June 2014: THREAD 3: Booking in+counting down 'til the 12 week scan!!

[GillyBillyWilly]

86 June babies!

pomdereplay 28 May
Penguin13 29 May
highlandfling10 1 June
grainofrice 1 June
WooWooCaChoo 1 June
bludgerwitch 2 June
monkeybananas 2 June
wispaxmas 3 June
Mezzaluna 3 June
carrie105 3 June
Bezzabelle 3 June
bee024 3 June
Seatfor5 4 June
SicknSpan 4 June
Loudandlarge 4 June
MAgirl75 5 June
Katsan 5 June
Mrs MLB 6 June
Norah Vanstone 6 June
cheesysmile 7 June
AuntPittyPay 7 June
adaloveslace 7 June
LondonSuperTrooper 8 June
barnsey14 8 June
Winglet 8th June
GillyWillyBilly 9 June
CarrotCakeMuffins 9 June
Snowlet 10 June
Threefromdesire 10 June
noseymcposey 10 June
Kirsty4609 11 June
TheMoonInJune 11 June
CleverOl10 11 June
squiglet 12 June
Giraffelegs 12 June
Mixology 13 June
Gingerandcocoa 13 June
NessieMcFessie 13 June
Londoncitymum 13 June
littlepickly 13 June
just 13 June
Mumof5plusazoo 13 June
blondiedollface 14 June
sebsmummy1 14 June
typhoonsmum 14 June
Hannahc1989 14 June
liquidambar 15 June
MTMD 15/16 June
ElizaB3 16 June
RaRa1988 16 June
Ginandstripes 16 June
Mitchell2 16 June
MrsGasMan 17 June
Sussex31 17 June
VickyVix 18 June
Ohcluttergotme 19 June
Beckala 20 June
Unoriginalusername123 20 June
MarlenaGru 21 June
Bellygrazing 21 June
WifeofGru 22 June
Sheilatakeabow 22 June
SarahAnderson 22 June
Lmf679 22 June
Emmazers 25 June
Bumblebeesmum 26 June
Coocoocachoo 26 June
Simpatico 27 June
Ladygonegaga 27 June
Mynameiswinkly 27 June
Jaykay987 27 June
Kittybubbles 27 June
superlambanana 27 June
Batmam 28 June
Stacks 28 June
NellyOC 28 June
Mrsb2013 1 July
jessieagain 1 July
catslicer ???
airyfairy123 ???
SparklyMasterMummy ????
kirstlovestea ???
Junebaby2014 ???
Stacks ???
Kittygirl33 ???
Girlsgotink85 ???

I'd LOVE a doula. If only we could afford it.. :(

Snowlet: I'm worried about lack of sickness too . I find it much more reassuring when I'm feeling rough! I've been ok since last Wed/Thurs now I think.... though my boobs have got a lot more sore. I'm hoping that's a good sign. I've got another scan on Thurs this week and I'm terrified it's died or hasn't grown properly and is no longer viable. Pg is such a worry!

I wouldn't mind a doula or independent midwive, but no way we could afford it.

Our IM will accept a payment plan for as long as we need to make it affordable, within reason. I understand some doulas will do the same, so it's worth asking. We've been saving hard since the birth of our daughter as we knew it was likely the route we wanted to go down.

If you really can't afford it at all you can try to find a local doula in training, as they need to do at least one birth free (or for expenses only) to qualify I believe. Don't give up hope - if it's what you want there's usually a way.

Emma, thank you! I'll explore this more when I'm a little bit more pregnant Are you planning a home birth?

MTMD I am indeed planning a home birth or HBAC. In theory I wouldn't object to being in hospital but after my last experience I have no faith that it won't go the same way, with an endless torrent of pressure (based on misinformation) and interventions that led to the c-section with my daughter. Being at home means that interventions and complications are less likely. Each repeat caesarian carries increasing risks for both mother and child in each subsequent pregnancy, as well as lifelong health outcomes, so my priority is to avoid another one for myself as well as any future children, including this one, and staying at home seems to present the best opportunity for achieving it.

