HAPPY BIRTHDAY Home Birthers & Hopefuls!

[Mervs Mum]

OMG I just noticed it's exactly a year to the day that I sat down and started the sticky thread at the top of this page - Home Birthers & Hopefuls!

It's now 427 pages long with 4260+ posts and almost 62 THOUSAND views!!!!

What a year.....I have re-read that OP a few times since. The lovely Kiwimama took it over for me when babies and doula training etc started to mean I had no time to read it let alone update and participate. And now I am back! Not pregnant, although we do have some mummies on their second home births since it started! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this thread and I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as I have

 

[pimento1979]

Even though I only just started posting on that thread a couple of days ago, a HUGE THANK YOU for starting it in the first place! What a great place for us to support each other, ask questions that won't get us judged and just overall a great place for support!

 

[Mervs Mum]

I thought I'd be sat talking to myself but no it grew and grew!! There was a time when people would join and read it from start to finish but I cant imagine that's possible anymore! And now we are bumping into each other on here and Snagglepat too from our other 'lives' - Crackers!!

 

[pimento1979]

Indeed, and I know MandaAnda from another forum too! What a wonderfully, small, weird internet world we live in

 

[Jenniflower]

Really?! Only a year?!?!! I simply CAN NO imagine what my birth would be like without this thread. It by far the most influential parts of all my decisions. You ladies are all amazing.

I remember when I first started posting on this thread though I could go a few days without seeing any new posts. Now I feel like it's hard to keep up! I hope it just keeps growing

 

[HayleyJA]

Yay! I remember when you messaged me to say come and have a read! I've not been able to keep up though, admittedly, though often pop by for a little moment of indulgence!

All being well I'll be a regular over here again in a few months! x

 

[MandaAnda]

I love that I was around when it started! And someone would have to be really dedicated to go back and read it from start to finish now, but since I'm subscribed to it, I've been able to read new posts as they're added. I can't wait to be pregnant again and asking away. I was already big into lactivism/intactivism thanks to my work professionally, but that thread really helped me achieve a birth I'm proud of, even if the venue was undesirable in the end, and totally pushed me over the edge into birth junkie-dom! I think it really lent a hand to my future plans (DH gets back into the military->I cut my hours at work significantly->Do my doula course and perhaps my health visitor training, specialising in newborns/breastfeeding support->grow my family!)

 

[Jenniflower]

I'm re-reading the main thread now and found this post be MM

I wonder what the essential items are for a home birth......with all things baby related, bet there are plenty of gimmicky things you dont really need....

Question to mum's that have already home birthed:

Exactly how much mess was there? I think my hubby is imagining we will need re carpeting throughout the whole house......

To me it's just funny to see MM asking the questions as opposed to answering them! I never would have thought that just a year ago MM was in our shoes! Makes me feel confident that I can get to her level

 

[Anababe]

Well im new to the thread but im so glad you started it or i may not be feeling so positive about my home birth or have found you to be my doula so im more than happy to have found the thread!! Home Birth and a doula was something that i was considering but not entirely made my mind up on but now i cant even think about doing it any other way im so excited

 

[JenStar1976]

Yay!! This thread started 1 day after Alex was born at home last year! Even though I had what I consider to be a text-book home birth, I've learnt so much more since then just from this section! Just when I think there's nothing left to learn about natural birthing, someone else pops on here and shares something that I didn't know - it's been a brilliant learning curve. I hope that if I ever have another baby that it will be just as great an experience as my first, as I feel that I will be armed with so much more knowledge.

This is also one of the friendliest sections on BnB - I don't think anyone has ever had a bad word to say about anyone - long may it continue!

Thanks to everyone for sharing their thoughts, knowledge and personal stories on here - it's fantastic! xxx

 

[Mervs Mum]

I'm re-reading the main thread now and found this post be MM

I wonder what the essential items are for a home birth......with all things baby related, bet there are plenty of gimmicky things you dont really need....

Question to mum's that have already home birthed:

Exactly how much mess was there? I think my hubby is imagining we will need re carpeting throughout the whole house......

To me it's just funny to see MM asking the questions as opposed to answering them! I never would have thought that just a year ago MM was in our shoes! Makes me feel confident that I can get to her level

And already YOU are sounding more confident and clued up and in a years time you will be getting on everyone's nerves, yakking on just like me!!

 

[PeanutBean]

Thank you all for the thread and the contributions. I do wonder if it had been there a bit over 2 years ago I might have been better informed and had a better birth experience...

 

[Mervs Mum]

Your last birth will shape your next one. My induction / epidural / forceps debacle lead me to my home birth triumph Without one I'd have never had the other.

 

[kiwimama]

It was this thread that made me start considering a homebirth in the first place. I think if it hadn't existed, I would have gone to hospital, probably requested an epidural this time instead of pethidine and be done with it. I think the attitude would have been pretty much that you just need to get through the birth to have your baby here instead of striving to really cherish the birth process and how beautiful it is.
I signed up for my hypnobirthing classes because of things women have written in here as well.
I'm only one woman in little New Zealand, but you ladies have really been an inspiration and I'm going to breathe my baby into the world in the comfort of our home because of you all and how supportive and passionate you are about homebirth!

 

[Jenniflower]

I'm only one woman in little New Zealand, but you ladies have really been an inspiration and I'm going to breathe my baby into the world in the comfort of our home because of you all and how supportive and passionate you are about homebirth!

You just made me cry, and now my hubby thinks I'm crazy.

 

[LuckyD]

I agree with all that has been said Thanks MM for starting the thread and thanks to everyone who has contributed - you are all an inspiration!

 

[kiwimama]

I'm only one woman in little New Zealand, but you ladies have really been an inspiration and I'm going to breathe my baby into the world in the comfort of our home because of you all and how supportive and passionate you are about homebirth!

You just made me cry, and now my hubby thinks I'm crazy.

sorry

 

[pimento1979]

As a saddo with FAR too much time on my hands at the moment, I have started reading that thread from the beginning. Took me about 4 hours to get to page 90... but I'm learning alot, not least of all, just getting to "know" the wonderful women who kept that thread going, through a lot of heartache and grief from consultants who thought they knew better. You ladies rock!!

And on a funnier note, I learned where to get some cool new blinkies, so I've added 3 to my signature

 

[chuck]

These threads have helped me so much already, I thought I was clued up last time but really I had no idea I was so naive and gave in it things far too easily.

I'm determined to give birth this time, whether that be at home or in hospital it'll be my way in my own time thanks very much.

 

[Jenniflower]

I'm only one woman in little New Zealand, but you ladies have really been an inspiration and I'm going to breathe my baby into the world in the comfort of our home because of you all and how supportive and passionate you are about homebirth!

You just made me cry, and now my hubby thinks I'm crazy.

sorry

Pretty much anything sets me off really. haha