May 2017 #12

[savagehk]

Hi all! No imagination for a name but it was getting tight!

So after a nosey throughout my notes I have nothing on either mrsa @PeachIcedT or universal communication @BouncingBlueberry so I am no help

peach I have to have MRSA screen - think its this week (I'm 36w). I'm an HCP in a hospital.

Hope everyone is enjoying their maternity leave! I've already been off 2 weeks, feel like its going so quick!

I have a growth scan today - its now routine at my hospital at 36w. Will let you all know how it goes.

Peach where I am they just do it at the midwife. Meant to be at 36 weeks but she had no swabs so I'm having mine at 38 weeks next week. Just a cheek swab I think! Everyone gets screened where I am before they are admitted to the hospital as a control measure

Good question about the mrsa! I'm also in healthcare AND I've had tonsillitis in 2012 with MRSA, which is why it took so long (+6 weeks) before I could get back to work. So I've had treatment and repeat swabs when hired for my new jobs. I seriously wonder what they'd do if I have it again?
@Badgerbird would be great if I were to meet you in the park! Gorgeous weather as well! Have you been to the Mosaic and the Inn on the Park yet?

Apparently growth scans are only accurate to about 80% so that's the difference between a 8lb baby and a 10lb one!

I recommend the AIMS website (Association for improvement in maternity services). They publish booklets on various aspects of care that explain your choices and research behind various options.

Those who have had 34 week mw appointment - did you discuss birth plan or is that 36? Haven't written mine yet and appointment is tomorrow.

Looking into hiring a birth pool but they are so massive! The only place one will fit comfortably is the kitchen but I don't want to give birth in the kitchen!

Birth plan wasn't discussed at my 34w - but then again perhaps it would have been but I mentioned I was intending on home birth and we booked that in for today. Some pools are smaller Fox - worth looking at Mermaid at Heart who seem to come highly recommended. My doula is providing one this time, but we'll need to rearrange some furniture in the lounge.

I've looked at them savage. Their smallest pool would just fit in the living room but it would be a bit of a squeeze. Don't know if the MWs would be happy about that. Also the small pool is not very deep and I'm 5'11"

Just had a growth scan, all fine estimated weight is 5lb 10 and I'm 34wks tomorrow. Baby is going to be massive if I go overdue!! Get to keep my low risk status and as long as over 37wks have water birth in the MLU 🎉

Still feeling really under the weather, glad it's last week at work, we have a toddler free weekend as off to a wedding. Need the break hoping to get two very early nights as we are staying at the venue!!

Justnhad my 34+2 check up with midwife all looking fine. I had been following the 50th percentile line but now on 90th she said that's fine though. Head is right down in pelvis and she said it's unlikely to move now.

I asked about doing a birth plan and she said they don't really go through them and it's up to me to do one. I don't have a clue where to start or what type of thing I should be thinking about. Is there a template somewhere that I can use? What have others done?

@FoxMulder we were supposed to discuss birth plan at my appointment yesterday but since baby wasn't playing fair we didn't have that much time so we talked about the key things, how to deliver placenta, did we want vitamin K for the baby, remember to bring a hat for baby (apparently newborns are stupid, technical midwife term, and will stop breathing if they get cold so they need a hat during skin 2 skin) she also asked DH if he wanted to cut the cord. Then mw said we could finish at 36 week appointment.

On the cord cutting, bearing in mind my DH has to look away when mw takes blood from me , how does it work? He's not sure he wants to, but he doesn't want to miss the opportunity....

Fox I asked at my 34 week appointment and they said we'd discuss it at 36 weeks - but I sort of got the impression I should come with ideas and things mostly written!

Lucie I think there's one on the NHS website you can use.

DH has never cut the cord Rise. No interest and also mildly squeamish. Still an amazing dad!

fox my trust told me they don't do birth plan chats but i can write any preferences I have on the last page of my notes.

Re birth plan, so far I have (no idea how realistic it is):
birthing pool preferred, minimum amount of time spent lying on back (aggravates PGP already so paranoid!), skin-to-skin for me AND DH post-birth.

The first baby on the group is already there 👏

In response to @nursebickypegs and @Teaspoon74 request - here's the photo of one of my leaving lunch pressies

@lucieloos yes nhs choices has a template for a birth plan. I wouldn't like it if they would tell me to just do one myself without any discussion. Have you done any courses to give you some more info on the options? My specialist midwife has already gone through my birthing plan with me last week, as the next time I see someone from the hospital team is another 3 weeks from now, so nearly 37 weeks. She has confirmed that I can give birth in the MLU even if my antenatal care was consultant led, which is a great relief for me

@1004Rise same here with a squeamish OH but I'd like it if he could be the one to cut the cord, so I'm gonna ask him to mentally prepare for that important task after the labour. I'm also going to ask the midwife if she could not tell me what the gender is, but let OH tell me the gender straight away!

I'm getting so curious to meet our little sprout. Many first newborns I know of looked like their dads (some spitting images). Is that the same for some of yours? I wonder if it's an evolutional protection factor so the dad will feel more connected? I wouldn't mind because MIL says that her son (also spitting image of his dad) was just a beauuuuutiful baby. I catch her sitting watching him at times and then she keeps saying how proud she is of her handsome son (aaawww!)

@peasandquiet I really hope you feel better soon. Sounds like you can do with the rest! And a breather!

@FoxMulder did you see the gorgeous reversible fox print hoodie they have at Jojo? I just ordered it in size for next winter! How cute!

Spitting image of daddy esp at first. It is supposed to be evolutionary I think :) Apparently less prominent with later babies though?

The NHS choices one was a bit... meh... I thought. I'd also write it on a different piece of paper separate from your notes even though there's a space there. Have a copy for your OH and a copy for the midwife. Keep it simple, no one is going to read a lot of paper esp if things start going a bit medicalised.

