Feb 2019 Thread 5: 12 week scans and the start of the second trimester.

[maxiflump1]

New thread ladies: number 5 already!!

@fizzle I’m so nervous!

I think everyone has a different experience of birth. Maybe first timers should say now whether they would prefer for those who’ve done it before to keep their birth stories to themselves or share? Although you’ll probably forget by the time February arrives!

Ps. My labour was not text book but it was all worth it x

I'd like to hear good birth stories, to counteract all the bad ones my friends have told me!

Hi all. Checking in. I had my 12w scan on Tuesday and was measuring 12w exactly. We've got one wriggly baby. Took ages to get all the measurements.

With my DS I had an emergency C-section after induction and it was fine! Not so fine baby in neonatal for 12 days after. But none of it matters. What matters is bringing your baby home.

I'm happy to hear stories! I like to be prepared but then I'm also not really someone who worries about stuff like this in advance. Baby has to come out one way or the other so I'm not going to stress about it until it happens as I've no idea what my own experience will be! I'll cope with whatever happens. That thought alone is quite empowering.

It's also hard to connect people's stories to your own experience, as it's such an unknown quantity if you haven't done it before.

Also poo stools - get one now! It makes things so much easier.

My labours were amazing! I truly mean it, knowing you are about to meet your baby is the most amazing feeling. And every contraction is one step closer to setting eyes on the love of your life.

Labour is all about mindset, don't fear it, embrace it.

Just thought I’d check!

@plantkiller - me too. Everything labour related paled in comparison to NICU for the longest week of my life.

My birth stories are not horrendous.

Number one; it was a long one! 58 hours from start to finish, two weeks past due date but spontaneous labour, I’m quite good at ‘mind over matter’, I’m s strong believer of staying calm will get you through. So I got to about 9/10 cm with sudoku as pain relief 😂 then went onto gas and air for the pushing stage. I was pushing for nearly an hour and it did seem to last forever... but gas and air truly is amazing!! Minor tear frontally but that was my only ‘horror’. I didn’t get the rush of love though, and I was led to believe everyone gets that. I d Don’t want to hold my baby.. I just wanted to get cleaned up and comfortable first!

Second birth wasn’t short at 27 hours, however it was bearable... gas and air again was amazing! The pushing stage was so different, one push and I felt him move down, second push his head was out, third push and his body was out. Done! Took the midwives by surprise as no one was in the room for the first two pushed, a student was walking past just in time to jump in the room and catch him 😂

I would honestly happily do the second birth again anytime.

They’re not all horror stories!! 😊

Is anyone having one to one midwife? In a midwife led unit?

Im really hoping it will make the whole process alot more calmer and therefore easier.

Less clinical environment. More like a home from home.

Just need to get the OB to agree with me now (I'm currently consultant led!)

Glad to hear positive stories, but I'm fairly nervous so would rather any horror stories weren't shared here!

So my first (and only) labour was really not my favourite experience but you know what, I got my amazing son because of it. I'm obviously expecting again so no matter what, it is SO worth it. All I'll say to you first time ladies is have an open mind, don't let anyone scare you as no two stories are the same.

Holding that beautiful baby in your arms is worth every single second - I'd do it a million times over to get my boy (and new baby tbc) xxx

Just want to make it clear that I see mine as a "good" story! I had no intervention (other than the episiotomy which I basically asked them to do as I'd been pushing for 2 hours 40 mins at that point), an average amount of stitches, healed quickly and no other pain relief and you really do quickly forget!

I do really really hope I don't have another back to back labour though. That amount of pain for that long is not fun! But the fact that I did 95% of it on TENS machine alone (I was only in hospital an hour or so with gas and air before I was fully dilated) shows that it must have been manageable.

I think once we get to Jan/Feb there will probably be some horror stories as people post their birth stories as they happen.

I think it’s good to be aware of all outcomes. I know some people that have had horrible times... but they’ve still gone in to have more children, so really... it’s all bearable.

Fibdxx way to not get freaked out, it will benefit you massively.

I know it isn't nice hearing the "horror" stories, but knowing all the possible outcomes can be a good thing.

Although my DDs birth was textbook, I was glad I knew many eventualities. I felt it prepared me more.

