[nippa&pippa]

As tia maria and jubjub had posted their experiences but there was no experiences in homebirth that i was interesting in as homebirth in NZ must be different to UK's homebirth, it was turn out so far i was right!.
I opt for homebirth again after had my daughter at home and my son at midwife birth centre in UK, so no need for hospital birth unless any complications arise.

If there is anyone had homebirth or thinking about homebirth, feel free to join in!

[nippa&pippa]

Currently i am ten and half weeks at the moment after the scan confirm my due date now moved to 17th instead of 9th september.

BOOKING

Saw practice Nurse for informations on pregnancy in NZ, she offered me pregnancy test to ensure i am really pregnancy. I did had it for no charge. She start the ball rolling by taking bloods, book appt with GP next day.
Appt with GP was different to UK, they asked about yourself and previous 3 pregnancies including missed miscarriage. Then she check your blood pressure, heart and your health.

SCANS

I went to St george radiology centre in Chch, referred by my GP at suppose to be 11 1/2 weeks. Bit shocked to find it is ten weeks instead. Because of the date moved, i was charged $132 instead of $40 for NT scans:mad: . At the moment, my GP is fight with St george on my behalf to get $92 back as there is no way i know about baby is ten weeks instead of 11 plus. My GP had referred me back for further scan in two weeks to have NT.

LMC

As I chose to have homebirth, I need to find midwife that are expert in homebirth! I found few link on website and contacted christchurch homebirth. Will look for link but tia had links in her forum. I was invitied to attend their open evening to meet midwives and learn about their role in homebirth. Very good information for people who are still thinking....
While there, i was given choice of few midwives still available for september and I picked Lynda. She came to my house on friday after meeting and had good chat to find out more about her etc. to find out more about homebirth in New Zealand. One things i wasn't prepare for it.....you have to get rid of your own afterbirth...placenta:exit !!! my husband looked at me blank as he know it will be his job as i am no state to do it after birth!! It is against the law to dipose placenta in normal housewaste....so he had choice of burying in the garden!, burying in hagley park (there is special place for it, i was told) or other i can't remember...
Lynda have also booked birth pool just in case i still want birth pool as at the moment, i thinking of having birth pool....but booking get fill up quick..
Because it is homebirth, i don't have to meet midwife at the hospital:clap , she just come to your house whatever suit you (and your children if any). Lynda will be see me next thursday for two hour sessions on booking in.

[nippa&pippa]

On small note about homebirth, it is bit of taboo in New Zealand. Coming from very well support on homebirth in UK to New Zealand that other women find it bit of shocked and bit of hush hush at the playgroups. I mentioned to Lynda about it, and turn out only 4% of birth are homebirth in whole New Zealand and 8% of birth are homebirth in Christchurch. They are trying to promote homebirth in New Zealand is acceptable.
I had homebirth in UK, I know it is very good as very relaxing and have same midwife stay with you for whole labour instead of having different midwife that you don't know her/him. This reasons why I had my daughter at home after experiences at birth centre with my son that I end up with 5 different midwifes and I don't know them! Not relaxing experiences.
For your information if anyone ask.. no i am not hippy!!! just normal person!:laugh

[jubjub]

Sounds like you have made a great start.

There is a girl in my coffee group who is a midwife herself, and is going to have her 2nd child as a homebirth in about ten weeks time.... I will let you know how she gets on!

As regards to the placenta, you can eat it apparently..... I chose not to, and let the hospital deal with it! the burying in the garden is very common here, and then plant a tree on top.

[nippa&pippa]

As regards to the placenta, you can eat it apparently.....

:no :exit

[dean1968]

I stay away from female topics. But I want to post some relevant information.
The most expensive running costs for a hospital are the elderly and Mother with newborns and the complications that arise.

Here in NZ the women are geting married later in life. Women are having their first borb baby around late 20's 29,30,31,32. I am not a fertility expert but the biological clock for having babies is more difficult in those years than compared to say early 20's. Qualified Doctors / Gynaecologist sin NZ have a big arguement with the govrment over money and basicially a lot of them don't want to be involved.

Obstetricians complain they get called in too late in the process when complications arise and they say another negative that compounds the issue is NZ women haveng babies a lot later in life. Someone is going to shoot me down..I just want to point out why midwives are used prodominately and homebirths are low.

This is for the husbands...get the "best" medical care you can possibly afford.
The most complications arise out of child birth. Midwives act too late when difficulties arise. Have a back up plan that you can call in a specialist and rush to the hospital. Every minute is vital The mother informed the midwife the baby wasn't kicking. Said not to worry. Unfortunately the baby got tied up on the umbical... oxygen starvation. Fortunately, the husband took control and sought the specialist and it had a happy ending.

[nippa&pippa]

This is for the husbands...get the "best" medical care you can possibly afford.
The most complications arise out of child birth. Midwives act too late when difficulties arise. Have a back up plan that you can call in a specialist and rush to the hospital. Every minute is vital The mother informed the midwife the baby wasn't kicking. Said not to worry. Unfortunately the baby got tied up on the umbical... oxygen starvation. Fortunately, the husband took control and sought the specialist and it had a happy ending.

