October 2014 - thread 16 - newborn squishes and some impatient mums-to-be

[Shirehobbit]

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Congratulations shirehobbit on the birth of your daughter! Can't wait to hear your birth story - sounds epic!

Congratulations Shire!!

Congrats shire...sounds a bit manic!

pebble I'm still here 40+5 today & still nothing! 14 yr wedding anniversary today-not convinced baby will come today & if it did I would quite frankly be surprised as it would be earliest of all my babies!

Sweep no 2 booked for tomorrow...think I'll give DH a treat & let him near me tonight , in the hope it get things moving...2 birds & all that!

Got fingers and toes crossed for you Granny.

I've just opened my emails only to be greeted by one from Babycentre congratulating me on being the parent of a one week old. Grrrrrrr!!

Typical...I didn't sign up for any this time cos of that!

Everything crossed for you too pebble

Tmi, but I had a massive show this morning so hoping things will start today. Kids are in nursery, so hoping I'll know by 2.30-ish so I can ask nursery to keep them til later rather than 3.30...

Ooh, good sign. I've had a few more cramps but it could just be wind!

Now reading up on pros and cons of induction/monitoring again. So difficult making a decision.

Pebble, I'm with you on that one - now 41+5 and booked in for induction tonight. Have had 2 sweeps and literally tried every induction method known to man (barring castor oil) but nothing has pushed me into labour. We did a lot of reading and asked loads of questions at the hospital yesterday - in the end we figured the risk, including my stress related rising bp, made induction the safest option for our Bump. I hate that it feels 'forced' rather than natural and that it's so not the birth I wanted it to be, but also feel a bit relieved that I don't have to keep fretting how the baby's doing in there. Such a tough decision - good luck with it xxx

Summer that's exactly how I feel. I have a friend who is a doula who's given me advice about how our bodies shouldn't be forced into birth before they're ready. But...I've also read medical research that there is an increased risk of stillbirth after 42 weeks. A thought that makes me well up with tears at just typing the words!

I'm swaying towards induction too. For my mental state if nothing else. Not ideal but at least I'll not be pregnant anymore. And one advantage is we can plan the day better and DP will be off work.

Good luck with everything. Keep us posted.

Good luck, granny and summer. Hope all the othe babies still to come make a timely entrance as well.

I realised I hadn't posted a birth announcement on here, though I did on fb. I was actually due tomorrow, but baby Benjamin made his appearance 10 days early weighing 6lb 8oz at a rather stunted 46cm .

For anyone pinning their hopes on natal hypnotherapy, it was an unqualified success for me. I had a show and irregular contractions throughout the Saturday which became regular by bedtime. I went to bed, but quickly realised the contractions were much more bearable sitting rather than lying, so went downstairs and spent the night sitting on my ball listening first to a podcast and then to some chillout music. I was timing the contractions using a phone app and could see that they were lasting up to 90 seconds, but subjectively they felt more like 15 secs. There was a period of two breaths per contraction which was very intense, but I could deal with it. I focussed on keeping my throat and jaw relaxed and my feet and toes and I visualised breathing out downwards through my pelvis. Between contractions I rested my head on my arms on the back of the sofa.

At 5 am the contractions were 3min apart and I woke dh (who had no clue I was in labour and ran around panicking for about ten min before getting a grip). PIL were summoned for dd and we drove to the hospital. When I was examined I was 8cm dilated and rushed to a delivery room. The pushing stage was dictated more by the mw and less by nature - it's a small hospital with only one mw working at any one time and she had two of us at similar dilation. I think she decided I was going to deliver first and put me on a drip to speed my contractions up slightly. She helped the baby out by pushing on the top of my abdomen and by stretching the vaginal opening and I think I possibly tore more than I would have done had things been less rushed. I really don't care though and certainly didn't at the point when ds flopped out and started screeching.

I had zero pain relief (unless you count "homeopathic" sugar pills, which I don't) and I think that was all down to the NH and managing to get into a super-relaxed state. The birth was also a successful VBAC, which made me into something of a celebrity in the hospital - the chief paediatrician came to the ward to congratulate me and dh had lots of comments from colleagues.

See you all soon on the other side!

Wow, that's an amazingly uplifting birth story. Well done for remaining calm. Especially with the mw putting you on a drip, seems very much for her benefit than yours! Thanks so much for sharing.

Congratulations Frau! That is a wonderful birth story. Thank you for sharing it.

I've been having period like dull aches all day. I'm assuming that could go on for days and days though...

