Home Birth Club- tentative first timers and vetertans welcome!

[Allstoppedup]

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!

Oh my top things to buy (apart from pool and tens) are bendy straws so you can easily slip in labour and black towel for afterwards and the days that follow as a few if my cream ones had to be chucked

Think we're going to blow it up this afternoon and test the tap adaptors etc. You've reminded me that bendy straws are on our list of stuff we need to buy! Wasn't going to bother with plastic sheeting or floor lining - our midwife dropped off a big bag of absorbent pads, bin bags and so on, and given I'm hoping to birth in the pool it seems like this should be enough? Though saying that I suppose birthing the placenta is quite messy? Do you think I'm mad and should be stockpiling old sheets and towels?

Stock piling is good
I didn't find birth messy at all, I delivered the placenta onto an absorbent pad the mw put under me.

Afterwards was more messy, like a heavy period, I slept on a towel to protect the bed sheets used those maternity pads.

Does anyone have any grand plans for their placenta? I'm curious! My dd's is still in the freezer I always thought we'd bury it but hadn't got around to it yet

Oh with the pool if defonayely recommend including in the pool test filling it and heating the house, as this caught our poor boiler off guard and I ended up with a half full pool and just about warm water (and a very hot house)

*definitely silly iPhone spelling

Similar to a couple of others - am due mid to end of April and hoping to repeat our wonderful first time homebirth. Am actually 37 weeks on Monday so it's feeling very real all of a sudden!

We had dd in a pool at home, it's been tucked away in the attic since 2011 and we are trying it out again today or tomorrow

Pressed post too soon! There are a few things the m/w has recommended -

Lots of old dark towels
Sheets for floor/protection for floor like ground sheet
Torch (water can get murky though ours helpfully stayed clear)
Mirror if you want to see baby coming out
Light which can be angled in case they need to stitch afterwards
Sensible snacks and drinks for all - bananas, nuts, toast, lots of tea, coffee, squash etc.

The other thing to defintely check is that the hose adaptor will fit on a tap in your house. We have to run our hose to the upstairs shower as it won't fit on the kitchen or downstairs loo one. Pop a towel over/ around the hose connector in case of any leaks, to stop it spraying all over a room you might not be in! And check the hose is long enough too.

I'm sure there were some other things she recommended but can't remember them all now. Am getting excited though!

To answer someone's question about having existing children there - haven't totally decided yet. Think it will be more play by ear, depending on lots of things like time of day, how I'm managing, her mood etc. We have three possible people to look after dd if needed though. Think it would be amazing if she was there but not sure about how distracting she might be....

Loads of good advice, thank you! We're going to borrow an electric room heater from DPIL today too as I've been advised to keep the room toasty warm, so that should help along with radiators. We've only just moved into our house (a week and a half ago!) and have a new boiler, so hoping hot water shouldn't be an issue.

Placenta - I'm planning on keeping mine for smoothies, will make one immediately and then freeze the rest in chunks so that I can have one every week or so if I want one. I realise it's not for everyone (!) but it seems like it could have benefits, and there don't seem to be any downsides apart from the "icky factor" but I'm not very squeamish so thinking I should be fine! DP thinks it's a good idea too so will be able to help with making said smoothie.

Hello all, can I join in? Currently 40+5 with dc2, planed for a home vbac any day now! Getting increasingly fed up as have a horrible cough and cold, plus just feel like there's no room left for baby now.
Getting a bit despondent about it actually happening at all, given they changed my due date by 5 days (so only really due today) and we've been ready for weeks!
we have a Doula and very supportive midwives and consultant, who is leaving me well alone till 42+1, but it's just this waiting...

Might have a sweep and booked in for reflexology next weds to see if it will help get things moving, loathe to do too much to get things going though as then I could be on a clock because of it being vbac.
we've done hypnobirthing too, I think I'm confident in it, don't scared, it's just all a bit unknown as I didn't eexperience Labour with dd.

Hi all. It's still early on for me, currently 13+1 with my fifth baby, but this will be my first home birth. I'm really excited about it and am already planning, I love a list and have written a few so far with things I might need. Eagerly watching this thread for tips!

