Any homebirthers here?

[pampered_mom]

I figure there has to be more than just me. As "the end" draws closer I thought it might be nice to have a place where we can chat about hb.

[To-Fu]

Oooh, our very own thread!

Yep, I'm a home birther. This is my first time, so I have no clue what to expect, but am very excited. Thinking about making a birth altar in the coming weeks. Has anyone done that? Was it helpful?

[rootzdawta]

I'm birthing at home. It is getting soooo cold where I live and I'm so happy to not have to leave the warmth of my house to go anywhere. I'm pretty much prepared. I've got my birth kit plus some plastic covers for the mattress and some old sheets. I've put aside some towels I wouldn't miss too much if they got destroyed. All I need to do is get some big bottles of hydrogen peroxide and wash some linens for the baby's bassinet and that's all.

[organic-momma]

We're planning a home birth as well, it will be my second time around... I can't wait!

[southernmommie]

Unassisted homebirther here
all i gotta get now is shower curtains to protect the carpet and more big bottles of peroxide.

[pampered_mom]

I have a lot to get done - well, at least it seems that way. So far what I need to do:

1) Make the components of the soup I'm going to put in the crockpot during labor so that they are frozen and ready for someone to just toss together.
2) Get the items for the birth pool (we're using a 150 gal stock tank my mw loans out) - hose, sink adaptor, light colored sheet, plastic sheeting, etc
3) Find the baby clothes we have from my mom and ds
4) Track down the hat/receiving blankets I had with ds
5) Find a way to pay for the video camera to get fixed
6) Purchase more film/video tapes
7) Decide whether or not I think flannel backed tablecloths are too slippery on the hardwood floors - if they aren't get some
8) Make final decision on what to do since I'm GBS+ (I'm almost there)
9) Write up "Cesarean Surgery Plan" since I'm an HBAC and anticipate hostility from the medical types if we have to transfer
10) Purchase snacks to have on hand for midwives/myself/dh

It's so exciting to see there are others here!

[3xx1xyFamily]

Originally Posted by pampered_mom

9) Write up "Cesarean Surgery Plan" since I'm an HBAC and anticipate hostility from the medical types if we have to transfer

I'd love to see what you write up. I've wanted to write a 'homebirth birth plan' and an emergency 'hospital birth plan' but haven't had the time yet.

I am the same, HBAC. I'm excited!

[Peacemamalove]

Hi mamas this is my first homebirth and I am so so so excited... I think it is great to have our own thread

[pampered_mom]

I'm actually going to modify slightly the one that Gretchen has on her website (http://www.birthtruth.org/essaysetc.htm). She was/is a Regional Director for ICAN. I really appreciated her perspective. My midwife is confident that everything will be just fine, but knowing that my area isn't all that friendly to hbers, let alone HBACs, and the hospital is less than flexible when it comes to "procedures" I want something in writing and what I don't consent to.

[3xx1xyFamily]

the link is extremely helpful, thank you

[momonthebeach]

Hi all! I am planning my 2nd home birth (3rd birth). I am getting to the point where labor sounds like a good idea! My sister was telling me someone's birth story a couple of months ago and all I could think was that it sounded like so much work! Soon I will be begging for it!! Having two pregnancies close together (ds2 is 19 months) has been trying for me. I feel like I've been pregnant forever!! The end is in sight...the end is in sight...the end is in sight!!!
Katie

[AngelaB]

I am planning my first HBAC! I have had a hospital vbac with only a heplock as an intervention and a birthcenter vbac with my youngest ds and it seems like the next inevitable thing to have a homebirth this time.

I dont know if I am ready or not! I still need to get some baby diapers and a shower curtain or table cloth and some peroxide but aside from that I dont know. I should be planning on having herbs and such for pph incase the midwife doesnt make it but money is tight. I do still need to get a baby car seat too.

Angela

[Fletchersmama]

Second time around for me too. I am way behind and putting off everything I need to do. We just got moved into our new place and I'm exhausted. I guess I am in denile about how soon this baby will be born. But I am very excited!
This thread has inspired me to start my list:

Freeze Quiche for birth dinner
Order birth kit
Make a call list
buy videos and film
get cameras ready - batteries charged
write birth plan/emergency plan
gather blankets and wipes diapers
put baby clothes away
messy proof house - bed? floor?
snacks list
finalize who will be at the birth - this is a big one I am avoiding

Pregnancy brain! I just realized I clicked on January instead of February!!!

[baschabad]

First homebirth here and VERY excited! I'm not at ALL ready yet, still have to order birth kit, make food I guess, get baby stuff together. I'm afraid I'm going to have to throw everything together in the week I take off from work before my due date.
Oh dear.

[Peacemamalove]

I am a little nervous this time even though I have done it twice before( though in a hospital and not at home) My midwife said to get lots of high energy snacks because giving birth is equivalent to a 50 mile hike

[Tiffany_PartyOf5]

This is my 2nd homebirth, 4th birth.. first unassisted lol.. Im nervous but excited..

[hadassah]

Oh I love this thread!!!!!Why didn't we think of this sooner...?....although I guess this really is the perfect time seeing that since we are all so close to actually birthing, we have lots to talk about!

This will be my 3rd birth at home. I also am a water birther.....my midwife loans me her tub. This time around I am going to use this tub...http://http://madeinwater.co.uk/pool.html

I still have tons of "getting ready" to do. I only just have begun. Just this week I have gone through all the baby clothes and sorted out the boy and girl(because I don't know what I am having) 0-3 month clothing. Then I washed them in just water and now will put them aside in bags ready to be grabbed.

There is so much that I need to buy but cannot afford at the moment so I have to figure out exactly what I can get by....then buy just the things I need for right now.

I have been reading birthing from within and am slowly feeling better and better about this time around.....I hate to say it and it is getting better but...I still am dreading the labor. Although I'm sure that all of us do.... I am trying to think as positive as I can about birthing the baby. And I am trying to take the best care of myself and boost my body to get ready. I feel more ready this time around than the last two, it's just that my last birth was very hard for me.... I had back labor. Anyways, I feel like this time I am having to spend more time preparing myself inside and outside.

Anyone else feel the same?

[StrawHatBrat]

Me!!!

Well... I'm planning to, and hoping to. My husband isn't all that keen on the idea. He's in afghanistan so I haven't had a chance to convince him yet. Don't want to use our 15 minutes a day arguing with him. So we'll argue when he gets home!!

But I do plan on it!!

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by hadassah

Oh I love this thread!!!!!Why didn't we think of this sooner...?....although I guess this really is the perfect time seeing that since we are all so close to actually birthing, we have lots to talk about!

I thought the same thing myself when I saw a thread like it in another DDC! Better late than never!

[DoulaLMT]

I'm working on buying birth kit/birth supplies this week. I got a hose from Lowes today I wasn't sure if they'd have them at this time of year - they do.