Mothering › Forums › Archives › Pregnancy Archives › February 2007 › When do you throw in the towel?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

When do you throw in the towel?  

post #1 of 21
2/14/07 at 8:35am
Thread Starter 
First, let me say that I came to this natural birth stuff a little late in the game. Started really learning about it with baby number four but never had a homebirth until baby number 6. I would definately not call my self medically minded. Our family doc is a homeopath, I wouldn't take my kids to the ER or Urgent care unless they were losing a limb, I don't think I even have children's tylenol or the like in the house.

In all honesty, though, my first homebirth made me very nervous. I did it, it went very smoothly, no complications. I was glad, in the end, that I had done it. This is a totally different ball game, though. With my water breaking 6 days ago, start and stop labor since then, the baby is a week overdue (I've never gone more than 5 days over) I'm starting to get nervous. So what's prudent? When do you say "forget it" and head to the hospital? I know my due date was right (even padded) b/c I chart and kept very good track of it all. I'm just starting to second guess myself, the baby's health, and I'm really nervous.
post #2 of 21
2/14/07 at 9:15am
This is just my personal belief so take it as you wish, but if my health was fine, my baby was moving normally and had reassuring heart tones, I would not go to the hospital. I believe babies come when they're ready to and there is probably some universal wisdom deciding it is not quite time for the babe to be born. Water bags do reseal even after a huge break and I'd say as long as your temp is normal and babe has good strong heart tones you are safe to wait for labor to begin on its own.
Again, YMMV. I know it's hard to wait.
post #3 of 21
2/14/07 at 10:45am
if i were nervous, i would contact the hospital.
i was dreaming about your little girl last night -- during the 45 minutes i slept anyway. but she was marie celeste in my dream not mary therese...weird, huh?
post #4 of 21
2/14/07 at 11:13am
Do you have a midwife? Maybe she can do a palpation of the baby, kind of roll her back and forth to feel if she's got a good fluid cushion. Maybe that would make you feel better. I do think you should follow your own instincts though and take whatever action speaks to you the loudest.
post #5 of 21
2/14/07 at 11:35am
I'd just say, listen to your guts and your instinct... I really feel there is something to be said about that. I'm sorry this is stressing you out so much! Wish there was something more I could suggest to be of support...
post #6 of 21
2/14/07 at 11:36am
I'm with Lydia, as long as baby was moving as usual, heart tones sound good baby will come when ready. As long as everything looked ok and us and our midwife were comfortable we'd birth at home 3 weeks before to 3 weeks after our EDD.

I've had 3 homebirths, I've been scared and nervous each time. I think it's completely normal to worry and be anxious about the upcoming event. It's a HUGE event. Talk with your midwife and DP about your feelings if you have serious reservations about homebirth.

I've learned to believe that babies will come when they are ready, trust your body and your mind, keep saying that over and over again. Should we start an affirmation post? Going to do that now!!

post #7 of 21
2/14/07 at 11:50am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by raeinparis View Post
if i were nervous, i would contact the hospital.
i was dreaming about your little girl last night -- during the 45 minutes i slept anyway. but she was marie celeste in my dream not mary therese...weird, huh?
That is so funny that you dreamt about her! I hope she wasn't 12 pounds or anything, LOL.

I'm feeling OK right now but do plan to call my midwife this morning. I can totally tell there's way more fluid in there today then there was like last Saturday. I just remember having a feeling there was something wrong with my fifth baby (he was breech but we knew that already). Anyway - I let that fear control me and they induced him six days early. He did flip and come out head first and his cord was around his neck pretty tightly but overall there really wasn't anything *wrong*. The labor was horrible, the after was horrible, and I will never forgive myself for that. That memory alone is keeping me home at this point, I think.
post #8 of 21
2/14/07 at 1:11pm
Listen to you intuition, you are the mother. But I also want to interject that being so bound to a particular perspective can sometimes cause you to ignore your intuition. This is coming from a natural, homebirthing mama. I can totally understand your concerns, and I'm there with you. It's a catch 22, you know what will happen if you go to the hospital (induction/csection for sure), yet you want to be safe-yikes. I'm so sorry for all your confusion, no mother deserves that.:
post #9 of 21
2/14/07 at 3:22pm
I just want to say that I always get those nervous, doubtful feelings at the very end too. I tend to imagine things going wrong, I'm sure my medical background as a high risk labor/delivery nurse doesn't help matters any here. But, I'm so glad I'm able to ignore those feelings, because each time I've ended up with a beautiful homebirth in the end. I really trust my mws to let me know if there's a need to transfer and would do it in a heartbeat if needed.

Is your baby moving good? Can you check heart tones everyday maybe to ease your fears? That always helped ease my mind. I would also think feeling more fluid would be a good sign too.

Would type more, but baby is calling for me...

I'll be thinking of you!
post #10 of 21
2/14/07 at 4:29pm
my mw will let me go up to 2 weeks "over due" before she starts to worry. i agree with pp, as long as the baby is moving and has good heart sounds you should be ok.
post #11 of 21
2/14/07 at 4:39pm
Thread Starter 
I called my homeopath/family dr. today. He's very, very pro homebirth. He used to do homebirths, in fact. He really feels I should go to the hospital. I was shocked. I kept praying for a sign and maybe this is it. I feel like a failure but dh really wants to go in now so I think that's what we're doing. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks for all of the wonderful support.
post #12 of 21
2/14/07 at 4:50pm
prayers for you mama. i hope everything turns out ok
post #13 of 21
2/14/07 at 5:53pm
Awww........... I will be sending out some prayers and healing energy for you both, mama... It's been such a rough week for you!
post #14 of 21
2/14/07 at 5:54pm
: for you, the baby & your family. Please keep us updated!!
post #15 of 21
2/14/07 at 6:57pm
Praying that everything goes smoothly.
post #16 of 21
2/15/07 at 10:12pm
Praying that everything goes smoothly! Hoping your holding your baby very soon!
post #17 of 21
2/16/07 at 10:23am
you are not a failure!! hang in there, hope all is well.
post #18 of 21
2/16/07 at 10:47am
I have been thinking about you and hoping all is well.
post #19 of 21
2/16/07 at 10:50am
Any updates? Hoping you are holding baby now...
post #20 of 21
2/16/07 at 11:24am
I have a feeling someone had a baby


I hope all is well !!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: February 2007
This thread is locked  
Mothering › Forums › Archives › Pregnancy Archives › February 2007 › When do you throw in the towel?