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

Good luck boobz - sorry it's taking so long to get going, but hopefully you will have some nice speedy proper labour action soon. You can do it!

Go for it Boobz!

Our ante natal teacher said just cos it takes a while to get from e.g. 1 to 3 cms doesn't mean it's necessarily going to take proportionately the same time to get from 3 to 10cms!

Hang in there - you're doing really well. It could all be over v soon. Your body knows what to do - you don't have to "make" it do anything. Just go along with it.

However long you may have to go before you meet your baby, it's a drop in the ocean compared to the 9 months you've already slogged through!

Best of luck,
Bumps x

Boobz My God i cannot believe this, if anyone was mentally ready for a HB it is you, so unfair that the early stages should be so long for you!! bloody nature!!

However you can and will still do this!!! i totally agree that you need to consider your pain relieve options (if it goes on much longer), have you considered pethadine? it can be given at home (your MW would need to get it written up by your GP or a doc at the hospital), this might be something you would consider trying before you think about tranfering. Lots of women on here swear by the stuff and there are many stories here of women dozing off and waking up to be 10cm!! .

In the mean time eat and rest as much as you can, sending you lots of love and i will be thinking about you both xx

Oh wow - what a marathon! You're amazing and you can do it girl...grrrrrrrr....you've been training for this

Whatever you decide, it will be your decision, and thank goodness you have had the comforts of home and your pool since things kicked off on Tuesday.

I am sure everyone keeps saying keep eating, drinking and moving...perhaps try some of the hoeopathic remedies? My NCT sheet says use CAULLPHYLUM 200: promotes positive contractions if dilation is slow.

Also the reflexology points listed here pregnancychildbirth.suite101.com/article.cfm/pressure_points_to_induce_labor

Sending lots of positive, dilatory vibes to you and your DH xx

Thanks for all your rousing messages! I feel so supported! I wish I could promise you all that I could do this but I don't want to let anyone down so I'm still saying I'm going to the hospital by tomorrow evening if I am no closer to dilating by then. I guess it will depend on what kind of night I have but the 4th night in a row with no sleep might just be the end of me!

CTX varying from side splitting (and feeling like my hips are in a vice) to half hearted efforts which I can manage with a bit of mooing. Some times they are every 3 mins and then I go 15 mins without (which was bliss - I got a proper powernap from that gap!)

Am finding it difficult to find a position to sit down in to type this, and then a CTX comes along so it's taken me ages to write this!

Can't believe it's only midday. Feels like I have been up for.... oh wait a minute! Sorry - bad joke.

Thanks for all your advice, am taking it all on board and doing as much of it as I can manage.

Am planning to get back in the pool for the last couple of hours before MW comes (4ish) and then we'll see from there. Otherwise it's carry on as normal - my body can do this, FFS!

xxx

No pethidine available from my MW or hospital I don't think...

Hi Boobz

Wish I had some fantastic advice to give you, but all I can say having read all of this is that you are a true trooper. Keep up the good work and try to remember that every minute of this brings you a minute closer to the end and your bouncing baby boobz. There will be an end and it will make it all worthwhile.

You've got loads of people sending you positive vibes.

Good luck

Charly x

Oh Boobz I really feel for you! (and Mr Boobz).

If you want to hang on at home then do that, but if you decide enough is enough, no-one is going to think it's a bad idea!

I wish I knew what to suggest, but seeing as I haven't been through it (yet!!) I can only send good wishes from me and MrBee.

I'd get the wine out again...

Nope you're right about the pethedine - Tommies don't do it so I'm pretty sure Juliet can't/won't either. But if it gets to that stage you've got the G&A to fall back on first, then of course hospital if things don't progress and you want more pain relief later on. Keep going, you brilliant strong girl x x

Good luck Boobz, still here rooting for you.

Go for it!

Hi Boobz,
still lurking and still wishing you well... I've no pearls of wisdom for you either, but have got lots of love, encouragement and support. Stay strong, you can and will do it xx

Oh Ali, you're such a trooper! You'll get there, with or without hospital, drugs or whatever it takes. What matters is the result!
Lots of love, Ingela

hi Boobz,

Just sending you support, had very similar first labour. You will get there, it will be fine, you are doing the right thing to have a cut off point. in my case I finally said right, give me the induction drip plus mobile epidural and DS was born 4 hours later. but had I not had that, he still would have come out ok, I know you can't really but try to doze even if it's between one contraction and another, any rest your body can get, recall the strength of those youthful nightclubbing student days with zero sleep.. your DH is right, you are doing brilliantly!

