October 2013 - Operation Baby Eviction

[MrsHoratioNelson]

sheet

Key:
SC - still cooking (pre EDD)
SFW - still f*ing waiting (post EDD)
OWT - on way to theatre (CS)
IP - induction in progress
SWIL - somewhere in labour
LIT -lost in transition

Rox - you can say no to a stretch and sweep if you don't want one. Our NCT facilitator said there is little evidence to show whether they make any difference. Some argue that those who go into labour soon after having on we're already favourable, and there's no control group who didn't have a S&S to compare them with!

On the other hand, it may be good for you to be examined and know if your favourable or not, but do t feel you have to if you don't want one.

I have a very twingy bump today, which coupled with backache has, of course, convinced me that baby is coming soon. I'm 38 weeks tomorrow and know full well that it could be weeks yet!

I also have a wedding at the weekend, and I think tomorrow is the last day this week I could have the baby and still attend. Although that may be pushing it. I think I'll be taking this wriggly bump along!

clapham My older 3 are all at full time school so I do try to get an afternoon nap. I usually manage about an hour which helps a bit but still leaves me feeling exhausted. Still, hopefully not much longer to go.

rox I gave birth to my second baby on all fours. I felt a bit self conscious about having my bottom in the midwifes face but I managed to deliver by baby (9lb 13oz) using only gas and air and no stitches. I have never had a sweep but my midwife said it shouldn't hurt. If it does, ask them to stop because it means your cervix isn't favourable and it won't do anything anyway. She said it is mildly uncomfortable, a bit like a smear. Good luck x

I wore (and am still wearing!) m and s full briefs, the black "no vpl" version that comes in a five pack. I bought the size bigger than my normal size plus one pack of two sizes bigger for immediately post op (now too big). They're v v comfortable!

Sorry, the random knicker post is for Diege!!

Ok ladies, a completely non-pg related Q here... What, in your varied opinions, is the best internet/TV/Phone provider?
We're with Virgin Media and the bills have shot up and lady on phone has just p-d me off big time cos I got the password wrong and 'must call my husband'. I'm unreasonably annoyed, but then that's our prerogative these days, isn't it?
All recommendations gratefully received!!

diege I've just bought some full briefs from adds but am seriously considering buying some tena pants for the first couple of days. I've seen them recommended for post c-section a few times. They're super absorbent comfortable and just tear off so no bending if you're a bit sore.

Diege I downloaded a copy of Caesarian birth - a positive approach by Leigh East which I found really helpful. Also am trying to get them to give me where possible, a slower 'mock natural' c-section (although I will be amazed if they do attempt it - it's considered a bit odd by my hospital.

MoN hope I can be of some support to you but I figure you are the expert on csections on this thread. Must admit am a bit scared of having a panic attack in theatre at the idea of not being able to move/breathe but keep telling myself it's just for a short while. It will be my first major op in my life so bit weird.

Legally thanks for good luck. Hope your babies are letting you sleep sometimes inbetween feeds. Interested to hear that ELCS was different hormonally too. Can understand emotionally as imagine its a bit flat compared to highs of a natural birth.

Thanks oddlife, I'll look that up. Intrigued by 'natural c-section' but does ring some bells.
Also knicker tips - brilliant! Heading to M&S so will investigate. Will also check out the tena pants - that's a sentence I thought I would never write! Am assuming up a size with these too?

Don't get me wrong, the moment the twins arrived I cried with relief and knew instantly I loved them, but there was a difference. I think it's to do with the pain and sheer bloody hard work of a natural labour - the moment the baby pops out is totally euphoric, and it wasn't the same high... Also, with DD, she was immediately in my arms and the bonding was very immediate. With the twins, I didnt hold them for about 45 minutes and it took a few hours to feel the same sort of awe and "bond" - it was more gradual than the immediate emotional/hormonal "wow" post a natural birth. But like I said, I still had the same tears of relief and def felt as strongly about them within a few hours, I think once my hormones had "clocked" that I'd given birth.

My milk came in sooner than with DD though. It was day 5 with DD, day 3 this time round.

Like I said, c section was great, really great (it saved twin 2's life for sure and recovery has been better by far than natural birth plus episiotomy with DD), just different.

pink we have talktalk. They're cheap. The broadband and tv are ok but they're very slow to book installations. We kept getting upgraded when we moved so now we have the full package of tv for no extra cost but can't watch it bc the antenna isn't hooked up so we watch freesat instead. When we watched the talk talk tv at our old place it seemed ok for us but it depends on how many channels you're used to. We don't care about sports.

Basically you get what you pay for.

pink I have sky tv broadband and line rental and never have a problem with them, the one time I did I rung up complained and got a month for free my sister has talk talk and has nothing but problems with her broadband and my dad has bt and his is rubbish too x

Seriously fed up with BP fluctuations now. Been creeping up all day, but also feel rubbish as I'm so congested in my sinuses so hard to symptom spot. Just took it and it's 153/89 (top number is above what they would be happy with) so I'm just having a rest and a snack and then I'll check it again. I'm mid medication dose (last taken at 2pm) so shouldn't be that high I think.

