[Arora The Explorer]

Seems like there are quite a few of us running around here. how many do we have?

I'm beginning-middle of Dec.

This will be my 3rd. My first UC.

 

[hottmama]

I'm due Dec. 26 (ish). My son was born in a hospital with a CNM, so this is my first UP/UC. I am soooo exhausted right now and waiting for my energy to come back. I've felt the fetus move a few times, I think, and that's exciting. It's much earlier than I felt with Julian- I felt him at 14 weeks and I'm 10 weeks now.

 

[Arora The Explorer]

Ooh, I hear you about exhuastion. The need for many naps in one day is a pain! And I am ready to feel like a normal person agian. I just want to eat and drink without vomiting.

My first two were HBs with midwife in attendance. I wanted a UC for my 2nd, but I really wasn't very clear with my vision. I kept thinking I'd just birth before the MW got there. I wasn't very clear with my DH and he called the MW when I started pushing. So, she was there when the baby came and she was very involved with everything. (Pushed for a long time and she was about 45 mins away)

 

[justanothermama]

I don't post in here much, but I do at LOT of reading/lurking. I believe I have more to learn than I do to contribute at this point.
But, I'm here. I'm due around Mid-November. This will be an UBA2C.

 

[Arora The Explorer]

Welcome lurker and friend.

When you/if you need support, just ask for it!

There are SO many empowering UCAC stories out there! Have you been reading any?

It seems like this early in the pregnancy, there's really not much going on so to speak. I bet we'll all get much more active in posting when we're closer to EDDs.

 

[justanothermama]

Me??? Been reading birth stories??? :LOL

So far the only thing that I can think of that I need support in is fending off nay-saying family. I haven't told anybody my plans yet......but because the hospital around here doesn't do VBACs, they all prolly assume I'm having a elective C/S.

I know it's just a matter of time before some one asks if I've scheduled my C/S date yet. For now I can just tell them no. But what will I say when I'm 41 weeks and they ask??

Oh well. They already know I'm a weirdo. :rofl

And you're right...this board will be jumping in late fall! I can't wait to read/post things like..." Water just broke, no ctxs yet........oh wait, there's one." It'll be great to be able to root each other on!

 

[Persephone]

I'm due mid Jan, but it's still up in the air as to whether it will be UC nor not. This is my first baby, and I'm afraid of the unknown. I suppose that even those who are not on their first baby have these fears. I would like labor support, but I would not like anyone to "deliver my baby", midwife or otherwise, make sense? So, I've got a midwife who I trust who feels the way I do, that birth is best left alone.But it's not official yet. So, we'll see. It also depends on money, because we don't have insurance. But I don't really want to make the decision to UC based completely on money, kwim?

 

[Aurora]

I am due sometime in Jan. This will be our 4th baby, 2nd UP/UC.

justanothermama-My first UC was a UBA2C too! It was amazing!

Arora-I am sure this board will be busy come late Fall!

Persephone-

I hope you are able to come to a decision you are comfortable with.

 

[Arora The Explorer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by justanothermama I know it's just a matter of time before some one asks if I've scheduled my C/S date yet. For now I can just tell them no. But what will I say when I'm 41 weeks and they ask??

Hmmm, sounds like it's time to learn your real EDD. I think maybe you're about 4 weeks off, huh? Then, your baby can just come early!!!

Hey, Persephone, welcome to the club.

Your decision is a great one, ya know!

A lot of moms have to go through technical hospital births the first time to see that that's not what they want. I'm glad you are so well educated and aware of what you want at first baby.

Just to give you other options -- it's not all or nothing right now. You know you don't need to choose either, right? There is no harm in giving yourself more time to decide. Here are just some other options that have worked for other women:
- Decide to wait to see if you need a MW prenatally. Post on the numerous resources for UC if you have a question, if you feel you need more info, then call the MW.
- Ask the MW to back up your UC. Put $ in a (oh, what's it called account thingie where money goes) to reserve her. If you end up needing her she knows she has $ to be paid to her. If you don't need her, you just take the $ out of this special accnt. Or maybe she'll be your back up without the accnt thingie.
- Wait a little while. Research some more. Listen to your heart. Listen to your baby. Read some first time parent UC stories. (I'm big into birth stories can you tell, they just seem so empowering and help to visualize what other's experiences were)
- Ask the MW for a discount to just cover X amt of Prenatals and then the well-baby check after birth. With the option to call her for the labor for additional money.
- Hire the MW but be very very clear with her what you're looking for. Do you want her to stay out of the room unless invited in. Do you want her to hang out in the hallway? Do you want her in your view? What do you see her role as? Just gopher and cleaning up? Support your perenium while sitting between your legs? Give instructions? Etc?

I only say this last one out of experience. I wanted a UC with my second birth but was not very clear with anyone IRL about what I specifically wanted from them. I just wnated to have the baby before anyone got there. Then, when I pushed for much longer than I thought I would, I was too far into labor to request what I needed... EVERYONE LEAVE!!!

 

[Arora The Explorer]

Hi, Aurora my twin with an "u".

So glad to have a "seasoned" UCer here with us group of newbies!!!

Glad to have your support! Yay! So, excited for you to have a new little one!!!

