BROOKING NO ARGUMENT for pain-free sneeze births and an abundance of empty birthing pools - pt 12!

[FluffyJawsOfDoom]

I think this is the first time I've ever started a brooking thread!

I'm a bit too early to ask for them yet, but I just wanted to encourage others to take you up on your offer. I never believed that TENS machines would actually work, but I used one for the first 15 hours of my labour with DS, before I got in the pool, and it was amazing! It really, really helped.

I'd love them Ninja if that's ok? I've just bought a tens machine off ebay and need new pads :o

PS - that's JUST what I wanted to hear Bartlet :o

fluffy in my opinion tens machines rock. I used it all the way through this time until it was time to push. I didn't use one when I had ds and I think it also gives you something to focus on which is always good. I shall post them to you tomorrow

Morning ladies - how are you all?

Thought I'd pop my head in and say Hi Ds2 currently asleep on my tummy after A restless night so I'm catching up on my MNing .

Have you seem the ttc thread - a wee bit of BFP action over there from an old brooker (by which I mean someone who was a brooker before, not a brooker who is old )

I've heard good things about TENS machines, but can you believe I completely forgot about it this time around. I mean it was in my hospital bag and everything but I just totally forgot about it until I was home from hospital and unpacking my bag! What a baby-brained dope! Mind you with labour being 4 hours start-to-baby I guess I didn't have much time!

Can I poke my nose in on the NCT stuff? Just to say I also met super lovely people at my NCT groups. Still friends with all the first lot and did a refresher class to meet some more people this time and struck gold again . But I've had two super lovely teachers too who were really really good. The NCT do have a bit of a rep for being a bit focused on the natural stuff and ignoring the possible complications, but it does depend on the teacher. Both times mine were lovely and covered the good and not so good stuff. Just depends I guess.

at the bf lady at yours though Smegs! What a dope! That makes me so angry because it's attitudes like that that completely wreck people after a hard birth if (when?) bf is hard. It is so unhelpful to have someone say 'well you should be able to do it, you must be doing it wrong'. Attitudes like that probably put more people off bf than it helps. I don't think they should make out that bf is easy peasy. It isn't. It is for a v v lucky minority but most people find it hard at least at first. And proper support is essential to get through those times. And that proper support could be to help with formula top ups if needed, be it for a short time or longer term. Medical research does of course show that 'breast is best' but it just isn't that straightforward when you take everything else into account. I think the aim of bf support should be to help people maximise their bf, so that could be to maximise the time you do it for (weeks? Months? Years? Would be different for each person) or to maximise the amount you do, mixing with formula If appropriate (1 feed a day? 50/50? 100% bf?). I just think they should try to optimise the bf experience for each person. For some people that would be none. For some a little bit and for some a long time. It just depends on each people's circumstances. It makes me so though when people say formula is poison. I appreciate that they want to make bf look like the easy option hit it is just counter-productive to pretend its all smiles when it often isn't.

I suppose it's the same if they just concentrate on the lovely easy side of childbirth and ignore the complications. Only difference is you can't 'give up' part way through childbirth () but you can stop bf.

I appear to be ranting so will stop there....

Anyway, hope you're all well - you all look blooming lovely

well said biscuits! if only bf was as easy as 'nose to nipple and pop them on'
i did nct first time around and still see my lovely friends from it most weeks. The teachers were quite good and since one of us was having a c section due to breech baby, they had to cover all sides.
right off to nosy on the ttc fred....

Hear hear biscuits and nice to see you!

We are doing NCT this time around. The first class upset me a bit as the teacher was going on and on about complications being the result of not being relaxed and calm and everything she described as 'bad' was everything that happened to us with DD. I am reliving it all ATM and trying not to panic. The retrospective feeding guilt is also coming back.

But this time around I am going with the attitude that it is certainly not the end of the world if my baby can't BF, and I won't end up sobbing in the supermarket holding a tin of formula.

Brooking for us all, easy births and no major feeding issues whatever we decide to do.

Rant away biscuits!

So pleased for little over in conception :)

I'm sorry you're having a bit of a hard time of things munx - it's absolutely not your fault and I'm horrified that healthcare professionals would suggest otherwise please don't feel guilty.

I'm waiting to hear back from NCT as to whether I can transfer to a weekend course they're running - I think it's full (it's this weekend!), but since they're the ones who shifted the timing with 36hrs notice (and the venue changed a week ago too) I think it would be only fair to let me squeeze in the back :o if not I'll have to just do the NHS ones I think - I'm struggling with sleeplessness from my pelvic and being too tired at work as it is, without 2 very late nights per week for the next 5 weeks

munx i had terrible feeding guilt 1st time round. this time i got mastitis 3 times in 4 weeks. i have come to the conclusion that bf is not for me and we are now all much happier. i think you need to look at the bigger picture. and birth this time round was so much more straightforward. you can always come on here for some perspective!

