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

I was told they needed just two weeks notice so they can drop a preparation pack at your home.

Phew! The NHS guidelines I have say 'any time', but of course there's theory and then there's practice... But 2 weeks notice sounds sensible. Thanks.

No problem Captain Karvol you go for it!

hi all,
boobz, yes I am on March thread, it's a great thread but I find it so hard to keep up and to sort out who is who. (Hence my keenness to do a list for this one). Don't know anywhere outside Amsterdam due to laziness and having a small DS plus job, we have been here 1 year and should really start exploring the country.. Here you have to be set up from 37 weeks, I'm getting the kit ordered through the local chemist..

captaink, I'm also having SPD, does it make you more inclined to waterbirth? It does me as I can't imagine squatting or even kneeling for long at the moment..

Updated list please correct if I got it wrong)

Gemzooks, 31 weeks pregnant, 1 DS 2.5, planning first home birth with pool, due 29 March
Swottybetty. 29/05/09. 1 DD (march 08). croydon surrey
CEB80 28 weeks, Due 23/4/09, planning 1st home water birth
Boobz, 33 weeks, due 19th March, planning 1st home water birth, Streatham London
Helley, 39 weeks, 1st baby, planning HB
twocutedarlings, 36wks (tomorrow) and due on the 25th of Feb, hoping for DC3 to be born at home
captain karvol, 33 weeks, 2nd DC

Hi again all,

Gemzooks, yes, the SPD is really making me lean towards water, at least for labour even if not for birth. TBH mine isn't too bad (not compared to some of what I read on here), but walking any distance is not fun anymore. I see the physio tomorrow, so hopefully will come away with good advice! Midwife this afternoon - must get back to work and stop thinking about my birth plan! Last birth was episiotomy, ventouse, legs in stirrups - not what I want this time!

I'm really looking forward to seeing how everyone gets on over the next couple of months! Fingers crossed we all get the perfect home birth experiences we're after!

x

Nursery finished! Pictures on my profile!

Boobz that is one gorgeous nursery!

Just a quick question for all those of you planning a HB - have you all needed a 'risk assessment'? I've just got back from the midwife, who was a bit, well, wary really although they do support HBs round here.

My last birth was a bit of a nightmare, with the classic theme of epidural then everything stops, stranded on my back with a continuous monitor belt on, then episiotomy and ventouse. 23 hours in all. I was taken into hospital the night before going into spontaneous labour because I had v. high BP, swollen hands, protein in urine.

So... pre-eclampsia signs last time and an assisted delivery - can they say no to a HB? I'm only about 3 miles from the maternity hospital btw, so transfer very easy even in an emergency.

Boobz that nursery is gorgeous! I just don't have the inspiration. How did you make your mobile?

Captain - I don't think I have to do a risk assessment, but am having my birth talk at my house in a couple of weeks so maybe she will do it then? Don't let that kind of faff talk put you off - you are entitled to a homebirth! And sorry your first birth didn't go according to plan - am keeping all fingers crossed that this one is a lot easier for you.

Thanks Ceb - I typed in "make your own mobile" into Google and found the wire frame thing, with crocodile clips attached to the end, and then found the animal finger puppets on Amazon - £2 each! So then just cliped them on and there you go! Cost about £20 in total.

I have to admit I nicked the theme from a fellow Streatham Homebirther, who said she was doing Very Hungry Caterpillar. We didn't find out the sex of the baby so we wanted something quite unisex - and VHC being green and garden-orientated fitted the bill. But it was definitely someone else's idea first!

Have done bugger all work today - ho hum xxx

hiya,

just checking if anyone wants the pool as im listing a few bits on ebay ATM and might try selling on there if noone here wants it

hello ladies - just popping by ot see how the homebirthers are doing, I was on this thread set up by the lovely boobz waves at boobz and it was amazing to have a resource and other people to worry with before my HB in october...stick to your guns, it's totally and utterly worth it

disenchanted3 don't hold back from ebaying on my behalf, had go ahead from midwife but need to wait till I see consultant at 35 weeks before I know for sure if I can def have a homebirth.

boobz - your thread goes on and on! lol, i have even hidden the streatham thread so that i dont see it cause i always get so jealous . i'm still there a bit cause we rent a flat there and a couple of months ago i was in perfect blend and was convinced the group of mum were you lot! but then PB was always full of mummies.... i remember going there to cheer myself up with a cake when i was 10 days overdue with dd. place was swarming with mums and lil babies and i just felt worse

captain - your last birth sounds a bit horrid. i had a bit of a rubbish one too, not loads rubbish but induced, epidural on back (no stirrups thanks god) - and then an awful night in hospital after. here's to lovely second births\

anyone trying hypnobirthing?

and anyone thinking of HWB but in a flat not on ground floor?

Hey Swotty - you should have come over and said hello in case it was us! We are meeting today in the Sainsbury's cafe (next to Streatham Common) as a lot of the girls are getting their babies weighed and what not at the clinic next door. Come along, if you are at a loose end? 2pm onwards - I'm wearing a stripy purple top thingy (and am 33 weeks gone..)

Am going to try hypnobirthing, but not getting my head around it until I go on mat leave - too much other stuff to think of right now.

I think you are fine to have a HWB on a not-ground-floor-flat floor. I read somewhere that a filled up birth pool weighs the same as having 8 people all stand in a spot on your floor - so if you've had a party and had people standing around talking to each other, then you should be fine.

