Feb 2011 - growing bigger, loosing our figure

[angels1]

Just a new thread as I noticed we are near the limit (again)!

Oh I didn't know that SBF. That sounds horrible! Poor baby!

TBH though, I think if I hadn't have had an epidural, I would have given up and been too tired to continue. It was a long labour over a few days from a Wednesday night to Saturday night. Hopefully be quicker this time!

Hi girls

My you have been chatty!

Been at the docs this morning again with poorly Ds2. He is now on antibiotics, steroids and ventolin every 4 hours. Hardly slept at all. In fact I think the exercising is helpingmy energy levels because I should be dead on my feet after weeks of bad nights

I had an epidural first time, was induced but head was tilted so he was a forceps delivery in theatre, ready for Section if forceps didn't work. It was amazing after 2 days of solid agony, contractions all rolling into one. Second time couldn't have been more different (home birth g&a for last hour) but Laay managed to BF ok. I think being open
Minded is the best thing you can do to be honest,

Sorry Ipone ran out of space. I was adamant I didn't want the epi, but I would have been given one anyway when prepped for the c section. And it took 4 hours for the anaesthetist be become availbe from when I asked for it!!! So don't feel like you have to decide now, just make sure your dp knows your thoughts as you may not be able to convey much!

Spelling above should have said 'always' not ally!

Anyone going for their second birth should take solace in the story of my aunt, who had an average difficult first birth but for her second didn't even realise she was in labour until the last minute and gave birth at home before there was time for the ambulance to arrive. So if you're anything like her you'll find it plain sailing

Downsides of epidurals

• you have to lie or sit still while they stick a needle in your spine. This is OK if it doesn't take long (which is the most likely), but in my case it took a whole hour of two different doctors trying to get the rotten thing in while I progressed from 5cm to fully dilated without being able to move at all (I have a strange epidural cavity, apparently).
• you are attached to the epidural, plus normally to an IV (in case the epidural makes your blood pressure drop), plus quite often they'll hook you up to a monitor while you're there, so your mobility is seriously compromised even in terms of shifting position on the bed
• means you have to stay in hospital longer
• means you are more likely to end up with an instrumental delivery or a c-section
• may well end up having to be catheterised to pee
• sometimes they don't work

Doesn't mean they aren't the right choice for some/many women, of course. As with everything, you are balancing a host of factors.

Interesting chat re: epidurals. I'm fully expecting to request one as I'm terrible with pain and think that it will help me feel less anxious due to less extreme pain (I worry and panic about everything). Most of my friends have had epidurals and all say labour was fine once they had it.

I have to see an anaethesist though as I had a slipped lower disc last year so they think if it hasn't healed properly it might stop the epidural working :( My hopsital do offer walking epidurals, so I'd try that. The fact it means you have to stay in a bit longer probably won't make any difference to me as I had a test result last week positive for strep b, which means I need to have antibiotics through IV in labour and baby will be carefully monitored in hospital for at least 24 hours to check for signs of infection.

I've also read you can get really really bad headaches afterwards.

angels, how come you had the strep B test - did you request it or was it offered? I've been wondering about this as it is something I had never heard of before mn which is strange when it's not that uncommon.

D

I had a swab to check if my persistant thrush was infact thrush delia (it was btw) and at the same time they spotted strep b. I'm having another test at about 35 weeks as apparently it could go away on its own, so I don't think a test before this time would be of any use to consider - you could ask your mw about it - my mw was much more knowledgable than both of my GPs seemed to be. It is odd that they don't routinely test though as so many people have it without realising - in America they do routinely. I read they don't in UK as they don't want to use antibiotics any more than they can get away with. I'd never heard of it before getting the test result last week though.

Earygrey think you possibly have a bonkers midwife. I have never heard of this before!
I had dc3 at home. Obviously have to be 37 weeks, then she came to the house filled in all appropriate paperwork, brought cylinders of g and a and oxygen (no tubing, the on-call midwife brings that with her when you are in labour to prevent it being tampered with!) she also brought a sterile tube for the placenta to be put in. She ran through everything that we would need and the call out procedure.
She never mentioned the home insurance or fire brigade!
Think she is trying to make it seem too much of a pain to organize to put you off. I had a wonderful experience! Wonder what she'll come up with next!

very good advice re epidurals is great thanks everyone for making it so much clearer and the thread on the pregnancy forum is good too. I think I have been signed off. Its very odd. I begged mw to refer me to a physio as she said I definately have spd but the doctor needs to refer me. I was scared as the doctor was so unhelpful on Monday but when I spoke to her she immediately said she would refer me, told me not to go into work tomorrow and that she would send me a certificate. I assume this is a sign you off certificate. Very odd that she had such a dramatic change of tune in three days but at least they are taking me seriously now.

Only thing is I don't want to be signed off all the time because the kids are doing course work and all sorts right now. Ideally I'd like to go in on some days but not others but I'm not sure if it works like that.

I think i will ask for it. My sis is neonatal nurse and keeps saying i should. You can pay for it apparently.
Saw physio today and she fitted me with asupport belt,very comfy but you have to pay for it.I could have sworn i have been paying ni contributions since i was 16!
Sorry for those of you suffering.I have realised i can be pain free and conmfy as long as i do absolutley nothing.
On the pram debate. I am having lots of trouble finding the rigth thing.I want a carrycot/pram for first few months and then a buggy. Had set my heart on the oyster but the seat is tiny and you have to take it off when you fold it.I too will be reliant on my 190 pg grant but am willing to add some if needed. I am not howver paying nearly a grand as i have seen some for.

zero if you are signed off completely you'll be lukcy if your school even let you in a lesson - they told me there were h and s implications so they wouldn't let me work as if I was signed off and something happened to me in a lesson then they would be in a very awkward position.

