October homebirthers unite!

[DreamsInDigital]

I just thought it'd be nice for those of us planning homebirths, whether midwife-attended or UC, to chat about our birth plans and such.

We have had two home waterbirths and are looking forward to another. Our midwife is very hands-off and my DH caught our daughter last February while the midwife sat on our couch knitting and taking pictures. She was so incredibly respectful of our wishes and she trusts birth so much, I just really love her attitude about it. She is very low-intervention and doesn't insist on any prenatal tests. She will offer any requested tests or screens and is fantastic about informed consent. I consider myself really lucky to have such a great midwife!

[dany]

:wave

We're planning a homebirth with a midwife this time!

DS was a surprisingly natural hospital birth - we couldn't afford a homebirth out of pocket, and there were some issues with DH's insurance in the beginning. It really was a stress free event - no one questioned us about, well, ANYTHING we did or did not want, and we were discharged after 14 hours.

As nice as it was, though, we were still homesick. We are SO excited to bring Newbie into our family in our own space and be able to all just curl up together and snuggle and move at our own pace. We're facing a possible move to Austin, TX soon though, so we can't start interviewing anyone yet, or even make any plans other than "it will be home".

Dreams - I really really love the concept of a midwife just hanging out and knitting. How lucky! I hope we can find a midwife/ves with the same philosophy.

[nhapmom]

me too! last time was in a free standing birth center and my MW knitted a scarf! i love her! if i didnt have the comfort of knowing she was going to be my MW i would be a little freaked out.

[ColoradoMama]

I have also had two midwife attended home births. I wouldn't go into a hospital unless I had to. I have heard two rumors about my m/w - 1) she has retired 2) she is semi-retired but still sees previous clients. I'm really, really, really hoping it's the latter. I don't want to have to find another m/w. I love my m/w so much. I had the perfect home birth with dd2. Ds2 was posterior. That birth - my last - is the reason I tell everyone that I would never go to the hospital. It was the hardest of my births, but it was awesome. My m/w was very hands off, but she was right there if I needed her - and she trusted me. When I was pushing, she knew something wasn't "right," but I kept telling her not to check me. I could feel that he was moving down. I would go into all the specifics, but he came out posterior, and I KNOW without a doubt that I'd have had a lot of interventions in a hospital. I'm so glad I had him at home.

I love having my baby and then getting into my bed. I love feeling safe and comfortable in my own home, surrounded by the people I love and trust. I love it that my baby's have such a beautiful, peaceful, and gentle entrance into the world.

I'm calling my m/w first thing Monday morning.

[Mrshawwk]

With my first birth I interviewed a midwife and asked if she would just sit on the couch. She basically said I should look elsewhere, which led us to UC. Actually, my mother in law has attended all my births, and the last one had two sisters in law and my best friend (I am a very private person, who woulda thought I would have all those people there?! But they stayed in the kitchen :) ) So this time.... I see no big differences except I might see if my mom wants to come. She has expressed no interest in coming, but...(shrug)

I also had my last two babies via waterbirth. Let me just say "ahhhhh....". :) I caught my own babies (which I LOVED), the mess is contained, it's warm and soothing and private. Can't say enough about it. Which reminds me, I should order my pool. When ordering pool, do not wait until Summer, they are out of stock!!

[ColoradoMama]

When ordering pool, do not wait until Summer, they are out of stock!!

Interestingly enough - the pool I ordered for my last birth is still in its box in the basement! My m/w has (or used to anyway!) three tubs that she let her clients use. All three were out when I was close to the end of my pg, and since ds had dropped and was engaged at 36 weeks, I was afraid he'd come early. I ordered a pool - then got one of hers. For some reason, I never got rid of it, so I still have it if I need it this time!

[DreamsInDigital]

I am ordering the La Bassine. I used it for my DD's birth and loved it.

[two_sets_of_twins]

Count me in for homebirthing! :thumb My second set of twins were a planned homebirth, but we transported for a c-section when the first baby's cord was presenting by his face (water was intact). So we are praying for a homebirth this time...where we actually get to deliver at home!

[Fly Girl]

I am pregnant with our first and I am planning a homebirth. I never thought that I would even consider a homebirth, but in the last 2 years all of my friends and family who have had babies have had a c/s. That is just so shocking to me, and so I've decided to stay out of the hospital. Now that I have a + pg test, I will start interviewing midwives. :)
It's so great that there are so many of you who have already had successful homebirths. I'm sure I will be asking lots of questions in the months to come.

[DreamsInDigital]

I'm so glad to see so many of us planning homebirths!

And any of you that haven't had a homebirth before, feel free to ask lots of questions. :)

[Changed]

Haven't thought much about it yet of course but I will definitely be having a homebirth of some sort. :)

[ColoradoMama]

I talked to my midwife today, and she is NOT retired! Woo hoo. It was so incredibly good to talk to her. I'll give her a call back in a couple of weeks to set up my first appt.

