Home Birthers & Hopefuls!

[EternalRose]

I did a couple of years on medical (and loved it) followed by a year on surgical (and hated it) followed by a few months as a student midwife before having to leave.

Yeah my last placement was on medical I really enjoyed it didnt get a surgical placement though. Would you ever finish your midwifery training or would you just go back to nursing? Sorry to ask so many questions, I am just interested.

 

[MandaAnda]

However, I imagine that it's also very, very difficult. I struggle with my views on the NHS. I am so grateful it exists, and feel we are very lucky. However, I also get frustrated that as the others said, their core staff are over worked and under paid. I know three people that work for the NHS (administration) and one is a manager who drives around in a brand new Merc....paid for by the NHS, the other is a manager who drives round in a convertable BMW and the other one is a clinical coder who can earn £150 O/T rate.
I find that side of it disgusting. Why the hell should that be the case?? I believe we should pay the people on the front line - the actual care givers the highest amounts and those who simply push pens should be paid accordingly!!

**Ooooh, sorry - rant over** Didn't realise quite how strongly I felt about it!! lol xxxx

Oooh, don't get me started! haha I was luckily seconded during my course. There's no way I would've been able to afford it on a bursary. Unless the nursing students live at home or have mummy and daddy pay for it all, I don't know how they can manage. I was a medical secretary before doing my training (loved that job, but it just wasn't enough and was only ever a stop gap to what I wanted), and I accidentally opened one of my consultant's payslips, as it was right beside mine, once. All I can say is: wow. I want some of that. But I'll never get anywhere near that, even if I were one day matron!

And I already miss work. I know that I'll go back. Not just because I miss it but because I feel the NHS has invested in me and also because I'm very aware of how few nurses are in my specialty. And I really want to do my specialist course desperately. I may go back part-time, but I want to do that course and can't see myself doing anything else for work.

I think it's also interesting that us with links to healthcare have chosen a home birth. Everyone thought that I'd be scared to death during pregnancy and delivery due to my job, but it's actually reassuring. I know how rare ending up on my unit is, and even if that happened, I know what amazing things we can do.

Cupcake, I'm just curious which hospital you practice in (happy to get it in a PM). I work in London as well (well, not going in at the moment, obviously).

 

[BabyHaines]

I was a building control surveyor, but worked ridiculously long hours as had to travel hundreds of miles each week....
So.....jacked it in and got a job at Waitrose as a checkout supervisor!! How different, but loved it!! Ten minute drive to work and loads of great people to work with
.....and best of all, fell pregnant within the first month of working there after 5yrs TTC!! xxxx

oooh, and I get 25% off at John Lewis - you gotta love that!! lol xxxx

 

[Celesse]

I did a couple of years on medical (and loved it) followed by a year on surgical (and hated it) followed by a few months as a student midwife before having to leave.

Yeah my last placement was on medical I really enjoyed it didnt get a surgical placement though. Would you ever finish your midwifery training or would you just go back to nursing? Sorry to ask so many questions, I am just interested.

I'm not really sure. If I became a bit more career focused then maybe. If OH had a nice job and we had a few little ones running around I may be happier working part time on a medical ward full of little old ladies to look after.

 

[Mervs Mum]

I know we've moved on a bit convo wise but I just need to say what a total crock of shite it is that ER's care providers are even going there with her BMI! Look at that picture. You look fab and I think it's discriminatory on more than one level. My BMI at booking was 27 and I was a 16 AND I was a 14 prior to Hebe so I'm carrying more weight with this one.....yet not a sausage has been hinted about my weight....

 

[MandaAnda]

I know we've moved on a bit convo wise but I just need to say what a total crock of shite it is that ER's care providers are even going there with her BMI! Look at that picture. You look fab and I think it's discriminatory on more than one level. My BMI at booking was 27 and I was a 16 AND I was a 14 prior to Hebe so I'm carrying more weight with this one.....yet not a sausage has been hinted about my weight....

I do think it's rubbish. Like I said, I'm considered obese with a BMI of 31; yet my midwife hasn't even bothered weighing me since booking. She obviously doesn't think it's a problem (apart from the bump, I haven't gained anywhere else). It's insane that the individual isn't taken into account. For me, yes I'd love to lose a size or two, but I'm convinced my boobs weigh 10lb each. Shame on any healthcare professional that denies a woman care due to her scoring badly on a BMI chart when a closer look would show she's just voluptuous.

 

[EternalRose]

Thanks for the support MM and Manda, my boobs were a 36G pre pregnancy and I have no idea what they are now, I have been wearing all sizes of bras throughout being pregnant ooops

Oh well, back to homebirth. Manda have you felt any niggles or twinges that make you think labour is near? Or anyone else thats around full term? I am so excited to hear how these homebirths go. What snacks are people going to eat during labour? x x x

 

[gina8177]

Speaking of jobs, what does everyone do on this thread. I know what MM does, Manda and cupcake..but what about everyone else. Anyone planning on being a SAHM afterwards or going back to work straight after? x x

I am a senior accountant and qualify for my CA in May, yay! I won't be coming back to my current job because it is a long commute with long hours and they aren't so family friendly until you are much higher in the ranks then I am.

I would love to be a SAHM. I will be taking my full year mat leave on maternity EI and am trying to figure out a way that we can survive when that is over. Right now I'm looking at online facilitation for the CA program, but it doesn't even pay as much as maternity EI. But I am going to do my best to figure something out. I can't stand the thought of going back to work for at least a few year.