I was so, so lucky last time. I had a lovely student midwife who had me as part of her case load - I ended up being an interesting case for her due to Thyroid probs and Gestational Diabetes and was also planning a home birth. So she attended about 90% of my appointments with me, did my GTT, did my sweep and came with me to my hospital induction and stayed through all the shift changes etc. She was so kind and caring and ended up catching my baby. So was a fab experience and laid to rest a lot of demons from first time round. It was a bit like a doula only free! She then did a lot of my post-natal care. Bet I'm not so lucky this time but if I can avoid GD this time I will def go for a homebirth. I managed on gas and air last time so should be fine at home. And saves a lot of grief with childcare!

Lady What an amazing experience. Was that with the NHS? Did you have your home birth?

Yes, that was NHS, Emmazers. It was because she was a student midwife and they have to take on a few ladies on their caseloads who they follow through their pregnancies from booking right through to post-natal. In the end I wasn't allowed a HM due to the GD which I was gutted about. I had to be induced on my due date which I was dreading (baby was suspected macrosomic) but in the end all they did was one pessary, a sweep and break my waters in the afternoon. Baby was born 3 hours later after the waters were broken, 20 mins pushing. They were very hands off, let me push in my own way and let me stay active and upright, finding my own positions. Baby was 9lb 8 and she was born with her elbow up by the side of her ear! If it wasn't for the elbow I think I would have got away without tearing as the birth was very controlled, but it was still such a good experience. Had a terrible time with my first (transferred home birth due to delayed second stage, asynclitic, epidural, ventouse delivery) so it laid a lot of demons to rest!

That's brilliant Lady. It must have been very healing. Wishing us both lovely home births this time!

RaRa I know just what you mean, we can't win can we? Feel a bit more pants this late morning, yay?

It would be lovely to hear a few positive birth stories from mums who aren't first timers if anyone would like to share. Seems I only read about the struggles/horror stories!

My mom had two easy pregnancies and two easy births! With me she had to be induced but nothing was happening, so they fed her dinner at the hospital (pate!), but when the moms she was rooming with got their babies for their feed labour suddenly started big time.

I was out 3 hours later! Now, I did have a big head so she did tear despite an episiotomy but other than that it was easy going and she was very happy with the experience :D :D :D

So, I've booked my private nuchal scan for the 12st of November - since I won't get a 12 week scan and with these wee bleeds I am having I am doubly glad to get myself checked out again, and it helps that the consultant owing the private practice is also a consultant at the hospital I am booked in with.

I'm wishing a happy home birth to anyone willing to take that route. I myself would love to, but I'm a first timer and DH looked terrified when I even mentioned it. MLU it probably is...
My mum had all of us via CS, not sure why, might have been 1980s thing :/

I feel really really dizzy today. So much that I'm worried about going out to get some lunch.. Announcing my pg via fainting in the middle of the office might be a little too dramatic even for me :)

I had a far from perfect birth with my DS, but it wasn't awful either. I had to be induced as he was 16 days overdue. They tried the pessary which didn't work, then DS had a heart deceleration while I was on the monitor. It was just chance they caught it, and I wasn't meant to be being monitored at that point anyway. Still, it meant I couldn't do the normal induction route with the second pessary, then gel, then waters broken and drip. Went straight to waters being broken (I think I was only 2cm) and then the drip when that didn't work.
I had an epidural not long after starting the drip, because I wasn't dilating quickly at all, and it was already very painful. Unfortunately the epidural causes my BP to drop, which caused DS to have more heart decelerations. We ended up with quite a relaxed emergency csection, as the problem only happened when they topped up my epidural.
My care was good through labour, section and recovery. The ward was noisy, with perhaps the two worst babies possible there - one going through morphine withdrawal, and one that couldn't feed. Still, I had my baby and I was so happy with him I didn't mind the noise! I stayed in for 4 days, got plenty of help from the midwives with breastfeeding, and made sure I was totally confident with the pain management before I left.
I wish I hadn't needed induction, a clip on DSs head, the epidural, csection.... but it's not always a nightmare to go through all that either.