However, I'm facing opposition from my community midwife, having a bmi of 30.2 and this being my fifth baby seems to be a sticking point for her. It's made me feel very disappointed already.

I'm planning on birthing in our bath, it's a corner jobby and deep, and using essential oils to help me be calm. I'm also looking at hypnobirthing although I had a very good experience labouring with my last dc without researching hypnobirthing at all, I was 8cm when I got to the hospital!

As for the used pads, placenta etc, we have a garden incinerator..my DH thinks we could/should burn it all, as we have the means to do so and it saves it languishing in the bin for any length of time. Has anyone done this?

Hi everyone

Brixton, I was interested in the lady on the bbc programme recently that did the same with her placenta, could definitely see her reasons but a bit ick for me maybe it's because I'm vegetarian

Missmakes I hope it's not too mucho her for you! Can't wait to hear your birth stories I did reflex last time but the only thing that worked for me was sex

Fern can you change midwives? And maybe see if there's someone who's more open to a home birth for you? I know some of the mws in my area are very pro and others not! Or an indie mw? Is a bmi of 30 really an issue (I say this knowing nothing about bmi at all)

Loving this thread

Bees yes, I can totally understand that it's not for everyone! If you want to do something cool with your placenta, I've read about people making beautiful prints with them.

Fern your BMI sounds fine for a home birth! In my area it has to be below 35 at booking so I'd definitely try and contest it. Also, surely the fact you've had lots of babies is a positive rather than a negative - it shows your body can do it!

Sorry, bowed out last night due to the delights of morning sickness!

Ahh, all these exciting plans and stories!

bees your birth story sounds lovely and relaxed and exactly what I want from a home birth.

Still very early days over here but I'm doing some things which will help regardless of whether I get a home birth or not (I'm trying to stay open minded that things don't always go to plan!) I've started relaxation breathing, am making a aromatherapy inhaler and plan to have a sniff whenever I'm relaxed or happy and I've bought floating 'spa' lights (figure they will be nice in the bath anyway!) I've also made up a music playlist which I will shamefully admit has some music not a million miles from whale music on there, but it also has Johnny Cash, Ring of Fire if that redeems me at all?

I want a water birth as I love being in water when pregnant in general. I was induced last time so wasn't allowed but when contractions started I was in the bath for a while and it was soothing but frustrating as I couldn't move around freely!

My DS will be 19 months so I don't mind him being there for when I labour as I don't think he will have much of a clue what's happening, that said, he WILL want to be in the pool with me and will most likely want to keep popping on the boob so in later stages he will probably be picked up by his favourite person- his grandad!

Those of you who have used hypnobirthing, what books/c.ds would you recommend. Now 12 week scan is under my belt I'd like to start on it!

Ooh and missmake good luck! I hope you go soon!

I was induced at 42+1 with my first and being overdue is a pain in the rear (and everywhere else)

I started to think it was never going to happen and he'd grow to adulthood in the womb! p

Allstopped I really like Marie Mongan's book on hypnobirth.

I know this is soppy, but - I had a baby shower a couple of weeks ago organised by two best friends, and everyone went round and said a few beautiful words of encouragement about birth / parenthood / my transition into motherhood, or a little poem, and at the same time threaded a couple of beads they had all picked beforehand onto a piece of thread. When I go into labour the idea is to keep that string of beads with me and remember all of the good wishes and love. It sounds cheesy / a bit hippyish but it was so beautiful and moving. I can't wait to use them!

Aww that's really lovely brixton

Doesn't sound cheesy to me at all!

disclaimer I am a card carrying hippy type

I had a thread about this before and was reassured by other home birth mums that I can fight for what I want.

My mw seems a bit against tbh, I suppose I could change although as far as I know the mw I see covers other surgeries too, she's at a different clinic every day, mine is Thursdays. It will make things more difficult for me, can't drive, children at local school etc and it may take some digging around but could be done. I know that I will have to speak to the supervisor of midwives about it too so will see how we go.