Ah munx I'm sorry - sometimes the people that run these classes just don't see that their blinkered opinions can be harmful, especially when they're preaching to a group of hormonal women who have a lot of pressure put on them by society/the media/themselves to be the 'perfect' mother. As if that exists! You can only do the best you can, for you and your child. DD is healthy and happy, isn't she? So by my reckoning you've done everything just right

And the bollox about 'relaxing' - sounds like the same sort of crap doctors spout at us when we're having problems ttc. And we all know what we think of that! If it makes you feel any better, I was as relaxed as a hippy in Goa thanks to hypno-birthing, and yet I ended up having an intervention-filled birth. So yes, it's nice to be relaxed, but quite frankly if things go wrong it's hardly your fault because you weren't calm enough.

Rant over. I just get so annoyed when I hear the absolute piffle that some people spout as if it's fact. . Sorry

And screw the feeding guilt. I had it after I had to give up feeding DD when my milk dried up (teething issues, inability to express etc). We made it to 8 months! When I'd stopped beating myself up about it I realised that actually I did bloody well, and this time round I've decided to just give myself a break about it. If it works for us I'll keep going as long as the baby wants it, if not then that's life, and as long as my baby is getting fed, that's all that matters :)

Thanks ladies, was having a bit of a moment there.

Just feel very overwhelmed at the minute with all the extra tests and appointments at the hospital and DD is borng , well very toddler-y and exhausting! She also has a few health issues but I won't bore you.

Back to normal brooking soon

munx I don't have advice to add; and here (Hannover, Germany) they are very pro breastfeeding. We have been to two hospital information evening thingies.
At the first hospital they were so pro it really put me off going there. I think it's great that they are pro, great that they offer so much support (24h breastfeeding experts, rooms for breastfeeding and support once you're home, you can always ring up) but please, I don't need it rammed down my throat! - they had an expert give short talk and she was totally anti bottles.

The second place we went has a great reputation for their care of mothers and breastfeeding help; but they actually said, if, for whatever reason you have an ELCS or you don't want to breastfeed you're still welcome to come here. And that made me feel much better!

DP knows I hate hospitals (I was really ill just before christmas (possible novo virus) and I had a big row with DP when the hospital wanted me to stay and I wanted to go home (after two nights already)... he also had to do the fighting for me in German), but I'm trying to relax and accept that I don't know how things will go and it might be necessary for me to stay in, but I need to find the right place first.

Ohhh the BF topic really makes me want to rant too.... sorry for long rambling post... I think there is a point to it all in there somewhere... :)

and best get well soon wishes to your DD munx hope that things are better for you all soon!! big hugs

hope things are soon better all round for you munx

Got another consultants meeting tomorrow, and really don't know what to expect from it. Since i last saw her, i have had a growth scan, where they said that not only is the abdomen measurement bigger than the head, but the abdomen measurement is off the scale... As a result they were convinced i had gestational diabetes. I hadn't had the GTT despite having a raised BMI as was fine when pregnant with DS and no sugar in urine and blood pressure always low and really didn't think i would have it. Wasted half a day at the hospital due to delays on their part, and it was confirmed this week that i don't have it, and my levels were actually very good. So really enjoyed a couple of cream cakes this week to mark the occasion. So anyhow, i now don't know what would cause the larger measurement, and am a bit concerned as a midwife said that the head should be the biggest dimension, so that once the head has been delivered, the rest just slides out, and there is a risk the baby could get stuck. So i don't know whether they will tell me i can't attempt VBAC now or not. If back to back then plan is CS. If non back to back then was strongly leaning to VBAC, but would be CS if i don't dialate or progress or deliver in the timescales they set. Now wondering what implications the growth scan will have and running out of time as EDD 11th Sept and if early like DS then will be here by 3rd Sept!

Anyone been through anything similar?

Sorry munx, didn't mean to put my big fat foot in it there I hope your DD's health issues are resolvable, or at the very least manageable.

Loopy I'm pretty sure one of my NCT friends had something similar happen at a scan, but then it turned out to be an error with the scanning? Really not clear how. But I hope everything goes ok for you. Do you have any more scans scheduled?

Nutella I like the attitude of your chosen hospital. It's silly when we're all expected to do exactly the same things, exactly the same way - we're not clones, we're individuals! I wish that some of the post-natal midwives at my hospital had realised that, but I suppose they're under a lot of pressure on the NHS. Makes me understand why people go private, sadly.

Good luck at your appointment loopy :)

Thanks again all, and you didn't smegs

All advice gratefully received!

