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

ha ha, a two mile walk to the surgery! No I still hadn't quite graduated by then but I think it difinitely helped

Crochet hook. Obviously it's not really a crochet hook but it looks like one - broke the waters (that I'm still trying to figure out where they went...)

boobz is there any plans for your MW to come out and examine you? tbh i would be really suprised if these cnx arnt doing anything, if you cant talk through them then they should be doing something IMO.

MW came out yesterday and I was 1cm (nearly 2) and that the cervix was nicely stretched back, but that was it. She's just called and offered to come before her ante natal class at 2, but to be honest, I don't think there is much she could do as I am obviously not anywhere near. I can't talk through about 75% of the CTX I would say (and in fact can't be in any other position than on all fours or leaning over my ball).

Have been trying to coax CTX out with expressing, stairs, food, yoga and homeopathy and they're still not as strong or as frequent as they are in the night time, so I might try and swap my day and night and go and sleep as much as I can now so I can contract at night. And I just need a break I reckon.

See you later xxx

good plan Boobz.
if you can sleep then do. once things kick off properly you'll be glad of having had the rest.

Sending snoozey labour vibes

hope the silence means you're sleeping or birthing boobz!

yes Boobz, rest is all very well and good but....if you wouldn't mind starting 'proper' labour now while i can keep track

I wish JKS! Did an all manner of things at about 1:30 (all good advice from here) to try and get things going and went to bed and started having really strong (howling!) ctx at about 5 mins apart but then after an hour they petered out again. Not sure if it was the expressing, homeopathy, yoga or food that made the difference so am trying all of them again now! DH is filling the pool is MW said it can't really hurt to have a change of scenery, but to get out if things slow right down.

Lavender oil is burning, music is playing, candles are lit and my hips are swaying - COME ONE BABY BOOBZ!

xxx

Tattifer - did breaking your waters make the pain that much more unbearable? That's what I am worried about if MW suggests it...

Excuse typos

No boobz because it was done after I'd been having contractions for a couple of days - wasn't done to get the contractions started. I have to say I'm an advocate of something Floella Benjamin said once about doing bellydancing to encourage labour - doesn't matter about natural rhythm or two left feet just keep moving and upright...

Does that make sense?

Hi again,

been lurking all day Boobz, I'm wishing you well. Haven't done this birth thing myself, but have been told that shaking those hips can help, so Floella could have something there. Will wait to find out if this is true... lol. xx

Right, hello everyone. If I use the incorrect terminology I apologise but it is Boobz's DH. I appear to have been transported into some sort of electro hippie birthing den, which is pretty funky if a little disconcerting. Lavender climbs thermoclimbes in the air to titilate with long forgotten memories, DW is in the pool making like a Manatee with a glass of red wine and every now and then I leap up in the candlelit gloaming to massage DW's back whilst trying to avoid the dog licking the olvie oil off my hands and DW whilst the air is rent with moaning encouragement.

BTW I am also perfectly aware of the photo incident, hah bloody ha but anyhting that keeps all you fantastic women smiling must be a good thing. CTXs seem to be coming a bit faster now maybe the homepoathic rememdy I just administered is doing the trick. Well I will keep you posted but some collective finger crossing would be most helpful and thank you for all of your support, it really has meant an awful lot to both of us and especially DW.

Right, better get to the commune and practice my whale chant

OM Mane Padeum

What would the RSPCA say to giving manatees red wine?!

Good luck Boobz and Boobz DH

Good luck Boobz and Mr Boobz. sound like things are going well.

Go Boobz, go Boobz!!!

Keep us updated Mr Boobz (loved the photo !)

GO BOOBZ GO!! not long now, baby in arm soon!! 2cute does this hip wiggly dance, this is getting exciting!!............... My god!! that reminds me of 3 weeks ago!! i think i swinged my hips all the way through my HB lol

Sounds like things a starting things are starting to heat up for you boobz, i have everything crossed for you.

As regards to breaking you waters, personally i would opt to let them go naturally, if for example the baby wasnt in the best position for delivery the waters help the baby move more easily.

Thankyou Mr Boobz for your update, good luck to the both of you , keep us posted xx

Hey Mr Boobz! Crazycatlady here (and B and Gav)... I'm very impressed with the thread updates, I had no idea you were posting throughout!!

Good on Boobz with the glass of red, that's what I like to hear. Sounds like you're both doing a sterling job, and the dog's getting involved too, marvellous... stay strong, lots of love xx

So......?

Good luck Boobz and MrBoobz hope the labour is really getting going by now and that the baby makes its arrival sooner rather than later. Sending lots of positive labour vibes your way.

PS MrBoobz loved the photo by the way - gave me and baby mae a right good chuckle.

Hi all - am out the pool (was getting cold and needed to eat)... and I have a question. The pain seems to have changed completely and I'm confused! For the last 48 hours I have had very consistent ctx which I have been able to breathe through using the TENS machine, with a very definite start middle and end and lasting up to 60 seconds. All as normal I think. And I had 4 of these CTX in the pool, but slightly less painful or long.

Since getting out, I haven't had one of these CTX I've just been talking about, instead the baby has started wriggling like a mad thing, and now all the pain I am getting is in the front of my tummy, low down, and it much more knitting needle pain like, rather than back ache pain like. Is this right? I've phoned the MW and described it to her and she thinks it's fine, that this is what CTX are like as you progress, but they don't seem to have a proper build up like the old ones did, and I am completely bound to the spot when the pain hits. They only last about 10 seconds and then go again, but there doesn't seem to be a rhythm to it.

Does this sound normal to everyone? It feels like I can feel the baby rummaging around down there and that's what is hurting, not like a CTX...

Boobz why isn't the midwife there with you??

Try not to worry (easier said, i know) it sounds like the baby has changed position, if the pain you have had has so far been in your back, then it sounds like your LO may have been laid on your back, this would also explain why things have been a little slow kicking off. If you are now starting to feel the the baby moving round and the pain around the front then this is a good thing, however if you are worried about anything atall then trust your instincts and get the MW out.

Ctx dont always follow a pattern, with both DD2 and DS there was no rhythm, my ctx went from 8mins to 3min to 5min ect and then all on top of each other.

Boobz - sorry to hear things aren't majorly kicking off. agree with above re baby changing position.
but all my ctx had a wave-like feeling to them, i could feel them 'coming' and prepare myself, then they would peak, then fade away again. but i don't know if everybody feels this.
wait and see if they settle into another pattern once baby settles down.
maybe MW should come out and examine you just to see if she can determine baby's position?

Boobz - i've got to go to bed, just wanted to wish you all the best & smooth labour vibes tonight.
hope to sign on and read about new baby boobz in the morning