The midwives at the hospital seem very supportive, they think I will be fine, they've put me 'low risk'. I've been told that the cut off for bmi is 30 in this area, being .2 over means the community mw wants me to have a gtt later on. Even though I could refuse, the mw at hospital said having one and it being negative would serve as great ammunition for me to get the home birth.

The risk of lots of babies seems to be post partum haemorrhage. Never had this before and will have a managed third stage anyway so that reduces the risk a bit. We're also only 10mins max away from the hospital if I needed to transfer.

I'm trying to be quietly confident at the minute.

All stopped your plans sound lovely although i wouldn't want the ring of fire imagery myself what scents have you got in your aromatherapy spray? That's a good idea. I hope your ms passes soon!

Brixton your baby shower isn't cheesy at all what great friends you have. I will look into the printing that sounds really cool :)

Fern I had the supervisor come round because it was my first birth, the meeting was fine she just ran through the risks and I said I understood everything and that was that. I think as long as you're making informed choices the supervisors are supposed to advocate for you.

Out of interest why have you chosen the managed third stage? Is it to do with pph? Sorry if that's nosey, ignore me if it is!!!

Phew! I'm relieved to hear that I won't have to fight her over it!

It's not nosey! Yes, its just a precautionary measure. The risks are lowered by having the injection. I will still be able to stay at home which is what I want.

Ah I see
Fern are you having a doula, is your hubby supportive? Take them to the meeting for moral support

Haha. Yes, there are some strange choices on the playlist. Ring of Fire had to be on there as last time I just had DPs iPod on shuffle and it came on.

I was fairly out of it at the time but I remember looking at DP and us both cracking up! It makes me smile to think about it despite the rather unpleasant associations

For my inhaler, I have like a little plastic Vicks nose inhaler type thing and I have clary sage, lavender, ylang ylang and rose absolut. I still need to put it all together though!

Good luck with everything Fern.you sound like you are ready to fight your corner so I hope it all comes together how you want it.

I'm very much hoping my midwife will be supportive but I'm ready to (politely) foot stamp providing all my risks stay low!

Bees not having a doula but dh is very supportive of me and I have a friend who will be there too to sort of watch the dc and make herself useful where necessary!

allstopped thank you and good luck to you too.

Hello, I am one of the April 2015 ladies along with BrixtonBunny and am currently 38+0. Planning home birth and just thought I'd mention a few things from my experience so far.

I have transferred out of NHS to One to One midwives, who are free of charge, but not available everywhere. You can transfer to them at any stage and may be worth looking at if you're not happy with current care. They have a more traditional approach and fully support home birth, specialising in it for normal cases. You have a dedicated midwife all the way through and all your appointments are at home. They also provide post natal care and support for around 6 weeks afterwards.

In my case, I need to inform them at the first inkling baby is on the move and my midwife will bring the pool and other kit and do initial assessment.

My BMI at booking was 35 exactly so I was bumped into the high risk bracket. I have seen consultant at hospital twice (DS1 born at 36 wks so there was a chance I would end up in hospital anyway) to discuss my plans and whilst not "supportive", she said nothing to talk me out of home birth. I have been in good health throughout and no other high risk factors which is in my favour.

She said biggest risk is PPH - I discussed this with my midwife. He view is that PPH doesn't come out of nowhere and is us talk the result of slow labour / distressed baby where uterus is too tired to contract properly. They will be extra vigilant, transfer to hospital if any concern at all and they have all the same drugs available as at hospital. Such extreme cases are in any case very rare.

Another interesting point re BMI is that my midwife sent me the NICE guidelines re treatment of overweight pregnant women. It seemed to me that the very fact you are treated differently from the outset may in fact lead to problems e.g. Being on your back constantly monitored, being denied active labour etc may in fact contribute to increased intervention and adverse outcomes whereas if they let high BMI women get on with a normal labour, the experience may be better all round. Food for thought.

I have also done a natal hypnotherapy course during my first pregnancy ( Maggie Howell) and a Katherine Graves hypnobirthing refresher this time which was free through my midwives. Definitely worth it in my opinion!

Wow berberana! That sounds amazing. Where do I need to move to to get this service for free?