DD is ok(ish) her allergies and tummy troubles are back so back to doc/HV and possibly hospital. Great timing!

saw consultant this morning, and when she looked at growth scan and other scans and predictions, and reviewed what happened with DS, she decided that they wouldn't let me go beyond my due date of 11th Sept, and furthermore that she didn't think i should wait that long, based on their chart predictions on her screen, she was looking at arranging an ELCS for 2nd Sept if baby hasn't made an appearance by then. However as that falls on the Sunday, the closest day they can book me in is the 5th Sept as apparently they don't do ELCS's on Tuesdays here, and they've already booked 2 in for the Monday. Although she said that its highly likely i will go into labour before the 5th. But if i haven't then that will be the day we meet our new little man. If go into labour sooner, they will do CS asap if back to back. If not back to back, i want to try VBAC, on understanding that may well end up with EMCS. No forceps, no GA, no being stuck on a bed, and would like to use the pool. Think thats about as much of a plan as i can hope for! Feels nice knowing that i've got 19 days maximum left being pregnant. Have been getting next to no sleep the last 4 nights, so will be a wreck by then! She said no point doing any more scans, they aren't always that accurate from 35 weeks and we shouldn't worry about abdomen size, as measurements probably wrong!

Loopy That sounds positive and at least you have a plan now.

Hello all - trying to catch up with a v lively DS on my hands - I am multitasking by reading Dr Zeuss at the same time as typing.

Can't believe it is going to be 31 degrees today, can you guys? Gah.

Please tell me which Brooker got a recent BFP?!

Quick scan reveals Loopy has a good plan and I totally agree with Biscuits re' optimising bf-ing for the individual. Guilt about BFing stinks.

20wks here and all seems good. Scan revealed quite a different looking fetus (in profile) to DS at same age though similar sizes. Not quite as lively in general - phew! ; ) It is meant to be a surprise re' boy or girl tho' sonographer may have been pretty rubbish re' letting on gender-wise when describing stuff. DP couldn't be there as he had to go to Spain for work so it's only me who might know and I might be wrong anyway. I will pretend we still don't know. ; ) And then it will be a surprise for everyone else. DS is fairly consistent in replying that he wants a sister...

Munx - so sorry to hear about your DD; that sounds really tough on you. Brooking for you lady.

xxx

Hi everyone

I'm back from my hols, so normal mn service will resume. But seriously, remind me to book a holiday abroad next year. I am so bored of having crap weather when we go away in the UK. It's always lovely and hot when we get home though

I hope everyone is ok, I've not had much of a chance to catch up. Looking forward to popping over to ttc to find out who got their bfp though.

I'm 13+2 now, and already too big for all but one pair of my normal trousers. Slightly scared that I'm going to be ginormous this time round

Phew what a scorcher! Hope you are all coping in this heat.

20 weeks tock wow that's come round fast, thanks for asking after DD. I think I'm going to phone the HV again as she isn't right. I may have to take her off soya as well perhaps. And YY to busy toddlers, she has exhausted me this weekend!!!!

And little congrats on 13 weeks! Again wow that's come around quickly! I am almost too big for most of my maternity clothes with 4 weeks or so to go, I feel your pain. Have you used the hair bobble trick to get as much use out of your normal clothes as possible?

Loopy hope you are doing OK, must be very stressful with all the appointments but I hope all goes well with the imminent arrival.

Lots of squidges for everybody else, and ice lollies all round

A week of appointments for me, getting results at hospital tomorrow so brooking appreciated! Have a suite of other medically type things going on as well so hopefully will have some answers by the end of it all.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Ah boo Munx to poorly DD. Have you tried rice milk? I give it to DS and he loves it - just to cut down on dairy as I'm not a big fan (apart from butter YUM)... I hope you get some answers.

Re' size and clothes - I am now 64kg, but hoping to slow down rate of weight gain now I'm no longer on hol. 64kg at 20wks is probably fine anyway, but I feel my bum and thighs are carrying it. Bump is quite neat. Little - it's great that you are properly diffed and nothing fits! Congrats on end of tri1.

Gotta go. Film to watch with DP.

xxx

Glad you've got A Plan loopy - I can't believe it's so soon! Time seems to fly by :)

Hi tock! Yay for a good scan! Did you find out girl/boy or go the UBB route?

Sorry your hols were a bit damp little :( I was wearing fatpants by 14 weeks (I think I had some overly large joggers from Peacocks) and proper maternity wear by 16/18w. I could have shoehorned myself into my normal clothes using the hair bobble trick I think, but it was really uncomfortable when sat at a desk all day.

Not much to report here except my cat keeps going awol and I have physio for my pelvis tomorrow, hurrah!