Afternoon ladies. For those who are deciding on the induction route- we had the pessary at +13 days and went into labour the next morning. It lasted 12 hours but ended up in theatre with forceps as baby was stuck and back to back and had had enough. I had as well.
I went home 24 hours later and the only issues were blood loss- on iron tablets, a healing cut and baby being very dry due to overbaking!! So now we're basting her in olive oil 2-3 times a day
Good luck with whatever route you take x

Thanks Munday - that's really helpful and good to hear a relatively positive induction story! It feels like the whole arena is so fraught with 'shoulds' and 'shouldn'ts' that it's easy to lose sight of the important thing - doing what's right for the baby AND for you.

Pebble, think that's the thing to hold onto - I hadn't anticipated feeling quite so low / depressed about being overdue and our mental states need to be taken into consideration too. The womb of an unhappy and stressed woman probs isn't a great place to hang out in

I was induced at 39 weeks due to baby being unstable lie ( if you remember I had already been in hospital for 2 weeks and was booked for a c section). Baby decided to go head down and engage the day before c section is I was told I could go home and wait for labour to start naturally, or have induction pessary.

My first birth was totally natural hypnobirth so DH and I were pretty anti-induction, as we felt baby should come when ready and not be 'forced' out.. But the fear of going home and being constantly worried baby might change position again meant we went for it.

Pessary was put in at 10pm, then I went to sleep. Felt some mild tightenings on and off overnight but nothing much happening. By 2pm I was feeling pretty fed up and was texting family saying nothing was happening at all.

My waters broke out of the blue at 2.30pm. I started then feeling more period pains coming in waves every 5 mins or so. I lay down and listened to my hypnobirthing relaxation music and did the slow breathing on each wave/contraction. DH arrived at 3.30pm, and sat quietly in the room while I continued to listen to the hypnobirthing. At some point the contractions kicked up a notch and so we made an effort to time them.. They were 5 mins apart lasting about a minute. Suddenly they went to 40 secs apart. DH went to tell the midwives who had no idea I was in active labour. They came in and were shocked to find I was 9cm dilated and wanting to push. It was too late to move me to a delivery room ( I was in a side room off the maternity ward).

I tried to do the birth breathing with each contraction, but there was no room in the side room to move around so basically I was on my back on the bed.. I was told baby's heartbeat was dropping, so I had to do chin to chest, holding breath pushing.. Which again is something you are told in hypnobirthing not to do.. But you do what you are told when you hear your baby might be in trouble, and they moved me on my side, and out he came in about 5 or 6 pushes/contractions.

I had a minor tear (no stitches) and DS2 was 9lbs 6oz at 39 weeks+0. Total time in labour marked on my postnatal record is 1hr 50 mins.. He was born at 5.40pm.

Induction ended up being a very positive thing for me, and it worked with the hypnobirthing too.

Good luck to all those still waiting to meet their babies.xxx

Punky, thanks for your positive story. With your pushing I think that was the right thing to do. My Daisy birthing instructor said that ideally calm pushing (or bearing down sensations) is what you should do but if there us a reason to get baby out quickly then "purple pushing" is the most efficient method.

Lily I definitely think things are starting to happen for you. Whilst it may take a while they're all signs that your body is getting ready. If I was you I would start saying affirmations like my body is like a flower opening up to birth my baby or talking to your baby and telling it you're ready and waiting.

Punky that's a great induction birth story.

Would someone mind reposting the given birth thread as I'd like t see what's going on there too please?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/2195401-October-2014-including-some-september-early-arrivals-the-wonderful-and-crazy-newborn-days?pg=29&order=

Well ladies, my caesarean is this morning. So nervous. Wish me luck and hopefully I'll be able to update with good news later on.

Congratulations to frau and good luck to all of you still waiting.

Good luck robin . I'm sure all will be fine and you'll have your baby in your arms very soon. Be excited not nervous. X

Good luck robin! And hope summerdreams13 your induction us going well.

Congratulations to all who have had their babies.

Sorry for the radio silence- baby girl born Monday late afternoon via section. Currently in hospital till Friday, recovering well and totally in love. Labour started Thursday and admitted to hospital Sunday eve. Birth story to follow.

Congratulations Pusscous. Glad you're recovering well. Hope it all went well for Robin today. This thread is really quiet now...

Congratulations Pusscous! Hope you're enjoying newborn snuggles

Robin also hope you're enjoying newborn snuggles

Congratulations Pusscous! Thread feels like there's tumbleweed drifting through it it's so quiet now! Lily31, hope you're ok - I imagine you've had your baby due to quietness?