[leurMaman]

We gave birth to DS at a birth center. After the m/c, we gave birth to DD 100% med-free and naturally at a hospital birth center in the care of a team of midwives (the secret was that we got there when I was 10 cm dialated and pushed baby out within 10 minutes -so definitely no interventions!). This time we're going to try for a home birth - however, I hemmoraged a lot after DD and had to have pit. and methrogyn shots, so I have some concerns about that. At my prenatal appt (with a different midwife and birthcenter than our first), she assured me that she carreid those two things in her bag but tried natural remedies first.

I am looking for a good birthing tub. What are your recommendations?

[DreamsInDigital]

The La Bassine is a perfect birth tub, IMO.

http://www.yourwaterbirth.com/pools.shtml

[two_sets_of_twins]

I'm about to show my ignorance towards water births, but how do you empty it? Especially if it's messy? Is it best to get a liner for that?

I'm really thinking about getting one of these this time (even if I don't use it for the actual birth) because my bath tub is the size of one that belongs in a trailer. :eyesroll And I LOVE laboring in water. So someone please educate me so I can educate my DH too. I know that's something he would think of. Besides, I could write it off as a business expense because I think I'll be a midwife eventually. :thumb

[ibusymomto5]

I'm hoping for another homebirth this time. My first two were c/sec, and then the last 5 have been homebirths with the same group of mws. I've watched them slowly become more and more medical as their practice has grown which I do not like, but there aren't a lot of choices around here... I'm very intrigued with an UC, but deep down inside I think I really want the security of a mw there just in case. At least our mws are very hands off at the actual birth. They are very non-intrusive and respect our space. It's the prenatals that I'm not keen on, but even those are far better than if I went to an ob.

I've never had a waterbirth, but every time I consider it. I guess my biggest concern is that I wouldn't have time to get it all set up. I usually have really fast labors and don't recognize that I'm in labor till close to transition.

.....
Wanted to add that last time around I put my birthing ball in the shower and let the water beat down on me. It was heavenly! I will at least be doing that again. In fact the birth ball was so comfy to bounce around on before I ever went into labor.

[DreamsInDigital]

I think we may end up going unassisted. My DH's only concern is that he doesn't want to have to deal with the placenta and cleaning up the blood. I told him if it came down it we could UC and have a lotus birth. He's actually considering it. :jaw <---this was my reaction.

[Changed]

My DH knows that I'm considering UC. He doesn't have a vagina so he just kinda grits his teeth and deals with how I need to do things. I've actually really torn and hoping a decision comes with some clarity soon.

[DreamsInDigital]

I planned to UC with my last DD until about 30-ish weeks and then I suddenly had this urgent voice in my head that demanded I hire a midwife. So I did, and the only complication I had was a postpartum hemmorhage. I think we could have handled it on our own just fine. I will be taking some measures to try to prevent PPH this time around.

[nhapmom]

i need to learn about lotus births

[emski4379]

What is a lotus birth?

We had decided to have a HB way before we even started TTC #2. I really want to have an HBAc, and after convincing DH, he was on board 100%. We have already hired our MW. The HB forum here has TONS of great info. I think we're going to go with a La Bassine as well. Our midwife rents an Aquadoula, but the La Bassine seems much comfier.

DreamsInDigital - where do you live? I think I've seen you on the NC/SC/TN forum. If so, who are you using for your HB?

[ColoradoMama]

The nice thing about the solid pools is that they can take a lot of pressure from leaning on them, etc. The pool I used (similar to an aqua doula) was great. I put some thick blankets on the bottom to make it comfy and used a liner. It was great. Not trying to make an argument either way - just offering some info! I still have my back up pool in the basement!

[birthdancedoula]

What is a lotus birth?


Here (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=730852) is a great thread on it. If I get to stay and hang out w/ y'all in the ddc (should know for sure soon) I'll have plenty to say about lotus birth...my last 3 babes were lotus babies.

[Irish]

The stick dried yesterday - we are expecting #3 on October 4th and it will be our second home birth assisted by a midwife (most likely water birth). My girls are 12 years and 1 year (next week).

I confirmed our first midwife appointment (in March) this afternoon. It's just starting to seem real!

[leurMaman]

I think I need the support of a midwife - if she's the right one. I hemmoraged really badly after the last birth. I was filling up pads every 3 minutes or so and even my husband panicked. I tried to stave off the pitocin and methrogyn and had RRL tea to sip, but it was going so fast and hard that they stuck me. Good thing too. Anyway, we're going for a homebirth this time and the midwife is coming equipped with them. I also have a tendency to faint during labor and DH freaks out in this case - so the midwife will bring smelling salts too.

