Home Birth Tips

[fishface2]

I'm 40 weeks on Friday and planning a home birth. Any tips at all on this would be appreciated. I'm a first timer.

fishface I had my first at home last September, it was really fab. I used tens for about 20 hours (overnight) and used up one whole battery! we used hypnobirthing techniques and tens all the next day for relaxation then the mw brought G&A which I changed over to about 7cm. I went in my bath after that which was the single best thing to do for relaxation. It was not painful just like really intense period pains. Pushing ds out was not easy (took 2.5 hours) but I was thankful I was at home as the mws said in hospital you only get 1 hour for that bit before they intervene.

Things I wish I'd done: eat more food. (I was starving in the later stages as I'd only had breakfast and lunch and ds was born at 11.40pm.) And, gone more with my hypnobirthing training in the 'pushing stage' - I ended up exhausting myself pushing away as ds had the cord round his neck and his hand up by his face hence the 2.5 hour marathon. Hypnobirthing suggests letting your body do the work, not forcing it.

Tips: if going in your bath you'll need a plastic beaker and straw for constant water intake
have some energy bars in (small and easy to eat)
practice relaxation techniques - a key word or phrase your dp/dh can say to relax you
spare battery for tens
to read now: Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth. It really made me believe I could do it myself

Good luck!

reallytired- nearly prolapsed own uterus laughing at 'another one bites the dust'!! hahaha. You just made my day!