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Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

Pop pop pop We're all about to POP! - July 2014 thread

954 replies

ismarah · 27/05/2014 09:52

Hope you like the title - like inside us, there was no room on the other thread!

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Plateofcrumbs · 04/06/2014 13:23

dolly I feel exactly the same as you - my 'Plan A' is use hypnotherapy + Tens and am pretty disappointed to have to give birth in the labour ward. At our hospital all the 'good stuff' (water birthing pools etc) is in the midwife-led birthing unit, the labour ward seems pretty basic and clinical.

I've got a thread on the go in the main pregnancy forum about how to make the best of the labour ward experience and I'm hoping to go in and talk to midwives beforehand.

Annoying because I don't really understand why my medical history actually makes my birth high risk, but on the other hand I would never forgive myself if I fought to use the MLU and then something went wrong which could have been avoided with more monitoring. Confused

BlueC2 · 04/06/2014 13:58

Hello all...well, good news from the MW this morning, my iron levels are back up and my platelet levels (which were low at 16wks) are also back to normal :) whoop!

mixi glad you're being well looked after and especially that things are looking more positive with your DP.

Re birth options and knowledge etc I seem to remember my nct group being reasonably clued up but many seemed v keen on a Caesarian or at least as much pain relief as they could get as quickly as they could get it! As it turned out of the 7 of us only 3 had a natural labour, the rest all had c sections for various reasons though I think predominantly it followed on from them being induced and labour not progressing. MW on Monday asked me to sort out my birth plan before my next appointment in a couple of weeks. Since I'm hoping for a home birth this will obviously be different to last time, although last time I think I had more of a list of things I didn't really want to happen with a couple of preferences for things I did want to happen, like use the pool.

One piece of advice a friend gave me last time which I actually found v useful though was to spend some time researching and reading/learning about breast feeding before the birth. I focused more on this than birth prep if I'm honest as I felt that whilst I did have some birth preferences I really wanted to focus on baby and how I was going to nurture/ feed it as that part of life would last a lot longer than the birth iykwim?

zing and others trying to work/sort stuff out I think the only answer at this stage of pregnancy is to try and pace yourself with lots of breaks and keeping hydrated. I made good progress with sorting out the nursery yesterday but didn't rest enough so was totally exhausted come the evening.

Oh and re names there unfortunately isn't a male version of my Grandma's name. DS has my Grandad's name as one of his middle names so we would just need to find a different way of recognising/remembering her if we have a boy. Just gonna have to wait.

Mrsc020987 · 04/06/2014 16:21

Well, it looks likely that i may be first to pop! (unless anyone goes before Saturday!) had scan this morning, baby is small and consultant wants baby out to get fattened up! Still in shock, cant stop cleaning and crying (been given steroid injection which seems to have boosted my energy for just now!) but i am being induced on Friday night baby will be here on Saturday when i am 37 weeks on the nose! Baby's heart and blood levels in chord and everything are fine so reassuring but still scary! Had bags packed, now replaced all baby stuff with tiny baby stuff! So more steroids tomorrow and then baby c should be here within the next few days!

mupperoon · 04/06/2014 16:53

Ah mrsc it must be so scary... but also lovely that you'll meet your baby so soon. (And the idea of the tiny baby clothes has brought a lump to my throat!)

ismarah · 04/06/2014 17:25

Oh wow MrsC!

I was saying to DH earlier how strange it will be to have bean outside of me and wonder how on earth she fit inside me in the first place, kind of like those ships in bottles.

37 weeks is a perfectly respectable gestation though and if your bean is better delivered then that seems like a good way to go. I'm sure it's a shock and such an adjustment but 2 months down the line or 2 years, it won't matter in the slightest that your baby came a little bit early.

Good luck though and keep us posted when you can - you know we'll all be rooting for you.

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Plateofcrumbs · 04/06/2014 17:39

That is scary to be happening so suddenly MrsC but as others have said already, 37 weeks is full-term. Estimating the size and weight of a baby by a scan is a notoriously inexact science so your little one may not even be that little! And very encouraging all looks OK in terms of the heart, cord etc. Just think, by the weekend all the anxiety will be over and newborn cuddles ahoy!

AuntieMaggie · 04/06/2014 17:45

Awww Mrsc that is scary but also exciting!

I haven't had that experience at all with the NHS classes jasmine - the MWs have pointed out what they would normally like to happen but also shared experiences where that hasn't happened and been supportive of challenging what they're doing.

