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?

Oh & just a lil question, I got my first stretch marks this week sort of lower on bump (like 2" under bellybutton or so) but they are really really itchy & driving me crazy. I bought a special E45 today that is itch relief but have applied it & just carried on itching... do you think it will work eventually or is there something better to put on them?

Hi all,

VERY busy day here! I have Hoovered, done both bathrooms, cleaned the freezer out, scrubbed the coffee machine, descaled the kettle, done two lots of washing & completely re organised our filing cabinet. Frankly at 39 weeks plus I deserve a medal. This is all prep got the move not nesting!

In view of knicker wetness :) its really quite unusual for waters to go and not notice. Generally there is a bit of a gush but you can have a slow trickle too. As someone mentioned earlier waters tend to smell quite sweet too & are more likely to be positional if that makes sense? So leak when you stand up.

I am over the 'toddler plague' bit have been left with a constant nausea, I have eaten anything properly in 4 days which is terrible. Drinking plenty though & going to make a big effort this evening to eat a proper meal but aaarrgh! Interestingly my morning sickness came back at this point with DD but I don't remember it being this bad in the first trimester!

teapig I am jealous of the batch cooking! My freezer is totally empty ready for the move.

monkey not everyone has problems breastfeeding after a section & I suspect you'll have no problem if it's a planned ELCS & you didn't last time. fluffeh leaking is also a good sign that your body is getting ready for labour and breastfeeding and you hopefully won't have any problems. I think a nice, calm, controlled ELCS in many ways can leave you in a better state to breastfeed than a prolonged traumatic VB with a bleed afterwards say.

Dysgu so glad evan is home and the DDs are enjoying him so much. Will he be partaking in the Easter egg hunt tomorrow if you're having one?

39 + 1
(3 days till the big house move!)

too you definitely deserve a medal! Moving is hard enough when you're not 39 weeks pregnant! :)

I've been nesting today again; kitchen got blitzed today. I'm talking pulling everything out and rearranging the cupboards. It does look better but I've concluded we need a bread bin and lots more tupperwear.

I think the baby has shifted down...the lump known as bottom seems lower and the kicks feel slightly different. I'm happy that I'm feeling sufficient movement but I will keep an eye on it. Little monkey!

dysgu I'm glad you're settling in at home.

I do think we'll need a post-natal thread soon although it seems strange because of course most people's babies aren't even due yet!

Ah too, I see you're another one doing extreme nesting, we finally moved into our new house last week.

Will it be all ready when you move in?

Ours isn't, and life is a sea of boxes right now. I really want it all to be clear before the baby comes, but in reality I very much doubt it. The move has taken so much time and energy, I feel totally unprepared for this baby! (Due in 12 days).

Good luck with the move, I hope it all goes well :) (Remember to pack the kettle and gavisgon etc if you're using it, somewhere obvious!)

toobreathless you are a star, amazed at how organised you've been for your move. Hope it all goes well!

dysgu I am glad Evan is home, hopefully you can settle into your own routine now and get used to family life.

with the Arnica it's worth starting 7-10 days before CS/VB as it really does help with recovery and brusing.

I also agree with toobreathless' comments above, an ELCS can be a great experience if you are prepared for the realities, I read a really lovely blog post here. When I was pg with DD I had prepared myself a VB plan and a CS plan, I'm using the same method again, I did have a VB with DD but wanted to be prepared in case things changed. I think when you receive that date it's a mixed up emotional response that you feel relieved/disappointed/excited, it doesn't matter in the end, you've got your baby and life begins. My SIL had an EMCS that was rather traumatic, she followed it by having a beautiful organised ELCS and she was so happy she'd done it her way.

DH finally gave me a day for the house stuff that has been standing for a very long time. DD went off with my parents [still makes me shudder letting them have her after my last falling out with them] so we could get on top of things. We crossed tons off our list, including getting the crib out the attic, putting up picture frames, fixing stuck doors, cleaning the car seat [DD still fits in it with tons of room] and it feels so good.

