Nov. Homebirth mom's in Oct! - Page 3

[Lineymom]

I'm due Nov 12 and so hoping to go early. My other babies were big and I don't want this one staying in and getting bigger than she has to after her lungs etc are ready. I would so love to have her in Oct! I have joked to DH that I have to have her before Halloween because I agreed earlier in pregnancy to let him paint my belly like a jack'o latern on Halloween, now I'd like to back out, Lol!

I have almost everything I need for the baby, but no HB supplies. The list the midwife gave us is not that big, though. We have only seen her twice, and I am starting to get nervous about it. She is great and everything and it was me that wanted to keep seeing my CNM until after the GBS test because I get free prenatals, and out money is REALLY tight. My biggest concern is paying her. We haven't paid a penny yet. She is totally laid back about it. I told her with DH new job etc we would not be able to have anything to her until after 36 weeks, and she was fine. Now I don't see us having much if any of it in 2 weeks! I can't even make myself think about the hospital, I get so...disturbed. But it would be a burden off financially, as it is covered.

I don't plan to pack a hospital bag...as I said I just can't go there mentally!! Not bothering with the birth plan either. Dh knows what we have to put our foot down about and I will be rehersing him more. The nurses will listen to him way more than a paper written by some crazy HB wannabe!

[crunchy_mama]

I am not packing a bag either, I thought I already posted, but I don't see it. Dh well knows my wishes in that kind of situation and I trust him implicitly. He totally rocks as a dh and birth partner

I am 34w as of today and it seems just crazy. I kind of think I would like to go early as I did go a bit early w/ the other 2 but I don't know. After having a crappy month I am feeling infinitely better. I am not running marathons by any means, but I feel much more together physically and mentally. The reflux has calmed back down as well. I feel a bit nervous about the birth, but also a peace as well. Even excitement as well. I went to visit with my friends the other night and I thought in 2 more months I will be doing this with a new baby! I think I am quite ready to have a little one to snuggle although I have also enjoyed having some time to do things kids free of late- not that it is a lot of time, but it has been good for my mental health.

The mw is supposed to come in a week or so for the final visit I believe. Which reminds me I desperately need to start the garlic suppositories!!! I am anxious to see her again although that will really hammer down the fact that this is going to be relatively soon! I had a visit with the ob last week and I think that will be the last time I have to see him.

I am doing good physically- bp good- no swelling. I cannot stand for long periods without getting wore out but figure that is pretty normal, but my energy level is much better than it was. I had a big weight gain last month- it seemed so anyway- my belly exploded all at once with a huge growth spurt- maybe I just needed all my energy for that? Anyway, everything seems to be slowing down again. I am at 29.5 lb weight gain and on track for about 35 lbs it seems, which is about exactly what I gained last time. It seems to be what my body needs. Last month my diet wasn't the best due to not feeling well, although I did at least get homecooked meals. I have been able to up my vegetable intake again and am back to juicing my greens in the am and just loving that! Greens make me feel so good!!

[mom2cash]

I'm due November 18th but hoping to go later... I kind of want it to be around Thanksgiving so I can combine that with the time DH would be able to take off and have him around to help for a bit longer.

I am pretty much done with cloth diapers, though I may get a couple more AIOs for convenience. I still need to order the birth kit and the birth pool and pay off my midwife (this is going to be a tough month financially) but I'll be golden on clothes and stuff once I go through my SIL's clothes from her DD that was born around the same time 3 years ago.

We moved last week on October 1st so we're sitll mainly in boxes but hopefully we will get completely unpacked this coming week and I can start nesting, finally! I feel much more comfortable in this house than in my previous apartment, so I'm really starting to get excited about the homebirth happening here. The only thing that I'm slightly concerned about is hiding it from my landlord... I'm not in a very homebirth-friendly area and haven't been open with it to my new neighbors or landlord and our lease says no water furniture but a birthing tub doesn't count as water furniture, right? It's going to be near a door for easy draining and I personally am not worried about it damaging anything but I just don't want to deal with the stress of trying to convince the landlord of that. He's still doing some minor repairs to the house so I guess I will have to wait and blow up my tub at the last minute so he's not like, "WTH is this giant blow up pool doing in my houes?" I also need to get on the ball with making window treatments because our house has lots of windows and is like a fishbowl for the neighbors and I don't want to feel inhibited by that when I want to walk around naked and make noise during labor.

