September 2014 2nd thread for a chatty bunch

[TheOnlySeven]

Evening all! Interesting to hear all your thoughts on labour. I'm planning for a water birth or at least another drug free birth if possible. Last time, my birth preferences were no epidural or pethidine unless absolutely necessary. I wanted to have an active birth but unfortunately I'd had a little bleed a few hours beforehand so needed to be monitored which made things tricky. Through my pregnancy yoga, though, I had learnt to go into myself and so ended up with my eyes closed pretty much the whole time and doing my breathing techniques. It's tough going - the word "labour" kinda tells you that?! - but honestly I found it not half as bad as I'd imagined.

In terms of birth preferences, locations and drugs or not, I'd just say to go with the flow and do what you think is best for you and is true to your beliefs. You don't get a medal if you do it with no drugs and likewise, no one will ever think you're a wimp if you go down the drug/planned c section route.

Nct classes are fantastic at giving you more information about the birth, what to expect, how dh/p can help, techniques you can use etc. DH found them way more useful than he'd thought because honestly, how many men know about childbirth and what we need from them? Also a great way of meeting couples in your area who are at the same stage of pregnancy as you so you will have a ready made group of mums and newborns!

Note to self - stop writing essays every blinkin time!

Thanks This and LH. Brown blood seems to be better than red, I had no cramping/pain, and it stopped after a few hours, so really I'm hoping it's okay, but I'm so nervous after my chemical pregnancy just before this pregnancy - although that was at four weeks and was red blood straight away.

Just to clarify, my home water birth with DS was my first (and so far only) birth, so it is possible, and can be lovely for first-timers. If you're thinking about it, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth really helped me. It's quite hippie-ish, so bear that in mind, but I found the birth stories really inspirational.

For more practical preparation, the website www.homebirth.org.uk is great. It really helped me with the questions about what if something happened. My NCT course instructor also helped me develop confidence that I could do it (I was on the fence when I started the course).

And welcome Miriama!

Kicks I am on day 4 of a light brown discharge. It stains the top of a panty liner and worries the life out of me but I understand it can be fairy common at an early stage. Going to talk to the doctor about it on Wednesday.

Hello ladies

First time poster!

Can I join you all on this journey please?

Stats:
Age: me 34 and DH 34
DC: DS 13 months
TTC: Cycle 1 (bit shocked as stopped BF in December and hadn't had a cycle throughout)
Live: South Wales
EDD: 18th September

You're right sebs, it does seem to be fairly common, but that doesn't stop me from worrying. It's strange, I'm pretty sure that I spotted a couple of times when pregnant with DS, but was really naively optimistic that everything would be okay with that pregnancy (and it was). I know a lot more now about what can go wrong, and after my chemical, I'm just a bundle of nerves. I'll feel so much better when I see the little bean. Hope everything is okay with you too.

kicks, hope all is ok. when I found out I was pg with dd1, I was so scared of labor I wanted an elective section. then I thought I wanted an epidural. then I went to pregnancy yoga & decided I wanted natural birth. in the end, i was induced and had an epidural. knew all the risks of epidural, but didnt care, still wanted it & it was awesome. this time I'll just see how things go, but I will go to a consultant led unit rather than midwife led so I have all options available. there is an amazing dvd called orgasmic birth which is very inspiring, very pro natural birth and reduced my fears about birth

I read the preface of the Childbirth Without Fear book and it bloody terrified me so much that I cried from fear lol! I'm sure that was not intended but whoever wrote the preface (I think it was the woman editing the book) certainly didn't calm my fears. The book seemed very heavy and wordy though, more of a text book. Whatever floats your boat though :)

I really need to enquire about pregnancy yoga. But stupidly I'm a bit nervous as I've never done yoga before. Plus I'd be going after work and I'm always knackered and can't wait to get home. Ah well, might be easier once the days get longer, hate these early winter nights, they make me feel more tired than I really am I think.

