Homebirthing Mamas Group (1/24)

[tabitha]

Ok heres a new thread, anyone can start one when this one is too long.

Well i guess were here in this forum permanently so ill make the best of it.

I find myself not feeling motivated to make the apt.for an ultrasound...though dh wants one... time is passing and i dont care. i am feeling its a girl but i dont know...

welcome Mom2baldie, what a strong mama you are!!! glad to meet you.

tanjarine- why are you inducing early? just curious... some of you mamas are soo close to meeting your babes!

i also want to get Welcome With Love. I have read it and it is beautiful! Congrats to those of you who know the sex... perhaps we will find out. I am not sure.

I would love a red tent, i am definitley having some female celebrations around this birth. Doula Sarah, youre always so inspiring.

ttyl, tabitha

ps there are soo many of us,isnt that great!!? eta:

SBFmommy- 2/2
Tanjarine- 2/16
Amyrobynne- 2/22
Artemesia- march
dnr3301- march
Spark-mid march
Mamaroni- mid march
Kirstie- first day of spring
Indigolilybear- early spring
JayGee- end of march
love2all- early april
tmarina- 4/04
Pottermamma- late april
Mcsarahb- end of april
Defenestrator- 5/12
Kidatheart- 5/26
Jaqueline-late may
Liz-hippymom- 5/31
sagesmamacrystal- late may/ early june
TurboClaudia- i cant find your edd?
greaseball- early june
Rubelin- 6/4
Tabitha- 6/17
2BMamaof3- 6/18
HomebirthHarriet- 6/22
Doulasarah- 6/26
Mattjule- 6/30
gr8fulmom- July
Oceanbaby- July
ChildoftheMoon- 7/16
Snowy Owl- late July
Klsabin- august
sweets- 8/20
Mom2baldie- 9/04
georgia- early september
Adventuregirl- early september
mama2annabelle- early september

[mamaroni]

Thanks for making that list, Tabitha.

mattjule, I think hypnobirthing is a misnomer. You aren't really hypnotized, or in a trance or anything like that. What I learned from the hypnobirthing program was deep, deep relaxation methods and guided imagery, along with quite a bit of physiology. I was lucky-my best friend became a certified instructor in my first few months of pg, so I didn' t have to pay for the class, just the book. I'm not as familiar with hypnobabies, but I do believe it's more expensive. A friend has that program and was nice enough to copy the CD's for me, so I have all those (also for free). And yes, you DO have to practice everyday for it to be effective.

I am feeling SO much movement! EVerywhere in my belly, from my panty line all the way up to my ribcage. I'm at the point where you can actually see it move from the outside. Of course, every time I tell dh to look, baby is still! I know she is getting cramped in there. I can't wait to meet her! I've been feeling lately like she may come "early."

Oh, a question from my last post, I'm really interested in your input. . . my mw is giving dh a book/pamphlet called "Emergency Childbirth" at the next (home) visit. Are any of you familiar with this? Or will you make any preparations for a UC type situation in the event your mw doesn't arrive on time? I have a history of fast labor, and the mw is 45 mins away, and we'll still have a huge risk of BAD weather here. Dh is very interested in reading it, and so am I. In addition to thinking baby will come on the earlier side, I've also been feeling like this very well could turn out to be an UC.

[amyrobynne]

Does anyone know if homebirth midwife fees are tax deductible (through itemized deduction)? We paid the midwives in full in December and may or may not ever see that money again through our insurance. I think the $2500 we paid will make the difference of whether it's worth it for us to itemize. If it makes a difference, my two midwives are both CPM's through NARM/MANA and one is licensed through the state (MN), but they aren't CNM's.

[ChildoftheMoon]

I'm here too! I am due 7/16 with babe #3. Planning another water birth. Been lurking on this thread for a long time, figure it was time to come out and say hi!
Brandi

[mattjule]

mamaroni-I remember seeing that pamphlet either at my previous mw or my previous childbirth instructor's. Our mw was much closer than yours is and being a first birth, none of us worried about the baby coming without a helper there! I think it is a good idea. I am of the mindset that it is always better to be prepared, as long as that doesn't make you anxious or apprehensive. Having the pamphlet on-hand certainly doesn't hurt. Plus, I think that men in general panic easier during births so if anything, it would be good for dh's nerves if you end up with an unplanned UC.

I find that it isn't the birthing itself that people need much help with, but what comes after. My current mw told me at our last appt of a couple that had an unplanned UC. She said she missed it by about 5-10 minutes. The woman had birthed leaning over the bed with the husband catching behind. When she got there, the woman was on the bed, the husband talking to her, and the baby lying naked on a chux on the floor. I think it is easy for people to feel a little anticlimactic about making sure the baby is warm and birthing the placenta and stuff like that.

