Due June 2005, Thread 3

[Uwila]

Time for new thread. I'll add a link on the old one.

Hehe babybrains Uwila!! I haven't been too dopey...yet.

Can I ask why you would like an elective caesar? Apart from the obvious; avoiding tediously long labour and excruciating pain, as well as knowing when baby will arrive, quite important when you have other siblings to be looked after.

Personally I've never wanted one, my heart tells me go for the pain free route, but emotionally I feel that a vaginal delivery is just doing it 'properly' (not being judgemental, that's just what I personally feel). I have occasionally joked to dp that this time round I'd like a caesar and he always tells me "Well, you've proved you can push one out, they wont let you choose to have a caesar next time!"
Bugger.

What's everyone up to today? I went to a Mother and Baby club with a friend and am waiting to go to scan this afternoon. Chicken mayo sandwich for lunch

Hello everyone!!

Just testing to see if I can post here - I've replaced Explorer with Navigator.

Hope everyone's well! had my scan 2 weeks ago - s/he's a lively little thing! First sign of bump this week and I've put a few pounds on - I'm nearly 7 stones - scary !!

Well, I'll press "post" and see what happens...

Nearly 7 stones?? You weigh that little or you put on that much already?? Only kidding! I think the first few weeks and the end are when you put the most weight on.

YIPEE!! it works!! You'll never get rid of me now!!

Speaking of babybrains - I got everything ready for the plumber coming on Friday - rushed around buying a new shower, shower tray, waste pipe etc, stored everything away in the kitchen and bathroom, dust covered,tidied, cleaned, got up early to meet him for 8 then when he didn't turn up discovered he wasn't due until the 10th of JANUARY!! DOH

he he - no, I'm such a titch, almost a microbe really - dp's rather large, so I'm trying to get used to the idea of being MASSIVE like my equally tiny friend became - there's nowhere for the bean to hide...

Hello everyone!

You definitely should have a scan at 20 weeks, everything I have read says that you need to have that one, so make sure you get it Tripbot!

For some reason my "bump" seems to have gone strangely flat. On Sunday it was moving upwards, and now it's just gone all flat.... strange. Maybe it knows that we are getting scanned tomorrow and is trying to run away and hide!!

Glad to hear everyone's ok. I was thinking about our lunch on the 22nd Jan and the fact we may need to book a table. Shall we post our own names onto that date on the yahoo calendar if we want to go and then a couple of weeks before we can book?

Reasons for Ceasarean:
1- I've already had one. So there aren't likely to be side effects in later life that I'm not already due to have. (I've already got a scar and a bit of numbness)
2- The "natural" way has it's own set of side effects (like incontinence) that I'd prefer to do without.
3- The recovery isn't really that bad. It does hurt, but a couple of weeks on, I expect to be up and around, walking, driving, etc.
4- Ah, yes, I can plan the date. This is important with limited time off, and finances that won't permit much unpaid time away from work.
5- I can (to some extent) plan to spend the day with baby after surgery rather than not knowing if I will be exhausted after hours or even days of labour and delivery.
6- And speaking of delivery, I'm definitely keen to miss that experience.
7- Won't risk braking or cracking pelvic bone, coccyx, etc. (yes, rare, but it happens and I'm 5'-1" and petite bone structure)
8- Very keep to avoid the possibility of foetal distress followed by emergency caesarean like last time.
9- Unless someone can tell me with absolute certainty that the umbilical cord is not wrapped around his/her neck twice, around her body once, and her foot too, then you can not tell me she won't go into foetal distress when the contractions tighten the cord around her neck so tight that her hear rate drops (this is obviously what happened with DD).

Also, the midwives tell you not to come to the hospital until your contrations are 5 minutes apart. If I had done this, would the baby have been in foetal distress when I got there. Or would they contractions and unbilical cord wrapped around her neck have already killed her????

The only way to actually avoiding for certain ending up in that scenario again is to plan a caesarean. I suppose that they could scan me every day to show me where the unbilical cord is and isn't. But, we all know that the NHS won't spend that kind of money on me. So, elective caesarean for me, please!!!!

Anything else you'd like to know?

Welcome back Charleypops.

Uh, yahoo calendar. I can;t access it. When I went to register, it wanted me to download some software (presumable for chat) and then reconfigured my explorer settings. This is a violation of corporate policy on my computer, so I abandoned the yahoo idea. Please can we keep communication on mumsnet? We could start a new Rainforest meet up (which of course now grossly pales in comparison to the norther spa day/weekend which I am still considering crashing depending on the date and my travel options.)

Number 7

Yes, good idea - set up a Rainforest thread. We've got the date organised so that's ok, we just need a list of people that want to go.

Uwila - I'm going to have a homebirth if all goes to plan, for some of the reasons that you have cited in your list. I hope you don't mind, but I wanted to put my thoughts down too.

1. Homebirths are supposed to be far more relaxed and therefore you are less likely to have an episi... thingy.
2. You are less likely to get any germies as you are not exposed to MRSA or any other super-bugs that lurk around in hospitals.
3. You are supposed to need less pain relief due to the relaxed nature of the event.
4. You can fall asleep in your own bed afterwards, curled up with baby and dp.
5. Dp can actually deliver the baby, if so inclined.
6. You do no need to think about going anywhere, nor is anyone going to try to make you do anything you don't want to.
7. A lovely mw will look after you, making you tea and toast while labour progresses and then when birth is imminent another will attend to assist. They will do all the clearing up afterwards and make sure that you are totally comfortable before they leave.
8. No need to pack a hospital bag.
9. No need to stay overnight in a ward with the woman from hell. Or be separated from baby or dp.
10. It becomes a very personal experience, totally directed by you. I think statistics say that with homebirths there is generally less chance of the baby or mother becoming distressed too.