How warm is the water in the inflatable birthing tubs? I'll have to do more reading.

[DreamsInDigital]

You usually have the temp at whatever is comfortable for you. I wouldn't have it any higher than about body temp though, 98-99 degrees. You can get a floating thermometer if you're really worried about it, but really if you're comfortable with the temp it's safe for the baby.

[mamaleche]

Its so nice to finally be posting after just reading, learning, and hoping to vbac at home. That's our plan: to vbac at home with a midwife. Our first big step is to contact Dr. Wu in Glendale, Ca tomorrow to set up consultation. The midwife I hope to attend our birth, Shelley Girard, will only do a vbac with a backup doctor in place. A part of me feels like this will be the biggest test of my life...how do I convince someone to let me birth vaginally? I swear I've been obsessed with figuring out my birthstory and its been hard and great. But sheesh my next step seems kinda hard. I look foward to keeping you all updated. By the way if any of you know of Dr Wu or Shelley, I'd love to hear from you.

[nhapmom]

ive been wondering about the temp. too as we have a hot tub i plan to birth in. i have to work on a list of Q's for my MW...

[Marcimama]

We have 2 choices, 1. a midwife birthcenter (40 ml away) or 2. a homebirth. I haven't done a homebirth before, so I am not really sure how to find a midwife. Do you just start calling and making interviews? What do you ask them and how do you evaluate if they are "right" for you???
We have had a midwife birthcenter birth and a midwife hospital birth. We loved the center and vowed never to have a hospital birth again.:irked:

[Marcimama]

We have 2 choices, 1. a midwife birthcenter (40 ml away) or 2. a homebirth. I haven't done a homebirth before, so I am not really sure how to find a midwife. Do you just start calling and making interviews? What do you ask them and how do you evaluate if they are "right" for you???
We have had a midwife birthcenter birth and a midwife hospital birth. We loved the center and vowed never to have a hospital birth again.:irked:

[Changed]

Well, first you need to decide what you want for your birth. Do you want guidance and support or would you feel more comfortable being left alone and observed from a distance? Earthmamaangelbaby has a birth plan helper that is handy. It at the very least brings up lots of things for you to think about. :)

I'm seeing my new midwife tomorrow. I actually interviewed with her for an apprenticeship last summer so we've met and I know we really click. I'm excited but kinda wondering what the 4 week appt will be like. Good baseline I guess?

[MamasBoys]

Hiya ladies. Am I still allowed to be in here if I'm TTC? I'm in the 2WW, but if I'm pregnant this month I'll be due in October.

Just looking for a tribe...all of the other TTC boards I belong to are way too mainstream and it's pretty isolating.

I homebirthed my last baby, I plan for the same next time around. Woohoo homebirth!

[Faerieshadow]

DS was a hospital birth, I didn't know enough at the time or I didn't find the right resources, and I really regret the medicalized side of it. Pressured into an induction, given pitocin without being told they were doing it, it made it very difficult to relax for labor, especially with the nurse from hell shoving her fingers inside me with no warning during ctxs and forcing me to lay on my back. :rolleyes:

I WILL be finding a midwife this time and planning a homebirth. The place we're in right now is very small, so I'm kind of hoping we're into our house in enough time to do this comfortably, but I'll plan a homebirth regardless. I'm really looking forward to it, and I'll be begging for info since it will be my first. :)

[mistletoe2382]

I just found out I am pg and due Oct 9 with my 2nd baby. I wanted a homebirth the first time but repsected my parents wishes and had a "natural" hospital birth. It was fine but now that I know I can do it without any problems I am having a homebirth this time. We actually met with the MW today (I had the appt. scheduled before we knew we were pg) She is awesome and I am so exited to bring baby into the world in the comfort of our home. I am sure I will be back with many questions.

[Changed]

Oh we have the same date!

[Marcimama]

I am calling midwives on Monday!!! So excited!

[nhapmom]

II'm very intrigued with an UC, but deep down inside I think I really want the security of a mw there just in case. At least our mws are very hands off at the actual birth. They are very non-intrusive and respect our space. It's the prenatals that I'm not keen on, but even those are far better than if I went to an ob. .

i felt exactly the same way. unfortunately, the state has scared the MW's here and anyone w/ 2 c/s's is opted out. stupid huh..since you have had 5 natural deliveries?/

i think there is some conspiracy with the med prof. trying to such mw's into their way of thinking or something.

[Marcimama]

Ok, so I've not done this before. I have a list of 9 midwives in my general area. I'm giving them a call tomorrow, do I ask for an interview or appointment? How can I weed out some just over the phone? What would you ask about and what do you think is really important??? I really don't know what to do!

[birthdancedoula]

OK, its official...we'll be having our 5th HB for this babe!!

:homebirth rocks!!

