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Birth clubs

Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

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Home Birth Club- tentative first timers and vetertans welcome!

220 replies

Allstoppedup · 27/03/2015 16:44

Inspired by the ladies in the October ante-natal club thread but not wanting to clog it up with incessant HB chatter, I thought I'd start a little thread for anyone planning a home birth this year!

I thought it would be a nice place to share tips, advice, experiences and generally have a chat about it all!

I'm due DC2 in early October and am hoping, all risks considered to have a home birth!

Love to hear from anyone else!

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Beesandbutterflies · 27/03/2015 16:46

Oh yay! I'd Love to join in Smile

Planning my second home birth in September.

Can't wait to hear everyone's plans

SophieandHerSnail · 27/03/2015 16:49

Hello! I'm planning a homebirth for the third time in July. First DC we ended up transferring to hospital part way through labour, second DC was a lovely homebirth, hoping dc3 is the same!

Original poster
Allstoppedup · 27/03/2015 16:57

Yay! People! Ooh, good luck to both of you!

Bees I think I saw you giving it some homebirth power on another rather heated thread the other day - I kept going back to mentally cheer for you!

OP posts:
BrixtonBunny · 27/03/2015 17:06

Hello! I'm 38+2 and hoping for a home birth any day now...! I'm planning a water birth, we're going to do a test run of blowing up the pool this weekend.

Very excited about it but trying to keep an open mind in case we have to transfer to hospital.

Due date is 8 April, I'm 26 and this is our first baby.

Beesandbutterflies · 27/03/2015 17:09

Haha oh dear
Yes watch out that lady might appear in hear to tell us how selfish and horrid we are WinkConfused

Beesandbutterflies · 27/03/2015 17:11

Nearly there for you Brixton! Please tell us all your prep and plans Smile xx

CostaLotta · 27/03/2015 17:12

Hello! I'm having DS2 in May and planning a homebirth. DS1 was born in hospital but was completely straightforward and I went home after 2 hours. I'm going to use a birth pool is anyone else? Any tips from experienced home birthers welcome here!

BrixtonBunny · 27/03/2015 17:14

I'll be happy to share pool experiences once we've used it! We hired ours online, can't wait to try it out. The midwife was very supportive when I said that's how I wanted to give birth, and said they will guide my DP so he's the one to catch the baby Smile

Original poster
Allstoppedup · 27/03/2015 17:16

Ahh brixton how exciting! Do share your plan if you're happy to!

I'm hoping to hire a bath in a box! Has anyone else used one before/hoping to?

Has anyone read Kati Katrix's positive birth you in love thread- she was on the Tele recently having a homebirth. She's done a birth prep pdf of tips and it was a really enjoyable read!

OP posts:
BrixtonBunny · 27/03/2015 17:24

Happy to share any plans - what sort of stuff are you interested in? I basically want a natural birth with lots of quiet and calm, ideally without pain relief. I've been reading hypnobirth books which have made me excited about going into labour rather than fearful, which can only be good!

We hired the pool from water baby birth pool hire online, their customer service was impeccable and their pools come with lots of useful bits like hoses, thermometers, and a handy poop-scoop net Wink

In case anyone is wondering when you have to make your final decision, I only decided at my 36 week appointment that a home birth was definitely what I wanted, so you have a long time to decide.

Beesandbutterflies · 27/03/2015 17:27

We have a birth pool in a box (the larger one with the cup holderWink) was great last time I got in for the last 20 minutes and gave birth in there. I got out to breastfeed then deliver the placenta. Will try to post full birth story. It was so amazing. I've just said to the mw I just want the same again (Except for an issue with the mw afterwards which won't happen again)
I didn't tear at all and I'm sure it's to do with the water (and all the breathing not pushing business)

Beesandbutterflies · 27/03/2015 17:32

Allstopped do you have a link to kati katrix's thread would be good to read Smile

BrixtonBunny · 27/03/2015 17:33

Bees that sounds amazing! I hope my experience is like yours.

SophieandHerSnail · 27/03/2015 17:34

Brixton I had my first in Brixton with the Brierly midwives, do you live in Brixton?

I skip the homebirth threads, I am happy in my choice, don't need to hear the naysayers! I'm actually married to a doctor so we are hardly foolish whale music aficionados (not that I have anything against whale music but it is particularly galling to be dismissed as irrational etc in the name of 'medicine' when your DH has practically sold his soul to medicine!).

I've hoped to have a water birth twice now, first time we ended up in hospital so that didn't happen although I did labour in the pool for ages, second time we hadn't had a practice run so dh we hadn't realised we hadn't got the right pump connector it Hmm by the time DH blew it up with his lungs alone I was pushing. It made a good surface to lean against! So my tip is do have a practice run...

Jackieharris · 27/03/2015 17:40

Me too!

I'm due in August (don't really like to focus on exact 'due dates') and am planning a HB. Had one last time. Didn't go perfectly tbh but my hospital/Heath board have overhauled their system now so I'm now confident this is the best option for me. Saw a consultant who said given my 'white coat anxiety' I'd be better off at home! I'm low risk as my 2 previous births were very easy (if a little fast). I am a bit older and heavier now though.

This area's new system means they have 'domino' care where I'll see mostly the same midwife for all my appointments and the birth. The second HB midwife I'll meet at some point and it will def one of them who will be the lead at my birth. This is all so reassuring and sooooo! much better than how the health board used to mis manage home births!

