants (amazing what difference the support can make!). Of course I have no problems with a caesarian birth or other whatsoever.

I feel extremely priviledged and lucky enough to already have a few BellyBelly people allow me to be present for their births before November, however if anyone else would be interested in having me support them for the birth of their baby (not in a medical role at all purely support), then please email me at info@bellybelly.com.au. Even if you might know someone who would be interested I would love to hear from you. :)

I always totally respect a woman's space when pregnant and birthing, so if it's not something you would feel comfortable doing, then I completely understand - even if you change your mind before the birth, I would have no problem with that. If you would prefer me to be there for some stages and not others, I would understand also.

So please let me know if you are interested and I would love to chat with you further. I don't mind if you are having a home birth, waterbirth or hospital birth - I am not there to judge but be there for whatever you need.

Thank-you again to those who have contacted me and are allowing me to be present to a very intimate part of their life.

Kelly,
Honestly I could not care less who was there...
I will let you know after my U/S etc & have dates etc, discuss with DHetc, etc... But personally I am happy...
Will let you ...

Have already sent you an email, Kelly!

Awwww thanks soooo much guys!!! I really appreciate it and am totally over the moon that you would even consider such a thing! Of course I would love to chat to you both beforehand much more, so you feel at ease. As I mentioned, I am totally open in regards to what you want me to see and not.

Thank-you for helping me with my dream - I'm doing everything I can to get there and they all tell me being part of labours other than my own is highly regarded amongst a few other things (e.g. doing the units I am etc.). I wont let you down! :)

kelly there is a very good chance that i will be having a third ceasarian section.if you would like to be part of something different to a vaginal birth you are most welcome.
nikki

Thanks Nicole - I would love to!!! Will email you soon ;)

Hi Kelly, babe no 4 is on the way, I have had a vaginal and a csec, so am hoping for a vbac (if I can) and an audience never bothered me( you should have seen the twins birth!!) So if you want to, I am available
Vanita

Doh! I have only just come across this post! Probably a little too late now as I am going in tomorrow!
I would have loved to have you there to help you out, Kel! Ah well... next baby?? LOL

I would have loved to helped you as well Kelly... mine labour turned out to be very interesting to say the least! I knew there was a reason I was getting scared that day at your place!

Good luck with everything!

CONGRATULATIONS
I hope you find this a very rewarding experience. All the best for your future in midwifery, I'm sure from the way your care for mums here on the website that you have the heart to become a fabulous mid and I sincerely wish you all the best

Awww thanks Vanita!! :) I will email you shortly too, now my course is all sorted!

Congratulations Kelly! That is awesome news. I tell you what, someone like yourself would only be an asset to the whole birth experience. You obviously care a great deal about people's well-being (thus this fantastic site!) and have a great deal of knowledge. Good on you for pursuing your dream and YAY at getting closer to it!! All with 2 young children. Well done!

Awwww thanks Deb!!! I still have so much to learn, I am forever worried about saying the wrong thing! But I want to learn and really make a positive contribution to birthing women. It made a huge difference to me having someone there supporting me when Elijah had to come out quick. If it wasn't for that, I am sure I would have had some sort of painkillers (wasn't allowed an epidural at that stage though), or I would have ended up with an episiotomy to get him out, because I was totally exhausted from pushing and lack of sleep after such a long labour.

All the best for a wonderful birth and well done for saying no to the gels when you didn't want it. Good girl ;)

Wow Kelly, that's wonderful. I hope it goes really well for you.

Have sent you an email, but you're prolly booked solid already.

Have sent you an email - thank-you so much! If hubby was a little frightened last time, having support is great for him too, in the sense of having someone there to reassure him as well as you. Often when hubby panics, mum does too and it can be another reason mum might opt for pain relief - if he's not sure of himself, then mum may feel that way too and look for the nearest exit! I have had a quick skim over your birth plan and it looks great, I would love to be able to help you acheive all those things.

Kelly - What a shame your not in NSW. Good luck with everything but I`m sure you don`t need luck :D

Take Care

Deeanne

Thanks Kelly! We think you have a lovey family too, and we're really grateful for your support.

*Thinks about slipping over to have her babies in Vic when the time comes*

lol

If anyone else is interested in free birth support (or knows anyone who would be interested in it), I am still hoping to attend many more births - so please let me know! I would like to help as many as I can, as it's going to be the experience that makes all the difference! Please email me at info@bellybelly.com.au if you have any questions! :)

Hi Kelly , I have responded before, but I know Warragul is out of the way, but am having no 4 , fingers crossed for vbac, in probably about 6 weeks if you want.

