November 2014 Thread 3- Counting towards the second trimester!

[barmybunting]

Hi everyone,

A new thread for us chatty bunch due in November. Could someone repost the stats? I'm on my phone so can't do it. Thank you!

I didn't have any labour or birth, it was great! I had pre-eclampsia, she was a frank breach, she was bloody massive (10lb 2oz and 3 weeks early) and I was in the wheelchair with really bad spd so it was an early elective c-section and it was honestly the best birth I could have asked for. I could tell all the family in advance exactly what day and time she was coming so no one had a last minute rush to get to us, it was all calm, planned and relaxed, I woke up in the morning, had a bath, straightened my hair, did my face, drove nice and slowly to the hospital in plenty of time, got given my bed and got all set up in my little area, then I changed into a gown, went to the OR, they gave me an injection, I laid on the table, they passed me a baby and I smiled for the camera! Brilliant! No sweating, no panic, no fear, no pain, no horrendous pale knackered photos, all very calm and planned out. The recovery was great. I was in bed till the following morning, then I was up and about, dressed and walking around, pushing her in the trolley cot thing, picking her up, none of this 6 week recovery nonsense. I went home the next day and that evening went for a 40 minute walk pushing the pram, considering I was in the wheelchair 2 days earlier and couldn't walk to the toilet it was amazing. I didn't take any painkillers after leaving the hospital, not so much as a paracetamol, I breastfed as soon as she was born and for 10 months and my milk came in fine. My tummy went down within a couple of weeks and honestly it was a fantastic birth and they've already said I can have another elective c-section this time round and I can't wait. I'm sure a few of us here will end up with c-sections and people tend to get really upset about it but honestly it was perfect. I actually recovered a lot quicker than a lot of my natural birth friends.

This is all very cheering, thanks ladies!
I will sleep easier tonight (except for the freaky, vivid, random dreams - went on a 10 day hippyish philosophy retreat in a submarine last night, also someone else's triplets which had ears like bacon...).
So bizarre.

I have been listening to this Hypno-birthing Rainbow Relaxation every few nights and it definitely helps me relax and fall deep asleep (despite her slightly odd voice and the wee trips).
I highly recommend it.

archive.org/details/HypnoBirthing

My current plan is to definitely to persevere with the lovely Hypnobirthing idea while anticipating an epidural and quietly hoping for a planned C-section!
Any port in a storm...

Anyone else suffering from lower back ache?

I am worried it's the beginning sciatica, my lower back is so painful and feels actually bruised to the touch (which is weird as it's not), and I have pain in my buttocks and down my outer legs /vaguely outer hip area.
Praying it's not dreaded SPD, in bed whimpering with a hot water bottle and gagging for painkillers.

No backache here, although expecting it later as I have mild scoliosis. They checked on it re epidural etc last time and said it might be unlikely to work properly so if I'd had to have a c-section they'd have to give me a general anaesthetic. NO CHANCE my baby was going to be arriving while I was unconscious! Obviously if the only choice for the baby's health, but I thought I'd do whatever I could to avoid that option if possible so got stuck into hypnobirth cd although didn't do the course so it wasn't all skipping through mental fields of daisies during labour but it definitely helped.

What I am 100% doing again is acupuncture. It helped trigger labour when DS was stubbornly hanging in there, but also the midwife said must have been a factor in how easily I dilated etc - from 3cm to delivery was 1.45hrs, plus it helps prepare your body to minimise pain signals and helps control position of the baby to try to avoid breech etc. I had asked for episiotomy over natural tearing as didn't want it out of control and honestly didn't feel it being done. Would recommend acupuncture to anyone and everyone, the minimum course pre-labour doesn't cost much and was worth every penny (plus quite relaxing at the time.) And lashings of arnica - great for recovery.

Thanks Utopian, I am delighted to hear good birth experiences!

I have been having acupuncture already and it has made a huge difference to the nausea and my carpel tunnel which had got really bad recently - I'm seeing her fortnightly as its expensive but will make an appointment sooner if backache doesn't go as it's been a few days but getting much worse now.

