Homebirth General Discussion #21

Welcome to Homebirth General Discussion. Are you planning a homebirth? Or perhaps think that might be something you would like to know more about? Then this might just be the thread for you.

This thread is for general discussion about all things homebirth. Whether you are pregnant, TTC or just want to support those who are venturing on the path you have walked, please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences.


You might also like to check out these links:
Having a homebirth in Australia
Home Birth—Why It's Necessary By Ina May Gaskin
Independent Midwife recommendations in Australia


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You can find the previous thread HERE

Subsrcibing...

Kelbell, my MW is about 2.5 hours away form me and we are preparing for the possibility that I might birth without her. I will be having a chat with my doula abouthow she feels about thatl.she has attended sveeral freebirths. I totlly get what you are saying about ambulance officers. I would call them if something went wrong.

That's why I had a hb with my 3rd as it was going to be quick, my Mw trained DH and I what we should do and most importantly said trust my body to do what it wanted. We ended up free birthing as she didnt make it and an ambulance was never suggested or called. This pregnancy the midwife has reassured me she won't miss the birth, she said she is happy for a million false alarms the week leading up to bubs (as that's what I do) she said she was just happy to keep coming for long cups of tea and sleeps on my lounge. But in saying that she is very causal about me just birthing the bub by myself and has never mentioned an ambulance.... I'm having my 'birth' planning meeting in the next few weeks so we'll see if its mentioned then...

:baby: Babies Arrived :nappy:

-2012-
Jennifer13- Baby GIRL born at home 4th January 2012
Bella29- Baby GIRL born at home 10th January 2012
HotI - Baby BOY born at home 21st January 2012
*Ash*- Baby BOY born at home 14th February 2012
loulabelle - Baby BOY born at home 24th February 2012
Cricket - Baby GIRL born at home 15th May 2012
chocorama - May 2012
...Em - Baby BOY born at home 7th June 2012
BellyBelly - Baby GIRL born 11th August 2012
Tanya - Baby BOY born at home 16th August 2012
phynna - Baby GIRL born at home 8th September 2012
lady_neon - Baby BOY born 27th September 2012
Ambersky - Baby BOY born at home 3rd October 2012
Cassius - Baby GIRL born at home 4th November 2012
Ice cream - September 2012
mirriumu - November 2012
Pumpkinzulu - Baby GIRL born at home 12th December 2012

- 2013 -
Sara - Baby BOY born 18th January 2013
turtlejane - Baby GIRL born at home 31st January 2013
Bellany - Baby BOYS born 14th March 2013
Ree*Ree - Baby BOY born 18th March 2013
Aimz - Baby BOY born at home 21st March 2013
Beatrix - Baby GIRL born at home 7th April 2013
Rubyshoes - Baby BOY born at home April 2013
Dollyroux - Baby BOY and GIRL born 29th April 2013
HomeStyleMumma - Baby GIRL born 8th May 2013
ladybirdflies - Baby GIRL born at home 23rd May 2013
Cricket - Baby BOY born at home 26th August 2013
Sepata - Baby BOY born at home 31st August 2013
WilliamsMummy -Baby BOY born at home 17th September 2013
Loulabelle - Baby BOY born at home 17th September 2013
Sunnylove - Baby GIRL born at home 2nd November 2013
DotFace - Baby BOY born at home 9th November 2013
Eenee - Baby BOY born at home 22nd November 2013
TeniBear - Baby GIRL born at home 21st December 2013
*The_Mrs.* - Baby GIRL born at home 31st December 2013

-2014-
Jennifer13 - Baby GIRL born at home 1st January 2014
Arcadia - Baby BOY born at home 30th January 2014
Special - Baby BOY born at home 6th February 2014
HotI - Baby GIRL born at home 23rd February 2014
Smoke Jaguar - Baby GIRL born at home 18th March 2014
Bella29 - Baby BOY born at home 13th May 2014
Ozstar - Baby GIRL born at home 20th May 2014
Sterla - Baby GIRL born at home 30th July 2014
Meow - Baby GIRL born at home 26th August 2014

:pregnant: Babies On Their Way :bellyrubs:


e_p - September
ladybug - September
Tegam - September
phyrephly - September
kellbell - September

My m/ws didn't make it to DD3's birth but I made DP hang up on 000. Lol I didn't want them coming, my m/ws were on their way and on the ph. I trusted that a fast birth would be a good birth and we were fine. My m/w sent a closer m/w to get to me ASAP. My doula also arrived very soon after the birth. As long as I knew they were coming I felt okay. Poor DP wasn't, but he did what I said and got through it. ;)

If I have another I will have my primary m/w again but a much closer m/w as well. I had two m/ws for both of my previous HBs but clearly I need someone who can get here in about 15 mins, not 45.

