Homebirthers: how's it going? - Page 2

[Charmie981]

I don't want to think about a birth kit or supplies. I have eight weeks until I'm at the point where I tell my clients they need to order their kit, so I'm going to wait until then . And since I'm UCing, I'm not sure what I really need. The birth kit I have my clients get has things like gloves (we don't need those for a UC, do we?), chux (I don't know if I want these or if I want to use towels...the idea of less waste really appeals to me, but I have my clients get them b/c many are worried about the "mess"), trash bags (I have those) paper towels (have those), afterease (okay, I'm gonna want that!), depends (I'm going to get some leftovers from a former client), peri bottle (have three or four of them!), hibiclens (again, there are 3 or 4 bottles in my birth bag but I think I'd rather spend the money on a more natural peri care product anyway), peroxide, yeah, we'll want a lot of that...anyway, you get my point. Looking at the birth kit list, the very idea of needing a cold pack and/or depends makes me want to : :. I just know/remember too much about that postpartum time, I think .

My inflatable birth pool has an air leak and I need DH to find and patch it, but I have a big corner bathtub that I might use instead. It won't hold the heat as well, though, so maybe not? What I really want is the $400 inflatable spa with jets that I keep seeing at Big Lots, but I don't think that's gonna happen .

In some ways I'm really excited to UC. In others, it feels really up-in-the-air. Since I'm getting prenatal care from an OB (who is aware of my plans to UC), it just doesn't *feel* like I'm planning a homebirth, KWIM? And I have a lot of fear that at some point my OB is going to rear her OB head and try to bully me into something, so I'm feeling very guarded and not really wanting to PLAN my birth yet, KWIM? I've tried to talk to friends and DH about this but no one really understands...they're all like "but you'll be okay...you won't give into being bullied." I know that I won't, but I wonder, will she find my nervous spot (I don't even know what it is) and push on it until I give in to induction or hospital birth? If it weren't for the fact that I'm Rh- and want rhogam after the birth (if indicated), I wouldn't even be seeing an OB, but there's that little thing hanging over my head, too...

So yeah...obviously there are some issues to work through here . But I'm going to continue putting off birth plans until I have to actually face the fact that I *WILL* labor and birth a child sometime before 2008 is over .

[funfunkyfantastic]

Originally Posted by BabyHopes

On the other hand, I love the thought of not having to go anywhere after I have the baby and the rebelious side of me would just LOVE to tell everyone, "YES! i had the baby at home and everything is perfectly fine!"

I am 28 weeks and my next appt will be at 29 weeks with my midwife. We will begin doing childbirth education classes at the next visit so I am hoping that will make it all a little more real to me and give me an idea of what to look forward to.

What all comes in a birth kit? And what about the mess? is that really a concern?

And that's why i opted for a water birth! No sheets to clean that way. hehe. Plus i'll have a million people at my house all eager and ready to clean anything and everything. It's gonna be pretty cool. People will be cooking for me... (maybe they can set up a barbecue outside!) and other people will be trying to make me comfy... and then of course once the baby pops out everyone will be more than eager to help me out with her. I probably won't have to change many diapers that first day, lol.

[Charmie981]

Originally Posted by funfunkyfantastic

People will be cooking for me... (maybe they can set up a barbecue outside!) and other people will be trying to make me comfy...

I have caught two babies for one of my good friends. At the first one, we had chocolate chip pancakes at 3am...the BEST pancakes I think I've ever had. They were so good at that first birth that I made her DH make some at the second baby's birth, too (we're friends and have the kind of relationship where I could say "okay, your midwife isn't leaving until she gets her pancakes" ). I told DH I want chocolate chip pancakes after this baby is born...I don't care WHAT time of day it is!

And although we're UCing, I have a team of three friends coming over shortly after baby's born to do the cleanup. One of my favorite parts of being a midwife is the service we provide to mom afterward...cleaning up EVERYTHING that needs cleaning, starting a couple of loads of laundry, putting fresh sheets on the bed, and helping tuck her and baby into bed after she and baby have had a nice time of bonding in the bathtub while we're cleaning. While I'm more comfortable with my friends NOT being here during the birth (although all three of them would be okay with being here), when I thought of DH having to leave me and baby to clean up after the birth, or of having to leave the mess until the next day, I literally CRIED. So we solved that . Now he just has to "leave" me to make my pancakes .

