April 2011–Half in! Half out! On the grumpy couch...do the hokeycokey, breathe the baby out, that’s what it’s all about

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

New thread here ladies.

Again, many thanks to Frakk for the inspired title

Do you think this thread will be the last ante-natal one for the April 11 crew? Or will I be the last one standing and having to start a new thread and talking to myself?!

Ay mrsw loving her name. Holy cow tho, 27 hours!

excuse good pros and cons. can u chat to them re pool birth? Also, re snoring I reckon u won't be the only one snoring :-) Difficult decision eh. Can you take ur lust to the mw and share ur concerns. Might shorten it!

I'm booked in for a sweep at 10.15 tomorrow. Fingers crossed. A friend gas told me to stay active after. Hmmm. Had a better night last night. 6 loo trips but lots of sleep to thankfully.

Bloody predictive text. Sorry ecuse

x-posts arch I think we are in the same zone now!!!

Did you order any chocolate or just ogle the site??

Lis I sat with eyes on stalks and then tore myself away and put sugar in my tea went outside in the garden and dropped some heavy hints at DH about how if there is a sale that he walks past wouldn't it be nice if they had some vienese chocolates on sale. I'll leave it at that. If the Thornton's fairy decides to put some easily accessible on sale then whoohoo but if not well in my new I'mnotinchargeofeverything frame of mind then I must accept it. It's training folks but not as you know it...or something.

On the plus side, you remember the epic domestic chores/DIY list I went on about ages ago? Well it's reduced from two sides of A$ bullet points to only 9!

That'll be A4

Something I'm wondering is out of those that tried the epi-no or perineal massage did any escape without stitches? Genuinely interested and wished I had paid attention. Does anyone remember? Or have folk not said? Also do you think there's time to at least try to massage to have a result?

Thanks ladies, I think you're right, I should take that list in to discuss with them on Wednesday and, as you so rightly say, I should just accept that I can't control everything and just do what feels right for me based on weighed up circumstances. And, in the meantime, the babba still has at least today/tomorrow to get its arse into gear!

Arch I'm also interested in the epi-no/perineal massage question. I never got around to doing either (something to while away the next few days?!?!)

Wish I had some chocolate . Had to pointedly ask DP last night if he was intending to buy my easter egg in the sales? He had the good grace to and then share the egg I bought him with me!

Kits ended up with a CS after all ther epi-no action, and I can't remember who else was trying it.

Glad to hear my bossy pep-talk has helped some folk! I really do feel your pain. DS1 was born at 40+9 and I still can't swear that I won't be here on a weeks time saying the exact same things that you did

Many congrats MrsW, sounds like you deserve an endurance medal.

Afternoon ladies - just back from a lovely picnic by the river. Spotted Abby Clancy and Peter Crouch pushing their LO. She looked REDICULOUSLY good...think their baby was born in March? He's rough. Erm, that along with my mr whippy ice cream have been the highlights of my day.

If it helps re: debate on induction, I have a good friend is an obs/gynae doc. He's very candidly said to me that being induced will be crappy, although they really try not to do them unless necessary. I've got a check-up on Wed and he's advised me to really push for a sweep...so that hopefully we can avoid needing an induction in 2 weeks. But also, I'll have time to psych myslef up if cervix isn't looking good and it might be the avenue that I'm going to need to take.

ecuse I know it's a shitty position for you to be in, but they'll make an assessment based on what's best for you and baby. I found it reassuring (in a funny way) to know that the docs aren't actually that keen on doing them if possible...so if they feel it's the right thing to do you need to trust them. Every doc/hospital is different, but my friend gave me the impression that it's a fairly common approach.

Keep us posted on outcome and any other titbits of info that you get from your docs.

MrsW huge congratulations, such a beautiful name too.

Nothing on the EDD front for me, got MW tomorrow though and an appointment pre booked for a sweep next Thursday if I get that far, although reading all of your thoughts on induction/sweeps etc it seems to me that I shouldn't be waiting that long - I'll be 40 + 11 at that point....?

Also, milla how odd, I too have spent the day picnicking by the river, cept I only saw swans and some moorhens

Congratulations to everyone who's had their little ones.
I've my induction booked for tomorrow at 9.30am. I was induced last time with DC2 at 40+8 and it was fine. Broke waters at 1pm and I'd had him by 8pm. Just used tens til 8cm then had an epidural.
I'll be 40+7 tomorrow and looking forward to meeting her finally.

Sarah that's a coincidence! Maybe ask your MW tomorrow if they'll sweep earlier? Is it your first? Just been reading on babycentre that you can request (and they should do) sweep from 40 weeks for first and 41 weeks for subsequent babies.

Forgot to say in previous post a HUGE congrats to all who have popped. MrsW I love the name Robyn.

Karoleann good luck tomorrow, please let us know how it goes.

Wanted to add some reassurance for those worried about induction. I was induced for George, and also for dd both were 12 days overdue. looking back both times were not that awful. With dd I had one pessary, and in labour less than 12 hours, did not have an epidural, but had pethidine. She was OP presentation but still had a vaginal delivery, albeit needed an episiotomy.