The problem is though if you start off in a birthing suite they need to allow time to transfer you/make sure there is room for you/make sure there are staff to do interventions if needed so the time they are prepared to wait before transferring you may depend on things like how far apart the birthing suite and labour wards are and how busy they are.

Patchworking9til5 · 04/06/2014 17:48

wow, been catching up.on all.your concerns over hospitals. Sounds like you've got some tough situations and draconian midwives. I think it must massively depend on where you are. Went through my birth plan with midwife today. Aiming to use pool in birth centre which is along the corridor from labour ward and if I change my mind I can say so and move to ward and request epidural.
Anyone else part of a caseload midwife team? It seems amazing, they come and assess you at home and go with you to hospital when it's the right time. Saves you going and getting sent home again!
....she did also run through what to do if labour happens extremely quickly or if I have to deliver on my own before midwife/ambulance arrives!!!

AuntieMaggie · 04/06/2014 18:49

patchwork not sure about them coming out to you (they might) but we were told to call before going to the hospital and they would assess certain things over the phone before instructing you what to do next... I guess I'll get more details at my 36 week check next week!

mixi82 · 04/06/2014 19:46

Good luck mrsc, I'm sure you'll be fine!

Was thinking, seeing as I'm at my mums, I've not got a Moses basket down here. Are they really necessary?? She has a travel cot with a raised basinet thingy in the room we will be staying but there won't be room to put a Moses basket in there.

I did wonder about when I'm downstairs though, should I get a bouncer thing or something?

JasmineLondon · 04/06/2014 20:16

mrsc hug to you through cyber space! Gosh big news to get, hope you have space over next two days to treat yourself somehow, you're doing amazingly and will soon meet baby, whoop whoop!

Thanks all for thoughts re hospitals ... I'm at the most inner city hospital you could find, so I think comments about resources are right. Apparently we can only be admitted when we're 4cm and then have to dilate 1/2cm every hour or else!

Just visited a friend today who gave birth 4 months ago. She was completely dedicated to having a natural birth, managed 2 days of labour with not even gas and air, yoga breathing etc. But just wasn't dilating so after 2 days accepted epidural and induction ... Then baby distressed and EMCS ... Complicated CS and she ended up in Intensive care for several days. She and bambino are both FINE thank goodness! May sound mad but I was really encouraged by her story ... Had so much admiration for her that she tried her darnedest to give baby a natural birth but also that she rolled with whatever came her way.

ismarah Think u could be right about researching stuff, maybe if I get more info about epidural I might be less freaked out if it comes to it ... And have to remind self that thirty years ago forceps etc were pretty standard and it's all gonna be ok Smile

Patchworking9til5 · 04/06/2014 20:23

maggie worth asking cos that's what I was told at my 36 wk appointment today. Apparently I'm to call when in early stages and they'll tell me when to call again. They will then come see me at home to assess.

V. upsetting news about the babies with blood poisioning today. Reassuring myself that as this has happened now they will be hyper vigilant in next few weeks so if baby were to end up in NICU then this shouldn't recurr.

icklekid · 04/06/2014 20:41

Well have read page of thread 3 times and just isn't going in. Really sorry not able to respond to everyone! Do agree with blue (? Sorry if wasn't you) about reading about parenting/first few months what to expect not just labour though!

Had a good day then midwife appointment, supermarket shop then gym, come home clean, wash up, cook tea, collapse in pain from spd and bump generally kicking without any space! Anyone know anything about blood pressure able to give advice on my thread here? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/2097950-blood-pressure-question

Going to go to bed and read soon in the hope will stop me being sick tonight!

ismarah · 04/06/2014 22:59

Jasmine maybe next time you see your midwife you can ask what type of epidural would be available to you. If mobility, i.e. an active labour, is important to you you might be able to ask for a mobile epidural. It's a lower level of pain relief but you'd have mobility. It can also be topped up or increased if needed so that if the pain / mobility trade off is not suiting you, it can be fixed. Your midwife will certainly know if this is an option.

The only pain relief that is used as standard in birth that breaches the placenta and affects the baby is pethidine, which is a one-off injection anyway. An epidural does not affect the baby, nor does entonox. Depending on the facilities, you might have access to a shower, if not a birthing pool and water is quite good as pain relief also. Or so I'm told / have researched.

