A few questiions regarding homebirth

[Tonia80]

I am not even pregnant yet but had a few questions.....
I am planning on a UHB and we have not had one yet. Our oldest was a medicated hospital birth as we just didn't know better, were not aware of our options. Our second was a planned homebirth but we went to teh local ER to "get checked" as it had ben over 24 hours of labor and I was exhausted. I walked in 9 cm and ended up giving birth there. Our youngest had to be a hopsital birth as we were staying with my mom and she refused to allow a homebirth.
ANYWAY, I never intend to do another hospital birth if I don't have to. But I was looking for some input as to what you found most helpful. I want to do a water birth and plan on justgetting an inflatable pool from walmart for teh cheapest route. But how do I keep it tempurature regulated? I figured we would just hook a hose up to our kitchen sink to fill it. What else woudl help? I used a birthing ball in a hot shower with my last and loved it. Would a big excersise ball be basically teh same thing? What about a birthing stool? Can you rent one? Are they really neccesary or can I just sit leaning back on DH or a friend? What should I make suure to have on hand since we live in an apartment? I know every birth is different but am looking for supplies I should have just in case. TIA!

[Tonia80]

Herbs, homeopathy and hypnobirth....

I tend to get real anxious and overwhelmed when transition hits in my labors and was wondering what recomendations you all have for herbs or homeopathic remedies that could help that? My transitions are very intense and last hours long as opposed to teh "norm" of 15 to 60 minutes. I end up vomitting and contracting simultaneously and last time I begged for an epi which I regret now but in the moment...... I plan on a UHB this time so epi is thank god not an option I will be tempted by.
Also, I plan on trying hypnobirthing. How did it work for you? Did you take classes, buy a set of tapes, etc.... have a doula to help you do it or just do it yourself?
TIA!

[grace's voice]

Originally Posted by Tonia80

I am not even pregnant yet but had a few questions.....
I am planning on a UHB and we have not had one yet. Our oldest was a medicated hospital birth as we just didn't know better, were not aware of our options. Our second was a planned homebirth but we went to teh local ER to "get checked" as it had ben over 24 hours of labor and I was exhausted. I walked in 9 cm and ended up giving birth there. Our youngest had to be a hopsital birth as we were staying with my mom and she refused to allow a homebirth.
ANYWAY, I never intend to do another hospital birth if I don't have to. But I was looking for some input as to what you found most helpful. I want to do a water birth and plan on justgetting an inflatable pool from walmart for teh cheapest route. But how do I keep it tempurature regulated? I figured we would just hook a hose up to our kitchen sink to fill it. What else woudl help? I used a birthing ball in a hot shower with my last and loved it. Would a big excersise ball be basically teh same thing? What about a birthing stool? Can you rent one? Are they really neccesary or can I just sit leaning back on DH or a friend? What should I make suure to have on hand since we live in an apartment? I know every birth is different but am looking for supplies I should have just in case. TIA!

Some will surly disagree with me, but I would never use a fishy pool. It takes a lot of work to keep the temp right and I want the attention of the birth team on me. Also, I think the "swirls" of varying temps as water is being added would be extremely distracting. I've heard women complain, too, that the sides were not supportive enough for them, if they rested all their weight on the side of the tub water spilled over. I used an Aquadoula the first time and have one set up in the living room right now just waiting for labor to start! www.aquadoula.com With both my births the tub has come free with the doula, or you could say it is included in their fee, which I have also managed to get much cheaper than is the norm around here.

As far as birth balls go, you CAN use a regular exercise ball you just have to make sure the rubber is thick enough to handle the weight of a pregnant body. Some cheaper ones have been known to pop, and I imagine that would be a rather rude thing to have happen during labor!

I know that some mw's carry birthing stools, you'd have to ask the mw specifically. Personally, I was so happy in the water I would have never though to use it, but my labor was fast and hard. For longer labors it may be a good thing to have so that you can try different things to get things moving.

Mw's usually suggest you have some sort of plastic cover on the bed as well, and several pillows wrapped in plastic bags and then a pillow case over (just to protect them). Other than that we have Chux, aspirator, cord clamp... that's about it for birth supplies. I have a lot of stuff by the pool but most of it is towels, wash clothes to put cold water on for my face, a large bowl for the placenta, massage oil, etc. Some mw's websites have lists of supplies you need for homebirth, I'm sure a google search would turn up quite a few.

Homebirth is awesome, as long as baby and I are healthy I wouldn't choose to do it any other way. Best of luck!

[heidi_m]

The problem with Aquadoula is the expense... my husband is in grad school and I just cannot justify the expense of the Aquadoula when so many have said they loved various blow-up/fishy pools. There was a thread here about birth pools about a month ago, maybe someone else can bump it up (I'm still relatively new and I don't have the slightest idea how to do that).

[BennyPai]

Another plug for aquadoula

My first water birth was in the hospital in a garden-style tub. It was not nearly deep enough to cover my pregnant belly, and not temp-regulated.

With my second labor I used the Aquadoula - rented from MW. It was GREAT! Renting was not expensive.

[cottonwood]

Do a search and you will find all kinds of discussions about all these things. Also you might want to check out the unassisted birth forum here.

For two of my four births we set up a tub for laboring in, but we used a Rubbermaid trough. I liked it because it was deep, but keep in mind that the plastic is hard, like a bathtub, so it might not be very comfortable for long periods of time. Not being able to regulate the temperature was not an issue for me, I get hot in labor so room temperature is just fine.

If you want to give birth sitting, a birthing stool is probably the easiest way to go. I don't recommend giving birth in a semi-reclining position, your weight is all on your tailbone and the baby has to go around a bend and up an incline in order to come out. You might consider hands-and-knees or kneeling. Really, whatever your body compels you to do is best -- I wouldn't make a plan at all, just wait to see what it wants you to do.

As far as supplies, we had nothing more than clean towels and something to cut and tie the cord with. We used a sterilized scissors and small white shoelace.

[alegna]

I used a fishy pool and loved it. It held the temp remarkably well. I think we added more hot water 3 or 4 times- I was in it for 12! hours.

-Angela

[Emilie]

I got a fishy pool from my mw with an inflated bottom that was SO NICE! We just kept adding hot water- or boiling water from the stove to keep up the temp. I thihnk that my water was a bit cool at the birth- but she was fine.
I was not about to get out of that tub!
Do what you want to do! You will most likely try out different things and stick with what you feel the best with. I loved being in the water- and even before the pool was up I was in the bath tub.
Em

[CrunchyKat]

I also used an aquadoula that I rented. It was great. But if you use a fishy pool, just make sure you dp is on water duty, and have him constantly boiling water, to add to the pool.

I used a yoga ball that I bought at Ross for 12 bucks. It was my FAVORITE laboring tool.

[grace's voice]

You know what's good about having a birth/exercise ball around too? I got mine months ago to replace the chair at my computer, sitting on it helps get the baby into the optimal position AND it strengthens tummy muscles. After the baby is born I'm going to continue using it as a chair (and of course when you sit on it you roll around in little circles, move back and forth, side to side) and use it to get back in shape. Bonus!