[emski4379]

OK, its official...we'll be having our 5th HB for this babe!!

:homebirth rocks!!

Woohoo! That's great! Congrats!

[Gunter]

OK, its official...we'll be having our 5th HB for this babe!! :homebirth rocks!!

Woohoo! That's great! Congrats!

Congrats to both of you!!! You two get together and let your babies decide to come on different days after I have had a full night's rest so I can be at both births, k? :love:love:love

[DreamsInDigital]

Should I worry that I haven't heard a peep out of my midwife since her very brief (we're talking three words) e-mail on Wednesday? I'm starting to worry that she doesn't want to/can't attend my birth. I sent her an e-mail with a few questions and I'm just really bummed she hasn't responded. She didn't return my phone call either, just sent an e-mail that said Woohoo yippee congrats. I kind of wanted a little more than that. :crap

[ColoradoMama]

Should I worry that I haven't heard a peep out of my midwife since her very brief (we're talking three words) e-mail on Wednesday? I'm starting to worry that she doesn't want to/can't attend my birth. I sent her an e-mail with a few questions and I'm just really bummed she hasn't responded. She didn't return my phone call either, just sent an e-mail that said Woohoo yippee congrats. I kind of wanted a little more than that. :crap

That's a bummer. Maybe she's had a bunch of challenging births or something, and just hasn't really had a chance to get back to you. Sorry.

[Changed]

I'd be concerned too but that doesn't mean there is something up either. Call her back! Couldn't hurt.

[Jane456]

Hi everyone!

We just got a positive test on Sunday, and are planning an October homebirth! My official due date is Oct. 11. We have one son - Luke - who is 17 months old today. Luke's birth was a good introduction for me to the world of obstetrics. Not knowing anything, we chose an OB/GYN for care, and it wasn't until later in pregnancy I started to figure out what my own parenting / birthing style was and realised it didn't mesh with my OB's! However, much to my OB's dismay I still managed to have a relatively natural birth (although I was lying in a hospital bed, being induced, hooked up to a million beeping machines - I still had a doula, got to have a pain-drug free birth, and loved the birth process & experience). This time around, we know exactly what we want, and it'll be a homebirth with a midwife.

I tend to be a bit of a first trimester scaredy cat. I had an early m/c before Luke, and spotting early in his pregnancy. I loved the constant reassurance from doctors (beta counts, ultrasounds to check the heartbeat, etc.) for the first 12 or so weeks. So I was surprised to hear the midwife I chose sayd they won't see me till 10 weeks!!! Is this pretty normal? Do you think they would be willing to see me more regularly for reassurance in the next couple weeks? Already, I won't ruly let myself believe I'm pregnant, its so hard to get past that fear.

I look forward to getting to know you all better!

[emski4379]

My MW is much better in person than on the phone/email. She's the same way as yours. I wouldn't worry too much.

[Turtlemum]

I'm planning a home waterbirth...Last time I transferred into hospital after an hour and a half of pushing with huge decels...she had to be turned "manually" (aka OUCH!) and then came out after hearing the "schwing!" of the forceps :wink...good baby

This baby WILL be in the right position and I'm not changing venues :p

I'm also hoping to give birth outside but while last year, October was warm it isn't usually so I may just have to be satisfied with look out the window at trees :innocent...

[ColoradoMama]

I tend to be a bit of a first trimester scaredy cat. I had an early m/c before Luke, and spotting early in his pregnancy. I loved the constant reassurance from doctors (beta counts, ultrasounds to check the heartbeat, etc.) for the first 12 or so weeks. So I was surprised to hear the midwife I chose sayd they won't see me till 10 weeks!!! Is this pretty normal? Do you think they would be willing to see me more regularly for reassurance in the next couple weeks? Already, I won't ruly let myself believe I'm pregnant, its so hard to get past that fear.


Yea - it's pretty normal - especially if it's not your first. If you feel like you need reassurance - call her.

[Marcela]

Hi. I have just joined the Oct 08 due date club! We're expecting #2. We had a midwife the 1st time, but ended up going to the hospital. Long story, but we'll certainly go again w/the same midwife at home. Home VBAC, no less! By the way, Dany- I live in Austin TX and have been a doula here for almost 10 years, so I can tell you all about the midwives here if you end up here.

-Marcela

[Marcela]

clearly, I needed to update my signature... here is the new one.

[nhapmom]

our hot tub is outside and i want to have a water birth too so im wondering how thats going to be considering the weather.

[Thursday Girl]

I planned to UC with my last DD until about 30-ish weeks and then I suddenly had this urgent voice in my head that demanded I hire a midwife. So I did, and the only complication I had was a postpartum hemmorhage. I think we could have handled it on our own just fine. I will be taking some measures to try to prevent PPH this time around.

eating your placenta is supposed to help with hemorrhage.

