September Babies Thread #5 - we're a chatty bunch

[Stroan]

Yet another thread for our September babies!

The Google Doc with stats is here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VUDuTLeibUnnaCWCjb-pqUe4Wnq-fTau4HJgmE1XE3c/edit?usp=sharing

This post was edited at OP's request

[Jennylou88]

Hello! I'm adding myself to the September baby club! Due 18/09 with our first little one. :)

[boodles101]

florence I got the positive birth digi pack too. Haven't had a chance to look at it yet but I'm hoping it will help to relax me. I'm on the fence over c section or natural, which could be determined by consultant anyway, but I'm going to do the digi pack just incase.

[Megan2018]

I got the pack on offer too but not listened yet - leaving it until after 20wks as can't face it until then.

I really want a section and will want all the drugs going if I have to attempt vaginal delivery - but hoping that either way it will help me feel positive about it all. I hate pain and childbirth terrifies me. I come from a family of all c-section babies so pushing babies out is just not in our genetic make-up!

[BBell2]

Florencenotflo I'm interested in hypnobirthing, I'm just finishing reading your baby, your birth by hollie de Cruz. Its light reading but there are two audios, affirmations and relaxation, both can send me to sleep so it's a start! Think I will struggle getting OH involved...I did a little first time and not the nicest birth experience and he just thinks I have a high pain threshold and will be able to crack on.. where I'm a bit terrified.

[AnnieAR]

I'm hoping for a home birth with a movie marathon 😂 haven't looked into it all very much but apparently there is a nice birthing centre nearby if I have to go for that!

[IVEgottheDECAF]

Im after a not back to back baby that allows me to get to the hospital before it appears

[stormtrooperjulian]

I got the positive birth digital pack too, haven’t looked at it yet though. The thought of an epidural freaks me out so I’m hoping to avoid having one if possible.

[Astret]

I have been trying to listen to the positive birth digital pack videos when I'm in the bath. Thus far I'm almost through the second section and the messages around how to have a positive birth experience using positive words and control of the environment is very reassuring. The facebook group of shared positive birth stories is especially good, so I'd recommend folks who have bought the pack get added to that. Struggling to get OH involved though - he still thinks it's worlds away before bump becomes baby!

[Megan2018]

@stormtrooperjulian
I'm the opposite - I have a complete melt down at the idea I might not get one! The thought of feeling all that pain makes me feel really panicky.
Let's hope it helps us even if in different ways!

[IVEgottheDECAF]

Honestly. The pain is bad. But its purposeful. I try to tell my self every pain brings me closer to the baby at the end. I would try and keep an open mind re pain relief as everyone experiences these things differently.

[Stroan]

I read a hypnobirthing book before DD was born and really bought into the theory of fear=tension=pain. But I got really anxious closer to the birth and didn't do anything else.

Then in labour, I suddenly started using visualisations to get through the contractions. Something must have sunk in! I didn't have any pain relief for the first 9 hours and then only had gas and air. (Plus a tiny bit of diamorphine to let me sleep for an hour - long induction)

I'm not saying it didn't hurt, but I don't remember any pain. I couldn't describe any pain now and DH seems to think I coped well. And I have the lowest pain threshold ever.

If I wasn't having an ELCS this time, I'd be spending all my money on hypnobirthing courses!

[Moraxella]

@stormtrooperjulian

what scares you about epidurals?

[Megan2018]

I’ve had gas and air before, it does nothing for me. Literally nothing. I drained 2 canisters in an ambulance last time I had it. No effect whatsoever despite them telling me it would make me feel woozy. I have had to have my dislocated knee reset with it several times, still horrific.

Nothing morphine based has much effect on me either-I have zero pain threshold and very high tolerance of drugs unfortunately!

Epidural essential for me, but I am probably going to push for a section anyway.

[Florencenotflo]

I had a c section for failure to progress with dd. I thought I'd have to have another one because I'd already had one but I had my VBAC meeting and talked through the options. Plus the digital pack really goes in mot the science behind birth, and how to weigh up your options not just take what your given or told to do. I didn't think I had a choice last time, not w looking back it's not surprising I didn't get past 3cms.

I was worried it would be a bit hippy dippy but it's very scientific based and quite logical. I'm hoping to do it naturally (happy to accept drugs!) but without intervention this time. The videos are great and quite short, I've watched one or two a night.