 

[lozzy21]

I think my boobs easily weight a stone between them. Wish i could just cut them off If only i dident need them to feed my future children.

 

[Mervs Mum]

Lozzy!

 

[MandaAnda]

Manda have you felt any niggles or twinges that make you think labour is near? Or anyone else thats around full term? I am so excited to hear how these homebirths go. What snacks are people going to eat during labour? x x x

Nothing since yesterday. I've been taking my EPO (1g orally BD and 500mg up the snooch nocte!) and 3-4 cups of RLT every day. We, um, yesterday morning as well (DH had been asking, and I know it helps). So, on and off all day yesterday, I had period-type cramping and increased pressure down below, but nothing more on that since last night. I did spend about an hour bouncing on my birth ball this afternoon to try to get the bean to wriggle down some more (he was 3-4/5 palpable on Sunday), but I swear I feel his bum up higher than it was yesterday!

Snacks: whatever I fancy; but I've got some boiled sweets, dark chocolate (there's currently a "Jamaican" Bourneville that has rum and raisins in!) and cherry Lucozade in the house.

 

[EternalRose]

Double Post.

 

[EternalRose]

I think my boobs easily weight a stone between them. Wish i could just cut them off If only i dident need them to feed my future children.

Manda, it sounded promising after your bedroom action...maybe you should do it everyday from now onwards.. Actually you probably might wear yourself out, and you need the energy for labour

I see you have a sweet tooth as well, I think I will get some crisps in, and more crisps. I want the buffet spread that MM had for Hebe's 1st birthday party at my labour. Seriously, you should see it..its preety impressive. x x x

 

[Celesse]

Or anyone else thats around full term? I am so excited to hear how these homebirths go.

I've spent the last 3 nights with period type pains which I've slept restlessly through with contractions about every hour...... and spent the last 3 mornings absolutely fine but disappointed and knackered. I had a show about 2 weeks ago, followed by a few days of more showy yuck and baby's head coming down. And from what I can tell my cervix is very posterior, 50% effaced and 1 cm dilated, but has been since just after the show....It's difficult to reach so I'm not trying to hard to feel up there, but curiosity has got the better of me during perineal massage time

 

[EternalRose]

Or anyone else thats around full term? I am so excited to hear how these homebirths go.

I've spent the last 3 nights with period type pains which I've slept restlessly through with contractions about every hour...... and spent the last 3 mornings absolutely fine but disappointed and knackered. I had a show about 2 weeks ago, followed by a few days of more showy yuck and baby's head coming down. And from what I can tell my cervix is very posterior, 50% effaced and 1 cm dilated, but has been since just after the show....It's difficult to reach so I'm not trying to hard to feel up there, but curiosity has got the better of me during perineal massage time

Wow, I hope things start up for you soon, things seem to be progressing nicely but slowly, no wonder your tired Sending you lots of labour dust, and you did make me chuckle about the curiousity..x x

 

[gina8177]

Sending lots of labour dust to both of you, Manda & Celesse!

 

[Mervs Mum]

I just want to say, check out all the BnB Home Birth Hopefuls, blazing a trail by planning to have their first babies in the comfort and security of their own homes!!! I LOVE IT!! You women are awesome and I am soooo excited to hear all your stories!!!

 

[lnic1970]

Hello Inic (wow - what a lovely pic- is that where you live??)

Thanks

yip thats where I was born which is just around 10 miles from where I live now - beautiful countryside but the middle of nowhere lol its only 13 miles as the crow flies to Northern Ireland...

 

[nikki-lou25]

Speaking of jobs, what does everyone do on this thread. I know what MM does, Manda and cupcake..but what about everyone else. Anyone planning on being a SAHM afterwards or going back to work straight after? x x

I am a SAHM most of the time, I do wedding venue decoration - but as it's not wedding season I'm not out much. I've been thinking about doing doula training for a while now and possibly doing midwifery degree somewhere down the line.

Cupcake - Welcome, you sound like a lovely midwife! I love this group and I hope you do too.

Eternal Rose - The BMI thing makes me quite angry. I had a BMI of 34 at booking with DD, but now its 35 (was 36 but I'm workin on it!) I had a successful and very enjoyable homebirth! I loved it. I don't see why this should be used against you. You look stunning in your pic and if you're healthy then I don't see any reason why you shouldn't get your dream birth. I really hope your next appointment goes well hun

 

[Babyshambelle]

My god you girls can talk!!!

I've tried to catch up...here goes..

I vowed not to watch that bleeding 'women all scream in chlidbirth' documentary once I had seen the trailer for it. And I'm very glad I didn't!

This is my second baby, first homebirth and I hope to have him/her in water.

I think the theory about people working in a medical environment wanting homebirths is very interesting. I'm a pharmacy technician and love(d) my job but I love my little girl more and I couldn't face her going into childcare and to be honest, the cost to send her to the nursery I would have liked would have neutralised my wages pretty much straight off anyway!

Quick question for you all...I had a chat to OH today and he has said that he can't make a decision about the HB until he has read more about them. So...which book would you recommend to get him to read? He said he had considered 'The Fathers Homebirth Handbook'...has anyone read this or got any other ideas?

Thanks ladies

Edit: Forgot to add my due date (which we found out today at scan ) is 20th August 2010