October 2013: no pushing in from the back of the bus, please

[MrsHoratioNelson]

Stats sheet here

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?pli=1&key=0AidVHHwJSwC3dDU2VzFhWWt1ckg4dW84WkdCNzhOaFE&f=true&noheader=true&gid=1 New arrivals here

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

Flyer for section I would recommend belly button hugging pants in a few sizes bigger than you would normally wear, yoga pants for coming home in, arnica tablets & some decent hospital snacks.

Also be prepared that you will have a numb tummy after section that is very tender to touch, can only liken it to feeling in face after getting a jag at dentist.

Question for fellow C section ladies, when will I be able to comfortably wear jeans again? Currently living in yoga pants and I feel like a slob

Flyer - I am a big time lurker but have posted a couple of times. I also suffer with herpes but have been having such regular attacks that my consultant recommend a c - section as my mode of delivery. I umm and arred about it but decided to take his recommendations although it is for sure not how i imagined having my baby and i truly blamed myself as i had contracted herpes all those years ago and now it would affect my little baby if i didn't make the right decision. We also told most people baby was breech rather than the truth, although my close family and a few friends new the truth. So they delivered me at 39 weeks and it was the best decision iv made. My baby is happy and healthy and was at no risk what so ever to the herpes which he would have been if i had delivered naturally. The risk of transmission to baby is low naturally (i researched like crazy!!) but as my consultant said to me, as a medical professional the risk is low, as a parent the risk is high. The section was a lot calmer and easier than i thought it would be, everything was talked through to me, i didn't feel judged for my reason for having the section (this is a big thing for me as i have felt judged in the past by medical professionals for having herpes!) and my baby was delivered quickly, with the little help of some forceps which i didn't realize until after and the consultant told me! I was so scared and nervous before hand but it was totally fine.
I just wanted to post for a little reassurance and to let you know there's others out there in similar situation and it works out all good :) I was only kept in 1 night and then i asked to go home, which they were fine with, as my partner wasn't allowed to stay over night and i wanted him to have max time with baby before he had to go back to work. Just take your meds religiously and use a pillow pressed on the scar to help you sit up in bed for the first week.

NAT - i was so relieved to read your post about only deciding to formula feed straight away. I was separated from my baby for an hour after delivery as an emergency section had come in and i had to go to recovery for normal surgery and baby couldn't come. He had come out super hungry and rooting so his daddy took him upstairs and with my blessing gave him formula. It was actually such relief to decide to just ff as i had no desire what so ever to breast feed. I am also only 23 so maybe it is an age thing? I have also always had a hate hate relationship with my boobs as im a natural 34JJ and i hate it. They get in the way and get me the worst attention no matter how covered i am! There's so much pressure to breast feed (and rightly so) and for those who do it i admire completely and am in total awe of but i just knew it wasn't for me.

For those who have decided to ff, its such a brave decision in the society we live in but i have a very happy baby who is pooping, peeing, feeding and sleeping and putting on weight steadily and i get a decent sleep (6 hrs - never thought that would be a decent sleep ha!) so im a much better mummy in the day ( i cant handle tiredness at all).

Good luck to all those waiting on their babies, i hope you have nice fast labors!

MON - my heart goes out to you but so pleased to hear Eliana is progressing well.

Legally - like everyone else i am in awe of your abilities to cope with breast feeding twins and an older DD. Plus birthday parties!!

Fellow MNers with babies, im looking forward to the postnatal thread which i will try contribute to more! its nice to read your ups and downs as i go through them too.

So i had a little boy on the 26th of September who we named Harry and he weighed 8lbs 1oz at 39 weeks.

Nice to hear from you Emmo, congratulations on Harry and glad you are doing well.

Thanks Emmo and congratulations on the arrival of Harry.

I think my breakout is due to lack of sleep. I rarely get them these days. It's always been when I am run down that they reared their ugly head.

Is it really painful having a c section ladies? DP at Tesco trying to buy last minute bits as I have an awful headache. I have no nightie and ate all my snacks on Friday
Nighties out of stock, goodness knows what he will come back with. I'm thinking of asking my mum to get supplies at least I will end up with the correct things. Bless dp he does try just hasn't got a clue at times

Bowl I at the explosive baby.

Flyer I am sure they will give you a hospital gown if can't get a nighty right away, and DP or mum could bring you one later to change into something more comfy. The same with snacks, I presume won't be eating before hand so will only need them afterwards. Sorry this is so sudden and worrying for you. what time do. You have to go in tomorrow? Is there anything you could do tonight to help you relax - bath/film/early night?

Thanks orange for your kind words.

Yes I have to fast from midnight, I can't even have my morning cuppa, I've to be there at 730am but could be waiting all day as I'm an extra on the scheduled list.