@Rustler74 I'm like @yellowismyfavourite feeling really restless on Maternity Leave. This is my 2nd week and I'm going stir crazy already. I know others will say enjoy the peace, but I'm so bored 🙈

I've got a MW appointment this afternoon to see if LO has started to turn so fingers crossed! 🤞🏻I can't wait for her to drop, my ribs are in agony 😩

Hadn't thought about MRSA @PeachIcedT DH works in Healthcare so I'll ask today just incase

@FoxMulder my 36w appt has been earmarked to go through my 'Birth Wish List' as they call it here. (No plans as things don't always go to 'plan')

@lucieloos is there not a template in your notes?

@1004Rise re cord cutting - we got told that we can make a decision on the day

@Rustler74 our NCT instructor said that all babies look like their dads when their born - it's to help with bonding apparently and that fact that it's obviously clear they belong to their mums, so if they look like dad then dad bonds better ☺️

My DH was a gorgeous little boy too and although we're having a girl, I find myself daydreaming imagining what she's going to look like...

DS still looks the spitting image of DH I'm sure it is evolutionary so the dad doesn't run off, interesting that it might be less so with the second child I'm kind of hoping this one looks a bit more like me!

Here is my birth plan from last time in case it helps, I am not in the UK so some of the points might not be necessary for you but were advised by our antenatal class leader. I ended up with a c-section so what I went in with had a lot crossed out anyway.

Here's my draft so far..... I also don't want the baby fed formula at all but both myself and husband know that so not needed to put it here as one of us should be with it at all times (last time baby was carted off without anyone telling us what was going on, hence the specific statement that baby will be accompanied)

Home birth with pool ideally.
Should transfer in be required, keeping as close as possible to the ideal below as circumstances permit.

Birth partners to be husband (X) and doula (Y).
Student midwives permitted subject to rest of birth plan being followed (re quiet/calmness and directing queries through birth partners).

As little intervention as possible.

Hypnobirthing will be attempted, requiring a calm atmosphere with minimal distractions.

• Z will probably be using in ear headphones with relaxing music, or may be using the sound system
• subdued lighting / curtains drawn
• low voices / quietness

Please discuss any concerns with X/Y who will communicate them to Z. No medical procedures without consent.

X: encourage drinking and eating!

Would like the option of gas and air, but please wait for a request rather than offering. Do not want pethidine or diamorphine offered.

No continous fetal monitoring (due to previous bad experience with this).
Intermittent handheld monitoring permitted, ideally without needing to leave the pool.

Active birth encouraged, using whatever positions feel comfortable.

If baby suspected of being in wrong position, Z to be encouraged to use positions to help baby turn (lie on left side, hands/knees, elbows/knees or other positions as midwife/doula may suggest)

No catheters, if bladder concerns Z to be encouraged to change position and go to toilet to see if she can pass water without one.

No vaginal exams purely to assess progress.
Willing to discuss necessity for exam when full dilation is presumed prior to pushing.
No artificial rupture of membranes without prior consent and discussion.

No directed pushing unless concerns over baby.
I expect baby to be large with a large head (again!) so keen to avoid tearing; will try and avoid full squat position and may attempt to deliver on all fours or in such other position as may be advised at the time.

Natural 3rd stage
Delayed cord clamping
If hospital delivery, cord blood to be donated to Antony Nolan.
Midwife to cut the cord.

Immediate skin to skin.
Should Z be unable to perform skin to skin, X to have skin to skin.
Should baby need to be removed for any reason X to accompany baby.

We did birth plan at 36 week appointment but it was very simple. DH has no interest in cutting the cord... He went a bit green!!! But like @Rustler74 we have it written down that he will be the one to say the gender. This was one of the few appointments DH has come to apart from some scans... although the choices were mainly mine he was happy to be involved.

Good luck @Sipperskipper and @RaspberryInAMelon with your appointments today. @peasandquiet hope you feel better... sounds like a great start to your ML

@newbieho that is a great little gift for the little one, I love it!

Thanks for the input on the MRSA, I just don't trust my midwife to bring it up nor do I even think we will discuss birth plan next week but I guess I should give her a chance on that.

Another manic work day, periodically I wish I was on mat leave but I really want to try and push through these last 11 days if I can 😩

Rasperry fingers crossed for a turn!! & you're right re seat... but the idea of asking someone just makes me burst into floods #daftandubreasonablebehaviour.

Rustler my OH is squeamish too (he had to leave the room feeling faint when anaesthetist starting talking through how the epidural works) but has already asked me if I am ok with him cutting the cord, after it was mentioned at NCT.

Newbie love and want that baby grow!!!

Lucie doesn't sound v helpful of her!! I have a chat with my consultant next weds at 36+2 re birth plan. But would be surprised to be told that there was no one I could discuss it with!

Peas blimey!! I was 4.4lbs at my 34wk scan!! Good luck

Autumn I envy you your doggy walking - have fun!!

Tea hope the tests were good!

Sitting in a fairly dull mtg catching about per head funding in primary care and new models of care, catching up on the thread and feeling bubs kick and squirm inside me. Am so ready for mat leave it's untrue!! 10 days and counting ;)

Thanks for the birth plan examples ladies - really helpful!

@peasandquiet I had a private growth scan at 34 + 5 and baby was also 5 pounds, 10 ounces. However, this was noted as the 51st percentile, so spot on average. I wouldn't worry :)

Baby boy's leg length, however, was in the 74th percentile. DH is 6'3" so I should probably have assumed!

Thanks savage that's given me some more to think about.

90% of it seems so obviously it feels a bit patronising writing it down. I mean, who wants to give birth under flood lighting, tied to a bed with tonnes of strangers yelling at them? And yet it happens.