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

Ah yes Mr Boobz - never to be forgotten on MN

Got away with the pic

He's just out walking the dog now - try to knacker her out so she just zonks all day and doesn't try to get too involved!

Have got sugary tea and am intermittently bouncing on ball and doing yoga and pacing around living room. Have just had a v. strong contraction and if they keep going like that then I am going to break out the TENS...

Am sure DH will keep you posted when I can't anymore! xxx

goddamn - I'm out all day after midday, right - gonna get dannigirl to come and check periodically to update me!

we best not mention the pic once it's MrBoobz updating us then....

I'm sure it will start up in earnest now it's daytime and your bodyclock is getting going.. good luck!

Good luck Boobz .... hope it all goes well for you today xxx

aw have just been re-reading the thread in between getting DS to go down for his nap - and its a bit tragic but making me well up reading all the posts way back when...this thread was such a lifeline for me.

Just want to be all over sentimental and say thanks to boobz for starting it in the first place...

good luck boobz, thinking of you right now and hope to hear news soon.

Hello

I am also a soon to be 1st time homebirther (am already overdue!) and I've popped in watch with interest how it goes for boobz..

hope you dont mind me coming in and taking a seat.

Aww GWTMH - you softy you. Can't believe I'm finally here!

CTX still irregular and not as strong as last night. I know I was right to rest up but it feels like we've gone backwards! Anyway, MW here in a bit and then will have an update I guess. Am thinking I will miss our lunch time meet up tomorrow; hopefully having this baby! Doesn't feel like it's going to turn up today at any rate - grrr.

ooo - another CTX - back later xxx

Thanks Kanga and Madigan!

ok...horribly selfish when i know you've got plenty to be getting on with....but any chance of a text update after you've seen juliet? not sure how i'll cope with no internet access till 11:30pm!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Will do GWTMH!

For everyone else, I had my MW check me out as she was over this afternoon anyway, and it appears that I am very much in the latent phase and although my body is clearly preparing me for the big event, I am not in established labour yet. Gah! She did an internal and I am 1cm dilated ("not far off 2cm") and my cervix is very thin and stretched back which is good. She told me to REST which my DH has been telling me to do all day, rather than run around trying to magic up the painful CTX from last night. So DH is making me lunch now, and then we're off to buy mother's day cards and walk the dogglet and then a proper night's kip in the hope that tomorrow or Saturday brings the big guns out to play.

Am v.v. impatient by nature, but happy with how things are progressing.

All sounds good boobz

(i had a HB with ds1, then a planned one with ds2 - went to hosp for em c-s as he was undiagnosed breech)

Love all the build-up, the is it isn't it? well when it's someone else, lol.

Have fun walking the dog then chill out while you can

Hello,

I began reading this thread an hour ago as I am planning a homebirth (due 2nd August) and am completely hooked by Boobz story. How completely brilliant to drop in just in time for the woman who began this inspiring thread! I am rooting for you 100% Boobz and can't wait to hear your story.

Please, please may I join this thread? I have loads of information to share (all theoretical as this is my frst baby, but I've found out loads of good stuff from a completely brilliant independent midwife) and would love to talk to other women who want to be at home for their baby's births.

Love to all of you. xx

Thank you for such a lovely post Sheena - it brought a tear to my eye! I can't quite believe it myself, that d-day is almost here, but am enjoying (as much as one can enjoy CTX) the experience from top to bottom.

The CTX have come back since my sweep at lunch time, so am hoping that we can get this game going again, but I am mindful of her advice to rest while I can. I just want to jump in the pool and meet my baby! I can't wait to see what he / she looks like...

Please share all info Sheena - that's what this thread was intended for, and I think it has definitely helped a few of us who have jumped into the HB planning process.

Fingers crossed CTX pick up some more and I don't drag on for DAYS on this thread keeping you in suspense!

xxx

Hope you get some rest or a baby tonight Boobz!

It's so exciting!

yes rest or baby i agree.

though i'm here and watching so i vote for baby

it's so fab getting in the pool - have you tested it yet? i lurved it

Not tried it out yet... we filled it up yesterday when I didn't need it yet so it's stayed in the background today, just teasing me.

I seem to contract the most when I'm lying on my left side, and then I have to jump up onto all fours for the contraction and then lie back down again, so that's where I am now - in bed half trying to rest, half wondering whether this left side thing will work again?! DH is reading his book with the dog next door in the spare bed room - I think I might need him later so am giving him a break from the constant massage!

CTX about every 8 mins now, and some are really quite painful, but nothing that breathing and TENS can't sort so far.

Any more news Boobz? Hope you're resting or delivering!

Trying to doze between cons but not really succeeding. Which leaves me tired but not really getting anywhere either. Ugh - frustrating! Me thinks it's going to be a long night.

take heart boobz. I remember my first labour was very like this. I was convinced I was in labour on the Friday night, timing them and everything, called MW who said I should go to bed. Well I did, then woke up at 8.00am climbing the walls, had shower got tens machine on and went into hospital...baby born later Saturday afternoon. The timing of the labour put the start at about 1.00am Sat morn so must have slept right through the early stages. Probably best as I then had all day to labour as well.

Try to relax and sleep and let your body do the work tonight...

sorry not really a HB comment, but just trying to encourage you!!!

if it helps boobz, when i tried to sleep in between my early contractions it was a it impossible and a bath infuriated me but a shower really relaxed me and allowed me to focus on the contractions which meant I was up all night but not as knackered as falling asleep and being startled awake wiht each contraction

GOOD LUCK HONEY!!!

Argh this is frustrating. One contraction every half an hour I reckon and it's obviously keeping me awake for the most part but still not in proper labour so all a bit disheartening. I know it's my body doing what it needs to, but I really want to get this show on the road and get moving!

Went to bed at about 8:30 so have been trying to doze for nearly 6 hours now... I think I need to get up and do something else to see what makes a difference, if anything!

Maybe I'll have a shower GWTMH...

Came downstairs and pottered for half an hour after I wrote that last post, and then decided to try for a shower. Was waiting for next CTX before taking off TENS but it was taking ages, so took it off and then of course a CTX hit straight away. Couldn't move to get in shower quick enough so ended up howling in pain and forgetting to breathe which got DH running from the spare room to see if I was ok - which then prompted me to start weeping! Just from the sheer tiredness I think. Ugh - useless.

Anyway, felt better after mini sob, had shower and then came downstairs to watch Grey's anatomy. Seemed to be having much more painful CTX and more often during the episode so DH put CTX timer on when we started watching latest episode of 24. Stats run at CTX lasting between 50 and 60 seconds but only appearing every 9 mins. We've given up on 24 and are dosing on sofa inbetween CTX. I feel bad for making DH wake up every 9 mins but his massage, on top of the TENS, makes it all the more manageable.

Sorry if this is a bit of a ramble - I guess I'm feeling better knowing that the CTX seem to be getting longer and more painful but obviously could still be here for a long while yet!

Here comes another one...xxx