First time home birthers and their support squad

[jollyjoanne]

Not a homebirther personally but wanting to offer support to Boobz and others who are going for a home birth . . .

Wow, well done at the bingo raindrop!! whippet, ctx means contractions.
Sending lots of good vibes to all our labouring ladies xxx come on babies!

Anything to report Rain, Bella, Whippet or Bored? I am skiving and need a good labour to distract me..

Just noticed MamaLazarou was due yesterday as well - you out there Mama? Any sign?

All quiet on the western front. Had another sweep this morning, they thought it might kick-start things again like last time. No luck but about to go for a bit of a walk I think.

They want me to go in to hospital on Thurs night if there's still nothing really happening. I am so not keen, but at this point I really don't care.

Right, off down the park for a few laps.

Just sending my good luck wishes along....Can't believe there are no babies yet!! x

I shall get the hump if no one pops a baby out soon! I need photos and birth stories to distract me from my work...

DD has moved from vom bug to coughing bug now, poor little mite. She's been coughing away all night on the monitor without actually waking up and crying.

Am watching "Deliver Me" on the telly. It's about 3 female doctors delivering babies. It's American and always seem to end up in c-sections. Awww - little baby!

Right, got a bit more news but not sure if anything significant.

Went for a massive long walk this afternoon, and since getting home have been feeling slightly stronger ctx (not strong enough to warrant MW though, nowhere near) and def had some clearing of the bowels. Been pacing about and about to get into a hot bath with some clary sage oil (good idea? My back is killing me!).

So hope to have some more even stronger ctx later on tonight, but no doubt they'll calm down, knowing my luck.

Hope Bella's finally having some luck!

Look what I found Rain

By raindroprhyme Tue 17-Mar-09 21:59:46
lurker here

can't wait to hear about mini boobz arrival good luck!

just had to comment on your dh's pic on your profile
does he have a black eye?

-- that was the day before I went into labour! Now here we are nearly a year later...

i had my baby boy yesterday! and posted where did it go??
way too tired re write it all now but it all went well in the end. posterior and mahoosive but utterly goegeous. yesterday was all a bit of a daze and my body felt like a mt potato head like all the bits were in the wrong way round.
will post again with gory details and hopefully a name. where oh where is my last post?? sorry

anyway good luck to rain and bored and whippet AND mama laz. it does hurt more than going to hospital but it is so worth it i feel million times better already today

Oh, let me be one of the first to congratulate you Bella! Well done!

When you have the energy do post your story and any more details, but in the meantime rest up and enjoy your baby boy. Wow.

Bella!!!!!!!! That's fantastic! I can't believe your post didn't work - how frustrating! You have to summon the energy to come back and tell us what happened. And a name! And photos... Well done you... oh and didn't I say you would have your baby by Monday? I can put that champagne back in the fridge (I should win my own prize or something).

Come and tell us everything - is he feeding well? How did your DH cope with being at home? Yes please, gory details.

Well I have meetings all day in London so will have to check back in later to see how you're all doing Rain, Bored and the others.

Coongratulations Bella on your new little boy! Hope you are all well and having lots of cuddles

Congratulations Bella! And I think the number 1 advice at this stage is to Rest Up with the baby!

Well done Bella! Enjoy your babymoon.

Congratulations Bella. I hope you are enjoying lots of baby time today.

I had my sweep this morning, was really nervous but MW was very nice. Was moderately unpleasant but not unbearable by any means which I was relieved about. Apparently I am already 2cm and baby is right down in a good position so she was very hopeful it would do the trick. I had a bit of a show straight away and some uncomfortable BH/ctx since so fingers crossed baby is on his/her way out. If not, induction booked for Monday which in a funny way is something of a relief. At least there is a definate end to aim for now even if it won't be at home.

Best of luck to bored and rain and all those still waiting.

well done Bella!!!!!!!
WELCOME TO THE WORLD WEE MAN!!!!!!

Well i am still here contracting away. Went to work today for a meeting so at least i was a bit distracted for a few hours.Was lovely to see everyone and feel like i have achieved something today.
Have decided i am going to ignore all twinges and just get on with it. Have plenty of paracetamol and lucozade so will carry on regardless in a drug induced denial!!!

Goodness me Boobz a whole year ago before i had even concieved. Feels like this pregnacy has gone on forever. Hope P is feeling better. Are you doing anyhting special for her birthday?

Congratulations Bella such wonderful news!! Can't wait to hear all the details (and his name ). Enjoy and rest up, you're a mummy!

Good luck SWWhippet - hope the sweep does the trick

And also hope things pick up for you Raindrop, although well done you going into work! I'm only 35 weeks and I can barely be bothered with work!

Big waves to everyone else .

In other news, I passed my driving test today - first attempt [proud emoticon] - although perhaps he was just too scared to fail me given the size of my bump . Am so relieved though, mainly as I'm sick of forking out for lessons!

Congratulations Bella...hope ur enjoying lots of squishy cuddles!! Good luck every1 else...I'll keep checking hehe x

Congratulations Bella and Motherofsnortpigs!

Had my latest midwife checkup today and actually feel much more confident about the whole homebirth thing - the midwife was lovely and seemed very supportive of my plans. So maybe I was just worrying over nothing!

I'm at 38 weeks so thought I better get round to sketching out a birth plan (oh, and pack stuff together and bake lots of cakes, but one thing at a time eh!)

It looks pretty short and sweet to me, it's my first so don't really know what will help or not, and a lot of the more natural / active delivery angle is I'm guessing fairly obvious given that I'm choosing to have a home birth. But wondered if anyone was thinking of including some points on preferences if you have to transfer to hospital? On one hand, if this needs to happen then you will probably go with the best advice whatever. On the other hand, if things become more consultant led then you might want to be more assertive about your preferred options. Any tips welcome!

