May 2017 #4

[WishIWasSleeping]

Oh, obviously I do know how!

Eek I think the catheter thought is enough to put my off an epidural (in theory anyway!). I for some reason had a good read about childbirth last night having realised I didn't know what happens in huge amounts of detail, and I'm surprised that it didn't cause me too much worry. Though ask me when it's impending and I'm sure my tune will have changed!

I'm back from having been round the baby section in John Lewis, so much cute stuff, it would be so easy to spend a small fortune. But I'm using the ideas I saw to search for these things second hand.

Also, excitedly, I felt little bubbles pop twice below bump today, I hope that was baby!

If you already have an epidural I wouldn't worry about the catheter :)

I think you're right there! I think I have a fear of them though as I've seen a few in my time at work (hospital), catheters and NG tubes are not my favourite things.

Once it was in I didn't even notice it, and taking it out wasn't painful either.

I had a Caesarian and had a catheter but to be honest I only remembered it now when I saw this conversation. When it was inserted I didn't feel anything anyway and for the next few hours I had other things to think about (like being excited to finally meet my wee son) and care for dignity had gone out of window long long time before anyway. So honestly if you end up having one it's not so bad.

So now 16 weeks, still feeling sick. Not eating as much as seem to have gone off hot food.

Keep getting a heavy pressure feeling in my lower right side that lasts a few moments then goes. Very odd.

I have had a catheter once when I was 17 and had my appendix removed. I was in so much pain that I didn't even realise that they were putting it in.

Um I was under the impression that the epidural would be working before any interfering with catheters. I'm so naive! It's taking all my strength not to Google catheter in labour.

I wouldn't Google rabbity. Not only have we got ages to go yet, it may never happen to you.

To be honest, although I don't like doing it, I've inserted loads over the years - never had anyone say its painful, just uncomfortable. Still terrified of having one myself!

I'm not getting involved in the catheter chat

We'd love to have 2 children but I think we'll wait and see as I'm 39. Also whenever I think of me having a boy I start laughing!! Silly I know but I just thought I'm having a girl. Maybe we'll find out soon.....

19 weeks today! I can't believe it's almost half way over!

We booked in for a private scan and we're having a boy! Completely a surprise as we were convinced it was a girl. The rest of the family all have boys so there was some "are you sure it's a boy" questions. But now that we've finally wrapped our heads around it we can't imagine it any other way.

Had an early GTT yesterday as my last urine had a trace of glucose and I have a family history of diabetes and GD. Felt a bit like a pin cushion and my arm is bruised today :-/ So nervous for the results.

I don't remember having the catheter put in or taken out so it can't have been that bad. I do remember the insertion of the epidural not being particularly pleasant as it's like having a lumbar puncture. But as soon as it was in, it was the most amazing relief. All pain completely gone, after being in labour for over 12 hours, even being able to sleep a little bit. I've got pictures of me in labour before and after epidural - before looking like I'm on death's door, after sitting up in bed grinning and giving two thumbs up! They even give you a little button to press which delivers more anaesthetic if the pain starts coming back (it has a safety mechanism to ensure only so much can go through of course - despite this I was hammering on the button every few minutes as I was so worried the pain would come back!)

I would definitely do it again if I need to. Before all that I'd attended NCT classes and was a staunch natural birth advocate,!hated the idea of an epidural. This time round I'm a lot more open-minded about it.

I hope this doesn't upset anyone but literally all 7 women in my NCT antenatal group wanted 'natural' births and 6 of us had to have assisted deliveries or C-sections in the end, despite being all 'trained up' on breathing techniques, birthing positions and all that sort of thing.

That's lovely shiniberry ** I hope your results come back all ok.

Is anyone else getting any consistent guesses on the sex despite not having found out? It seems like all my extended family are guessing boy - but that's what I've always thought myself since the beginning but I've not mentioned that to them. Mind you I don't know what the guesses are based on.

Don't get me wrong, I'd like to have as natural birth as possible, but also very aware that if I need pain relief or intervention then it's for the best.

We would definitely like to have another in the near future. We like the idea of the next coming along when this one turns 2/3 but we'll see how nature plays it's part in that game! I'd like a 3rd but DH doesn't like the idea of being outnumbered by the kids bless him!

Peach all of my lot think it's a boy too! I'm carrying low and have gotten huge already, apparently that's a sign!

I'd love a girl, neither DH or I had sisters but all of our friends have DDs so that's what we're used to being around now. I've kind of made myself think it's a boy now too and when I talk about our little raspberry I seem to say 'he' or 'him' a lot now

Be time for another new thread soon!
I didn't find out last time, I really wanted a girl, but I thought that not finding out would be easier if it was a boy as the ordeal of of birth would mean I was just grateful for a baby! Turns out it was a girl anyway!
This time we again won't be finding out. I want another girl, so does hubby, but everyone is convinced this time it's a boy. Based on nothing whatsoever! although I'll be 34 before this one is born I think I'm still hoping to have 3!

This baby is definitely my last. I always wanted two with a short gap, and I'm pleased that's what I'm getting. But to be honest I'm quite looking forward to having the pregnancy and newborn years out the way.

peach have you tried the wedding ring test? It's complete nonsense but a bit of fun if people want to have a guess at the gender. Basically you put your ring on a piece of cotton and hold it over the bump, and if it moves in a circle it's a girl, straight line it's a boy.

We aren't finding out either but all of our friends/family have guessed girl.
DH and I talk about the baby as if it is a boy,I think I might be shocked if a girl comes out.

We won't find out, but haven't had guesses either. Might try the wedding ring test for fun. We've been referring to the baby as peach or pear depending on the week, but then we reached the avocado week which both of us hate so couldn't call it that s/he is now being referred to as bubbles because that's what it feels like to me

Strangely the epidural didn't hurt at all that I recall. I think it was because she'd told me not to move and by this point my contractions were so close together I said what if a contraction hits? And she said warn me, so I was concentrating so hard on sitting still and waiting for the next contraction

esme what's the gap going to be between yours? I wanted them quite close together but it will be 2 years.

Catheter in for my c-section was after the spinal so didn't feel a thing, don't really remember it coming out being a problem either. The spinal was difficult though, the first one failed and anaesthesist wanted to put me under, ahaha no. Just to lower the tone even more I would say my post birth wee was much worse than the dreaded post birth poop due to the catheter numbing everything (sorry!)

I've had to have a catheter before, as I had septicaemia, it really wasn't that bad, more humiliating than anything- as I was a teenager and v self conscious, but to be honest I was so out of it and feeling so crap that I didn't care when they put it in, taking it out I was more aware they were poking around 'down there' but to be honest that's part of birth anyway! I don't remember it ever hurting or really being that uncomfortable. I'd probably sooner have one of them again than give birth - but then birth is the scarier unknown for me! Looking forward to holding our baby and pregnancy seems ok so far.... just not looking forward to the bit in between the two!

I haven't had anyone guess yet, but lots of people have theories about how you carry the baby and whether it's a girl or a boy. We are not planning to find out so I guess we can test how accurate they are!

I did have a go at the ring test Esme but after it started swinging one way I changed my grip on the string a smidge and it swung the other so that was quite inconclusive!