My first birth was 3 hours start to finish. Couldn't really have asked for more though it makes me nervous that I may drop this one in Tesco.

I have been in bed for the last 2 days with the migraine from hell. I had forgotten how hard pregnancy could be. That an a serious bought of hayfever, I have been missing modern medicines!

I had an elective section for my first, it was amazing. Had to be brought forward to 35 weeks as DS stopped growing but luckily he was fine and didn’t need SCBU. The section was v peaceful, obviously entirely painfree during the birth and the recovery was far quicker than I’d imagined. I walked to the pub for lunch day 5 and was back driving within a fortnight. This one will be a section too!

It's funny, I know people who didn't want to know anything about labour when they were pregnant and I thought I would be like that. However I spent 9 months watching one born every minute. Became a bit obsessed with it. Maybe I am someone who needs to know every possible outcome.

I honestly can’t think of anything that would hamper my labour more than not understanding what was going on... that would panic me more than anything! I scoured the books and spoke to so many people.. obviously I couldn’t know everything, but I couldn’t have been more prepared personally.

Anyone who's nearly 12 weeks or just turnt how's your belly.

All of a sudden i look about 5 months gone ahahaha!! Not complaining one bit just feels abit heavy down there lol

@Baby160P your metabolism does speed up when pregnant as you need a couple more hundred calories to grow baby and then that increases again in second trimester

I'd suggest keeping an open mind about birth. It's different for everyone. You can have two people who on paper are in the same situation but have different experiences. I was worried about pain because I didn't think my pain threshold was very high but the only time I felt discomfort/slight pain was when I was examined and when dd crowned and that was for seconds only. My labour was 10 hours from waters breaking/8 hours from contractions starting. She was back to back but I didn't really feel pain - kept feeling like I needed a poo that wouldn't come! When their head moves down it's a strange feeling but nice knowing that they're nearly here. I found the stitches hurt more (apparently the anaesthetic is good on muscle but less so on skin) but we're manageable. People talk loads about birth so there's a lot to read and get your head around. I just wish people would talk more honestly and openly about feeding. For me that was far more painful and traumatic than birth but I know others who breezed through feeding with no issues. It's just different for everyone.

I'd suggest keeping an open mind about birth. It's different for everyone. You can have two people who on paper are in the same situation but have different experiences. I was worried about pain because I didn't think my pain threshold was very high but the only time I felt discomfort/slight pain was when I was examined and when dd crowned and that was for seconds only. My labour was 10 hours from waters breaking/8 hours from contractions starting. She was back to back but I didn't really feel pain - kept feeling like I needed a poo that wouldn't come! When their head moves down it's a strange feeling but nice knowing that they're nearly here. I found the stitches hurt more (apparently the anaesthetic is good on muscle but less so on skin) but we're manageable. People talk loads about birth so there's a lot to read and get your head around. I just wish people would talk more honestly and openly about feeding. For me that was far more painful and traumatic than birth but I know others who breezed through feeding with no issues. It's just different for everyone.

I'd suggest keeping an open mind about birth. It's different for everyone. You can have two people who on paper are in the same situation but have different experiences. I was worried about pain because I didn't think my pain threshold was very high but the only time I felt discomfort/slight pain was when I was examined and when dd crowned and that was for seconds only. My labour was 10 hours from waters breaking/8 hours from contractions starting. She was back to back but I didn't really feel pain - kept feeling like I needed a poo that wouldn't come! When their head moves down it's a strange feeling but nice knowing that they're nearly here. I found the stitches hurt more (apparently the anaesthetic is good on muscle but less so on skin) but we're manageable. People talk loads about birth so there's a lot to read and get your head around. I just wish people would talk more honestly and openly about feeding. For me that was far more painful and traumatic than birth but I know others who breezed through feeding with no issues. It's just different for everyone.

Sorry - not sure how that posted three times!

@Alicejj8x yeah all of a sudden have a tiny little belly. Had not noticed it until my mum mentioned it. My top rode up and she was like wow. You have a huge bump!! & ken doll lines.

I find it really reassuring though. And can still fit in my jeans but think only going to be able to for few more weeks.