July 2013 thread 4 - keeping the duchess company

[Runswithsquirrels]

No one seems to have started a new thread yet, so here we go!

princessllama-dc3-27th June
CottonSocks - 1st July
QuinandThem - 1st July
Badgerwife - DC2 - 1st July
Cutandstick - 2nd July
Runswithsquirrels - 2nd July
Thinkingof4- DC4 -2nd July
VinegarDrinker - DC2 - 2nd July
Persuasion - 3rd July
esme80 - 3rd july
Glup - 3rd July
emblosion - 3rd July
BB01 - 4th July
Dinkystinky - DC3 - 4th July
elliejjtiny - 4th July
wifey6 - 5th July
Notprincesskate - DC2 - 5 July
OhGood - 5th July
PenguinsInThePantry - 5th July
marmitemad DC2 - 6th July
Gingerpanther27 - 7th July
DifferentNow - DC5 - 7th July
Abzs - DC1 - 7th July
Efme - 8th July
GeorgieWilson - 9th July
shelley72 - 9th -
Devilforasideboard - 10th July
CitizenOscar - DC2 - 10th July
TwoOfThree - DC1 - 10th July
Calmisthemantra - 11th July
Specialknickers - 11th July
MrsMillions - DC1 - 11th July
mysterymeg - 12th July
Reikimummy - 12th July (DC1)
SlouchingPanda - 12th July
Thundercatz - 12th July
Twirliedobbit - DC4 - 12th July
Hai1988 - 14th July
LittleFlower888 - 14th July
Tashtastic - 14th July
Beaditsback - dc2 14th July
Lizincornwall - 15th July
Mizar - 15th July
photographerlady - 15th July
Guavasforbreakfast - DC1 - 16th July
paolocee/donna - 17th July
MiniPenguinMaker - DC1 - 17th July
MrsWildermac - 18th July
TotallyEggFlipped - 18th July
SingingMomma - 18th July
GingerJulep - DC1 - 19th July
Niktasha - 19th July
whitedaffodil - 19th July
Grannyapple DC2 - 19th July
orangebubbles - DC2 - 20th July
Thinking positive thoughts - 20th July
Cheeseandbread - DC1 - 20th July
AmaDablam - DC1 - 21st July
butterflyexperience - 22nd July
BadMissM- DC2- 22nd July
AllYoursBabooshka - 22nd July
Isitme1 - 23rd July
MightBeMad - 23rd July
Supershiv1 - DC1 - 23rd July
Boostar - 24th July
Cantreachmytoes - 24th July
MrsRoss26 - 24th July
Camb79 - 25th July
Sashabella0 - 25th July
BoyMeetsWorld - 27th July
marimama - 27th July
JessicaMLH - DC2 - 27th July
Flyingsprocket - 29th July
SchroSawMummyRidingSantaClaus - Unknown

Despite my job (including using forceps on a daily basis) I too thought I didn't want forceps. My "mental birth plan" - (never wrote one) was 'no pethidine, ideally no forceps' - I had both!

However once you are at that stage then the alternative if you really refused forceps would be a VERY technically difficult CS - having to basically drag the head back up the vaginal passage can cause equally as much damage to baby if not more than a forceps. (vast majority of forceps deliveries baby has slight temporary forceps marks around ear/cheek and that is it). Plus the risks to the mother are much greater eg - significant risk of heavy bleeding, damage to bladder/ureteric etc. So it really isn't as simple as "just demand a CS instead" (i know Noone here said that, btw, but I have seen it elsewhere on MN!)

Kiellands are a vanishing art in 99% of UK settings - and those who do still use them are generally extremely senior experienced Consultants in very rare situations - so I honestly wouldn't get too worried about that. The vast majority of obstetricians now would either use the ventouse to rotate first or use their hand manual rotation) which is what I had - with absolutely no ill effects, as mentioned previously.

Apologies for slight reality check/?depressing post, hopefully we'll all have quick, easy, straightforward normal deliveries

Argh, sorry, full of typos.

Morning ladies and paolo Glad I was able to make a few of you chuckle I think that is probably a school rumour started... I might have to tell my class officially now.

I get up several times in the night to wee and thought the pillow might be tricky because of this... But it wasn't too bad to get used to. I felt more supported and settled and was able to go back to sleep once awake- woohoo! I am usually a tummy sleeper so having the pillow wedged under my tummy and between my legs was good also fairly easy to switch from side to side when I wanted to change position. I would recommend it (although not sure about the £45 price tag- like I think I said earlier mine was nearly half price £25 from Home Sense- much more reasonable)

Trying to put things like forceps out of my mind for now. Although it sounds like some of you have found them fine. I'm thinking baby names at the mo although many are ruled out automatically due to tricky children I have previously taught or am currently teaching...