NoodieRoodie · 27/03/2015 17:43

I sound quite like Sophie. Planned a HB with DS but transferred in very late on due to severe vomiting. Had DD at home 17 months ago which was fantastic. DC3 is due in September and I'm planning another HB.

I never fancied the idea of water and me and gas and air don't mix so I did it all worth the trusty tens machine and a couple of paracetamol Smile

BrixtonBunny · 27/03/2015 17:57

Sophie we've sadly just moved down the A23 to the Streatham / Norbury border as we've bought a house (and couldn't afford anything bigger than postage stamp size in Brixton!) - I loved Brixton though Sad Are you still in the area?

Trial run of the pool is sounding like a must-do!

CostaLotta · 27/03/2015 20:05

brixton what have you bought for the birth? I've thought- shower curtain for floor, towels, battery tea lights, hand held fan and that's it really. Have I overlooked anything glaringly obvious? I've got a tens machine. My midwife provides the pool and everything that I need for that. I'm with one to one midwives is anyone else?

bees would love to hear your birth story!

scatterbrainedlass · 27/03/2015 20:21

Hey everyone :) Popping in from the October thread, I'm due 30th October so have a while to go yet, will watch with interest how you all get on. We're really up for a homebirth, like Brixton I've never been in hospital in my life and I think I'd just be really scared and upset in that environment. I'm not planning on a water birth, though it might be something to consider. I don't know why I'm dismissing it, maybe it seems a little bit weird (no offence)? I'd certainly like to hear your views and why you've gone/are going for a water birth.

CostaLotta · 27/03/2015 20:46

I had a hospital water birth with DS1 and it was lovely, as soon as I got into the pool I felt relaxed, it really eased the pain and I just felt really comfortable. I'm not a bath person at all but really loved the water birth experience. I had G&A for an hour before I got in the pool but once I was in I didn't need any more. I definitely want to use the birth pool again this time Smile

AbsInTheClub · 27/03/2015 21:27

Ooh, hello! I'm in!

Sophie, I am so impressed your DH attempted to blow up the pool with his lungs! Poor guy! Must have been almost as hard as labour! Wink I'm also really heartened to know a doctor is all for home birth.

Aiming for a second home birth - our first was born at home after a lengthy labour - I laboured in the pool for many an hour, but he was actually born in our bed in the end. Not aiming specifically for a waterbirth this time - will just see how things go.

Due end of April/start of May - like Jackie I don't wish to focus on an exact date. Except to know that from 37 weeks, I am good to go! That's only a week and a half away! Eek!

Getting the pool out this weekend to check it's ok from four and a half years ago!

Those with existing DC, are you hoping they will be present for the birth? I am.

Beesandbutterflies · 27/03/2015 23:41

Hi everyone Smile
Sorry to duck out for a bit, went out to dinner for the first time in ages.

My birth story is
I woke up in the morning with some mild period pains that came and went (and I told my dh not to go to work just incase!) and I was just dozing in bed and my dh was bringing me hot water bottles for my back, I got up had some breakfast, took the dog on a 2 hour walk, and when I got a contraction/period pain I'd just stop and sway til it was over and carried in walking Smile this was a lovely relaxing part if the day and hardly anyone was around. Got home and decided to get in the bath, dozed again whilst dh set up the birth pool (and tarped most of downstairs - I not sure how much mess he thought there would be!!) and set up my hypnobirthing cd for whilst I was in the bath.

When my cd ended (about 40mins) I sudden felt the rushes more strongly and called to dh who got me out of the bath. I got as far as my bedroom then knelt on the floor and starting breathing through the contractions (hadn't the capability to dress myself then so was starkers!! ShockShock)
Dh called my doula and we'd already let the midwives know I thought if be today and had a visit booked. Doula arrived and waters broke, then things were ramping up and I used tens and breathing techniques. Decided I wanted the mw and then got into the pool downstairs. Mw arrived 10 mins after that, then baby arrived. I didn't push just let my body do it whilst I was breathing though the contractions. I picked her out of the water and looking into her twinkly grey eyes GrinGrinGrinGrin
Dh looked at the sex. A dd Smile

I got out of the pool and bf a little. And about 20mins after the birth I felt an urge to squat, which I did leaning on dh (who was holding dd) and the placenta came away.
Dh cut the cord.

It was a magical experience and looking into those twinkly eyes for the first time was just incredible Smile

Water birth for me was lovely soothing pain relief for crowning, I'm glad I was in the water for that bit

This time I'm planning for the same but would like some mood music/ maybe scented candles, didn't do anything like that last time because we didn't anticipate the speed of things and thought we'd be there a lot longer

I highly recommend having a doula too. We just used local NHS midwives, I wasn't massively impressed but I didn't really need them. I'm doing to an area with a dedicated team so hoping for better this time x

Beesandbutterflies · 27/03/2015 23:45

Sophie I agree I should stay away from hb threads, I'm also surrounded by medics and an completely happy with my choices. Some people try to scaremonger FTMs and I really hate that Hmm it's so unnecessary and unhelpful.

I really think my birth was lovely and amazing but not special or unique for an uninterrupted labour. I think it should be normal for women to give birth (in the most part) without problems. I know there's always exceptions but that's why we have experienced mws with us

BrixtonBunny · 28/03/2015 06:40

Bees that is a beautiful story - thank you for sharing!

Beesandbutterflies · 28/03/2015 06:56

Aww thanks Brixton, when are you planning your pool trial run?