September 2019 #12

[Florencenotflo]

Aaahhhh... thread number 12! Hold on tight ladies... here come the babies!

Yeh I want to try gas and air at home. I have the canisters here they have the tubes so I can't access it...think this is standard but WHY?! If I'd had access to that I may have been in a better position.

@BimbleBamble No I've honestly not had any rest at all. My contractions are much worse when I lie down and I just can't take it. I don't have a pool, just been having baths which I have really liked but they stop my contractions. If I were to choose again I would have a pool. I had been using a hot water bottle earlier, needs heating up again and i just cant. I need dh to but hes alseep..he really needs some if he is to drive me to the unit.

Any chance they can bring you some pethidine, or do they not use it at home births where you are, heard some places do it? Sending you a massive hug, you really are doing an amazing job and closer to having your little one in your arms than when this all started a few days ago! Xx

@BimbleBamble I can't get it here but pretty sure I can if I go to the unit. I think I'm going to have to go in, don't think I can stand the lack of drugs here. :( will see what midwife says first though

What time is your mw coming over?

Sorry you are having a tough time @Horehound, its very hard for anyone to know how they will cope first time around. I know I am crap with pain and can't stay calm which is essential for the Oxytocin to work. I become all adrenaline which the worst thing for labour.
Are you managing to do the “up breathing”? make sure you are until MW gets there. You need to try and get the endorphins going until MW can help.

I developed PTSD at 17 from a bad injury and being in severe pain (dislocation on a hill in the peaks-took a long time to be rescued as was before mobiles!) so I am too frightened to not be in hospital. You are so brave to try this on your own first time around. It is ok to change your mind though. We are here for you x

@Horehound you can do this. Ask the midwife to come with the tubes and get the edge off the pain. I remember vividly the pain. The advice I was given is to really relish when your body has just had a contraction - that moment when your body relaxes. If you can picture how it peaks and ebbs - the peak is just one moment, concentrate on the ebb as much as you can. Your body is doing a great job, just as it should.

@boodles101 congratulations! The twins are lovely!!

@Horehound Did you ask the MW what position baby is in. Maybe it's back to back which might explain the pain? Check out the spinning babies website. There might be a useful tip on there. You can do some stuff in labour.

Don't be hard on yourself. If it's too painful then it's too painful. My only tip is to try and relax between the contractions. Easier said than done....

Get yourself to hospital if you're worried. At least you can get them to monitor baby to check he's not in distress. Trust your instincts.

@Horehound if it's that sore it's definitely time for the MW to be with you. I hope she's there or on her way now! She needs to be there for you to have the gas and air in case you have a weird reaction to it.
You CAN do it- I know because you ARE doing it! And as to just where and how - you ask for what you need and make the most of that MW!!!

congratulations to all of the wonderful babies so far!
Quick boring question: MMR vaccine- do they give it to you postnatally? I remember midwife saying something about whooping cough (have had) and MMR..?

@boodles101 @coffeeandgin26 hope you’re both enjoying new born cuddles! Boodles, have either of yours woken to feed yet?

@Horehound you’re doing amazingly even if it doesn’t feel like it and just remember that every contraction is bringing you closer to meeting your baby. Hard to remember when you’re in pain I know! Definitely get yourself to the hospital if you feel you need more pain relief. At my pregnancy yoga class, we do the haka for when somebody’s birth is imminent so I’m sending you a virtual haka dance!

Horehound I think i would go in to the unit if i were you, get examined properly and maybe have pethidine so you can get a rest. You must be exhausted

@boodles101 look at your two amazing babies! Congratulations! Hope you've had a good night with them and are feeling ok. Day 4/5 recovery here and it's really not bad at all.

@coffeeandgin26 congratulations! Sounds like the ideal birth.

@moraxella I had to make an appointment for my MMR afterwards because I had no immunity to rubella. They wouldn't have chased me for it though! The care tails off pretty quickly...

@stroan hope you and your little one are both doing well! Are you in the hospital still?

@puglover88 no, we've been home since Sunday. We're doing great thanks. He's a wee bit tricky with feeding (he will latch but doesn't stay latched) so we're getting a lactation consultant for that. Apart from that, he's the absolute dream baby - content and chilled out. Never happier than when he's curled up on my chest.

@Puglover88 the haka! Love it!

Sending you strength @Horehound, you've got this. Part of that strength is in deciding when enough's enough and you need some kind of pain relief. You'll have your baby soon

@stroan ah lovely 😍 I can’t wait to have chest cuddles! Can’t believe I still have 4 1/2 weeks to go! Hopefully the lactation consultant is helpful x

@Horehound hope your midwife pops along shortly and do ask her to examine you and check baby's position (I'm really surprised she didn't do a quick check when she came round before ). You can definitely do this as you've been doing it for days now - but as everyone has said if you need to head into hospital that is absolutely the right thing for you to do. No one gets medals for suffering on and you'll be able to rest while at hospital if they give you some pethidine or an epidural (I had one!). Do whatever feels right and trust your instincts.

@boodles101 your babies are absolutely dreamy! What have you dressed them in on the ward, if you don't mind me asking? Can't quite remember what I put DD in (and the ward was boiling then even in April) - possibly short sleeved vest and a sleepsuit, then swaddled. Hope they start to feed soon.

Proper day one of mat leave today (DD is at nursery so I have some time to myself). Watching that Emma Willis show and having a cup of tea ☕️ before thinking about heading into town to pick up last few bits and bobs. Got a full day at the hospital tomorrow (growth scan, consultant appointment, bloods, liver scan..) so trying to relish today as much as possible!

Oh the cuddles @Stroan, I can just imagine the oxytocin!! Hope the lactation consultant is helpful, has he been checked for tongue tie?

The midwife came just after last post. I'm on gas and air at home...much better.
I mean, it's still shit but I'm getting there

@Horehound that's brilliant news, keep resting up and try to relax as much as you can. Did she examine you? Is she staying now or will she leave and come back later?

It’s ok to get a pedicure when pregnant right?
Can’t reach my toes to do them myself

Yes @Hsunshine I've had one every pay day for the last few months! And I've kept having my acrylics done. Although they are coming off today. Had my c section pre op appointment today, they need two clear fingernails to check obs during the operation. So I'm having the falsies taken off and just having mine painted and leaving my little fingers bare 😂

Congratulations to those who have their lovely babies! Beautiful pics. Hope you're all doing okay. 35+4 here, lots of Braxton hicks and aches and pains but not too uncomfortable. Hoping I get a couple of weeks after I finish work before he arrives.

Been watching for a while now, how exiting all these babies arriving! Congratulations all ❤️
I'm currently 37+1 which is when my LG arrived so feeling strange today wondering if it will be soon! Don't finish work until tomorrow so would be nice to get a few days maternity pre-baby as I didn't have that last time! Every niggle is driving me mad wondering!

Glad you at least have gas and air now Horehound. Hope things are progressing more smoothly now.

100% it's fine to have a pedicure Hunshine. We see loads of ladies that have had one.