Due Feb 2019 - we’re halfway!

[MakeLemonade]

Thread 8, let’s do this...

@Since2016 - that's hilarious! Every time I bring up section with my hubby he's like,'I don't want to think about it, I hope I won't feel ill ' - Haha, the poor dear! X

@Fredthespider my little girls on the 5th percentile I was worried she is so tiny but they said so long as she stays on her curve its fine. Only a cause for concern if she drops or gains loads.

The consultants exact words where someone has to be the smallest. And the whole point in percentiles is someones at top someones at bottom. Just how it works. Which really reassured me.

Thanks for the reassurance @Notquiteagandt! Will you be having another scan? Ours abdominal was 32nd percentile at 20 weeks and has gone down to 24th at 22 weeks but position was completely different, head down vs feet down so I suspect that might have played a part. I don't think I'm too concerned at the moment really, but it's useful to hear other peoples experiences, I'm a bit of a researcher!

@Fredthespider MW reccomended having extra growth scans due to my low BMI on booking in anyways. Then at 12w scan they commented they wanted growth scans to monitor her as well as she was small. So for both those reasons I will be having fortnightly growth scans from 28w.

How ever at my 20w scan they requested extra scans due to a kidney issue. Scans where they focus purely on the kidneys. So I will be having weekly scans now from 30 weeks. How it works out now. So i will be seeing an awful lot of her.

Just had a massive hormonal cry as I’m so scared of all the options! Im so scared of everything being chaotic, that’s my big fear. A friend of ours had an epidural that went wrong and it really scared me, and because it may not work on me it makes me more anxious, especially if everything is happening in a rush. Doctors have dismissed things in the past (even at the CVS I said Lidocaine doesn’t work and he just went “well we’ll try it anyway” - which just meant additional discomfort for me). Because it’s unusual and because I’m an anxious person it’s like they think I’m making up. It’s so hard not knowing, I know it’s the same for everyone, but there’s this extra question mark with my stupid condition!

My birth plan is basically to see how it goes and take it as it comes! Ideally I want to avoid an epidural if possible as I want an active birth, but if I need it then I'm having it and not feeling bad about it! Otherwise I'm not really wedded to anything. She's got to come out one way for the other, so my main aim is just to get through it safely for both of us.

I think tbh it's the luck of the draw a lot of the time. Some people sail through, some people have difficult labours, and there's no way to tell which will be my lot. Whatever happens I'll get through it as there's no other choice, really! i'm just going to put my trust in the medical staff and my own body as much as I can and be flexible with my plan to suit what my circumstances are, and hope that we are fortunate.

I’m looking forwards to elective section number two!!

@powkin I can appreciate that but honestly - even with my labour it wasn’t chaotic per sae but you do have to give up control a little bit. I found that super tough as I’m a mega control freak. I felt v sad for a long time that I didn’t get the birth I’d ‘planned’ but this time I will be having a section and am very much looking forward to it.

I’ve had lots of friends with v straightforward labours and even in my case, the actual section was v calm!

@yakadee it was surreal! It was all v calm although he has said the actual surgery was terrifying!

I am definitely in the try and avoid an epidural but just see how it goes group. May end up being induced but hopefully not until 40 weeks. I have to see the obstetrics team again at 33 weeks (was going to be 34 but that's Xmas!) with growth scan and discuss planning. Hopefully DH will be able to come this time.

@Lookingforadvice123 that is so weird! We had the same issue today, no spaces, I had to go in while he parked in a street outside the hospital. Luckily he made it.

20week scan was all good today, thought it took an hour, she was moving too much to get a good look at her heart but we got there in the end. She kept yawning which was too cute.

My report says I have both anterior and posterior placenta, she did show me and it was curled round the side.

