Due August 2021 - The Final Countdown continues...

[Daffodil21]

Continuing the previous thread!

I'll let @PurplePansy05 post the updated list

Thanks @BertieBotts and @sarah13xx quite quick I suppose but probably doesn't feel like it at the time!!

@Daffodil21 as others have said it’s probably about 20-30 mins for a planned section. I lost all sense of time though and it didn’t really feel long or short if that makes sense?

Congratulations to all of those who have had their bubbas! currently sat in the sun in the garden while little man sleeps in his pram.

I hope the rest of you don’t have to wait long until you get to hold your babies.

Congrats to everyone with their babies! I feel like I still have so long left (DD 28th Aug) but who knows!
Keep us going with all the updates of your beautiful babies xxx

@Inmypjsagain and @WinterBabyof89 how are you both doing? Winter did you ask for anything in particular to get all the things you had- curtain down, straight skin on skin etc? It’s exactly what I want but not sure what to ask!

Hope @Dia12 is also doing okay!

@Magik01 the nurse told me if I want skin to skin just to tell them when I lie down and they’ll take my arm out the gown before they start so they can just put him straight in. A lot of the american videos I’ve watched they have the curtain then a clear screen and when they show you the baby at first it’s through the screen. They also said they told people not to try and touch them at this stage because they’re still in a sterile environment so I’m surprised they give the choice of having the curtain down completely. Not that I could cope with it anyway, I’m debating whether I can deal with seeing it for 2 minutes when he first arrives even 😂 I doubt if I would see anything due to the bump anyway but my partner might

@sarah13xx thanks for that! I also would like delayed cord clapping but not sure if they can do it while your cut open on the table because of the blood loss! 😂 I suppose I will just have to ask and see what they say!

@Magik01 delayed cord clamping is standard here and midwife offered it when we were talking about ELCS so I think it can be done

@Magik01 they gave the options in the morning whilst doing the other checklists. The delayed clamping was for 1 to 2minutes - a midwife took photos of her during this time and the surgeon prepped OH for cutting the cord.

@sarah13xx I told OH to look away if he didn’t fancy it but he said he couldn’t see much directly but could see the instruments used and saw baby beginning to appear! Whilst he wasn’t initially keen he’s pleased with the decision (I made haha). Not for everyone though I’m sure!

@Daffodil21 oh brill thank you for letting me know! 😬

Sorry Magik, can't remember if you're having a planned section or not? But if it's not planned, I remember reading somewhere about having a "c-section plan" which you can get out if that happens so you can put your preferences on there.

Otherwise if it's a planned one then I think you have a pre-op appointment so you should be able to mention these things then. But it can still help to write them down so you have the memory help.

I think for me there are 4 things I'd like in the event of a c-section. None are essential but if they work out kind of thing.

Skin to skin
Certain song playing
Delayed cord clamping
DH to go over to baby ASAP

Congratulations @WinterBabyof89! Love her name 🥰 hope you are recovering well x

@Magik01 I thought I had to make the decision about whether I wanted delayed cord clamping but they said it was standard on the course I was on too. They said as long as everything is going okay they’ll do it

@WinterBabyof89 it would definitely be a nice memory to have but I think I’m more worried about him than me so I probably shouldn’t make it worse for him 😂 he almost went faint when I was telling him about it all haha

congratulations on your little ones @Inmypjsagain and @WinterBabyof89
@Dia12 hope everything is going ok with you

@Jessicapebbles your girls are beautiful! Older one looks so proud. How is she getting on with her?

@Aaaaa1519 Ahhh thank you! She is actually handling it like a boss 😂 every morning she says “come on cuddle my baby” and is so concerned if she cries! It’s so heart warming!! Xxx

Thank you all for your lovely messages! So sweet of all you! Congratulations @WinterBabyof89! How are you getting on? @Jessicapebbles oh so gorgeous 🥰

@Daffodil21 Time wise I think it was about 10/15 minutes after the epidural for things to get going, they do some checks to make sure you’re actually numb I would say the baby was out pretty quickly after that, maybe another 10 minutes or so? They wrapped him and gave him straight to my husband who did skin to skin with him instead, the position of my arm cuff and stuff made it difficult to get him on my chest, but it’s mainly because I found the blood pressure cuff too tight and it gave me major pins and needles so I was angled awkwardly. You do 💯 lose track of time there though, it could have been hours and I wouldn’t have known, especially when baby was out and husband was holding him while I got sewed up! But I think i was out of theatre in just over an hour now that I’ve looked at my notes.

The midwife checked with me about music, vitimin k, cord clamping before I went in and they talk and ask you throughout the operation if you change your mind.

Bleeding wise, sorry I hope I didn’t scare anyone! I hadnt had a period in so long and I think it seems more when you’re not wearing pants. I’d still wear the hospital gown for at least the first day tbh, everyone else does and if you bleed through it’s not as bad, but obviously do whatever makes you comfortable. I didn’t lose much blood in the op, I think this was just “normal” lochia and dr said it should be the same as a period (I do have bad periods!) Straight after the op I couldn’t move around anyway because legs are totally numb. When you have the catheter in they tell you to stay put but I could only really wander around when I had pants on, otherwise it’d be like walking around in no pants when on a heavy period. I’m in knickers and a big lil lets pads and I’d say bleeding is like day 4/5 of period, which is over the worst of it but not mega light but as I say my periods are normally heavy. Im Not bleeding through now etc but it’s odd because I’m used to wearing a tampon, don’t like just pads!