I will also be calling my m/w to come as soon as cx start! I won't be riding out 'early labour' waiting for things to get serious.

I cannot get my head around a birth being so quick! You ladies rock! My labour with DD was 36 hours from first contraction to her being out! As a result, my midwife has never mentioned anything about what to do if she didn't make it in time haha!

There are so many variables, Sterla. My best birth emotionally was not the fastest. ;) And I know which one DP preferred!

Every birth is it's own achievement and journey. I am inspired by mamas who work hard at birth to achieve the best outcome for themselves and their babies. I love reading birth stories of all kinds. Women are amazing!

I have had quite a few MWs raise concerns about making it to this birth. It's because we live on the border of two "regions" and most of them either live right up north or way down south of us and there is TERRIBLE commuter traffic here so they could actually have a hard time getting to us quickly and given it's our third they're all aware it may be speedy. But I've had a fair bit of heads up of early labour and progression before so this time around we'll likely call them to come in earlier labour than we have before.

AFM... still unsure Sterla. I wish I had an obvious connection to one MW over the other. The first one we communicated really well and I felt very confident in her competence and experience in this area. Her knowledge of all the hospitals, resources etc is very strong and I find that very reassuring in case of transfer or needing medical care at any time as we don't know the area or the American system as well and I think making sure we're supported in that way would be a good thing.

The second MW has perhaps a more 'earth mama hippie' kind of vibe which I really connected with. She exudes calm and love and all the spiritual stuff I was looking for. But for all that I'm having trouble knowing for sure if her 'trust in women' is really that solid because my previous MW 'trusted women' too but seemed to lack confidence in anything slightly off the norm. She could be nothing like my previous MW but do have some fears of "what she ends being like that?". She told me she watches all of Lisa Barrett's youtube videos which I thought was pretty cool.

I guess I feel like the play it safe side of me is leaning towards the first MW but then I'm a sad to let this wonderful crunchy MW go!

Subbing

Well, I've just chosen the first MW. I don't think I'll still feel settled over all this until I start having real appointments with her. Ugh. Hate how much one mess up can do your head in and it has me second guessing everything!

That's great you've made a decision! I hope she turns out to be the perfect fit for you xx

I think that sounds like a great choice meow! Clever you for making it so fast :)

Great that you've made a decision, meow. Sounds like the right fit for you atm.

Sounds like a great choice :-)

That's awesome meow. To be honest, it sounded like she was the better fit for you, just from how you described her. I hope that she turns out to be everything you need.

Thanks xx I feel excited to see her and get going and I think I would have felt a bit anxious still with the second one so I'm sure it's the right choice. I've always sort of got straight to it and told her heaps while chatting so far so I think she's going to be a good fit.

Sorry i didnt reply earlier...i reckon you have made the right choice. but this is my personal perspective only that it really is a requirment that the MW i work with has a good understanding and knowledge of the hospital system as if i were to transfer or need their services i dont want to be the one exploring it all and organising it all ITMS. i want my MW for that to protect me from them at my most vulnerable moment. when i did have to go in twice this last pg it was super awesome because Nic did all the calling for me :D

Sterla: 36 hours is a champion effort! I am in the position where for DD3 I quietly wished for slower birth after DD2. DD2s birth was perfect and gorgeous but it went too fast and i wanted to hang on to some of that fun...i kinda got my wish 3rd time around with an extra 15 minutes :rofl:

Yep, I totally agree with you Cassius. We have had healthy pregnancies and labours thus far so I don't envision needing to transfer but if I did that's when I REALLY need the MW. So I wanted the one I had most confidence in in the most serious cases IYKWIM. Even the littler things like needing a good LC or something- this one has been around the area so long she knows them all and knows the best and I trust she can make me excellent referrals. And she's still very crunchy with her homeopathics and all that stuff. I certainly don't need someone to Kum ba yah next to the birth pool so personally the crunchiness only needed to go so far.

Seems this baby likes music, whenever I turn the car radio on the kid goes crazy :)

Also almost at the traumatise the kids stage and have to ask 'who wants to help mummy put her undies on'... Oh the joys of pregnancy :)

Meow. I just saw your ticker.... 30 weeks wow slow down women there just aren't that many weeks between us :)

I know!! It freaks me out. Hitting the 30s feels like baby will be here any moment!

