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

This is great, I have resisted joining this thread as I had to stamp my feet and sulk a bit to get MW support but after wonderful HB with pool last time I knew it was what I wanted (DS now 21months) and there are a bunch of other Nov ladies already here.
Good luck to all

Hi all! C'mon Nov ladies - who will be the first in our antenatal thread to have a home birth? I finish work today, so maybe my body will relax a bit and with any luck it will happen next week . I'm ready now! Except haven't seen new James Bond film.

noooooooo please let me be first, if I have to be induced in November I can't have my HB!! 3 days over and counting....

Go for it mousey - I have the opposite problem, not 37wks till 3rd and getting impatient now!

i was impatient at 38 weeks - it's horrid now!

I am technically NOT due in November, although use the November antenatal threads (by my dates was due the 3rd, but scan, due the 29th)

Having terrible computer issues right now but will do my best to get on if I think things are definately happening. I am 39+2 today and having intense BH's and rather annoyingly, am one of those women who can't tell if they are real until I get to about 7cm. Maybe I need to get up and move around to encourage these BH's to do something? Might go crawl around on the floor or something, lol!

I'm having intense BH's too - but been having them for over a week now so I'm not setting much store by them!

Ohhhh, these 3rd babies really are tricksy!! Had a great run of "false labour", intense BH's, back ache, loose bm's ect, went on for about 6 hours, then I took a shower, went to bed and they stopped, which is what I figured. I did sleep amazingly well, could have probably managed with not getting up to wee, but figured I should as I had woke up to turn over.

Oh well, here's to another possible 2 1/2 weeks of this!

lol i am not racing anyone just yet. get homebirth kit delivered sometime this week (see midwife on weds to arrnage it). need to hang on till that arrives as otherwise they'll tell me to go to the hospital as its too early.

I will second you on that HM2J, had a horrendous night, same as you, ended up getting out of bed around half 4 as I just couldn't sleep. Nothing today though really, apart from getting the runs this morning (tmi sorry) and the odd twinge here and there it seems to be business as usual.
I'm due 4th Nov (but had a 4d scan that dated me at 31st Oct....big mistake to be even a few days ahead of yourself) with third baby so it seems we are experiencing very much the same thing....this has been going on for two weeks with me, I couldn't bare another two days of this never mind another two weeks or so =(

I am 39+3 today - sending hurry up baby vibes to everyone who is due / overdue - including myself!

I'm a week overdue, seeing my midwife and hopefully getting a sweep - please can i have labour vibes it works so i don't have to be induced and miss out on my homebirth!

You WILL get your homebirth GWTMH. I believe it.

Sending lots and lots of labour vibes your way GWTMH. I also believe you will get your homebirth.

As for me, I'm due in 4.5 hours (tomorrow, lol!) and so far, zip, zilch, nothing, nada. Not a sign at all, except for what might be som snotty mucous plug, but not a bloody show, so nothing to get excited over. I must be mad to be wishing period pain, back ache or strong contractions on myself.

right booked for induction on saturday, shitting it and realising how important the homebirth is to me just for relaxed state of mind more than anything - terrified of being on a ward for days without labour even starting, being hooked up to a drip and monitored...another sweep booked for thurs if this one doesn't work

only good news is at least I ought to be a mummy by monday...

GWTMH have you tried bouncing on a swiss ball? Supposed to be good for getting things moving? Really hope you don't have to be induced - good luck!!

We need AJM to come along and post what excersise video she was lent that put her into labour, lol!

GWTMH Really hoping the sweep worked and sending lots of positive labour vibes your way. I totally understand your fear of induction and being in hospital - I'm scared of the same thing. Hoping you're in labour as I type!

thanks everyone - bounced all night last night, 1.5hour walk this morning, restocked up on RLT - good news is my lovely supportive midwife has convinced the hospital to push back my induction to tuesday when I'll be exactly 42 weeks and more than ready to accept help - feel much better and more positive now, even if it means not meeting my baby for yet another week.

having consistent BHs today but other than that no sign the sweep has worked - booked in for another tomorrow, then saturday then monday plus reflexology tomorrow!!

Anything yet Heartmum?

Can you still have a homebirth if you are over 40 weks and need inducing....??

As long as the baby is fine (good heart beat, lots of movement etc) and the placenta is still functioning well, I think you can still have a homebirth up until the point they want you to come to the hospital to be induced. Only 5% of women actually give birth on their due date so the extra 2 weeks is to allow for that and give the baby a chance to come out of it's own accord.

Are you over 40 weeks?

Any news GWTMH??? I hope that things have got moving for you.

Thanks for asking Boobz! I have been having lots of BH's over the last few hours, quite intense but I haven't actually started timing them yet, it's a little difficult while my other kids are bouncing around. At a guess, I would say they are about 7-10 mins apart right now. Mind you, this happened early last week and went on for hours and then just stopped. I bought some clary sage earlier today, I might massage my belly with some tonight as I am having BH's already, maybe they will turn into the real deal or something will start. I am currently 40+2 and they are holding a sweep over my head which they want to do at my appt on Monday if no baby before then. Fingers crossed that baby arrives before Monday. Sod's law says that baby will probably arrive on Sunday as my family are really into the F1 Grand Prix and it is the final race of the season Sunday afternoon.

Thanks for that Boobz - I meant can they start you off and then let you go home, or do you have to stay at the hospital if they're going to break your waters or whatever? No, I'm not overdue - I'm 36 weeks today but am worried that I'll be late (everyone seems to be!) and won't be having the hb I've psyched myself up for and am struggling to get my head round the idea of possibly having baby in a hospital. Also I have SPD so am worried baby might be back to back which apparently makes for a long birth(I don't want one of those either....!. Seeing midwife on tues so hopefully she can enlighten me on that one.

Hi Amanda! I suppose it depends on how they try and start you off. I am one of the overdue ones and if baby hasn't appeared by Monday, when I am 40+5, they plan on doing a stretch & sweep (if they can find my cervix I guess, lol!). I know this isn't exactly and induction, but it is a method of encouraging labour. As for proper inductions with a pessary or pitocin, I think they would keep you in as not all babies responde well to "forced" labour.