1st timer preparing for home birth. Anyone in same boat?

[chimichanga1976]

Hiya all,

Just registered so this is my very 1st post! So I'm due Nov 13th and am currently 38wks 3 days with my 1st, a little girl. We got the birth pool delivered ( Beautiful Birth Centre ) and my husband's gonna put it up tomorrow, sans water!, just so he knows what he's doing on the day. I chose a rigid one with filter, temp regulater, after much research. Sod the expense as I'll only be doing this the once! If we had the room we'd just keep it up but we're in a ground floor flat, open plan, so it's going in the kitchen for practical reasons.

I'm hoping everything continues to go normally so it all goes to plan on the day but I'm only a 10min drive from hospital if things do go bum up! Now I've finished work I need to crack on with the Yoga and Hypnobirthing CDs, which I've been crap at making myself do, but I know are effective.

I've not had any signs yet, does everyone get these Braxton Hicks thingies and are they just like period pains? Only thing I've had is back ache but I'm not in a rush. In fact, I'd rather be a bit late than early, as I only finished work 4 days ago and would love a bit of me time before the action begins iykwim!

I really enjoy reading people's varied experiences so if anyone's like me, in the process of planning, or you had a home birth for 1st time feel free to comment. I'll definately be keeping you updated as to how things progress and how it all pans out on the day!

collie I'm in Shaw, so not so far. I made a mental note that you were a local when I was lurking on the Trafford Centre meet thread ages ago - I couldn't make it in the end so decided not to post. Didn't know if I'd remembered the right nickname though, so here we are.

No change from me. Wishing everyone easy and not-too-distant labours!

DD2s beautiful home birth was almost 11 years ago, but I still couldn't read this without sending you all a good luck!

Just adding my twopennethworth (that's definitely a word ok!). I had a HB (in a birth pool) with my dd 20 weeks ago and I loved it!! Was very straightforward, 7.5 hrs start to finish, pushing for 6 minutes and no tearing (little bit of a graze but not serious at all). I'd actually go so far as to say I enjoyed the birth, I'd done a Hypnobirthing course and been taking RLT capsules as well as perineal massage which I think all helped.

I wonder if there's a sudden surge in popularity of HB in the North West since I'm local to crackpot and collie too

Good luck to all you ladies, it's honestly the most amazing experience ever!

see my other thread "It's started........" for an update. The home birth is pretty much knocked on the head. So gutted!!! : (

piesmuggler
There was a chart up on the wall in the Royal Oldham showing that Oldham's nearly at the top for home births in the area - several times over the national average.

Not read your thread yet, chimi, but gutted for you. Will go and have a nosy.

Hiya, Im new in Royton and preparing for my 2nd homebirth due 07/04/12.

I lived in Middleton with my DD1 and loved HB so much.

I have been told that the Oldham / Shaw CMW are really good.

I didnt have a birthing pool or any hypno etc to help with my DD1 as I didnt expect it to actually happen at home....didnt have any problems though and everything went really well with no pain relief required.

I am planning on being a bit more prepared this time around and am looking for a good birthing pool...any suggestions please?

Hi jdwade !
Definitely agree about Shaw/Royton CMW team. We're in good hands, I think :)
I got my birthpool from birthpoolinabox.com, regular size, two liners. They use the 'pro' version in the hospital. Apparently you can get them on eBay too as people sometimes can't use them after all, or you can get a used pool and a new liner. I got all the possible bits (panicker!) that go with the pool and it was £200, but I hear other people have managed the same on eBay for £40, so it's worth a go.

Good luck with it all :)