oh I am going to re-post my last post here, hello fellow Canadian homebirthers! I'll copy and paste below...
Hello first time homebirth hopefulls! Wow I was so happy to read this post, I was also a first time homebirther when I had my first baby in March this year. I can tell you everything went wonderfully! So yes, I do have advice for first time homebirthers! ...
READ:
Ina May Gaskins Guide to Childbirth - yes you CAN do it!!
HypnoBirthing by Marie Mongan - AND do the practice exersizes regularly from about 30 or 35 weeks.
Spinningbabies at
www.spinningbabies.com
DO:
Perenium massage from about 36 weeks
Follow the advice given on spinningbabies website, especially spending time on hands and knees during last several weeks, and NO reclining from about 35 weeks!
Affirmations: positive mental affirmations that you repeat to yourself every day, for example: there is a wide open space for my baby to descend, there is nothing in the way
The hynobirthing relaxation exersizes from the book
Walking every day, yes every day! between 1/2 hr and 1 hour if you can
DON'T:
Get in the pool too early (if you have a water birth). The water is so relaxing and soothing that it actually slows down your labour, so until your labour is "full steam ahead" and nothing stopping it, don't get in! Lots of MWs say 5cms is enough, but in my opinion you should wait till at least 7 or even 8cm. I have read and heard a lot of homebirth stories that ended up as hospital transfers because of a stalled labour after getting in the pool too early.
OTHER TIPS:
- Ask only to hear positive birth stories! if someone begins to tell you a birth horrow story (as people are so inclined to do for some awful reason!) tell them politely you dont want to hear it, and you are looking only to hear positive birth stories.
- Be wary of whom you tell! You will get a lot of opposition but I tell you those people are just uneducated!! Ask them to go out and do the research you have done (I bet most of you have spent HOURS researching homebirth) and then come back and talk to you about it!!
- Fetal positioning is HUGE in having an uncomplicated birth, so read and follow spinningbabies, I know its hard not to recline for 8 weeks, but it is only 8 weeks and it is SO important. Read the statistics on the biggest contributor to C-Sections: the couch!!
My doula also recommended talking to my baby to let them know how you want them to come down (i.e. baby when it's time to come out, you need to face mama's back, with your head down and your chin tucked in so that the dome of your head comes first etc etc). This might sound funny but I did it and I think my baby listened! And other things like "we are going to be fine, you and me will do it together" etc etc.
You absolutely CAN have a wonderful and positive homebirth, but I do recommend that you PREPARE for your birth! (as above and any other tips and advice you get from other people who have done it).
I recommend a doula if you can afford one. And I watched comedy (Michael MacIntyre) between contractions early on and that really helped!
Sorry long, but I hope you all get the homebirths you want and I'll be checking back here to see your news!!
xoxo
Pea
home and waterbirthed my sweet baby girl March 2011
and PS if you want to read my birth story it's here (sorry its also long!) Home Birth story of my little Peanut, born 28th March!!!
it just feels like the right choice for us, now I can't even imagine planning for a hospital birth.
Thankfully I was still able to give birth naturally with my midwives and doula, and didn't have to be induced like they had talked about when I was only 37 or 38 weeks. 
