Coping strategies during home birth- advice please!

[Moominsummermadness]

Hello,

I'm 30+4 with DC4. I had DDs 1 and 2 in hospital, with entonox for pain relief, all went well. I opted for a home birth with DD3, as the pregnancy had been straightforward, and I saw a lovely midwife throughout, who promised me (very kindly) that even if she was on annual leave, she would swap shifts with the on-call midwife so that she could deliver the baby. I was in active labour for 7 1/2 hours, halfway through, I'd ran out of entonox, so one of the midwives got some more from the hospital. My waters hadn't broken, and I got stuck at 7cm, so they were artificially ruptured. At this point, it all became a bit intense- there was meconium present, so an ambulance was called, and just as my contractions reached their peak, the entonox finally ran out. Luckily, I needed to push just as we were getting ready to get in to the ambulance, and DD was absolutely fine.
This time, I was originally planning a hospital birth, mainly because I'd lost a bit of confidence, having had a couple of miscarriages last year. However, as this pregnancy progressed well, I felt a bit more relaxed, and my midwife (a different one this time), encouraged me to opt for another home birth. I know it sounds really wimpish, but I am a bit worried about running out of entonox again. The midwife came to my house last week, to do my home birth booking. I mentioned that I was worried about a lack of pain relief, and her reply was simply to try not to use the entonox until right at the very end. I know that there is a chance I could have a quicker labour this time, but with the other births I've really felt that the entonox has helped me to cope. She did suggest alternative ways of coping:- tens (crap, in my experience), water and aromatherapy. I have thought of hiring a birth pool, but previously I did try warm baths, but just got fed up and felt restricted and got out. Has anyone tried aromatherapy and found that it helped? I'm a little bit unsure, but having started to look in to it. What else would anyone recommend trying?

I had pethidine available for my HB, but that was 17 years ago, not sure you can still have that at home. I found it unused on the shelf in the syringe about 2 weeks later

I also ran out of entonox and had given birth by the time a second midwife arrived with a new tank!

I would try Tens again, it was brilliant for my first home birth, I had nothing else, but absolutely useless for my second so it may work for you this time.

Never tried aromatherapy but I think it might make me feel nauseous if it was my first experience of it.

Are you my twin?? I am pg with DC4, 30w and planning a homebirth. I have had a hospital induction, homebirth and transfer in homebirth for mec. in the waters (though DD3 needed a lot of suctioning so I was okay with transferring in).

I found that I only needed a birth ball with DD2 (and a doula!) and I had 3 mins of G&A as the 2nd stage was only 4 mins long. With DD3 I used the birth ball (and the doula) but had more G&A though it would have been less than 30 mins of it really as I only used it in transition/pushing and pushing was 17 mins long (plus in transition I spent most of the time throwing the mouthpiece away as it juddered and I took a dislike to it only to demand it back straight away in the hopes it wouldn't do that again!).

I have since had to use G&A for non birth related matters so have 'perfected' the art of sucking down 5ft high cannisters fairly quickly so I do hope they will bring sufficient. Though to be fair I used it for much more painful things (IME anyway) than childbirth so perhaps I won't need as much with this labour.

I really did find using the birth ball took away any pain (I sat on it and rocked, sat on it and swivelled hips round and round and round, leant over it and rocked back and forth, bounced up and down on it, etc) and the doula did some fabulous counter pressure on my back. Changing position was key though as I found if I stayed in one position/movement for too long the contractions slowed (well I didn't the doula did so she encouraged me to swap, walk about, go up the stairs, etc before going back to the ball).

I wouldn't have had a water birth as I have epilepsy and I am leery about aromatherapy due to allergies/asthma, I can't have TENS either due to my epilepsy - sorry I am not more help on those ones! But to sum up Birth ball + Doula = pain relief (for me!)

Hi, I'm a ftm planning a home birth, going to use a pool for pain relief and gas and air if necessary, I have a birthing ball and very interested to hear pp experience using it in labour, my midwife did say the dic could prescribe an injection of opioid but i don't want that option available, also will hire a tens machine...mainly counting on the pool! I did try one out recently and found it like a lovely safe bubble to hide in and found moving around easily (I think I'd also feel cooped up and restricted in the bath)

*ooops that's doc not dic

I realised you were asking about people's experiences and I have none, so sorry for butting in!! GL

Why can't they have 2 canisters available for you? I would discuss this with your mw. You will feel a lot more relaxed knowing that there is an extra one in the boot of their car.

I think my mw had a spare in her car. I used nearly a whole canister, and I remember her commenting that I had used as much as a primi gravida(although it was my 2nd).... Good luck.

Thank you all. I forgot to say, with DD1, I did have a shot of pethidine, but I didn't like it at all. They won't use it as an option for pain relief here either. I think I will get a birthing ball, I used one during my last HB, and I found it very useful. During labour I tend to get the feeling that I don't really know what to do with myself (IYSWIM), and the birthing ball was a good distraction. I remember the midwife asking if I was trying to bounce the baby out!
Twonk, they did bring 2 canisters, but because it didn't last very long. I have discussed it with the midwife, but she said that they can't bring any more than that, because of the fire risk if they were in a car-accident. There was no reassurance about them being able to get any more from the hospital either.
I think I need to look as the gas and air as being a bonus, rather than relying on it heavily. I will also make sure that I pack an proper emergency hospital bag too this time- although we very lucky in that we narrowly avoided hospital transfer, I was shouting at poor DH (it was his first baby too, so had never experienced any kind of birth before and was terrified), to collect various things from around the house.

I am a home birth midwife. I usually bring 4 small canisters which last about an hour each. A colleague can pick up more at the hospital if needed (hasn't happened). I would ask to meet with a supervisor of midwives and ask them to make a plan for me. Frankly 2 doesn't seem much and most primips who use it get onto a third!

This is just logistics and should be fixable.

Your comment about just not knowing what to do with yourself during labour struck a chord with me and I can recommend a book that might be useful to you: 'Birth Skills; proven pain management techniques for labour and birth' by Ju Ju Sundin, it's available on Amazon.

There's nothing in it that will take pain away but all the techniques are ones that involve distraction and I found them amazingly useful with both DCs. The book gives practical suggestions about what you can do with your hands, legs, voice etc - 'do something' as the book says, which works with your fight or flight instinct. These techniques along with a TENS worked for me during one hospital and one home birth.

Best wishes.

i had a home birth with dc 2 had a water birth which really helps with pain but most of all closing your eyes as that produces your natural pain relief as aposed to adrenalin when your eyes are open i felt high, also use clary sage essential oil on lower back

I would second Birth Skills as an excellent read, for you and your partner (who needs only read the designated sections.)

Hi op

I had a homebirth (technically) and all went well in terms of coping with contractions etc. I ended up going a bit mad at transition at which point my midwife rung ambulance, I leapt into it and promptly gave birth in within about 5 mins of getting inside. Never made it to hospital :)

Anyway, I found my birthing ball was brilliant, the normality of my mum and my midwife, who was amaazing, just lounging on my bed drinking tea and eating biscuits helped me chill out and not panic. I found leaning over the ball, holding onto the edge of my bed and moaning with the contractions did it for me tbh, it was pretty intense towards the end and I have very long labours (20 + hours) so found that chilling out with the tv on and the normal home enviroment was good.

I'd say get a ball if you haven't got one, have lavender ready and hot flannels (good to put on your bits when crowning) and just totally let yourself go.

Thanks for all your excellent advice, I will def buy a birthing ball and the book mentioned!