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

Well done HM2J....at last =) Hope its me next! 4 days over and counting.

Hi all - here is my HB thread. Will try to keep it as up to date as possible - pain dependent!!

Congrats Choco - can't wait to hear the whole story!

Just wanted to gloat, as I have won this:

www.mamatobegoodies.co.uk/win-la-bassine-birthing-pool-essentials-kit/

Entered the competition a month or so ago, never thinking in a million years I would win and I have! So now I HAVE to have my home waterbirth, it's like, FATE or something.

Yip!

boobz! You jammy blighter, congratulations! I reckon we all entered that competition so glad to see it's going to a good home - first time HB and all. Will have to go back to the website and pay for one now

Congrats on all the births, GWMH and HM2J and choco hope you're enjoying your new babies

Congratulations GWTMH, Heartmum and Choco - so pleased for you all. Thank you GWTMH for the wonderful birth story - has just had me in tears It is so brilliant to hear such a positive homebirth story - helps calm my nerves a bit as mine gets closer! Midwives came and dropped the kit off yesterday - feeling quite excited and so confident now that this was the right choice.

Ginger - re NCT classes I actually found that these were the most helpful thing in bringing DH round to the homebirth (although he had already agreed to go along with what I wanted!) - they are quite good at explaining the way the hormones work etc it began to make sense to him that the more relaxed the woman is, the easier the labour should be etc. He is now wholly in favour. I did think NCT was worth doing and has given us both more confidence, although purely for the breathing and relaxation etc yoga is much better.

Just posted birth story on the announcements thread HERE

Hey, for all interested my Home Birth story is here, a very rushed version Im afraid =)
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/birth_announcements/648084-Beautiful-Daisy-39-s-Home-Birth-Story?rnd=1226707101 559

hi badkitty,
i bit the financial bullet and signed up for the NCT classes - so now am reading all about pools, etc. Lots of time, but still... we live in a rented house and I found myself thinking, "are you allowed to give birth in rented accommidation?" then I thought, "they won't know till too late (if ever) - what are they going to do, tell me to put it back in?"

congratulations to Laura and Heartmum2Jamie, I am heading off to read your stories now.

Hi all. Just popping in to say I'm now in established labour. Things kicked off at 1am Saturday morning, was up all last night with ctx but MW came earlier and I was 3cm dilated at 12:30pm. So at least all the pain was not in vain!!
She's coming back at 4pm and hope to have my home birth tonight!
Will keep you posted
xx

good luck monkeymargot!!!

Yes! good luck! How fab - come back and tell us all about it!

Hello

Just seen this thread may I join in please?

I am 23wks and due Mid March and seriously considering home waterbirth but need to do more research to get DH more comfortable with the idea.

Hey GYO - welcome! You are due the same time as me, and I am planning a HWB as well (the pool I won in a competition arrived today - hurrah!) How are you getting on with your DH?

And you should be on the Due March ante natal thread as well - come and join!

xx

Hello All

Can I join? I am due 4 March.

I am considering a home waterbirth. DP thinks this is weird idea, but willing to go along with it at the moment, as long as I investigate properly.

Hi to all the newcomers

If you're trying to convince your other halves about HB, I can recommend a book our doula lent us

homebirthbook.com/shop/page/1?sessid=Rnz5eSeKwFUS48YDcqTGMSI1N9VnjSLsPaI8Y16qTFvupuREIIkv pMhx8wAEtta0&shop_param=

It was very good for giving lots of medical discussions of why HB can be safer than hospital births, and how a relaxed environment really is the best way to start off your baby's life. It's really important that the baby's dad is not just going along with it but fully supportive of you - after all, he's going to have more to do in an HB that in a hospital! There's also lots of info at www.homebirth.org.uk/

My DH is medically trained and has seen lots of hospital births, and is now thoroughly convinced that HB is the best option in a straightforward pregnancy.

Hello Boobz
Thanks for the welcome- I am actually on the due march thread but tend to lurk rather a bit

DH is getting keener... but needs to see some facts really. Still think he is more worried about flooding the lounge than the birth!!

