February 2016 - Will the chundering ever cease?!

[StockingFullOfCoal]

New thread

Monk, bless you, different egg this time, sweetheart. You will be ecstatic on Weds, I promise.

Lillian, ignore the stories about hashed vaginas splitting the rectum. Infections? They're gone in an instant. The body was designed to withstand childbirth and has an unbelievable ability to heal itself rapidly. My baby was yanked out by forceps and then my placenta was retained and I needed an episiotomy.

None of the above is actually suffered though, in terms of pain. Everything is numbed before they get to work on you and they do a beautiful job of stitching. You won't remember the bad bits even ten hours later.

*hashed = gashed!

Purdie - I've got that stitch thing too. I had it until about 16 weeks with DD, then it magically disappeared. I found drinking really cold chocolate milk helped, especially at night, although it might have been a placebo effect!

Interestingly about NCT demographics, mine was really mixed. I do live 2 miles from a very large multicultural city centre though, which might explain things! I do think that their prices put a lot of less affluent people off though, whichever colour skin they may happen to have.

First timer here too!

I'm a first timer too and not having an early scan. I've got a bit of trepidation as it took me a long time to conceive, I'm 36 and I've only got very mild symptoms. But it's just a general sense of unease rather than anything concrete so I'm going to wait for the 12 week scan

First timer here too!

Had an early scan at EPU so they could date me & have booked one for a few weeks when I should be 11 weeks as going to a wedding as a bridesmaid & want to tell the bride (if all is ok...)
Good question for you ladies... I bloody love salami. Is it ok cooked on a pizza?!

Also - when you stand up suddenly do you sometimes feel a sharp stretching pain?

ratty yes salami/pepperoni is fine as long as it is cooked. I bought myself 2 pepperoni pizzas today.

Has anyone else found that their stomach has become a bottomless pit? Not sure what has happened to my stretch receptors that used to tell me I was full but they certainly don't work anymore! Eating is the only thing that takes the nausea away and then I can't stop!

monkerina and abs I'm in the same situation. Had an early scan at 5+4 (I think) and only saw an empty sac!! I have tons of symptoms too which is giving me hope. My scan is Friday!! Good luck Wednesday, monk! You have a great attitude!!

abs did you have Hcg levels done? Mine were normal (but done before my scan - did them because of a previous loss). When is your next scan?

As for birth stories, I have good ones. 14 active labour DC1 (24 hrs after first contraction). I had no drugs etc... (I never like taking medication - it's just how I am) And when DD1 was born I felt a huge sense of relief and vowed never again.

DC2 active labour 6 hours (12 hours from first contraction). For DC2 I had gas (it definitely works) and a narcotic (thru IV) I was telling crazy stories in mid labor but very comfy:). They kept the pain at 6/10 which I thought was great. But I hurt worse after DS was born... But I guess the drugs had worn off!!
I will definitely be having gas and narcotics again if possible.

We have moved 35 mins away from nearest hospital so I am a bit nervous about DC3!! I hear they come quickly!

And orgasmic birth???? What??? Some people swear by pain free hypno birthing too but I guess I don't have that kind of mind power.

I don't believe in a pain-free birth. Who are these massive-vagina-ed women??

Omg at the thought of masturbating your way through labour Lol!

Hypnobirthing for me was about attempting to remain calm due to prior traumatic birth. Not about being pain free. Nor did I want to be off my tits on opiates. It worked. And I nailed the gas and air for about 10 mins and chucked it down along with my iPod when I started pushing as I was on all 4s and needed to listen to the MW to avoid tearing. I didn't tear. I remember her birth clearly. Eldest DDs is foggy due to pethidine and her being prem, DSs birth I have zero memory of due to the PTSD. I must stress that my third labour was only 40 mins of what I'd call intense pain. Prior to that it was comparable to a severe IBS flare up.