Random, she said that she has had great success with treating SPD, even got a wheelchair bound mum-to-be walking - not sure if it's something you'd be interested in but she's in Crowthorne, I think you said you were in Surrey?
Can pass you her details?

I have heard amazing things about acupuncture in starting labour and turning breech babies etc.
My acupuncturist was talking about teaming up with midwives at hospital to help in early labour as there has been lots of research done recently about it speeding up and easing labour.

I'm willing to do anything that will help with horrors of pregnancy, I credit the acupuncture lady as much as dp for getting me preggers, much to his dismay.

Hi all! Good to see all the good news from scans
I started my new job today, it was a fab day but I was shattered coming home! Went out for dinner when I got back,so not home u til gone 8, I went upstairs to change and fell asleep! The downside us I'm now awake and hungry
I also got my antenatal appointment through this morning, roll on 29th April! Bad news too though,my bloods for the gender test from Monday got lost in transit so I have to to go back a week in Tuesday for a repeat.
Anyone else having to avoid coughing!? My deodorant spray makes me cough which then makes me gag, so I have to hold my breath, spray and run!

@edwardcullens I've got a new job well, internal transfer, are you nervous about telling them?

Everyone seems much further along than me anyone else 8+1 on here?

elliekins I also tell everyone my acupuncturist got me pregnant first time round

I think Random's birth story is proof that a good birth can take any form from caesarean to home birth and all variables in between.

I had a long but good labour and was totally prepared to transfer to hospital if need be but it all worked out at home. Had TENS for the early stage which I found really useful and a bit of G&A later. Water was amazing pain relief too, and I am proof that your usual pain threshold bears no relation to how much pain you feel during labour and birth. I am a massive wuss normally but somehow found this totally different. I think the position the baby is in is key - DD was in textbook position all the way through so much less pain with contractions (acupuncture can really help with this). So partly luck and partly preparation. Transition was the most painful bit for me. I believe I may have mooed - I certainly couldn't speak or look at anyone (but it's also the shortest bit!)

Anyway, happy to continue the positive theme/answer any questions to the best of my limited ability as we all go along .

Loaf I'm 8+5, so not too much further ahead than you I feel like I'm way more pregnant than that!

To add to what Random said, a friend has an EMCS and said it was fantastic. So even not being planned it worked really well for her and she recovered rapidly. I saw her quite soon after the birth and she looked great, serene and relaxed! I'm happy with how my birth went but recovery took longer than I expected. I think 3wks postpartum is when I started to be a bit more normal - going out, doing things. 3mo postpartum is when I felt human again! It was the tummy muscles, took ages for them to feel 'right', but once they did it was fine, fortunately I didn't get a post pregnancy paunch. Although I have swiftly developed a tummy this time around.

edwardcullen I have had the coughing thing as well - only once, but now I'm paranoid whenever I cough or sneeze.

Can't believe they lost your blood tests!

Thanks for sharing all of your positive birth stories, they are really reassuring!

Anyone else having utterly crazy dreams? I can't believe what appears in them some nights!

I'm only 8+4, having a private scan tomorrow but I feel massive already, not sure how much longer I can hide it!

Just to echo what others have said, all births are different. I was low risk and had planned to have a water birth at the birthing centre, however at 32weeks I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, I was admitted to hospital at 34 weeks and my DD was born by c-section at 34+6. It all went well and I recovered reasonably quickly. I think at the time you just want your baby here safely. But please don't stress if things don't go to plan, they can still be successful!

Moffit and January thank you for your messages. I've been to the doctor when I found out but my next contact is first scan at 16 may is this right as I haven't had any blood tests or anything? My boobs are the give away but goin to tell work after scan ...when I have to fly to Brazil for work and turn down all the mojitos . I'm glad you are here!! Me and dh are off to tell our parents today WOW exciting! ps this is the week mini loaf decides whether to develop tested or ovaries, pretty epic. Can't believe what developments happen so early!!! First baby obvs.!!

