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Birth clubs

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

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Original poster

tear up the petticoats and boil the kettle: any prospective homebirthers due March/April 2009?

25 replies

Gemzooks · 26/11/2008 14:31

Don't want to detract from the lovely ladies on the Due in April thread of which I am a proud member despite being due 29 March.

However just thought it would be good to get together with others considering homebirth.

I'm mainly considering it because it's the norm (30% of births and strongly encouraged) in Holland where I'm living, and have read up on it and statistics are just as safe for 2nd timers or more.. so am seriously considering.

Anyone want to join?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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hermionegrangerat34 · 26/11/2008 14:49

Me! I'm due with my third on 21st March and planning to have this one at home. The first was in hospital (induction/forceps/etc), second a hospital waterbirth which was brilliant and went very smoothly (despite ds2 being 10lb.3!); but I've now moved and the hospital here doesn't have a pool, so the only way to have another water birth is to have it at home. Plus I hate staying in hospital afterwards, and like the fact of having it at home anyway.
Midwife fine - in fact at my booking appt she asked 'so where are you going to have it, home or hospital' -but the doctors at the hosp aghast! Even the sonographer when she saw 'home' on my notes said 'but what will you do for pain relief?!' - it was worth it for the look on her face when I said I'd had none for ds2 except one paracetamol!

Original poster

Gemzooks · 26/11/2008 16:37

hi!
water birth sounds interesting: did you really find it helped the pain though or was it just good for being mobile?

With DS I had a long, long labour (3 days), no progress, synotocin, brilliant mobile epidural and then fine delivery. No reason to suppose the progress wouldn't be a bit better for a 2nd. I just had the feeling that my body didn't really grasp what it had to do the first time round.

The TENS machine got me through a lot of it, that's why I'm not sure about water, though I suppose you could go in the water later.

Do you get 2 midwives with you in the UK? It's only one here which is a bit daunting.. however EVERYONE here has had a homebirth, and they don't bat an eyelid!

I'm impressed with your one paracetamol; I'm really such a coward!

Wonder if anyone else will be along to join us!

OP posts:

BoffinMum · 26/11/2008 16:46

I'm planning a third home birth. The other times I used a TENS machine (if you 'practise' from week 37 I found it enhances the effect - in fact I fell asleep one night with the thing on, and woke up a few hours later endorphically stoned, with one hell of a natural high. It was so good you think the government would have banned it).

I then moved onto the water pool when I was having contractions a couple of minutes apart. That dealt with the rest of the pain quite nicely.

I had three midwives - they sent one for the mother and one for the baby, plus a student who wanted to see a water birth in action. They mainly sat on the sofa drinking tea and letting me get on with it.

Yorky · 26/11/2008 17:10

Hi, I've just had my second home water birth and would strongly recommend it. I seem to labour quickly and am very glad I didn't have to sit in the car contracting round the ring road!
I used TENS both times until I got in the pool to push, didn't get gas and air due to lack of time, but was offered prescription for meptid to pick up from GP in advance and keep at home in case of need
I had 2 MWs 1st time, 2nd got there 2 mins before baby, this time 1MW plus student

KittyCat8 · 26/11/2008 17:23

Oooh me too please!

I'm having my first DC in April and absolutely love the idea of a homebirth... even though I've always said I'll be the one screaming for the drugs! Just goes to show us the power of Mumsnet...

I haven't approached the idea to MW yet but DH is totally behind it... he likes the idea of the relaxed setting as opposed to the bright lights and white sterility of the hospital.

Homw / Water birth is not something that's done often in South Africa (where we're from) so I just KNOW that my family - especially Mum - is going to have a freak out... They just don't understand the process! I'm seriously considering not telling her until it's come and gone. Anyone else had this problem?

BoffinMum · 26/11/2008 17:26

Not really, most women had home births in our area at the time I was born, apparently. Mum only went into hospital with me because it was taking too long and she was exhausted.

You don't need as many drugs at home because it's all more on your terms and you tend to move about more.

gingersarah · 26/11/2008 17:37

Hello, can I join?
I am due 18 April and have never had a baby before. The midwives I have discussed this with seem very in favour; however, I live in a rented house and am not sure how the landlord will feel about it - but then he won't know till it's too late, will he. Anyone think this is madness for a first baby? Any other notes from experienced gurus?

Yorky · 26/11/2008 18:32

Had my first at home and was really surprised how supportive MWs were, fully expected to be told "if it goes OK this time.."
GS - we live in rented house too

BoffinMum · 26/11/2008 22:37

What business is it of the landlord's???? Are you expecting him to be there watching?!

hermionegrangerat34 · 26/11/2008 22:50

If you can get hold of it, read Ina May Gaskell's 'Guide to Childbirth'. It is a bit hippy, but bear with that if it annoys you (it did me)- there is some seriously brilliant stuff in there. My dh read it too and was FAB at the last birth - it only really started hurting when I was pushing (and then it was agony! luckily only about 5 pushes though), and when I started shouting 'no!' he said 'remember that book, say yes instead' - which sounds very beardy-weirdy, but bloody worked! MWs VERY impressed! And this the dh who wouldn't come into theatre with me the first time - second time, he was in the pool holding me!
Don't really know what the water did for the pain as I got to hospital at 9cm and the pool was only filled in time for the delivery itself. Felt GREAT getting in though!

