Due in August - part 6

[sarahlou1uk]

thought I'd start one off girls (and Salamander!)

Gosh, lots of posts since I started typing this!

Arabica ? that?s good news about your scan, and that you?re enjoying your pregnancy. And it?s good you know in advance about special care. The staff at the SCBU where my ds was were totally the best and helped to make his stay there as nice as they possibly could. Hopefully, your baby won?t have to stay there too long. One piece of advice ? stock up on hand cream, as you have to wash and spray on alcohol on your hands every time you go in or go out of SCBU, even popping out for a while and then back (and obviously when you change nappies). The alcohol made my hands red raw very quickly.

Eeny and BHM ? yes, I remember the indigestion/ having to sleep sitting up from last time. None this time (yet), but it?s good to get out of the habit of slouching on sofas/lying on your back to help with fetal positioning, and to ease the strain on your blood vessels.

Booby ? hope everything goes well with your mw - shame that thread?s has now descended into a bit of a VB vs. CS argument.

As far as I?m concerned (and as I said on the CS thread) I?ve finally decided to go for a VBAC after loads of thought. If it works out, I?ll be ecstatic ? if it ends in another CS, then so be it ? if it?s not meant to be then that?s just how I?ll accept it ? as long as baby is healthy at the end of it, that?s what matters most. I?ll just worry about it if and when it happens, and make contingency plans. But I?m feeling extremely positive about it, and the obstetrician I saw yesterday told us a very positive VBAC story - his wife had one ? so that makes me very hopeful and confident in the care I?ll be receiving. However, I?ve been booked in for a growth scan in 2 weeks time (I?m 33 weeks now) - my ds arrived at 35 weeks, so getting past that stage will be a bit of a milestone for me.

Just managed to catch up with everyone else's news... and there's alot

Aprilgirl, I've had my list ready and got DH to pack my bags for me as I wasn't feeling too well yesterday and after my appt with the consultant i think I will be having this baby soon even though I am not due until 31th Aug.

If you want to know what to pack let me know and I can start off the list.

I am currently measuring 36 weeks even though I am only actually 32 weeks and I am going for a growth scan tomorrow. Even the consultant was surprised at my size and has said that I will be having a c-s @ 38 weeks (it was 39 intially). She's also said I am not to labour because of my previous c-s and should I start getting any signs of labour to get myself to the hospital. Needless to say DH is craping himself

I forgot to say - I tried to get those Rennies chewables from the chemist but they didnt have any Will look for them the next time I can get myself to another shop!

I've compiled a list of things to pack based on P&B mag and a previous thread on MN - do a search on 'labour bag', I think that is how I found it. This weekend Sal and I are going on a shopping mission to make sure we have everything and I will pack it all up then. I'm 32 wks tomorrow but I like to be prepared!

Hi ladies, all coping ok in this weather ?

Juat had another scan as measuring small. baby is fine , around the middle centile (not sure what that is) but is around 5.5lbs - with 4 weeks to go, that sounds just fine to me.

Bloods came back low - 10, so have been prescribed iron tablets - ferrous gluconate to prevent me getting constipated.

Well have been working on my list for hospital bag and is something like this:-

Preg notes & birthplan
2 nightshirts
3 pairs of knickers
Pck of desposable pants
Pck of Maternity towels
Bath Towel & Flannel
Dressing gown
Breast pads/Nipple cream
Flip flops & slippers
Facial Spray
Mini fan
Comfy tracky bottoms
Vest / t-shirt
Nursing bra
Tens machine
Camera
Toilety bag with toiletries
Lip balm/hairbands/clips
Pack of newborn nappies
3 baby sleepsuits
3 baby body-suits
Hat & scratch mitts
Baby shawl/blanket
Coming home outfit for baba
Cotton wool
Nappy cream & wipes

Thats about it - if anybody can suggest anything else much appreciated!

BHM - what about a list of people & their phone numbers who you will want to call? snacks (I'm going to get those things - dont know what they are called but they give you energy? I think you suck on them... ooer! Salamander knows what I mean, this is one case where I have to plead being foreign), I've heard a black bin liner is good for carrying home soiled items, and pen and paper because in case you have to jot something down to ask the MW when you have baby brain.

Thanks for reminding me about nipple cream!

GLUCOSE TABLETS

Thanks Sal

AND BHM - I dont know about you but I am packing chocolate!! And LUXURY chocolate at that!

Good thinking Eeny - bottled water and energy bar of some sort! Good idea about bag for soiled goods lol! . I'm quite sad as I know all my close family and friends number's off by heart so wouldnt need a list!

BHM that's not sad! it's sweet!

