The thread for first time home birthers (or thinking about it) - over here!

[Boobz]

I only just found out I was pregnant 10 days ago, and it is of course early days, but I have been doing a lot of research and am seriously thinking of having a home birth.

I'm a member of my Due March '09 ante natal club thread, but I don't want to go on about home birthing there where the majority will be planning a hospital birth (don't want to bore them!) I'd like to start this thread for all those people who'd like to talk about the pros and cons, planning, expectations and realities of home births, especially if it is your first baby, or first home birth.

Has everyone else's other halves been fine at the thought of a first baby HB? Or did you have to do some convincing?

A

thanks girls - is this true though if I'm with community midwives? I've not been given any reason to assume they may be short staffed, just thinking that seeing as they're not actually attached to the hospital (ie I call them direct not the hospital) and they're all attending other women, it's not like they have anyone else they can actually send out who can cover their shift in hospital?

am a bit confused...not overlly owrried about it though

it is the same with community midwives. i would think all community midwives are somehow attached to a hospital anyway as there is where most of their patients go to deliver.

Ask the name of the lead mw and address your letter to her and to the SOM at the hospital you have chosen for your care. eg, where you have had scans done and would go if you wanted to deliver in hospital.

Girlwiththemouseyhair - in most areas community midwives are employed by the local hospital (for insurance purposes) and in many cases even do shifts on the ward to keep there skills up. My friend is a MW at the local hospital and when I saw her earlier this week she was shattered as the second CMW had failed to respond to her pager for a HB and my friend had been sent from the ward instead at the end of her shift.

Only independant midwives may not be associated with your local hospital.

She was amused though as the lady had a very tidy homebirth with the minimum of mess but it had taken a few days to get to that stage. Her DH had kept busy by covering every part of the house in clear plastic sheeting all neatly stuck to the floors and furniture with masking tape. It had taken him two days

Hello all, I've got my 28 week appointment this afternoon and could I ask for crossed fingers as I'm confirming that we'd like to book for HB! We visited the MW led unit and it still feels very much like a hospital, the main difference being someone's painted a few baby footprints on the wall, plus they can only have 2 mums labouring at a time, and if it's busy in the delivery suite the MLBU is first to close

DH is fully behind the decision, and with luck this afternoon we'll be booked in!

good luck jumpjockey

ajm - that's hilarious about the dad spending two days ,getting his house immaculate!...we're off shopoing for waterproof material and a small electric heater this weekend, yay!

Looks like my HB may be off. Last time I developed PE over the course of two days and ended up with an induction.

Just had my MW appt and it was deja vu. My BP has been low/normal until last week. Today 140/101 and 3 points of protein in my urine. Hands and feet are starting to get puffy. They've taken bloods, if the markers for PE are there, I may be induced next week otherwise I'll be closely monitored and likely to end up in hospital. BP shot up during labour last time to dangerous levels so can't risk a homebirth.

WOOHOO!!!! I had a growth scan earlier as they reckoned my baby was too big for a home birth (likely story!) and baby weighs an estimated 6lb 5oz at 35 weeks, which on the customised growth chart is within the centile lines and within normal paramteres! So, it looks like it is game on for me!

ajm, I am really sorry to hear about your appt today. That must really be a blow for you. Sending some hugs.

GWMH, I am going to need some waterproof material too, any idea's the best places to look? I am not having a waterbirth, but tend to carry a fair bit of fluid and obviously there is the other mess that would be better on a mat/waterproff material.

Heartmum2jamie.. thanks for your kind words. You can get non-slip plastic sheeting from here

ajm sorry to hear your news - hope you're ok and things settle down a bit.

I've managed to get booked in provisionally assuming all stays well and according to plan - MW was very relaxed about the whole thing so touch wood we may be on for early December.

I've just cancelled my lovely heated birthing pool as it was due for delivery on 2nd and they need 7 days notice for a refund. If the bloods come back clear tomorrow, I'll have to look at some alternative. I'm gutted as I've saved for 2 years to get the proper heated pool.

Anyone tried the birthing pool in a box? Are they any good? What are the drawbacks?

Sorry about the news ajm. I remember how carefully and long you had planned for this birth.

I also had PE with my first pg and was induced. It's little dark shadow has been stalking this pg so I am always interested in my BP which despite swollen feet, is holding its own.

Were you induced the last time?

I have a la bassine. When I test drive it, i will report back.

