Home Birthers & Hopefuls!

[urbanbumpkin]

Thanks EternalRose. I think I'll go back and have a read of the rest of the thread now.

I had looked at buying a Bassine inflatable pool but I have a cat who likes to scratch everything so I don't think it is a good idea! I decided one with wooden sides might be a better plan, so I can put it up in advance without worrying about a 'scratch' 'pop' 'flood' scenario.

 

[EternalRose]

Thanks EternalRose. I think I'll go back and have a read of the rest of the thread now.

I had looked at buying a Bassine inflatable pool but I have a cat who likes to scratch everything so I don't think it is a good idea! I decided one with wooden sides might be a better plan, so I can put it up in advance without worrying about a 'scratch' 'pop' 'flood' scenario.

Ah, I can see your logic..a living room ankle deep in water wouldnt be good.. This is the best thread on bnb and the positive vibes here are great x

 

[Mervs Mum]

Thanks for the aromatherapy info girls I used clary sage in my baths during the last few weeks and made a bump rub too. I was told it can be used as a natural G&A so I took it in my bag to the birth centre but I never actually used it....

Welcome Urban I do have the La Bassine pool and with a cheap electric air pump it takes 4 mins to inflate so we arent going to have it up in advance with it being so quick and easy Like Eternal Rose said, have a trawl back through the thread over time and you'll find lots of bits of really useful info

 

[Bournefree]

Hello! Can I join in?

I'm planning a home water birth. I'm due 20th May, and this is my first baby.

I went to my first hypnobirthing class last week and am looking forward to the rest.

In my city we have a homebirth midwife team, so I am under their care (just 2 midwives at the moment, they are trying to recruit more as it is proving so popular!). They seem really chilled and receptive to most things, for example when I was asking about placenta delivery options the midwife started telling me about a lotus birth she had recently attended, and she was really positive about hypnobirthing and water births.

I'm just trying to figure out the practicalities now, like booking a pool and working out what else I might need/want. Any suggestions?

I had looked at this place for a pool as we have space to keep it up for a while (big bay window!) and you can get a heater to keep it at the right temp. I'm lazy and like the idea of that rather than have to keep topping it up via a hose or buckets. https://www.birthworks.co.uk/ Has anybody used them?

Thanks!

Welcome UrbanBumpkin- and there is lots of advice on the first page of the post, which wonderful MervsMum is keeping upto date xxx I'm drafting a big and long ?(sorry!) past on about pools ect - I'll keep you posted!

hi all .. i had home birth with my 5th baby and i must say it was so much easier and relaxing,. my contractions started at bout 1 am but they wasnt painfull and i rung midwife at 6 as they got bit painfull then lol and she turned up at 7 and said i was 8-9 cm dilated and i had baby at 8.17 am. didnt get much gas as the 2nd midwife turned up at last miute with gas lol . but it was so much better than being stuck in hospital and my daughter and her friend was sleep upstairs wen i give birth and they was shocked wen they got up lol.. id give it thumbs up all the way ..

Oh... brilliant!!! Welcome Mandy, any advice you can offer would be fantastic!!
xxx

 

[MandaAnda]

BabyHaines, I love that your HB assessment went well, too! Yay!!!

ER, when my midwife saw my aromatherapy oil, she said to make sure I'm having contractions when I use it, as the clary sage was for pain.

Nat, here's my birth plan. I admit I did nick the bit about the physiological third stage from one of the other girls, on this thread I think (I did have a bit about it already, but I added to it from her plan).

Home Birth Plan

This is the birth plan of Amanda. The birth will be supported by my husband. I am happy for student midwives/student nurses to accompany my midwives to and participate in the birth.

The baby is due 27/02/2010. The birth is planned to take place at home.

Preferred birth equipment: Birthing ball, heat pack, aromatherapy, TENS, massage, music.

I would like to try my bath for pain management.

I want an active birth; please remind me to try different positions, such as: kneeling, lying forward, leaning against partner, lying on side, sitting on birth ball, supported squat, standing, perhaps sitting on the toilet. I do not want to be lying on my back.