Oh no - has anyone else not got a reply from me? Because I have emailed everyone, but seems like on a particular day when I did most of the replies, they didn't get through. So please let me know!!!

Vanita - wow I didn't realise how far away you are!!! I think that distance might be a little too much, but I really, really wish I was closer to you - I would have been honoured to be present during your labour :)

Vanita, sounds like you are going to a fantastic hospital - I am on a midwifery email list and there are apparently some jobs going there, the lady who posted about the jobs said "we have the best VBAC rate in the state...possibly the country?" That sounds like a great place to birth your baby, especially since she sounded so lovely and loved the hospital too :)

Yes My Ob has his name recommended on a lot of vbac sites, and he's converted his partner!! My MW tells me they have the greatest vbac rate in Vic, and one of the lowest csec rates!! I was on the hunt for my care provider for my vbac, and was quiet suprised to find out that the ob who performed my csec was "Dr Vbac" LOL
I have been a bit concerned about "my personal support" and would have loved it if we had been closer, but have decided to ask my mum to be with me for that extra support ( she's been a MW from before I was born!!) so am feeling alittle more supported IYKWIM.

I have been getting lots of questions about this so I just wanted to clarify that I am still happy to provide birth support (at no cost) while I am still completing my course - my last day is in mid-November 2005. I would be looking at no more than 2 births a month at this stage! I still may offer support for births after then at no charge depending on how things pan out, so if you are due after this date please don't hesitate to contact me!

Thank-you so much for all your emails and offers so far, I'm really thrilled to have so much support - I have been doing my course since early March and I am more passionate than ever, so I know this is exactly what I am supposed to do :)

Shannon,

I was actually all hyped up and getting ready for Yvette and Divvy's births in late Aug/early Sept, then just recently I met with mama mel (Melanie) and they have kindly asked me to support them for their birth in early July! So I am very excited to be attending sooner than later! I know it's going to be truly amazing, I am absolutely loving my course and I can't wait to apply practical knowledge. I am enjoying it that much, that I am happy to wait longer before doing midwifery, as I think this will be extremely fulfilling on it's own and I can work it in well with family life :)

Thank-you for asking :) Are you interested in that sort of thing too? I think all of us have the inner ability to support women in labour - wanting to answer that 'ancient' call is stronger for some than others though :)

Just wanted to let everyone know that I will be closing this offer as of the 1st January 2006, so if you are due after then, unfortunately I would have completed my Birth Attendant (not midwifery) studies and will be out on my own by then. If you are due before January 1st and are after a Birth Attendant then please let me know - at this stage I will only do no more than 2 births a month due to the physical nature of the work.

I am happy to positively support any birth, from caesar to normal and so far I have been part of two BellyBelly births, one waterbirth and now one twin birth :) If you would like references, let me know :)

Kelly I am due Jan 27th, however as I am pg wth twins, I will be due around Christmas. At this stage it has not been decided whether it will be a c/s or natural yet.

Tam, that's wonderful - after being part of Yvette's twin birth and also hearing a great deal about another similar birth of Cailin's SIL's twins, I would be very interested in chatting to you - maybe twins may become a speciality of mine! :) I've learnt so much about twins the last few months so I would hate to think I wont use that again ;)

I think from both twin births in the last 2 weeks, the most important thing I have learnt that you can have room for negotiation if thats what you want, despite thinking otherwise. Of course, I am absolutely not here to tell anyone what to do, but instead, to help you have your birthplan followed as best as possible :) Even if you go over January 1st, I'd be more than happy :) Email me once you have decided for sure and we can chat in more detail! Thank-you!

I have to add LOL the funniest thing happened at Yvette's birth - the midwives were all so excited to see me there, because of who I am being trained by!!! They were whispering and chatting to each other, 'WOW!! She's one of Rhea's students - we love Rhea!!!'

Rhea Dempsey is an Australian birth guru, she recently got back from the UK after spending some time with Sheila Kitzinger and Janet Balaskas! How awesome... I wish one day I could meet those two amazing women too! :)

Kelly that is so cool. I will email you.

Tam - not sure if you've emailed me or not but haven't gotten anything - are you still interested? No pressure :)

Yeah Kelly for sure. I did email you, but then my pc was playing up too so who knows. I will email you again now.

Closing this offer now guys, thank-you to everyone who has replied and allowed me to be part of their births / lives. Keep and eye out for the launch of 'BellyBelly Birth Support' very soon :)