Homebirth visit didn't go well...

[holytoast]

Hi all - I am 37 week and just had my homebirth visit at home, where the midwife has picked up plus 2 protein in urine (also had thei on sunday, noticed my feet are swollen, and is now saying my fundus is measuring 5 and a half cm bigger than 2 weeks ago, at 39.5. blood pressure a little higher than normal for me, but only compared to booking in bp - which surely would change? also had just finished cleaning the bathroom, was worked up about her coming.

she is saying monster sized baby, possibly back to back or breech, and possible pre-eclampsia - and probably no home birth...

2 weeks ago, my last midwife (this one is new) told me everything was fine, measuring fine, looking good, head down, not quite engaged but nearly there...blood pressure was fine, has been ok throughout.

This midwife moaned about lack of parking as soon as she arrived, and told us she wasn't happy about homebirth due to parking tickets in our street in the past.

she is sending me up to the hospital to be monitored and scanned for growth and position.

I cried, I have to admit - only finished work yesterday, so totally knackered, had a fight on my hands getting hb, birthing pool arrived today, now it looks like we won't get to use it...

have to go in 10mins of so...anyone got any words of wisdom..or comfort? have to go on own too, so will prbably sit there worrying, as she said it could be a long wait.

[Lulumaam]

well, she is right to flag up the fact you are measuring bigger and have possible signs of pre ecamplsia.. however, the measuremet, I personally would have less of an issue with, as palpation can be subjective and there is a margin for error...

but higher BP, oedema, and ++ protein are potentially significant

if your BP alone ws reaised, you could argue it was to do with the stress/busyness, but you have got two other possible sypmtoms

it is good she is sending you for further tests, and if you do have pre eclampsia, then you might want to reconsider your plans.

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

Did she do bloods? Slightly higher BP perfectly normal in pregnancy, partly because of greater blood volume. Agree that the oedema plus the protein (2 + is not insignificant) should set alarm bells ringing but she should maybe ask for 24 hour urine collect to see what it does over that period, and also do bloods if she hasn't.

Pre-e can come on/worsen v suddenly. It is a bugger though, and I'm really sorry about your home birth receeding into the distance.

I think though that moaning about parking isn't on. She will have a 'Midwife on call' placard in he car, surely? Midwives don't get parking tickets with those - not the ones I know, anyway.

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

And at your stage of preg, if the first MW said she was happy it was head-down 2 wks ago, it'd be highly unlikely to have flipped over and be a breech now. I wouldn't worry about that.

[holytoast]

Thanks for confirming what they have done is right.... just got back from day assessment unit, where my blood pressure slowly went down whilt I was there, baby totally fine, still ++ protein - got to collect over 24 hrs, and will be checked again over the next few days re blood pressure...but baby has decided to be breech..howevere probably not a giant as she thought, my fundus measurement went down to 38 and registar said it was 'witchcraft'anyway!
Feeling really down now and teary now, booked in for ecv? turny thing anyway, on tuesday..birth pool has been delivered whilst out. flashy heated one (DH idea, would have been happy with paddling pool type) and is sittng here in boxes, getting in my way, laughing at me....

[Babieseverywhere]

holytoast, Sorry, things aren't going smoothly at the moment. I can't comment on the medical side, just wish you luck with everything.

Just wanted to suggest, rather than let the water pool sit there empty, get your DH to fill it and have a float around. It is very relaxing, must be good for your blood pressure.

I get DH to fill my pool as many weekends as he'll put up with in my third trimester.

[NonnoMum]

Hi Holy - don't know if I'm too late or not, but I had a breech baby who was turned by a combination of reflexology, swimming and exercise (or maybe just luck). If you can try and get that little babe to turn, you might avoid an ECV.

There is a website - spinning babies or something - bit American but worth a try?

Good luck.

[FabIsGettingThere]

Try and spend 15 minutes on all fours four times a day. It is meant to help encourage baby to turn and has to be better than having baby turned. I have had that done and it wasn't pleasant.

I was also measuring bigger than dates, baby was average but I had polyhydromnious.

[JollyPirate]

Echoing the advice to unpack the pool, fill it up and have a relaxing soak.

[Northernlurker]

I agree - fill that pool up and use it! You may be able to use it in early labour as well even if they recommend a hospital birth.
Try not to be too down hearted about today. Your baby is doing great, your BP came down, your hospital are keeping an eye on the protein and if there was room for baby to turn there will be room for them to turn back. You've actually had quite a lot of good or ok news today. I know it wasn't what you wanted to hear or were expecting but NOTHING is certain right now so don't fixate on things you think now won't happen because they might after all iyswim.
You must be exhausted having just finished work etc - take things very easy and just focus on doing a bit more baby growing right now. You can think about baby birthing in another week or two I can recommend April 19th or 21st btw - those are two of my girl's birthdays and were lovely sunny days. Of course both dds arrived in the middle of the night...

[Lulumaam]

try moxibustion for turnng too, use the pool to soak and move aroudn on all fours

hope you are feeling better xxx

[mumtotwoboys]

My midwife was horrendous for allowing a homebirth, came up with all sorts of crap excuses, you wouldnt believe i dont my doula she says they werent real reasons.
I think midwife just didnt fancy being called out at probably stupid o'clock to do it.
Well I threatened to change midwife and she soon signed the papers.
Awful what we have to go through for what we should rightfully be able to do

[holytoast]

Thanks all - got my bloods back and all fine, so going to rest tomorrow, and get pool set up for a bit of wallowing later..even if I cant use it for the atual birth suppose its still going to be good to relax in. still really feeling upset and worried about the thought of a c section, but going to see how things go on tuesday, when I am booked in for ecv, and will until then try lots of swimming, and being on all fours..will look into moxibustion too, and reflexology - thing is though, they talked about a c section in two weeks time - its just that everything until now has been fine, this has just all come in one day without any warning, and lots to take in.
Need to remember it's certainly not the worst that could happen I suppose.

[JollyPirate]

Good news about the bloodys HT. Am now going to be thinking positive "flip over you little monkey" thoughts about your baby. Hope it goes well. I know it's not the worst that could happen but even so it's sad when you have been fine with everything going well to suddenly find your baby is breech.

My midwife friend had this but in her case the midwives (a load of her friends) attending her homebirth did not discover her baby's breech-ness until she was in labour at home. Oooops! She has never let them forget it either. In her case she went to hospital and had a caesarean section as her DS just was NOT coming out. All was well - he's 13 now and looks up "boobs" on the internet.

[NonnoMum]

Positive turning vibes.

[holytoast]

thanks all - have spent the day doing every job around the house that can be done on all fours, went swimming until I pruned, did headstands in water and lying with feet in air. Something is definitely happening in there, getting very uncomfortable feelings where babys head and back are...does anyone know what it feels like when the baby does turn?

If this works, just got to hope protein in urine and blood pressure g back to normal, and we're away!
Feeling much more psitive, thanks for the turny thoughts all..

Moxa sticks to be found next, and a reflexologist...and more skirting boards to clean....

[NonnoMum]

Sounds good!