April 2013 part six...what does the third trimester have in store?

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leluella glad everything's looking good :)

I've been really struggling to get my head around the birth since I met the anethetist on Thursday. She said I do have am option of natural birth but it would be with epidural and no pushing from me at all. I've posted in more detail about it on the childbirth section.
I really would like the normal birth but if it does involve forceps for certain it seems like ELCS would still be better all round.
I have no idea what to do now. I'm all confused and just wish she had never given me an option :(.

In happier news I've been sorting through all the baby stuff we have so far and think we only need a few bits of clothing now and matresses for the cot and pram :).

Fluffeh not an easy decision! I think I might be inclined to opt for an ELCS. I would be concerned that if for any reason they are unable to deliver baby by forceps/ventouse you would then need a Emergency C Section & these have a lot longer recovery times than a nice planned ELCS. Have they told you what might be the risk of this happening? (roughly)

My other concerns would be:
Would it be as easy for DP to be around to support you after birth if you're waiting for labour to start naturally? What about his job/leave?
What would they do if your labour progressed very rapidly (unlikely I know) & you presented late or the anaesthetists were busy, straight to EMCS?
What would they do if you went very overdue? Induce? Or straight to ELCS?

What are your gut instincts?

toobreathless the anethetist just have me the options and the risks with each. She did say that if I went for ELCS they would do it quickly if I turned up to delivery already in labour, no matter what stage.
DP isn't working at the minute as while I'm pregnant I'm off a lot of my medication so he's being my full time carer. We are aiming for him to go back to work once the baby is here and he's confident that I can cope. Je works nights delivering pharmaceuticals around the country and his boss has kept his post open for him by using other employees to cover him until he can get back.
I can resume my medication straight after the birth meaning as soon as I feel recovered he can get back to work and we can stop being so poor haha!
This is another reason why the normal birth sounds so tempting. But hopefully after 2-4 weeks of the cs he'd still be able to go back to work.
The risks to baby with an assisted delivery worry me. I have a friend whose ds was delivered with ventouse and his head was so bruised and swollen for quite a few weeks afterwards. He was also really distressed most of the time and only calmed down when on skin to skin.
I don't want our baby hurt just because I made the wrong decision.
It's all so confusing. I'm really hoping my mw can give me a better insight to the different recoveries etc on Tuesday.

Morning all

Not sure who mentioned Devon but sooo jealous - despite being able to see the east coast sea from my house Devon is still my fave holiday destination.

Had ups and downs here - almost bought everything we need for bubs now - large delivery from Mothercare yesterday almost covered my list of necessary items - baby's room looking almost sorted - just need to purchase pram which oh says he will pay for on pay day next week and had a lovely spoilt valentines day. But bad news was my lovely almost 90 year old nan who I am extremely close to has just had a heart attack and been admitted to hospital - all very worrying - going to visit her again today while my lovely sis looks after ds1 who refuses to visit his father!!! She did look surprisingly well when I visited her on Friday though so hopefully she will be fine but probably still in hospital for her big birthday next week :(.

Also had whooping cough jab which was not as bad as I expected - my arm only hurt to touch where the jab was and as someone that really doesn't like needles it was pretty painless when she did it too!! Had a call from docs and I am now on 2 lots of meds for anaemia as well - always land up on iron tablets at this stage of pregnancy no matter how much I watch my intake of iron rich food!!! Interesting no 2's to follow!!!

My younger sis had an emergency csec and ecs and defo recovered more quickly and easily with the elective one and she says she had less pain and was mobile earlier.

Hospital visiting at my hospital for dads is 24-7. When I had my boys it was specific but they now allow dads full access which I think is nice for them but have to say it was nice with ds1 just to be me and him for the first night!!! I have no plans to stay in hospital this time - 6 hours and then home!!! I didn't get a bit of sleep with ds1 so with ds2 left after 6 hours - so much nicer to be home!! Plus i work at the hospital so last place I want to be really!

X

Morning all, seems like forever since I last posted but I have been following whenever I can, work just manic at the moment which I could do without, especially as I've another 8 weeks to work, not sure how I'll manage... I can only afford to take 18 weeks ML though so working as late on as I can and at least I'll only be working 3 days a week when I go back at first :-)
Really great to hear that all the scares have turned out just to be that and that mama and alex are doing so well. Bean keeps taunting me by going really quiet for a day and then, just when I'm thinking I need to speak to the hospital, wriggling lots!

Despite having to inject myself every day, sleepless nights due to acid reflux and restless legs, mild spd and feeling tired I think I'm going to miss being pregnant. Mind you I might change heart in another month when I'm even bigger

river I really hope your nan gets well soon
fluffeh I hope you can reach a decision soon and your mw helps, it must be stressful wondering what to do for the best. I've got to speak to my consultant and anaesthetist at my 34 week scan and I'm still going they will allow me to go down the natural route. I sometimes think it is worse being given the options

"Hoping" not "going"!

