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

congratulations!!!

and well done. what an amazing story - thanks for sharing! Sorry things went a bit pear shaped at the end with the placenta refusing to budge (I am still dithering about whether to request injection or try for physiological for third stage), but it sounds like the Kings team were great (good news for me as that's where I will be going if the HB doesn't work out too. How many weeks were you on Sunday when it all happened? Do let us know the name once you'vbe decided. Congrats again!!!

Congratulations Jennylininah!! I am pleased you had a homebirth even if things went a bit "hairy" towards the end. I hadn't given much thought to the 3rd stage, but I think so long as I can deliver at home, I am ok with the injection, I will do ANYTHING to avoid a trip to hospital.

I am nervous today as the midwife should be popping around at any time today to bring the stuff and carry out the risk assessment. I know she is not assessing the cleanliness of my home, but I have spent the last 3 days deep cleaning and making everything immaculate. It's like a cross between nesting and the inlaws suddenly springing a visit with little notice, lol!

Oh, I also ordered the book "Hello Baby" by Jenni Overend on the recommendation of a thread here. What a lovely book. I read it to the boys yesterday and damn my pregnancy hormones if I didn't get all teary in a place or 2!! I thought the illistrations were beautiful and the bit with the head being born was enough to get the boys asking questions without it being too graphic. I had to LOL, they thought the baby was coming from her bottom! They were actually more interested in why she was naked! Typical boys.

Thanks guys! It was worth every bit of pain but I do wish I'd managed to control myself a bit more and avoided the tear - it's rather sore now... Mind you, not sure if I could have stopped it really! The placenta came out fine in the end, after I had the injection (didn't even notice it anyway!) and I just had to push once and it all came out (at least I hope it did...)

I was 41+1 and had an ante-natal apt booked for 7th Oct with the homebirth team, but I had a post due date apt the week before and they were pressuring me then to book an induction (I didn't!)

Still finalising the name as we want to be totally in agreement. My family can't get their head round this at all and keep hassling us about it! They are all coming over tomorrow so it would be nice to be able to announce it to them.

Good luck with all your plans for your Homebirths!

I am well annoyed with my midwife right now. After seeing her on monday and her telling me that she would come out and do the risk assessment Thursday or Friday and asking if I would be in, she didn't bloody well bother to show up and not only that, no phone call to say she wasn't coming. So I have wasted 2 glorious sunny days INSIDE when I could have been out and about with the boys, and doing lots of walking, Grrrrr!

I almost hope I go over the weekend, it would serve them right. Only I have nothing here, no kit, they would have to bring it with them.

Congratulations jennylidinha!

Jennylindinha Congratulations! So great to hear your story in detail. Hope you're not too sore...ouch. Have you decided on a name yet?
I've got my MW home visit tomorrow to discuss my HB. Am a little nervous, as haven't seen a MW since 20 weeks (it's GP-led care in my area) and my GP hasn't a clue what position baby is in. So fingers crossed it's head down...

Jennylindinha Congratulations and so pleased you got your HB! Sorry you had to transfer to hospital afterwards but glad all is well now. Have you agreed on a name yet?
HM2J Hope you manage to track down your MW and can set a definite time for her next visit. How frustrating!
MM Hope your HB visit goes well and that baby is head down! If there is any doubt MW should send you for a scan.
My MW was supposed to get the HB paperwork to me before this weekend (I was 37 weeks yesterday) and sort out another AN check-up at home but I haven't heard from her so guess I'm going to have to do some chasing tomorrow as well...
On a brighter note, DH and I had a trial run with the pool this weekend and after a slight hiccup yesterday when we realised we didn't have much hot water (it was only on for 1h a day - it's now on constant!) everything went smoothly today and I was able to enjoy a relaxing 90 minutes floating around in my pool Emptying it took a while, as did drying the liner, cover etc but it's all done now. Feel confident that it should go smoothly on the day!

