December 2013 - blue, pink, what do you think?

[NomDeClavier]

New thread! Pile in!

stom family members keep telling me I must be having a huge baby as apparently I'm massive, got a growth scan in a couple of weeks so I guess I'll see if they are right

My last day should be the beginning of November and I can't wait, being pregnant again at 35 nearly36 working over 40 hours a week with 2 kids to look after is really hard this time around. I have another 2 weeks annual leave so that should break it up nicely as after my last week off I only have 4 weeks to work then its mat leave

Anyone thinking about pain relief??
Was going to try an epidural this time around but I actually like the pushing part of labour I'm strange lol so I don't want to be numb for it. Thinking I may just do gas and air and dia morphine again

Im hoping for a water birth... I really don't want an epidural if i can help it.. But this is my first and i don't have a clue how km going to react to birth! I hope I don't panic lol. I want to be as calm as I can!

mum I'm hoping it's not going to be too hard going from 2 kids to 3. My DD will be 10 when baby arrives & DS will be 7, so I'm thinking it won't be as hard going as when I had my DS as I had a 2 & a half year old toddler. Although, we have had some jealousy moments already. How old are your 2?

Lady thank you for the links regarding the breast pumps, something I had never even thought of or realised before. Think I'm going to look into it all a bit further.

Well, I ordered our co-sleeper today we were all set to rent the bednest for 6 months but I saw the babybay on the boots website at a reduced price (in beech) plus I get a discount at boots as I have a boots within my work, so babybay including the mattress & side rail, which makes it into a 4 sided cot, for £200, plus all those lovely advantage points
I've watched a few on eBay, and they sell 2nd hand for a lot, mostly over £100 so we can sell it in the future too (that was my convincing argument to my DH)

Alyssa I've been thinking about pain relief. I had an epidural with my 1st, and although I'd never say never, I'm really going to try and manage with gas & air with diamorphine as I did with my 2nd. The recovery period after having my 1st baby was horrible, painful and it took over 6 weeks before I could sit properly. My labour slowed after I had the epidural, so I ended up having the inducing drip, plus a cut & forceps. The stitches afterwards were the extreme! I can't say for definite that it was because of the epidural, and I had been in active labour for well over 10 hours with baby being back to back before I had the epidural, so in that situation I would do exactly the same as I did, but I'm hoping I won't 'need' it this time.
I did shout for an epidural again whilst having my 2nd when I was just getting to the pushing stage, but it was too late. The anaesthetist turned up at my room to set up my epidural when I was breast feeding my son makes me chuckle thinking about it, my DH had gone to ring everyone & I was on my own with my new baby. The anaesthetist said 'ooo I'm thinking you don't need an epidural now? Congratulations'

Lol so he was just a tad late then lol.

Both my kids were back to back also, came out looking at the ceiling instead of down, midwife said they make longer and painful labours and my lord was she right, 24 hours with number one and number two was over 25 hours

This one is the first time my placenta is at my back so I'm hoping baby will be facing the right way and ill have him within the hour lmao

Pain relief wise I don't know. Sometimes I can be a complete wimp and hate pain, but when I broke my ankle and had to have surgery it wasn't so bad. So I guess I am going to go with the flow. I don't really want an epidural, but it's all very well and good saying that now. As a first time mum I have no idea what I will be like trying to push a watermelon out of my fanjo,

Has anyone else noticed that they have become really uncoordinated and clumsy? Just this morning I have dropped a tin of beans on my foot, banged my head on the cupboard door, trapped one finger in the wardrobe door and another between the box and the bed whilst putting stuff away as well as walking into doors. I hope this isn't how my life is going to be from now on as this morning has been painful

Go back to bed crying lol. I would have by now.

I like to think I'm tough and good at managing pain. I had an elcs with DD so as much in the dark as a first timer. I know I was out of bed 16 hours post op with c section, and walking around ok when others who had been done the same time as me were still buzzing for baby to be passed 2 days later.

