May 2017 #12

[savagehk]

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

Cox I'm also planning to work up until 38 weeks!

cox I've had pre-eclampsia that only started after I'd stopped work. Ignore!

It could be an isolated issue savage certainly no major change in policy has been communicated to us that I know of. And we'd normally hear about it from the powers that be! I wonder if it was due tomorrow staffing or something.

badger if you're considering a pool at home I think the best option is to rent - as mentioned mermaid at heart is well recommended. I know it sounds a bit gross sharing a pool but you use a liner with it which is sterile. www.mermaidatheart.co.uk/

teainbed blimey, that is a lot to take in! When will you know?

Had growth scan - current weight 7lb 8, estimated birth weight 9lb 8! Feeling pretty panicked. Have got to check blood sugars 4 x daily to rule out late onset GD (test at 28w was fine).

Either way, I'm now not able to give birth in the midwife led unit, or in water.

I know the scan could have been much, much worse, but just feeling a little dissapointed and frightened. Not helped by my mum exclaiming 'there's no way you'll be able to deliver a baby that big!!!' when I called to update her.....

@FoxMulder the midwife said we'll be going through the birth plan at 36 wk appt. apparently they book it for a 40 minute slot rather than the 5 minute check at 34 weeks.

@coxsorangepippin I'm working up to 40 weeks, I can't see why anyone should have a problem with 38!

Barnes yes sorry i had my appoinyment a week early! No idea why!

I don't know sipper other than I've got to email them my numbers on Thursday and then they'll decide. If it is a failing placenta then I clearly cannot take any risks, I'm just worried they've misinterpreted their own rules and that if I just sat on my bum for 2 days and ate more I'd manage another week.

Why do they ban you from the MLU or water birth on the basis of a growth scan?

sipper why can't you use the MLU or pool? Just because of the size of the baby? That doesn't sound right. Sounds like they're out to scare you!

I want to read the AIMS booklet on vitamin k but I'm too tight to pay for it I don't think there's any evidence of harm particularly. Except it's a bit harsh when you've just been born! Just seems weird that it's necessary. Maybe there's a reason for lower vit k levels in newborns. Who knows. I think I'll go for it. Esp as baby will be bf. Problem doesn't happen in FF babies apparently.

Sipper I have never heard anything about being unable to give birth in a MLU if your baby is 9lb+. I know that is larger than some babies but it's hardly off the scale!?
Aaaw, it's so rubbish if that's the message you are being given. No wonder as women we are so terrified of giving birth!
Hope that you get it sorted. If not could you access a different MLU that will let you attempt the birth you'd like? Mine certainly doesn't have such cut offs. X

Does anyone else's baby seem to have hiccups all the time? For the last few days mine has had them loads. I've counted at least 5 times already today. I heard that if it happens too often it can be a sign of cord compression so now I've gone and worried myself about it! I have a midwife appointment tomorrow so will ask her about it

That's a shame skipper. But if makes you feel better once I was in labour I couldn't have cared less where I was, and you can still express a preference for an active birth on the consultant led ward.

I'm working up til 39wks and did so last time too. They wouldn't let you do it if there was any risk, so ignore your colleague Cox

Had a right panic at work today. Counted up my remaining days and with all the bank holidays, only working 4 days a week and odd days of leave, it seems I only have 12 left, even though I'm technically there until 12/05. No way I'm going to get everything done. But they'll have to cope. At least there should be a good handover period so my cover can shadow me for the last few weeks.

@ClaireSunflower I asked my MW about this and weirdly I asked the kickscount live talk the other day. They said hiccups don't count as movement, they are harmless and if they last longer than 2 hours, then contact your unit. DH gets hiccups after fizzy drinks, and every time I drink fizzy drinks, Bub gets them too.

Busy day today; was really sad this morning missing DH as we FaceTimed and I miss him! Went shopping to Boots and got some cute babygrows and then went to my first breastfeeding group. It was LOVELY. I have no idea why I was so nervous? It was a small group, I was the only one pregnant and the others had babies. Answered a load of my questions, and I feel so much more confident about breastfeeding now. I feel like I can do it! Came home, and DH had ordered dominos for me to be delivered at 7pm :)

I'll catch up on the thread when I go to bed in a little while.

@FoxMulder my birth plan was discussed at the 36 week appointment.

@ClaireSunflower I had heard the same thing re cord compression but my midwife and the midwife hotline both told me it was nonsense. Baby goes through spells of getting them A LOT. But apparently no need to be concerned unless movement decreases.