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BlueC2 · 05/06/2014 04:26

mrsc hope you're doing ok- so exciting yet daunting I'm sure that you get to meet baby so v soon!

ickle hope you're ok and have escaped sickness. Sounds as though you may have overdone it a bit during the day though! Try not to pack so much in-you need to get some rest!

mixi somewhere portable for baby during the day would be useful so either a Moses basket or bouncer. DS did most of his daytime naps in his bouncer chair.

Well after a good start to the night-slept pretty well 11-3ish I've now been awake since-grrr! Brain seems stuck on a repeating semi-dream about going into labour and whay it will be like this time! I'd really quite like to just get on with it and meet this little wriggler, though right now I'd like to go back to sleep!

MoreSnowPlease · 05/06/2014 04:41

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

Plateofcrumbs · 05/06/2014 08:28

moresnow - I was measuring 2 cm under, consultant said +/- 3cm was in normal range. Had a growth scan for completely unconnected reasons and baby is measuring upper quartile so it's clearly not an exact science!

So tired today, much as I love my job my enthusiasm is waining fast.

French friend of mine is throwing a dinner party this weekend - just realised my pregnancy dietary requirements probably rule out everything he would normally cook! Oops !

coco808 · 05/06/2014 08:45

MrsC good luck for Friday and Saturday Smile I'm sure you will sail through everything.

mixi wow 3 weeks to go?! I've got my date for the 24th of June when I will be 37+6

I'm measuring 2 cm under too now plate probably because I cannot digest any fat or protein now lol. Living on carbs now and not complaining...

coco808 · 05/06/2014 08:47

Could anyone please tell me how to do my birth plan? I haven't seen my community midwife since week 28 and I am 35 now!! She keeps cancelling and I have no more appointments to see her. The hospital midwifes are getting me in and out as they are v busy when I see them for my weekly tests. Any suggestions?

Plateofcrumbs · 05/06/2014 09:14

coco - NHS has a tool here for creating your birth plan which is worth a look.

ismarah · 05/06/2014 09:26

Coco Yout book (blue?) should have a list of appointment and what to expect to happen at each. If your midwife is cancelling on you but you'd like to be seen, ask for an appointment with someone else and make it clear why. If it's a community team you can either go via your clinic or the MW supervisor.

The birthplan should also be a form or a section in your book that you can fill in - alone or with MW. There's loads of (scary) information in the book about all sorts of things - it's not just there to document appointments.

Hospital MWs vs community MWs - you are so right about how they treat you! I'n so glad my community ones know how I'm struggling with the hospital and so insist on seeing me too. It does mean an awful lot of weeing in pots though. Even though I've met the entire team by now and have to recap everything every time they take their time and listen, which can mean everything to a stressed preggo.

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AuntieMaggie · 05/06/2014 09:45

jasmine the 4cm thing is standard as it can take a very long time to get there especially first time!

coco you can just write your wishes on a piece of paper if necessary - there are loads of templates online but it doesn't have to be fancy.

So at 2 am this morning Dp was on the phone to 111 because I woke up screaming with random hand pain - no idea what or why but my whole hand felt as if it was being ripped apart and no amount of movement or anything helped so after 20 mins he called and the ooh gp called back and told me to take paracetamol and after about 2 hours it started to ease. This morning it's stiff and tender and I have no idea wtf to do!

BlueC2 · 05/06/2014 09:58

Moan alert- exhausted, have DS all day and DH on a late so not back til well after bath/bedtime. DS in v moany mood today too. I just want to sleep or at least sit somewhere quietly, alone!

ItsAlwaysBetterOnHoliday · 05/06/2014 11:19

Oh wow mrsc - good luck for Friday/Saturday!

moresnow - I had the same as you and plate - was measuring 2cm behind at last midwife appointment, sent for scan and baby was just above average (which he has measured all along). Midwife was at pains to say bump measuring really wasn't an exact science but she just wanted to check. I've had the 'tiny' comments all along the pregnancy too - they get a bit frustrating but I guess it would be equally frustrating if they were along ' omg you're huge' lines. Not sure why people think it's suddenly fine and dandy to comment on other people's body shapes in pregnancy, think they're just looking for something to say.

ItsAlwaysBetterOnHoliday · 05/06/2014 11:21

Posted too soon!

maggie - that sounds sore! Could it be carpal tunnel syndrom, cramp or similar? Seems really unfair when you've had such a hard time with SPD!