It is women's choice where they want to give birth or 'joint' decision, not husband's choice at all...after women are the one been carry baby/ies for 9months and going through labour.
Every homebirth midwife always have back-up plan and got resuscitate kits with them for baby if need (i know they have it as they got it out on the floor of lounge before my daughter was born, just in case as be prepare) and also they have extra midwife with them, one for mother and one for baby. They pick up the problems early on than hospital midwifes because they know when need to step in. I will be having three midwife as my midwife is in her second years but passed exams and used work in hospital so she know about birth but for homebirth, it is more training involved because of above they need to learn out to deal with any complications which is very rare, mean she is not yet fully qualified to look after me on her own.
Did this woman got her midwife from registered homebirth midwife group?

[UpNorthMum]

Congratulations on going against the grain. :) I think it's wonderful! I have, unfortunately, had two hospital births in the USA. My first baby I was very naive about birthing and, after many interventions, had her cut out of me while I was under general anesthesia. My husband was very nervous about homebirthing with a VBAC. Being a partnership, and the fact that I didn't want his stress during the birth, I agreed to the hospital again, but with a doula. We have no birth centers here, the happy medium. I ended up laboring at home for a very long time and arrived at the hospital, ready to push. From the moment we arrived in the Emergency Room to the moment Charlie was born was 10 minutes. :)

I am planning on attending midwifery school within a few years of arriving in NZ. I firmly believe in a woman's ability to birth. I am very excited to begin this new adventure.

[nippa&pippa]

I am planning on attending midwifery school within a few years of arriving in NZ. I firmly believe in a woman's ability to birth. I am very excited to begin this new adventure.

Go for it, good luck!

[nippa&pippa]

Up to date.....

GP

Saw dr soon after last post for further check up on heart as normal standard for this surgery to check mum-to-be's heart as well as blood check :roll
They found that i had heart murmur, so been booked for ECHO scan to make sure it is ok....my midwife is interesting in results :uhoh

Book in

Finally got book in, she fill in a big thick book compare with UK's, asking every questions about past pregnancies, families history in all sort! Then she took blood pressure (very low!) and did what jubjub mentioned before..wee into stick!! All that last two hours then follow on appts will take an hour. She will be see me every month, then forthnight then weekly as soon as nearer to birth.

Scan

Went for second scan today, confirm the due date is now 17th sept, match the first scan. Nuchal scan were very in depth compare with UK's dating scan as they check for fluids in spine to test for downs etc instead of having blood triple test, as well as check for baby's heartbeat, head etc. Walk in to scan is very quick, just 5mins wait before your turn instead of over an hour wait in UK! Lady was very helpful and very nice this time, answer all the questions we asked about UK/NZ scans as she used to work in UK's hospitals for few years.
My son was watching the scan on the TV on the wall, he was squealing when he saw baby's face as it was so clear. Cost us this time $40, worth it as it was lovely and relaxing, no rush, very few people waiting, and also you book the appt with date and time that suit you!

Refund of last scan
We got $92 back after GP contacted Radiology centre :clap

Will see midwife on 29th....still waiting for ECHO appt...

Debs, how did you get on with finding midwife for you?????

[jubjub]

Good news baby seems to be doing well, but not so good about your heart murmur, hopefully its a pregnancy related thing, and wont cause you any problems in the future, fingers crossed.

Sophia, you better get used to peeing on sticks, you have to do it every time.....

I remember my first scan here, they were really hard on my belly, (but they did have a lot of fat to get through!)

Heres to a quick echo appt, and relax...

[nippa&pippa]

Thanks jubjub, hope heart murmur is nothing to worry about as GP think it is ASD (hole in the heart) but just want to check if he is right or wrong.:exit

I can't wait for evening sickness to stop :yes otherwise i am fine!

[Tia Maria]

Just been catching up on your story, great to hear the baby's scan went so well, hope yours does also!

It is great not waiting for the scan, especially if you've drunk a lot of water :D . Like you say definitely worth the money.

Looking foward to more updates.

Cheers

Tia

[nippa&pippa]

Scan was so funny as baby was aslept, then lady woke baby up as it was on wrong position for nuchal scan....After few attempts to get baby to move, she sent me off to toilet and came back with baby move into correct position but won't sit still, bouncing off the wall! She did managed to caught the baby sit still for bit to take picture for nuchal! :clap

[nippa&pippa]

Right...

Childcare

I forgot to mention in last post...Childcare is one of most concern we need to sort out as we have two young children, 3 and 13months old and with no family at all nearby to looking after during labour/birth. A friend who live down the road offer to looking after them despite she got her own 3 and 4 months old :o Unfortunately, she had already booked go to canada in Sept/Oct. Other friends are not ideal, even one of them run busy motel in riccarton.
I mentioned to my midwife during first visit. She came back for second visit with informations about childcare available to us if we are happy with the plan........
Her daughter is training at Rangi Ruru Early Childhood College www.rangiruru.ac.nz/ and she offered herself to look after our children at our house. Which it is great ideas even she prepare to come out with her mum in early hour of morning if I am in labour....bless her...

I thought I mentioned about this college and possible other early childhood colleges in other cities in NZ that they always looking for families with young children for their students to have 10 days placement to work with you and your children. They have to have responsibilities looking after your children, take them to usual clubs/kindy/schools and feed them, bath them and put them to bed for you as practical placements and give you a time to yourself with extra hand helping you....ohhhhhhhh that nice!!....I am not sure if midwife's daughter will spent 10 days with us yet.....(my OH think it is too much for her to do it, but I pointed out it is part of the course, they need to learn skills before they become nanny full time, otherwise how they do know how to deal with children in home properly?). Feel free to contact local college to find out more if you want to take part......

[nippa&pippa]

Update...

Had routine checks as usual by midwife monthly at end of march and now another one next week..