[nccrunchymama]

We had our first in a hospital and while it mostly went according to plan, they just had way more control than I would have liked. This time we're planning a home birth. Dh is a little nervous about it, but he'll calm down soon. He's very good about trusting my body to do it's job. He just gets a little queasy and he's not sure about the mess factor in our own space. Which brings me back to this:

I'm about to show my ignorance towards water births, but how do you empty it? Especially if it's messy? Is it best to get a liner for that?

I'm really thinking about getting one of these this time (even if I don't use it for the actual birth) because my bath tub is the size of one that belongs in a trailer. :eyesroll And I LOVE laboring in water. So someone please educate me so I can educate my DH too. I know that's something he would think of. Besides, I could write it off as a business expense because I think I'll be a midwife eventually. :thumb

We need this same bit of information, please! :D Can anyone fill us in or at least point us in the right direction? Thanks!

[birthdancedoula]

My MW is much better in person than on the phone/email. She's the same way as yours. I wouldn't worry too much.

Rumor has it we have the same mw!:wink

She's caught my last 3 babes. We :love her! ITA about her being much better in person...I got a short and sweet response to the e-mail I sent letting her know were expecting again.

[ColoradoMama]

We need this same bit of information, please! :D Can anyone fill us in or at least point us in the right direction? Thanks!

There are blow up tubs that you can buy online. However, I would check with your midwife first. Our midwife has three that she let's her clients use. I just have to buy a $25 liner for it. With the liner, I can put pillows and blankets on the bottom to make it soft. We had the tub in our bedroom which is upstairs. I was pretty out of it after ds2's birth (he was posterior - ouch), but it emptied really fast. They had a tube in the water that went out the window. They said something about gravity, but honestly, I don't remember too much. :o Ds2's birth was very hard - amazing, but hard. I've never been out of it like that after a birth. Some midwives rent out their tubs if they have them.

[Mrshawwk]

With my last two water births I ordered an inflatable tub online for under $30. It was recommended on waterbirth websites, but the link to it is on my other computer...Will try to find that. Anyway, I went to the hardware store and got a hose that is for hot water (the regular kinds of hoses can leach lead into your water). And when it came time to empty it, I think they used buckets and the hose to empty it. Thankfully we have a yard with lots of trees and can empty that much water. I don't know what I'd do in an apartment! But, it can be done, I'm sure.

[DreamsInDigital]

To empty our pool, DH just stuck the hose in and pointed the other end out the door. After it was empty enough he just took it outside and dumped it.

We used a La Bassine which I loved and will be using one again this time.

[SamsMuffin]

Okay ladies, please help convince me that having another homebirth is a good option. I love homebirthing and am a huge supporter of it. But for some reason, I am feeling antsy about it this time around.

Background on my first birth: at home, 48 hours of active labor, and an additional two hours of pushing. My midwife said it was one of the more difficult births she had attended. The first 33-34 hours of it was what I would consider easy. I have a very high pain threshold. After 34 hours I was at *almost* 10 cm, but I had a very annoying lip on my cervix that would not efface. So I stayed at almost 10 cm for the next 14 hours. It was pretty bad. There are parts that are a major blur of me crawling around on hands and knees have contractions that were piggybacking on each other and just wanting to give up. My husband remembers it as a "not so good experience". We came very close to transporting to a hospital because I was pretty much at the end of energy and will to go on. But amazingly about 30 minutes after talking about transporting, I had urges to push and dd's head dropped down past the cervix. The lip never went away.

Anyway, after all of that, I am now feeling a bit uncertain and scared. I really want to have a homebirth. I know if I go to a hospital here, they will strap me on a table, won't let me move around, and won't let me eat :( If I had been at a hospital with dd's birth, I would have very likely ended up with an unnecessary c-section. I also worry about all the things (emergencies) that could come up. I know way too many people who have had terrible things happen during labor, but I also know in my head that that is NOT the norm. I'm still a little nervous by it all though.

So please, could you all help me work this out? DH and I would like to have a homebirth for many reasons, but I don't want to go into it half-heartedly. I want to feel completely sure about it like I did with my first birth.

[birthdancedoula]

So please, could you all help me work this out? DH and I would like to have a homebirth for many reasons, but I don't want to go into it half-heartedly. I want to feel completely sure about it like I did with my first birth.