He's a but grumpy that we've wasted a day like this but he's now understanding my anxiety is just going to get worse the longer it's left. They all tell me to let it go and it'll be alright, but it just remains not done and continues to make me anxious. Just need to work on the steam mop idea, our mop had a cascade of earwigs fall out of it. Ran away squealing. It's just a cheap fabric mop, but i'm getting fed up of buying a new one every time I need to clean the floor. Last time a mouse had made a nest in it and there were mousebabies in my mop. boak

congratulations to everyone else who's had an early arrival and hope you have a lovely Easter weekend!

fluffeh, mumof and monkey I had an elcs 8 days ago because dd was breech. Had an easy vb with DS so I've now experienced both ways! Recovery wise it's been a lot quicker than I'd thought it would be. I'm probably as mobile now as I was after my normal birth, although still banned from heavy lifting etc. I didn't bother with a birth plan, the only thing I asked for was for the screen down when dd was being born. We have some fantastic photos of her emerging into the world, which I certainly didn't get taken with my vb

We didn't do skin to skin till I was in recovery but I did cuddle her while they were stitching me back together. She latched on and fed straight away, unlike DS who took 2 days to bf, so it's not always true that cs babies are slow to feed. She did end up having bottles of ebm for two days when my milk came in, but so did DS, because I have very flat nipples and they just couldn't latch when I was all engorged. The hospital I was at certainly don't push formula top ups, I think because it requires the signing of loads of consent forms for them to do it, it's actually quicker for the mws to help you express. Admittedly I did go to a private hospital, so I imagine the mws are a bit less pushed for time than those on the nhs or in the public system here

The main thing I noticed about her was that cs babies have a lot more fluid in their chests than a vb baby. She spent 48hrs coughing it all up and at times she sounded like she was really struggling to breath. I think if she was my first baby I'd have really panicked hearing her like that

My main piece of advice would be to get a willing helper to wax/immac as much of your bikini line as possible . I didn't remove enough and having the dressing taken off the regrowth from the shaving job they did was more painful than any part of the surgery or the recovery.....I actually cried!

Dysgu- no I don't mind you asking at all. At the moment I can't get upstairs so we are on a double mattress set up on the floor as a bed in my spare living room. I have Alex one side between me and the wall (no gap at all) and ds1 the other side he also has a separate duvet, we are using blankets on our side. It seems to be working great at the moment. It means as soon as Alex starts to stir I'm awake and boob in before he is waking ds and ds is sleeping perfectly. I don't think we could work this if I had a dh though, just not enough room. I really am so pleased for you that Evan is home and settled have you got any Easter plans? Do you mind me asking we're you told to keep Evan home for a bit? I was advised to but am desperate for some fresh air!

We have had a great day making simnel cake and gave Alex a bath he really seems to love the water but then again maybe he just loves three of us fussing over him

Evening ladies, hope you are all having a lovely long Easter weekend.

I too have spent the afternoon on the delivery suite as I am still dripping after 48hrs.

All was checked and is ok, they don't think it's my waters more like very watery discharge.

Everything is closed and right back so labour looks a way off yet.

The internal was quite uncomfortable but the midwife was lovely.

I have quite a bit of cramping period type pains now but I am presuming that is all normal after an internal.

I think I may be in for the long haul

Glad everyone is ok and good to read about the sections vs VB.

Felt less movement today but did some of the tricks to get him moving and eventually got him to move and kick, will just keep a closer eye and pop to hospital tomorrow if he hasn't moved his usual amount! I just want him out now so I can watch him!!

37+4

Hats off to you toobreathless and aufaniae, moving house at this stage of pregnancy is no mean feat.

Great to hear about C sections, I'm hoping for a VB but you never know so good to be prepared for either scenario.

Trish, I'm also feeling less movement, and I'm also 37+4 today. I felt a little bit yesterday and nothing yet today. We're considering going in for a check but I do have a history of not feeling much movement so I'm not sure whether I should be worried. We'll see what happens this morning and then decide.

