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 . . .

Hey honey - glad to hear you are all systems go for the HB now your placenta has shifted - bet that is a relief! Am so glad the first thread was so inspirational - I found it that way too, hearing of everyone's stories, plans, tips and lists. I can't believe there is a possibility that #3 will be born on this thread too - Penelope was actually announced on this thread even though started labouring on the other thread, and then of course my second, Connie, is half way down this thread. If we don't fill up 200 more posts then Valentina / Kit will be born on this thread too! Mad. I AM A MACHINE!

Anyway, welcome. I have 2 very good friends giving birth in early December, so it is a good time to be having a baby.

I wouldn't rule out G&A at this point - amazing stuff!

Thanks Boobz it was a huge relief; a ELCS would've been very stressful I think. We're planning on TTC as soon as possible after this one is born so hopefully I'll be lucky & follow in your footsteps. Nice to hear it can be done :)

Not ruling out G&A but I don't like feeling drugged & I tend to get nauseous quite easily which I've been told is a possible side effect so I'll leave it if I can. Very open to changing my plans as things progress though; this is my 1st so I really don't know what to expect. Very excited for the birth now!!!

I've asked the MW not to drop off the G&A because I don't want the reminder of it in the house. She's keeping in her boot. I hope not to use it but I know if I want it it's just outside.

She asked me how many canisters I wanted. Er, how long is a piece if string? I've said 2 but no idea really.

Still concerned about getting the pool filled but I've turned the boiler thermostat up to it's max so that may help.

Still unsure what to do with DD when I go into labour. I think we've established it will be too tricky with her here.

I've bought all my bits & bobs. Packed a bag for hospital, given up on the perineal massage. I just need to do a food shop and stock up on snacks and drinks.

38 weeks now. Exciting!

Oh KK, I do remember those last couple of weeks when you're all set, and the freezer is stocked and the pool is lurking in the background... love love love it. Thank god both mine were on time as otherwise I think I would have gone mad with the waiting past D-day.

Penny went to a friend's house which was perfect, but only because established labour kicked in at about 3pm. Not sure what we would have done if it had been the middle of the night.

I got through 4 cannisters the first time (I know I know) and 2 and a bit the second time.

19 weeks today. Is draaaaa-gging.

Just adding a little update to say that my mucus plug seems to be going and I'm having back ache - maybe related to excessive cleaning & not labour though!

I don't feel like it's labour but I am quite excited by the change.

Baby is very active tonight. DH has gone to the supermarket armed with a massive list of things. I made him look at the plug

He went into total panic

4 canisters Boobz?

Oh crap.

Nevermind, there is wine in the fridge, I could always move on to that

Have managed to change the boiler settings so may still manage a water birth now!

Ooh, Kelly, when you say excessive cleaning you don't by any chance mean a sudden bout of frenzied nesting, do you?

How exciting!

Frenzied is definitely how I'd describe it but I think it was driven by "oh the MW can't see my bath/fridge looking like this". The syntometrine is in my fridge so it's possible the MW could end up rooting in there. You should have seen my shelves!

Bit more plug gone this morning but it isn't the dramatic pop-all-out-in-one-go like with DD which is mildly disappointing. I keep inspecting it! Sad isn't it?

I've had dreadful backache and period pain all night but I don't feel labour-ish.

On a positive note, when it all started yesterday I felt excited and not scared. Looking forward to finding out if we have a boy or a girl.

I bet I go to 42 weeks....

Nah, sounds like you're gearing up for it already. Were you early, on time or late with DD1? My plug went for both DDs about 12 hours before contractions started... (and like you, was a lot less showy, if you know what I mean, the second time around).

I am eating my own body weight in pitta bread and humous, and MNing, instead of finishing my OU course. Really, I am useless sometimes.

What names have you got KK?

And yes, 4 cannisters! I think I fecking deserved it though (have you not read this thread, and the last one? I WAS IN LABOUR FOR 42 YEARS! Or it felt like it by the time the G&A was cracked open - I sucked on it even between contractions as a reward for not caving and going to the hospital for some proper drugs and a goooooood kip!)

hi hi

KK this is so exciting live updates please...

welcome honey as well, this is the place to be, glad you've got the go ahead.