I’ve been up and about today and my stomach is still quite sore, in a burny hot way. I’ve been taking my peppermint capsules which I really think have helped- the dr comes to check the next day to see if you have pooped and have been farting, this helps it along. I am a little worried for my first number 2 though…

As for medication going home, which is today hopefully, I’ll have ibuprofen 400mg to take 3 times a days, iron and lactulose. In my case, They don’t give you paracetamol but tell you to top up with your own supply. They give something that sounds like hydrocodeine and the hospital which seems good and I got some pessary painkiller today too. I was surprised not to get more but you can discuss with the dr to see if they’ll give you anything else but they may refer you to the gp if pain is bad at home . I’ll let you know what pain is like when I’m home, imagine itll burn when standing up and down. I have showered today and that was fine, it’s actually
More a mid back ache I get when I stand too long? I was told I don’t need blood thinners because of my bmi/history etc ( @K2a0t1i5e I will be out, hopefully, after 36 hours from surgery, if you have your baby later in the day I think they like to keep you in and honestly I was happy to stay the extra night. Husband is in 9-8 to help and you hear horror stories from the post natal ward but I have had a wonderful experience with lots of lovely, attentive and friendly Midwives, 2 of whom have spent hours trying to help me breastfeed. If you’re worried about meds I’d chat to the dr who comes to assess you and the midwives too)

I was worried about the catheter coming out, I think there’s a little balloon up there so you kinda feel a puff before it comes out again. That was fine, it felt a bit weird, not necessarily uncomfortable but almost like when you’re peeing at the tale end of cystitis. Your bladder does get lazy though so you need to show that you’ve peed at least 750ml before you leave. I was desperate by the time I went to the loo and it took me about 5 minutes to actually pee (which surprised me!) and I really concentrated on it.

The ward is still boiling- or I am still sweating a lot so am unusually warm. I’d recommend taking roll on deodorant rather than spray, I’m paranoid I smell but I’m conscious I don’t want the whole ward to stink of spray and I don’t want to use it around baby either!

Thanks for tip as to boob feeding- he had a little suckle today whilst he was naked so I’m going to keep going with it but just take it as it goes. He likes his formula so I’m just happy he’s eating.

I don’t miss pregnancy atm if I’m honest, I felt so uncomfortable at the end, I’m sore now but I feel better, lighter and I’ve really had not much sleep but pregnancy felt more exhausting! Honestly I am so excited for you all to meet your babies, it’s so much better than I could have imagined! 💙💙💙

I’m sorry for another essay but I know I was really anxious before hand so would have found this helpful but I hope I’m not worrying anyone!

Hope you’re all well, I’ve lost who to @ but sorry to hear sweep not take place. Are many of your due your final midwife appointments? Hope you’re all feeling ok and not too waddley ! xxx

So much longer than I thought, sorry!!!!!! Well done to anyone who read it 😂 xx

@Inmypjsagain thanks for the essay 😂 very helpful! Glad the blood had died down. My friend said she wished they’d let her stay in an extra night as she didn’t feel ready to come home the first day. Hopefully you’ll get out today and manage to walk okay 😊 it sounds like a really positive experience! If I can just get myself into that theatre and sit down on the table on Monday I’ll be fine 🙈

@sarah13xx I think if I’d have pushed I could have gone home yday, but I’m happy here really, as I said I’ve had a great experience with the midwives even though they’re clearly really busy! But you will be fine 😊

I know it’s easier said than done but the anticipation of the unknown is so much worse, I feel like I’d be so chilled if I had to do it again after that experience. And I didn’t get the instant rush of baby love, I just thought omg but the gooeyness definitely hit me today (yday? What time and day is it?!)

@Inmypjsagain thank you! Very helpful! I have another question (sorry!) what happens with bleeding early on when you can't move your legs? Do you just have to let it bleed through until you can sort yourself out?!

@sarah13xx 'on Monday' ahhhh 😱😂

@Inmypjsagain it’s good they have kept you a bit longer though at least when they could have sent you home. That’s great you’d do it again! I think I’m just dreading that awful anxious feeling in my stomach the night before and when my eyes open on the morning of it. When you wake up and remember something is happening that day 😂 if I sleep that is! I need to try and chill out and enjoy it, I think I will once I’m in there.

@Daffodil21 I know 😅 hyperventilates into paper bag

@Daffodil21 you can’t feel the bleeding at all to start with, on the bed you’re sitting on what I think Wimbler called a dog training pad? It’s just like that, they also put a big sanitary towel between my legs. You just sit on the pad and bleed freely- for me that was in the recovery ward where i was for 2 hours (when I left it I was shocked at the mess I had made!) I hadn’t regained feeling by this point but got wheeled to the post natal ward where they gave me fresh pads on the mattress and between my legs, you’re still on the catheter at this point. There was a lady in the recovery ward next to me who put knickers on before going to the post natal ward, honestly I’m not sure how she did it! And how that worked with the catheter? But the midwives check your bleeding situation and the pads there/change them and move your legs for you, because you can’t do all that straight away, I didn’t really sort myself out until my husband arrived and helped me with my pants (I would have struggled a lot to get them on myself). I also Pre lined some of my knickers with pads in my hospital bag to make it easier for me later in the day and for the first one pair. Maybe different at your hospital/trust- but I imagine it should be similar as your dressing would be too fresh to be able to wear pants to contain a pad!

@Inmypjsagain ohh I see! I didn't really register that there wouldn't be underwear, just a pad🙈 thank you!

@WinterBabyof89 congratulations on the arrival of baby girl Rosie! Bet she's perfect. Hope you're both well x

It's so exciting to hear about all the cute arrivals. All the best to all the other mummas giving birth this week ❤️

I went for my bikini wax yesterday at 37+2 and was surprisingly not painful! Also cut my hair by 12"!!!!! Mumma hair. It's official. Baby will not hear the end of this. Shortest I've gone in decades 🤣🤣

Hope we're all well. I'm just sitting in the balcony sipping on my honey lemon tea enjoying the birds while I can 😊