[tanjarine]

Hi Tabitha.. great thread!!
You asked
"tanjarine- why are you inducing early? just curious... some of you mamas are soo close to meeting your babes!"
My last baby was a homebirth as well and he was 10lbs 4oz and had very poorly managed shoulder dystocia, luckily everything turned out great and a big lesson learned but my midwives were very reluctant to offer me a homebirth after the last time, so Im having an ultrasound tuesday to estimate the weight of the baby to avoid things going to long and baby being over 9lbs (they figure that is a reasonable weight) otherwise I wont have a choice but to go to hospital if they feel baby is too big and thats something i really want to avoid if possible.
This time around I dont look and feel as big and i really want to be at home so im hoping for a good u/s estimate so we dont have to rush the labour, although im ready to meet this baby anytime!! My b/h are so strong and intense now its freaking me out!
Well belly rubs to all and take care!
Tanja mama to Raven 11, Jakob 4, Ben 2 and due with new baby Feb 16:LOL

[gr8fulmom]

Hi everyone! My name is Jen and I am planning my second home water birth with baby #3 due this summer. It was a surprise being (I never got my cycles back after ds#2) but we wanted 3 kids and we are very excited. My first was born naturally in a hospital with a great dr. She is now our family dr. I have fast labours and I was only in the hospital about an hour before ds was born (so they didn;t have much time to try to do anything to me :LOL) and it was as good a hospital birth as I can imagine, BUT we loved our homebirth with #2 and wouldn't go back unless it was a dire emergency (knock on wood!). We are considering UC but we really like our midwife and it is covered by our provincial medical insurance so... She was very hands off and very respectful of us in every way. Unfortunately her partner, we do not like too much...if she is the one on call we may go for the UC at the last minute :LOL...we'll see.

Anyway, it's great to see this thread. I was surprised to find the monthly groups on the I'm Pregnant board very medical...not what I would expect from mothering : I think I'd rather hang out here KWIM?

Jen

[2BMamaof3]

AHHH, if I really AM due on the 18 of June, it means I'm nearly half way through this pregnancy.

This baby seems so little, though my fundal height is now in line with my belly button. Very weird. I don't really LOOK like I'm showing, because my belly has been very large and pouchy all along...but I'm just looking less pregnant than I have in previous pregnancies at this time. I guess this is because I weigh less in the beginning than the others??? Whatever...it is weird nonetheless.

I'm feeling little movements here and there, but this baby isn't kicking very strongly. Of course, just saying that will probably start some Tai Kwan Do competition in my belly!

Almost 20 weeks!!! YIKES!!!!!

Of course, I know my due date IS the 18...but I keep telling everyone I'm not due till the 30th. HA! I'm not doing a very good job sticking to the latter. If I was really due on the 30th, I'd only be 18 weeks....and I know better than that.

Anyway, I'm excited today, which is a good thing.

My two year old says, "Momma, I need POOP" so I guess I need to go toilet the wee one Yay.

Abby

[Mama2ABCD]

mamaroni, my midwife gave us a set of instructions in case she doesn't get there on time. this also includes how to handle the baby when it's born (don't wash, warm blankets, etc). i have the instructions on hand with the homebirth kit and any other recommendations she has. i'm not worried if she doesn't make it on time, because me and the baby are in good hands with my dh. he's excellent in a crisis situation. i just make sure we read through the instructions every now and then.

my midwife is 3 hours away so it's important to us to have preparations in case she doesn't make it on time. i don't anticipate a fast delivery, but you never know. i will be in a lot of phone contact with her when things start to progress. i'd hate for her to make a trip and then labor stops.

[Greaseball]

New here, just checking in!

Pg with #2 and planning my 1st homebirth sometime early June.

I'm seeing two unlicensed midwives. One is a pharmacist and the other is a former RN. I'm still getting used to them, but I think they will work out fine.

[Mom2baldie]

Thanks for the welcome Tabitha! Could I please be added to the list when you update it? I am due late Sept. 04.

Thanks!

[Snowy Owl]

I'm happy to see such a long list of homebirthin' mamas!

I was looking up some stuff earlier and found a bunch of sites like this:
http://www.health-care-reform.net/causedeath.htm

Nice....keep me away from doctors and hospitals, please, especially when I am not sick, only pregnant.