DP went onto asda and has been texting me pictures of night dresses he has found 2, bless him. My sister is stocking up on arnica tabs and peppermint oil capsules and big pants. I think all ok I'm a bit last minute usually nothing new here.

I guess I need to pack more stuff for the baby also.

Flyer the section itself isn't sore as you will have some kind of anaesthetic. The first day after section was sore for me but I was managing on paracetamol, found out later I could have had stronger painkillers. Day 2 was only sore when I laughed, sneezed or tried to get out of bed.

Minimum stay of 48 hours following a section here

Your DP probably feels very out of his depth bless him! Have you got something to do while you wait - ask him to pick up some magazines too maybe. Will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Thanks, jelly that's great news about pain etc.

Orange he has been instructed to buy Closer, Heat and Look magazines. All highly intellectual reading material
thanks x

Oh and I have been advised not to have my placenta encapsulated as it could carry the virus in it!

So basically my water birth and placenta encapsulation ideas has ended up out the window so long as my baby is ok I will be just fine I'm sure. That's all I want a healthy baby here safely delivered by whatever means that is.

flyer I know it's a bit crazy and last minute but perhaps it's better that you don't have more time to think and get upset about the whole change of plans. This time tomorrow you will have a lovely baby in your arms and everything will be amazing. Really hope you will manage to get some sleep tonight. xxx

Well done flyer in telling your DP what magazines to buy - we all must learn from my DH buying me Nuts and Zoo after I had DD. This time round he brought me a box of grapes which the kids ate when they visited me

Good luck flyer definitely the best way for baby to come out given the circumstances. Not sure I can add to the cs advice given.....just make sure you take it easy afterwards but do try and walk about straight away, just not too far! And keep taking paracetamol even if it doesn't hurt, and make sure you don't get constipated so lots of fruit and maybe even lactulose as all those pain meds can make you really bunged up!
Sorry not really caught up today as have been hectic but good luck to those SWIL too and congrats to the new mummies.
Off to bed now as am shattered!!!

I can't catch up properly as 3G is a bit patchy

But just want to wish flyer the best of luck

IP @ 40+0 been contracting on and off since the stuff was inserted at 10am nothing exciting to report though xx

Try and chill tonight flyer. Maybe watch a DVD or comedy? Nice dinner. Early bed.

tarlia I'm not very stylish at the minute. Still wearing my yoga pants even when go out

bowlful I know the explosive poos are something else. Are any of you new mums putting nappy cream on and if so what? With ds I only used olive oil all over, he never got nappy rash. He was pfb so I was probably changing v often and giving loads of nappy free time. Dd s bum seems red to me. I was using olive oil in the water to clean and then Vaseline for bum. Do you guys think I should use sudocreme or something like that??

Good luck whistle

Hope things progress nat

Hi flyer :)
I was given ibuprofen, paracetamol and dihydrocodeine every 3/4 hours, and was written up for other meds if I needed them such as oramorph. There is no reason to suffer with pain so take what you're given and ask for more if you need.

You will be shocked how quickly they get you up (about 12 hours after or the next morning) but go with it. Stand up straight, don't stoop, as soon as you can and you'll find it easier.

As soon as you feel pain that could be wind, or pain in your upper back/ shoulders take a peppermint capsule. Also take the Lactulose they give you.

I took 3 sets of vests and baby grows (and hat) per day (for 2 days) for baby and then laid out extra at home so that DP could bring them in if needed. Also take blankets and muslins.

I've had a shit recovery from an emcs, and a fantastic recovery from this elcs. Just incomparable. So hopefully you will do just fine too. We are always here for advice. Good luck xx

oh thats rubbish timing flyer , i know what its like to suddenly have your planned natural labour/birth turned upside down and as the others have said a c-section is really not that bad esp. when you know its necessary.
Day 4 post cs here and i am feeling much less pain. Yes to yoga pants, thats all i've been wearing. I was in for 48 hours post-op. It'll all be worth it this time tomorrow when you have your little bundle.
bowlful at explosive baby lol!

Thankyou so much everyone for your advice and well wishes. It means a lot to me. And as ever you old timers ( meant in a tongue and cheek way) your tips are invaluable.

DP did very well, we have 2 nighties and even a lovely dressing gown. Sweets, fruit, chocolate, nuts and 3 bottles of pink lemonade lucozade and peppermint capsules. He forgot the magazines though, I think on the whole he did very well.

Jelly I at the nuts and zoo, I remember you saying before.

Nat I hope things ramp up for you and have my fx I wake up to news of your little boy being born over night.

I send love and to all you swil, sc or frustratingly SFW. You have my sympathies.

I could hardly get any reception today when I was waiting to be seen, so I'm hoping it's a little better where I end up tomorrow so I can update you all.