CriCri - well done on getting the pool in situ! Do you have a combi boiler? I'm hoping our old-fashioned water tank system will have enough hot water for the pool . Can't believe you're 37 weeks now! Sounds like you will need to chase your MW. I must say, I had to do a lot of chasing to get this first home visit sorted. Hoping all gets organised in time!

MM We don't have a combi-boiler either. We filled the pool for 30 mins last night with whatever hot water was in the tank then carried on at lunchtime today and got 40 minutes' worth. We topped it up with kettles and stockpots/saucepans of boiling water! It didn't lose too much heat overnight with the cover on surprisingly.
I can't believe I'm 37 weeks either - DH has just said he can't believe there's going to be a baby in the house very soon... It's about to get very real very quickly

Hi everyone! Had my first home visit by the MW today. All good - baby is head down, everything normal. So HB on track!

Good news MonkeyMargot!!

Guess I should do a trial run with the pool too. DH wants to but I have nowhere to keep it if it doesn't go back into the box afterwards and a very curious toddler...

That is great news Margot!! I wish things were that straightforward here.

I am due at an OB clinic tomorrow to get "signed off" by my OB. Now, I was just speaking with a HV on the phone (she called me about something completely different after a year on Mat leave) and we got talking about the pregnancy and my plan to have a homebirth. She just told me about 20 minutes ago that my OB is very anti-home birth. All I can say is that I am really glad my OB is out on long term sick leave now and that I will be seeing a locum! Phew! Hopefully this is a good thing for me. INterestingly, the HV I was speaking to was really excited that I want a homebirth, she has had her last 2 children at home and tells me it's the best and not to let them beat me down. Fingers crossed for tomorrow then eh?!

HM2J - Everything crossed for you. Good job your OB is not going to be there to make the decision! Stick to your guns girl!!

I hope the DR you see is pro-homebirth!

I think ours said we would have 3 or 4 cannisters, but no idea how big they are as we didn't get that far I've told DH that for the next one I'll get a load of nitrous bulbs and balloons in so that I'm guaranteed some pain relief before the MWs arrive/if they don't

We get three cannisters but they are small and only last 20 mins each

Wow, I managed to miss a whole page of this thread, hence answering a post from days ago - sorry I blame sleep deprivation ...

Great news MM
Hope all goes well at your appt today HM2J - fingers crossed for you.
Ajm Believe me, there is no way all the pool stuff fits back into the box it came in! The pool fits in its bag OK but the liner, cover, hose etc take up a lot of room. Everything is currently lying in our lounge. Might put them into black plastic bags and keep them in the garage until B-day.

WOOHOOOOOOOO!!!! I am sooo excited! The OB appt today was very straight forward. Saw a registrar (as is typical for me), but she actually got up and went to speak with the consultant there and then, came back and told me it's a GO!!!

Have just left a message for my midwife to say that the OB was happy to go ahead with a homebirth and to please finally bring my pack. Hopefully she will call me later!

HM2J - Fantastic news!! Wahey!!!!

HM2J Brilliant news
I have a MW appointment tomorrow at the clinic - tried to call yesterday about my HB paperwork but couldn't get through so gave up and decided to make a clinic appointment. The MW rang me a few minutes ago (typical!) but was pleased to be seeing me tomorrow and she'll give me the HB notes then. Next AN appt will be at home though
It's great that everybody is on track for their HBs!

According to the MW, I'm in early labour but it doesn't feel like it. Have had backache since about 4, Starting spotting around 8pm, CMW came out at 9.30pm as they needed to be sure baby hadn't turned breech again.

Can't believe this is labour. Just feels like awful, constant backache. Shouldn't have back labour as baby is ROA. Can definately feel baby's back at the front right of my tummy.

Ooh - ajm - how exciting. How are you feeling now? Are things progressing? Do try and keep us all posted!! (Although we will be fairly understanding if you're a little pre-occupied to be thinking about posting on MN...).
Good luck!!!

Hi MM.. Not much change from last night. Awful backache. No painful contractions, just pressure that I can feel with my hands on my tummy. Upset tummy has set in now so I guess I'm making some very slow progress.