I haven't really posted since yesterday but I know someone (Legally?) asked why they haven't brought my cs forward and I know Tarlia was asking too. I haven't managed to get a satisfactory answer out of the day unit midwives and I haven't seen a doctor since I was admitted/discharged two weeks ago so no idea really. Except that I don't have PE, just PIH.

Diege Queen Charlotte Hospital I believe is famous for developing the natural csection procedure. There is a video available on Internet somewhere that shows how they do it. London hospitals prob more open to attempting it I imagine.

Legally that makes sense and I know that the payoff in my situation is the loss of the euphoria that I can imagine only comes with completing the cycle of actually giving birth. I think that's one reason why I was drawn to the natural csection to mitigate some of the bonding issues that might arise. Having said that I know that the ELCS is best and safest option for me so am determined to enjoy it!

'll still have movement from the chest up oddlife and breathing shouldn't be a problem. The epidural does make my blood pressure drop causing me to feel like I'll black out but they'll quickly give you something to sort that out if you mention it.

I've always been able to hold my babies within a minute or so of c-section previously legally. I would have felt strange if I'd had to wait 45 mins too. I'm fully expecting it to be a long wait this time though.

Pseudo please try and get opinion from a doctor as the raised bp near the end of my pregnancy could have been the reason for my placenta starting to fail not to scare you but your bp has been high for so long too when is you CS scheduled for? I never had PE either just the high blood pressure a bit of swelling but bloods were fine.

Thanks for all the support ladies I am doing well and just keeping an eye on everything atm DH is being a great support let me sleep in till 12.30 today took DS to school and willow in the buggy I was impressed!

Thanks Falcon, growth had slowed slightly at my scan on Thursday but the consultant reviewed it without even meeting me and was unconcerned (I'm a bit worried they've put it down to the steroids which has masked something else...).

Your DH is a star!!

Glad your DH is being so supportive Falcon and making sure you get some much needed rest.

Hope all is well Pseudo and they haven't missed something.

Very interesting to hear people's experiences of c-sections in comparison to vaginal births.

I had a very quick, straight forward, natural birth with DD - only gas and air for pain relief - but have to confess it wasn't the euphoric event that some experience (or indeed that I was expecting it to be).

Neither DP nor I shed a tear (of joy or relief) and looking back at the photos we both just look completely exhausted and utterly shell-shocked. Honestly, we both acted about as excited as people that had just bought a toaster! I don't know what the midwife made of us.

However, once the initial shock wore off, there was absolutely no problem with bonding.

I suppose what I am trying to say, is that - if you have to have a c-section for your first and would have liked a natural birth - I suspect it is easy to imagine you are missing out on a fantastic natural high and an amazing experience when in reality a natural birth may not have been like that anyway.

Just as I suspect I view breast-feeding through rose-tinted glasses (when not everyone finds it fulfilling and wonderful) because DD and I didn't manage it..

I'm sorry I haven't contributed much over the last few days but I need a moan!

I've got such a bad toothache! I've been for a check up and an extra appointment in the last month because of it and they cannot find anything wrong except suggest a wisdom tooth is coming through pushing my other teeth causing the tooth ache which apparently cannot be dealt with until the baby is born but I'm in so much pain!! I'm taking 2 paracetamol every 4 hours just to make it almost bareable and surely I can't carry on taking paracetamol like this?

Yay I got very happy writing the date as OCTOBER this morning!

diege, sorry to hear about the stubborn placenta not moving. At least you can prepare now you know for sure.

Pinkforboys, my bil works for sky and there was a half price for a year family and friends offer a couple of weeks ago. If you PM me your email address I will get him to send you the code if you want it and it is still going.

Nat you had a bad tooth a while back didn't you? Sorry it is back. My midwife said for my pelvic girdle pain I can't just take occasional paracetamol, I need it every 4 hours all the time. They seem quite relaxed about it. I haven't taken any though as I am not comfortable taking medicines while pregnant. But if you are in a lot of pain it will be fine.

Exhausted and achey today. Counting down the days until Friday when I can stop work. Just came home and eaten almost half a loaf of bread. Before dinner!

Hayley great to see the picture of you going home on fb! Hooray!

MoN - I assume the wait was for two reasons:

1. There were two full sets if paediatric teams there who took a twin each - they expected both twins to need at least some assistance, despite the steroids, but luckily, although small, both needed no help at all ; and

1. My cervical stitch also had yo be removed which meant a longer op and me with my head tilted right back (pelvis right up) and my legs up in stirrups.

Agree though - both types of birth will be entirely personal experiences! I wouldn't have swapped my c section for the world though.... I am so blessed that they're both here safely!

Pinkforboys I just checked with my BIL and the half price sky offer for a year is still on if you (or anyone else) want it.

Thanks orange I texted my midwife and she said I can take codeine if necessary so think I'll buy some tommorow and keep in drawer for when it gets un bareable. X

Will catch up with everything else later xx

orange also that sky deal isit for new customers only or existing customers?

New customers only Nat.