Yay Boobz amazing lady!!!!

Don't ever think you are letting anyone down...AT ALL....whatever the method the most important thing is the end result...a lovely new babyboobz.

You are doing such an amazing woman and mother to be, with such strength and resilience.

Not sure if it will help but also try and think of other nice things, i.e visualising nice holidays, when you met Mr Boobz, your wedding etc gets the happy hormones going!!!

We are thinking of you and Mr Boobz, and sending you lots of love and strength.

XXX

Just checking in to see how you are boobz

bummer that your hospital dont offer
pethidine, but do check with your MW to see if there is an alternative, i believe that diamorphine is similar.

I also just want to repeat what others have said, i know how much you have had your heart set on a HB, but hey nature is a bastard sometimes!! the birth of your wonderful first child will be a very moving experience wherever he/she is born.

xxxxxxxxx

Boobz, all the very best - I woke up this morning at 5 am and put the lap top on to check for news of you. You are such a hero, thinking of you all the time!

Still here - just! CTX now every 3 mins constantly and very stong - yay! MW examined me and am 3cm - boo! Still, it's progress. I was in a right state when she visited and said I wanted G&A and she said she would advise me to wait until I was at least 4cm. She has gone off duty now so am in the hands of someone I don't know from the Tommies team should I need someone again before she comes back on at 9am tomorrow morning. And me thinks I will given how knackered I am getting.

But I know I won't get to 10cm before 9am tomorrow at this rate, so it looks like my MW will be the one to deliver if I DO stay at home - which I am very much trying to do, I just don't know if I will make it.

This has taken me about 30 mins and 8 CTX to type!

Keep up the good work boobz - even my dh is rooting for you!

How about putting the rugby on? England are winning but it's not all bad hee hee hee.

Strong vibes to you and Mr Boobz

It's progress and that's the most important thing! Little by little, I know it's mindblowingly exhausting but you're getting there. It's GREAT that the CTX have picked up again.

Who will be there for you overnight? Will it be Angeline, Alex or someone not from the Valley Team? If it's either of them they are both WONDERFUL so don't worry if things suddenly pick up. Don't let it hold you back. And even if it's not one of the Valley superstars the Tommies team will get you through.

If you need anything at all overnight just pick up the phone. And just a thought - do you have a giant beanbag? I found mine brilliant for resting on when I was having CTX - either sort of on all fours or sideways was comfortable when I couldn't get comfy anywhere else. If you don't have one, let me know if you'd like mine, we can drop it round xx

Thanks Tattifer! Feels like the whole of MN is rooting for me! DH is indeed watching the rugby already - at the same time as rubbing some basil oil into my back.

Going to try a hot shower to distract me for half an hour or so.

Get him to tell you the rules - you'll be able to get some shut eye then

PMSL Tattifer

Boobz - progress is progress, so well done!
it may not take so long once your cervix knows what its got to do.
And, once you start dilating 'properly' your cervix should be totally effaced.

And, i was depressed with ds1 when 'my' MWs went off duty and one MW i'd met a few times as well as one i'd never met came in. but, they were LOVELY and really helped. there was absolutely no problem having someone i didn't know.
Just to reassure you.

ctx, dilation & strength vibes to you

I can't believe Babyboobz is on its way! Hoorah for you! You are doing a fantastic job and do indeed have all of MN and StR cheering you on.

Don't worry about your pace and just focus on getting through your current contraction. They hurt like nobody's biz, but remember they come in waves and you just need to get to the next dip. Also, keep in mind that the pace will not be regular and that it's often those first few cms that take foreva and the next ones come and go in a flash. My friend was 1 cm for 2 days of steadily building and v. strong contractions and then jumped to 9 in an hour.

Give us a call, any time, day or night, if you need anything. a hot water bottle I bought on the way into hospital was the best 5 pounds I've ever spent in my life.

Champers is in the fridge - can't wait to celebrate with you on the other side. You're doing amazing -- keep us posted if you can.