Three unassisted questions.

[geminima]

I started off my care with an OB and got the usual treatment..(long wait, impersonal visits with student doc's at their side, single sheet of paper showing my name) When I started to research birth closer to the end of the second trimester, I started asking questions to which he seemed offended by. I then found a group of midwives that work out of the hospital, so I switched to them and found they favor getting up from the bed, no IV's, the nurses are familiar with them and respect birth plans, they won't pressure you for drugs, they have jacuzzi tubs, they don't cut the cord right away, they are able to breastfeed, their C section rate is low as their episitomy rate, but for some reason I just feel like I want a home birth.
My funds are limited and I am on medicaid, otherwise I would get a lay midwife. I was turned on to UC and I do believe I can do it!
Every birth story I read inspires me to just go with my insticts and I can picture myself giving birth in my house.

The problem and also my questions are, my mom is flying down for the birth around the due date and she is totally skepitcal about the home birth. She would prefer I go to the hospital for the tour and pack my bags because I am going to the hospital. She will be staying with me and as open as she is sometimes I don't think she would be able to handle it. But who knows...question 1, when you decided to have a UC did you keep it from everyone till last minute? What supplies are really necessary?

I'm sure my mom would be okay with it, I just don't want to spring it on her so soon to where she doesn't want to have anything to do with it, but also I don't want to spring it on her to late and have the negative vibes running through my veins. My husband is okay with the idea and he supports me in whatever I do, so he will be a wonderful support. Also, does anyone know of any herbs to use just in case of hemorrage? And lastly, what benefits does eating your placenta have?
okay so more than three, but not more than 5!
Thanks for reading!

[claddaghmom]

If you can't be 100% sure of your mom's support, I would be really wary about having her there before and during the birth.

Who to keep it from has a lot to do with your community. I let everyone around me know I was birthing at home but very few people knew it was unassisted.

I even go back and forth about how open I should be on facebook...e.g. joining groups and posting links.

[zoebird]

first, i'm glad that you found midwives whom you trust, because that is a good plan to have if you are not 100% ready for UC. and it's ok if you aren't.

in regards to your mother--you know her and yourself and you relationship best. for me, what my mother wanted did not factor into the decision. that's how i am, how i relate to my mother. of course, my mother live(d) 2 hrs away from us at the time and i wasn't worried about her being in the home. because she asked a lot of direct questions, i told her about UC early on, she made herself sick with worry/concern, and then ultimately convinced herself that i was seeing a midwife. then, after the fact, she was supportive.

I told a few select people as they asked questions, and ultimately it went around like wildfire gossip that i was UCing. that didn't bother me, because i don't listen to gossip so i didn't know until my son was born and my ILs were walking him around town and said that his mother was a yoga teacher at the studio. then they were like "the one who didn't have a doctor or midwife?" and they said "yes." and that's how i found out. LOL

but i have a hard core attitude about things. like, if someone says "you can't do that!" i'll remind them that i can, i am, and it's none of their business. which i only had to do twice anyway.

as far as supplies go, i didn't need anything i didn't already have. i used a bath mat to protect my mattress, and a bowl for the placenta and cleaned the kitchen scissors (soaked in vinegar, then boiled in water for about 5 minutes) to cut the cord (which we did 8-9 hrs after the birth--no clamping or ties or anything because it had 'beaded' up).

there are threads about herbs to use for many purposes, including PPH, and eating the placenta can prevent PPH, as well as replenish nutrients to the mother, build immunity, and help balance hormones. or so i have read.

[Pirogi]

Originally Posted by zoebird

eating the placenta can prevent PPH, as well as replenish nutrients to the mother, build immunity, and help balance hormones. or so i have read.

I heard at a midwifery conference I attended recently that ingesting the membranes and/or cord also have PPH-protective effects, in case the mother is bleeding but the placenta has not delivered yet.

[geminima]

Thank you for your guy's insight! I have a pretty good relationship with my mom and I am sure she will be supportive...just scared. My husband is behind me and trusts my body as do I, this is what I want and I just can't explain the feeling...I just feel it in my core that this is right for us. Again thank you for the replies.

[basje]

A bit on hemorrhage

There are herbs to take to help stop a slow hemorrhage (the most common type) I suggest you find a copy of Susan Weeds, "The Childbearing Year" for complete information and dosing. If you end up buying (I got mine used on Amazon) it's totally worth having on your bookshelf. Delivering the placenta is good. Taking iron for two months prior to delivery is good too (I recommend floridex or at least a food based supplement) to improve your clotting factors. A jelly uterus is not a good. Nursing directly after birth, and letting your baby crawl up your body to find your nipples using it's kicking reflex also encourages the uterus to contract. You can of course monitor your own uterus after birth to make sure it is firming up and give a firm massage if it isn't.

Eating your placenta can help prevent hemorrhage and pp depression. Blend it with fruit, bake it in the oven, or fry it it up with onions.