I have 2.5 weeks of work left, and quite a bit to do before I go, but I JUST CAN'T BE ARSED! Am going to meet a friend for lunch (who is throwing a sickie; I work from home) and then I am meeting the Streatham Mums group at 2. And then DH is coming home early so that will obviously distract me. Another totally unproductive day!

Hi Girl,

How are you all, i am starting to feel alittle nervous about my MW coming with HB kit tomorrow!! not sure why?? i keep wondering if i am doing the right thing IYSWIM!! i also have no idea of which way round the baby is so fingers crossed he is head down.

Disenchanted - have replied about the pool on your other thread...

swottybetty I started my hypnobirthing classes last week. Was pleasantly surprised thought it might be a bit tree huggerish but it all made lots of sense.Have to listen to annoying CD everyday though which I back chat!

I brought the hypnobirthing CDs and music compulation....but I will hold my hands up and say I've not listened to it much (shakes head in disappointment)....not good considering I could go into labour any day now....
Perhaps I'll have a session later today.

I think it can really help with your breathing and make you focus on the contractions as being a positive experience, bringing you closer to your baby.

Boobz - your nursery is looooovely!! We've gone winnie the pooh themed and kept the room neutral coz we also don't know the sex is either.

x

I'm feeling pretty inadequate now about not having a nursery at all; our spare room was my office until a few weeks ago and tho it has all the baby stuff in it, it's very much the guest bedroom/ general storage space (note to self never buy a new build with no loft or other big storage space again)

By dates, I'm due on Saturday, so may be the next to pod on this thread. La Bassine birth pool is crouched under the telly waiting for GO, gas and air cylinders under the sofa, hospital bags packed just in case. And there's a fruit cake in the oven ready for snarfing down afterwards!

When I had my homebirth booking in, the main things the midwife was concerned about were:

• parking
• adequate floor space for all the bumph they bring (oxygen cylinders, kidney bowls, miscellaneous medical bits and pieces)
• heating and privacy; you need to be warm and feel secure for labour to go as smoothly as possible
• reasons for transfer eg what pain relief you can only have at hospital, haemorrhage

Like some of you chaps, they ask you to request a homebirth by 36 weeks, mainly cos if you go into labour from 37 weeks on they will do it at home and it takes a few days to get the kit out to you. They're really supportive of homebirth here (SE London) so it was more of a confirmation that there was no problem with me or my house than looking for a reason to make me plan a hospital birth IYSWIM. Oh, and I had bloods done this week, just an FBC, so they have an up to date iron level to judge any blood loss against when Jr arrives. What with me not having a pathology lab in my house. That's been the only inconvenience though.

I was offered bloods last week but politely declined....my iron levels have always been up and down even before I was pregnant and the last thing I wanted was for them to be slightly low and they start questioning my HB, which I know they can't really do, but the stress of having to argue your corner when your about to pop isn't worth thinking about!

My midwife is a bit lazy as I'm sure she was supposed to come to check the house and make sure we had enough space etc....but never bothered! O well.....

tupperwife Don't worry about not having a nursery. None of mine ever had a nursery and n3 will definitely not have one as (s)he will have to share. My dd slept in our room for 2.5 years before we finally finished our extention (which my dh promissed would be ready BEFORE she came) to give her her own bedroom. Anyway the advice is to keep baby in your room for the 1st 6 months anyway, so...

I'm a 1st time home birther too by the way, but have already had 2 perfecty normal and fairly quick hospital births. It just seemed natural to go for a home birth this time. I'm also looking at having a home water birth, because I've got SPD and I'm virtually living in the water lately, so again that seems natural. Also it will shield things from view for my dcs and keep the place nice and tidy .

Oh and if you don't mind I've added my name to the list too

Gemzooks, 31 weeks pregnant, 1 DS 2.5, planning first home birth with pool, due 29 March
Swottybetty. 29/05/09. 1 DD (march 08). croydon surrey
CEB80 28 weeks, Due 23/4/09, planning 1st home water birth
Boobz, 33 weeks, due 19th March, planning 1st home water birth, Streatham London
Helley, 39 weeks, 1st baby, planning HB
twocutedarlings, 36wks (tomorrow) and due on the 25th of Feb, hoping for DC3 to be born at home
captain karvol, 33 weeks, 2nd DC
Belgianchocolates, 26weeks, due 6th May, dc3 1st home birth, a water one hopefully

Hi all,

Welcome Belgianchocolates. I'm also leaning towards a waterbirth more because of having SPD.

Helley and tupperwife, how exciting, you two will definitely be the first to pop! You can give us a blow by blow account to encourage us all!

On preparation, here in Holland they didn't ask about floor space, but they make you raise your bed to 80cm for the maternity helper person who comes for a week after the birth. You get the HB kit from your health insurer or the local chemist. They don't have gas and air here, no pain relief at all for HB (hmm), but I will have the hired pool and tens machine. Am more worried about what to do with DS 2.5 and just hope it happens on one of his 3 nursery days!

swotty and ceb80, I have the mongan hypnobirthing book and cd, listened to it last preg. It probably helped a bit. I found the Birthing from Within book good, although hippy. I liked the way it didn't fob you off but says 'yes it's painful and yes you can do it OK'.

Boobz, love your nursery. Don't have any plan yet, we have 3 tiny bedrooms and one of them is DH's sacred study, so this baby will be in with us and then go into bunk beds with DS (he is already very excited about that but I had to explain it wasn't immediate!!)

Hi again all,
well eeek eeek eeek - I've just had a phone call from my midwife saying they don't need to do a risk assessment, I can have my home birth! I'm actually a bit scared now!