June 2014: New Year, new trimester, new thread! June bugs no 7!!

[hackneybird]

Ding dong!

Sareva I'm rhesus negative also I hated the injections they're nasty (but I'm fairly rubbish at giving blood). I keep meaning to sort out my husband to give blood so we can find out his blood group (if the baby's father is negative the baby is definitely negative & so there are no issues with baby blood coming into contact with yours) - NHS really don't like this though as so many babies are not by the fathers that the mother says they are & not having the injections if baby is positive can cause future stillborns - but clearly I was there at conception & I'm perfectly confident with who the father of my baby is!

Oh also our 1st baby is rhesus negative (they will test after birth to see if you need further injections from affect of blood in labour) so there is a 50% chance hubby is negative so seems worth finding out and not bothering if necessary.

Not that the injections are that bad but I'm a wimp & if they're pointless I might aswell as escape :)

We've not bought our pram yet but know which one we're going for - the Uppababy Vista. Love it!

Also one more word in relation to all the scary sounding stuff around birth... it's a couple of days that form part of a much bigger experience. Even if it doesn't all go as straightforwardly as you might hope there is SO much else going on i.e. a new baby that it's not the be all and end all. I think throughout pregnancy you get used to your body not being your own, and various somewhat invasive things that from a distance seem horrendous but at the time they aren't such a big deal. For me anyway, I was just in a different zone but of the time. After my CSec I couldn't move much and the MW gave me a sponge bath. In the normal light of day a relative stranger giving me a sponge bath sound horrendous.. I don't even like hugging people I don't know let alone have them bathe me when I am naked! But at the time I just wasn't fussed and was so grateful to her for the kind care that she gave me. At the time it just really didn't matter.

Not sure if I'm getting accross what I mean very well! I guess it all sounds a lot scarier than it is at the time :)

(now I just have to remember this myself!)

chestnut That's one of our favourites, as well! It's that or the BJ Versa GT, I think.

It feels nice to actually feel safe enough to plan for baby and start buying things!

BEEwitched One of my friends recently had a baby and has the Uppababy Vista so I had a wee shot last time we met up, it was great. DH and I went to look at it in John Lewis last weekend and we had random people telling us how good it was and how much they loved it.

DH's parents are insisting on buying us our pram so we'll go to buy it when they are across in February (they live abroad).

Although we haven't bought the pram yet, we have bought all our nursery furniture and the car seat! Like being organised!

I'll be checking out these prams. :) I'm just browsing at the moment, I like the icandy but it's quite expensive. When does everyone think is the right time to buy? We've not decided where to store it yet so don't want to buy it too soon and be tripping over it (plus still in decorating mode so there's no space/anywhere to sit which is driving me mad!)

Ok, after a long time on the phone I have a new appointment for Monday. It's not as good as today but at least it's not weeks away, they were very apologetic in the end......and I double checked it is in the right place with the right team! Also made them check my 20 week scan appointment to avoid any confusion with that.

So, 4 days and counting.

Love that pram chestnut think I might cheer myself up by looking at some baby stuff online

Bee, it seems the Uk is behind the boat on epidural technology, as according to many people on mumsnet they still do the old style of epidural in most hospitals, whereas elsewhere (in Europe, North America, etc.) it's now a lower dose combined drug that doesn't actually cut off all feeling, and still allows the mum to move around (even if it's just moving around on the bed and not walking).

I don't know if this is true, but I was hoping to find out what the exact procedure used in my hospital is, because if they are still giving the single med dose that numbs you entirely and makes you completely immobile I don't want one, but if it's not I can't see any real reason to not ask for one if it gets too much.

As for prams, we aren't buying one until we move, which FX could be in the next few weeks, but we have decided to get the bugaboo buffalo!

I think this sums up baby advice really well...

m.today.com/moms/exhausted-new-moms-hilarious-take-expert-sleep-advice-goes-viral-6C9559908

Wispa I think in uk at least it's called a 'mini epidural' & means women can stay active. Wasn't an option in my hospital but I think quite a few hospitals now do it - something else I need to add to my to look in to list!

Omg I am so confused by double prams!!!

My hospital uses remifentanil, which sounds like quite a good alternative. I'm still suspicious of gas & air as it seems so outdated to me (I didn't even know what it was until I registered with Mumsnet, when they mentioned it on One born every Minute I always thought it was 'Gassinaire'!!!) < shows ignorance > but I know loads of people rave about it!

Anyway, prams! we got the babystyle Oyster and I wouldn't particularly recommend it as it doesn't look very comfy and DS never really liked it. He only really liked being held though so that might be why. It's a very good price though so there is that. Will be watching pram recommendations with interest as will be hoping to pick up a cheapish one at an NCT sale.

