noticing plenty of plans for UCs!

[shell024]

Those of you planning a UC, what is your "plan"? I'm curious. This will be our 2nd UC and ds will be just about 2yo by the time this babe comes. Is this your first babe? If you have other kids, what are your plans for them?

What do you visualize for this birth??

[MammaKoz]

I'm so excited about my UC!!

My kids will be there for sure if they want to. I don't plan on having anyone there to shuttle them off or anything. My DD who is 4 is very into this pregnancy with me, which is very cool. We talk about the baby/babies (I have a twin feeling but I could be wrong ), I show her pics on the internet of approx how big the baby is, talk about my belly growing all this cool stuff that I honestly didn't expect from a 4 year old. It's like a whole new bond for her and I and I am especially excited that she is old enough to remember it and hopefully it empowers here when/if she has her own children.

So for this birth I really am envisioning it as just a quick, peaceful delivery, everything goes smoothly, baby/babies come and life goes on. Not that it isn't a big deal, because it is a HUGE exciting deal to us of course. I just don't want the chaos of the last two labours and deliveries. DD's was a mess, full of unwanted interventions in the hospital that just about killed me, gave me severe PPD - the whole nine yards. DS well, that was one quick easy labour, except I should have trusted my gut feeling and stayed home. I think that is why it was so easy and quick, I was at home where I felt safe and secure - until I had to get in the car, then I started freaking out. I was stuck in our car in the middle of rush hour honestly thinking I was going to have him right then and there and 15 minutes after we parked at the hospital he was born. How we made it to the hosptial in time I have no idea. It was great in that I had my birth MY WAY and that was all natural, no interventions or anything. But I mean, I should have just stayed home, yk?

So I really think this labour is going to be like DS's, quick, intense but rather painless really and easy. Plus I have been getting a lot of dreams from my mom (who passed away 5 years ago) who keeps showing me birthing at home and in a very serene peaceful atmosphere. And I just have a very overwhelming sense of peace with this pregnancy in that I finally trust myself, I don't fear the birthing process like I used to and I guess drawing on experience too, that helps when it is the 3rd time around!

Man am I ever chatty tonight. Apparently the "insane fatigue" I've had isn't here today, although I am going to be cursing myself tomorrow for staying up until 2am.

[Jster]

I'm very seriously considering UC. I feel comfortable with it, and I think my partner does as well (this is his first). It'll just be a matter of time in some ways, what our final decision is.

As for a plan for the other girls, I'm not two worried, perhaps because there are two of them. But my sister has been at both my girls' births, and my mom was at the first, so I might include them. Anyone else who would include other family in a UC?

[dantesmama]

I don't have a complete "plan" yet (will I ever???) but I envision a calm, peaceful, quiet birth. I see myself in the bedroom by candlelight, nursing my older son and getting lots of backrubs. My son will be about 22 months when this babe is born, so I honestly don't know what to expect from him yet - I know I want him in the house, and ideally with me while I'm birthing, but I really don't want anyone else in the house except dp . . . if Dante can't handle it, my dad and my sister live just a few blocks away and could come get him, I suppose. Then again, I may not even want dp in the room with me. So, like I said, no plan. We'll probably wing it.

Shell, our sons are close in age. What are you planning for your ds?

[shell024]

lol, I have no idea, which is why I'm asking you gals! I think like you, I'd want him there, I'm just worried about whether or not he will be cranky at the wrong times or something. I don't want to direct any tension towards him or get anxious and possibly hinder labor, yk? So I MAY have my mom upstairs or something (we live in a downstairs apartment in my grandma's huge house) depending on the time of the birth. HOPEFULLY, ds will just be sleeping in the middle of all this and wake up about 3 hours after the birth. Oh if we could only plan these things hehe. I have a feeling that by about 23mo, he would be rather independent by then and MAY understand a bit more???? lol, I have no idea!!

Anyone else have experience with birthing and having a child (that didn't have older siblings to entertain them at the time) just about 2yo present? How they reacted? What they were doing?

[BlackButterfly]

Ok...I'll probally be the only one who doesn't know this...But what is UC? I'm pretty good with the accros but this one stumped me...thanks in advance

[MammaKoz]

Butterfly, UC stands for Unassisted Childbirth.

[kettunainen]

No plan other than stay home, don't call anyone (unless deemed necessary), pay attention to my body, and birth the critter/s. This is my first time through.

[alegna]

We're toying with UC. We'll probably do prenatal with our midwife from last time (to chat mostly, I think most prenatal care is useless) but who knows, we might not call her or might have her in another room.

She's very UC supportive- all of her babies (including twins!) were UC.

-Angela

[care_a_boo]

I'm not sure about a UC. I've got a MW. I'd like to also find a birthy friend (I've got many to pick from) or professional doula my husband likes, for his sake. I think last time (Bradley in hospital turned epi) he just felt there was so much he had to do and remember, and I want him to feel like he's got backup, someone to spell him, and no need to do anything in particular except exude love. So I think having a short list of people we *can* call is going to be critical to his comfort, and I'm all for that.

But in my heart I hope that I don't feel like calling anyone. I have this mental image of myself laboring downstairs like I did before, except this time I don't get nervous about timing contractions and going to the hospital when I'm "supposed to". I jsut go on and maybe move into the bathroom and start pushing. I might call in DH (and perhaps DD) when I think the baby is close, or I might just be so into it that I keep going on my own. Out slides the baby and, just like last time, I am suddenly more myself--like waking up. Except instead of looking around to find that everyone I love is exhausted and ready to go home now, I find that they are all living their lives and having ordinary days. I call them and they come to be part of the wonderfulness.

I'm not married to the idea. I was a little too rigid in my thinking last time and I know that that can lead to depression when things don't go the way I pictured. So I'm trying to keep an open mind. I'm certainly OK with having my MW and a doula present and helping. But I kind of hope that I won't want them.

[kettunainen]

Originally Posted by alegna

She's very UC supportive- all of her babies (including twins!) were UC.
-Angela

That's so awesome! Here in Ontario, twins = automatic transfer of care from midwife to OB and, therefore, NO homebirth of twins/multiples, unless it's a UC (planned or unplanned).

This does not make me a happy camper.

Yes, twins mean higher risk, but higher risk does not equal high risk. Because I may be having twins this time around, I've looked into how increased the stats are with the various and sundry complications that can occur (PTL, placental abruption, etc.) with twins and it's certainly not enough to convince me that going to the hospital would be safer than staying at home.

So home is where I shall remain (unless I feel the need to transfer), sans midwife because of our stupid laws.

[shell024]

Personally, I feel that the higher the risk, the less mama should be disturbed or "messed with". And how exciting that you may be having twins! I secretly want twins.

[kettunainen]

Originally Posted by shell024

Personally, I feel that the higher the risk, the less mama should be disturbed or "messed with". And how exciting that you may be having twins! I secretly want twins.

I feel the exact same way. Leave'em alone and they'll be much better off. Mess with'em and it's so much worse!

Yeah, I've been wondering when I'll be able to tell for certain without getting a U/S. I know many different ways HOW... I'm just kinda impatient right now, since most of the clues won't be apparent for another several weeks.

[Lukas's Mama]

my plans are to be at home with our midwife who delivered Lukas. She is fantastic and I'd want her to be with me even if she wasn't attending me as a midwife. I just really like her that much. I'd love for Lukas to be present but we'll see what he's game for.