Scan

Had 20weeks scan yesterday, all very well but very detailed scan, much longer than usual UK's 20 weeks scan, about 3/4hour long. She took pictures of every single important bit, head, brain, lip, nose, spine, heart, lung etc. I am surprised on how good the service is, again very short waiting for my turn and very clean place. She showed us everything on the screen, children was interesting to see their sibling then bored quickly after that :laugh and causing mayham in the room, playing hiding and seek with curtain :exit and the baby was so active too. She must be thinking we are hyper family :exit that she had troubles to take picture of baby! So with baby is fine, so far all clear for homebirth...

[jubjub]

Glad everything is going well, and in the style of Rolf Harris "do you know what it is yet?" or are you waiting for a surprise....

[Tia Maria]

Great to hear it went well and everything is just where it's suppose to be!

We hadn't decided if we'd wanted to know the sex of our first but when the women doing the scan said:

"If you don't want to know the sex don't look now"

we guessed there was probably only one thing we could have spotted! :laugh

Cheers

Tia

[nippa&pippa]

Glad everything is going well, and in the style of Rolf Harris "do you know what it is yet?" or are you waiting for a surprise....


Yes we do, but keeping secret from friends and families.....:cool:
It was spur of moment as we discussed early on about it but never talking about it again till at hospital, my OH changed his mind as he pointed out we got one of each, boy and girl as surprise, and this is 'last one':wah we opt for to know it this time....nice surprise to know it so we can start think of name again.

[nippa&pippa]

Realised not been update since april ...sorry..

Had monthly check up at home up till 28weeks and with we have moved outside of christchurch (31km away!), mean I have to meet Lynda at Midwife Resource Centre (MRC) on Manchester street, christchurch (north side of city)...a place to go for free pregnancy tests, for advice etc as well as midwives run a clinic there if they haven't got room at dr etc..with my midwife is homebirth midwife, so she meet her patients at MRC or home.
I got a student midwife allocted to me as part of her courses to study my maternity care and hopefully to attend birth. I gave my permission to Lynda, who let the midwife college know as they always looking for pregnancy women for their students, hint hint to anyone expecting a baby in christchurch!!
Her name is Sarah, she was allocted to me because she live just down the road. I was pleased to found out she is a british ex-pat, emigrated 3 years ago with her family

Had 28weeks (well had it bit late at 29weeks!) blood test on tuesday night and came back with result tonight via email..can't believe that quick for results to arrived! Got very low iron levels at 4 out of 20-200...:o that explain tiredness.
And the check up has now increase to forthnightly till 36weeks, will continue to meet at MRC.
Then 36weeks onward will be meet at my house weekly.
MW, sarah and I have been discussed about early labour plan just in case as can't have homebirth if going into labour before 37weeks as classed 'prem'..found out that I will have to go to christchurch women if happen :uhoh and discussed the back up plan on childcare for children (also for my OH's job, to find someone to look after puppy too:nice1 )

BTW Jubjub and Tia Maria, Did your mw in NZ use this same system as UK's mw of using tape to measuring the bump? my mw doesn't use it at all :nice1 I am glad cos i got small bump, enough to caused emergency scans with my other two..and found i got a huge baby anyway!! She just examination my bump to work out the size of baby! I wondering is this normal practice in NZ, to not have a tape???

[jubjub]

Glad to hear things are going well Sophia, apart from the lack of iron, I assume they are going to prescribe you a supplement to help that.

I did not have a m/w but an obstetrician, and everyone in the practice measured me with a tape.

[nippa&pippa]

Glad to hear things are going well Sophia, apart from the lack of iron, I assume they are going to prescribe you a supplement to help that.

I did not have a m/w but an obstetrician, and everyone in the practice measured me with a tape.

My mw offered to prescribe iron tablets but it had make feel sick in the past, so I take Spatone instead..only problem is they are not easy to get hold of as very few chemists sell them and they are so expensive :uhoh. She told me about there are two iron tablet brands that should be ok, so will try that tablets she mentioned today......

Interesting about tape...

[Familyofmonkeys]

My MW in UK advised me to take Florodix liquid Iron in UK. They refused to do homebirths when Iron less than 10.5 in Northants, and this stuff was great with no constipation or anything. I saw some in Countdown and foodtown recently...similar price to UK.

[nippa&pippa]

Thanks, I will remember this if the tablets I have been used fail as had eposide of nausea attacks when I did increased to 4 tablets a day on sat and sun. Mw asked to go back to 2 tablets then increased again in few days time but instead of four once a day, do two tablets twice a day to see if it work.....:exit

Had check up today, baby as usual managed to fool her whereabout the baby is!! Took a while before she managed to find where head and bottom is!! Mean still not head down, still in another transverse position....this baby got four more weeks to go to get turn around before mw decide I need scan to work out next plan! grrrrr:uhoh
Been giving labour instruction of what I need to get for labour...candle, matches, plastic sheet, plastic bags, newspaper etc.....
if anyone want to know the list for their homebirth, feel free to PM me!

[Familyofmonkeys]

I wouldn't worry too much about the position of baby. Apparently once you've had a couple they move about more....looser muscles, and don't engage until labour. My third one had head on one side of hip pressing on nerve...then decided to arrive exactly 3 weeks early, right in the middle of moving house.

[migratory birds]

Try placing headphones with lovely classical music at pubic bone...baby will work her/his way around to get head closer to music.

