Getting Back Online
Blogging guidelines say never to apologise for not blogging. Well, I'm sorry I've not been blogging and sorry I just said so.
Anybody who blogs will know that life just takes over some times. Although I normally find time to blog, even when really busy, getting the bathroom back "online" has taken up all my time recently. It's now back in use and I get some time spare to get life back to normal.
In other news Karen is now on maternity leave. Today we went to pick up the pram. We're waiting on a neighbour to carpet the nursery (once my office) and then I can put the cot up. For the last couple of Mondays we've been to ante-natal classes at the local hospital (although, did I mention, we're having a home birth in a pool). It's all coming together nicely. This year is going to have been one of the best of my life so far.
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Great news Jake! :) Sounds a bit scary though!
Scary? The baby on the way bit? It's equal parts exciting and scary at the same time...
Jake,
I remember when my daughter was born. It was one of the greatest times of my life. So I know where you are coming from.
Enjoy every moment man.
Also, bathroom looks really nice. Great job man.
E
Jake,
I'm curious, a home birth in a pool? Is this something that you set up temporarily or would you use your own tub?
I guess the next time we read "Surf's up dude!" on here, it will have a new meaning. :)
Michael. It's a kit you can buy {Link} and come with pool, thermometer, food-grade pipe, pump etc for < 100 GBP. Whether it gets re-used or is worth anything on eBay once used remains to be seen.
It's not that we're hippy type modern parents or anything. I just thinks hospitals should be avoided at all costs and there's no reason, all being well, to have a baby in hospital. Everything I've heard and read makes me think it's a much more relaxed experience for all involved when in familiar surroundings.
Good to see you back on line. Home birth in this modern era sounds crazy, but with the stories you hear, I think avoiding the hospital is the best move.
Best of luck and keep posting updates!!!
Good to see good things happening for you Jake.
My wife is also pregnant at the moment and she due in March next year. We are going with a hospital birth as I believe why waste all of the advancements we have made in medicine and what if on that off chance things do go wrong, (sorry for the doom) but really you are risking the life of your wife and child the two most precious things in the world. My wife has already had one miscarriage and I don't want anything to go wrong on this time.
my wife gave birth in May and i'm glad we were in the Hospital, she had a Postpartum hemorrhage and lost half her blood. If she was at home then she would'nt be here today. Like Danny i don't want to be a merchant of doom, if you are in the hospital, a medical team can be with you in seconds. I remember the thing happening and one minute i was holding my daughter in a room with just 3 people in, to a team of hightly trained medical staff checking stats and beeping registrars....
Hey Jake,
I echo Danny and Stu's comments. There is really a lot to birth that having medical professinoals with full kit on hand is good for. But it really depends on your hospital too. I hate to think Nottingham has Soviet grade medical care, but you'd be better disposed to know than I.
We had both of ours in a great local hospital. Our first did quite a bit of damage on her way out requiring 45 minutes of needle and thread work. (I'll never look at a thanksgiving turkey the same way again.... *shudder*). Our second, however, was quick and painless (wife attested) and we probably could have done it at home. The two were about 18 months apart, and I think that had something to do with my wife being more than preparred to give birth the second go round. With the gap between Quinn and Jake jr., I dare say Karen would probably not be similarly disposed... that is to say, some effort will likely be required - and if that effort runs into an hour or more, a fetal heart monitor will be critical. That way you know if the baby gets entangled in the umbilical while working his way out the birth canal. (Sorry to get graphic but I want you to be prepared, fully.) If baby gets stuck, or isn't coming head first (like shoulder first or breech), some hospitals would stand ready to perform emergency c-section if the baby is in distress.
There's a lot of variability here Jake. If you're doing it at home, at least have a family doctor in and a midwife hired. They'll be able to navigate 80% of it on their own merits and both worth any ammount of money they ask if something goes amiss.
That said, we'll be praying everything goes smoothly and wonderfully for all of you!
Jake, bet you're wishing you'd never mentioned it now....
Jake,
My wife and I had our daughter at home in a birthing pool and I wouldn't change that experience for anything.
Whilst I agree that there can be complications, as long as you are aware of the risks then the choice is yours.
My wife also had some post-partum hemorrhaging and was whisked off to hospital by the paramedics after our daughter was born and then spent the next 36 hours in hospital. However, at home you will be with professionals who know what they are doing and can assess the situation - you will have at least 2 midwives with you and all their kit.
Also, a little advice - when you set up the birthing pool, make sure you have plenty of space around the outside (move sofas, chairs etc to another room), the midwives have a alot of kit and your wife won't spend all the time in the pool - our front room felt pretty cramped with 5 of us there plus all the equipment.
Also, another useful trick is to place the birthing pool on a couple of duvets or thick blankets, so that when in the pool the floor is not hard to be kneeling on.
It is not necessary to purchase the pool either, they can be hired - the companies deliver and collect the pools. I'll find the details of the company we used when I get home at the weekend.
And one last thing - get in the pool too! My wife said it was one the most special things about the pool - having me in the pool next to her, being able to hold her, support her etc.
Good luck!
Stuart
Haven't read in a while. Did I miss you saying where you will work out of now that your office is a nursery?
The pool idea sounds very calming.
Just remember you can't plan on having the baby the exact week your wife is due. She could have the baby 5 weeks early like mine did! My wife's water broke and was in the high risk ward of the hospital for a week on bed reset before delivering out daught 5 weeks early. Her lungs weren't fully developed so they kept her in the oven for another week and gave steroid injections to jump start the lung development. Everything worked out in the end but it was anything but a smooth delivery!
I appreciate the concern but we've made an informed decision to have the baby at home. If for any reason we can't I will be disappointed to say the least. If for any reason we need to go to hospital during the labour it's a 7 minute drive. If we lived in the sticks I'd think twice about home birth. The midwife says it will always be an ambulance to take us in if needs be. I'd imagine this would get the journey time down to 5 minutes.
I can see why people would be concerned about home births, but I'd be just as concerned being in hospital. To me the one big bonus of home birthing is the mother being relaxed.
mate, becoming dad for the first time triggers feelings I cannot describe. I'd like to experience that again, unfortunately my child is almost four years old at present :)
There's nothing to be scared about it, you'll see that the instinct of you as parents will guide you to do the right thing for the baby.
And your life will definitely change, no more late nights coding/drinking beers/wasting time at parties/whatever . At least this is what happened to me :)