:hug mama...its such a tough place to be in, doubting whether another HB would be good for this new babe. The last part of your labor sounds very much like mine did w/ my 3rd kiddo. I had a stubborn anterior lip and a killer urge to push. I started following my body's lead and wound up with a swollen cervix that added nearly 3 more hours to what was already a 17 hour labor. At one point I stood up on our bed and demanded my mw take me to the hospital for a c/s (knowing full well that's exactly what I'd get). Eventually the mw just held the rim of cervix back over the baby's head while I pushed him out. To make matters worse I lost a lot of blood. I started to get shocky and we ended up calling the EMTs. My doula started an IV, mw gave me pitocin, the EMTs hooked me up to an EKG. Fortunately things stabilized and the EMTs left but I was still so weak and my uterus was having a hard time involuting. So many things went through my head after his birth...like why can't I just have a normal HB (I hemorrhaged a lot after my first, my second had shoulder dystocia), and was I being irresponsible for having a third HB. The biggest question I had was why the heck couldn't my body do things right?!? Fast forward 2 years later and I found I was pregnant again. The questions started popping up again. So much doubt and worry about whether we should even think about planning another HB. I did a lot of soul-searching on my own and with my mw and realized that what happened to me in DS3's birth was completely isolated. He was 10 lbs, I'm a tiny mama. He probably wasn't in the best position. I had a lot of emotional stress from my mom not being there. I lost my job at a birth center when it closed. I suddenly made sense to me why things happened the way they did. It wasn't because my body failed me. I went into my pregnancy with my DD with a renewed excitement about HB. The mw and I planned to actively manage second stage. My friend from RN school as there with me and she was responsible for starting my IV and fluids when I began to feel pushy and mw gave me pitocin when my DD's anterior shoulder was born. When all was said and done I felt triumphant. I finally got the HB I had dreamed about. I had so many people there believing in me that I could do it but most importnatly I believed that I could do it. My recovery, early breastfeeding, my PP bleeding, everything was so much better.

I tell you all that so you'll know that I understand how you feel. I've been there. Give it time, talk with your mw about your birth, ask her what you could do differently this time around. Talking through my birth really helped dh to feel good about another HB, too.

If you want to talk more feel free to shoot me a pm. :hug

[emski4379]

Rumor has it we have the same mw!:wink

She's caught my last 3 babes. We :love her! ITA about her being much better in person...I got a short and sweet response to the e-mail I sent letting her know were expecting again.

How cool! I'll be meeting with her for my first appt. sometime in the middle of March. I can't wait!

To empty our pool, DH just stuck the hose in and pointed the other end out the door. After it was empty enough he just took it outside and dumped it.

We used a La Bassine which I loved and will be using one again this time.

We've decided on a La bassine as well.

[Fly Girl]

Hi Ladies! DH and I are planning on a HB and we are going to start interviewing MW next week. I have a long list of questions to ask but I was wondering...

What, in your opinion, is the most important question to ask a HB MW?


Also, we live in a condo with no yard to speak of anywhere around us. It's a concrete jungle. I would like to have a water birth so where the heck do you empty the tub???

Thanks!

[Changed]

It totally depends on what is important to you. For me, transfer rate. How many per month/year and the reason for transfer.

[nhapmom]

samsmuffin, your labors sound just like mine..which is why i worry so much about being unassisted. its something i have to work through each day....considering my choices are UC or hospital w/ c/s (NO drs will agree to a VBAC here for me), i have no choice really.

[SamsMuffin]

Thanks for the encouragement birthdancedoula and nhapmom :love

I emailed my midwife today to see if she would take me on and to ask if she even thought a homebirth was a good option for me, and she wrote back this evening. She said that she thought I was an excellent candidate for another homebirth, and reminded me that a lot of what held back the first labor was dd's presentation (her head was kind of tilted to the side). That was really encouraging to hear! DH and I both felt better after reading her email.

Birthdancedoula - I am guessing from your location that you are in NC? I am too :) I didn't realize though that midwives here could do IVs, pitocin, etc. Is that CPMs only? Also, I think I might "know" you from NCFOM - your name looks familiar from the yahoo group postings. I'm the one on there that is always asking for volunteers to write newsletter articles, lol :D

Fly Girl, a long way back (maybe half a year ago...or more), there was a great thread in the homebirth folder about questions to ask a potential care provider. I'm not sure if it is still in there somewhere, but there were lists and lists of questions. I think the most important questions to me are transfer rate, number of births attended/years experience, education/apprenticeship, and (I hate to even write this) maternal/fetal mortality rate.

[birthdancedoula]

Birthdancedoula - I am guessing from your location that you are in NC? I am too :) I didn't realize though that midwives here could do IVs, pitocin, etc. Is that CPMs only? Also, I think I might "know" you from NCFOM - your name looks familiar from the yahoo group postings. I'm the one on there that is always asking for volunteers to write newsletter articles, lol :D


That would be me!:D I'm a card carrying member of NCFOM (or at least as close as I can be to one:) Will you be at the legislative day next week? I'd love to meet ya!!