Loaf my situation is a bit unusual in that I told them I'm pregnant before the job offer! I was using it as a reason to turn down the job, thinking it would be unfair to take the job and not say, so they could take on someone else. But they asked me to do it anyway! So they know from the outset, and as it's only 2 days a week (which I chose, it really is a dream job!) I've been able to work it so I won't need to ask for time off for appointments as I know what day my antenatal clinic will be.

Caravela it's awful isn't it?? My stomach lurches as soon as I cough now, thankfully sneezing is ok though so far. I was gutted about the blood tests, especially as they were so careful at the hospital to make sure it was labelled and packed correctly and went asap as it had to be sent a long way!

I just want to add a great C-section experience too - ELCS with DD was definitely the best decision for me. Like Random , it was all relaxed and calm, all the staff were happy and relaxed, chatting away, making jokes, etc, it was lovely. And I was up and about the next day (albeit slowly!) and fully recovered in 4/5 weeks. Probably would have been quicker but I slightly overdid it when I first came home as DH had pneumonia so was good for nothing (bless him) so I had to do a lot of stuff myself (including bending to empty and fill the dishwasher 6 days post-op )

loaf have you had a booking appointment with midwife? She took my blood and some wee in ikea Tupperware (she forgot the pot, then found one in her car but it was too late for my bargain plastic kitchen storage). She's now AWOL til may sometime.

Btw the way I totally just woke up from a 14 hour nap

@spanner no I haven't should I have done? I had wee sample taken at docs but no blood yet and will not meet my midwife till mid may for the scan??

Morning ladies, please to hear even more good stories, I am only going to listen to positive things from here on!

I have woken up in real pain this morning with my lower back and the pain radiates through my bum/hips and right down the outside of my thighs. It's seriously sore and feels really bruised.

Can't see acupuncture lady as she's away and the chiropractic clinic I've been to before is closed too.
So painful, especially climbing up stairs etc. haven't DONE anything that could have caused it so now really worried its SPD or something horrible that it going to continue...

I wore high heels last weekend and have been wearing flip flops and I tend to be quite heavy-footed (herd of elephants apparently) but never had aches and pains like this before.

Don't even think there's any point having paracetamol as I don't think it will touch the pain.

Had SO much I wanted to do around the house too.

Anyone else had this?

barmy yes to the crazy dreams! I rather enjoy them. Mine are so vivid and filled with colour and storylines. It's one of the things (along with the sense of smell) that makes me feel almost supernatural when I'm pregnant :)

Loaf99, I was just looking at DD last night and wondering what colour eyes this new baby will have (DH has brown eyes and DD and I have blue). It's amazing that it's all predetermined from the moment of conception, isn't it? The entire blueprint for a new person down to eye colour and sex right there, and it's just a matter of waiting for it to develop. Mad.

Moffit, that must have been so scary for you. Are you more at risk of developing pre-eclampsia on a subsequent pregnancy if it's happened once? Hope you have good people involved in your care if so.

Yep, my mother (who's had 5 children) always says you can't legislate for birth in advance because each one is so different. She's had 3 easy and 2 difficult births. I'm a bit jealous that gas and air worked so well for many of you ladies! It made me vomit :(.

I did a little bit of hypnobirthing too -- didn't attend classes but listened to CDs. The CDs are amazing for during pregnancy when your body really needs to nap but your mind can't switch off. Would highly recommend. I was very prepared, excited and fear-free with DD, but totally not prepared for my waters to break dramatically and contractions to start straight away, and for them to be first 2 and then 3 in a row without any break I was expecting hours of walking about not being sure whether/not I was in labour, but really, there was no question about it!

