September 2019 #11

[Stroan]

We're really racking up the threads!

That wasn’t quite as bad a night as I was expecting, I think I was so exhausted from sleeping very badly the last 2 nights that I had a couple of blocks longer than 2 hours 12-2.30 and then 4-7 which is actually quite good for me at the moment.

I’ve PMd you too @db92 :)
Sorry everyone had such a poor nights sleep - I was thinking of the ladies labouring in this heat too!! 😳

Thanks @Whisky2014 maybe they all do it then! I was just surprised at how firmly they push down when I try to treat my bump like it’s made of glass!

Sorry so many people had crap sleep last night - it’s cooler today though! x

I actually slept better than expected although woke up sweating buckets a few times. My house stays mercifully cool most of the time. I think it’s because I have an underground mud floored cellar where it used to be a pub in the 1800s.

Put the bed stuff on to wash first thing lol

Thank you @Tefiti2 .

It's much cooler here today thank god! Yesterday evening/ last night was unbearable and had me spending most of my time in a cold shower

Worst nights 'sleep' ever. I feel horrific today, really light headed. I'm going to sit on the air con at work, drink numerous bottles of water and eat cherries and watermelon.

Seems like a few will be delivering a bit earlier than expected, wondering who will be next!

Oh gosh sorry to hear so many people had barely any sleep. @boodles101 I had that on Monday and just had to go home and sleep - I felt so ill!!!! If I hadn't just come from the hospital I'd have taken myself in, I was convinced something awful was going on.

I slept 2 feet from the air conditioning unit so whilst I feel as dry as a prune this morning and my eyes are like gravel I did at least sleep.

Here's hoping for a cooler few weeks 🤞

Heatwaves set people off having early babies, so we've done well for none to appear over the last couple of days, bar @April88 's preeclampsia (hope all is well! The hospital must be a furnace...)
@Karigan195 re stillbirth: remember that the starting risk is very very very low, so even ten times almost-nothing is still very low.

Sleep? I remember sleep....

Right, that's quite enough of the heatwave now thanks. We'll take a mild and dry summer followed by a lovely October please.

Oooh yes, stroan I'll order one of them too, please!

Off topic a bit but: going for a double barrelled surname.. I’m not married and we will need to go abroad so was thinking practically having both our names would be handy.. but it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Just is the most futureproof option compared to having my surname, getting a passport etc then having to repeat all that 😩 just wondered what others in the same boat might be doing..

I hear you Mox. DH is double barrelled and I kept my name. I want him to drop one of his and insert my name for baby's last name. We're still undecided but he appreciates that I "make some good points" about wanting to have Dealer in there. And I won't be fobbed off with using it as a middle name!

Or dh could take your surname if you get married @Moraxella as it'd just be one passport to change not 2... unpopular with most men I know but could be considered?

My little boy has both our surnames (without a hyphen). When we get married both partner and I will take the double barrelled name. Seemed the fairest thing to do but our names work well together (1st surname 2 syllables, 2nd surname 1 syllable).

I had to argue in court to get my sons name changed to double barrelled due to the number of times I got stopped at customs. Ironically always coming back in never out 🙄.

This one DP and I agreed double barrelled at the very early stage as he’s seen the trouble I have had and appreciated it was more logical

I had a very sensible appointment with an anaesthetist today. Because of the increased risk of interventions due to being induced they wanted to agree to having an epidural put in as soon as I arrive at the ward. I had always wanted natural as possible, and just gas and air as I wanted to stay mobile, but he explained that if I was on a hormone drip I wouldn't be able to be mobile anyway, and the contractions would be more intense so for that reason I might as well have it as not. He also said that he would rather get it in whilst I was relaxed rather than later on down the line as should anything go wrong and intervention be required it's really easy to top up once the line is in, so for example in absolute worst case scenario if I needed an emergency c section I wouldn't need a general as the line would already be in.

In the end we decided that if I do end up being induced with a hormone drip then I would have it in first, but if everything starts off naturally, which is obviously the preferred option, then I won't.

So, just need to make sure I can stay diet controlled for as long as possible to give me the best shot of convincing my trust to let me go to 40 + 6 as opposed to their preferred option of 39 weeks...

Fab thanks all, your opinions have backed up my decision 👌

@kyles101 sounds sensible - I had the hormone drip with DD and an epidural v soon afterwards. She was constantly monitored and I was having regular BP monitoring myself, so that coupled with the drip meant walking around wasn’t really possible. I was disappointed initially but better than having to lie flat on your back in agony for hours on end and not being able to move around. That said plenty of women do have the drip and manage without an epidural.

The only thing I would say is that the epidural only worked on half my body so I did feel contractions on the one side and it had to be re-sited when I was being prepped in theatre for EMCS (which wasn’t needed in the end as forceps got her out).

@BridgetJonesDaiquiri thanks so much for sharing that. It makes me feel like the reasoning is sound. I really hate the idea of not being able to move about and I genuinely don't think I'll cope well not moving and in pain. Even with the positive birth company techniques I don't think I could mind over matter to the point of being ok with not moving for hours.

kyles that was one of the reasons I chose a C-section. I wouldn't have wanted an epidural from the start and definitely wanted to be mobile. Not sure if I'm right, I was meant to ask my consultant, but are you allowed to have the epidural put in without the anaesthetic/low dose so you can still effectively be mobile, and then just too it up more of/when needed??
I'm not sure but I think I have read things where they tend to let it wear off a bit for the pushing stages so you can feel the contractions and when to push?

@kyles101 did they explain why you wouldn't be mobile? I had the hormone drip plus IV antibiotics and I was only on the bed for a little nap and then to push. Was mobile the whole way through.

@boodles101 I’m not sure if it’s the same everywhere but I was given a button to top up the epidural myself. I didn’t do it too often (and kept getting told off for it!) as I found a comfortable level where I could still move my legs easily but the pain was managed - until very near the end when the contractions were super forceful and I could feel them on the one side. So I imagine it can be sited and just a low dose given.

Feeling quite organised today - was working from home and in between calls I managed to sort and clean the baby car seat, dig out and wash the sleepyhead and move all of DD’s clothes into the wardrobe and chest of drawers in what is soon to be her new room. Haven’t organised the baby’s clothes yet and it’s all still in boxes in the nursery but feeling so much better that it can all soon be washed and put away neatly. I have definitely overdone though, my undercarriage feels like I’ve got a ten pound bowling ball resting on it!

Well done @BridgetJonesDaiquiri I know the feeling you mean 😂

I think I'm nearly there now. Most of the babies clothes are washed, just got to wash 1 more load and bedding. Then it can all go into the chest of drawers.

Picked up the last bits for my hospital bag today, so I'll get that packed tomorrow. Then I can just fanny around in babies room making it look nice.

I had a child free day today, DH wanted me to chill and have a rest (especially after a shit nights sleep). But I feel so much better knowing that by tomorrow evening, everything is done. It's almost as though mentally baby was never going to arrive until the to do list was clear.

I've still got some batch cooking to do, but DH is a good cook and more than capable. I went overboard last time and we were sick of eating stuff out the freezer after a couple of weeks. So I'm just doing a few meals for us but making sure that there is plenty for Dd.

@boodles101 yeah I asked something similar and sure he said no... but need to check that actually as I'm also sure I've read somewhere they can let it wear off a bit for pushing.

I think the not mobile thing was to do with constant monitoring @Stroan if you're on a drip? Again, thanks for the heads up on that as if it's not the case then it would change my mind again about the epidural going straight in...