Yes we had a lovely Pudding Club meeting yesterday, met some other pregnant ladies and new mums, I've ordered one like the 3 week old that just slept there the whole time while Mum (with her already flatter than my normal tummy) had coffee and breakfast!

Yay to pudding club
boo to preggo aches & pains & unwriggly tummies

Fluffeh what a tough decision. I hope you come to the choice that you feel is right for you.

Personally, I'd go for the ELCS. This is purely because my sis had one for breech presentation and she found the recovery surprisingly fine. Also, I'd like to avoid an instrumental delivery so if it was a definite that I'd need one I'd go for the section.

fluffeh that is a hard decision to make, you do have a little time to make your decision.

rivergirly sorry to hear about your gran, wishing her a speedy recovery.

I've been lurking as things have been pretty quiet here. Though we did buy a new[ish] car yesterday. So I can now keep DD rearfacing as well as having the baby rearfacing. I couldn't in my old car, unless that is DH didn't want to come out with us at any point! I'm not tall but even with the drivers seat wedged as far forwards as I can get it, my knees bashing the wheel, I can't get a RF car seat behind me, or an adult sitting. We bought a C3 Picasso that's 3 years old. It's quite spacious and goes very well.

I've been having some discomfort at night time, bump seems to ping a nerve and I get pins and needles up/down my left side and it takes ages to go. I crash about the bedroom trying to get it to perk up. MW seems to think it's sciatica, but I worry it's more significant.

We have a scan on Tuesday for growth and low lying placenta, looking forwards to seeing baby again.

We've had the name discussion and have a shortlist, though we aren't publicising it yet. Both names are in the top 100, DD's was 408th when we chose it, it's come up a little since.

We've been enjoying the nice weather, DD has been hammering about the garden and I've been waddling about.

Hurray! My bags are packed. I feel so relieved as, although it's still early, it's been hanging over me.

I've packed two and both are tiny so I'm over the moon! Last time, I ended up with about five bags (inc carrier bags) with so much useless stuff and I found it so stressful moving from ward to delivery and back.

This time, I have 'bag 1' for during labour (and straight after) and 'bag 2' for if I have to stay in after the birth (hopefully I won't need this!!!

We've really enjoyed the sunny weather here today. After church we went to the farm for some meat and then to the park. After that, DD played in the sand pit while DH sorted the garden. We've bought DD a fort/slide for her birthday next month so we wanted the garden tidy ready to put it up. I'm so excited for it to arrive! It's this one www.climbingframesuk.com/climbing-frames/lacey-fort-climbing-frame/

The plan is to make the garden as exciting as possible so that, if we end up housebound for a bit when the baby arrives, DD can still get plenty of fresh air and exercise!

No idea why the link didn't work! Try again! www.selwoodclimbingframes.co.uk/climbing-frames/lacey-fort-climbing-frame/

I give up!!!

sneezy can you tell us what you put in your tiny bags or, more importantly, what you took last time that turned out to be useless. Despite first asking weeks ago about what to pack I've still not started but the list if things I could take is getting silly and needs a good edit I think!

Woo hoo I have the babies hospital bag packed

In it I have;

1 x pack of newborn nappies
1 x pack of baby wipes
1 x pack of cotton wool (to pretend I'm using if the midwife hangs around)
1 x tube of bepanthem barrier cream
1 x scratch mits
1 x cotton hat
3 x muslins
4 x vests (2x newborn, 2x 0-3 just in case I have a whopper)
4 x babygrows (sized as above)
1 x woolie hat and glove set just incase it is a cold April day on discharge
1 x cardi for discharge
1 x blanket for in the car seat on discharge

Hurrah all done.

I know it appears like a lot but I was in for a week with ds and I don't want dh (who doesn't drive) to have to go back and forth to the house for stuff. He would get in a right muddle especially with the other 3 dcs to organise

It has all fitted in my nappy bag (which is just a good sized fabulous handbag).

I shall have my hospital bag packed by the end of the week, which is a lovely orange overnight bag I picked up in TK Max.

I felt quite organised for a minute and then realised I haven't yet ordered a car that fits us all in or bought a car seat.

31+3 (my waters broke at this point last time so I'm a bit on edge)

edin Here's what I packed:

Bag 1 (during birth and straight after)
Nighty for during labour
PJs (dark) for after
6 x nappies
2 x baby vests (different sizes)
2 x sleep suits (different sizes)
Scratch mitts
Packet maternity pads
3 x big knickers
Change of clothes for DH and me

Will add snacks, pregnancy notes, kindle, phone charger (lots of room in bag).