SH*T! I'm now down to my last pair of flip flops which fit me - bought several pairs over the last few months and the ones that I have on today are hurting now! even the tops of my feet seem to be risingwith the heat aswell as the ankles!

Where can you buy a good pair of flip-flops?

Sal, I got a lovely pair of cream terry towelling slippers but in shape of flip flops so not hot on ya feet from Next - ideal for walking round hospital in. Mega comfy and washable too. (I'm now having visions of me having to wear these to my best mate's 30th Birthday party tomorrow with my maternity dress - what a sight! )

Eeny crossed posts earlier - wont chocolate melt in your bag in those heated wards? Might pack a mini fridge lol - can you imagine their faces ha!

Thanks BHM for the footwear advice!!!

The Chocolate temperature issue needs to be resolved now...

Sal you might want a pair yourself when you see how comfy they are - I've caught my Dh wearing mine when I've been out ha!

HAHAAHAH BHM
i might just do that!

well BHM I was thinking of keeping the choc in the fridge til the last minute... but you are right it might melt when I get there... but I dont think I can do without it. May have to bring it with this thing I keep in the freezer that makes a wine bottle cool in 5 mins??

I worked out there would be things I couldnt pack til the last minuted because I use them every day. So I am making a list of those things, and keeping it by the door so it can all be grabbed quickly as we race out. There shouldnt be many.

Those flip slippers sounds good!!

well BHM I was thinking of keeping the choc in the fridge til the last minute... but you are right it might melt when I get there... but I dont think I can do without it. May have to bring it with this thing I keep in the freezer that makes a wine bottle cool in 5 mins??

I worked out there would be things I couldnt pack til the last minuted because I use them every day. So I am making a list of those things, and keeping it by the door so it can all be grabbed quickly as we race out. There shouldnt be many.

Those flip slippers sounds good!!

Just a tiny detail - but make sure you've got plenty of pads and disp knickers if you're planning on using them (which I do, cos you can take the whole lot off and bin it, and start again every time. Sorry if TMI ). You probably want at least a couple of packs of each in your bag.

BHM - have you considered that for various reasons your dp might be making phone calls? Mine wouldn't have a clue about phone numbers, or priority in that instance!

Have had another massage this pm, and got midwife to check baby's positon, which is now head down, probably floating in and out of pelvis. Had been worrying that it was still lying across the way, and my homebirth was going to go out the window.

Eeny, while she was massaging me the mw mentioned that about 50% of 1st time mums attempting homebirth end up transferring to hospital. Usually, because 1st labour takes so long, and mum gets tired and wants more pain relief. Occasionally there are complicating factors too, of course, but as somebody has told you somewhere (here? or on your other thread?) the need to go in is usually identified in good time and without panic. How all that relates to the situation in a birth centre like yours I have no idea! Do they have more heavy duty pain relief there than you can have at home?

So sorry for the length of this post. Will shut up now. Was actually trying to find out how Booby went this afternoon.

Re the hospital bag, I would take more changes of clothes for yourself and baby and an extra bra, in case you need a C-section & have to stay in. When I had DS I kept having to send DH home for more stuff and I really would rather have kept him in the hospital with me as the time really dragged.
I took lots of bottles of water with me as it's just so bloody hot in hospital and bf makes me swig gallons at a time.

Purple I think the most pain relief I can get there is pethidine but NOT if I am still planning a water birth. In water it's just gas & air.

Forgot who said about drinking water and it has to be icecold - and this goes for my labour bag too - I've got bottles of evian (75cl with a red sippy top) in the freezer. I have four currently (I drink all plus some each day) they defrost beautifully during the day in this weather to drink and you'll cry if like with my labour with ds the ice machine is on the blink... I keep refilling mine with tap water but the lids only last about 2 weeks before snapping. They're a perfect size shape and defrost better than reusable bottles.

Plus you can then use them as iceblocks in a cool bag for keeping other things cold.. such as chocolate And don't forget you can freeze chocolate (what we did in australia!) it's just as nice and still defrosts.

Oh BHM - I really would not bother with disposable pants. They are tight itchy and so uncomfortable. It's cheaper to get a size up from Tescos in a cotton 7 pack!

hi ya
im not mad im not mad im not mad

right now ive got that out of my system mw nikki was fab she laughed with me as i cried and assured me meds are not a big deal and not nessecary yet!!!!!!! but is fine about me wanting a csection and is putting me in contact with my coonsultant asap
what im sufering with is exreme anxiety and she thinks it will be more dangerous to labour with it than have a c section and was inceribly understanding

glad evry one is ok

i feel so much better for being taken seriously

thank you all for your concern and support

yo ho ho a c section for me