possible home birth alone... no midwife

[ghostspirit]

hi i had my 4 year old daughter home alone... sort of. i oushed her head out as paramedics ran up path so there were there to cut called and clear any muscus and make sure she was ok. it all happend really fast.

now im due my 5th child and im thinking what if the same happens again but this time no one get here just in time. how do i make sure baby is safe ok breathing ok the muscus thing the cord. and anything else if im on my own. what do i need?

Firstly talk to your own midwife about your worries and see if she can offer any advice.

Then try not to worry too much. Generally babies who are born having problems are those who have had a long labour and are weakened by that. Babies born to quick labpurs are generally ok.

Main things are to dry them off and then keep them warm. Drying them stimulates them to breath and cry and they clear their own airway of any mucous. Make sure the head is in a neutral position, so not tilted back or flopping forward.

There was a thread a while ago about this. Might turn up on a search. Tips like putting the door on the latch at the first twinge, making sure a couple of neighbours have keys etc. Have you heard all that?

I had a planned homebirth become an unassisted birth. I wasn't alone - it just went very slowly then off like a rocket. The main thing is not to fiddle with the cord or placenta. The paramedics will help with that.

so really just let nature take its course. clean baby of make sure hes wrapped up and warm and wait for someone to arrive

Yes. Listen for a good cry. Rub vigorously if needed. Snuggle up to you (my mw's at my home birth wrapped us together iyswim. ). Keep warm.

On the placenta, leave the cord alone. Push the placenta out if your body is ready (unless this bit is v fast ambulance will probably be with you before that).

Good luck.

yes penguin wrapped up together skin to skin contact and keeping baby warm with blanket and my body warm via the skin to skin :) yeah i would not touch cord.

Are you planning a home or hospital birth if it goes smoothly.

If home, also make sure your mw promises to brief the team on your history and responding fast even when labour doesn't seem established .

planning home birth. i wanted home birth before but i was told no. i have since learnt i should not have been told no. but it happend anyway because of the speed... i did mention to midwife about the speed and she said we can get faster to you than you can to us :/ and she knows baby was born BBA.

seems bit more scary this time. as last time i did not get any chance to think any what ifs

Good idea to get an electric fan heater, as once baby is born, while you are waiting for placenta it is important for you to be really nice and warm. This is for all home births, whether mw has arrived or not.
Maybe create some confidence boosting phrases about how good your body is at birthing your babies and how you will know what to do in moment.
It is obvs right to be careful and concerned, but this might be a chance to have a wonderful undisturbed birth, safe in the knowledge that a mw is on her way.
Wishing you a beautiful, happy birth.

Unlock the door so you don't have to get down stairs to let people in! And make sure your phone is always accessible and charged!

yes rose i did not have time to think/panic last time. it was a lovely birth. think i just have time to question things this time sure all will be fine though :)