Yeah, my mw had all the stuff for IVs and she definately carries Pitocin and Methergine. I had IV start stuff around anyway but she had fluid and tubing. About the stupidest (is that a word?) thing that has happened in some states legalizing CPMs is when they don't give them authority to carry oxygen, pit, and IV fluid. Why even make them legal if they can't carry basic life-saving things? I had my first kid out west and I had to transfer PP for a stinkin' IV. That's it. I went to the hospital, got stuck for an IV, given a bag of dextrose and then I was discharged.:irked: Completely ridiculous IMO.

[Tiger Lily]

Can I join? I'm Jen. Edd 10/12. My first birth was an epidural/OP presentation/vacuum extraction birth. Second baby was a hospital NCB.

So this is my 3rd and we're planning a HB this time. There are just 2 midwives in my area, and based on the buzz I've heard, I'm almost certain which one I'm going to go with, but I'll probably go visit both just to be sure.

My mom is an OB nurse and served as my unofficial doula for my first two births. She is NOT going to be happy about a HB. The OB I used last time is moving to a different state, so my mom is already talking about who I'm going to go to this time. Quick, someone give me a pep talk about owning my own birth!!!!!

I'm also in a unique position because my DH is a physician (family practice). He's been coming around the idea of HB for about a year, and the book Pushed pretty much sealed the deal for him :love

[nhapmom]

goood luck Tiger Lily. i think reading and gaining confidence in your decision is probably the best ammunition you have. and try to remind your mother that you NEED to surround yourself with positives and with ppl who are supportive of you. if she isn't, she is going to miss out on a hell of a lot.

[Faerieshadow]

My area seems pretty barren when it comes to midwives! The one another MDCer raved about is much farther away (an hour and a half or more, depending on traffic through the city of Orlando which could add an extra hour) and I'm already a little nervous about that.

It's sad that I have no idea hwo long it would take me to labor naturally. They drugged me with so much pitocin, it took four hours to go from 3 cm to holding ds in arms.

Would you be concerned with the commute?

[Turtlemum]

My area seems pretty barren when it comes to midwives! The one another MDCer raved about is much farther away (an hour and a half or more, depending on traffic through the city of Orlando which could add an extra hour) and I'm already a little nervous about that.

It's sad that I have no idea hwo long it would take me to labor naturally. They drugged me with so much pitocin, it took four hours to go from 3 cm to holding ds in arms.

Would you be concerned with the commute?

That depends. How long did it take you to get to 3cm? If you had a few hours of cramping, bloody show etc then there might be enough early labour signs to tell you to call your midwife a little earlier. I would also pose this questions to your potential midwife...if she can review your records from last time and after she hears your story she might have more insight into whether or not she feels she can make it in time. Good luck!

[Turtlemum]

My area seems pretty barren when it comes to midwives! The one another MDCer raved about is much farther away (an hour and a half or more, depending on traffic through the city of Orlando which could add an extra hour) and I'm already a little nervous about that.

It's sad that I have no idea hwo long it would take me to labor naturally. They drugged me with so much pitocin, it took four hours to go from 3 cm to holding ds in arms.

Would you be concerned with the commute?

That depends. How long did it take you to get to 3cm? If you had a few hours of cramping, bloody show etc then there might be enough early labour signs to tell you to call your midwife a little earlier. I would also pose this questions to your potential midwife...if she can review your records from last time and after she hears your story she might have more insight into whether or not she feels she can make it in time. Good luck!

[nccrunchymama]

Fly Girl, a long way back (maybe half a year ago...or more), there was a great thread in the homebirth folder about questions to ask a potential care provider. I'm not sure if it is still in there somewhere, but there were lists and lists of questions. I think the most important questions to me are transfer rate, number of births attended/years experience, education/apprenticeship, and (I hate to even write this) maternal/fetal mortality rate.

It's still there. I found it the other day. Lots of other helpful stuff, too. It's a "sticky" thread in the homebirth forum. http://www.mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=20

[Faerieshadow]

That depends. How long did it take you to get to 3cm? If you had a few hours of cramping, bloody show etc then there might be enough early labour signs to tell you to call your midwife a little earlier. I would also pose this questions to your potential midwife...if she can review your records from last time and after she hears your story she might have more insight into whether or not she feels she can make it in time. Good luck!

At my 35 week checkup I was 3 cm, and stayed that way for two weeks (until they induced) so there's no telling. I had been contracting at steady intervals for an hour or two and then stopping for the week prior to, as well. (Ftr, they made me think my baby was in danger, only reason I agreed to the induction, too bad I didn't have mdc then, I would have known better!)

[SamsMuffin]

That would be me!:D I'm a card carrying member of NCFOM (or at least as close as I can be to one:) Will you be at the legislative day next week? I'd love to meet ya!!