Good luck SWwhippet! And congratulations on the driving test Caitni! Very impressed you passed, my spatial awareness is a bit all over the place now... not dangerously so I don't think, but my magic squeeze into a tight parking spot skills seem to have deserted me!

Pen's birthday is still a while off yet Rain but think we will have a party with the Streatham Mums who are around that week - nothing too grand as it's more for the parents than the kids at only 1 year old, eh?

Congratulations on passing your driving test Caitni.

All sounds like you are about to drop any second Whippet - any more contractions this morning?

Comeonbishbosh - I have posted by birth plan below - I too wanted to keep it short (to ensure it at least got read!) but I did have an "in case I transfer" section, as I there were a couple of important things that I wanted to happen / not happen, if that was the case. I'm sure DH (who knew this backwards by the time the birth came along!) would have managed everything had we gone to hospital, but I liked to see it in black and white too (controlling, moi?)

BIRTH PLAN (Ali and Edward Reed)

At home:

-- I would like to remain as mobile as possible during my labour and use my birth pool as my main form of pain relief as labour progresses.

-- I would like to be vaginally examined only when absolutely necessary.

-- I wish to avoid having an episiotomy unless it is believed necessary for the safe delivery of my baby.

In the event I transfer to hospital:

-- I understand increased monitoring could be required but do not want to be continuously monitored unless there is a real risk to the health of my baby.

-- I would prefer to be intermittently monitored using a sonic aid.

-- I do not want a cannula or epidural in place ?just in case? as I feel these will impede the progression of labour.

-- I am aware of the pain relief options and I will ask if I require it.

Second stage:

-- I would like to feel ready to push.

-- I would like the opportunity to be able to push before ventouse/forceps are considered.

Third stage:

-- I am happy to have Syntometrine.

After the birth:

-- We would like to discover the sex of the baby ourselves.

-- I would like to hold my baby as soon as s/he is born with skin to skin contact.

-- I intend to breastfeed so would like to attempt this before formula is given.

-- I wish my baby to be given an injection of vitamin K.

-- I would like a midwife to do the stitches when repairing the damage to my perineum.

BIRTH PLAN IN THE EVENT OF A CAESARIAN SECTION:

-- I would like the option of the screen being lowered to see the baby being born.

-- I would like to hold the baby immediately with skin to skin if possible.

-- We want to find out the sex of the baby ourselves.

-- The baby should stay with me as much as possible.

In the event of the baby needing to go to SCBU, I would like:

-- For my husband to stay with the baby.

-- I intend to breastfeed so I would like this to be attempted before any formula is provided.

Pen's birthday is still a while off yet Rain but think we will have a party with the Streatham Mums who are around that week - nothing too grand as it's more for the parents than the kids at only 1 year old, eh?

Congratulations on passing your driving test Caitni.

All sounds like you are about to drop any second Whippet - any more contractions this morning?

Comeonbishbosh - I have posted by birth plan below - I too wanted to keep it short (to ensure it at least got read!) but I did have an "in case I transfer" section, as I there were a couple of important things that I wanted to happen / not happen, if that was the case. I'm sure DH (who knew this backwards by the time the birth came along!) would have managed everything had we gone to hospital, but I liked to see it in black and white too (controlling, moi?)

BIRTH PLAN (Ali and Edward Reed)

At home:

-- I would like to remain as mobile as possible during my labour and use my birth pool as my main form of pain relief as labour progresses.

-- I would like to be vaginally examined only when absolutely necessary.

-- I wish to avoid having an episiotomy unless it is believed necessary for the safe delivery of my baby.

In the event I transfer to hospital:

-- I understand increased monitoring could be required but do not want to be continuously monitored unless there is a real risk to the health of my baby.

-- I would prefer to be intermittently monitored using a sonic aid.

-- I do not want a cannula or epidural in place ?just in case? as I feel these will impede the progression of labour.

-- I am aware of the pain relief options and I will ask if I require it.

Second stage:

-- I would like to feel ready to push.

-- I would like the opportunity to be able to push before ventouse/forceps are considered.

Third stage:

-- I am happy to have Syntometrine.

After the birth:

-- We would like to discover the sex of the baby ourselves.

-- I would like to hold my baby as soon as s/he is born with skin to skin contact.

-- I intend to breastfeed so would like to attempt this before formula is given.

-- I wish my baby to be given an injection of vitamin K.

-- I would like a midwife to do the stitches when repairing the damage to my perineum.

BIRTH PLAN IN THE EVENT OF A CAESARIAN SECTION:

-- I would like the option of the screen being lowered to see the baby being born.

-- I would like to hold the baby immediately with skin to skin if possible.

-- We want to find out the sex of the baby ourselves.

-- The baby should stay with me as much as possible.

In the event of the baby needing to go to SCBU, I would like:

-- For my husband to stay with the baby.

-- I intend to breastfeed so I would like this to be attempted before any formula is provided.

Ooops.

Hello all, I just wanted to let you know that my baby is here, he is perfect, and I am still in one piece. He was born on Weds 20th at 8:43pm.

The birth was pretty nightmarish, I will be back with the full story when I have more time, but it's taken me this long to be able to think about it without crying.

I had to transfer to hospital after labouring at home for 16 hrs. I couldn't get past 8cms on my own as the baby was transverse.

Will be back with more details later xx

Congratulations Mama! Hope you are doing OK and getting lots of rest and time with your little boy. Well done for getting as far as you did on your own x