September 2017 #2

[oliversmummy26]

Starting a new thread for us all....

sherbert even if you can't self refer your GP can refer you over the phone without seeing you. Ring them back and explain the situation and ask for a telephone consultation. (This is what happened in my previous pregnancy)

Sherbert try not to worry I have been spotting loads a few weeks ago. I just kept a diary of when. How heavy is it? If it is period like, I would go to a&e, if just a bit of spotting, I would think you will be fine. I spotted for a week and midwife says fine unless it is like a period or you have severe cramps! Fingers crossed for you x

Room for another? I got a positive test last Thursday. By my dates the baby is due on the 25th Sept and was conceived in the early hours of New Year's Day! Second baby. I've been trying for No2 since DS was about 12 months, possibly earlier, and he's nearly 5 now. I've got PCOS and this pregnancy is actually the result of my first clomid-free cycle in 7 months. I'm incredibly excited but so very nervous. Roll on 12 weeks. Early scan next Friday.

Interesting article from which if you're unsure of where you want to give birth. Even has ratings on the hospitals/birth centres etc...
twitter.com/WhichUK/status/811179284723273728

I just checked my results and it came back to be my choice of hospital. Bingo. That's quite good tool.

Same here mouse. They offer tours every month - think I'll pop along to the next one.

Thank you shwighty for that tool, my best option was 1. Home birth....helll noooo
Then 2. My hosp of choice, woop woop.

BTW is anyone interested or having a home birth?

Yes meeeeee I had fab home birth for ds1 and hoping for another one this time. Thinking about getting a pool for at home too

We were chatting about birth options on the Facebook group after watching a super peaceful home water birth. I think this tool is really well created by Which?

Hi ladies, just checking in after my booking appointment (only half an hour thank goodness!) mw has referred me to hospital for an early scan to confirm my dates, so keeping everything crossed that comes through sooner rather than later and we'll get to see a lovely strong heartbeat, trying to remain positive, but so anxious!

Shwighty ur amazing, I dont know why but I just couldnt do a home birth, having said that il prob end up not making it in time as Il put going off to hospital so long ill end up delivering in the car! They say the 2nd baby comes alot quicker so im just baring that in mind when it happens this time, god the anxiety of giving birth again

Yes. Would absolutely love a home birth. But I'm realistic. I'm too fat and I have other health issues. So I'm just going to beg for a midwife lead birth in a pool with just breathing and lots of PMA (stop laughing) 🙈

Lol don't know about that!! Funnily enough my mw said to me is likely my birth could take about 4 hours in total given last one was fairly short too so not to delay contacting when contractions start!

And to be aware that I may not have time to set up and fill birthing pool unless I start it as the 1st contraction starts! That'll be fun sorting out the pool whilst contacting!!

Eeek it's too early for me to think about it all over again, gulp (spew)... They don't do home births where I live, though my sister had a great experience back home in England having her boy at home. I'll cross that bridge if I get to the third trimester (I'll probably have nightmares about it first!)

*contracting!!

I'm hoping birthing might be hereditary. (Again, stop laughing) lol

My mum was in active labour for 1.5 hours with me and 45 mins with my sister. 😎

I had a home birth with DD. I loved it, was so grateful that it went smoothly and I had a fantastic MW. (We are 15 mins from local fab mat unit so wasn't too worried.)
My labour was marked as only 1hr 15 mins or something, but in reality I had contractions for about 36 hrs. All totally managed with TENS, could only ramp the TENS to 6/10 as that was more painful than the contractions.

Definitely hoping to have another. Don't know what to do with DD yet - either ask my DM to come and stay here (although not keen on her being around me bellowing and swearing like last time) or take her for a sleepover to hers. Hmm.

Funniest moment of my birth:
Thinking I needed a poo so was on toilet desperately trying not to push as I was afraid of giving myself piles.
After a few minutes of screaming groaning shouting to my DH "DO NOT COME IN - I'M HAVING A SHIT"

Turns out that was my beautiful baby coming out that I was actively trying to stop!

Mouse - knowing that my DM had had two straightforward home births (in 70/80s when it wasn't very normal) and my sister had two very straightforward births in a MLU made me positive and confident I'd be ok.
So genetics and a PMA is very important, I think!

cashmere We're coming up with options too it really all depends on what time things kick off. If it's on a nursery day then ds will be fine and dm or mil could grab him and have a sleepover. If it's at night ds probably wouldn't wake up so I'd just leave him upstairs!! Just the dog to think about now!! Hopefully our neighbour or my mum would have her tho. She's a frantic border collie so would definitely not help with the peaceful setting lol!!! I may pack her off for a holiday at mums for my due date😎

My first birth wasn't great but at least it was only 6 hours. So with my second I had fairly low expectations, just wanted it to be better than the first. And it was! Only 4hrs from the first contraction to him up on my chest, too fast for an epidural which I was glad about because I wanted to try without it. I remember saying to my friend afterwards (who had had a water birth) that I was glad I did it without the epidural, but I wasn't sure I would do the next one without it and she felt the same hahaha!
I plan to just go with the Baby-flow. But I'm also a nurse so I feel very comfortable in hospitals and I just don't want the uncertainty and, frankly, mess of a home birth.

I hope to have another home birth. DD was born at home and I loved doing it that way. It's really common in NL (1/3 of births?) so the mws were really happy I went for it. Had a water birth. No other pain relief though! They don't do gas n air here (no idea why) so just had to struggle through with breathing, changing positions and moving around. But active labour was blissfully quick (1.5 hours) so I managed. I live a bit further from the hospital now (10-15 mins instead of 5) so I need to have a think about risks this time, but I can't imagine not doing it at home. Hospitals give me the creeps.

OBVIOUSLY I'll do what's best for the baby, blah blah, disclaimer

Well aside from any other issues, being comfortable is the most important part! Wherever that is!

Hello all

I've been a bit quiet on here as I've been feeling awful. So so sick. I'm struggling to function to be honest right now. Looking after DD and working 3 days a week is all I can manage. I can't face eating or drinking and I'm feeling pretty dehydrated which I'm sure is not helping.

Had booking in today which lifted my spirits a bit and we are having another scan on Saturday to hopefully put my mind at ease again.

Loving the chat re home births! I won't be having one, I ended up with an EMCS with DD (was still an amazing positive experience) so I'll be booking in for an ELCS this time. Midwife today was very supportive of my plans and said that was fine!

Brilliant link Shwighty1. This is my first and whilst I had considered a home birth as I want somewhere calm and relaxing, which I don't find hospitals to be, I think it would be more to organise - where would I set up a pool - and a mess to clear up afterwards!

I am hoping all goes smoothly and I can go to a birth centre/ midwife led unit. I have a choice of 2. One is stand alone and a 30 min transfer to the hospital if medical intervention is needed. The other is separate to but on the same site as the hospital. I think I'll visit both and see which I like better. They both get similar ratings, with the stand-alone one slightly better for after birth care than the other.

I also think I get to choose between two hospitals for my scans, etc so will ask the midwife when I eventually have my booking in appointment.