If we need to stay in, DH will swap bag 1 for bag 2 (will be in car).

Bag 2 (if in for more than one night).

Maternity pads
Breast pads
Nursing bra
6 x big knickers
3 x dark jogging bottoms
3 x t-shirts
1 fleece hoody
Toiletries
Flip flops (manky showers)!
4 x baby vests
4 x sleep suits
Baby cardi/jacket
Cotton hat
Packet newborn nappies
Cotton wool
Cellular blanket
iPad

Things I took last time that I didn't need:
Dressing gown - ward was boiling so I'm taking a thin fleece hoody
Loads of books/mags - took up lots or room and in labour I couldn't concentrate on reading and after had DD! Can buy at hospital if necessary
Chocolate and sweets - felt so sickly! Taking energy drinks and dried fruit/crackers this time
Lots of clothes - I think three changes, plus nightwear should be enough. Especially as DH will be back and forth
My own towels - our hospital supplied these and it's preferable to have them washed ASAP rather than having dirty, wet towels lying around.

Thanks so much sneezy and Jacqueline that's a big help, I will get the red pen out on my list! Let's hope we don't need the bags for a few weeks yet but I bet it feels fab to be organised! :)

My hospital bag, I love a good list

2 Primark Nighties (button down the front)
1 breast feeding sleep bra
4 pairs big pants
1 dressing gown- very lightweight
2 t shirts suitable for breast feeding
1 pair dark jogging bottoms
Flip flops
8 Breast pads (just in case, hoping to be home before milk comes in properly)
10 maternity pads
Supermarket bags for dirty stuff
Toothbrush & paste
Hotel freebie shampoo/shower gel
Hairbrush & ties
Foundation & mascara
Deodorant.
Paracetamol - naughty but don't want to have to ask MWs for it
Lansinoh
Nipple shields
Tens machine (hopefully be on)
4 spare batteries for tens
2 spare packs of electrodes for tens.

27 newborn nappies
Cotton wool
Nappy sacks
Vaseline (for baby's bottom to help with meconium & my lips)
3 vests (up to 1 month)
3 newborn baby grows
1 0-3 baby grow
1 cardigan
3 hats (took one for DD & it got covered in blood after delivery)
1 swaddle wrap - very thin
1 merino baby blanket- very thin.
Comforter toy that smells of me

Will also add on the day:
Phone & wallet
Phone charger
Kindle
Snacks

Car seat, thick cardigan and blanket will be in boot of car ready for DH to take us home.

Believe it or not this all fits in one smallish weekend bag.

Fantastic bag packing ideas ladies, thanks.
I haven't started mine yet but I'm sure these lists will come in useful.

I haven't spoken to my mw yet but I'm heavily leaning on the ELCS side. If so many women would chose that there's got to be a good reason.

We went to another good ad new baby sale yesterday and we got a huge amount of things for less than £20!
We got -
6 white 0-3 sleep suits,
4 patterned/bright pink sleep suits in newborn,
1 tiny pink dress with ribbon tie waist (frivolous but only cost £1 and its gorgeous),
5 little lamb size 1 reusable nappies (for £3!!),
Baby bath and terry support,
Nursing pillow and 2 covers,
3 pink muslins,
40 lasinoh breast pads for £1.

I'm stupidly happy with the bargains :).

Fluffeh what a bargain!! Xx

Last day at work today. Surprised that I'm actually a little bit sad as I doubt I will go back there, I will be looking to work closer to where I'm going to live and PT anyway xxx

31+6

Great to have the hospital bag lists. I'm part way through packing mine so this is really helpful. One question, do all hospitals supply towels or does it vary? Unsure whether to take our own or not. Our hospital doesn't do a tour in person just a video tour.

river I hope your nan has a speedy recovery and hope she's out of hospital soon to celebrate her birthday.

fluffeh that sounds like a tricky decision to make. Great though that your OH can be off work to support you until you feel ready.

It's going to be very funny finishing work in about a month's time. I can't tell if I'll be climbing the walls with boredom or loving it. My plan is to clean, batch cook and have lots of nice lunches with friends and family. Actually now I think about it it sounds great, I can't wait!

Morning, I love reading all your hospital bag lists I'm so excited for you all! Alex has had a great weekend and next week we are going to start offering him the breast to see how it goes hopefully his suck reflex will kick in.
Physio this morning and I managed to swing myself up and into the chair this morning-I'm not supposed to but enough already I've been taking it so slow on drs orders but I need to get to know my body again and its limits for myself my patience has run out

River-I hope our nan is ok and home soon x