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

DW is back in the pool, we've established that their contractions and they are coming thick and fast...yeeeha. Seems to be a lot more painful but pool is helping and midwife is on the way. Fingers crossed this is it. DW just wats me to say that baby yesterday was defo not OP as it was palpated. However I know nothing so am not prepared to comment. It is great hvaing your support, keep thinking of us.

boobz still thinking of you, good luck!

• lots of strong positive vibes -

YAY!! !! looks like your chill in the pool has kicked things off .

Keep the back rubs going Mr Boobz

you sound like you are on the home stretch now boobz... you'll be able to have a proper mother's day think of that!!!!

best wishes xxx

Good luck Boobz & Mr Boobz!

Love the idea of giving birth with a glass of red wine in hand

good luck Boobz - hoping you are snuggling up to your baby soon (very of your red wine!)

aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

been out to dinner and come back and so glad there are updates! hugely well done mr boobz...boobz yourself hang in there honey, clearly bets are off - saturday baby???

tons and tons of love and luck, me and boywiththemouseyhair are so excted for you! (babywithmouseyhair is crying for his drema feed)....

Two hours later and MW has just left. Having had the requisite 3 ctx in 10 mins lasting 60 seconds each, and the change in feeling of ctx, I thought we were on to the final straight! Unfortunately not . Still only 2cm dilated and not even in established labour yet. Which is fine - DH is quite right - I mustn't get disheartened - but God it's hard not to be disappointed with all these contractions for the last 50 hours! Especially as I thought the pool was the answer and we were on our way.

Oh well. MW given me a stronger pain killer to try and get me to sleep tonight so am off up to bed. Will get back in pool tomorrow I expect, when the ctx start to get too much again (they have died off since MW arrived - typical - but still getting painful ones every 5 mins).

DH says night night! See you in the morning (and probably well into next week at this rate!)

xxx

Another 2 hours later and I am finding it hard to come to terms with the fact this could go on for days and days. Tried to sleep but fighting a losing battle as have to jump on all fours every time a CTX hits which is about every 7 or 8 mins at the moment. I cannot believe this part is not called labour! Feels pretty labour-intensive to me!

Sorry, this is a bit of a feeling sorry for myself post. I have to be honest with myself and say that maybe the natural homebirth route option was not for me after all. I just cannot do this again all night and all day tomorrow and then all night again... I just don't have it in me. I have said to DH that if I am nowhere closer to the next stage after another 24 hours of this then we need to think about pain relief options in hospital.

God that sounds shitty to type, given all my posts on this thread for the past 9 months, but I didn't anticipate this latent stage going on for so long.

Still, you never know, I might be examined tomorrow and found to be 10cm! One can wish...

Over and out.

Boobz or your DH - it's 5am, any news?

Don't suppose you've got the energy or are sad enough to be online this time of morning but...?

Up! No sleep last night so that's pretty much 60 without any significant shut-eye apart from the odd doze for 10 mins.

Ctx still at every 8 mins or so. Feels like my hips are in a vice at the end of each one now - a new sensation!

Just want to lie down and go to sleep and wake up with baby in my arms...

60 hours that should read...

Hey Booz,

Thought you needed some moral support!!! Keep going, YOU CAN DO IT. It is f**king hard, you are tired and exhausted which makes things a million times worse. For what it is worth, yes, there will be pain relief in hospital but it won't make things go any faster...unless they intervene.
Saying that if you need pain relief bloody go for it, there are no medals at the end for not having pain relief. What is of the upmost importance is having a healthy baby boobz!!!

You sure you don't want babyboobz to stay in there, we have been up at 5.30am all this week for the first feed....arrrgh. Babydanni is sitting on the sofa happy as larry playing....it's 6.40am...daddydanni is still in bed!

You are doing amazingly well (and Mr Boobz too) We are all here supporting you and can't wait to meet babyboobz.

Lots and lots of hugs and pain relieving thoughts.

Danni xxxoooxxx

another early riser - babywiththemouseyhair is gurgling away on his playgym cheering you on boobz!

Don't be disheartened hun, you're doing so bloody well...I second dannigirl that hospital won't make it go any faster and at least at the mo you can move as and when you like but absolutely if you need more pain relief do it...have you been on the gas and air yet?

You're going to have such a beautiful baby and think this will all be so worth while...sorry the latent phase isn't just long but really painful for you, but in all honesty much better to have been at home so far than trekking back and forth to tommies. Sounds like the pool has been grea for pain relief and relaxing - if you hadn't planned a homebirth you wouldn't have that there...if you do end up transferring it's just brilliant you've been able to be at home all this time.