@boodles101 give it a try, it's a whole different ball game with twins but there are stories on the positive birth Facebook page of people delivering twins naturally, or having a positive induction or a positive c section. I didn't even realise they were options! DD's birth was so matter of fact and medicalised I didn't realise I had a choice in much of it!

[kyles101]

Oooh I was looking at this the other day - I was concerned the material was only going to be available for a set amount of time or something - once you've bought it is it yours to downloads and keep? Ie it's not going to expired 2 weeks before you're due or anything? X x

[BridgetJonesDaiquiri]

I had an epidural the first time round - I was induced and mostly bed bound due to constant BP and foetal monitoring, couldn’t cope any longer not being able to move around - found it mostly bliss, but it only worked properly down one side of my body, so I still felt contractions (more bearable however)

[BridgetJonesDaiquiri]

This time I’d love to labour naturally - but if all goes pear shaped again with high BP or pre-eclampsia, I’m going to ask for a c-section.

[Hsunshine]

@megan2018 I’m literally same as you. Which is good for us because I think we’re due around the same time

[TheCraicDealer]

I am not good with pain and I'm the first to put my hand up and say I find it very difficult to push myself physically beyond mild discomfort. I will probably try the bath at home and pool later on if one's available, but at the moment I'm liking the sound of remifentanil which gives you short lived pain relief when you need it and wears off quickly.

You can't get the hard stuff at the midwife led unit five mins from our house. If you need transferred it's 30-40mins in an ambulance to the area hospital labour ward, which is pretty plush and homely anyway. I felt quite sorry for the very proud (with good reason, it's lovely) midwife showing us round the midwife led unit as I kept thinking "love the fairy lights but I'm not sitting in an ambulance for forty minutes to get anything stronger than gas and air".

[Moraxella]

@TheCraicDealer - out of interest do they advertise the Remi PCA? I need to ask the unit I'm going to. Know it will depend on midwife availability/protocol etc. Gonna train up my boyf with an ambubag/what to do if there's an emergency.

[TheCraicDealer]

Not sure if they flash it about but my DSis got it with no issue at both her births (Oct 17 and three weeks ago) at different hospitals in different trusts. I got a detailed pregnancy and birth guide at my booking appointment and in there under the pain relief section it does talk about it along with epidurals, gas and air, etc., so it will be going on my birth plan with a few underlines under it.

[Farmmama]

I was really worried about labour until I went to a pregnancy yoga class and I realised that giving birth was exactly what my body was designed to do. Yes it’s hard, but it’s compeltely normal and your body is meant to do it. Accepting this really helped me. I didn’t do
Hypo birthing, but I imagine it’s similar. Our bodies are amazing!

Gas and Air was my saviour though. Big contractions were just awful without it and as soon as I started on it they felt so much more manageable. I also had an episiotomy which I was terrified of having to have, but at the time it was needed (baby got stuck) so nothing else mattered. It also was fine afterwards- I was so scared of my first poo but it didn’t hurt at all 😂
It’s best to be aware of all your options, discuss them in detail with your birth partner (so they can help you make decisions when the time comes) but then go with the flow. There’s no point in being set on or against something’s as you have no idea what you’ll feel like when contractions and the pushing stage actually hit. The medical staff around you will help you too.

[stormtrooperjulian]

@Moraxella I hate the idea of not being able to move around properly if I need to, makes me feel claustrophobic and out of control. I also really hate the sensation of being numb, like with a local anaesthetic or whatever, it really freaks me out. So it’s just something I’d like to avoid if possible. Obviously if circumstances mean that I need one then I’ll take it, but I’d rather avoid it if possible! Ideally I’d like a water birth.

[Florencenotflo]

@kyles101 no, once you've bought it, it stays on your account. There are 42 short videos (sounds a lot but they are between 5-10 mins long most of them) and they are quite interesting, you certainly learn something with each one. You also get MP3's of positive affirmations (not my thing but work for others). On the Facebook page there are people that started watching the videos around 20 weeks, some at around 37 weeks. So I doubt it expires.

[Cheekychimp1]

Am I the only one who hasn’t given much thought to the actual birth/delivery!? Eeeek. I was just going to see how it goes nearer the time but maybe that’s not a good thing ....