You can get a 'fit for work' note which the GP will write and say you can work but, say on altered or reduced hours or tasks. This is what I had when I returned to work. The problem with this is that (as my union told me) legally school only have to pay you when you are physically at work, and you are entitled to nothing (not even sick pay) when not in work. You might need to speak to someone at your school who deals with this if you're considering doing it.

My students are doing coursework and it's not ideal that I have quite an inexperienced supply taking over from me. to make it easier, I write detailed sheets to the supply/for the students to work from and encourage students to email me work to my school account so I can check and feedback. I've also been into a few of their lessons (when not signed off) to give as much assistance as I am able to boost things along. If I'm honest, the students I don't think will do as well as if I were there teaching them, but I know I couldn't manage and in the grand scheme of my life it's irrelevant - I've worked hard with them so far and they got good grades in their exam last year we prepped for, so i know I've done my best.

think carefully about your options zero and make the right one for you and your baby.

Ledkr that's exactly what I want! On the Mamas and Papas website the Pliko Pramette was on sale £199! Out of stock though .

I've got a line down my belly!!!
apparently it's a sure sign of pregnancy... thanks for the info!

What an amazing story delia! means lots of lovely milk are ready to feed your little one!

I wonder if I would even be offered an epidural as I have had bad reactions to anaesthetics in the past, almost died once, so perhaps I could not even have one. Not that i want one, i would for sure get a migrane, due to it or to being psychosomatic...

I loved the Ina May book, liked the second half even more than the birth stories.

bookmarking...

ledkr I have ordered the oyster and you definately dont need to take the seat off to fold it! In fact, that was its one major benefit over all the other pushchairs- as it can be folded in both positions (forward and parent facing)

really suzy?The lady didnt seem all that good to be honest-she hit herself in the gob when she folded it..snigger.Have you seen it folded it looked massive with the chassis folded up and the seat just sticking out at the front.

JustOneMorePlease thanks for your input! Exactly as I suspected, Joyce the midwife is lovely but slightly bonkers Still, it kind of has the reverse effect on me and makes me more certain of what is best for ME this time around! Interesting to hear the practicalities from you too. The Doula is totally on board for a home birth and as she said, book a h.b and you can always still choose to go to the hospital but you can't do it the other way around (unless it's an unplanned h.b!).

Knitta I'm still on the birth stories in Ina May's book which I love so nice to hear you preferred the other half of the book, look forward to getting onto it!

knitta I have one too! Do we all have lines? Why do we have one? I always used to think they were cesarian scars when I saw them in the past but clearly not.

angels excellent advice, thank you so much. Do any teachers out there know if I would be paid if I was signed off? I don't know what the sick pay deal is in my school... from what I can tell you always seem to be paid no matter how many days you're off sick but who knows?

Earlgrey that was exactly my theory! I had everything ready for a home birth and also had a bag ready for hospital. My first two labours were fast so I figured that if baby was coming I could stay put and get everyone to come to me.
But by having a bag packed it ment I was organized if I changed my mind and wanted to go in or if I needed to be transferred.
In fact I had so many piles and bags of stuff i was unpacking things for weeks! Things for 2 ds's school, swimming, over night. My justification was that when I had ds1 at 35 weeks I had no stuff ready and was out and about so just had what I was wearing and it was awful! I put my jeans back on after my bath and the midwifes 'borrowed' a maternity pad from a lady on the postnatal ward! My dh came home to pack for us and in his tizzy simply emptied my knickers drawer into a bag- so I had loads of tiny thongs and frilly bras! So I since have been super organized and packed for EVERY eventuality! Sorry slightly strayed from original point!!!!

I had a really dark line when I was expecting DD, it went all the way up to my boobs and didn't fade until she was about 6 mo but this time, nothing.

JustOne, my hospital bag(s) with DD were embarrassing, it was so obvious it was my first time I was really worried they were going to keep me in for ages so I'd packed enough stuff for nearly a week!

I don't think you can have too much stuff! Dh would prob disagree! I am already started my squirrelling of mat pads, breast pads, nappies etc. I will prob end up with more in stock than morrisons!
I simply love nesting! Heehee.

Wow you're organised JustOneMore! Haven't even thought of that yet! Lol your story re your DP panicking & emptying your knicker drawer into the bag!!! Brilliant! & 35 weeks?! I guess that would cause you to be uber prepared in future! Yes I like that approach of being prepared for both so I'll do the same! I got to 8cm at home last time & laboured for a total of 12 hours so I'm hoping it might be quicker this time! I loved the story someone posted (sorry who?!) about their aunt who with her second child didn't even realise she was in labour! Here's hoping!!

Oh I love doing, undoing, redoing my hospital bag!!! Have finally got some vests, babygros, muslin cloths etc, my mum picked me up some (was v impressed with her thoughtfulness)

Have just got in from work, is there an influx of Christmas ads on tv or is it just me ?

I don't have a tummy line, I didn't get one with either dds either. It's called linea nigra and can appear from 14 weeks, although usually more prominent after 22 weeks!! Apparently the line is always there but not noticeable. Also these pigmentation changes are caused by an increased production of the hormone that affects skin colour. Darker nipples in theory make it easier for breastfeeding babies to find Hark at me quoting my Kaz Cooke book!! Those with fair skin and red hair don't have as many pigmentation changes. Ah my pale almost blue Irish skin is the reason for no line!!