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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Bit of a live home birth thread

20 replies

schmalice · 03/01/2015 05:21

Morning all, I'm coming up to 24 hours in labour with my first. Had peaks and troughs in terms of pain but have handled it ok, I think.

I'm managing pain with baths, paracetamol, moving about etc but I'm getting very tired. I've tried dozing but contractions are making that really tough.

Spoke to midwife at 2am and she said that it was too early for anyone to come out as my contractions weren't 2 mins apart and I seemed to be doing ok (she heard me have a contraction on the phone).

I think because I have no idea how far along I am I'm getting a bit disheartened plus been awake for 24 hours now.

Maybe just looking for a hand hold or some advice, not really sure to be honest.

OP posts:

JoanGalt · 03/01/2015 05:24

Sounds like you are doing brilliantly!

If you want more reassurance call your midwife again and she should come out to you.

I had a home birth with my first and it was long and tiring but we got there. Is your partner there with you? Are you able to have a snack or at least some water?

Good luck!

GinAndSonic · 03/01/2015 05:25

Hey, im here.

You are doing really well, try to take sips of water and bites to eat. Can you find a comfy position where your partner can hold you and rub you back or bump to try to help you doze a bit?

Talk to your baby, put some music on, or some comedy dvds. Dont be disheartened, you are doing really well.

Original poster

schmalice · 03/01/2015 05:31

Thanks guys! My DH is here but is just having a disco nap, will wake him up tho.

I've been sipping water and squash and managing bits of food. I knew a home birth would be tough in some ways but think it's obviously harder in the middle of the night when neither of you knows what's what!

I've got a long way to go, haven't i?

OP posts:

flagnogbagnog · 03/01/2015 05:33

Hi, you sound like you are doing perfectly. How far apart are your contractions now?

JoanGalt · 03/01/2015 06:17

Things are always harder in the middle of the night, it's just lonelier somehow.

You're doing fine.

victoire1208 · 03/01/2015 06:21

Oh what a great idea. I hope you can keep posting. Don't be fobbed off with this midwife assessing the strength of a contraction over the phone. I'm not a screamer and quite stoical and was told I sounded fine, that I'd be climbing the walls if in established labour. By the time I was examined I was 9.5cm.

Good luck and I'm very jealous knowing what's in store for you today after all of the hard work.

AlpacaYourThings · 03/01/2015 06:28

Good luck, OP.

What an amazing day you have ahead of you

CheerfulYank · 03/01/2015 06:39

I'm here, I'm here! Oh how exciting!

Your first is so special. :) My third is due in June.

GingerSkin · 03/01/2015 06:49

How exciting!
Labour can be deceiving for some - I managed the pain well and got to 7cm before a midwife checked me.

Bouncing on the ball was good.

As was sticking my tens machine on, my music and switching to my 'happy place' to ride out each contraction.

I was in slow labour for 4 days though! So contractions were every 3/5 min, but were not 'bad' ones.

CurlyLocks87 · 03/01/2015 06:50

Good luck OP.

Like others have mentioned I'd maybe try and get a little bit of rest, you'll need lots of energy later

funchum8am · 03/01/2015 07:43

Good luck OP! I had DC2 yesterday (induced so in hospital) and my one tip is that if they break your waters for you it can all get very intense v quickly! If they tell you to stop pushing, then try panting as otherwise you could tear. Being told this just after 2am yesterday in no uncertain terms saved me from what could have been a bit of a tear disaster as I got a bit overwhelmed by the urge to push (had only TENS and G&A, so like a home birth in that respect).

Having a newborn is lovely...yours is on the way! Best of luck.

FourAndDone · 03/01/2015 07:44

Good luck schmalice!!
I'm so excited for you.
Can you call midwife again and ask tone examined? I find this helpful to get an idea of what's happening.
You sound like your doing perfectly!
Keep us updated, I'm rooting for you.

silverfishlondon · 03/01/2015 11:14

Hoping to have a homebirth with my first in a couple of weeks so following with interest and hope I'll be sounding as calm as you do! Tho there's no way to know if your labour is going to be long and slow, or that your actually progressing faster than thought, it's certain that you will be getting closer to your baby with every contraction. Excited for you ( and rather impatient for my turn!)

bigfam · 03/01/2015 16:51

Hi op! Hope ur good?
Saw u posted on the 28th that u were getting occasional twinges and pain I've been feeling like that past few days so knowing you're in labour has given me hope! Lol. Good luck! X

CurlyLocks87 · 03/01/2015 17:14

How you doing now OP?

Original poster

schmalice · 08/01/2015 11:22

Hello all! Better late than never but thought I'd pop back with an update.

Firstly, my darling DD was born at 11:55am on the 3rd. We are all doing well, if a little overwhelmed by the who,e thing! We didn't manage to birth at home but that was due to a slightly odd set of events.

Things really ramped up about 6am so I called and asked for them to send someone, spoke to the community midwife and she said she would be with us in a hour as she would have to go to the hospital to get things first. In hindsight I should have called earlier as I was starting to feel panicked and I had no idea it would take them so long to get to me as we live in a large city! Anyway, an hour passed and I had another bath and more paracetamol my phone rang and it was the midwife saying she had a flat tyre and could get to me just yet but was trying to get someone out. By this point i didn't know what was what so called the delivery suite and said I was coming in. Got there and they told me I was 9cm!!! DD was born an hour or so later!

I'm sure that if I'd had someone with me earlier I would have been happy to stay at home but these things happen and in the end we had to stay in over night anyway. No tear or much damage so I'm pretty sure that's down to being at home all that time.

The poor midwife was utterly mortified that I ended up coming in but to be honest I think I was so panicked by that point it was the best thing!

Thanks for all the support on the night, I was really quite afraid and knowing people were there really helped!

OP posts:

funchum8am · 08/01/2015 21:01

Congratulations!! It sounds like you coped incredibly well. The flat tyre is unbelievably bad luck but if everyone is healthy just enjoy your lovely baby .

GingerSkin · 08/01/2015 22:14

Congratulations! A little baby girl, how exciting [happy]

Such bad luck about the tyre / delayed midwife. At least dd is here now.

silverfishlondon · 09/01/2015 14:15

Congratulations! I was wondering how you got on so thanks for the update . Although you did the final bit at hosp it sounds like a smooth home labour experience. I can only hope to do so well next week! Enjoy your little girl :)

Original poster

schmalice · 09/01/2015 21:08

It was fab being at home and I'm pleased I was able to be there as long as possible!

OP posts:

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