April 2013 Part 8: Welcoming our Easter Chicks & as Alex & Evan hopefully go home!

[toobreathless]

Over here Ladies!

I hope you don't mind me starting this thread too.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1689714-April-2013-Part-7-As-our-miracle-Alex-continues-to-grow-the-one-that-sees-us-reach-TERM

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1560543-April-2013-stats-thread

Wonderful news for today as we welcome babycandy and little Charlotte and hoping that this thread sees little Alex and Evan home very soon.

How many more babies will this thread see?

Hiya river I'm still hanging on at 40+5 too :( Getting a bit bored of thinking things might kick off then they come to nothing, but physically all still fine.

Today's ''is it a symptom?" is sore hips-anyone else had this?

Thanks for sharing positive induction experiences, that helps a lot to put my mind at rest. I would be disappointed to have the water option taken away, but good to know that it's not necessarily much more painful.

Hello - nice to know I'm not alone - every time I wake up early my first thought is are my waters about to break - waters broke at 6am with ds2 but had absolutely no signs or symptoms before that. And no induction did not make my labour worse - the back to back baby however did!! I have been reassured by the midwife that this time the baby had actually turned around!

I really thought as this was dc3 we might have been on time - I'm just hoping that she will be as chilled out as ds1 who decided to hang on for a while - impatient ds2 was a miserable baby and was on time!!! I was so glad when ds2 got past the terrible twos and started to be a pleasant human being!!! Whereas ds1 was the sort of baby you could take anywhere and he was just heaven!! He is still the quieter, calmer one of hr two so hoping dd1 will be like her eldest brother as she is taking after him by keeping us waiting!! Will be interesting to see if my theory pans out!! :)

Quick update from me, don't want to write a horror story but induction on sat morning ended up in EMCS, DS2 arrived at 2.37am Sunday morning, at 38+1, 7lbs 3oz. Hopefully out of hospital today, feeding going ok so far. He is a lovely little munchkin who is so far being mainly ignored by his big brother!

Congratulations cheese! Sorry you had a rough time- I'm glad everything is ok though. Xx

Sounds like there are a few us here getting a bit restless. I'm slowly resigning myself to nothing happening until induction date of 21st as I really don't feel like anything is going to happen of its own accord. I have a sweep tomorrow which I am dreading but hopefully it does something although as of last friday the head wasn't even slightly engaged.

Hope things are progressing for danny and jorich. rivergirly thanks for positive info on induction, I too am scared of this - does anyone know if this normally makes labour longer? cheese sorry you had a rough time and hope you are recovering well.

41+0

Rivergirl does a sweep really hurt that much? I'd been led to believe it was just uncomfortable (by the MW and a friend who's had one).

Incidentally, I had a very different experience of induction - well augmentation technically - they used the syntocinon drip once my labour had started already.

It was very painful indeed. I thought this was "normal" with the drip? (Not that they pre-warn you!) I thought if you had the drip you could expect to need an epidural? (The epidural didn't work on me so I experienced the effects of the drip without pain-relief last time unfortunately).

This time round I intend to avoid induction if at all possible. It's certainly not something I'd enter into lightly. If I do have to be induced then fair enough, that's what needs to happen. Luckily (I think?!) the hospital I'm at now uses Propess, a pessary which is much more effective than the one they used to use, so I might not need the drip.

If I do need the drip, I know I'll be asking for an epidural as soon as possible.

Sorry I don't mean to scare anyone but I reckon it's better to know and make educated choices!

rivergirl

Ooh maybe that came across as if I was doubting you, just to be clear I wasn't at all! It's just it's the first time I've heard that sweeps can really hurt, and I'm interested in knowing more about sweeps as I expect the MW may talk about offering me one when see her tomorrow.

Also 40 + 5. Getting pretty fed up now!

river, thanks for sharing your induction experiences it really helps to get my head around it as it's my least preferred option but good to know it doesn't mean a difficult/more painful birth. I'm with you in getting bored and really hoping I don't have another 2 weeks to wait.

cheese, I hope you get out of hospital today. Sorry to hear you had a tough time but thanks for sharing. It's really good to hear about induction expereinces good and bad, it makes me feel more prepared should it come to induction. I'm sure your DS1 will be smitten with his little brother soon

leluella, one of the questions I had about induction is whether it makes labour longer or shorter. I've started a thread on the childbirth boards about induction and there's some useful experiences from ladies who have been there.

aufaniae, thanks for sharing your experience. It sounds like you had a very tough time. It's useful to hear all the different induction experiences so I can think all the options through. I'll be asking my MW next week whether they induce via the drip or pessery.

Right, time to get back on that birthing ball. Engage baby, engage!

I might have gone insane, but I'm feeling somewhat jealous of those of you still to meet your babies! Please someone tell Me I'm not alone!
I adore my new dd and we have adjusted well to being a family of 5. But I don't know what it is! Cannot put my finger on it!