And like books said, it's funny what you think you want vs. what you actually end up doing. I loved the idea of labouring in the bath, but didn't really like it in practice - felt hot and annoyed. I loved the idea of gas and air, but vomited when I tried it. Loved the idea of walking the corridors, but couldn't bring myself to move from the gym ball upon which I was maniacally rocking. Feared the idea of an epidural/catheter more than anything, but it was nothing compared to the contractions and once it was in it was a pure bliss. I flew up to 10cm, and then the mw let it wear off for pushing. I had no tearing or episiotomy, and DD breastfed straight away. So, as far as I'm concerned, it was another good story :)

Sorry for the birth story essay. I hated hearing horror stories last time around and was confused as to why they kept coming. After a while I came to think that it was because women don't really have much of a public place in their normal lives to talk about what was one of the most important events of their personal and physical history. So when a woman is pregnant, it's natural to want to share -- a weird kind of therapy, a re-living?

The only piece of advice I will ever give to a pregnant woman is for the post-partum period:

Limit your vistors!

Elliekins, I'm afraid I did develop sciatica during my last pregnancy, for about a month. It wasn't until early in the 3rd trimester though. I really sympathise, I know that hot bruised feeling you are talking about. Please talk to someone about it. I couldn't get a doctor to take me seriously ('everyone has back pain in pregnancy' -- yes, I realise that, normal back pain is grand but sciatica is unbearable), and went to a reflexologist in the end. Who was lovely and sorted me out so quickly.

Sickness continues, DH at work and DS at childminders so it's time for a very important decision: Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones? Not seen either and ready for a series binge.

Quick query to those who have had a first appointment with the midwife - do you expect to hear anything back about bloods etc? I had mine a while ago and they had an armful of blood out of me but I'm not sure when or if I'm meant to hear anything back. Is it like the GP where if everything's fine you don't hear?

Loaf99 I'm only 7+5 so even earlier! Not due til 30th Nov! Only just allowed on this thread! Haha!

So many of you have already gone through birth before! I can't even begin to imagine all that yet, my main goal is the 12 weeker. Seems unreal reading all these birth stories, I can't ever imagine being that lucky to go through it, seems like a dream all this.

Random- What are the first signs of SPD?

I think I just pulled a muscle or something silly but it did make me worry it could be something else- I was putting the duvet on the bed and sort of sat in the middle doing up the buttons and then I stretched out my leg to get off the bed and got this weird pain to the left of my spine, in line just below the top of my hips. Then later when I was in bed, I sort of opened my leg out and stretched it and the same pain was there again. It was somewhere between dull and sharp and didn't continue once I moved my leg again.

Posy I only hear back about my bloods if there's something to note, otherwise they usually just give me a print out at the next appointment of the results to be kept in my file, or they post it to me if the next appointment isn't for a while.

Greenstone Your comment about walking the corridors and maniacally rocking made me laugh I thought I would have an 'active labour', I'd be wondering around, bouncing on the birthing ball, getting into the pool etc. I spent 7 hours on my knees, propped up against a bean bag with the G&A clamped between my teeth (DH had to squirt water in my mouth through the gaps as I didn't want it to be taken away!). It was great though! I was asleep for most of it. I also thought G&A would just be something that helped, in the beginning, but everyone is different and G&A totally helped - I talked utter nonsense in labour as I was, ahem, quite high, but I still remember everything and it made it all much easier. I had ideas of not wanting much in the way of drugs, not because I'm against them but purely because once they're in they're hard to get out (eg epidural, pethidine) so if you don't like it you're kind of stuck. But when I got to the hospital I remember thinking, "I don't care, pethidine, epidural, stick me with something!". Luckily the G&A did its job for me

My only hope is to avoid tearing this time. As above tearing wasn't actually the awful thing I thought it would be, but it would be easier if I didn't and hopefully recovery would be quicker.

I'm on day 4 since coming down with mega vomity sickness and finally feeling a bit better. Head still hurts and a bit weak, still a bit nauseous but can actually sit upright for longer than 5mins which is good. I must have slept for over 16h each day the last 3 days

I'm also getting vivid dreams! Is that a pregnancy thing? It's like a different film every night...

House is a state (well, not terrible, but not good), what with DH running around after me and DS all week. So very tempted to hire a cleaner one-off to sort it! Looking at my funds now...