I wish I could go to the legislative day, but I don't think I'm going to be able to make it. Raleigh is a three hour drive for me, and car trips and my 18th month old just don't mix well :p It would have been cool to meet you though!! I'm hoping that the day goes really well - I would so love to have this bill passed one day in the near future.

[DreamsInDigital]

I know it's awful, but I'm asking my midwife to send me for an ultrasound around 8 weeks. I swear I can feel my uterus already just peeking above my pubic bone. If it's not twins it's one gigantic baby.

[titania8]

count me in! i haven't thought too much yet about whether i am going uc or mw, but most likely i will need to find a mw. this will be an hbac for me, my twins were c-section (after a drug-free labor in hospital).

[nhapmom]

Dreams, thats how i feel too. i only want to have one u/s but i am considering having 2 now just to rule out multiples. i would just like to konw if i have to plan a multiple US and go completely underground.

[BabyHaysMama]

This is my second pregnancy with midwives. I'm really excited. Having my DS at home was the most empowering event of my life. Birth is such a sacred thing and I'm so honored and privileged to be given an opportunity to do it all over again.

This time I'm thinking a water birth would be really nice. I had a 2nd degree tear last time and I want to do what I can to ensure that doesn't happen again. (I'm sure my husband would appreciate that too)

[DreamsInDigital]

Dreams, thats how i feel too. i only want to have one u/s but i am considering having 2 now just to rule out multiples. i would just like to konw if i have to plan a multiple US and go completely underground.

Ooh a twin UC? How cool! I'm just waiting to hear back from my midwife so I can schedule my U/S. Do you have someone to refer you for a U/S?

[DreamsInDigital]

This is my second pregnancy with midwives. I'm really excited. Having my DS at home was the most empowering event of my life. Birth is such a sacred thing and I'm so honored and privileged to be given an opportunity to do it all over again.

This time I'm thinking a water birth would be really nice. I had a 2nd degree tear last time and I want to do what I can to ensure that doesn't happen again. (I'm sure my husband would appreciate that too)

Waterbirth is awesome! Both of my homebirths have been in the water and they totally rocked. We are planning a waterbirth again. :thumb

[nhapmom]

i dont know. im not happy w/ my MW and the way she got a bit snarky over the whole NH issue...but that could just be me being hormonal...so im not sure what i am going to do.

the ironic thing is that if i saw a dr. i would have NO copay and could get whatever the heck i wanted but i really dont want to see a dr. b/c most of it woudl be me lying to him/her b/c i do not want to hear the shit that comes out of their mouths.

prenatal care is somethign that is really stressing me out. i dont want it but i agreed to it so that we can have a UC but i need to know whether i am carrying one or more babies. :)

[DreamsInDigital]

So are you planning on having an early U/S?

[two_sets_of_twins]

I've decided to have an early ultrasound...TOMORROW! :bigeyes

I'm not telling anyone IRL ahead of time so it will just be a surprise. I agreed to have one ultrasound (around 20 weeks) for my DH's sake so I figured why not find out early with another one? I'm usually quite opposed to routine u/s so it shocks me to be in this boat, although it's not exactly "routine." I feel really good about doing it so I'm sure it's fine. I just keep telling myself it's only one so I won't be...disappointed isn't the right word...let down? I would be pretty excited if it is two again so here's hoping. :Sheepish:

[nhapmom]

i dont know DID...im just sooo torn.


i think im giong to wait for my MW to get back from her vacation and then see if she contacts me. if she doesnt, im giong to switch..and maybe do a u/s at 20 weeks and then 38 or 39.

i am sooo fraking happy to be pregnant. i just cant believe that i have been feeling so anxious about my health care. i wish M was happy w/ doing nothing. "

[Irish]

I'm also contemplating a water birth this time. I hemorrhaged really badly after giving birth to my first and because I was mildly anemic at the home birth of my second my midwife advised against it because it would be difficult to monitor bleeding. I did spend all of my labor in the tub up until 8 minutes before she was born. We have a wonderful deep soaker bathtub but it's not easily accessible from the side if someone were going to need to help catch the baby, I'm not sure how big of an issue this is. Is everyone planning a waterbirth planning on getting a birthing tub?

[nhapmom]

we are using our hot tub

[myrmom]

I am hoping to have a homebirth...but what concerns me is getting a midwife...they are soooo hard to get here and I desperatly want one. I have had two hospital births one not so good and one great...but even the great one had it's draw backs. I really want to have this one at home....desperatly so...but I don't feel comfortable with a UC so I really hope I can get a midwife!!!

[ladybugmomto2]

We pretty much had a UC in our bathtub last time, which was WONDERFUL, but we're going to be looking for a MW (for my husband's comfort) who will do a homebirth here..but I'm not optimistic that we'll find one. As far as I'm concerned, a HB is the only way, UC or not. When it comes down to it, I'll be trusting my gut feelings and my body..period. :thumb