Yes there is something extra special/scary when you get to the 30's…..

I said to DH the other night while having a melt down "i can't do this for another 20 weeks" and he said "lucky you don't have too, your not 20weeks anymore…" Oh right um yay i guess LOL Crazy lady

Yeah I agree, I go into to crazy organised lady once I hit 30 weeks.

Rest up for the next 5 days then lady-bug cause it's about to hit! :lol: Wow... I hadn't thought of that but my organisation is really picking up! Organised our chest freezer yesterday and started planning meals to make and today I got started with those too. Getting the house unpacked and I'm starting to stall because it needs to be perfect :rolleyes:

....and so the nesting begins!

I still firmly believe that there is a tipping point with each subsequent pg where it all flies by quicker than the last...that said, the first part of pg seems to drag on forever and be more and more tiresome each time....

:

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Rest up for the next 5 days then lady-bug cause it's about to hit! :lol: Wow... I hadn't thought of that but my organisation is really picking up! Organised our chest freezer yesterday and started planning meals to make and today I got started with those too. Getting the house unpacked and I'm starting to stall because it needs to be perfect :rolleyes:

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Nothing feels more perfect than an organised chest freezer and a plan to cook and freeze meals ;)

I'm starting to get in on that vibe, wanting more nesting time at home. There has been some movement at work and it looks like I am potentially facing redundancy as another service takes over the service I work at. So there are positives and negatives to that - one being I don't have to return to work sooner :)

I can't wait to get nesting, right now I'm too tired but as soon as I finish work I have a list I want to get through. Not going to worry about meals much as the Thermomix will do the hard stuff, but not looking forward to the $$$ of the meat shop to fill the freezer.

I can't wait to start nesting either would be nice to help me to get some stuff done around here lol

30 weeks eeek excitement time coming! Going to get even more clucky!

Have another baby eenee

I definitely had a big nesting surge around 30 weeks. It has settled down now... I'm kind of hoping I have another one soon, cause I still have things to do for bubba, but I can't be bothered most of the time haha!
I think I have more to do to organise for the birth than the baby though!

Have you been able to get a list of things your MW suggests you have at the birth now Sterla?

I haven't seen my primary midwife since 28 weeks! I saw my secondary midwife in between, but am due to see my primary next week. I will definitely be grilling her about all that stuff then so I can get myself organised!

One thing she did mention last time was hot water for filling up the birth pool. We have a smallish hot water cylinder, and we do run out of hot water sometimes. Has anyone else had this problem? And if so, what were your solutions? My midwife said in some other births they spend a lot of time heating big pots of water over the stove just to top up the pool.

i borrowed a large urn each time, but as i generally only made it into the pool minutes before baby arrived, we didn't make use of it either time.

do you have a community group you could borrow/hire an urn from?

Ah, there's an idea! I'll have a look around, thanks HotI :D

Not home birth related... but I am having maternity photos taken tomorrow morning! I'm nervous/excited! I hope they turn out okay. This is my last pregnancy (most likely ;) ), so this is my last chance to have some done. I love seeing other people's maternity photos :). Pregnant bellies are so lovely.

I hope you have a great time Sterla! Enjoy celebrating that beautiful belly :)

I'm meeting with a doula today. Hoping she might work out as sibling support in birth, post-natal doula support and placenta encapsulator. It would be awesome if we could get all that in one person. The less different people we have to deal with the better- I'd rather keep the birth team as small as possible.

Thanks meow!!

That's great about the doula. I would have loved that, but we simply can't afford an independent midwife and a doula. Luckily I have plenty of family and friends close by to take the kidlets out if they get bored, etc. I know DS at least wants to be there for the actual birth though.

We have zero family or close friends here so hence the need for a doula. The only people I know around here are really just acquaintances at this stage I guess and I don't want any of them around while I birth. I'm hoping both the boys want to be at the birth but we do need a back up option to have someone support them in case they want to get away.

And because there is no-one to be around after the birth then a post-natal doula should be able to help us with laundry, meals and keeping my recovery and breastfeeding on track so my husband can focus on relaxing and being with the bigger kids and helping them adjust.

Luckily insurance here will pay for our midwife so we can put the money into a doula instead.

A doula definitely sounds like a good idea in your situation!

Photographer and hair/make up lady is getting here in 45 mins! Better get everyone ready!

Yay! Go you for getting photos done, Sterla!