The hospital MW & consultant both said the risks are higher of the baby getting stuck, and could be dangerous if in water?! And that being on the consultant led unit would mean help would be at hand much quicker, should I need an assisted delivery (literally my worst nightmare!). I must admit, I was suprised by this, and questioned it, but they reinforced it. Said I could look into a 'facilitating women's choices' form' which is essentially a disclaimer confirming I'm ignoring medical advice.

teainbed let us know what they say - you must be feeling pretty on edge right now. Sending positive vibes your way!

Thank you sipper.

That's a tricky situation to be in. It seems a bit extreme! I would have thought you could have a go at labouring and then if things were not progressing then they could move you.

What does your OH think? They seem to want only the very lowest risk women to be allowed in MLUs which seems a shame.

So much to read through today I can't keep track!

@teainbed fingers crossed for the weekend. Last pregnancy I had my 38 week appointment and ended up being induced the same day so I know what a shock it can be!

I have spent the whole day with horrid period pains in my lower back and constant Brixton hicks! Just need them to calm down so I can get comfortable and relax! Pretty confident it's just irritable uterus as with previous 2 pregnancies, but it's not fun!

@Sipperskipper is the MLU far away from the consultant unit? I've not seen anything about baby size affecting your ability to go to MLU 

@teainbed did they say to do anything differently over the next couple of days?

skipper if baby 'gets stuck' (and I presume they mean shoulder dystocia?) it's a fairly simple movement to get it out. If they are concerned you can't push baby out, they'd notice in time and get you out. Shoulder dystocia happens in big and small babies, I think they're just being overcautious. See here evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-for-induction-or-c-section-for-big-baby/

Is your MLU attached to the hospital or not?

Yes MLU is in the hospital, right next to the consultant led unit! OH lovely and supportive, keen for me to do whatever is safest and makes me feel most comfortable.

I know they are just trying to practice safe care for me & the baby, but they've just scared me! Also, I can't see why I'd need continuous monitoring if I'm not diabetic and not induced / no complications other than a potentially big baby? Really reluctant for it if there's no clear indication! Was hoping labour / birth would be as calm & relaxed as possible, but now I'm worried I'm going to be questioning a million interventions!

Sorry for the rant everyone....!

rise I've to reduce my insulin a bit more tonight and adjust the daytime doses and see what happens. Fingers crossed it levels off. I'd like another week at least!

McBaby a bath maybe?

Someone I know had a shoulder dystocia during a water birth at home but the midwives got her out of the pool and did the manoeuvre needed and baby was fine.

I suppose sipper you need to decide if you go along with them and feel ok about what they've said today or whether you want to 'fight' them a bit and go for what you want! Either option has risks and benefits, it's very hard but an individual decision ultimately.

@Sipperskipper I wish I could word this more eloquently but I'm tired. Sometimes I feel that they put everyone/most mums as high risk, and then that deskills midwives, which means future mums don't get the options they want. I had a lecturer who told us how she delivered a breech at home, while now a breech is classed as a push towards C-Section. They told me at my appointment on Monday that because of Bub's size, I'd have to have a CS if I wasn't having one already.

What is classed as a low risk Mum? I was told at my booking appointment that I couldn't have a home birth due to my BMI which was 36! Is a low risk Mum someone with a BMI of below 30, not their first child?

Hi @Walkerbean16 👋

@coxsorangepippin please ignore stupid comments that are not related to the evidence - based medicine

Sipper, I know a few of us have banged on about this book before I can't recommend your body your baby your birth by Jenny Smith to you enough. The advice about being and staying in control of your 'high risk' birth is fantastic, I was so empowered by it last time, will be starting reading it again this weekend. I would sign the form and go to the MLU personally and I'm not a risk taker I work in insurance! Remember they may have more that your best interests in mind ( i.e. Is it easier for them not to need to transfer you rather than is it best for you to start off in the MLU) ask about wireless waterproof monitoring, if there is a pool on delivery ward could this be your compromise, and you could get out to deliver having laboured in the water? (Lots of people choose that anyway) my hospital has one pool room and one wireless waterproof monitor. If I end up needing to go there I have been told to make sure I tell them when we call in to put the monitor on charge.
Also would recommend labouring at home for as long as you can manage, I believe there are stats showing less chance of interference the less time you spend at the hospital.
Savage if you find anything good on vit K then please share a link, I just said yes last time thinking if they offer it it must be good for baby, perhaps I should think properly about it this time.
Will be having the injection for the placenta again, want to get that baby in my arms and feeding, feel I let them waste too much of that precious time with placenta del/stitches etc last time.