Loving the idea of pancake Sunday!

That's very re-assuring Vinegar and I'm glad to hear it's now rare in it's use.

I am forceps baby and the consultant who got me out was amazing apparently, I didn't even have a scratch on face/head or any bruising or dents! Had I not been forceps unlikely I'd be here.

Thanks cheese and glad you found it helped, that's really good to know.

As for pancake Sunday, my MIL started it when she was over from Oz last April and it's now a tradition! One that everyone who visits seem to happily partake in

Thanks for the info vineagar I love that we have you guys in our month!

I now have a belly full of pancakes, I find these days I feel full most of the time, even when I'm hungry. I think it's because my belly's getting rounder!!

What mightbemad and vinegar said - In advance, forceps sounds terrible but if you get to the point of needing them then, well, you need them.

I had keillands forceps with ds - done by a v senior consultant as vinegar said. It is v rare these days I think. I was in theatre with spinal anaesthetic and the doctor did one try, if it had not worked they would have had to push ds back up & do emcs which would have been v traumatic for us both.

DS is fine & I've healed fine, it really was an emergency situation, he was wedged with his head sideways & was getting distressed, my bp was through the roof and I was exhausted and in agony. If they had said 'we're going to cut your head off' I would have said ok! I had v painful, back labour & the forceps was honestly the easiest part - over in 3 mins.

Suppose what I'm trying to say is although a natural birth is the goal & there are lots of things you can do to encourage this sometimes circumstances overtake you & interventions are necessary - remember a huge number of women used to die in childbirth before 20th century medicine.

Lots of women do have lovely natural births with no intervention of course, suppose what I'm trying to say is that sometimes things don't go to plan & its no ones fault if that happens?

Sorry if this is a bit depressing - its just I, and others on my last antenatal thread, had real feelings of failure that things didn't go to plan but sometimes with all the preparation in the world circumstances overtake you iyswim?

Oops sorry for the essay/repetition - am posting on my phone whilst trying to entertain ds!

Thanks for the posts vinegar and emblosion, please don't appologise for your posts - they're not depressing, but realistic and very informative. It's great to have so many experienced mums on here and even someone who delivers babies for a living! Hey, vinegar don't suppose you're busy in July, fancy doing a tour of the UK and holding the hands of us nervous first-timers when our Big Days arrive!!!

One thing that always comes home to me though when I meet up with friends who have kids, or see one of you ladies put something about your DCs on here - labour is just one day (hopefully) out of your and your baby's lives. No matter how it happens, as long as you and the baby are safe at the end of it, you then have the rest of your life to enjoy being a parent, and that's what it's all about!

I had a baby last February by elcs. We were very surprised by the use of forceps and still don't really know why? The baby did have a couple of cord issues only uncovered at delivery and did suffer some bruising ( gone on 49 hours) but was a very calm baby since birth.
Not experienced them for my other births .

48 hours of course ( cue me lying awake counting the minutes till the bruising dissipates !!!)

You mean use of forceps at CS? If the head is very high (not engaged) it can be very difficult to grab it with your hand to deliver without it slipping away/upwards. Also can be useful if you've had several CS before and everything is quite scarred and tight.

Urgh. I've had a couple if episodes of feeling really faint today. I had to lie down on the floor at one point. I've got my flight socks on now, so much better, but I thought I was over feeling faint.

Is anyone else finding it hard to get up in the mornings? I used to jump out of bed really easily, but now I take about an hour to feel up to being upright in the morning. I have to send DH in to DD when she wakes in the mornings because I feel certain that I'll start to get light headed if I get out of bed too quickly.

Vinegar yes at cs! Head was not engaged but was 1st section and did a lovely small incision which I am gutted will have to be spoiled now!!

Emblosion i'm glad youve still got your head! its really great to hear from everyones experience and all the combined knowledge. I havent yet thought about buggies or birth I just want a bump. Anyone else not got one yet? Im 18 + 3 and neither atheltic or tall or podgy. love still being able to wear same clothes but a little mound would be so reassuring. Any first timers felt movement? X

Totallyegg have a dizzy spell after morning bath every day but am a rubbish early morninger !!!

iclaudius why will it be ruined? If you have another CS they will go through the same scar.

Egg my dizziness hasn't been too bad in the days. Night shifts though, I can barely stand upright, urgh.

Productive day for us yesterday; ordered new sofa and armchair, made decisions on pram and nursery furniture, picked up a few more maternity tops and all important thick warm tights, and a pregnancy pillow. Pillow not a huge success last night but I think it might have been too high up.

This morning I've made a big batch of chilli for the freezer, first proper cooking I've done in months thanks to lovely DH. Considering a little baking this afternoon, again not done any for months and usually I love it. And also as some of you have done, sorting out clothes that don't fit into vac bags.

