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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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Original poster
LuckySalem · 12/01/2008 19:27

lol

I'm having a spag bol and glass of wine for dinner in a minute and then bed so i'll speak to you all tomorrow!! Thanks so much for the help.

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Peachy · 12/01/2008 19:31

When ds2 got himself in the wrong position, MW put on music and amde me sway to it- must have worked, kept me at the birthing unit when main palce was talking C-Section LOL!

Don't worry too much about the ripened cervixx bit either; with ds1 was induced for medical reasons, and was told would take 4 days as my cervix notr eady- took under 4 hours

Good luck

belgo · 13/01/2008 07:37

hope you are alright Luckysalem

twelveyeargap · 13/01/2008 08:10

If it helps... I had my home waterbirth at 41+12. I was "allowed" to go to 42 weeks, but my midwife gave me a wink and a nod and said that if I was 42+1 and was labouring at home, they wouldn't refuse to come out to me.

I think her moving the goalposts relaxed me and I stopped seeing 42 weeks as my "last chance" and it really helped. Also, (I'm sorry if I missed this in the thread - I haven't read the whole thing), the hospital have to give you daily monitoring if you ask for it, instead of being induced; if that's what you wish.

I was lucky in that my hospital were very calm and said that nobody would be trying to force me into an induction and I could wait and be monitored. Some trusts have these "rules", but nobody can make you have any procedure you don't want.

Hope everything is brilliant.

Original poster
LuckySalem · 13/01/2008 09:23

No baby but loads more "show" this morning tinged with Reddy blood instead of the brown stuff.

I've got really bad period pain in my lower belly and the BH that I was having last night went almost as soon as I went to bed.

Will keep you all updated.

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lulumama · 13/01/2008 09:56

bloody show is good ! all those pains are good... you are on your way. things are getting going so think positive, and keep thinking good, positive, birthy thoughts!

Original poster
LuckySalem · 13/01/2008 09:58

That's the plan. My birthball is my new best friend!! lol (sad eh?)

Anyways, I'm going to play some computer games whilst sitting on my ball, that way keeps my mind off everything.

OP posts:
belgo · 13/01/2008 10:15

yes, play computer games while you still have the chance! Glad things are going in the right direction.

sweetkitty · 13/01/2008 10:16

I had a homebirth at 41+5 with DD2, her head was very high in my pelvis and never moved down until MWs broke my waters (then she shot out). I was 8cms after 20 minutes from the first pain but the whole labour was 2h 30mins as my waters not going and her head being high slowed things down, DD1 was 37+5 and the difference in them was astounding.

DD2 was 3lbs heavier, fed straight away, was very alert and holding her head up from the off compared to DD1 who I had problems feeding and was a skinny little jaundiced thing. Some babies do need to cook a bit longer.

Anyway your signs sound v good I hope you go into labour today.

Original poster
LuckySalem · 13/01/2008 10:18

Can I ask the MW's to pop my waters at home then? I thought that was only a hospital thing.

If no baby Monday when she comes to do the 3rd sweep I can ask her to pop waters if favourable (kinda like being induced at home?)

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lailasmum · 13/01/2008 10:32

I just wanted to say that I had a home birth at 10 days overdue, No-one had mentioned induction or a hospital birth, they are very pro home birth round here but I guess it would have come up if I had been any more overdue, but also that a lot can happen in a few days at the end of pregnancy, I never expected to deliver on the day I did, woke up to a normal day feeling no different, but it happened all of a sudden and was great. Try and relax, you may not even have a problem to deal with.

Also I have a friend who was born at a whole 4 weeks over her due date, she is a normal healthy adult.

lulumama · 13/01/2008 10:39

no, i don;t think the MW can do that to induce labour, she can break your waters when you are in labour to speed things up but my preference would be for the waters to be left intact, especially if the head is still a bit high... waters help baby manouevre into a better position for birth, so leave them be .. also, once the waters hvae gone in labour, it is a lot more intense,

if your waters break or are broken before labour starts, you are on a ticking clock for labour to get started within a certain time frame.. so i;d leave things be

Original poster
LuckySalem · 13/01/2008 10:42

Ok, i'll stick to me birthing ball then.

Thanks

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Original poster
LuckySalem · 13/01/2008 11:18

I am so

just had one of the MW's on the phone saying I have to come in tonight for my induction cos it's fully booked Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday takes me over their schedules. I refused so she's said that she has to document I have refused and send me for monitoring on Tuesday which is fine and I've agreed to that.

She is also refusing to do another sweep tomorrow as they're only allowed to do 2 sweeps on one person.

Why is it so different from what the supervisor woman said yesterday?

I'm really annoyed cos I have this horrible feeling now that even if I go into labour at home they're gonna come in and tell me something bad is happening and I have to go to hospital and I don't have enough knowledge to be able to tell whether they're right or not!

Why can't they be supportive? I'm doing everything they're asking me to apart from being induced before they want me to.

OP posts:
Beetroot · 13/01/2008 11:21

Luckysalem - do you have a doula nearby that you can call on?

PLease try and stay calm and take this important time before your baby is due to relax. Things will happen in there own time.

sex and acupuncture can help - BUT as my amazing midwife said - the baby will come when it is ready' = not that profound really but true

Original poster
LuckySalem · 13/01/2008 11:22

I don't know if I have a doula nearby but we really can't afford one. I looked into it when we first decided on a homebirth.

I'm trying to stay calm I really am but it's annoying me. Everything they're asking me to do i'm doing for them but they're not willing to help me at all. Or it doesn't feel like it anyway.

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MarsLady · 13/01/2008 11:24

Lucky.........breathe! Don't let anger overwhelm you now.

You're doing brilliantly. It's not your problem that they are overbooked... that's their problem.

Be monitored (if you're still waiting) and relax.

Why should anything be wrong? You can always ask for a second opinion and ask how whatever it is (or isn't) affects your baby at that time.

Now.... how about some more sex, nipple stim etc?

C'mon girl. Time to go back to that relaxed place. Start to talk to your baby. Tell baby what you want etc and let's see your birth announcement

Original poster
LuckySalem · 13/01/2008 11:25

Cheers ML - I just went to tell DP (he's in bed) and he's annoyed but determined to get baby out today apparently. lol. We're going for a walk in abit.

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MarsLady · 13/01/2008 11:27

Listen... you might not be able to have a RL in the flesh doula but you have Lulu, me and I'm sure some of the others will pop by (if there's time).

Please please please don't focus in on what they are saying. Just let yourself relax. The walk may help.

Original poster
LuckySalem · 13/01/2008 11:29

I'm hoping the walk will calm me down and then I can concentrate on what's happening.

I've got period pains at the moment and the need to pass gas but no gas there so i've been telling the baby if this is their way of letting me know they're coming I am listening.

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yogimum · 13/01/2008 11:29

what are you doing on here? Get back into bed with dh. Enjoy your walk

Original poster
LuckySalem · 13/01/2008 11:34

Lol yogi - He's sleeping, didn't go to bed till 4:30 this morning playing on the computer!

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yogimum · 13/01/2008 11:37

he's getting some practice for those sleepless nights is he? My sis is due her baby next, she is having a homebirth, though her boiler packed up and she can't get anyone to fix till Friday.

yogimum · 13/01/2008 11:37

that should have read next week.

Original poster
LuckySalem · 13/01/2008 11:38

Oh no, Can she heat the water any other way?

Our heating has given up but luckily we can heat the water from a different switch (pilot light on the gas fire won't stay on)

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