And a did have an episode of renal colic a few years ago which is supposed to be worse than labour. And I managed that without morphine so am hoping to manage without an epidural. Mainly because I am a vbac and have been told they won't let me labour for too long without intervention.

But we'll see. Got to have a baby pointing the right way first and I have a feeling he will be like his sister and meand be sstubborn lol.

Was supposed to be doing house work today while the weather is crap but can't be arsed. Think am just going to chuck hoover around downstairs and fuck it off pmsl. Have got a pony show on Monday so will be busy tomorrow and Monday so it will get left until Tuesday now.

But just download some bargain books to my kindle so might just doss for the day!

I have retreated to the sofa with a cup of coffee and a blanket and plan on not moving for a while. I can't get hurt just sitting down can I?

well, if i wasn't set for a c-section, I would definitely get an epidural. I remember last time (when I was 24) having strong braxton hicks was soo painful. There is no way I would survive going through an entire labour. I just wasn't made for it. I envy everyone else who can do it, but I know I would just give up, and try to jump out of a window instead.

sounds good crying - think I'd do the same!

I'm not sure what to do for pain relief at the moment - considering a water birth but really need to talk to the midwife at the 25 weeks - any advice on choosing and how to choose?

Think it was already mentionned earlier but Sainsbury's have 25% off all clothing this weekend and well worth it. Sainsbury's also cut everything really big too so some tops can easily accommodate our bumps.

mscat I honestly went into my first labour determined i wanted an epidural but I couldn't have one until some sort of blood tests they had to do came back, I could've cried watching the epidural man come in then leave my room, by the time the results came back i was fully dilated and couldn't have one so I only had one shot of pethidine and gas and air with ds1.

Ds2.....epidural man lol was in surgery so I had gas and air and pethidine (I hate the stuff, I never felt any different) so after that wore off I had dia morphine (my drug of choice now lol, just couldn't give a shit for a few hours) when I was 9 centimetres they called to give me an epidural (didnt know why at the time) even he asked if it was nessecary, I was actually pushing before he had it in. Found out after I had baby that my blood pressure was sky high and they were trying to lower it before rushing me down for a c section.

20 minutes after I'd given birth my right leg went numb lmao
So epidural was totally pointless, all it did was stop me showering for ages as I couldn't walk to the bathroom lol.

I will definately be having gas and air (it does not take the pain away) it makes you feel a bit drunk so takes the edge off and with out a doubt dia morphine, if I don't get it I'm gonna kick off

When I had ds2 pethidine was 1in4 (one injection every 4 hours)
Dia morphine 1in6 (one injection every 6 hours) so definately stronger.

Xx

Can u have Dia morphine with a water birth? Dia morphine sound good lol

thanks so much Alyssa that's really good advice

I've had nitrous oxide for dental work before and found it effective so gas and air is definite - but I am leaning towards a water birth, simply because I've always found lying in water a way to relax and easier to move, so it would have to work with that.

Although most women I know who have had babies already said they didn't get their birth plan. Does anyone?

I'm not sure stom lol I have a feeling if I'd had a water birth with dia morphine I may have drowned judging from the photos dp took I was totally out of it clutching my gas and air lol

I think some women get there birth plan mscat but its always best to go in with an open mind that some of it may not happen the way you want as then you won't be disappointed.

I really wish water relaxed me as water births always look nice (if you can use that word for giving birth) lol

Lol.. I work with a nurse who has had kids and she said don't even bother making a plan as it's a waste of time... As most of the time it never goes to plan

Saying that though I'd really really like a water birth... I love baths the water relaxes me.

So had completely made my peace with the inevitable stretch marks and already have old ones from when I was a teen, a few have popped up - bottom of belly, by my belly button and boobs and that's fine but then today I did some bikini maintenance with the help of a mirror and ended up unveiling the angriest looking stretch mark on my pubic bone- now how is it fair that after the trauma poor downstairs is going to get giving birth to also give it stretch marks?! Lol!!