[nippa&pippa]

thanks for tip..other mums have mentioned getting on all four and swinging bum in the air!!!! :o or walking around on all four..that no problem if i can get my kids join in! I think it will turn eventually itself, prefer before 35weeks.

[Familyofmonkeys]

Just remembered....excercise balls are also very good for getting baby in good position. My midwife in UK advised me, when my first baby turned breach at 37 weeks. Luckily she turned back round again, so still got homebirth. These balls are really comfy to sit on, I used mine in second and third labours, and they are also good to sit on if you have a sore bum afterwards...sorry to gross anyone out!

[nippa&pippa]

...sorry to gross anyone out!

:laugh

I mean to get that ball, thanks for remind me!!...usually borrow off a friend for both previous labours but she is in UK, so better off to buy one this time! Then let kids playing with it afterward :exit

[jubjub]

I mean to get that ball, thanks for remind me!!...

I got one gathering dust, just sent you a PM...

[nippa&pippa]

I got one gathering dust, just sent you a PM...

thanks :nice1

[Tia Maria]

Yeah the ball is great, although I didn't want anything to do with it while I was in labour, when I was pregnant it was great for sitting on while I was on the computer!

The theory is that modern day living often causes a lot of these awkward positions - sofa and cars in particular have 'bucket' style seats which encourage the baby to settle in the wrong way. Its a lot less common in less developed societies, particularly ones where women sit by squatting on the floor.

So using the ball or even sitting on a wooden chair backwards (the back between your legs rather than supporting your back) is suppose to redress the balance.

However, despite all this knowledge, baby number 2 still ended up in a transverse position. This is considered more dangerous than breach as they deliver shoulder first. As a result as he hadn't moved by 38 weeks and due to other issues they booked me for a C-section the next day.

Check out this link for some midwife suggestions ranging from swimming belly down, to cycling shorts. Its a really good site for all sorts of pregnancy info:

www.radmid.demon.co.uk/presentation.htm#trans

Good Luck!!!

Cheers

Tia

[Familyofmonkeys]

Just been unpacking and came across two books that we bought to prepare my older kids for homebirth.....really useful, got them from amazon. Hello Baby by Jenni Overend and Mummy laid an egg by Babette Cole. First one shows nice homebirth and second one explains more about where babies come from in a way that toddlers understand, but was surprisingly factual and humerous.

[Tia Maria]

How's it going? When is your due date?

Cheers

Tia

[nippa&pippa]

Fine thanks! Still pregnancy, grrr as getting fed up:roll
Baby is suppose to be due on 17th sept, so just under 3 weeks to go...
My midwife have been brilliant and keeping me well despite all pregnancy-related problems pop up. One of them is blood pressure was bit high, enough to force me to REST...my OH has been brilliant and supportive with taking care of children once he get home from work and done food shopping for me. That is something we don't think about on how much you need your own family's supports with they are in UK, especially this will be my first labour without my mum's support :(
I have asked Helen (Moorf) to let all of you know via this forum's lounge when the baby (finally :roll ) arrive.....;)

[Familyofmonkeys]

Hope it all goes well for you....my midwife in UK kept telling me third babies always surprise people. She was not kidding....have a good laugh at this for timing....

....first 2 arrived at home after long labours...28 1/2 hours and 17 1/2 hours and were both 1 day early. We sold our house and moved into temporary rental the day I turned 37 weeks with no 3....thought I had a good couple of weeks to rest after move:laugh

No such luck....just picked up rental keys and I went 'pop' in the car...ended up going home sat on plastic bag to find house totally packed up into lorry. Ended up having baby no 3 in rental house, in hastily put together bedroom with halogen heater (hadn't figured out the boiler settings at that point!), funner still was that unknown to me my dad and old school friends were moving stuff in downstairs and got to hear the whole thing :laugh ...apparently my dad does not want to be reincarnated as a woman :D

[nippa&pippa]

funner still was that unknown to me my dad and old school friends were moving stuff in downstairs and got to hear the whole thing :laugh ...apparently my dad does not want to be reincarnated as a woman :D

:laugh I don't blame him ;)
My mum had also had long labour with first two, me and my sister, even we both were day early and a week late respectively. My youngest sister arrived two weeks early with short labour, so I agree with your midwife there! Hope that work with me..that will be my day if I will ever had shorter labour this time instead of 37 hour and 36 hour with my other two.

[jubjub]

Sophia, my friends had a homebirth for their third (by accident) she slept through 90% of her labour (partly thinking she was dreaming it all), and suddenly woke up and pushed! Dad did not really want to be midwife, but had no choice, he had a friendly 999 operator talking him through it! Baby number 4 arrived in hospital they made it there in time!

You be a good girl and get some rest, make sure hubby does lots of stuff round the house for you, and if need be, hire a cleaner or something for a few weeks.

[Tia Maria]

nippa&pippa wrote:

Fine thanks! Still pregnancy, grrr as getting fed up :roll
Baby is suppose to be due on 17th sept, so just under 3 weeks to go...

No need to be fed up anymore ;) :nice1

Cheers

Tia

[Familyofmonkeys]

Did homebirth go according to plan?

[nippa&pippa]

Did homebirth go according to plan?