But right now I'm catching up on OBEM, don't want to push things by being too busy .

Thanks vinegar and emblosion, not depressing at all, I prefer to be informed about it and prepared for all eventualities, makes me feel much better!

Cheek I've not felt anything yet. I keep thinking I do when I lie really still, then realise it's my own heartbeat. I've got a tiny bump, no one who doesn't know can tell though. I was sort of average before, size 12 and 5'5, def not athletic. I've been dressing to accentuate it though, as most clothes cover it up and just make me look fat. Got some New Look maternity tops which are great for this, only £8 so doesn't bother me too much if they don't last right to the end of pregnancy.

Oops forgot to say, 17+5

Hi totallyegg it sounds like low blood pressure? Which can be common in pregnancy. I have it too.
My MW's advice was to take things v slow as necessary to avoid fainting/fall and ensure you remain hydrated as dehydration can lower blood pressure. Apparently there is not much else you can do but listen to your body in taking it slow.. I have heard salt may help blood pressure to rise?

cheese lol at the pillow on the floor

photographer my birth with my first and 3rd went almost exactly to plan so it can happen. DS2 not so much but he has always listened to my opinion and done the opposite .

vinegar hope you don't mind me asking but my baby has a high chance of having ehlers danlos type 3/hypermobility syndrome and I have it as well. Forceps are a definate no-no but I imagine pulling the baby back up the birth canal and through the sunroof wouldn't be good for a baby who has eds either. I know a lot of drs recommend elcs for a baby with eds but that seems overkill when I've had 3 normal births before, even with DS2 who has eds. Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk of needing forceps or should I ask for elcs just in case? I asked the registrar and he didn't have a clue which wasn't very reassuring.

19+2

totally I've had a few episodes of feeling faint too, especially if I get up quickly or spend a long while standing. As thundercatz says I think it is due to low blood pressure (mine's always been on the low side) and not at all uncommon.

I thought my first trimester tiredness had abated but I did my first weekly food shop on my own since becoming pg (again thanks to a lovely DH like Mrsmillions and almost as lovely online ordering/delivery) this morning. It nearly wiped me out! Also nipped into the farm shop for some meat and the whole place stank of offal - cue return of morning sickness ! Honestly it was like the clock had wound back several weeks! Just a little reminder I guess that I am still growing a baby in here and that's not to be taken lightly.

cheek and guavas, I'm 17 weeks today and I too long for a proper bump. I know that I have a little one, because I know what my tummy usually looks and feels like, but to the outside world it just looks like a bit of a spare tyre! I too am a very average height, average build, average level of fitness type person, so had assumed I'd be showing a bit more by now. On the plus side it's nice to still be able to be selective about who to tell yet, and other than outgrowing my jeans a couple of weeks ago, I'm still mostly in my normal clothes. I haven't felt anything yet either but trying not to worry as it's still early days for a first baby.

totally I had that in some earlier pgs, it's really horrible but for me things did improve later in pregnancy so hopefully yours will too.
Lots of very interesting technical info on here, thanks esp to vinegar for that. Like others I have an irrational fear of forceps but it's good to understands a bit more about them (I think my only real experience is seeing them done as medical student, and maybe junior doctor but I don't really know a lot about assisted deliveries. With ds1 after pushing for an hour they decided I needed an episiotomy (another dreaded thing for me) and so first gave me some local anaesthetic. The fear of being cut plus the anaesthetic was enough for me to do the final bit of pushing and I didn't need episiotomy in the end. Did has stitches but not a bad tear and I healed up fine.

ellie it must be hard having something quite rare and feeling like you know more than the doctor you are speaking to. It would be a real shame to need cs after 3 normal deliveries but I guess you just have to see what your consultant thinks (I'm sure they would know more about the risks/benefits of each)

Well freezing cold/sleety/windy here today, so we dragged the boys out for a muddy adventure (forest walk) and we actually had a great time, all cosied up. Back home now and feel I can laze about a bit now as I've done my exercise for the day! Big ones are watching DVD and ds3 is having his nap. Dh has gone out for a run (!) as he's training for a half marathon so I'm enjoying a wee seat with my feet up-bliss!

Hi all,
It's taken me ages to catch up but some really great advice and interesting birth stories; this is such a great thread

Fab to hear good scan news and lol pillow wrestling tales.

AFM, DD has chicken pox, eek! I had it as child so I should be fine, right?
Also, is it too early for braxton hicks type things? My bump has been getting really firm and tight for about 20 secs or so then relaxes. I remember it happening with DD bump, but I was 39 weeks.

Every Sunday is pancake Sunday in our house DD can make them herself (not the frying bit, as she's only 3.5!) she loves cooking. Will be having them on Tuesday too, yum. Mmm I just love them, old school with lemon and a touch of sugar.

Hope everyone else is well.