Oh no mrs shrubs that is not fair at all. Life is cruel sometimes

Last night I was kept awake with a pain at the top of my bump. It felt kind of like stitch and hurt most when I moved. Anyone else had this? I put it down to stretching and general growing a baby pains, so hope it's nothing too sinister. My midwife is beyond useless as she never answers phonecalls or texts.

Hope everyone is enjoying their sundays

I get that crying but I mainly get it at the side of my bump, walking used to make it feel so much worse, feels exactly like stitch. I've put it down to ligaments stretching. Also freaked out yesterday when a pain went all across my bump and it went Hard, then I realised it was my first ever Braxton hicks. I do worry at every twinge though I'm awful!

Pain relief for me? I'm going for good old gas and air again. First time that's all I had, second time nothing (spent worst part of labour in car on way to hospital screaming it out!) I'm hoping that if its similar to he last few times I'll be able to manage with just the g & a.

I've heard pethidine isn't that great- either doesn't work or makes you feel sick- my mum said she had it but it was too late to be of any use. Baby can also come out drowsy which isn't good if you do have it too close to giving birth. Diamorphine sounds good if something strong is needed. I don't think I'd like to have a numb feeling from an epidural but that's just my feeling about it-for some women in long painful labours its a godsend.

2labs my two are 2 & 4 (will be nearly 3 and nearly 5 when baby comes) so I think I'll have my work cut out but at least the eldest will be @ school and younger wont be far off getting his free preschool hours.

Oh and I did use a tens machine both times but not sure whether to hire one this time. I'm not convinced they do anything apart from being something to focus on or maybe the placebo effect!

I was looking at the tens in boots mum but don't think I'll bother as I've been told they don't do much
My kids will be 3 and 1 when baby comes, am I mad???? Lol

I've been lucky not to have any stretch marks on any pregnancies (touch wood it continues) but I think I keep palmers cocoa butter in business lol.

These Brixton hicks are annoying lately, I'm having like 20 a day (anyone else) ???
Someone asked me when I was due today and she said I'd obviously "dropped" I bloody well hope not, he better stay in there.

I don't think I've had any Braxton hicks yet, not that I've noticed anyway. I have got one realllllly itchy nipple though, I think I'm joining Alyssa in keeping Palmers in business!

I can't remember whether I said this, but thanks to All who recommended gaviscon advance, it works! Tastes rank, though, and costs a fortune, so when I've finished this small bottle I'm going to beg the GP for a prescription! I'll be bankrupt by the birth if I have to keep buying it

Alyssa I'm getting lots of braxton hicks too, been getting them since around 15 weeks! Never had a single one with DD1 and my labour lasted 40 hours so I'm reaaaally hoping with all this practicing this baby will just pop out in a gush when my waters break

Pain relief wise I had DD1 in Germany and Gas n Air wasn't an option, it was pethidine or epidural. Pethidine did absolutely nothing and after about 30 hours of labour I opted for an epidural, it was blissful!!!

My advice to first time Mum's is devise a birth plan so you have some idea what to ask for but DO NOT think this means you will be writing a contract set in stone. Go with things and make the decisions as you go through labour, adjusting your choices in accordance to how you feel you are coping with things. You hear alot of stories of new mums who are so stressed out/upset/devastated because their strict birth plan wasn't followed. You just have to be flexible in my opinion!

ell I have freaked myself out by using dr google. My pain is back again. It feels like having stitch. Dr google says it could be stretching and general pregnancy uncomfortableness or it could be pre-eclampysia. Naturally I am convinced it is the latter and am now sitting here worrying endlessly. I have never worries so much about something as I have about this pregnancy

Crying, if you are worried ring your maternity unit, that's what they are there for. It's much better to give them a ring and have your mind put at rest than to sit at home worrying and fretting. Give them a ring now, and report back to us