Other than that, I'm getting very excited. Still haven't figured out who is going to be watching my 2 yo DS... I think MIL assumes she will be because with my SIL's homebirth (DH's brother's wife) she cut the cord for her 1st and gave the new baby his first bath with the 2nd so she was very involved but I am a very private person and don't want her all up in my exposed birthing vagina or really in the house at all during labor and I don't want to offend her. I'm also very apprehensive about having anyone over directly after because after my DS was born my mom (who I do NOT have a good relationship with and will not be at the birth this time for sure) asked if she could hold him within an hour of him being born and I was like "Uh, I don't know if I'm comfortable with that..." because he was my BRAND NEW BABY and I wanted to keep him close and she snatched him out of my arms and held him anyway. NOT COOL. I'm looking forward to a very different experience this time in my own home.

[MommyMad]

Originally Posted by vegasgrl

You're so pregnant.

Do let us know how that turns out.

Did I really type that???? ROFL

OK, so instead of a bed between my legs, I settled for a pillow instead. It seems to alleviate the pressure on my hips somewhat. Now, if I can stop waking up at 4am, I'd really appreciate it. I don't have to wake up until about 6am or so, but my body doesn't want to cooperate.

[Youngfrankenstein]

Crummy-ish OB visit....

http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1145505

[Youngfrankenstein]

I hear crickets in here!!!!


I am re-thinking getting the birth tub now that's its really cold here...any advice?

[First-Time-Mommy]

i'm due nov. 15th... but who REALLY knows. i'm anxious to find out if i've dilated at all yet. i don't feel much going on other than more heaviness on my cervix. i hope i don't go into labor until i have everything situated though, that would just kill me right now. i say give or take another 2/3wks and i'll have everything done and out of the way, then i can sit back relax and wait for this little guy. i'm 35wks exactly as of today, going by being 25wks at my 1st ultrasound. we'll see!

oh ya, my dh is excited about the EDD, because it's the day before his b-day, lol.

not having a homebirth but wanted to share my EDD

[Lily's_Mom]

Originally Posted by Youngfrankenstein

Crummy-ish OB visit....

http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1145505

Would getting the u/s offer any reassurances for you? Like at 39 weeks you would see that baby is not really that 'big' and you'd feel more confident about your hb? Or would the u/s results just be more ammo for your mw/ob to bully you about s/d?

Originally Posted by Youngfrankenstein

I hear crickets in here!!!!


I am re-thinking getting the birth tub now that's its really cold here...any advice?

I'm not bothering with a birth tub. I'm just lazy! It seems like a lot of work to set up and clean up. I'll use our regular tub for pain relief, and see if I feel like staying there for pushing, or hopping out and being on our bed for the birth.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Even if we weren't getting a new tub installed, I think we'd still rent a tub. Having no knowledge of how my labor will progress, but erring on the side of caution, I'm assuming it will be slow (since my first was a c/s and I didn't get past 4 cm). Plus, my biggest concern is fatigue and lack of indurance, so I think the water will somehow help with those things....IDK.

[Shell_Ell]

Ughhhh my iron is low. I have to start Floradix tomorrow 3x a day. I'm frustrated but hoping it will help my exhaustion level. My appt today was alright. I've decided to do the GBS swab at my next visit. Everything else seems to be okay with me and baby... and he's still baking. Which is the most important thing.

Turns out since my midwife's apprentice (my friend) is going to be out of town when I'd have my next visit, we won't be having the home visit until almost 38 weeks. Doubtful the babe will come before that, anyway.

[Shell_Ell]

Originally Posted by Lily's_Mom

I'm not bothering with a birth tub. I'm just lazy! It seems like a lot of work to set up and clean up. I'll use our regular tub for pain relief, and see if I feel like staying there for pushing, or hopping out and being on our bed for the birth.

If my midwife didn't bring one and deal with set up and clean up, I don't know if I'd bother, either!

[ExuberantDaffodil]

Which reminds me that I keep forgetting to ask my midwife if she brings one and sets it up. I'm such a scatterbrain lately! I keep forgetting to ask about food for the birthing group, too. *sigh* Maybe at the next prenatal (which is my re-scheduled home visit!)

I am very pleased to announce that if the baby came tomorrow, I can honestly say I have everything I need to accommodate her. I don't have my birthing kit yet, but I have everything for baby. Even kind of organized, too. It's a comforting feeling. I'm planning on buying the birth kit this weekend.

What's not so comforting is the fact that I keep looking around my house and seeing stuff to clean. It just isn't CLEAN enough! When I think I get it to an acceptable level of cleanliness, I see more dirt. I have never been this much a of neat-freak in my life!

[Juliacat]

I can't do a birthing tub because my house is too small. (Including my living room, Einstein. I swear, every single person I have said this to has said, "Just set it up in the living room," as though my living room weren't part of the house I just finished telling them was too small. )

That said, even if my house were big enough for a tub, like he!! I'm going to be getting wet in the middle of November! I don't even like getting wet in the SUMMER unless it is over 90 degrees in the house because the air conditioner is broken! I can just imagine trying to labor while sitting in water thinking to myself, "Gee, I really wish I weren't wet right about now." Anyway, I had dd "on land" and she came out fine, so I don't see why I can't do it again.

