Martians 2014 Thread 15: D-Day is on the horizon

[AndieDisestablishment]

Shiny new fred.

I come to check in and thread 14 was full so did the honours. Roll up.

Ladies I'm having major doubts about my place of birth decision. Not helped by the fact I'm doing a project promoting the MLU in my area and I'm having to interview women who have had a positive experience there. It's further away from home (5 mins vs 20-30 mins) and obviously there's no doctors so any complications would mean a transfer. Really unsure what to do!

speak to your mw at your next appointment, if you are having an uncomplicated pregnancy then you should have worried about being in an mlu xx

We're going to ring the MLU and arrange to go have a look round. Never thought I'd want to have my baby anywhere other than a 'proper' hospital!

The mlu near me is lovely, less formal feeling than a hospital and more relaxed about visitors, I fell in love with it and will be really disappointed if I can't go there. Have a look round yours and get a feel for it.

Lib, are you making sure you take your iron tablets with food? This will minimise any stomach upset.

mrs I know exactly what you mean. I hate having to buy a whole new set of clothes for only a couple of months. Can't wait to have access to my full wardrobe again

lyrayes. But symptoms are quite bad. Seen doctors & they tried to give me coedine for the pain. I asked if they could just give me an alternative pill to try before giving me pain killers. We'll see how they do.

comms like the others I would go check it out and see. at end of the day it's what's comfortable for you. You can still promote it as a good option just because you don't pick it doesn't automatically make it bad option.

Hello everyone. Again. Sorry not to be around, but I've caught up with all the posts I've missed and nice to see everyone (though sorry about twattish bosses). Hi to the newbies too.

Just emerging from house move hell. We left London just over a month ago and moved into a wreck, with no central heating. Which was sensible. Not really given much thought to the poor tummysquatter baby because all our time is taken up with talking to cowboy tradesmen and unsuccessful DIY (the OH decided to strip the woodchip and the walls collapsed). Central heating is going in hopefully in a couple of weeks, which means all the floorboards will be up. We're nowhere near having a nursery. We haven't even got a usable bedroom! Still it's all quite exciting fake smile

NCT done - really enjoyed it actually, and wasn't too dogmatic. Preg yoga in full swing - got the giggles when the teacher made us "bring your attention to your anus". Bag not packed, but pram and car seat is now ordered so I'm feeling smug.

Also wanted to ask what people's thoughts were on vitamin K injections for the baby?

commsgirl What is your gut feeling on MLU vs Delivery suite?

I was torn between standalone birth centre vs MLU which is attached to full delivery suite. The birth centre really is so much nicer - every room has a pool and each room has double bed for partner to stay in, BUT is 30 mins transfer to hospital and at least 30 mins drive from home vs 10-15 mins to the hospital MLU.

Decided on the MLU as this is my first baby - if I have a positive experience then it will be home birth or birth centre next time for definite.

Magpie I will be consenting to the vit k injection. And also having the injection for placenta delivery. I'm an advocate of natural birth but once the baby is out I want that placenta out ASAP so I can focus on being a Mum and having privacy as quickly as poss.

Magpie yes to vitamin k from me.

Thanks for all your advice ladies. We're definitely going to have a look round and have a chat with my midwife. The MLU and the experience they provide there is exactly what I want and I feel confident that if things stayed 'normal' I would have a much better birth and postnatal experience, but it would mean a transfer during labour if complications arose. On the other hand, the hospital would mean everything is there but it's just so medicalised, and it's well known for being busy and hectic. The feedback from the labour ward is generally ok but ante/post natal care is lacking. Gut/DP is saying MLU.

I'm aiming for a home birth but if have to go in I had fancied the mlu water birth...... that is until AN class when a) saw the pool room was quite literally covered in dolphin stencils and b) the pool has a bacterial infection and is unusable at present and finally c) there are 2 other options nearby and one of those is heart shaped

We're having a tour of the birthing unit at The Rosie in 2 weeks time. They tie it in with the 36 week check up. It's supposed to be very nice so I'm looking forward to it

MLU not an option for me this time. But I chose it last time (before things went pear shaped) and don't regret that decision.

One thing for those planning a water birth: get out of the pool regularly (at least every 45 mins) for a walk around and to stay active.

Although there's no reason to expect complications during delivery I am not allowed in the MLU because the baby needs to see a paediatrician at some point before discharge. (As MLU is attached to the hospital I'm still not entirely sure why the paediatrician can't walk down the corridor to visit the baby but never mind...).
I came to a different conclusion to mrsmugoo about 3rd stage but actually for similar reasons. I was going to ask not to have the injection for 3rd stage (unless specifically recommended for any reason) because as far as I know the delivery happens in a private room but then afterwards we will be taken to a communal ward (which I gather is rather cramped, although I haven't seen it): I was hoping no injection and longer 3rd stage means a bit longer in our own room before having to move! I don't know if that's how it works but that was my thought...
Two friends have given us loads of clothes so am going to have fun sorting them out this week.

I'm going to try natural 3Rd stage, I asked mw last week and said they'd give me up to an hour to delivery it myself then if nothing could give injection, best of both worlds that way

Imeg when I had DS there was no hurry to move me to the ward, was probably about 2 hours after the birth by the time I ended up going down there but would definitely have been longer if I'd had natural 3rd stage - the 2 hours was breastfeeding, having tea and toast, bath etc, while the midwife did her paperwork etc.

Diz am I right in thinking you're having a home birth? My midwife has suggested the same as yours - drug free home birth would be nicely completed keeping it drug free at the end, but can always change my mind at the time if I decide I want the jab :)

yes that's right, drug free until I go GIVE ME THE F.ING DRUGS! I can have entonox and pethidine!

I asked them not to bother with pethidine - I've had it in the past and hated it, didn't help the pain but just meant I kept zoning out. My mw has said they have entonox but won't offer it - it's there if I ask for it. I yelled for drugs when I hit transition last time, but had been told at antenatal that's normal so DH was able to point it out to me and say "see, it's nearly over" although it made me want to batter him at the time, he was right, so fully expecting the same again. Lasted maybe 10 mins at the most!

good tip x

I've joined the insomnia club tonight, so much fun!

Welcome to the insomnia club commsgirl I'm on my way into work now after 2hrs sleep, heartburn, restless legs and major hip pain, I feel sorry for my colleagues today, I will not be pleasant! Roll on mat leave!

My heartburn returned with a vengeance last night, and I ran out of Gaviscon A trip to Boots for me today!

On the upside, it's my last week at work before maternity leave

Frankel downing a pint of milk has similar results to gaviscon if you ever run out again... As does eating cheap vanilla ice cream, which is my favourite way to cure it

De-lurking for a brief moment just to say to frankel that you don't need to suffer heartburn. I had it terribly and gaviscon just wasn't dealing with it so the GP prescribed omeprazole 20mg, and I haven't had a whiff of it since.
Right, back to my hole!