Due May 2020 (thread 6)

[sao81]

6th thread already 😬😬😬 not long now

I asked about the birth plan as I’ve been having Braxton hicks for the last two days so I need to start getting serious about this giving birth malarkey. I’m not sure about the forceps/csection decisions. I think they ultimately have to give you an option at the time, they can’t do anything or use anything without your consent (I believe, might be wrong).

Haha that’s not super helpful - watch YouTube videos. I’ve been doing that since my pregnancy test said positive!!! Haha!

Girls my son was born via forceps!
I was in slow labour for 3 days and his then shoulders got stuck and his heart rate dipped massively. It wasn't in my birth plan at all and i don't think I even knew that much about them, but yeah they said they would try forceps then c section of no joy.
It was the weirdest feeling in the world. I had to have an epidural as preparation for c section, It felt like my brain was being pulled down from my.... well you know where 🙈 but within two pulls he was out. His head was a bit misshaped/swollen for a couple of days but he was absolutely fine and the doctor who delivered him came and sat with me the following day to talk me through it all and make sure I was ok. I had to have a cut and stitches so it was soar for a few weeks but all was well.
I think it's so good to be prepared but in the moment I was so led by the professionals and just did was I was told! It's obviously not what you want your birth to look like, but if it does happen please don't worry or feel disheartened! ❤️

Yeah, I’ve looked a lot into forceps now I can no longer use salad tongs... 😂
I think they look barbaric too, I’d never say no if the baby was in danger but from what I’ve read I’d rather go csection route if I could. Did you have any issues afterwards @november90 ? If not I think you’re one of the lucky ones! Everyone I’ve spoken to doesn’t have a good word to say about them!

Yaaaaayyyyyyyy!!!!!! He's turned around!!! I literally cannot believe it!!!!! I've been mistaking his bottom for his head 🙈
There was no big turn or signs for me other then suddenly needing to wee a lot when I never felt like this before!

Just waiting to see the doctor to see whether I can birth naturally due to his size and the fact i have strep B!

Im not sure I believe it! The thought of a natural birth just makes me SO happy!!!!!!!! After all these months of worrying 😀😀😀

I'm with @november90 on this one. My son wasn't in a good position so I pushed for 2 hours and 30 minutes before the consultant came in to intervene. I had a forceps delivery and remember asking at the time for a c section because I was exhausted from pushing but baby was distressed and he was too far down for them to be able to get him out safely through the sun roof. I had an episiotomy and forceps on gas and air and oh my Christ. Excruciating. But my baby was delivered safe and alive and got the assistance I needed.

I went in with no birth plan at all. I believe that you absolutely cannot plan for these things, I initially always said I wanted an epidural but I got to 7cms on my own at home and by the time I was at the hospital there was no time for one - I was ready to push! 😅 just be open minded and trust the professionals that are caring for you. You will know in the moment what is right and I can assure you, you will all get to that point where you think "JUST GET IT OUT OF ME!!!" 🤪😂

I really don't mean for that to come across preach-y or in a negative way. Your body just has a funny way of doing things sometimes and nobody really knows what to expect 💓

Oh really! @CharlieB93 we had no issues at all. His head was a bit swollen for a few days but no bruising and I was fine other then the stitches being painful :) I wouldn't be against it again if it was recommended but to be honest I haven't researched them, I just followed what they said :)

Ah thanks both of you, that’s made me feel better actually. I think you hear so many horror stories that you just assume the worst will happen 🤦‍♀️ I just want her to get here safely with the least long term damage for me 😂

@november90 yay that’s great news!! Funny - you’d think you’d feel that massive movement round wouldn’t you!

To top it off the scan has measured my baby at an average size! I could literally cry. I've worried and worried for months and months about having a huge c section baby and now I will hopefully have a natural birth!!! I could cry but I'm too shocked! She said she would think he'll be around 8-9 pounds if born in time! I'm so excited to drink all the raspberry tea and all those little old wives tales that I thought I wasn't going to be able to do! Maybe I will have a May baby after all :)

Mine was also a forceps delivery! Was left pushing for far too long and ended up in theatre just in case I needed a section but they managed to use forceps. I had an episiotomy too which wasn’t fun but I would much rather that than a section I think. So forceps aren’t always as bad as you think they are.