It was an amazing homebirth, lots better than I was expected. Very relaxing in birthpool with just gary, lynda (midwife) and sarah (student) present and children was in bed. Midwife unfortunately missed the birth as she was on the phone to organise 2nd midwife, michelle, to come over asap. Poor student stood there and don't know what she suppose or what she is allowed to do without midwife there :laugh then we all was speechless afterward for few mins with me holding baby in the pool. Midwives agreed this birth will be remember for long time :nice1 and had lovely 6 hours of skin-to-skin cuddle with baby:)
I would recommend the canterbury homebirth team for anyone thinking about homebirth in Canterbury because it was so brilliant and supportive teams ensuring the mum and family is care for. Afterbirth care was so fantastic, blew my OH and myself away as no rush to pack themselves, away like in UK under 2hr after romilly's birth, they was gone! For this baby, they stay for 5hours afterward, taking care of me and baby, taking time..and ensure myself and baby is ok before they leave.

[vixxann]

Sophia that sounds lovely :) so glad it worked out well for you and the midwife team was so good. Let us know what the little guys name is when you've decided. Big welcome anyway :raebanana

[Familyofmonkeys]

It was an amazing homebirth, lots better than I was expected. Very relaxing in birthpool with just gary, lynda (midwife) and sarah (student) present and children was in bed. Midwife unfortunately missed the birth as she was on the phone to organise 2nd midwife, michelle, to come over asap. Poor student stood there and don't know what she suppose or what she is allowed to do without midwife there :laugh then we all was speechless afterward for few mins with me holding baby in the pool. Midwives agreed this birth will be remember for long time :nice1 and had lovely 6 hours of skin-to-skin cuddle with baby:)
I would recommend the canterbury homebirth team for anyone thinking about homebirth in Canterbury because it was so brilliant and supportive teams ensuring the mum and family is care for. Afterbirth care was so fantastic, blew my OH and myself away as no rush to pack themselves, away like in UK under 2hr after romilly's birth, they was gone! For this baby, they stay for 5hours afterward, taking care of me and baby, taking time..and ensure myself and baby is ok before they leave.

That all sounds fab...nice memory for you all :)

[holland]

Sophia, sounds like it was a very calm birth and you were well looked after.

Enjoy xxxxxx

J xx

[Asli&Mark]

Congratulations Sophia,

I hope everything is well. Let me know if you need anything or any help.
I am home and getting bored and can help picking the kids from school and spending time with them so you can rest??

As I said just let me know

Asli

[nippa&pippa]

Today, my OH just done bury the placenta under new tree in our garden with a help from my son and we find it, very surprising, "very special" to have it done...feel like we have said thank you for bringing our son into world safety....

[Familyofmonkeys]

Today, my OH just done bury the placenta under new tree in our garden with a help from my son and we find it, very surprising, "very special" to have it done...feel like we have said thank you for bringing our son into world safety....

You have a brave husband. When OH was asked if wanted to look at placenta after 2nd baby, he was pretty shocked....don't think he would dispose of one. Was reading about lotus births recently....they are supposed to last quite along time apparently!

[nippa&pippa]

Postnatal care

After birth, a midwife is the lead maternity carer for mother and baby's postnatal care for next six weeks.

After birth Lynda have phoned us every night to see how Eliot and I was for first few day as well as visit us every day for a week, before reduce to three times a week then twice a week, then once a week over the period of 6 weeks, depend on how we are coping. Midwife will come out sooner if there any concern, like one saturday night, I was concern about Eliot's reflux, Lynda came out next morning on sunday, first thing at 9am! :nice1.
The postnatal care contain full check up on baby including weight and for mother, general health check up including check for no blood clot present (never had questions on this in UK).
Gurthie test was discussed then carried out with my permission few days after birth.
Immunisation was also discussed too, this was to be done by GP at 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months. You need to go to GP to book appts, not wait for appt letter from health board like UK.
Eliot been refer to christchurch hospital to have hearing tests on my requested. He had his hearing test few weeks ago and been asked by Dr to retest in January 2008. Good news is the newborn hearing test will be part of routine newborn check up next year in NZ to follow UK's.
Finally (sadly :wah) we have been discharged by mdwife at 6 weeks after full check up on Eliot and myself before hand over to Plunket Nurse for well child care from 6weeks till 5 years old.

Finally..

For me, having had 2 babies in UK and a baby in NZ, I do prefer maternity care in NZ over UK because NZ have different prenatal and postnatal care of same midwife will be care for you from day you pick her/him to be your midwife all the way to 6 weeks postbirth as well as with you during whole labour and birth. You will build a very good relationship that help you have very relax labour and birth because you already know her and she know your background to be aware of. Your midwife already know what is your birth plan before labour and respect your wish. You can change midwife if you not happy with first midwife. The blood tests I had it done few times (due to low iron level) was done with result back within a day or 2, so quick compare with 7-10 days wait in UK. For my midwife, she had been brilliant and already miss her coming around but still keeping in touch via email to keep her update on Eliot's progress :D

Before I finish off....I want to wish Laura (sharpblade) the best of luck for her first homebirth next month. I hope she will have very good experience too and hope Lynda will be her 2nd midwife ;)

[SharpBlade]

Hi Sophia,
funny you should post today.. I saw my midwife today, everything is going very well, I am nearly 35 weeks now, still cycling with the kids and going swimming etc.. Michelle (midwife) said that we would discuss my "birth plan" at her next visit, which means things like "who is going to catch the baby, cut the cord , etc.. " and I think it is great that my husband will get the opportunity to "catch the baby" first instead of being a sideline spectator..Hopefully, the kids will want to be part of it too, but I understand they might be a bit put off..
I have to get my birth kit ready, but things are moving along, we bought a buggy on trademe and got lots of stuff from friends.
I will send you a pm after the birth anyway, but thanks for wishing me good luck ! Have fun in your campervan...
Laura

[nippa&pippa]

I think it is great that my husband will get the opportunity to "catch the baby" first instead of being a sideline spectator..Hopefully, the kids will want to be part of it too, but I understand they might be a bit put off..