Welcome Miri and Scampi :)

Yes, welcome to the madhouse miri and scampi

topmammy I hadn't done yoga before either. I was prepared for it to be a bucket load of baloney - giggled when the instructor said "you can breathe these babies out" - but I was amazed that as the weeks went on, I believed her more and more and built up the belief in myself to be able to cope with it and just go with my body. My instructor wouldn't take a new student until they reach 16 weeks or so, so plenty of time to sign up if your local classes are similar

Thanks Broody. The class I have seen takes women from 12 weeks but I'd rather go a bit later like 16 weeks as otherwise it's a rather long time to be going! I will make it my mission this week to find out more!

Hello all, did another pregnancy test today just under a weak after my first one and it is a super strong line

Talking of labours I would like to go down the route of a water birth.

Hi everyone, got a BFP today (first baby for DH & me) at 4 weeks exactly (CD28).
So nervous, doesn't feel real yet. Due date is Sept 28 or Sept 30 depending on which site I go by, so I guess I scrape into this group!
I need some help/advice. I'm currently living abroad, moving back to the UK in April, but obviously that's after 12 weeks so I'd miss my booking appt and 12 week scan. What should I do? I can pop back to the UK in March maybe, just for a week, would that work? Don't really know how it all works on the NHS. I'm in London, so I assume the hospitals are very busy.
Thanks!

Hi kicks I've had the same thing, tiny amounts of brown/pink tinged discharge (sorry) when I wipe but no cramps , or at least not more so than normal. I also had a chemical pregnancy before this, so also freaking out. DH is trying to keep me calm, but it's not easy is it. All I want to do is stay in bed and not move!Hope you're ok.x

I haven't posted in a while, still anxious about early mc as well because of chemical last month. I had an asymptomatic uti as well finally diagnosed last week after feeling something wasn't right but bring told by doctors it was early preg symptoms. Apparently uti s present differently in pregnancy, no burning when weeing etc.

In other news, are anyone's boobs getting fuller and harder? :-s I'm 6 weeks today. Omg I feel like my body is just doing its own thing and I'm just in for the ride!

Re birth, would like water birth ideally, but there's only one at the local hospital's midwife led unit. I'm just going to see what happens, as long as I get the baby out safely I don't really care!

Possum bottom - my boobs are going mental. Every night my poor nipples are sore, by morning are fine but my boobs are bigger ... Over night!! (Plus my nipples are getting bigger too which is a little odd)

I would love a water birth but where I live there is only one where it is midwife led and no docs - part of me wants to be in the hospital where if anything does go wrong, I'm already there. I'd also love a water birth at home... I hate hospitals with a passion.

Hi to all the new ones and congrats on your bfps - welcome

I really have no symptoms. I'll be 5 weeks on Wednesday so hopefully in just a bit early yet.

Morning all x
Feeling really sick this morning, just having my coffee and gingerbread stars to see if that helps lol.
Counting down the days until Friday when I see mw, I'm an anxious worrying wreck atm.
As for the labour talk, dont even go there lol, lalala I'm not listening xx

Hi everyone.

I am currently waiting for a scan at EPU after having bleeding over the weekend.
Feeling a little scared and anxious. Also worried because I haven't had many symptoms yet.
I am 7+5.

Noitsachicken - let us know how you get on - thinking of you and your little bean x

Good luck Chicken thinking of you xx

Oh chicken hoping everything is ok, lots of love to you xxx

Good luck noitsa, hope everything is ok.

As for giving birth - I did it all natural last time and it was bloody awful, so this time I will be asking for ELCS or if I can't have that then definitely all the drugs they can throw at me...

hey everyone, sorry been away, been so sick!

Quick glance through and saw that quite a few ate chippys last week- me too (just two) now Im on to melon, strawberries and grapes, coco pops.

Seeing the labour chat, can I ask those that have had a water birth, what happens after the baby is born- I mean the placenter & cord, I have an image of me having to get out of the pool with the wet cord swinging around Last time I got an injection and they tugged it out didn't feel a thing I might add! Can you have gas and air in the pool? Im also going to ask that they show me the sack and placenter, the mw showed it to me last time and its truly amazing!

Hi to newbys [waves]

Im finding it really hard to hide just how ill I am infront of friends and family. My poor ds said he would cheer me up on Friday and make me better bless.

Hubby is insisting on coming to first mw apt which I was surprised about so that's all positive.

right must dash (to the loo where else)