Speaking of, I've got stomach ache and have just realised I haven't pooped for 4 days

CITRUS SMELLS YES YES YES

stockingFullofCoal our birth experiences sound very similar. Dd1 I was off my face on pethedine, horrid stuff, refuse outright to ever have that stuff near me again. Dd2 was gas and air but only for pushing part. Ds I used g&a for a couple of last contractions before pushing part as I had prolapse at 15 weeks and midwife said I need to feel what is going on down there. It is all about remaining calm and in tune with your body.

People tend to go quiet after I share stories of my DS, but please let there not be an awkward silence. I'm not looking for attention. I just want to share my birth story as well. I don't know how long I was in labour with DS for, possibly an hour or two? I had the drip, no pain relief (not my decision) and my contractions were constant and so I just howled my way through - controlled howling and it kept me sane! I feel like I owned my labour, (I had to speak both English and Italian, I definitely rocked!), and it was good to be able to birth my son. Next time though I'd like to be at home and have my husband with me. And a live baby to finish would also be a bonus.

Man was I craving beer today! I commandeered ds' beer and just smelling it made me feel better. Better than the real thing!

I am another who has very little memory of my first labour due to pethedine. Awful stuff. I hypnobirthed with DS2 and while it was certainly not pain free, I was coping well. I was meant to be getting in the pool but at the last minute his heart rate became a cause for concern and I must have lost faith in myself and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I ended up having him under GA but I still credit hypnobirthing for getting me through that pretty unscathed.

Lovely reading about all the early scans. I'm not going to have one unless offered for some reason or another.

I am 8.5 tomorrow and have my booking in appointment on Tuesday. I had to collect my bounty pack plus notes from my GP last week so have spent this evening filling in all that I can.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy week ahead

Haquoi always feel free to share your stories of your pregnancy and birth of your son. You are a very brave lady

Of all the pain methods I tried during my first labor a hot shower worked best. I think having a water birth would be great!! Did anyone have one?? There are only two rooms with tubs at my hospital and it is only chance that you get them so I can't count on it. But every room has a shower...

As for hypno- birthing I definitely believe that it can help calm - and being calm helps with pain.

haquoi I'm so sorry you lost your son.

Haquoi I get awkward silences too but you'll never get that from me

Haquoi so sorry for the loss of your son. I can't even begin to imagine how that must feel. There's a lot of us here to talk to. Xx

Morning everyone!
Goldmaple I had a water birth with ds (2nd child). I got to hospital at 4cm dilated and spent most of labour stood up or walking around the room. I tried the gas and air, but I hate it. It makes my face tingle and my nose drip, and I always breathe too hard so it makes an annoying noise! When it got to where I needed to push they offered me the pool. I stripped off as they were filling it, jumped in and started pushing. I want to be on my knees but the midwife couldn't hear baby so I went onto my back. It was actually better because I saw ds born. The whole labour was very calm and relaxed, really lovely after my first one. Only problem was I had a bad tear, not big just the position. The dr had to stitch up my clitoris. I can honestly say I have never felt agony like it. Apparently the numbing injection doesn't work there! I was so lucky to get the pool, and have a private room, so it worked well for me. He was born at 1:10 am and hubby stayed the night. With dd I was on a mixed ward and he wasn't allowed to stay. I really felt like the second time went better because I was more confident. I had a better idea of what would suit me and I wasn't scared to just do it.

monkerina my scan is at 3:30 here, so 12:30 UK time. I'm not sure what I'll do if it's bad news. We're flying back to the UK on Sunday for almost 7 weeks so I'll have to see about a temporary transfer of care. Feeling quite confident though that it'll be ok. I don't have any symptoms other than growing boobs and tiredness, although being at the end of a 12 week term with no break could account for the latter!

gold yep I have been having my hcg tested - 4 times now in total! It was 240 early in week 4, something like 1200 two days later then 14,000 late week 5 and 27,000 two days later. Happy it has been growing, but desperate to see some more proof that something is there. I know lots of people who haven't had symptoms so I'm hoping that it's all fine. My scan is on Wednesday afternoon. Fingers crossed!

haquoi yours is an unimaginable birth story. It definitely means you deserve an amazing one this time!