Teapig IIRC correctly most hospitals use both pessary and the drip. The pessary comes first and then if it doesn't work you move onto the drip. What's different for me this time is that the hospital I'm at now has very recently started using a pessary called Propess which has a higher success rate at kicking off labour.

So it's worth asking what kind of pessary they use.

Still nothing to report here other than I have fucking thrush!

I suspect it is a lovely side effect from all the antibiotics they pumped me with whilst in hospital. Joy of joys.

Hopefully I shall be cleared up by Friday as I am really hoping to have a sweep when I see the midwife even though I will only be 1 day over by then.

aufanie I hated the drip - contracting on my own was a breeze, but when they stopped (after my waters were broken manually) and I was given syntocinon ohmygosh it hurt so much, I bawled with tears at every one.
I had an epidural after 6 or so hours and it was such a relief.
River I'm glad your experience of it was more positive!

Good luck to all the ladies still 'in waiting'!

Thanks for your best wishes.

Sam is a very ill baby and is now in Bristol Children's Hospital. He was born with multiple tumours including one in his heart which is huge. It's not looking good for him to be honest.

Good luck all with your babies. It's been great sharing the pregnancy and birth journey with you all.

Hi all-
Thanks for all the info about inductions- saw the midwife today who booked me in for mine on Saturday, when I'll be 40+13. Would rather avoid it if possible, but I guess there's still plenty of time until then! Maybe tonight's the night! though doubtful as I have no symptoms whatsoever! Midwife did a sweep, but my bishops score was STILL only 4, so I'm not holding my breath!

No word from birdbrain or mrssimkin since yesterday- here's hoping they're either pushing or busy snuggling a newborn!!

Xxx

40+9

X

Hi all! I have no idea if I'm coming or going and what I've posted!

To share my/our experience - I had a sweep and induction because my waters had gone but hadn't progressed much (1cm) after several hours. The sweep was like a bad smear. I then had the pessary. The plan was to put me in an ante-natal bed but I had lots of pain - my MW thought it was due to the pessary and the fact she'd been meddling. Honestly - I think she an DH thought I was being a bit over dramatic! They gave me paracetamol and dihydrocodiene for the pain. Shortly after I started having full on contentions. About an hour and a half after the pessary I said I needed g push, they told me not too...then I said I thought I was pooing I still had my jeans on so they took them off, baby was crowning! So they said 'Ok push!' No time for the drugs I wanted, not even gas and air. I had baby 1h 50 minutes after the pessary! In my case I think it sped things up :)

Baby is small and we are still getting to grips with feeding so staying in another night, review tomorrow.

jacqh I hope it clears up quickly for you. Taking a probiotic might help things improve too.

Oh empress . I don't have any words to say- you must be going through such an awful time. Please know that you and Sam will be in my thoughts and prayers.
With love x

Empress I'm so sorry to hear Sam's unwell. Thinking of you both and wishing for good news. (((hugs)))

Wishful, MrsSimpkin posted on FB last night - Isla was born yesterday evening.

Empress, my heart goes out to you. I am so sorry Sam is facing such a battle. After the duration and all the excitement of pregnancy I can't imagine what you and your OH are feeling right now. I hope you have your family around you to support you. We'll all be thinking of you and do keep in touch with us all if you want to.

Will be thinking of you empress x

Aufaniae maybe I am just extra sensitive or had less than gentle midwives. Smear uncomfortable I could handle but the sweep that I had after my waters broke and nothing happened was defo the worst - had gas and air and still it was really painful!! If has really put me off and if I had to be induced again I would actually refuse it!!

I managed to have a back to back baby with nothing but gas and air so I don't think it was my ability to handle pain.

I did have an epidural with ds1 but this was to do with him being back to back (he eventually turned) not the drip making things worse. His birth was actually the more pleasant of the two!!

Hoping for a better experience all round this time!! Baby right way round and hoping that my waters break and contractions start normally and the baby manages to keep a nice steady heartbeat!! Poor ds1 was all over the place, came out blue and was whisked away without us even seeing him!!

I really hope anyone having sweeps and Syntocin have an easy time of it and that I can possibly avoid both for this one last baby!!!

Empress sorry thought I would post this separately - sorry to read your news - thinking of you and Sam xxx

empress I'm so sorry to hear the news about Sam. There are no words, but you're in my thoughts and I will be willing him on! X

Empress you, Sam and all your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Please look after yourself and know that we are here for you whenever you need us even if you just want to scream feel free.

Empress, thinking of you at this difficult time xx

empress, I am so very sorry to hear that Samuel is unwell. He is in the best possible place receiving the very best care. I can only imagine what you must be feeling. Please know that I'm thinking of you and your family and we're all here for you any time.