@Baby160P I didn't have a birth plan but was sure to mention everything I did and didn't want once I got there in labour. I'd like a water birth this time, I remember the bath helping contractions so much with dd but when I got to hospital in labour I couldn't think of anything worse x

@emalady Im also being induced at 40weeks if he doesnt come before. The thought of me having to have an epidural really makes me want to cry my mums never worked she felt everything and my SIL has constant back pains and problems since hers so im really anti about it but if its got to be done then i have no choice which is why i have my fingers crossed i go into labour naturally because you get higher percentage of it ending in Csection from being induced.

Like a lot of you have said to those paniced you just have to kind of go with the flow when it comes to birth plan everything kind of gets forgotten about and your just in such a different state of mind and those who are on babe number 1 be prepared to leave all dignity at the door

I had a bit of a weep last night about non-labour-related stuff (stress to do with a house I'm selling mainly) but during it I said to DP 'Please still love me when I poo myself during labour' He assured me he would.

For those worried about poo, I did with my first! Haha. Me and my hubby are quite private with each other (personally, we don't go to the toilet in front of each other / poop etc - lol) but funnily enough, it was actually really funny and kind of broke the tension. I didn't feel bad at all and all 3 of us (us and midwife) had a laugh about it! Xx

Baby160p oh my god this is exactly why I don't want a water birth! I watched an episode of OBEM, years and years ago, and it was a lovely, normal couple, they had a lovely, normal birth, but as soon as the baby was born the water turned red from blood in a split second. I'm really squeamish and I literally had to sit down with my head between my legs to stop from fainting 😂

Re poo, if you have a vaginal birth where you're pushing a while, I refuse to believe anyone doesn't poo I don't know for sure I did, but I imagine I did a little bit at least, I was pushing for 2 hours 40 mins!

I think midwives are pretty discreet about removing it quickly! I remember watching an ep of OBEM where they were in the pool and they had a little net for fishing poop and other bits out. I mentioned to DP he could keep himself entertained doing that, but he didn't seem keen

I just asked DH if I poo'ed and he said no 😂 don't know if I believe him though. He didn't look down the business end until DS was crowning (the midwives made him as I was exhausted at this point and asking for a c section, they wanted him to tell me how close I was) so if I did I imagine it would've been removed by then!

Re pooing in labour, I'd heard that it used to be standard for midwives to give ladies enemas when they arrive at the hospital to clear things out. This sounds like a great idea - does anyone know if you can still request this/if they will even still do it?

That's one of my worries too @Lulabell1 ! I was 10cm when I arrived at the birthing unit last time and dd was born 30 mins later.
I didn't poo while pushing but a bit sneaked out just before I got in the pool. I only pushed for about 10-15 mins though and dd was back to back which may have had something to do with the poo. I don't remember the pool being a sea of blood either. There was a little bit but not very much.
@GeriatricShmeriatric no idea about requesting enemas. You could always ask at your next midwife appointment.

I was pushing for a long time with my first.. labour was 58 hours in total, pushing was between 1.5 and 2 hours, no poo happened! 😂

I think it was because I stayed at home till I was 8cm, and much of that time was spent on the toilet... I wasn’t sure whether I’d have the baby in the loo, or poo in the bed 😬
Can’t say I really cared when it came to it mind, but in the end, everything happened where it should 👌🏼🤣

Why does everyone have to stink of cigarettes on my commute? Literally surrounded by smokers. I HATE smoking anyway but it’s 100 times more disgusting now. Urghhhh.

@lullabell1 I had a little look and induction doesn't look as risky as previously thought which is reassuring. Depends a bit on the cervix at the time.

I hadn't been worried about poo until now. Thanks everyone 😂 💩

Omg I'm actually a psycho. Everyone's annoying me 😂

@Powkin totally sympathise on being surrounded by smoking!

Having a real Stressful time with work at the moment and was brought to tears today.

Sitting at lunch and I had a almighty sharp pain in my Lower abdomen.

Does stress affect the bubs? Or was it just a coincidence?

@Baby160P - I imagine it can but don't beat yourself up. Babies are very resilient. Awful that you're finding work so tough. Hope you're OK x