I want to use the following pain relief: breathing and relaxation, adopting comfortable positions, water during labour, massage, TENS, possibly gas and air.
Please do not offer me Pethidine – I am not convinced of its efficacy. Also, I do not want to risk my baby being sleepy and not wanting to breastfeed as a result. (I also react badly to codeine and am unsure how I would react to this opiate.)

I do not want an episiotomy and have been practicing perineal massage (at least attempting to practice!) from 34/40. Please avoid this where at all possible.

This is what I want to happen when the baby is born: I would like immediate skin-to-skin contact and will try to initiate breastfeeding to assist in placenta delivery. After this, I am happy for the midwife to weigh, clean and carry out checks on my baby. (If the baby does not latch on soon, I am happy for the midwife to carry out necessary checks on the baby, but I would then like to try to breastfeed.) I give permission for my baby to have Vitamin K by IM injection.

I do not want a routine Syntometrine injection. I would like a physiological third stage with the cord clamped and cut when it stops pulsating. It is important to me that you do not clamp the cord until it has stopped pulsating, unless you need to take emergency steps which preclude this. My husband may be offered the chance to cut the cord, although he may not wish to do so. **Please do not pull on the cord or use fundal pressure unless there is a specific indication to do so, as I have read that this is contra-indicated in drug-free third stages**.
I would like my midwife to set up her resuscitation equipment as close as possible to the place where I give birth, so that if my baby needs resuscitation, this can be done with the cord still attached – thus giving him the benefit of all the oxygenated blood that is transfused from the placenta to the baby when the cord pulsates. However, if there are concerns with excess bleeding, I understand that this may not be possible and therefore Syntometrine a sensible choice.

Should we have to transfer to hospital:
I am happy for student midwives/student nurses to be involved in our care; however, I do not wish for medical students to be involved.

I do not want an epidural, although I am happy for my midwife to suggest this to me if it is felt that I am no longer coping well with other forms of pain management (perhaps due to a long or augmented labour). If an epidural becomes necessary, I would like a “walking epidural” and/or for it to be given in time so that I am able to feel when to push. However, please note that I have symphysis pubis dysfunction/pelvic girdle pain, and it is often recommended that women with this condition avoid having an epidural, because if anaesthetised below the waist, they may open their legs too wide, which can make the condition worse.

I intend to breastfeed - please ensure I keep my baby close.

Please do not give my baby a dummy (in the unlikely event of neonatal unit admission and nasogastric feeding being necessary, I give permission for dummy use for non-nutritive sucking).

I understand that plans may have to change according to the circumstances of the birth. I would appreciate your assistance in helping me to follow this plan as far as is practicable. Thank you.

Signed:
Amanda

 

[EternalRose]

Excellent birth plan Amanda, it sounds like everything I would write in mine. I will wait till after my 33-34 week appointment before I do my one. This thread gets me so over excited!

 

[Rachiebaby24]

Here's the hypnobirthing info for the midwives I mentioned before.

How You Can Assist the Woman using HypnoBirthing
Thank you for taking the time to learn about how you, the obstetrical care provider, can work with the HypnoBirthing family.

*This family will appreciate your efforts to keep the room quiet and the lights low.

*Women practicing HypnoBirthing often do not move around much. Allow her to relax comfortably in whatever position she chooses, unless medical conditions warrant otherwise.

*When she is in hypnosis, she is very receptive to suggestion. For this reason, please avoid references to pain, medications and procedures. Be assured she will ask for analgesia or anaesthesia if she feels she needs it.

*Please refer to 'surges' or 'waves' rather than 'contractions' and 'birth or birthing' instead of 'labour'. Instead of 'pain', refer to 'pressure' that she may be feeling. If you wish to help her with visualizations, deepening of her hypnosis, etc. ask the birthing companion what words and phrases she prefers to us.

*She is accustomed to respond to her companion's voice and touch by deepening her state of relaxation. She will pay little attention to other voices when she is in hypnosis. You may wish to speak to her birthing companion when information needs to be conveyed.

*Encourage her birthing companion to stay close to her, and use the techniques taught in the course to deepen her relaxation as needed. He or she may need to be reminded to become more active in keeping her relaxed, and try alternative HypnoBirthing suggestions as labour intensity increases.

*When her dilation is complete, allow her to continue deep relaxation until she spontaneously feels the urge to push. She has been taught to 'breathe her baby down' with the release of air, rather than Valsalva pushing to the count of 10. Please do not loudly cheer her on or tell her to hold her breath and 'push, push, push'.