I used about 2 mins of gas and air because I was saving it for when I really needed it, didn't make the blindest bit of difference and despite being 7cm 10mins earlier i started pushing so didn't get any benefits at all.....booooooo hiss. Not making that mistake again.

Am actually getting quite terrified of pushing this baby out as quickly or quicker than DS, where 2nd stage was 6mins. Turns out the consequence of that is this pregnancy I've had bad spd, which was so chronic on tuesday I couldn't walk, better today but god it hurts. Osteoath said the quick second stage meant my pelvis didn't have time to stretch properly, and stress incontinence this pregnancy has been much worse too...am just seriously hoping there will be no lasting damage and it won't be more painful giving birth.

34weeks today, feels like it's flown by but also the last few weeks have dragged. Am in the minority of hoping to go to at least my due date as my midwife is on holiday until 2days before

Oh nooo, she's not is she? Have you met any of the others beside Juliet? Beth is lovely, although newly qualified. Not sure if the ones that delivered DS are still there are they? Oh maybe Katy is there still.

Well, I think my second stage first time around was about 35 mins and god did I have to push like my life depended on it - she kept going back in! Ed said it was the most amazing thing to watch...

Second time I think it was 3 pushes in total. 2 to get the head out and then the final one for the rest of her body but it wasn't really a push and more of a controlled expulsion (sounds a bit yuk but it wasn't) so I think it could have only have been about 6 or 7 minutes total as I was having a contraction every 90 seconds at that stage. You'll be fine!

Defo get on the gas and air quicker this time...

yeah, she got a groupon deal so she's in Cuba til the 22nd! How rude, so long as there's no crossover between both Juliet and Paul being away it'll be fine. It'll be a shame if she doesn't deliver Ethan but shouldn't have the worries of nobody being on call like last time as I think the team is full. Have met Amy and spoken to Beth, they all seem lovely, and seeing as Juliet hired them all I have faith, just be a shame if it's not her!

What will be will be I guess...and osteopath, Juliet and everyone thinks the SPD shouldn't affect the birth at all, and complete recovery afterwards has been guaranteed by the osteopath I saw on Tuesday, she's a bit of an expert and in 25years of practise is yet not to "cure" a woman post birth!

I have just been to the loo and there's blood. Not lots and not fresh - what do I do? Besides panic that I might actually be in labour?

I would ring your midwife and check. Could it be a bit more of your show?

Ok, I've chilled out. MW has been (had an appointment this morning anyway). She reckons it's just more show like you said Boobz.

She said hopefully it will be days and not weeks now...exciting!

Good good.

my show got some blood in it on the saturday 5 weeks ago, had been a bit of other stuff for the past 3 days too

then on the wednesday i gave birth (at home)

good luck, kelly, enjoy your sleep lol

Anything more KK?

Baby girl Kettle born at 10:55pm. 7lb 4oz

In bed now with my girls, both asleep. I'm drinking tea & eating toast

I knew it! When I posted last night, you were only half an hour away from giving birth! Fantastic news! Well done! Tooo many !!!!

Is there a name? Hope you are now snoooozing. Can't wait for the birth story.

fantastic news

congratulations

yay and massive congrat KK! Wonderful news, and very impressed at an update 1.5hours after giving birth.....damn homebirths rock!

Can't wait for birth story

Hello - any room for a late one?

I'm 35+5 and hoping for my first homebirth at some point in the next few weeks!

This is my second pg. No 1 ended in an emergency c-section for a range of reasons and I am keen to have my HB this time round.
Initially, NHS were saying OK - we can't agree with you but you've done your homework and the Comm mw was generally supportive. Sadly as I got past 28 weeks that changed and the pressure was on for me to change my mind. Upshot is, I now have a lovely IM on board who is experienced in HBAC.

I thought it would help if I came and posted on here to share my experience/worries etc.

I know KK from the Nov antenatal thread, so was thrilled to hear of her HB.

I'm so excited for you!

I'll post a nutshell birth story at some point soon.

DD2 is constantly feeding but I'm loving it. DD1 is adjusting slowly and being a bit of a monkey. As soon as I have a minute..,xx