YOU CAN DO IT!!

thinking of you - am sure boywiththemouseyhair is too but he's still in bed!

Defo get on the gas and air if haven't been already...it does make a difference...just keep Mr Boobz away from it. I actually had to restrain daddydanni from using it. His excuse was he was just interested to see what it felt like, I told him he could use it when he was next in labour!!!

Mr Boobz back on line. Of couyse I am not nearly so worn out and am pretty much fresh as a dasiy. I really need the troops to rally and keep giving DW as much support as possible. Night times are always difficult and we have now gone through our third but its juts minute by minute and I know that DW can do this. DOn't let her get disheartened and don't underestimate how amazing sh eis being at the moment. DW is back in the pool at the moment and chilaxing but hopefully things are going to get underway and we at least can all watch the rugby together!! C'mon Boobz you can do it, I lvoe you so much you are so strong.

come on boobz, you're one of the strongest feistiest, get-on-and-do-it people I know...it's been amazing to get to know you over the last few months, and mrboobz of course, and it really won't be long til we have the wonderful pleasure of getting to know babyboobz

you're a trooper, you can do this, sod it, open the bottle of bubbly now and i'l bring you over a replacement!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ps mrboobz you're doing a bloody good job yourself!

Right Boobz - you can do it, you know you can, deep down.

Make sure you keep eating & drinking to keep your sugar levels up/carbohydates too.

Have you tried 'visualising' your cervix opening? someone told me about this after ds1 and i used it for ds2 for a while.
with each ctx i would imagine my cervix as a rose (having no clue what a cervix looks like of course!) and the petals gradually opening out.
a tad on the hippy side but i think it helped me...for a bit anyway.
and try to 'see' the baby moving down.

def get on the gas and air - i loved it, lol!

good luck and more labour vibes to you.........

Morning all! Babycatlady has been up since 6 too, think it must be the light mornings... time to get some blackout blinds I think.

Boobz you are coping amazingly having been through SUCH a long latent phase, although why they call it latent I will never know - mine certainly wasn't! You are doing all the right things and while I know how exhausted you must be, you will find the strength to carry on and Mr Boobz sounds like he's doing a brilliant job of supporting you.

Mr Boobz - it's good that you aren't so worn out, don't feel guilty! Boobz will need your strength to help her through. You can never underestimate just how wonderful it is to have a strong partner supporting you - Mr Crazycatlady was my saviour after two days of 'latent' labour.

I'm so glad you're able to get through this at home, I can vouch for the fact that getting in the car to Tommies and going through all that palaver is no fun when having mega contractions.

Hoping it's not too much longer for you now, you can do this!!! Thinking of you xx

Thanks for all the messages of support - isn't my DH just lovely? He keeps telling me I'm the best and I'm doing really well. I just wish it was going a bit quicker. I can't seem to get the ctx up to an even pace - sometimes fast and furious like when I got in the pool to begin with last night, and then other times like now when it's closer to 1 or 2 in ten mins. The really painful ones in the pool are horrendous - much worse than I ever anticipated.

No gas and air yet as am not in labour yet! Juliet is not on call over night so am going to get her to come and look at me before she clocks off at around 4pm and see if there has been any progress. If there has and I am officially 4cm and in labour then I will crack open G&A -- if not then I will give it another 24 hours from then, which takes us to Sunday evening and I will ask DH to take me to hospital to do something as I think sleep deprivation will kill me otherwise (won't have slept since Tuesday night).

Am going to express some more soon and get back in the pool when DH gets back from dog walk and get myself a baby out of here before Juliet finishes for the day!

Lots of howling love -- Ali xxx

oh poor boobz. You are doing so well at home.

I wish you speedy progress to the magical 10cm!!!

Gas and air is great and will give you renewed energy when you can get some.

Superwoman can do it!!!

I know what you mean about the big contractions - I was sick out of my nose many times with the pain! What a sight...sounds like you're coping far better than I did and you have decided on a plan of attack for the next 24 hours which will help your focus.

You're still in control and sounding upbeat which is the main thing that will get you through whether you continue at home or decide to go in later. Well done lady, keep up the good work! xx

Boobz -
agree with the trying to visualise cervix opening and picturing your baby moving down.

With DS I found standing in the shower and directing warm water over my lower back, pelvis and tummy really helped to get things going. All the warmth from the water will bring more blood to your pelvis and should help things along.

Have you tried using some clary sage? Supposed to strengthen contractions and be a natural gas and air. I think jasmine may also work.

Keep focussed, your baby will arrive and soon, keep in mind the first cuddle you are going to have and imagine looking into your baby's face - you can do it!