We hope you enjoy helping this family with their HypnoBirthing experience.

wow......i didnt really know what hypnobirthing was but the above is very similar to what i had at hospital, although not intended.

I didnt write out a birth plan as i was told that they didnt always get looked at so i told my mum and my OH what i wanted.

I did not want to be forced to be "active" and walk around, i wanted to be comfortable in any way i was even if it made my labour longer (as long as the baby was ok).

I was on my side for the whole of my labour (apart from the transfer to the ambulance and to the delivery suite which i found so painful). The only time i moved to my back was to push.

I wanted the least amount of interferance as possible, no internals and to be told everything they wanted to do.

I did not want an epidural offered to me and no drugs offered to me as I thought i might take up that offer and didnt want the temptation (and im so glad i didnt).

I found when i was in labour that i was completely in a "zone". I couldnt even open my eyes i was so focused on the pain and what i had to do.

Im sooo looking foward to having complete control of my birth in a place i feel most comfortable in with my OH.

I never had a bad experience in hospital apart from some problems afterwards, but i just know my body and my own capabilities and feel i would be best at home.

 

[BabyHaines]

I love this thread too!! It is my fave on the whole forum Yaaaaaaay!!
I have just picked up the 'La Bassine' pool - whoop de do!!

Can someone tell me whether or not I need a liner for it?? I have hired it for £10 (yes, £10!!) from a local birthing group, and no-one has actually used it yet!!

As regards the aromatherapy oils, I chose Clary Sage, Lavender and Tea Tree. The Clary Sage is supposed to work very well for calming the senses, I LOVE Lavender, so the familiar scent will be great and the Tea Tree I chose to 'perk me up' should I want it (i.e. third stage) as I'm not a fan of Peppermint.
I can't believe that I am due in just over three weeks. I really am so excited!! I am actually looking forward to labour more than anything, and I know I owe that all to the thought of labouring at home and giving birth in a calm environment. I CANNOT wait!!

Hello to all the new ladies
And Mananda, sooooo pleased your appointment went well too!! xxxx

 

[BabyHaines]

Ooooh, and meant to say. My MW and I discussed a birth plan today and it went like this....

Me 'I haven't done a birth plan yet? I was hoping to just take it as it comes?'
MW 'Sounds like a plan'
Me 'Oh, cool, so that's it then?'
MW 'Yep!!!!'

LOL I was cracking up - she is soooooo chilled out!! I love it We basically agreed that I can make my mind up as I go and do whatever feels right at the time. They will not rush me and she said they 'do not interfere unless needed'.

 

[Mervs Mum]

BabyH - you dont need a liner for the pool. In fact I've read a few things saying that liners are basically a rip off. You just need to wash it out with some hot soapy water then 'sterilise' it with Milton fluid. I've done this then packed it away again and on the day, I'll inflate it and give it another once over with hot water and a Milton cloth or wipes before filling it. When you wash it out the first time just be sure to get right along all the seams and that should be plenty clean

 

[Babyshambelle]

Hello ladies. I've just stumbled across this beautiful thread from a link in the NP section, and I have spent literally 2 hours reading your stories and looking at the wondeful links you have all posted (I'm not even close to finishing though!)

I'm Laura, and I'm a hopeful homebirther! At the moment I have a slightly reluctant OH due to the fact that I had a 3rd degree tear last time which was mistaken for a severe placenta haemorrhage so hence I unnecessarily had about 10 doctors/midwives etc in the room after the midwife pulled the emergency alarm. Enough to make any man think 'the best place for you is in the hospital' so getting him to see it my way is becoming a little bit more tricky. I still dont know why to this day that emergency alarm was pulled or why I was given 3 doses of placenta removal drug without my permission, but these are all things I hope to remedy with the next one! Apart from this slightly less than perfect end stage, I had the best labour I could have possibly asked for.

I'm going for my 12 week scan on Wednesday (can't wait), and hopefully little spud is growing big and strong for his/her mum, dad and big sister.