Make sure your midwife is in the room during birth ;) after what happen to mine! but it was nice to deliver Eliot by myself, great experience!
I also planned to have kids present at birth too but unfortunately they were asleep...it was happened during early hour of morning so we left them to sleep during labour/birth. Ashley was upset about it as he was looking forward after we did explained to him what will happen, what is involve and there is a book about homebirth, sure Michelle told you about it and borrow off her?
We let Ashley to be "midwife assistant" and watched daddy cut the cord once he woke up very soon after birth.
908
Here is Ashley as an assistant!

[Familyofmonkeys]

What an adorable picture. I love the way my older two have bonded with, and help with the baby. It's nice to get them involved.

[flatshoes]

On small note about homebirth, it is bit of taboo in New Zealand.

I would agree with this, it is not approved here, I had a homebirth in the States and people were horrified there too though. :D

[Tia Maria]

Bump for The Hodges!

Tia

[nippa&pippa]

Good point Tia!

Fogot to mention that the cost of hire the birthpool from homebirth team is $100, would be varied depend areas and midwives teams you are using. Usually they gave you a week before birth, lucky in my situation with Eliot decided to arrived two week early:roll , the midwife brought birthpool over when I had my first sign of labour so give my OH plenty of time to set up the pool for me. Birthpool was fantastic to use and give to get rid off most of pain, I would recommend everyone to try it if they have access to the pool. Birthpool is available in hospital and birth centre too, check with your midwife/hospital if you not opt for homebirth. I didn't paid for birthpool till Eliot was 6 months old :o (midwife and I had forgotten all about it till midwife contacted me!:laugh )

[Familyofmonkeys]

Fogot to mention that the cost of hire the birthpool from homebirth team is $100

Blimey that is very cheap! Oh wouldn't let me get pool in UK as cost too much. Ended up having babies in different rooms round the house instead...just to make it interesting :p

[nippa&pippa]

Firstly, can't believe Eliot will be one year old very soon.....

Secondly, over last a year, I had few people asked what is like to have homebirth. Every women cope differently with birth including homebirth & hospital birth. It is down to mother dealing herself with (most important) very good support midwife or father. All you need to be calm and relax....I know easy to say than done :laugh but I did it!

I decided to add my homebirth story to save me hassle to repaste the story each times people asked for it...seem more and more people have opt for homebirth than before..

Anyway here is Eliot's birth story.......
Eliot Harry born on 4th Sept 2007 at 6:17am New Zealand time (GMT 7:17pm, 3rd Sept 2007) at home.

It was an amazing homebirth....
Since 2nd sept, I have been having contractions on/off since I had unusual show in early hours of morning. I contacted midwife once we all got up to let her know what had happening..
She came around with Student Midwife in afternoon to check the progress. Midwife thought baby will be arrived that night of Father's day even I told her I don't think so....
Then at 3pm on Monday 3rd Sept, the contractions started just before I was due to pick my son up from Kindy, it become regularly and stronger, so I had to wait in car for contraction, then it stopped, before I went into Kindy, picked my son up and made it back to car just in time before another one!! No-one at Kindy knew about it. I did let midwife know again later about it restarted but by 9pm, it stopped and made decision to go to bed early at 9:30pm which turned out to be very good decision!! Woke up at 12:30pm with contractions started again, I stayed in bed till 3:45am the water broke half way through the contraction!!
I woke my OH up to tell him to call midwife asap knowing how quick our children was born after water broke. He was fantastic, on go to get everything organised, ring Midwife and Student up, fill the birthpool up (oh god, it took ages!!), stacking the logburner up so the room is very warm for baby's birth then went off to bottom of our driveaway to put mini flashing light on our mailbox so Midwife can find our house in dark as we have no streetlight etc and she is not country girl like Student midwife while I stayed in lounge, controlling my breathing, knowing my contractions is getting very strong, frequently and last longer...yes I did got bit worried that I may give birth without midwives...
Lucky the baby stayed put longer for me allowing me go into pool. Ahhhh what a lovely relief once I got in, the warm water done great job in pain relief than gas & air I have tried with my first son's birth, once midwife was happy with pool she then got afterbirth kits up and running next to the pool just in case any complications with baby, then I said to OH that I feel like I am about to have pushing stages, I just know it is coming...I was so focusing on breathing controlling that I wasn't aware that Midwife had left room to phone for 2nd midwife, to come over when I had very strong urge to push, Eliot was born with just one hard long push then I just sit in the middle of pool, feel like few mins but actually few seconds, waiting for someone to pick the baby up..there was no-one did, so I searched for him at the bottom of pool, before found him and scoop him up, met with face looking at me quietly before start to screaming at me!!. Poor Student midwife was speechless that had happened so quick, not knowing what she can do or what she is allow to do because she is only 1st year student and it is her second birth she have witness. Midwife finally walked back into room, finding me in the middle of pool, holding the baby..her face was picture and speechless as she didn't know I was that close and coping with pain surprising very well according to her.
I was allowed to stay in pool for 15mins holding and feeding him before I came out onto birth mat for continue skin-to-skin contacts. The third stage's delivery (placenta) was done 30mins later by myself without injection but just before I did, the midwives finally tied the cord.
Midwives then move me to settee with Eliot, wrapped both of us in blanket..lovely
While sitting on settee, 2nd Midwife finally turn up! Children was finally woke up at 8am and met Eliot. My son was very pleased that he got a brother and my daughter...hmmm, her face was thunder, wondering what is going on but slowly coming around.
Finally at 9am, 3hours after birth, Eliot was taken for very through check up, weight and planceta also was given check over in front of whole family before Eliot was return back to me, still naked apart from nappy this time.
Eliot and myself had skin-to-skin contact for nearly 5 hour before I finally got myself shower and dress soon after midwives left at 10am.
Before they left, we have lovely conversation about outcome of birth, they all agree that this birth will one they never forgot because I delivered Eliot by myself without any midwife around apart from Student midwife and my OH. Also it was so calming and gentle birth for baby as I didn't make any noise at all that why they didn't realise I was so close when midwife walked out of the room.
For 2 days, midwife have been ring up every night to check how we are as well as came over for an hour every morning for check up on progress of Eliot and myself till yesterday and now every two days. Brilliant midwives team..I have to said that this baby's birth is much better experience than other children's births.
Amazing experience because it was so natural as possible, with longer skin-to-skin contact, with able to deliver planceta by myself and never used any pain relief..(even I forgot to put TENS machine on)


