September 2020 3

[ChipsAreLife]

Just starting a new one so we don't get lost again 😅

@ChipsAreLife thanks - hopefully just a one off but she said they’ll keep an eye on it and see how I get on. It’s possible I was just a bit on edge as it’s all quite strange having to get masked up and everything to be seen at the moment. Hopefully a one off like you say!

My birth plan is to have no plan. Get baby here safely for both of us. Im not ruling out any pain relief or a c section whatever is needed on the day. Xx

No @Lilice although I love the idea of a water bath but it's pretty gross!! I signed up to the hynobirthing course so will
Do that and see how I feel! I'm not good at pain 🙈

@emma278 I didn't have a birth plan last time and really regretted. My focus is things like what monitoring I am happy with, and that I don't want any student midwives or surgeons in the room. Also want skin to skin straight away, last time they whipped him away and dressed him before I had even seen him!

I've been doing the positive birth company digital pack and it's given me lots of ideas.

Im realtively relaxed about most things to be fair. Im ok with baby being dressed etc. I just want everyone to be healthy and ill take that as a win. I can understand why people have birth plans etc. Completely. Its just not for me, i think it would freak me out more and give me more to worry about. Xx

Sorry @emma278 I just realised that might sound really negative when what I was clumsily trying to say is I'm not bothered so much about how the baby comes out etc more that I'm trying to think of what I want from around the birth if that makes sense!

I didn't really have a birth plan first time round. Mainly because I knew some people who had and when it didn't go to 'plan' there was an element of failure.

The only thing I had was for DH to tell me the sex!
But I'm quite a go with the flow type I understand some feel better having a plan in place but just remember all births and babies are different.

I also wouldn't worry too much about discussing the birth with MW, mine didn't really. Just told me to write down what I wanted! Think you can find all the information on google these days!

I went in the pool with my first it was lovely! But I then decided to get an epidural so I got out!

I completely get it @Lazydaisydaydream dont worry at all! I think ive worried myself so much about things going wrong just reaching the finish line feels like enough!! Xx

@emma278 OK good, I didn't want you to think I was being an argumentative cow haha

My sons birth ended in a life saving emergency c section so definitely aware of how plans change and how in the moment you'll just do anything to get the baby here safely, so I'm probably going the other way this time and focusing on all the details to make me forget that part haha!!

My absolute top tip for everyone though is to discuss with your birthing partner what you want to happen if you and the baby are separated for any reason, we had agreed in advance my husband would always stay with the baby and go wherever it was taken and in the rush of everything that happened I was so thankful We had already agreed that, as meant I knew he was with the baby making the decisions Etc. One of my friends had given me this tip and it was so helpful.

Thats a really good tip @Lazydaisydaydream i guess its not something we like talking about but important!! X

I'm also doing the positive birth company course and would really like to avoid an epidural if possible. I've had surgery on my spine so have a consultant appointment to discuss it if I do need one but I don't really want my back messed around with again unless it's for a c section. I'd really like a water birth, I think birth will probably be a bit gross either way but at least the water can help take some weight and hopefully pressure off my back. I'd like skin to skin and delayed cord clamping as I've read it's good for the baby to get the blood back. Some of the hypnobirthing ideas sounds really nice to create a relaxing environment and help to keep labour from stalling

@Roxy8203 I'm not able to have an epidural, the midwives last time were really good at explaining the different pain relief options they had so don't worry that it's epidural or nothing.

I think a water birth sounds lovely. I'm really missing going swimming this pregnancy, it would be so lovely to feel momentarily weightless! My bath is just not big enough for the same effect haha

@Lilice sorry I just realised I totally missed your comment earlier! Hope you do get checked in person as well, it’s just nice to have the peace of mind especially when it’s your first!

I’m reading the positive birth company book and it’s great - also doing an online hynobirthing course with my local birth centre so hoping that will be quite good!

Really like the idea of an active water birth but totally get that things don’t always go to plan. My friend had an emergency c-section and ptsd after as it wasn’t how she’d planned and visualised the birth so I’m trying to stay realistic about whatever works our safest for baby 💕

@Lazydaisydaydream really I'm hoping not to have too much pain relief and that the hypnobirthing does it's thing and I have the positive birth like the ones I'm reading about on their Facebook page. But I'm aware that it may not got to plan and if my placenta doesn't move I'll have to have a section anyway so trying to remain somewhat open minded

@Roxy8203 I love the stories on the facebook page - is making me so excited about giving birth which is not something I thought I would ever say haha.

@Lazydaisydaydream it's reassuring me that labour doesn't have to be as horrendous as people have told me it is

Hi ladies,
I hope you’re all doing ok? Love reading your posts makes me feel I am not the only one feeling the same. I was wondering if anyone could recommend some Prams? So overwhelming researching online..we live in small village so can’t walk to anywhere really as all bumpy fields so I will get a carrier for when dog walking. But still like walking so would need a study pram. The bugaboo fox seems to be everyone’s choice but it’s out of my price range unfortunately it’s out of my price range :( any suggestions would be a great help.

@Sep20baby I live in a small village too and we’ve decided on the out n about Nipper. It’s pretty reasonably priced and an off roader so you actually can use it on horrible bumpy tracks if you feel you need to.
Reviews are all really positive as well 😊

I looked at the out and about but husband said he didn’t like it lol so that’s a no. But heard good things. Xx

@sep20baby I got the Infababy flo but had to buy the iso fix attachment separately for another 100 quid
infababy.com/infababy-flo-3in1-i-size-travel-system-moon-grey/?currency=GBP&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzN71BRCOARIsAF8pjficJW55q6a_Wm_jePT93JBvalsrGCQhLFbzHuK6b0vItvNS2VcEPaQaAjXSEALw_wcB
I also live in a small village

@Sep20baby that’s fair enough! OH is pretty much just letting me pick whatever I want. Only seems to be worried I haven’t done things like get a carrier that’s too girly for when he’s on his dog walks with the baby 😂

@Lilice I did look at the infababy as seen it advertised loads but wasn’t sure but I think this could be a good contender.
@Sara7455 lol!! I think some do look girly that’s my next thing to look at.

So much to buy feel like i am so unorganised!!!

@Sep20baby we got the ergobaby 360 carrier. It’s not the cheapest but we figured it’s what we’re likely to use the most and people seem to love it. It comes in what seems like a million different colours which look lovely but OH insisted on black lol

@Sara7455 that's the one I have and it's great. I have the insert to use it from birth but didnt really like it, I used a different one for the first few weeks.
I saw an add on Facebook for a skin on skin top by setaphine, looks so nice but its 40 quid. Seems expensive for something that will be used for just a few weeks. I feel like some shops really take the piss. A bit like wedding items that are so often overpriced!