DP may stay with me, the fee is £125 per night for your own private room at Liverpool women's hospital, so we are going to play it by ear and are what happens.

Chicken I'm also living in my yoga pants.
I've used sudacream a few times

Phew ladies, just had a chance to catch up.

on postnatal ward with C, DH has gone home for some well-earned rest and a pile of fish and chips :)

So, as Flyer suspected it all kicked off again on Saturday evening just as we were eating dinner. By 9:30 it was bad enough for me to call labour ward and we went in. On examination i was only 2cm, but MW gave me a sweep which then started another round of very painful contractions so, having suggested we go home, she changed her mind and i was admitted to antenatal. At 4pm i was struggling but still only 2cm, so i had diamorphine in the hope of some rest. At 8am i was 2-3 cm still so another dose of diamorphine. Examined again at 1pm and no progress, so i had a warm bath and then they monitored the contractions and baby for a while. More diamorphine. By 8pm i woke up suddenly in agony and had reached the magic 4cm. Another bath and then on to the birth unit for gas and air. I still progressed quite slowly until the mw broke my waters and then i got in the pool. Now i think about it, was in there for about 5 hours! Finally started pushing (although i had been going in the pool for a fair bit before hand I think) and C was out in about 30 minutes.

Put like that, it sounds a lot calmer than i felt at certain points!

C is very mucussy and hasn't shown much interest in feeding at all but he's placid and not seeming hungry. Had some EBM via syringe (tiny amounts) and we'll keep trying him.

Congrats to all those with new babies I've missed in the meantime and best of luck Flyer for tomorrow.

PS loved all the booze chatter up thread :) There's a bottle of Bolly in the fridge to wet C's head/our wedding anniversary in a few days

Wow MrsH what a long old slog that labour was. That's why the little man wasn't wanting to come out, he is obviously totally chilled out and enjoyed his stay at hotel utero a little too much. Enjoy your night with him

Evening Ladies,
Well done MrsH, sounds like a marathon session, but worth it all now x

Nat- I hope things get moving for you tonight.

Flyer- good luck tomorrow. Well done your DP with the shopping- mine wouldn't be remotely as successful. Hopefully the hospital shop can supply the mags in the morning. (I banned DH from reading my Grazia much to his disgust! I just hate 2nd hand magazines )

I saw the dentist this pm- my bum hardly touched the seat! A few prods and he told me to gargle hot salt water and go see my brother (he's in gums). I guess I should be pleased not to need a filling, but I hoped I'd get some immediate relief rather than hope it'll disappear when I'm not pg anymore.
My Mum's in town so she looked after DS whilst I was in the chair, successfully getting him to buy a Jelly Cat toy for his soon-to-be-sis. In fact, I've just realised that said Puddle Monkey has been snuck into his bed with him, so she'll be lucky to get it!

I've got my Mum all day tomorrow 'helping out'. Does anyone else feel a mild sense of failure when Mum comes and does the household chores? Even if it is cos I'm 39+3 & move like a hippo? She's 72 and far more mobile than me!!

Hope you all get a good night of Zzz xx

That sounds like a lengthy labour MrsH! Thank goodness for painkillers so you could get some sleep in amongst the pain.

Hope things progress soon for you natalieand

Good luck tomorrow flyer. I know it's not your ideal birth by any means, but lovely to think you're so close to baby cuddles and you don't have to worry about whether you passed on the herpes or not.

bowlful the explosive poo made me lol! And I told DH and he cracked up. I think we'd probably be the same as you, laughing more than anything.

My nipples are hurting too. I completely forgot about my Lansinoh cream for the past 3 or 4 days, so I have been applying that religiously again today.

Had our 10 day midwife check today and Ailla hasn't put on any weight. She only lost 2oz of her birth weight, and that's where she's stayed. Midwife says it's probably related to those days when I wasn't feeling very well, so have to have her weighed again in a few days time just to make sure she does start putting on weight now I am feeling better again.

We have been staying at my mum and dads since the birth (and for 3 weeks prior to that for me/intermittently for DH), and tomorrow we are heading home again. It's lovely having the support of family around, but DH and I are both really looking forward to having Ailla in our house and all to ourselves! I rarely seem to get non feeding related cuddles (except for when we are both asleep at night) so looking forward to that, although I know the phone/Skype will be ringing for regular updates!

jelly nuts and Zoo! Not sure if that or the projectile poo story made me laugh/cry more (hope you don't mind)

emmo congratulations. You ladies are so helpful and open I often feel I only come on here for advice or support - I'm completely inexperienced!! It's amazing all the different stories and perspectives (rather than judgements). One day there will be a topic I hope I can be helpful with it just might have to be something other than babies

Good luck with tomorrow flyer! It's nearly baby time!