Due in July Part FOUR - gather here!

[Cyee]

Can't believe we need more space... again...

whoops, Madmumnika goodluck with the scan! x

Justaboutmanaging...will be thinking of you x

Eggshells? My slugs LAUGH in the face of egg shells. Eggshells are a tasty aperitif to my maincourse delphiniums. They interestingly have on the whole left my hostas alone though

hi everyone, DH back from his travels today, yippee! DS delighted to have his favourite playmate back in the house.

lynnec I used a birthing pool 1st time round and really enjoyed it (hmm - you know what I mean - maybe compared to not being in the pool!). I went in when I was 3 or 4cms (it can slow down the process so don't get in too soon) and came out 4 hours later when I was 9cm+. Was just using gas and air and was able to swish around and didn't feel too cumbersome. It all went a bit tits up after that, but the pool was vg. Also used my TENS machine the whole day before and I liked the way that worked too.

I've been finding out a lot of stuff about baby's position which stuffed everything up for me 1st time. DS was back to back (or OP in your notes - occiput posterior (sp?) I think or face upwards) and ideally I should have tried to get him to turn before waters broke/went to hosp etc. This time I'm completely a different shape and my belly button is sticking out and my bump is v neat - unlike last time when I looked like I had a huge flat cushion up my jumper and my BB was still firmly an innie. Ask your midwife when you get to a few weeks before due date and if bub is OP then get crawling round the house on your hands and knees, no lounging on the sofa and no lying on your back! Baby will go with gravity apparently and should have his back/bum at your tummy on his way out. And although they can come out when OP your labour may be longer, more painful esp backache and you will be more likely to either have forceps/ventouse (33%) or section (33%).

Hope this isn't too much info and sorry for long post - but I thought I would share it as I know it would have helped me the 1st time round. I had a section but will try again for a normal birth this time around (after a lot of research and an 18month old to chase after!)

Hope you're all getting some sleep...

PS Anyone had a successful VBAC and were you scared?

I hope gtt goes well just aboutmanaging.

Enjoy having DH back 3flights. I love the bit when DH gets back from work trips. He's being sent on a weeks training course, which will be residential when I'm 36 weeks. I had said no trips at that stage, but as it's within an hours drive (but is still residential because they work into the evening) I've said OK, on the proviso that IF I go into labour early he gets let out to come home to me.

Feeling rather better today, though still wanting to pee loads. We have an all day training seminar on at work today that I'd like to attend, so now deciding whether to go in, but sit at the back so I can nip out to the loo as and when, or to give it a miss altogether?

Thanks for the info 3flightsofstairs! Have adjusted my seat at work so that my chair dips forward and gravity should mean the baby sits the right way. I want a home birth in birthing pool and don't want to miss out because i am so lazy in the evenings and sit on the sofa with my feet up all the time. (am already envisaging me carwling around the house on all fours trying to ensure the baby sits right!! haha!)

I don't want a VBAC. My consultant suggested to me early on that we go the elective c-section route and I think that is very sebsible advice in my case. As far as I am aware there are no pressing reasons this pregnancy why a c-section should be ordered but I think my obstetric history shows that I am rubbish in the labour suite.

I told my consultant that as far as I was concerned the worst thing that could happen to me would be a VBAC which resulted in a baby in distress then an emergency c-section. I have had one VBAC - my baby's (second son) head was in quite a mess from failed ventouse then a mid cavity forceps delivery and a third degree tear for me. I think for baby an elective c-section would have been better which I felt bad about as I was full of VBAC twaddle at the time.

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Afternoon all,

How we all doing today?

For some unknown reason I had such a terrible tummy ache last night! Baby felt uncomfortable and then I had really bad case of the 'squits' (sorry if thats too much information!) Was really expecting to feel poorly today but feel fine! Go figure!

Hope all the tests that were happening today went well and that all your bumps are behaving!

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Just checking in to see if there's any news from madmumnika - thinking of her lots and hoping all is going well.

Sounds like we're all starting to get to the really uncomfortable stage. I know I'm really struggling to get comfortable especially at night and have to constantly use dh as a leverage board to manouver myself into various positions that STILL don't help me sleep!

A friend of mine brought her newborn round this morning. Another friend was also here and while they marvelled over how small this baby was (7lbs) all I could think was that he looked enormous and how on earth is something that size going to get out... xx

Firststar - I thought it might be that! The LO seems to enjoy bouncing on my bladder at night and now my bowel too!

I have 26 days left at work!...and counting!

Big hugs to all.

Justaboutmanaging. What were the reasons for the original c-section. Was the baby large? Distressed? In the wrong position (perhaps posterior)? Was there a low lying placenta? Fibroids?
Perhaps a letter to your consultant saying you are still quite traumatised by the induction, labour and emergency c-section in your last pregnancy and have been working yourself into an anxious state about the possibility of things going wrong again.

3flightsofstairs, thanks for all the info, ive bought one of those birthing balls, still just keep looking at it in its box...havent actually tried it out, thats my next plan
Booked my app for waxing before going into hospital, made sure i made 2 app just incase i go early, going to try the bikini,leg,under arm and eyebrow wax also got my and lo bag packed so im just about ready...just to hire the tens and thats me sorted
Hope you are all keeping well. x

Thank you for all the well wishes as they seem to have worked

Scans today showed that bubs is now only 1 week 'behind' in growth, which is within acceptable limits. Doppler scan showed good blood flow too- yey! So feeling hugely relieved.

Only prob is that apparently there is not a lot of amniotic fluid around the baby, and this has further reduced since last week . So they want me back to the hospital next Thurs to repeat all the scans. I definitely haven't been leaking any fluid, so what might be behind the reduction? Any ideas? No previous experience of low AFI... Just been told to rest as much as possible...

Anyway for now we are still safely at home- yey! And PE-free

Lots of love to you all sorry for not replying to individuals but promised DP I would get off the internet v soon & go lie-down!

PS. I'm 30+4 wks today- exactly the same gestation that DS was born at- so feeling chuffed that little one is still inside!

MMnika, am so to hear that your scans were positive today and that you've got to 30+4 - anything from now on is a bonus! Sorry I don't know much about reduced amniotic fluid but am sure there's more information on here somewhere!

JAM, I am going to request an elective c-section rather than a VBAC, and not expecting any negative comments or eye-rolling - think it helps that I have always seen the consultant directly rather than a registrar. Could you ring your ante-natal clinic and ask if you can see the consultant directly next time rather than one of his/her minions? My consultant was very open and realistic that a third of VBACs do end in emergency c-sections, and he knows that I would much prefer an elective to an emergency. Am having a final ante natal clinic appointment with him at 36 weeks to confirm this choice.

JAM - I think Abgirl is right about discussing it with the consultant rather than the registrar - IME consultants tend to be more sympathetic whereas registrars are just following policy so if there is no medical reason for a c-section they take a black and white view, tending to forget that psych trauma (oh the memory!) is a medical reason in itself!
Abgirl - glad you are OK.
For me elective c-section is def best option. Longer recovery for me but I know what to expect (and when!) and a nice gentle exit for LO!

oh blimey, I've been on a pendulum for months about this VBAC and you're all putting me off again! My sis is a doc too and she said have a section (as many docs do apart from the obs and gyn ones who want to keep their numbers and bed days down!).

Do you really think that VBAC is twaddle Caroline1852? I'd been partly swayed by fewer breathing difficulties for bub if you go through labour stat!

My consultant and hosp are both v pro VBAC (in fact you have to see their psychologists if you want an elective section and telling them the trauma is too much is def the way to go).

I still have time to change my mind tho. I have to say I'm more concerned about moving house in time at the mo!