[baby_baby_mommy]

Re the chux pads or just using towels, for my last homebirth we used everything possible. I had pph so there was a LOT to clean up. My mom took the sheets, etc to wash and it looked like a murder scene so she took them an hour to her house to wash 10+ times rather than to the close laundromat (not to scare anyone! everything turned out great ).

Haven't gotten anything ready for this time, except for renting the tub (don't actually pick it up 'til 38 wks but they get reserved v v early around here).

[DocsNemesis]

Yeah, my midwives cleaned everything up after the birth, no mess for me

[treehugginhippie]

I'm 32.5 weeks. I have almost all of my birth supplies ready. The rest are on their way here. I need to gather the ones I have on hand already and put them in one spot. I want to order oral vit K next week.

I have the fishy pool but I want to inflate it and air it out on the back porch very soon. I'm really sensitive about plastic smells so I'm hoping letting it air out will help get rid of it!

My mw is going out of town for 10 days this month so my next appt will be the home visit!!! I can't believe my next appt is the home visit!!!

[Charmie981]

Originally Posted by baby_baby_mommy

I had pph so there was a LOT to clean up.

I've found that in a PPH situation, it doesn't really matter what you have on hand...you'll use all of it and then some! I've done 4-5 loads of laundry at births where mom bled a lot...and didn't transport. It's just that it if there's excessive bleeding, I'm more worried about that than being neat, so it usually gets the towels, the comforter, a couple of sets of sheets, mom's clothes, baby blankets, and so on. At one birth I commented that the birth was so fast we hadn't even gone through 6 chux pads. Then she started bleeding and it felt like I no more than turned around and we were out of them .

So yeah...but I'm not planning on bleeding that much and even if I do bleed that much, I guarantee there'll be more laundry to do whether I use chux or towels (or both!).

[moderngal]

We just decided for sure that we're doing a HB. I'm very excited!! I'm actually hoping to birth in my tub, too.
My midwives gave me a list of things to get and I'll get their birth kit, too. I'm a planner, so I really want to have everything ready by the time they come do my home visit at 36 weeks (which is just 5 weeks away now). I'll definitely have to check out that thread about other things to have ready.

Right now, just my mom and a few friends know about our plans. They are all supportive of it, which is great. I was worried about what my mom would say, but she has been great- a huge relief!!

We're also taking Bradley classes- and they are awesome!! DH and I feel really positive about it.

[purpleheather79]

My family all knows I'm planning another homebirth. I haven't bought anything for the birth yet because I have most of it here already from the births I attend. I'll probably start to get things ready around 36 weeks... once I've made it to the point where I'd be comfortable having a homebirth.

[youngsoul]

I'm moving from WI to CO in 4 weeks (I'll be 33 weeks along) so I have to start from scratch when I get there and find a new midwife who does home births. Fun, fun! And we rented a house based on an email description (and a few pics) so I have no clue what it will be like for birthing space, etc. Not to mention, I'm on Medicaid and will have to get CO's version of Medicaid (I'm uninsured) once I get out there. Hope that isn't too difficult, and hope there are midwives who accept it. Such an adventure!

[KBinSATX]

This will be our second homebirth. The only thing we prepared so far is having a teenage homeschool student come once a week to get to know DS who only turned 2 so that by the time Birth Day is here, he has a good relationship with her and she can occupy him when it gets too much for him to be with us in the room.

[Earthylady]

I'm sorta ready. Last time I was really organized and had two blue plastic tubs. One had everything in it I'd need during labor and delivery, and one for everything I'd need afterwards for me and baby. I plan to do that this time too.

I have the Birth Pool in a Box and that goes in the labor and delivery box, as well as (I still need to get this) a new water hose and sink attachment, fish net (for poo or vernix floaties) and a floating thermometer to monitor the water temp. I already have the other stuff for the list, flashlight with good batteries, 3-6 towels and washclothes that can get dirty and/or thrown away, a roll of paper towels, and to make up my bed with and extra set of sheets underneath the waterproof mattress pad so it can just be stripped and ready to sleep on if it gets dirty.