MTMD, I'm addicted to coffee. Not the caffeine, just the taste. I ordered 200 pods of a couple different decafs from nespresso and dragged my nespresso machine with me to Paris. There's no way I'm going without :) I did bring some caffeinated ones, too, but I've not had any. You can have up to 200mg a day, but if you have chocolate or other foods/drinks with caffeine, then you might go over your daily limit with even one cup of normal coffee. I'm sure one cup every now and then isn't going to hurt, though!

Snowlet : Funnily enough, I've been feeling queasy pretty much since I wrote that! Psychosomatic??

Stacks : Christ, I know you've no choice, but I don't think I could bear to hear/see a baby going through morphine withdrawal . I've been through that myself, and it's hideous beyond belief. To a tiny baby with no idea what's happening to it, it must be hell on earth.

Ladygonegaga: How do you get a student midwife? Do they just ask you if you mind if there's one looking for patients? Wouldn't mind that myself!

@MTMD

I'm on the following caffeine regime...

• Morning latte (= about 100mg)
• Morning green tea (= about 50mg)
• Afternoon green tea if I need it (= about 50mg)

Aside from that, it's camomile and peppermint.

Guidelines seem to be 200mg is fine.

Wish me luck I have my sca at the EPU at 3.15 am so worried I am going on my own well with DS3 who is 3! DH didnt even think about coming with me he hasnt even rang to see how I am! He is very much of the opinion that everything is fine but I just dont know :(

Oooh, wispa, I've just treated myself to a Dolce Gusto machine and ordered a variety of pods to try out! I like a milky coffee and am happy enough with decaf, so it hasn't been an issue so far. Can't wait for it to arrive.

In fact, I shall spend my two enforced weeks at home doing lots of online shopping for the new house - I was hoping to go to the local Boots points event tomorrow evening, but I'm not sure I'll be up to it.

Anyone have any opinions on umbilical cord donation? Was discussing with my husband this morning. Choice seems to be either (a) donate it to the public good or (b) pay to host it privately, meaning it'll be available for your family in future if needed. Or (c), neither, I guess.

Sarah my hospital states its option 3 with them :)

Snowlet there are so many more positive positive birth stories than negative ones, I think it's just that the difficult ones need more talking about - it's cathartic.

My two were both very straightforward thankfully. This does not mean they weren't traumatic in their own way- I didn't find them upsetting or regretful or anything remotely negative but the hard bits did replay on a video loop in my head for a while.
Ds1- waters broke on the loo at bedtime at 38+6, popped paracetamol to try and get some sleep but 3 hrs and a great deal of contracting later dh convinced me to go to the hospital. I thought it was too soon but glad I listened as I was 9 cm dilated when we got there and after an hour in delivery suite he was born. Gas and air for 15 mins but no time for anything else.
With ds2 I had a few twinges at tea time, so had a bath with ds1 to see if the aches went away. They didn't, and by the time dh had called his mum to look after ds1 contractions were regular. Hot footed it to hospital 20 mins away, 6 cm on arrival and ds2 arrived 2 hrs afte, again gas and air but nowt else (wanted an epidural but anaesthetist was busy). he was back to back which was more painful and I did have a few stitches with him (just a small tear with ds1) but these were not a lot to worry about. I do have a high tolerance for putting up with stuff in general though, so what doesn't bother me might have a massive impact on someone else and vice versa. Hospital experience was fine both times - don't expect everything to be perfect but just sick it up and get on with it is my approach. Things could always be worse!

Sarah With ds we would have preferred to donate to the public. but there was no public service at the time, apart from one hospital in Glasgow. We ended up going privately. I will need to double check if anything has changed over the past 4 years, but if not we'll go privately again.

Ha! The irony of having to sick it up when I am suffering from hyperemesis again! I meant suck it up of course.

Had it pretty easy with DD. She was 12 days late and I went into hosp to be induced and was told I was 4 cm dilated - thought the stomach cramps were just constipation! DD arrived 5 hours later with just gas and air. Hosp was obv very busy though and I was moved around from pillar to post and had a trainee midwife who was a bit all over the place, but can't complain really. I am really hoping to be able to go the local midwife unit this time though, which is lovely, own birthing pool, private on suite rooms - keeping everything crossed that it all goes smoothly so I can!