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Childbirth

homebirth plus toddler in the house?

7 replies

Tumblemum · 18/04/2006 09:19

Anyone done this? Any tips as my arrangements for ds have fallen through. Ds is coming up to two and a half

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BagelBird · 18/04/2006 09:30

My DD1 was this age when we planned our homebirth for DD2. I was worried too, but had grandparents as my back up plan.
I watched a few birth progammes with her (previously watched so knew that they weren’t too graphic or frightening - no screaming mums!) and talked her through them. I took her to plenty of the antenatal checkups to help her understand and hear the baby. She also got to know the midwives well so wouldn’t be phased with them in the house.
As it turned out, I went into labour at 7am and she was great all day. Didn’t mention anything throughout the morning (slow and irregular) but then "helped" mummy by holding my hand etc in the afternoon.
I had put aside a few colouring books, a new DVD, a new painting book etc for easy to occupy activities which really helped throughout the day.
I found blunt and casual worked well with my tiny. Telling her that it did hurt mummy a little bit but that it was ok, because it was just mummy’s tummy starting to squeeze the baby out gently etc etc worked well. Lots of reassurance and calmness - I found it easier to be calm second time round as I felt I had to keep a lid on it for my DD1.
Giving her little jobs to do for distraction helped her feel part of it and important - she helped her daddy change the bed, make everyone’s lunch etc.
My labour progressed slowly and was after her bedtime when it really kicked in. Knowing it was a big baby and it was slow, I did get my mum and dad over to take her for the night in the end and was a good move as a trapped sciatic nerve and stuck baby led to me needing a hospital transfer.
I would think through a plan in case you do need a hospital transfer and have to take him with you - pack a little bag for him too with a few drinks, nappies, toy, blanket etc just in case.

Don’t worry - loads of women give birth with their older children around and recommend it. With a bit of pre planning and plenty of distraction/occupation and involvement he will be fine :)

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Tumblemum · 18/04/2006 09:38

Thank you BB, it is any day now and worried how it will pan out. I have a fantastic dh and mw team - who have even said they will bring an extra mw if necessary to help with ds - but feel anxious. Do hospitals allow toddlers in? I had assumed that children were not allowed - I had assumed that if I had to transfer then I would have to go alone.

Thank you for the tips will make a list for dh, I thought having him around might help me to focus on the labour and deal with it better than last time - good to know that it did for you.

My mother was going to help but she has said she cannot now, and though I have friends as back up (ostensibly until my mother got here - not happening now) most of them are either pg with their second or already have two children and tbh I just don't want the anxiety of uprooting ds, asking such a big favour etc..

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Katemum · 18/04/2006 10:03

Sounds like your midwives are quite happy to help out, it is brilliant that they are being so helpful.

I had my mum to stay for a few days leading up to the birth. She lives 5 hours away so couldn't have just popped over. But my labour went very quickly and was overnight so she wasn't actually needed. ds slept through the whole thing and woke up in the morning to meet his baby sister.

The plan during the day was for mum to take ds out for a few hours if things got too much for him.

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MrsWednesday · 18/04/2006 11:37

My DS1 was about the same age as yours when I had my homebirth, and my biggest worry about it beforehand was how he would cope with it. I had hoped for it to happen like Katemum's labour (overnight, DS1 wakes up to find new brother or sister) but it didn't work out that way.

I laboured at home during the day, and in the afternoon had a long bath which got things moving (DS1 got in with me, squirted me with a water pistol and was generally quite oblivious to me having contractions). I made the mistake of waiting too long to call the midwife though, as I'd wanted DS1 to be in bed before they arrived.

DS2 made his appearance into the world whilst I was on my own in the lounge as DH was busy fetching towels, entertaining DS1 and shouting down the phone to the hospital trying to summon up some help. DS1 came into the room literally seconds after DS2 was born, to find me sat on the floor in a puddle of water and blood, holding his new brother and he was totally and utterly unfazed by the whole thing. The only time he looked slightly alarmed was when I had a big contraction in front of him and made a funny noise (no screaming, just a moan).

It was actually lovely to have him around during the whole thing, he didn't seem to feel excluded at all, just enjoyed the excitement of the day - we had several midwives turn up, plus a friend, all of whom gave him loads of attention, and he got to stay up way past his bedtime too.

It might just be worth having a friend on standby just in case you need to go into the hospital for any reason (I nearly had to go to be stitched up but in the end the hospital sent a nurse over to do it at home).

All the very best of luck with everything! I'm sure it will be fine, try not to stress too much about the toddler. DS1 actually has no memory at all of it now, I've asked him a couple of times and he can't remember anything so it definitely didn't freak him out.

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Tumblemum · 18/04/2006 14:44

Oh thanks everyone for your lovely messages, feel quite excited now, and a bit nervous. I do have a few friends on standby if I have to transfer - but would rather take ds is this allowed though suspect it is not.

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sweetkitty · 18/04/2006 14:53

DD1 was 18 months when DD2 was born 3 months ago so she wouldn't have understood anything. I was really worried about having contractions in front of her before DP could get home as I have fast labours 0-60 in minutes (from ouch that hurts to bloody hell I'm dying) SIL was DD1s carer for the day but she was an hour away this added to my stress but would have been like it if I had a hospital birth too as we have only moved into this area and we have no friends/family around. As it would happen I went overdue hospital induction was booked for the Saturday, SIL was in Ireland with work which would have meant that DP would have missed the birth as he would have had to look after DD1, this upset me greatly and coupled with the horrid sinusitis I had really ruined the last week of my pregnancy I think I was on MN crying every day.

Anyway Thursday came and I started having contractions at 1.30 am in the morning, DD2 born at 4am a lovely if v painful homebirth. DD2 slept through the entire thing in the room next door we could not believe it, me screaming the place down, MWs coming and going, baby crying DP was going through every half hour to check she was still alive! At 6.30am DD1 woke up had milky downstairs with Daddy then came upstairs and climbed into bed with Mummy and DD2 it was utterly brilliant!

I suppose I was really really lucky, fingers crossed you will have a nighttime baby too, best of luck.

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Tumblemum · 19/04/2006 11:10

thank you sweetkitty, I am hoping it will not be too long as last labour was horrendous I was in second stage for twelve hours and then forceps after a transfer - it was the exhaustion that did for me last time as well as the pain, one would have been doable but both I could not cope with

I will update you all on this thread as to what happens...

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