Preparing to TTC in 2022

@PinkButtercups that's really reassuring! Tears and pooping are my vbac fears 😬

@LemonZestDribbles I'm back using opks to get my cycle tracked. Mine start faint about 5 days before ovulation then get dark around my peak. They gradually get darker too.

Interesting to read some of your previous birth stories. Next time around I'll not be as shy to request an epidural. I reacted badly to the drip and had back to back contractions for hours. I waited 12 hours before I requested one as was managing (just!) on gas and air. It was bliss when I got it. Plus 2 hours later had my EMCS so it helped with that too. Pethidine was vile. Made me sick and hallucinate!

Hi all. Anyone else coming to the end of the TWW? Due AF due Mon. Have all the symptoms from first pregnancy, sore boobs, nauseous and cm creamy then stringy yellow. Trying not to get too ahead of myself but can't help it

@LemonZestDribbles V limited experience as only 2 cycles so far but mine goes from nothing to peak overnight. Would have missed it had I not started testing twice a day when I saw ewcm. I think some women get a gradual rise and some get a much shorter peak.

@BlueberryMacaron For years I’ve said that if I was having a baby I’d want an elective C. Suddenly changed my mind recently and want a home birth, water pool, gas and air only! I’m very pro medical intervention in most things and a big planner who likes certainty, but I think I’d be more comfortable and relaxed at home than in hospital.

I didn't feel it happen tbh! It was a 2nd degree tear. I didn't feel it happen at all. I quickly got stitched up after birth and didn't feel that happening either. Of course I was numbed but just felt like a little tug x

@Dreamingof3 definitely the men's turn

@Alice1608 DH is on wellman. Like @Theawkwardblonde I thought it couldn't hurt and I have to take a cocktail of pills at dinner so he can too 🤣

@PinkButtercups that sounds so intense 😩 the idea of a tear terrifies me. Was it bad?

@BlueberryMacaron good on you for having a list. It's your body, I don't think they'll resist your wishes 🤞

Those doing opks, do yours graduate up from faint to darker to peak? Or do they go from nothing to peak? Mine are still really faint (predicted ov day Sunday) and I can't remember what mine were like with DS. DH will be leaving for a business trip on Monday so I'm getting the no peak until next week fear 🙃

@BlueberryMacaron I thought initially would want planned C section too but when reading online seemed like would need to fight for reason to have it.. main thing that makes me nervous about natural labour is that timing is unpredictable and emergency C sections/being induced are common. Emergency C section seems more stressful than planned one.
I am however not so keen on the healing process after C section..

Congratulations @PinkButtercups !

My very strong birth preference would be an elective c section. As I understand, maternal request should grant you a c section as long as you go through the risks with a consultant (funny that you don't have to go through the risks of a vaginal birth too). I'm a planner and for me the predictably of a c section is better than the uncertainty of attempting a natural birth. I actually have a list of notes in my phone for reasons to choose a c section over a vaginal birth, with things I've read over the years in case I have to fight my case if and when the time comes!

It all sounds horrendous to be honest...isn't it about time the men did it?!

With my DS I tore in birth. But I know I pushed when I wasn't having a contraction because I was just so exhausted. I was induced on the Wednesday and had him on the Saturday.

I was pushing for around 5 hours with a break in between because he got distressed. It was only then a male doctor come in because he could see our obs outside and wasn't happy. Came in and checked and DS had turned himself back to back which I felt him do a day before induction. After the doctor turned him back around and I had a rest for an hour out he popped. I do feel like they should've picked up on it sooner the midwives in the room. Thankful for that male doctor.

I had gas and air and pethidine. Pethidjne made me puke on everyone so had anti sickness then I peed myself and I also shat myself whilst giving birth. It happens 🥹. As you can imagine what I look like giving birth, I'm ready to do it again 🤣🤣.

@anibendod sounds like we are experiencing something similar. Worth just testing after 14dpo to see if period comes and test to be sure..

@PinkButtercups congrats! 😃

Aww thank you! Will look into this! Xxz

@Alice1608 I upped my vitamin d, vitamin c, and took folic acid before conceiving our DD last year. Husband was on well man conception. No idea if it helped but it can't of hurt!

Good luck! Sending you lots of sticky baby dust starting in May (so a few days!lol). I'm curious if everyone had used male vitamins and if they work? And what vitamins (if any) people are taking before conception? Does this make a difference? Xxx

@nypie if you are open to pain relief just know your options. I bought milli hills positive birth book which helped prepare me.

my labour was 3-4hrs so I am hoping to have a homebirth next time as I won’t make it to hospital.

13DPO. spotting looks like continuing into 4th day today and I'm very crampy. it's got a little heavier but nowhere near a period - 1 pantyliner a day is more than handling it.

Tested this morning on an easy@home with FMU but a clear negative. Who knows what's going on in there?!! AF due tomorrow so we'll see what that brings

Congratulations to @PinkButtercups as well.

And welcome to everyone else that's just joined.

Hi all, messaging to make sure I can keep up to date on this thread (embarrassingly don’t know how to get notifications on a thread I haven’t commented on… should probs get myself over to tech support😅)

congrats to all the positives and fingers crossed for everyone, especially May crew…. Our time is nearly here! Off to do a big pregnancy test/ovulation strip/male vitamin shop….

Congratulations @Brightonbelle87

I have epilepsy. My obstetrician was pushing me to get a c section because a long labour could mean no sleeping for days which could trigger a seizure. She didn't want me getting too tired. I didn't want one though. Luckily I had a short-ish labour.

Have you got any appointments yet for an obstetrician or epilepsy nurse?

@LemonZestDribbles thank you, will see but trying not to get my hopes up.. tested already at 9 dpo which is likely too early anyway. Going to wait and see if aunt flo arrives next Monday.

@Nypie I am keen on epidural so feel little pain as possible so plan to tell the midwives that. Also do quite like the idea of a water birth as heard the water alleviates pain too but need to look into that more.

@Nypie not gonna lie, I’m feeling pretty fearful of giving birth 😬 so at the moment my feeling is give me all the drugs 😂

Also thought about an elective c-section. But I do understand that the healing time can be greater after.

I have also thought about whether I would do well with a water birth, as I’ve always been a swimmer and found water so relaxing. But then you can only use gas and air can’t you.

@LemonZestDribbles haha yeah we had to call my mum and get her to bring in bigger nappies and clothes! I felt robbed of a newborn 🤣 next one was a normal size though so it worked out in the end 😅

@Dreamingof3 10lb5!!! That's a 3 month old 🤣 it's awful waiting for them to say something isn't it? Especially if you have something like gd so you're being very careful as it is

@Jennifer89 fingers crossed for you! Sounds promising

@Nypie I liked gas and air but I got to the point where I was ready for my epidural. My friend did the who hypnobirthing thing but I was happy to take all the drugs 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️

@Nypie first I had the works, epidural, second I had nothing. I did last a long time without anything with my first but I got to this awful stage where I was falling asleep standing up between contractions as I was so so exhausted and I was still miles from giving birth, so opted for the epidural so I could actually get some sleep. Second was super quick but I don't actually remember feeling pain at all (I was in a pool which helped I think).

Someone said to me when I was pregnant first time 'have the epidural. Just take the epidural. You don't win any medals for doing it without, and you're much better off having rested throughout labour and having the energy to establish breastfeeding/focus on the needs of the baby which is miles more important'