February 2014 - Part 4 Beginning to bloom (hopefully)

[ChocoFrog]

New thread and ever hopeful as we move into second trimester that we'll all feel wonderful soon...

[barebranches]

-hides fact that ive tried knitting and failed miserably-

After each feed we should hold out our babies over a chamber pot...this helps bring up wind.

[212VIP]

Marking my place x

[barebranches]

"Orange juice must be given to baby everyday after the first month as breast milk is lacking in vitamin C"

[mrscookie78]

My last birth was very calm and relaxed! That may of been because we popped over to the hospital to have my braxton hicks checked and then got ready for theatre to deliver my breech baby by csection. The rbh in Reading were faultless
crikey oj for a newborn!!!!!

[bugsyburge]

checking in

[tinypolkadot]

Just marking my place

[EeyoreIsh]

bare I'm loving these snippets from the 1940s!

Thanks to this thread, DH and I have started taking about the birth. I love the idea of giving birth in the local midwife led unit, but we're an hour away from the proper hospital should anything go wrong. I'm quite risk adverse so is rather have it in the main hospital. But it's really not a good place, it's so busy they won't do tours and I'd be unlikely to get a water birth.

We're thinking of going to another hospital in a different County, which is actually closer than the other hospital. But that means transferring to another midwife team.

Lots of difficult decisions!

[Timpani]

laura007 Having done it once I can honestly say that I don't fear the birth this time. Last time I was nervous about the prospect, scared even but this time: nope!

I can honestly that it was a lovely lovely experience. Yes it hurt like b*ggery (had just G&A) but the pain has a purpose, every contraction is closer to the end. I begged for pain relief but looking back, that was transition: the 'I want to go home' bit.

I felt elated afterwards. Like I'd done the most amazing thing in the world. That buzz lasted for ages.

I know things can and do go wrong, and I really had the fear the first time. But once in labour it felt almost surreal. I kept thinking 'is this real? I'm in labour?!' and I sort of went into myself, zoned out.

I know that unfortunately it isn't like that for everyone but there's every reason to hope that it could be a positive experience for you. There's nothing to fear. I had the thought that if it got scary I would close my eyes, not look at anyone else so that I couldn't see others' fear, if it was there.

I puked today. Ugh. 14 weeks, make it stop!

[lyndsey90]

Just parking on this thread. Working till midnight tonight, BT

[212VIP]

mrscookie78 you're near me!
My first (should have been born in the RBH) and my second was in Wallingford.
I'm guessing you're the same age as me too from your name? What if I know you?!

[lyndsey90]

Just parking on this thread. Working till midnight tonight, BT Sport has made my job explode! Extra money for baby!

Scan on Thursday eek!!

12+3 today

[Sassy20]

Just marking my place. X

[Wuxiapian]

Marking my place.

Felt better today than I have in a loooong time - have actually stayed awake all day and not on the verge of chucking my guts up.

Not sure whether this is good or bad...

[Bearfrills]

Oh my good goodness ... Gas and air ... I bloody love gas and air. It's magical, giggle inducing stuff, like breathing a rainbow. I was hallucinating and all sorts, it was fab. I now do have a birth plan and it will simply read: "I'd like gas and air and a baby please. In that order. And then some toast."

I'm loving your 40s book Bare :o just had my tea so I'm off for a lie down. I've also told DH I'll need a few spa sessions from 34wks and on so that I can keep my looks.

[littlestgirlguide]

My own experience was much like that Timpani, I begged for an epidural but looking back i didn't need one and wouldn't have been happy if I had got one. I remember lying there afterwards with my baby in my arms, and my legs in stirrups while they stitched me up, and feeling like te queen of the world. THE MOST amazing feeling in the entire known universe. The high lasted at least 4 days, until the adrenaline wore off and knackedness hit me!
I am genuinely not scared of the birth this time.

[HarlemWobble]

Another thread already...wow! I wonder what number we'll be on by the time all these babies haves made an appearance?!

I must say I'm loving reading about all the different birth experiences. It's such a comfort as a first timer knowing there are so many knowledgeable ladies on here who have been through it before!

12 week scan for me first thing tomorrow. I'm so nervous, not sure i can sleep! Hopefully I can update you all with some good news in the morning!

[Mendy]

Marking my place too!!
Am 12 weeks tomorrow with my first and am scared to death of labour! :-(
For the moment everything is ok, no sickness only headaches. Anyone in southeast London area?

[gnittinggnome]

Mendy yup, in the SE London area! Just been to the PRUH hospital in Bromley, which is a little way away from us, for their open evening. What hospital are you looking at, or are you planning on something else?

[amicusapple]

Thanks for sharing the stories. Love the 40's tips!

The top of my stomach is rock hard tonight and I look huge!!! Anyone else experienced this (or is it just bloating ).

14+6 today

[KalevalaForMePlease]

Hello! I haven't been back in a while, sorry! I'm pg with my second as well, first time round I was very nervous about the birth, but not worried at all this time. I had a hospital birth, had a really good experience.
Went into labour at home, during the night, but because it was 10 days early I wasn't sure if it was real or BH. The contractions were all over the place for a while, eased off, got quicker then slower. We finally rang the hospital around 4pm and they told us to come in for a check. When I got there I was 6cm so they admitted me. After midwife checked how much I was dilated, the contractions got stronger and more intense. I tried gas and air, but it did nothing for me!
I had pretty bad SPD all through my pregnancy, and was really worried about the pushing. I got to 8cm and had an epidural. I am a big fan of epidurals! Pain free for the first time in months! It was fantastic. I was pushing for an hour then out she came. It really is the best feeling ever! So looking forward to it this time round, when they place your baby on you for the first time, there's no feeling like it.

[littlestgirlguide]

I'm a bit confused, or I may just be a bit dim :-)
But if I am 13+0, and due 11/02, how are some of you nearly 15 weeks and still due february? is it just that the January thread isn't very friendly?

[amicusapple]

My due date is 30/01 but the jan thread was well underway by the time I was ready to join and feb was just starting so seemed like a better idea ( and I thought I might be late with my first).

[laura0007]

I'm 14+2 and due the 3rd feb so I'm a early feb mummy!....hopefully!

[littlestgirlguide]

I thought it would be something like that, but then my addled brain started getting complicated with ideas of cycle length! It doesn't matter anyway, these are lovely friendly threads and we all need to stay here!

[sunflowered]

New thread already! Am looking forward to blooming soon. Still no sign of a bump, and still no date for my second 12 week scan. Feeling a bit like it's all in my head today.

It's been really interesting reading about your very different birth experiences. I think one of dh's big responsibilities on the day is going to have to be keeping me calm if things don't go to plan - which feels like it's the more common way of things. I do like a good plan. And also a contingency plan or two for when I wake up worrying about the original plan... Dh is going to have his work cut out.

gnitting what did you think of the PRUH? I'm in west kent so everything is geared up for tunbridge wells here, but TW is massively busy (whole hosp is single ensuite rooms) with only 2 birth pools, and pruh is a bit nearer, but would need to change midwives to go there. Would be really interested to hear what it was like.