MSE pregnancy club II

cazscoob

GRACIEP make sure you tell t hem from the beginnning you want a home birth as for a water birth i was told to mention and arrange t from 32 weeks and thought this was the same with a home birth(this was last pregnancy) however they said they would just have enough time to organise then the week before xmas they phoned to say there was no way i could have one and that was it? as you can imagine i wa extremly angry and they left me for 5 weeks with no check up and could not get an appointment to see anyone. it was only after my mum who works in maternity hospital kicked up with the consultant that i got appointment???

This time round it was first thing i asked and have been put on their board??? i have to have a meeting with midwife who will come to house and talk me through it all, at 38 weeks they will deliver birthing packs(up to 4 big boxes???) and will make regular drop ins to say hi and get to know us and where we stay. Am only 18 weeks the now and still trying to get my head around another baby. Good luck and i hope you get the birth you want:D

shopaholic13

Sorry about that, I didn't realise we couldn't post codes on this forum, whoops|!!
I have removed it now.

heather38

my mw isn't bringing my box till i'm actually in labour, when i ring to say it's time she'll go to the hospital and pick it up along with the entonox and an oxygen tank. i do however have vit k and syntometrine for the placenta in the fridge, in case she can't get there and the paramedics need it in an emergency.
i booked my hb at 32 weeks and she did a home visit and risk assessment at 35 weeks.

Krystaltips

I'm seriously considering a home birth this time, however I suffered a 3rd degree tear with DD and I'm a little worried the same would happen again... Especially since my Mum said to think of the scarring like perforated paper!

I had a body wrap booked as part of my wedding prep package but had to cancel it now... Not suitable for pregnancy

GracieP

Ok, so is this what I do? Find a hospital online that can accommodate home and water births. Go back to my GP and tell her of my choice. Tell her then that I want a home birth. Wait for my mid-wife appointment (how long does that take?) and tell her I want a home birth.

Should I ring the hospital and talk to them first? My gp said it might be an idea to visit first.

crazyaboutsaving

Hi GracieP,

I'd ring your local surgery now to get your midwife appointment, since they can be booked up depending on how busy they are (I need to book mine at least 4 weeks in advance!). When you meet with her, tell her you want a home birth (or water birth), and she should help you arrange a visit to the hospital to decide if a water or home birth is what you want. Definately get your booking in appointment first though!

crazyaboutsaving

Hi Krystaltips,

I noticed you have posted in your signature that you're trained in breastfeeding support. I've got a few (million) questions if you don't mind? I'd really like to breastfeed but I'm nervous about it - there's so many stories about how aweful it is for the first few weeks, how painful it can be, etc. Any advice on surviving the first few weeks? Also, I'm nervous about having to breastfeed in public, etc. (I know, I know, it really shouldn't matter, but I hate the thought of making other people uncomfortable. I'm not bothered when I see women breastfeeding in public, but some people are and I don't want to make others uncomfortable...) How soon can you start expressing milk? Do you have to wait a few weeks? I heard that it's not good to give a baby a bottle or dummy for the first month or so until they're used to breastfeeding. Is that true too?
Sorry, I hope I haven't bombarded you with too many questions! I think breastfeeding is really important and I really would like to, I'm just nervous about it!

MrsTinks

Crazyaboutsaving I think the important thing is you're asking the questions I'm in early pregnancy with my first and I know I want to breastfeed - my mum breastfed me and my brother and she's flying over from Denmark when little one arrives to help out. She's already told her work that come May next year she's taking 2 weeks off at "short" notice when I go into labour - family history is what we spend about 2-4 days in labour - joy! So she should be able to get here in time
My hope is that if the midwife isn't going to be able to help me BF then mum will be able to help me... Ok so little un might not latch on but it won't be for lack of me trying
Breastfeeding in public... I'm same as you - a little apprehensive about that - I have notived some new products out there which shield/cover the baby both from the elements but also from people seeing you BF. They might be a solution? A lot of places will let you use a private room if you ask...
I can't answer all your other questions so I'll look forward to Krystaltips hopefully being able to answer them so I can read them too!

heather38

i bf my DD for 7 months, and i never had any problems. no cracked nipples no mastitis nothing. DD latched on straight away.
i used to feed in public as well, usually in a cafe with a book and cup of coffee. you do get over that whole being embarrassed thing, and get on with it, when the baby is crying you really don't care! you do learn to be discrete.
i started expressing at about 3 weeks coz i had so much milk my breasts hurt, so i used to just take the edge off, and my DD never had a dummy so i have no idea about that.

heather38

GracieP wrote: »

Ok, so is this what I do? Find a hospital online that can accommodate home and water births. Go back to my GP and tell her of my choice. Tell her then that I want a home birth. Wait for my mid-wife appointment (how long does that take?) and tell her I want a home birth.

Should I ring the hospital and talk to them first? My gp said it might be an idea to visit first.

no, ring your gp and ask to make a booking appointment with the mw first. once you have seen her she will book all your appointments and also your hb if you want one. the hospital has nothing to do with it, as everything is done via the mw. you don't book a hb through the hospital, the mw will inform them of your choice and sort everything out for you.
hospital visits are usually done as part of the antenatal classes.