Last time I was induced at just over 36 weeks but DS was as stubborn as he is now and nothing happened for 5 days. I won't post the full details here as I don't want to put anyone off but it was a far from ideal experience in so many ways.

Just found out that one of my best friends is working on delivery suite all weekend so try to get this baby moving naturally over the next couple of days as she'll do everything she can to make the birth as positive as possible. The only good news from my appt earlier was very mild contractions 20 mins apart but not strong enough to be classed as labour.

my induction was also a nightmare scenario and i would avoid one for as long as possible, if ever.

HI there

I have 4 kids, had the fist three in hospital and my last daughter at home, it was a wonderful experience.

Got my blood results back. Levels slightly raised but not enough for a definate diagnosis of PE. Home BP monitor shows BP down to sane levels but still raised for me.

Friends have worked out a rota so DS will be out from now until late Friday, just coming home to sleep. Feel guilty about it but he adores my friend and her son so its likely to be a big adventure for him.

Lots of rest, relaxation and natural induction methods for me over the weekend before we have to repeat all tests on Tuesday. Still have regular mild BHs just need to push them over to real labour somehow

Good luck ajm - hope you get the birth you want.

Off to get my dribbles monitored shortly, so suspect my home water birth is up the spout. Always next time I guess. Bit of a shame as I have a birth pool in a box set up in the dining room and could have critiqued for you!

Oh Anglepoise, I hope your dribbles turn out to be caused by something else and you still get your homebirth. How much longer to you have to go before you can have your baby at home?

Anglepoise Just seen how far you are on the other thread. If it is your waters, insist on coming home and waiting to see if labour starts naturally. They should be able to give you 24 hours or more if you are persuasive enough before they need to take action. Just keep an eye on your temperature..

Good luck

Hello all.

ajm good luck with your tests - I hope you get to have the birth you want. I have bought a La Bassine pool which is pretty comfy, but I have no experience of actually birthing in it - yet!

I had my 34 week appointment with the MW yesterday and I have been booked in for a home appointment in 2 weeks so they can go through all the HB stuff - I am very excited, everything with my pregnancy has gone well so far so fingers crossed it stays this way and I don't have to go to hospital at all!

Good luck everyone. x

Just a quickie update on here too ... They've sent me home and expect my contractions to start naturally but I need to go back to be monitored tomorrow if they don't. We've kept the booking to be induced on Saturday morning if nothing is happening at all, but provided things start before then we may still get our HB Not in labour yet (still not even a glimmer of a contraction!) but at least something is happening, and they give you 72 hours up here after waters breaking, which is much better than I expected.

Interestingly, I've just been talking to cousin on the phone, who had her second baby at the same hospital (Warrington) and she said that they put quite a lot of pressure on her to have a HB (she feels safer in hospital!)

ChocOrange Glad to you are getting your HB booking visit. Good luck with it.

Anglepoise Glad they have sent you home. I was hoping for your sake that that they would. Time to get on the birthing ball and bounce to get those contractions going.
Sending you some good birthing vibes!!

Ajm, I hope you manage to go naturally this weeken while you friend is on duty and you get the kind of birth you want.

Anglepoise, that is great they have sent you home and you aren't under any immediate pressure. Fingers crossed you start contracting soon!

Choc, good to see you here! Good luck for you HB booking visit. No mention of mine yet, but there was talk of a box the other day, lol!

I have just called the GP's and my blood results are back but they couldn't tell me what my iron levels are specifically, except to say that there was mention of a dictated letter being sent to the secretary today. I am guessing I am still anemic (levels were 10.2 at 28 weeks and have been taking 2 spatone a day since). I was told they ideally wanted my levels to be 10.5 or higher, but can they honestly deny me due to low iron levels? I feel fine, although may get some floradix as well as the spatone to help levels if needs be (or will kindly take other suggestions)

My iron levels are a bit low. It was one of the things that they spotted in yesterdays bloods. They've been low since June despite pregnacare, spatone and Dr's iron tablets. They haven't said its a problem though. Guess they've got bigger concerns now.

I'm beginning to wonder if you can o/d on raspberry leaf. I've had 3 one a day tabs today and 3 pots of tea.. Also stink of clary sage which isn't pleasant, using in massage oil on my tum and in the bath.. again, hope there's no o/d level for it. Supposedly it will bring on labour but this baby isn't moving yet

Anglepoise Any news?