(We were posting at the same time I think, otherwise I would have said HI!)

 

[Arora The Explorer]

Here, just because I have some time at the moment, here are some birth stories for justanothermama and Persephone. Only if you want to read them of course, but you might like reading others experiences like what you're considering.

UCAC:
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/...ies/megan.html
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/...es/janice.html
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/...ies/jamie.html
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/...s/matthew.html
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/ucstories/kim.html
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/...s/eugenie.html

First Time Mama's UCs:
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/...s/allison.html
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/laura/john.html
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/...ies/mindy.html
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/...ies/caleb.html
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/...haeljames.html

 

[littleteapot]

Sixth pregnancy, second baby, first UP/UC. Had a natural midwife birth last time.

Due in December. Just in general.

 

[Persephone]

Aw, Arora, you're so sweet! Thanks for the reality check. Sometimes I feel weird posting here, because I'm so wishy washy. I don't want someone to say I don't belong here if I end up choosing a midwife. And you anticipated my next question, which was if you could point me in the direction of some first time birth stories. I have some nice ones saved that are very inspirational to me, but none are first time moms. So, thanks for that too!

 

[Arora The Explorer]

Hey, Babs! Thanks for checking in. Wishing you a happy healthy pregnancy.

Persephone, I think anyone supportive of UC is welcome here.

Especially people trying to figure out if it's for them!

Not that I'm the queen of the UC forums... HARDLY!!! But, that's the general feel I get from the UCers here.

Personally, I reach different points in pregnancy where I go on birth story binges. It's like I can't get enough of them, and then I don't read them for a while. So, what are your favorite birth stories?

It just finally clicked with me this weekend that I WILL HAVE A BABY when this is all done. Wow!!! I just love birth so much. And, sweet little newborns. Oooh! I get one! I get one!!!

How exciting! I think that's what started my birth story binge. I'll read them till I get tired and then not for a while. I learn so much from other's birth stories. Ahhh. They're great!

 

[MamaTaraX]

I'm lurking in this thread. We are interviewing a midwife next week, however, if it doesn't work out, we'll be UCing it. I'm due the same week as Persephone there which is really cool because I'm attending her birth

I have no "due date" officially though but if I count, it's Jan 16th. I just say "January" though

This would be my 3rd birth, my first homebirth (will be homebirth no matter what), and would be my 1st UP/UC if we go that way. *fingers crossed*

Namaste, Tara

 

[Persephone]

Not all of these are UC, but I find them all very inspirational.

http://rachyllgyne.tripod.com/thebirthofgreyforestwalt/ <-- the first birth story I ever read, and without a doubt the most inspirational.

http://klothos.net/Birth.html (Waves to klothos!

)

http://www.thecowgoddess.com/birthstory.html

And there's another one, that I read, that I didn't think to bookmark til later, and now I can't find it. Perhaps I can find the mama and ask her what happened to it.

 

[Satori]

I'm due mid Dec but for me its kinda weird. I'm having to plan for 3 births! If everything goes ok I'll UC, if I develop pre-e again and have to be induced (naturally) I don't know if I'll be in the hospital or at home, depends on how advanced the pre-e is. If I get severe pre-e or HELLP again I'll get a repeat c/s because I'm not willing to mess with it having already been though HELLP once. Praying for a healthy and uncomplicated pregnancy this time around!

 

[Arora The Explorer]

Ooh, Persephone, I think my binge is compleat for a while. I've read all of those. Grey Forest Walt is a beautiful story! You konw she went onto have a UC with the next birth, right? She talked a bit in that one how she didn't really want the MWs to attend Grey's birth either.

Oh, I see it's right there on the link.

Ok... here's one to add to your favs, I think... it's more a photographic portrayal of a Homebirth. Might take a while to load, but SO worth it. Oooh! http://danielfairbanks.pseconds.com/jude.htm

Hi, Tara! I prefer due month's too.

I'm not 100% sure when I'm due this time and I rather like that. In fact, I'm doing my best to forget the week that it's most around. I usually like to add a week so mentally I always go early. Going "late" (even though I've slightly done it) seems awful. So, that's why I always go early... acording to my broadcasted due date.

Hi, Satori, I'll pray for a healthy uncomplicated pregnancy for you, too!

 

[folkymom]

I'm due around Thanksgiving, but I've told my family I'm due more towards the beginning of December, trying to give myself a week or two of leeway. I don't want them involved!

So I'm 15 weeks this week, and have been feeling random baby movements for the last 3 weeks. I felt my first baby at 13 weeks, and my second at 10 weeks, so I guess I'm just an early-feeler.

I am looking forward to the big kicks, though.

I use my waking hours in the middle of the night to connect to and talk to baby. . .a good use of hormonal insomnia! :LOL Anyone else having terrible dreams every night, when you do sleep? I am feeling unrested and sometimes have a hard time shaking off the disturbed feeling of all these dreams each morning. Ick.

 

[hottmama]

I'm 10.5 weeks, and I've felt the baby, too. I have to sit really still and concentrate when I feel it. I felt Julian move at 14 weeks- I was expecting this one to be the same. It's so cool to feel him/her so early, it makes it seem more real (although I'm still not convinced I'm going to have an actual baby at the end of this, haha).