I'm starting to get a bit of belly (at 14 weeks today). I love looking at these pics of pregnant bellies when I get to each week:
http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/pregna...elly2index.htm

[tmarina]

Hi, I'm new to this thread. I'm planning a homebirth for my third baby in April. My EDD is 4/1. Baby's gender is a surprise (no ultrasound or doppler exposure for this babe). We'll have a tub here, but whether I will birth in water, I don't know...

tanjarine - it's interesting to hear how you are handling your previous shoulder dystocia experience. Both of my first two children were shoulder dystocias so this is something that is on my mind as well. The midwives at my daughters birth (she was born at a free-standing birth center run by homebirth midwives) handled it much better than the hospital-based midwife handled it at my son's birth. Both babies came out fine, though. I'm having the same homebirth midwives come to my home this time as I had at my daughter's birth - we've been on quite the "how do we avoid/manage another shoulder dystocia" journey... I really want my baby to come when he or she is ready and I don't even know that size matters (my son was 8 lb 6 oz at birth at 38 wks, my daughter was 9 lb 3 oz at birth at 41 weeks - not huge babies). I have cut out a lot of the sugar in my diet to try to grow a smaller baby (did the same last time). But mostly, I'm hoping to birth upright...doing a lot of birth preparation even though this is my third baby (dealing with my fears, getting my head in the right place)...and most of all, I feel very lucky for the trust that my midwives have in birth and the trust I have in them...

[Greaseball]

I'm trying to grow a huge baby! My first was 7/5 and I want to see how big this one can get. I stuff myself every day with as much protein as I can handle.

I think it will be fun!

People are trying to guess the sex...dh thinks it's another girl and this other woman thinks it's twin boys...so we'll see!

[georgia]

I'm due in early Sept---this will be my second hb. I still cannot believe I'm pregnant---though you'd think the constant nausea would help it sink in! Planning another waterbirth! Hope everyone is doing great!

[mattjule]

GReaseball-that is so funny about growing a bigger baby! I never thought of my first as being particularly small (7# 1 oz), but then all my friends had babies bigger than he was. Now I am hoping that this baby will be a little bigger-Tain was born with very little fat, despite coming at his own time. I remember eating a hell of a lot of protein with him, but it didn't seem to do anything.

Oh, I have a question: Anyone just use a shower instead of a tub and find it to be relaxing? My previous birth I hated the shower (my tub was too little to cover my belly) but I am wondering if it was because I had to stand. I don't really want the complication of a kiddie pool in my living room (small apt) but I live somewhere else now and my tub is deep. I was wondering if showers have worked for others or if it is the submersability that makes laboring in water so great-trying to figure out if I will bother with it or not this time.

[homebirthing]

Julie- I loved the shower!! But I agree, I wouldn't want to stand for a long period of time. I threw my birth ball in the tub and tossed a towel over it and sat. Then I was able to sit and move my hips a little and have the shower head (detachable) on my contractions and breasts. It was heaven! I turned off the bathroom light and Joel lit a candle. We talked and labored together. It was great.

[mamaroni]

Originally posted by mattjule
Oh, I have a question: Anyone just use a shower instead of a tub and find it to be relaxing? My previous birth I hated the shower (my tub was too little to cover my belly) but I am wondering if it was because I had to stand. I don't really want the complication of a kiddie pool in my living room (small apt) but I live somewhere else now and my tub is deep. I was wondering if showers have worked for others or if it is the submersability that makes laboring in water so great-trying to figure out if I will bother with it or not this time.

I labored in the shower (on a stool) for a couple hours with dd, and it felt great. I never did get in the tub, so I have no comparison. Ds came too quickly for me to consider either. This time, since I'll be home, I figure I can take my birth ball right in my shower (which is a big one, but we don't have a big tub). Reading about everyone's plans for water births makes me want to try it, but I don't think we'll bother with it. I do wish I had a big tub for the herbal bath with baby afterward, though.

I got my 5W from birthjunkie.com today and I can start taking it in 2 weeks!

snowy owl, it was fun to look at those bellies! I REALLY need to take a few more so I have them for the album.

welcome to the newcomers! THis is a great thread.

[tmarina]

Originally posted by mattjule


I was wondering if showers have worked for others or if it is the submersability that makes laboring in water so great-trying to figure out if I will bother with it or not this time.

I used both the shower and tub in both of my previous labors and favored the feeling of being in the shower. I'm going to have a tub anyway because every labor being different, I don't know which I'll prefer this time. I stood while in the shower and hung on dh when I got tired...putting the birth ball in there sounds like a great idea!

[tmarina]

Originally posted by Greaseball
I'm trying to grow a huge baby! My first was 7/5 and I want to see how big this one can get. I stuff myself every day with as much protein as I can handle.

I think it will be fun!

I eat a ton of protein, too. And I know some people consider that a factor in growing a big baby. I'm just trying to keep from spilling sugar over to my baby that he/she doesn't need anyway...and if that results in a smaller baby...it may better the chances that I get to catch my own baby this time.

Hooray for big healthy babies though! I totally believe in birth and that your body grows the right size baby...yet here I am as a bit of a freak of nature with the repeat shoulder dystocia thing...so to be responsible considering my history, I have to do what I can do, and what I believe to be healthy, to give my baby (and me) a gentler birth.