Your mileage may vary, of course.

[Youngfrankenstein]

I figure if the water part is important for me I can stand in the shower forever or get in my regular tub. I kind of have a picture in my head of where the baby will come so maybe my body is just telling me to go with whatever. I have a futon that will be the birth bed and I can see myself sitting on the edge and using it like a birth stool. Depending on when this baby comes and how I feel, I could have a group here watching...there's no way anyone but me and the midwife could fit in our bathroom together.

[vegasgrl]

Originally Posted by Juliacat

I swear, every single person I have said this to has said, "Just set it up in the living room," as though my living room weren't part of the house I just finished telling them was too small.

That sucks.

[MamieCole]

Had my 36 week appointment today. Everything is great with baby. Measuring at 37, so no huge discrepancy. MW guesstimates that the baby is a little over 6lbs right now. Head is down, but still floating. I wasn't surprised at all. There is NO sign that this little one is gonna be coming any time soon. I keep telling people that I am not gonna go super early, but our entire family still thinks otherwise. Oh well.
My BP is still great *knock on wood* and all other stuff was normal (pulse, edema, reflexes, pee stick, etc) My iron was borderline (typical pregnant lady blood as my MW says) according to the blood test from 2 weeks ago, so she suggested a tablespoon of prune juice 3 times per day and eating a little more red meat to give it a boost. Plus it should help with constipation, so it can serve double duty. If my iron goes up, great. If it stays the same, she said that she would probably give me pitocin after the birth just to err on the side of caution. We'll recheck at 38 weeks to see where it is.
We scheduled the home visit for Monday night, so I am really looking forward to that.
Then when I got home, my birth pool was waiting on the front step!
Can't wait to blow it up and see how it actually fits in the room I am hoping to birth in.
I really hope it fits in DS's bedroom, if not, it's gotta be the living room or dining room. Either will technically work fine, I just feel like I want to be more secluded in the back of the house for some reason. I guess we'll just play it by ear and see what works. My hose and adapters and stuff won't be here til next week, so hopefully baby doesn't decide to surprise us and come before next week.
Birth day is getting so close...it's so exciting!

[Lily's_Mom]

I had my mw appointment today as well. Bp is okay, creeping into the 130s/80s but I sort of knew that might happen. Measuring 2 weeks behind, which seems to be normal for me. I guess this baby might stay in those extra 2 weeks, just like dd did. That means a december baby for us! But I also have bh contractions this time, which I didn't with dd so I feel like my body is getting ready and I'll go earlier. So maybe we'll make it to 40 weeks even.

We talked about newborn procedures today. The easy ones are NO circ and YES pku/metabolic-screening. I still need to think more about abx eye ointment and the vit k shot.

And the results of my bloodwork from last week were in. My hemoglobin is even higher than the first round! I our cast-iron pan! And my glucose was good too.

When we talked about cord-clamping I said how we waited until the placenta was out with dd before we cut the cord. Even then my instinct was not to cut the cord. Now the mw is all excited about doing a lotus birth!

Has anyone done or thought of doing a lotus birth? I think I will start looking or asking in the birth and beyond forum about lotus birth. Just to be ready in case it goes against my instincts again to cut the cord this time.

[jess152]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mama

I have been able to up my vegetable intake again and am back to juicing my greens in the am and just loving that! Greens make me feel so good!!

Ok, inspire me! What greens are you juicing and are you adding any fruit?

[mom2cash]

I just ordered my birth kit . This weekend I'm going to try to get the rest of the birth supplies together and *HOPEFULLY* both my dryer and dishwasher will be fixed by then so I can really start nesting. I'm going to order my birth pool this weekend and my midwife's home visit is next week! It's all happening so fast! I've been reading through Birthing From Within and it's really helping me to keep things in mind that will help (or at least I think will help) during labor. My midwife estimated her size by palpating yesterday at 5-5 1/2 lbs. I hope she stays in there for a good few more weeks and fattens up, I worry about her being small because my son was 8 lbs 7 1/2 oz and was 11 lbs by 2 weeks so I just don't know how I would deal with such a teeny tiny baby! All in all, I'm getting very excited and looking forward to a much different birth experience than the last one (pitocin induction with many interventions in the hospital).

[crunchy_mama]

Originally Posted by jess152

Ok, inspire me! What greens are you juicing and are you adding any fruit?

My favorite combo- that I like daily is:
1/2 bunch kale- about 4 big leaves- a couple of cups or so raw
1/2 decent sized beet- or 1 whole small one
1/2 lemon
1 inch ginger root
2 stalks celery
1 medium pear
1 medium carrot

Usually I just do the veggies, but my tastes have changed some being prego so I added in the carrot and the pear.