With George had high bishops score, and had artificial rupture of membranes, labour 3 hrs from start to finish. Offered water birth but I couldn't get in a comfortable position in pool, so mostly laboured standing/leaning, until delivery on bed. No continuous monitoring until right at the end when on bed.Episiotomy again. Managed on gas and air. Yes it bloody hurt but labour is painful, and I don't have a 'natural labour' to compare it too.I was home within 8 hours of delivery. It could have been a whole lot worse.

As others have said I think it depends on each individual situation, but induction does not automatically mean more pain, continuous monitoring, long labours and need for epidurals. Hppe that has given a bit more reassurance to those of you worrying.

Jen can I ask, if you had a lower Bishops score would you have still gone ahead with the induction with George? I am happy to accept induction, if \I have a high Bishops score, but stats show the lower the score the more intervention required. And I haven't been scoring very highly on this test!

The reason I am so apprehensive about induction is a friend of mine was induced with her first and it was an epic 4 day affair that ended up with a forceps delivery that has left her with terrible terrible problems, numerous operations and a fear of ever having anymore children. I know I'm not her, and her case was mishandled the whole way through, but when you have no personal experience of something you go on what those around you have. If anything her experience has made me research induction rather than blindly follow the pack, so I've probably overarmed myself with facts. My OB, as I've said before, seems to be of the mindset that induction only when necessarry, so I don't feel the pressure to be induced if I turn up at the hospital on Thursday and it doesn't feel right.

To be honest I'm equally as scared of going into natural labour, it just with induction I have to make the decision to go ahead. If it all happens as nature intended it, I really just have to go with the flow and I don't really have a say in the matter.

I have too much time on my hands to think about things!

Lis I'm honestly not sure if I would have gone ahead with induction. This time round I researched it more than with dd. I know with her my bishops score was low when assessed before the prostaglandin pessary was inserted. I think I was probably quite lucky that I only needed one pessary to get things going then.

My main worry this time round was that I would end up on a syntocin drip and if that was even suggested I would have demanded an epidural.
I had a good look at the NICE guidelines, and was worried about having my membranes ruptured rather than having a prostaglandin pessary as I had read if things didn't get moving after the ARM then I was more likely to need syntocin. I had debated expectant management but I was so fed up of being v heavily pregnant and in discomfort I decided to opt for induction.

I think there must just be some women who's gestation is longer than the average. I wasn't sure if I left things whether I would ever go into natural labour, although I assume I would have eventually! I felt like my body had let me down, and felt disappointed that I hadn't gone into labour naturally but I know rationally that I had no control over that!

I can totally understand how you are feeling especially when you have a friend who had such a terrible experience. As you said I think if it doesn't feel right on Thursday then you can always leave it a few more days, and anyway there is still another 2 days until thurs for things to start on their own. Not sure if any of what I have just typed will be of any help to you though!

Thanks Jen, It really does help. I have the same concerns as you had, but you had a such a good outcome it helps to know that it doesn't always end in trauma. Thank you.

Thanks Jen and Karoleann that's really helpful. Still not sure what I'm going to do, but am definitely going to try to talk to them on the phone if not in person in advance of Weds and, ideally, get them to agree to at least a second sweep before induction goes ahead.

Just to add, I spoke to my obs/gyn about forceps use and its the Kielland type that cause all the problems. I've also met a couple of women whose babies/they had dreadful problems afterwards when they were used. Anyway he said that there was no clinical indication for their use any more and at that stage a section should be offered.
The little castanet type forceps are used at the end stage of labour and don't cause the same sort of horrific problems.
Basically, if you're having a horrible time of induction demand to see a doctor and ask for a section.
Due to go in for 9.30 anyway. Good luck ecuse and lis.

Here's to a good day today ladies.

Good luck today karoleann

It is much cooler here today and I have to say I am quite glad of that , saying that I did enjoy the sunshine yesterday as the daytime temp was lower than it had been.

If my hb goes pear shaped I have put in my birth plan that I would prefer another section over an instrumental delivery, and my MW is backing me up with that.
I won't be induced because of the previous section, so if it comes to it expectant management will be the way forward for me. But, I am only 39+4 so I will only cross that bridge if I come to it

DH back to work today after a long weekend - boo!

Morning ILMIMI my DH is back over an hour away at work today as well, back to toddler & dog wrangling on my own again.

Good luck, karoleann!!!!! Woo!!

I spoke to a lovely midwife on the helpline today who said it was very important we didn't do anything I was uncomfortable with, and booked me an appointment for this afternoon to have an examination, a chat about pros and cons of induction and probably a sweep. So I'm feeling lots better now, still booked in for induction tomorrow and will make a judgement after my appointment today. Cheery!

Good luck karoleann

That's fab ecuse let us know how it goes

I just had my sweep. Forgot to ask bishops score. App cervix is softening but still a little thick and head still needs to come down some more but she thinks my plug is on the way. Yay. She is keen I don't go over as I'm a shorty, so booked for another sweep next tue. Said if today's sweep works I won't feel pains til tomorrow.

Curious, kittycat, what does being short have to do with them not wanting you to go overdue?