I have an appointment with a consultant at 20 weeks to 'discuss' the tear, and according to the midwife (whom I shan't be dealing with again for a whole manner of reasons...don't get me started on this because I will have you here all night) decide if I will have a section or a planned episiototmy. I will be having none of those things, unless the baby is in distress or danger.

I will be watching this thread closely over the next few weeks and months, and I hope every single one of you gets the perfect homebirth you want

 

[MandaAnda]

Welcome, Laura!

I'd say have a look at homebirth.org.uk and read the section entitled "You Can't Have a Home Birth Because...", as there is a bit in there about previous tears/episiotomies. Here's the quote, but you need to look at it yourself as well because there are birth stories (home birth stories) of mums who've done this, which I think will give you some inspiration and confidence.

he worry is that you will have another bad tear and will need to transfer to hospital for stitching. Yet the risk of severe tearing is smaller at a home birth, particular as many bad tears are associated with assisted deliveries, which do not happen at home. You may have more chance of a gentle, controlled second stage at home, in a position thought to reduce the risk of tearing - such as on all fours. Although your risk of having another tear is higher if you have previously had a bad tear, you are still less likely to have this problem with a second or subsequent baby than with your first. It is up to you to decide whether you want to take the risk of having to transfer to hospital after the birth for repair - women who have transferred after the birth nearly always say that they are still glad they gave birth at home; they just wish they hadn't had to transfer afterwards.

Also, it suggests you have a read on the UK Midwifery Archives about 3rd degree tears.

 

[Mervs Mum]

Hi Laura and congratulations!! I didnt realise you were expecting!
There are some great links for Dad's at the start too - I dont know if you saw them. My OH was apprehensive about HB but he's right on board now thankfully and some of those links helped.

 

[Babyshambelle]

Hello! Thanks for that hun....I went on that site just before and read through that WHOLE long midwifery archives page on tears and felt a lot better for it!

I know that my tear was caused by me being dragged out of the pool to 'try and have a wee', and them refusing to let my waters break by themselves because they needed to 'speed up' the birth, for no real reason other than their little deadlines and times they HAVE to hit (because god may strike them dead if they let a lady labour in hospital for more than 12 hours ).

Once I was out of the pool I was being told to push with no real urges at all (for a grand total of 2 and a half hours!), and after pushing for this long, they thought I needed a 'rest' so had me lay on my back to deliver her. I'm very confident that this time, with a home birth and supportive well trained homebirth specialist midwives I won't be in that position again.

 

[BabyHaines]

BabyH - you dont need a liner for the pool. In fact I've read a few things saying that liners are basically a rip off. You just need to wash it out with some hot soapy water then 'sterilise' it with Milton fluid. I've done this then packed it away again and on the day, I'll inflate it and give it another once over with hot water and a Milton cloth or wipes before filling it. When you wash it out the first time just be sure to get right along all the seams and that should be plenty clean

Thank you my lovely - I knew you;d know the answer!! xxxx

 

[Mervs Mum]

Laura - What you've described certainly sounds like the cascade/snowballing of interventions that seems to be a pattern in many hospital births - I know my first birth went a similar way and although I didnt end up with a 3rd degree tear, I did end up on my back, legs in stirrups with Emily being pulled from me with forceps.

 

[Babyshambelle]

Hi Laura and congratulations!! I didnt realise you were expecting!
There are some great links for Dad's at the start too - I dont know if you saw them. My OH was apprehensive about HB but he's right on board now thankfully and some of those links helped.

Thanks hun! I'm going to get OH to have a read, but I worry that the same will happen that did with your OH at the start of reading these things.....i.e. give him even MORE to worry about that he didnt even know existed til I gave him the links!

I'm pretty sure he will come round to the idea, like he does with everything else I have gently 'suggested' to him, like cloth nappies, BLW, extended BFing, tandem nursing (hopefully!) to name but a few

 

[Babyshambelle]

Right wonderful ladies, It's mine and spuds bedtime!

Night xxxx

 

[Mervs Mum]

My OH is just the same....dont let him read the homebirth.org pages about complications....my OH ended up worrying about prolapsed cords after that
I should have chosen the links a bit more carefully!

 

[Pops]

<pokesheadroundthedoor>

Well, hello ladies

Popping in to have a read as Boyo and I are seriously considering this for Squiddys arrival........

I imagine I will have lots of questions!!

xxx