Happy Easter ladies, hope you have plenty of chocolate to tuck into [bunsmile]

Hello Ladies, haven't posted much in recent weeks but have been lurking and on Facebook - lovely seeing and hearing all about the new arrivals and so, so pleased for Mama and Dysgu.

Can also empathise with toobreathless and aufaniae - we're moving house around the end of April (DH got his own way in the end [buhmm]) and it just seems so daunting, especially when I don't really want to move in all honesty - at least not right now.

Anyhoo, having had a textbook pregnancy, I've been in and out of triage and day assessment over the last couple of weeks, as my blood pressure has been rocketing. I feel fine, no other PE symptoms or anything, but it went so high on Friday that they kept me in overnight, saying they expected to induce me on Saturday as I have hypertension. Well, they didn't induce me, didn't give me the tablets they said I needed in the end (!) and I just had a completely sleepless night completely freaking out about the whole thing which has sent me into a complete spin.

They're now saying I have to be induced on Thursday, day before due date and that this means I can't have either a water birth or active birth and I'll have to be in bed the whole time. This is my absolute worst nightmare. I've been fairly fluid with expectations of labour and birth but the one thing I said I didn't want is to be flat on my back. I want to be able to move around, even if I can't use the pool. Really scared and [busad].

Am also freaking out that I'm going to be a totally shit mother. I'm not at all practical, I've never changed a nappy and I'm scared that I'm far too selfish and may not bond with the baby (donor egg ICSI after 7 years TTC). Having a massive, massive panic and everyone telling me not to be silly but it's making me weepy. I've been feeling strangely detached from the baby so far in a 'I'll believe it's here when I see it' kind of way and am now worried that detachment will remain after they've arrived. Anyone else panicking and thinking of changing their mind?!!!

magictorch firstly I'm sure you'll be a great mum :) The feelings you're having are very natural and nothing to do with your ability to parent!

FWIW I am still having problems getting my head round the fact that DD is a real person even though she's due to put in an appearance very soon, and I've done this once before already!

When I was pregnant with DS, I held a friend's very little baby. I felt like I was in danger of breaking her, she was so little and fragile. DP on the other hand was a natural, and very relaxed holding her. I thought "oh no, I'm going to be terrible at this!" But when DS arrived it was fine, it really is different when it's your own baby. You may or may not feel a rush of love at first - many people take much longer to get to know their baby for those intense feeling of love to develop and this is absolutely normal too.

About the induction, are you sure you have to be on your back? I was induced last time, (well, technically, "augmented" once labour had started, but it amounts to much the same thing). I did have a MW who wanted me on my back, but everyone else since has agreed that was because of her inexperience with continuous monitoring, rather than an actual need for me to be on my back.

I've discussed this with my MW this time, and there's been no mention of me having to be on my back, if I end up being augmented again.

Do you know why they expect you to be on your back? Is it because of monitoring or because they expect to give you an epidural?

Also, do you know the process for induction? Will they start off with a sweep and/or a pessary? If they're going to use a pessary, does your hospital use "Propess"? If it is Propess, it's fairly effective at kicking off labour from what I've heard, so it's much less likely you'll need the syntocin drip, I wonder if this means an epidural is less likely?

And even if they do give you an epidural, it might be possible for you to get a low-dose or mobile epidural so active labour isn't totally impossible, has your MW said whether this is an option?

Hi aufaniae - thanks for your advice and glad to hear my worries are normal!

My own community midwife hasn't said anything to me about labour or birth choices to be honest. I've done my own research and made my own decisions after attending NCT classes and talking with friends to come up with a birth plan.

However, I asked the hospital midwives about water and active birth options when I was admitted yesterday and they said I'd have to have an induction. It's them who said I'd have to be continually monitored if being induced, so would have to stay in bed the whole time. Fills me with horror. They didn't say whether it would be drip or pessary either - should have asked, silly me [bublush] but I'm guessing it's a drip if they've told me I have to stay in bed. They didn't mention anything about epidurals to me.