Just want to point out, I am not hippy mummy, just I like homebirth as well as cloth nappies & babywearer....

I love using cloth nappies, here is good start if you are new to cloth nappies but want to use it...
www.thenappynetwork.org.nz/

here is really good link for advices on choosing babywearer for yourself, made one or advice on how to put it on....like backwrapping of moby wrap :laugh I got homemade moby wrap, homemade ring sling and sleepy nico carrier :)
www.thebabywearer.com/

[holland]

Sophia, the birth sounds like such a beautiful experience and brought a tear to me eye, thanks for sharing xx

[thewoodies]

Just found this post! I had my first one in hospital (not a pleasant experience) and my last 2 at home - What a difference - i would recommend the home birth every time . :D

[JandM]

What a beautiful story. Thank you.

[nippa&pippa]

Just found this post! I had my first one in hospital (not a pleasant experience) and my last 2 at home - What a difference - i would recommend the home birth every time . :D

Agree with you there, i had my first child at birth centre but feel too clinical. I wish i had him at home instead...

[Tia Maria]

What a lovely story Nippa & Pippa. :)

My Homebirth story wasn't quite so idyllic and ended up in an emergency transfer to the hospital and an emergency C-section - from one extreme to the other! But I'm glad we tried at home first, if only because sitting in the birthing pool, in the spare bedroom, in the last days of pregnancy was bliss!

I think the important thing in all birth planning, is to feel you've had a say in how things go but to also prepare for when things don't go the way you hoped (as is often the case!).

Read up on everything and anything so if in the heat of the moment they say we are 'going to have to use blah blah', you know exactly what it is and whether you want it!

All the best to those currently pregnant!

Cheers

Tia

[BkyMonster]

Why is homebirth frowned upon in NZ? Any input? How is it normally done?
Both my younger siblings were born at home with the aid of a midwife and I got to watch them come out.
In the US it seems quite the norm to have scheduled C-sections, something I am personally horrified by. I think even birthing centers are regarded as unusual here. :no

Lovely story though. I remember this thread from when I joined the forum :)

[Carol]

Just been reading all of this for the first time... lovely story.

My own hospital births were all great - I have to say it was much more "me" than giving birth at home would have been.... the birth in NZ (at Kenepuru) was particularly lovely as I had the most amaaaazing midwife.
(Arrived at hospital and gave birth 30 mins later eeek! a close one!)
:D

But its great that you had the chance to do things your way.... He was born on our Silver Wedding Anniversary!

[Familyofmonkeys]

Blimey that is very cheap! Oh wouldn't let me get pool in UK as cost too much. Ended up having babies in different rooms round the house instead...just to make it interesting :p

Me too :) And no 3 decided to arrive in middle of moving house too :roll

[nippa&pippa]

Why is homebirth frowned upon in NZ? Any input? How is it normally done?


Like UK, it is getting more acceptable :yes and more women opt for homebirth for many different reasons.
I am still in touch with my midwife as she like to hear updates on Eliot :nice1 and on last email from her last month, she mentioned that chch's homebirth team's booking is filling up fast than before.
I don't know how other women decided on having homebirth in NZ or why it is frowned upon in NZ. I still get some funny look from other mums at playgroups etc but few mums pat my back for "try" it :laugh
For me, it was my friend who had it in UK, told me to try after I didn't enjoy birth centre with my first child's birth but his birth was so straight-forward.
I think it is more common by word of mouth from other mums who has homebirth encourage mum-to-be.
What about you, FOM? what made you?

[Familyofmonkeys]

What about you, FOM? what made you?

We went to visit the maternity unit at our local hospital (no birth centres nearby) and I was completely utterly horrified at the lack of privacy as well as 'hospital policy' like cutting cord straight away, syntometin compulsory, accelerating labour if dilation not fast enough or 24 hours since waters broke (despite WHO guidelines say 3 days is safe unless raised temperature), regular internals, no food during labour, needing a Dr permission to check out or having 'left against medical advice' on your records, visiting hours etc. Talked to a good friend of mine who is a midwife and had both her kids at home and decided that if midwifes think it is safe to have first baby at home it is worth looking into. Few community midwives pointed out to me that even if you needed a crash c-section in hospital they still needed to get an anesthetist as they are on-call and that would take about 20 minutes. If you needed to transfer from home it would take about 20 minutes and they would prep you in ambulance and take you direct to theatre or if big emergency it takes 7 minutes in air ambulance and you'd probably be in theatre before the anesthetist was even ready.