I didn't know that about the epidural/mini epidural! Very interesting. How do I find out what my hospital uses? I had the paralysed-from-the-waist-down version which was obviously brilliant for pain relief but it's not ideal!

Bee, I hadn't heard of gas and air in labour either, and I'll be turning it down as I reacted badly to nitrous oxide at the dentist- made me feel terribly ill and I will not be doing it again voluntarily. I've also heard that it doesn't really dull the pain, just makes you loopy.

Nosey, ask your midwife what the hospital uses. Ask about the specific pain killers and dosages used, how top ups are given, if patient controlled is an option, etc. based on my very limited experience with the community midwives in my area I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't know, so if the midwife doesn't know, you should be able to ask to have a conversation with a consultant anaesthesiologist, or at least a consultant int he hospital who might know more specifically what the drugs used are.

Thanks wispa! I will ask at my VBAC appointment and see if they know.

Wispa thanks for advice on how to find out - maybe 2 years is enough for new things in Gloucester too!

I had gas & air when I dislocated & broke 2 toes & they had to be snapped back in to place. I literally didn't feel a thing - it made me feel really sick so I pulled away then was ready to go again when they told me they'd done it. I was amazed.

I wasn't keen in labour because of how sick it had made me but I was told people have completely different reactions each time so I agreed to give it a go. I found it fantastic. I don't know if it numbed the pain or just made me loopy but it certainly made my labour more bearable

Because I almost had an emergency c section (his head came & had to be forcep but I'd had epidural put in) I'm really nervous of the actual birthing pain. I guess the fear of the unknown with all these things is the worst part.

I have a bump! I thought my little bump was never going to appear but in the last couple of days it just seems to have popped! I've already had a couple of people touching it

My due date isn't until 30th June so feel like I'm way behind the rest of you. My 16 week appointment isn't until 20th which is over a week away! I'll be 17 weeks by that point but it's the only time they could fit me in!

Being a first-timer, it's really interesting to read about previous labour and post labour experiences. If I think about it too much, I'll just freak myself out so I'm taking your attitude nosey

I loved gas and air! It was brilliant. When the tank ran out briefly I went nuts it was brilliantly calming to have something to concentrate on to be honest!

Think I've read how to do the link thing...
Pram

This was the pram we got for ds, I loved how cozy and comfy he was in the pram and then it converted into nice pushchair when he was a little bigger.

I remember only being offered Gas and Air with ds and not thinking it was working but then after I had him they said to use for stitches and to insert catheter I felt really woozy. I think it must work differently depending on your pain levels.

Marlena, completely agree, think the gas and air helped me to focus on something rather than actual pain and sure it must of been helping.

Understand what you mean Nosey, it's like the phrase that when you go in to have yoyr baby you leave your dignity at the door and collect on the way out. You kinda just go along with everything because that's what to do.

Very pretty clutter
I had a bugaboo Bee for DD which you really can't beat for practicality on London buses etc. all my friends had a mclaren by age 1 whereas I used my Bee until DD would walk reliably and then even used it 18 months ago for a trip to Disney. I had to replace the wheels as the rubber wore through but the rest is as good as new... Which sadly means I won't get a new one although the big downside for the bee is the rubbish newborn insert. I would love a Bufalo or a Cameleon. Dh seems to think I will get one in the end but I can't justify spending £800 when I am about to earn no money for the best part of a year!!

ladies have you ever hear of swing cots? Not crib

I used TENS machine and gas and air last time and got through birthing a 9lb 8oz baby just fine! Put the TENS machine on as soon as you feel twinges as it builds up the endorphins. At one point I didn't think it was doing anything so took it off...and goodness me, it had been doing something! Went straight back on.

Had epidural for my first labour but only becaue he was stuck and after two hours pushing I was exhausted and was transferred into hospital. Turned out he was asynclitic and so needed to be ventoused but as they hooked me up to the drip and put me on the minitor i demanded an epidural. Was touch and go whetehr I'd need a section anyway. To be honest I didn't think it was all that - could still feel a lot (despite two doses) and was horrible to be numb. Wouldn't have one again.

Pram wise we have a Mama's and Papa's Sola from last time and I love it - lightweight and manouvrable, not complicated, looks good and good value for money. Buggy board fits nicely on it too. We also have a Maclaren Quest for post-6 months that we mainly use on holidays as takes up very little space on planes and in cars etc.

Had my GTT done this morning...results tomorrow. Touch wood is negative. Not ready to give up cake yet! Got to go back to the hospital tomorrow anyway for my 16 week check with the Consultant.