L took all my medical/obstetric history and all that stuff. Grilled me a little about Emma's pregnancy/birth (because I was anaemic, had gestational diabetes, a high BP label even though that was only the end, and haemorrhaged after the birth), but pretty much came to the same conclusion as me - some of it was diet/lifestyle, some was the hospital being induction-happy jerkwads at the end. So not a problem in terms of homebirthing, particularly as Alastair's pregnancy/birth was much easier, despite also being an induced labour. Boy, did I feel embarrassed saying I was induced because the OB convinced me it was a good idea *sigh*.
She said she'll do bloods next time because she was really tired (up all night at a birth), which is fine with me. I'd probably skip them entirely but am somewhat curious about my haemoglobin level. I think it's ok now I'm taking the liquid iron, because I *feel* better. No problems with me not wanting ultrasound or doppler - she tried to hear the heartbeat with a fetoscope but couldn't, which isn't surprising at 20 weeks, especially with Alastair sitting on the couch next to me squealing!
Fundal height is about right, sitting right under my belly button, so all indications are that everything is fine.
I need to decide if I want a doula, and what I plan on doing with the kids! (I don't think either of them would be very good at the birth - both need a lot of attention, and Alastair would be scared to see me in pain.)
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FWIW, I saw numerous homebirths as a child, starting from the age of about four. How old is Emma now?
Another possibility is that I could have someone come over here to be her support person, so she could go in and out of the room as she pleased and have someone to attend exclusively to her needs. I have to ask her what she thinks about it, too. When we told her I was having the baby at home, she got really upset because she thought it meant she wouldn't get to go stay with Granny (Garry's mum) like she did when I was in hospital with Alastair.
Alasdair would be a bad idea to have there, but I reckon Emma could be a possibility, if she had someone who was completely focused on her with her at all times.
I'm so excited you're having the baby at home! Are you getting a pool or anything like that? Does your midwife accept the baby bonus as payment, or are you paying her as you go (sorry if that's too personal a question, feel free not to answer it)?
I'm borrowing a pool - this awesome group I'm a part of that started through online forums actually purchased 2 and we pass them around the members (very fertile members, heh) paying about $60 each to use it. The MW is through the Community Midwifery Program (http://www.cmwa.net.au/) so she's actually virtually free to me, except for the $150 booking fee. It's a fantastic program, though one of the problems with being government-funded and under the umbrella of a hospital is that they have quite strict protocols on who they can accept, hence the slight grilling to check I am considered 'low-risk'.