First birth 28 1/2 hours (would have been accelerated if in hospital) no drugs at all, very easy and relaxed at home, wasn't too nervous as had done loads of research so had an idea of what was going on even if painful. Completely avoided pre-natal sessions as didn't want to make a prat of myself panting and thought it would be far better to do whatever came naturally at the time :) Second birth 17 1/2 hours easiest of the lot despite bigger baby and meconium (would have been episiotomy and forceps in i'd been in hospital due to 'hospital policy') but baby in no distress at all. Third birth 3 hours (more or less) in middle of moving house.....most painful of the lot...mostly because I was rather stressed unpacking furniture in between contractions and trying to find where we'd put all the baby clothes etc, and I could hear all the guys downstairs cracking jokes while moving furniture when all I wanted was some peace and quiet........but don't regret a thing. Best bit is getting into your own bed with your newborn baby, having your family around you to share experience in private :)

[benandclare]

Hi guys as an experienced senior neonatal nurse the subject of home birth is a dear one to my heart as I have seen at close hand the good and the bad.

If all is well and there are NO risk factors then it may well be worth consideration, but there are no guarantees and things do go wrong even with the best of midwives. You are very reliant on your midwives skill and experience to recognise when things may not be so good and to react in a prompt and appropriate way. I have seen a mix of approaches in both NZ and the UK so make sure that the midwife you choose has an A1 track record (very difficult to assess) talk to your GP about who they recommend dont just go on the midwives CV.

Wherever you choose to deliver remember that you can have a say - a birth plan discussed with your midwife well in advance that has caveats to change in the event of things not going to plan is essential and encouraged. Surely no right minded health professional is going to make any well progressing healthily delivering woman have any pain relief etc that they dont want !!!! why would they?!

When things go wrong being at home will cause a delay - it's the trade off for being at home!

I wish all you preggers and future preggers folk all the best where ever you choose to deliver and if in hospital then please be reassured that we are not all bad!!!

TTFN Clare X :D

[jo b]

Hi all,

Well I am 12 weeks pregnant and I am planning a home birth (UK). I had both my daughter and son in hospital and whilst they were ok births, no episiotomy just small tears and relatively straight forward births this time I just want the comfort of my own home.
I also don't want to become a patient on the merrygoround of hospital births where they have a timescale for everything rather than letting nature take it's course.
Last year before I miscarried my midwife was delighted I had chose a home birth.She said oh it's great you'll have 2 midwives solely to your self and we'll be in no rush to leave. My kids will be there especially my 13yearold daughter who I have said has to be my birth partner (jokingly). I hope this keep her a virgin for life!!!

Jo

[Carol]

Hi all,

Well I am 12 weeks pregnant
Jo


:eek::nice1:clap:cheers


OMG!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS JO!!!!!

wahooo!!!

delighted for ya
mwah

[jo b]

Why thank you my dear friend

If I could just stop throwing up!!!

Jo

[Carol]

Why thank you my dear friend

If I could just stop throwing up!!!

Jo


You will hun.....2 more weeks...

Ginger snap?
:nice1

[Familyofmonkeys]

Hi all,

Well I am 12 weeks pregnant and I am planning a home birth (UK).

Congratulations :)

[JandM]

Congratulations, and all the best!:clap:nice1

[GreenMeansGo]

great thread. I think it is great that midwifery care is standard (from my understanding, anyway) in the UK and NZ. Here in the states that is very much not the case. Hospital birth is the norm, and while birthing in a birth center is 'acceptable', home birth is still somewhat a fringe activity and some people will definitely look at you funny if you share your plans with them.

I am looking forward to my first homebirth with my 3rd child (due in dec). My first was in a hospital with a doc, my second was in a freestanding birth center with nurse-midwives, and now this. I joke with my husband that I'm getting crunchier and crunchier as time goes on. I was blessed to have good experiences with both my pregnancies and births, but really do appreciate the more personalized care that my midwives provided. And honestly, with water breaking almost 2 days before the birth of my first daughter in the hospital, there was a lot of pressure and stress to get that baby out! Without my doula I am sure I would have ended up caving to the medical routine (drugs to stimulate labor, pain meds to deal with the contractions, possibly a c-section). I do think though, as Clare said, hospital/medical births are not necessarily bad, I just am really glad when mothers have the information and the options that they can choose what is best for them!!

With the second birth, it was in a freestanding birth center. And although the midwives there have hospital privileges, pretty much everything that they provide at their birth center is the same as what my homebirth midwife will provide for me, in the comfort of my own home! And, in the event that a transfer would be needed, my home is approximately the same distance from the hospital as the birthcenter. Plus, at birthcenters in the US, you are discharged just a few hours after birth, which is a real down-side considering I'm giving birth in winter in Alaska, lol.

So anyway, although I won't (unless the immigration gods are truly smiling upon us... or laughing at us!!) be birthing in NZ, I'll continue to follow this thread with interest! Congratulations Jo, hope you feel better soon!!

Claire
another cloth diapering (nappy-ing?), baby wearing mom (mum?, I"ve got to get used to the lingo ;))

[nippa&pippa]

another cloth diapering (nappy-ing?), baby wearing mom (mum?, I"ve got to get used to the lingo ;))

:D:laugh