I had hoped to get away with keeping mobile and having tens/water and gas and air for pain relief - I hate the idea of pethidine type stuff and the epidural needle (although am not so precious as to think I may not change my mind at the time and be begging for them!). They just said I'd have to be in bed if induced, so an active birth was not possible. I just know that's not what I want and that will distress me - I like to be able to keep mobile. I was bad enough yesterday when they had me attached to the monitor again - was meant to be 40mins, but they forgot about me and I was on it for 2 hours not being able to move and it was horribly uncomfortable. Having not being scared of the birth at all until now, that's the thing that has now freaked me out - of being strapped down, feeling trapped, not being able to move about to get as comfortable as possible.

My own midwife isn't available for calls until Tuesday and I'm due to see her on Wednesday - I will ask her then in case she's of a different opinion to the hospital midwives and also see if she knows whether my hospital use drip or pessary.

Thanks again

Thanks for the advice re arnica, can't name check on my phone sorry.
Think I'll pick some up next week, and some veet!
Hope everyones having a lovely peaceful Easter.

magictorch i've been told that continuous monitoring should not mean you necessarily need to be in bed. From what I've heard, it's a sign of a poor / inexperienced midwife if they can't cope with continuous monitoring except if you're on your back. However having done a quick google though it does seem that continuous monitoring is expected with syntocinon, and is described as "restricting movement". Even so, last time I could still be in different positions even with the monitor on, although my MW did not support this. I'm now and questioning what I've been told and realise I need to do some more research in this myself as I may well end up on the drip again this time.

I guess also that it may be, indirectly, the epidural they're talking about. If you have syntocinon you will probably want an epidural.

I'm also seeing my MW on tues, i'll do some more research before then and let you know what I find out.

My previous two labours I was continuously monitored, I thought this was the norm at the time, I was quite young 20+21 at time. This ment I was in bed on my back for majpirty of the time. There was no reason I can see for this monitoring! This time I want to be as mobile as possible and see if gravity can help me not have another 12+ hour long labour. I am hoping my hospital enable Me to do this!

OK, I've started some research on continuous monitoring by starting a thread (of course :)) here: Does continuous monitoring mean being on your back for labour?

Thanks aufaniae - really interesting seeing other people's experiences. So hoping I can avoid being bed bound if I can!

OK I need some advice. I'm 39 weeks today and determined to not go overdue so I've been trying to bring labour on for the last few days and got absolutely nothing, not even braxton hicks!!! We went for an hour walk, eaten pineapple, drank raspberry leaf tea, bounced on my ball, dtd more times in the last week then in months (sorry if that bit is tmi ) every time I have a shower/bath I spend time stimulating my nipples and absolutely nothing is happening!!! I can feel the baby is really low and pressing on what I think is my cervix when I do walking but I don't know what else I can try to bring on labour [buhmm] any ideas ladies?anybody managed?!?

Same here bird except am 39+2. Let me know if you find the answer!

I was continuously monitored with DS1, on my back for 18 hours with little things stuck on DS's head as they couldn't pick him up on the tummy bands.

aufaniae my midwife told me that induction at our hospital is done initially with cream on a tampon that is inserted so that it can be whipped out if it brings the contractions on too quickly and labour can progress normally with standard monitoring. If that doesn't work the drip is offered.

Still feeling quite achey and crampy after the speculum (sp?) yesterday and have had a bit of an upset tummy...so much for my plans of scoffing eggs all day!

37+3...18 days and counting!

Jac I've been abit sore after examination yday too. Not aches in bump but stinging in my lady bits when I walk about, abit like the pains I sometimes get from I assume babies head on my cervix but from outside if that makes sense! Where you swabbed? I found that most uncomfortable and now fear a sweep should I go over!

39+2 btw

Yes I was swabbed as she could see lots of discharge, it was really uncomfortable but the midwife was lovely about it. The worst bit for me was when she tried to re-angle the speclum to get a view of the neck of the womb, she really had a good shove about. Nothing to see though apparently.

Last night I was a bit stingy up inside, like cystitis pain but on my cervix but today's pain is all period pain/dull ache in my abdomen and back. I suspect this will be the norm for the next few weeks for me until it all ramps up for the kick off