In the afterbirth box will be pads, diapers for baby, a change of clothes for us both, blanket and hat for baby, breast pads, I think I had my breast pump in there last time too, my mw sells the birth kits and they have pads, chux pads, an herb bath, cord clamp, and I don't what all else is in there. But that'll go in this bucket too, and anything else I can think of that will come in handy in the first couple of days.

I go to my first appt with her tomorrow. But, she delivered my last baby...so we're pretty laid back with it all. I've heard the heartbeat twice myself just using a standard stethoscope. I'd rather not do doppler if I can keep from it, so it's cool to still be able to hear it beating away in there.

Most people know I'm homebirthing...but since it's my second one it's no big surprise anymore.

Not really read much. Right now I'm reading Your Baby Your Birth by Sheila Kitzinger. But that's about it this time around. We've done Bradley Birth classes in the past, I've read over 2 dozen birth books in total (probably more!), mostly because I've been working on my certification to teach Childbirth Education through Apple Tree Family Ministries, so it's kinda hard to find anything else to read that captures me, ya know? I guess I've also been reading issues of Midwifery Today. They are fun and encouraging!

To whoever it was that asked...I don't really recall there being much mess at my last homebirth. I labored for hours in the pool, but got out to birth and was squatting over chux pads and the mw just calmly changed them out when needed. There weren't any spots on floors or furniture or anything like that. My SIL was funny thinking she'd never be able to eat in our kitchen again for flashes of blood splattered on the walls or something. But honestly, it's just not like that. There was not blood splattered anywhere. Even the draining of the pool out the back door wasn't a big issue. The placenta went in a plastic bag and in the freezer and that was that. We buried it the following spring in our garden. One of the things on the list of supplies from the mw was to have a large garbage can and she threw away chux pads and stuff as she used them and took the trash out. There really wasn't anything for us to do.

[lcaitlin]

Great thread! I don't have anything prepared yet, but feel pretty ok about that. I feel like we don't need too much stuff for the birth. I'm much more worried about getting our house ready for the baby!

I'll get my midwife's birth kit, some extra towels and sheets, and that will probably be it.

I have a stash of nice big cloth waterproof washable chux pads that I love (like they have in some hospitals). I used them for my dog's birthing of puppies recently and to line their whelping box for several weeks. They are still in great shape, and came out nice and (mostly) white after some hot washing with bleach. I'm totally planning to use them for my birth and afterward to sit/sleep on for a few days. Honestly... what do you think about that? One more hot wash and good to go, or does that seem gross at all?

I'm not planning to get a birth pool. I have a regular 5' tub that is pretty deep for labor, though probably too tight for delivering baby. I'm pretty sure that's ok with me though -- I've never felt strongly about wanting to birth my baby in water. Anyone else NOT getting a tub??

[KBinSATX]

Originally Posted by lcaitlin

I've never felt strongly about wanting to birth my baby in water. Anyone else NOT getting a tub??

Me neither. I am not crazy about sitting in the 'floaties'... although I have a garden tub that would be big enough to birth in. I like to labor in it but for the birth I prefer land...

[lcaitlin]

regarding the messiness question...

I grew up around home birth and don't remember it being bloody/messy at all! Not in the slightest. Now I attend births as a doula in homes and hospitals, and though homebirths definitely involve more cleanup work for me, it's always seemed manageable and no big deal.

Until... the last two homebirths I attended, which honestly were totally, outrageously messy! Neither involved excessive or dangerous bleeding -- just lots of walking around and squatting in labor in EVERY corner of the house with no underpants on, and mom not being psyched about having the chux following her everywhere.

One woman delivered very quickly in her bathroom, sitting on her husband's lap on the side of the bathtub. After delivery while we were helping her move to a more comfortable place, the cat walked through the mess on the bathroom floor and then ran all over the house. I was cleaning bloody paw and tail prints off every floor, piece of furniture, and even the walls for hours!

I agree that when there is any hint of pph, or even a big tear that needs stitching, you'll be happy to have all the attention on dealing with the issue at hand and not worrying about your sheets and blankets. But other than that, if you are concerned about it... just let your doula put chux beneath you wherever you want to be, and keep close tabs on your pets!

[lwuertz]

I'll be ordering my MW birth kit. I need to get some extra sheets.