Original poster

Gemzooks · 27/11/2008 09:00

shall we make a little summary? just add your details below..

Gemzooks, due 29 March, have one DS aged 2.2, first time home-birther!

OP posts:

KittyCat8 · 27/11/2008 11:49

Gemzooks, due 29 March, have one DS aged 2.2, first time home-birther!

KittyCat, due 19 April, First DC and first HB!

Original poster

Gemzooks · 28/11/2008 22:57

just bumping us up a bit!

OP posts:

hermionegrangerat34 · 01/12/2008 22:55

Gemzooks, due 29 March, have one DS aged 2.2, first time home-birther!

KittyCat, due 19 April, First DC and first HB!

HermioneGrangerat34, due 21st March, have 2DS, both hospital births but planning home this time.

longlegted · 01/12/2008 23:05

I'm planning a hb. This will be my 3rd hb , all being well. I'm due 27th April.

electra · 14/01/2009 14:45

I'm planning to have a homebirth! I think we should re-start this thread.

I have two girls already. The first born in hospital with almost every intervention. The second time I planned to have a HB but had to go into hospital because my blood pressure went up - however, I had been at home for a long time before and didn't need to see any doctors in the hospital. My lovely HB midwife stayed with me the entire time and I go the experience I had hoped for - I went home a couple of hours after she was born.

I don't like labouring in hospital at all - it's too busy, the staff are stressed, you can hear other women in pain and I dislike the lighting and small rooms. If I'm at home I'm sure I will find the whole thing easier.

titmouse · 14/01/2009 21:13

Hello,
I'm planning a HB. Due on 26th March, this is our first baby. I've read the Nicky Wesson book on HB and found the case studies really encouraging.
Baby is currently transverse so I am praying every day that he/she starts to turn, I keep telling him (cos we think it is a boy despite not being able to find out at 20 wk scan) that if he wants a nice, peaceful birth he has to co-operate and stop all this transverse/breech business!!

has anybody else been planning for what they need for HB? have you started gathering things together yet?

Belgianchocolates · 14/01/2009 22:11

I'm planning a home birth for baby no3, due beginning of may (6th) can I join or do I need to start my own thread?!

electra · 15/01/2009 12:10

Hi BC - I'm sure you don't need to start a separate thread

Actually I was hoping there would be a HB thread on here. Labour terrifies me! So I will much prefer it at home where I can distract myself. I am wondering about trying it in water too this time....

Belgianchocolates · 15/01/2009 13:35

Ah thanks for letting me in! I have thought about water too, but I don't think I can do with having a birthing pool in our lounge so I think I'll skip the water birth bit. I might use our bath in the beginning though, because we've got a lovely big and deep new one.

electra · 15/01/2009 14:20

I spent quite a bit of time in water during my last labour because I wanted to soften up to avoid tearing. However, at transition I suddenly had the urge to get out.

Tummum · 15/01/2009 20:35

Hello All. I am due DC3 on 1st May so can I squeek in?? 1DC was induced and got away with Pethadine, 2nd was hospital but in pool with G&A and a 9lb10oz baby with no tear, so this time I would like to stay at home in a pool.

DH is very unconvinced though, so need to do some arm twisting !

electra · 15/01/2009 22:00

Hi Tummum Do any of you have any tips on how to avoid panicking at transition?

Tummum · 16/01/2009 20:10

Hi electra

Sorry - no expert on that bit. Last time (the WB one) I was so terrified of pushing I refused to give up the gas and air or to push. My MW was brill and left me to it (including hanging onto G&A) and in the end my body just sort of did it for me, so I didn't actually push at all... I am sure that's why no tear despite a 9lb10 baby with a 98 centile head ! I did waddle for about a month afterwards though

mumblemumhome4lunch · 16/01/2009 20:49

Am dead of all you guys.

Love labouring at home and would recommend it to everyone but I just can't seem to finish the job (DS ended up forceps and DD was very late diagnosed as breech - just as I started to push!)

One bit of advice - do still write a birth plan JUST IN CASE you end up in hospital and have a hospital bag packed just in case. And consider how far (distance and time) you are from hospital in case of emergancy during or after the birth.......reason I'm not planning third time lucky is I've had serious post birth complications both previous times, last time in particular could have been very dicey if I'd been at home.

Really don't want to put anyone off just do consider it very carefully

It will be strange going into hospital this time without the blue flashing lights and am secretly planning to keep quiet for as long as possible so my hospital labour is a shrot as can be

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