Thanks for the book recommedataion Jump...
Will look at that!

Welcome too Simbob

Hi all - as some of you may know I planned a home waterbirth earlier this month but due to complications I had to be transferred in to hospital so my La Bassine birthing pool was only used for labouring in for about 30 mins. As I don't need it anymore I was wondering if anyone wants to buy it??

It comes with an electric pump for the air and for water (for emptying it), a round tap adaptor for a hose and tarpaulin for going underneath it.

All this costs over £100 from La Bassine and we are looking for £60. I live in Epsom in Surrey but can also arrange for the pool to be in Birmingham for collection. Please e-mail me at d a n i y a s t e w a r t at yahoo.co.uk

It is a great pool - I just got in too late to get the full benefit of labouring.

hi choco - I have emailed you about the pool if you still have it

BUMP

Hi guys, I'm now a few days overdue and have everything ready for HB (4x G&A, tens, pool and even vit k and some emergency pethadine)but since there are no signs of anything happening I am beginning to wonder whether I will end up in hosp as NHS don't want me to HB after 2 weeks overdue.

So any suuggestions to get things moving very welcome. Have already tried hot baths with Jasmine oil, taking Oil of evening primrose tabs, a few curries, some oral prostaglandin and as much exercise in the form of housework as I can manage at this stage.

Hello Ladies,

I'm new to Mumsnet, and currently at 27 weeks with baby no 1. We are attending NCT in Streatham, and planning for a home water birth...Not quite got the hang of the forum yet, but would love to talk to mums (local or otherwise) who are sort of at the same sage as me.
TTFN
Megs

Hello Icecube and MegCraig - and welcome to the Homebirth thread! It's been a bit quiet here lately but I hope to liven things up so we keep it going over the holidays and into the new year as I'm not due my own HB until March!

Ice - I know there are loads of threads on here somewhere about hurrying along labour, but invariably what works for one person doesn't seem to work for someone else. A good sweep is what did it for another fellow Homebirther, after she had tried every trick in the book leading up to 41+5 days. Sex and orgasms are supposed to work wonders I hear, and would be my favourote suggestion

Do let us know how it goes and whether you get your HB you want.

Meg - I live in Streatham too! In fact, there is a nice little group of Streatham mums that have all met here on Mumsnet and now we meet quite regularly. We first met a few months ago when we were all just pregnant but since then 6 babies have arrived, and there are only a few of us pregnant ones left (I am 27 weeks as well). We just met for a lovely Christmas lunch actually and introduced all the husbands and partners for the first time, but we should be meeting again soon at Perfect Blend which is our usual haunt - why don't you come along too and join our merry band? We have our own little thread here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/383840-antenatal-classes-near-streatham?pg=14

No news to report on my own homebirth plans - just waiting patiently until my maternity leave starts in Feb. Getting excited now though! xx

Hi Boobz and thanks for the welcome. I do have a sweep booked for the weekend at my 40w +10 appointment (actually 40w+9 on saturday), so hopefully the baby will be here before Xmas day.

IceCube - I went over by 10 days and the day before DS arrived by HB I had a sweep (2nd one - 1st didn't do anything) reflexology, long walk, curry, sex and played singstar til 1am.

The sweep will only bring things forward if your body is going in the right direction anyway, the same for reflexology. I know it's now comfort (I was a complete state all the way through being overdue) but absolutely til that baby comes go to the cinema at midnight, go out for dinner on a whim, get out every day and don't bother resting too much - it's not like you can store up sleep...good luck, hope you get the HB you want!

I've been lurking for a while, and would be grateful for any advice...

My midwifery team only do 4 weekly visits right till term, and at my 30 week visit I had just been referred for GTT so was told to wait until next visit to discuss homebirth. Today (34 + 4) I was told off for not being booked in for a homebirth already .

Is there anything in particular I should ask when they make it round to see me at home? I'm paranoid now that with Christmas they won't have time to see me before I reach 37 weeks; apparently this is their cut off for accepting new homebirth bookings.