Our Bradley classes don't start till August (only teacher in town, was booked when I finally found her), so we've been practicing on our own. I'm not too worried about it, most of the techniques are exactly the same as what I learned in a singing techniques class. So I've got the abdominal breathing and relaxing down pretty good.

My next MW and OB appointments will be next week. I'm curious to see what my OB is going to say now with the AMA resolution. If he gets too annoying I'll just switch to my MW's backup OB which is at the same office/practice.

I'm not ordering a birth pool because we have a very large tub already.

My in-laws know about our plans, most of my friends, my sisters and my mom. I'm not sure if my dad knows. I'm not going to tell him unless he specifically asks where we are having the baby though. I'm kind of afraid of a freakout from him.

I've read enough that I feel as prepared as I think I could possibly be. I'm not afraid at all. Just a little stressed about the house being in order before then and getting all the baby stuff ready before then.

[Luvtlc]

I was so excited to find this thread:. I am having my second home birth or out of hospital birth anyways.

My Ob has gotten so fed up with modern hospital practices that he has now turned to strictly home births. We live in the northern part of SC but he is in NC which presents a problem, he can not practice in SC as he is not licensed there. So with DD who was born in the winter we set up a pool at his office and I labored and delivered there. My parents were not unsupportive but they really were not suipportive of the idea either. My mom was there thorugh the entire labor and delivery, though, and now she is a huge supporter of our decision.

This time we are delivering at my families cabin in NC right down the road (2mins walking) from my parents home. My Step-MIL is going to be with us helping this time and my mom is going to be watching DD. So it will just be DH, I, my SMIL, and OB through the labor, but my mom plans to come over for the actual birth.

I am really looking forward to being in a more comfortable environment this time. With DD it was January and cold so we were pretty much limited to staying inside. this time I'm hoping to take advantage of the seclusion and walk around the yard and hang out on the porch as much as possible until transition and active labor. Here is the view from the front porch looking at the Blue Ridge Mountains...
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k37/luvtlc/DSC03027.jpg

[ryansma]

Originally Posted by Luvtlc

I am really looking forward to being in a more comfortable environment this time. With DD it was January and cold so we were pretty much limited to staying inside. this time I'm hoping to take advantage of the seclusion and walk around the yard and hang out on the porch as much as possible until transition and active labor. Here is the view from the front porch looking at the Blue Ridge Mountains...
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k37/luvtlc/DSC03027.jpg

That view is gorgeous. You are sure to be inspired !

[gagirl2008]

This is a great thread! I just realized about two weeks ago that a homebirth was actually possible here in GA so I've been researching and contacting the midwives I can find like crazy since then. I haven't had great luck so far. One midwife stood me up and never called, one midwife had to cancel because a mother was in labor last Sunday and she hasn't called me back after two messages, I left another midwife a message Monday for a consult and she hasn't called me back and then I have another midwife that I'll hopefully meet next week. I'm hoping she's the ONE! I'll be 29 weeks Monday so I know whoever I choose will be ready to get started with prenatal visits with me. My insurance won't cover a homebirth so I'll continue going to my OB practice. The midwife that I'll be doing a consult with next week has a tub we can rent and I'm definitely interested in doing that for labor and/or delivery.

A few people know about our plans but of course they're not final yet. I am thinking about talking to my parents about it this weekend. We've been joking around about it with my MIL so maybe she won't be so surprised when we tell her. I have one friend that is totally supportive and one friend who isn't and then my sister in law is all about it and so excited about it and that is nice!!

[covertlycrunchy]

Um, I've got midwives lined up.....that's about it. I feel kinda bad about not getting more set up for the baby tho but I just don't know what to do. For #1 we did a nursery(which we never used) and crib(also never used) and um, clothes too(used a lot) but this time all I really want to get for the new one is a nice comfy sling. Maybe a couple more outfits since we ruined most of #1's through hard use and had to throw them out.

I've been reading a lot and got a hypnobirthing book which I've read but not done the audio part of it. I also just got a box of raspberry leaf tea today, which I think is really important as this WILL be a VBAC. I figure I don't have to do anything until week 36 or so (only 28 weeks now). Except order the pool, not sure when I have to do that tho.??