@november90 that’s great news 😁

Sooo I'm leaking milk 😬 my boobs feel sooo swollen and itchy too, im thinking is this a sign something may happen or am I just wishful thinking 😂

If you have an episiotomy, how long does it normally take to heal? I’m really worried I’ll need one, it sounds awful.
I’m in Canada and my midwife said they still use forceps but normally it depends if you get an older doctor, as they are more likely to use them. She said younger doctors are more likely to use the vacuum. I’ve just heard stories of women have a lot of issues after forceps and it scares me.

@sao81 I hate to say but mine have been leaking milk for weeks 🐄🐄 maybe it’s coz this isn’t my first? Not sure

@november90 wow I am so chuffed for you!! I hope this happens for me 🤞🏼

@sao81 just wishful thinking I think, sorry

@Moongirl10 I had an episiotomy last time. You can refuse if you want! As far as I know mine healed with no issues, but I think I will refuse this time round. I suppose it depends on the situation though

@Moongirl10 my stitches from my episiotomy took around a week to dissolve maybe less. It was probably the easiest part of my healing process. The absolute worst part for me was the piles I got from pushing so much. They took AGES and I could barely sit down and every time I went for a number two I was left crying. I showered after every time because I couldn't clean myself, they were awful 😔 but my scar, my tear, and any thing that the forceps May have done were healed and back to normal after a week.
I used to just rinse with water in the shower then lay on the bed infront of the fan to dry myself 🤣

I’m so scared of stitches they sound horrendous. It’s so barbaric in this day and age we are still expected just to get on with it 🤦‍♀️ You’d think they’re would be a magical healing cream by now wouldn’t you 😂
Am I right in saying epsotomy cuts heal better than tears though?

@flissity @AlmostAlwyn haha I thought as much, I'm just hoping its going to be more like 3/4 weeks than 6 weeks! My milk didn't come in at all last time and I was induced but maybe it is with it being my second it has came in now x

@charlieB93 I had a 2nd degree tear last time and the recovery from the tear for me was worse than labour 🙈 it took about 2 weeks before I could wee and not cry, so this time I've bought spritz for bitz spray and plenty of flannels to help soothe incase it happens again

@sao81 ouchy! Why on earth are you doing it again?! 😂 I’ve bought some badadas bath stuff, I’ve heard that’s quite good for taking the sting out also 😊

I’ve heard that natural tears heal better than an episiotomy. Mine reopened and got infected but of course that doesn’t happen to everyone. I found it painful and couldn’t sit comfortably for quite a while. But the worst thing was having a wound somewhere I couldn’t really see! But it’s all a distant memory now and at the end of the day if it’s necessary to get baby out safely then that’s what’s got to happen x

@CharlieB93 I clearly didnt think it through 😂 2 weeks of stinging is worth it to have a baby, but spd for 6 months is the final straw, this is the last time! 😭

@sao81 fluid had being coming from mine too! I'm hoping it's not a sign for me as I really want to make it to May 🙈 I'll keep my fingers crossed for you though 😀

I had to have a episiotomy with my first. I was uncomfortable for a week or so and sensitive for a while after, but heeled and never bothers me anymore. I don't really think I had a choice! They just said they needed to do it and I just went with the flow!

I had an episiotomy and am currently recovering. It really wasn’t that bad, I barely felt anything through the contractions. And I consented on the advice that it’s better than a tear! It did sting a bit to go for a wee at first and it took a few days and a long time sitting on the toilet to go for anything more but once you get past that it’s fine! I also felt quite bruised and it hurt to sit down/move around - I was given painkillers to help with that. I just cleaned the area with hot water at first but have now moved onto a very gentle cleanser for the intimate area. I haven’t had my stitches checked as haven’t felt the need. Hopefully they have dissolved by now (13 days on) and I have no unexpected issues!

No boob leakage here, is that a bad sign for breastfeeding? I only have 2 and a bit weeks left until due date.

@sao81 re the boob leakage, did your midwife say to you to start collecting colostrum from 37 weeks?? This seems to be a new thing! To encourage the milk to come in, and to use In case of emergencies 😬 she said they even supply little syringes for me to take home, express into then store in freezer!!