November 2012 - the thread where Detective's baby arrives

[StuntNun]

Previous ante-natal thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1608323-November-2012-please-form-an-orderly-queue

Post-natal thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1611078-November-2012-the-birthplosion-thanks-Peaky

Stats list: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1485512-November-2012-Stats-List

Good luck for tonight mm

Trying to go to bed early but DH is already snoring like a trouper.
I don't know how many times I've cried today but I may well start again in a min!

Night night all, wish me luck for sleeping or getting to start contractions! Both seem unlikely.

Oh dear toomany I don't know wether to hope you stop contracting or not!... I'll just wish you luck with what ever is best for you tonight!

any advice on surviving the internals? next one 10 mins. so far managed on breathing and crushing dps hand/arm/leg

Try not to think about them MM Try a visualisation exercise & breathing. You can refuse if you want too - unless there is any concern for you or baby, it may actually be counter-active to getting your oxytocin/mental state sorted to keep things going. They're only about checking the cm. If you don't feel the urge to push (when they may want to check the cervix is fully dilated etc), I don't think there's a dire need for internals...

mm breathing is the best way, obviously not a good idea to stop . You could use gas and air and like chunky says use visualisation if you can.

Sounds like you are doing a fab Job, i bet you are nearly there, keep it up, men's arms are built for childbirth!

Xx

If they are upsetting you that much I would refuse them unless there is a pressing medical need. Just zone out and think of your cervix opening. I found it useful to think of it like ripples on a pond when you throw a pebble in. X

still 4cm. i could cry and did a little. cervix totally shortened and head right down though. going to take some cocodamol (against my better wishes) and try to sleep. feel like the last 4 hours of pain have been for nothing

There's no need to have them if they stress you out so much - and a good MLU won't force you to have them as they will understand the link between oxytocin and relaxation. Don't take pain out on DH as that'll push you further away from relaxation (tempting though it is!!!!). Although refusing internals will mean that you are out of control in terms of not knowing how far dilated you are - so it's up to you in terms of stress - whether the not knowing or the anxiety re the internal is worse.

Try a puff of gas and air if you are really worried but want to keep having them? I have to confess to not remembering them at all from a pain perspective but that might be because it was a back to back labour and I was on good gas and air - or because it's been a few weeks and mother nature has no doubt erased them from my memory banks thanks to that post birth hormone! Actually it might be because having had the coil - the sensation wasn't so alien to me as it just felt like the coil being fitted.

Deep breaths, hypnobirth techniques and if in doubt - gas and air.

Oh sweety..... Large hugs, that is a brilliant decision, if this is going to be a slow burn, accept it and make sure you conserve your energy.

Xx

They haven't. Your body will have been working at whatever it needs to do - like getting your baby in the right position. Have faith in yourself, your body and your baby can do this. Things could still pick up quickly from here. Hope you are able to get some rest meanwhile though. It sounds like you're doing brilliantly. It is hard but it is so worth it.

Ssssshhhhh don't freak out hon. I had that moment at 6cm - had been there for hours and thought I was never going to get anywhere. Next time they checked we were at 9cm. Remember it's not linear. The time between cm gets shorter and shorter as you go on. And also for a first timer - the biggest battle is the effacement (shortening) and getting the head down - so GO YOU! You're getting there. Take the cocodamol and sleep. Am impressed you are in a fit state to MN - let alone spell cocodamol. Good luck honey xxxxx

you will get there missmummy try and get some rest when you can and definately try the gas and air ive heard its very good,

good luck, we are all thinking of you x

Deep breathes mm and think of your cervix opening like a flower... Don't focus on the cm - its not a precise science, & its irrelevant. Rest while you can, you'll be pushing before you know it. Good Luck

missmummy1 you are doing excellently, nothing is a waste of time at this stage your baody is gearing up and getting ready, don't focus on cm's in a negative way, YOU ARE DOING REALLY WELL! :)

yy to viualising a flower that is opening its petals.

best wishes mm

thanks all. cocodamol seems to have slowed things down but contractions are still very painful when they come. apparently this is good. if no change by morning they'll send me up to a sideroom on a ward as weather too bad to go home. didn't think that would be an option at 4cm but alledgedly it would be if we werent.such a treck away and conditions were better. waters are 'bulging' and head right down so fc when they go everything else will speed up. sorry for moaning, i'm trying not to rub it in those still waitings' faces - right now i'd happily trade places!

on a more positive note my back pain has eased a LOT and I'm lying in a fairly comfy bed watching the snow storm. very impressed with new maternity hospital - i've stayed in worse hotels! dp snoring away on a make shift birthing ball bed, all the mws have had a giggle at him! given he's had no sleep in 36 hours he's been an absolute star! i'd have crumbled without him.

MM The worst thing I did in my labour was agreeing to a VE. I had it all set that I wasn't having them I didn't ask, they presumed that since the rest of my birth plan was so 'out there' I'd just refuse them after the midwife looking after me said 'so you won't be wanting internals then' I just muttered no.

I got to the point where I was whimpering saying 'what if I'm still 1cm'. I asked to be examined, and was told I was 4cm, and I freaked out big time screeching that I couldn't do it. You know what, an hour later (probably wasn't even an hour, I just wasn't examined before that!) I was fully dilated.

The number isn't everything. Cervix work in strange ways. If you can relax a little, read this link if you can get it on your phone. www.inamay.com/article/understanding-birth-and-sphincter-law It is a bit hippyish but it does make sense...

You'll be fine. When you see your baby you will be overjoyed and amazed at this little being that has come out of you! I promise :)

great article detective, thanks. really helped make me feel a bit more positive about it all. after 23 hours if really painful contractions i just hoped i'd be a lot further on than this. off to visualise an opening flower

what is a VE detective ?

You have to stay positive. Trust me, I should have taken my own advice! It is only when you think you can't do it that it gets worse. You can do it! You are doing it! Look at you now! You are getting ready to meet your baby!

Pasties it's a vaginal examination. Sometimes it's abbreviated EPV (examination per vagina).

I thought it must've been vag examination :) everyday is a school day :)

good luck mm been thinking of you today, excited to hear what you have! boy or girl! x

Hope you have managed to get some sleep mm, ready for baby snuggles later today! xx

Morning bumpers,

I hope mm is either having newborn snuggles or is awfully close.

How is everyone else? Snowing pretty heavily here so I hope everyone is cuddled up nicely inside.