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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Home Birth Planned - Overdue

294 replies

LuckySalem · 11/01/2008 08:41

Hi all,

I'm currently 41 + 1 and hoping to have a home water birth.

According to my hospital they will only allow you to go Term + 12 which will take me to Tuesday.

I've had a sweep yesterday and apparently the "Presenting part (head) is still high" my notes say 3 above spine. Also in my notes on my 20wk scan (was 20+1) it was reading I was 19+6 and 19+2 depending on different measurements.

I'm absolutely petrified of having to go into hospital to be induced. What rights do I have to refuse the induction and still have a homebirth? Can I use the fact that at 20 weeks I was possibly only 19 and therefore now only actually 6 days over?

Thanks all

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NatalieJane · 17/01/2008 13:44

A bloody discharge or a 'show', is quite normal, I had one with both labours (infact about 800 with DS2 ).

I think that everyone has one, it is the 'plug' that helps to keep the cervix closed off from infections, some people just wouldn't know about it though because it can stay 'plugged in' till labour is on the way.

peanutbutterkid · 17/01/2008 13:46

LS implied having bloody discharge all day, though, I think. A few wadges of brown bloody stuff, sure is normal, but a steady stream is not so typical.

peanutbutterkid · 17/01/2008 13:47

By LuckySalem on Sun 13-Jan-08 22:45:57
TMI - Had discharge all day (bloody) to the point where it actually feels like i'm peeing it out. (YUCK) --
Have other people had shows like that? All day, like peeing it out?

NatalieJane · 17/01/2008 13:54

I hadn't seen that message. When did she have her sweep? It could have been that that started the bleeding.

Will go and check when she had the sweep, but, I think, whilst not 'normal' it isn't uncommon to have a steady-ish flow of blood from when the cervix starts to ripen and open. Maybe wrong though.

NatalieJane · 17/01/2008 13:56

Yes, she had a sweep on the Thursday and Saturday, I'd say it was that that started the bleeding.

peanutbutterkid · 17/01/2008 13:59

Let's hope you're right, NJ. I'm very pro-HomeB but Speccie is right in her thread about her friends' homebirth-gone-wrong to point out that childbirth always has risks.

NatalieJane · 17/01/2008 14:05

I think TBH (though I do hope she got the HB she wanted) she would have been induced, or at least moved to the hospital. Things looked like they were starting for a while, but with the babies head being in wrong position, probably nothing happened so she would have gone in to be induced. Or if labour started but because of the babys position, she didn't progress fast enough, she may well have been moved to the hospital then.

I think if she'd have had the HB fully at home she'd have at least been on FB by now. But fingers crossed she did get the birth she wanted and that she is just too loved up with her new baby to think of FB or MN!

Too many 'I think's' in there, but it is all a guessing game until we hear from her.

lulumama · 17/01/2008 14:33

bloody show and some blood loss is a normal sign of dilation. frank bleeding is not. LS was going in for monitoring at 2pm yesterday i think? or the day before? so i am sure she is in good hands, she is sensible and was not pursuing homebirth at any cost.

NatalieJane · 17/01/2008 16:24

Just checking in.

Might paint my nails....

lulumama · 17/01/2008 16:25

did mine last night

had interesting meeting at lunchtime, with some like minded ladies, we are setting up a birth choices group.. very excited !

NatalieJane · 17/01/2008 16:31

Oh Lulu, that's a briliant idea

I think there are so many people who don't get given the information needed to make their labour as lovely as it can be.

Good on you!!

lulumama · 17/01/2008 16:32

ta !

anyhoo, how are you?

NatalieJane · 17/01/2008 16:34

On the outside I am fine, on the inside..... don't ask!

How about you?

lulumama · 17/01/2008 16:36

oh sweetie, make sure you take some time out for you.... you need to go through the whole process, and if falling apart for a brief time is part of it, then do so !

NatalieJane · 17/01/2008 16:39

I can't, I've got two kids to still look after, DH is doing all he can but he is working so hard at the moment, he is hardly ever here.

Anyway, enough of my moaning and grumping, how are things in LuluWorld? How is the doula-ing going? Everything you thought it would be?

lulumama · 17/01/2008 16:46

kids in bed, bath and glass of wine for you... DH can get his own supper, and you can just chill.... doulaing good thanks, been quiet, but picking up again and am learning lots!

NatalieJane · 17/01/2008 16:51

I have been doing that most nights.

I suppose it will always quieten down over Christmas? You are so lucky though, I would love to do something like you're doing. In fact would love to be a midwife, but that certainly isn't going to happen anytime soon!

Do you just do one client at a time?

lulumama · 17/01/2008 18:08

at the moment, yes, one at a time, but have found one other local doula, and one other possible, so as a team, or backing each other up, could do a lot more

still desperately want to do midwifery when DCs are older!

wwyd · 17/01/2008 19:00

hope you're snuggling up to your lovely baby!

NatalieJane · 17/01/2008 19:44

C'mon on Jen, post woman!!!

laughalot · 17/01/2008 22:42

Jen????????????????????

Original poster
LuckySalem · 18/01/2008 01:53

hello everyone this is luckysalem's partner here thank you all for supporting her throughout this labour.Now i am sure you would all like to know what is going on.
we went for a swim tue morn which eased her pain slightly then she had her monitoring in the afternoon.during the monitoring she was in a lot of pain as she had to stay still.
when we got home she was in terrible pain so we rang the labour ward who sent out a midwife at 5:15. the MW did an exam and announced LS was 3-4cm dilated wayhey it had finally started.MW said would be back in a few hours to see how things were going.8:30 and she was 6-7 cm, i filled the pool and LS started on the entonox.around 2am she started pushing with the contractions 3:30 still no baby and poor LS was exhausted MW suggested getting out of pool and trying a different position which she did but still no baby at 5am it was decided to call 999 as babies heartbeat was falling. we went to hospital where she was told baby was in wrong position and needed to be moved.this was hell for us both in a room with 8-10 people all poking,proding and shaving her.
she was given an epidural so the registrar could turn the baby using forceps alas this didnt work and they ended up having to do an emergency c section as the heartbeat was droping rapidly.6:05 wed morning our beautiful baby daughter was born weighing 6lbs 2.3 ounces.we went through hell but it was soooooo worth it.once they had put the spinal in everthing went better because all her pain was gone.LS is doing well in hospital. hopefully they will let her out tommorow.we havent decided on a name yet but should do before she comes home.once again thanks for your support.

OP posts:
Original poster
LuckySalem · 18/01/2008 02:01

hello LS's partner here still, i would just like to say how proud i am of jen she had an really tough time during this labour but she never gave up until she was put in the ambulance.by then she was delerious with pain as they wouldnt let her have any more entonox because the baby needed oxygen.she went to hell and came back with an angel

OP posts:
katyt1 · 18/01/2008 06:29

woohoo, congrats to Lucky & partner

I know it's not the process she wanted, but the end result sounds like a lovely georgeous little girl

awww, and you sound so supportive, hope she recovers well and can come home with baby soon.

oh and look forward to hearing what name(s) you decide on

wannaBe · 18/01/2008 06:37

huge congratulations.