I must point out though that I am lucky enough to live a 10 minute walk to my hospital, so should I need any "intervention" I don't have to go far. If I was a 45 minute drive away I may well think differently.

Just been round to visit by work colleague who's baby is about 3 weeks old - so so so so so CUTE!!!!!!!

Plus I nicked all her mum's maternity gear which is handy!!!!

Thanks for the chicken pox info. I spoke to my GP yesterday (left a message for the midwife and she didn't call me back ) he said it should be no problem as both myself, dh and dd have all had it already.

BTW I wanted to ask some advice TMI WARNING Don't read ahead if you don't want to know!!!!

I've been getting quite a thick and creamy discharge over the last couple of days. Has anyone else had this - is it normal???

Good luck for all the scans coming up

Sweetheart, no idea about 'thick n creamy discharge' sorry! And hey, if you can't give tmi on this thread, then where can you eh??

Uwila, I hope I didn't sound confrontational or judgemental when I asked why you were electing for a caesarian, I really was just curious.

Scraggy, good luck with the homebirth too, it's great that we have such a variety of mums on here!

I tried to be as natural as possible during labour with dd, but it didn't end up that way. She was... forgotten the terminology, head down, but her back against my back instead of towards my tummy... the position that everyone has exclaimed after I tell them "Oh!!! that's the worst labour, apparantly it's really long!!" Well, it was, long and not much happened for ages so I had an epi (-dural not a fit!) and some synto to help things along. But I did do all the skin to skin contact when she came out, dp delivered her (but I think only allowed in hospital because he is qualified), breastfed, buried her placenta on family ground etc etc.
Just didn't fancy the mess in my bedroom

Scraggyaggy, you are crazy! That's all I have to say. Well, okay, no it's not. To each her own, but the only plave I ever want to give birth is in a hospital with an experienced obstetrician. What if something goes wrong, and you you don't have even 5 minutes to get to the hospital?

When things went wrong with DD, it took them approximately five minutes to get me onto the table in the theatre, room populated with surgical team and me prepper and knowcked out for surgery. IF anything were to go wrong, you can not possibly to get there that fast from your home. You mught get to the hospital door that fast, but then you haven't even made it to the labour ward...

Eek, that is a rsik that is definitely NOT worth the comfort of my own room. No way. No how. Not for me.

BTW, it's probably good that we (as two people with very opposing views have this conversation here because there may be other first timers who will benefit from our views.

PS Don't believe for a second that lying in my own familiar bedroom would a darn thing to reduce the pain. Give me drugs!

Hello ladies. Good luck with your scan this afternoon Lipstickmum, hope your DD enjoys it too!

Had my scan this morning, all is fine and dandy. The doctor was lovely, he said he was only scanning me for my reassurance because I'd already had a nuchal scan, and said if I was still worried they could scan me every four weeks if I wanted. I think I'll just have the 20 week one though, and let the little one grow in peace!

Have had a complete nightmare after the scan though. I went with my sister because my DH was working, and it's always a nightmare to find somewhere to park near the hospital. I parked up on a side street and both me and my sister checked for no parking signs and couldn't see any. Came back after the scan and my car had disappeared!!! Phoned the police, thinking it had been stolen, but then I saw the enormous 'clamping in operation' sign . To cut a long story short, my car had been towed away and it cost me TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE QUID to get it back. Was very upset to start with but have reminded myself that in April I would have given anything to have seen a healthy baby on screen, and that's what's important. It's only money after all...just a shame it was so bloody much so close to Christmas!!!! Grrrrrrrr.

Anyway, have now been booked in with both hospital and at local doctor's, had bloods taken and got a date for my 20 week scan (1st February) so I feel like I'm really officially pregnant now.

Sorry, I am going on...

Charleypops, good to see you around at this advanced stage of the thread! Although not sure I want to read about someone only weighing 7 stone!!! You must be tiny.

Hello Tripbot - sounds like you've got an awful lot going on in your life at the moment. Hope you manage to get your 20 week scan sorted out.

Sweetheart, I think you're ok if you've had chicken pox when you were younger. Hope you manage to get some answers from the doctor.

Right, I'll stop writing this short novel and leave you all in peace (for the moment...)

Uwila, yes people may well think I'm mad, but I'm also incredibly stubborn! Dp had all the same concerns that you have mentioned, but having read up on the subject he's been convinced.

If anyone is interested, have a look at the following on MN:

\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1365&threadid=42708&stamp=041124153903}

Oh, it didn't work!

Who was it that mentioned the Thorntons choc's

I have eaten a WHOLE BAG today - TO MYSELF!!!!!!!!

I'm holding the person on here entirly responsible

Oh, I hope it wasn't me. I have been raving on about Thorntons chocolate caramel shortbread.

MrsW - Can't you write them a letter and try to get some of the cash back? How annoying.

Don't think there is anything I can do, unless I can prove there was something suspicious going on. Will just have to extend my overdraft and pretend it never happened.

It was definitely Mrs W who mentioned some sort of Thornton's caramel shortbread a wee while ago... ~points finger accusingly~

Scan was FABULOUS!!!! Cute lil cutey baby, dancing and being sweet. Heartbeat heard and seen with own eyes. Risk 1 in 4000 something, so that's all cool! DD hated it!! As soon as the lights were dimmed and she saw mummy with a strange probe on her tummy, she wailed!!! DId calm down in the end, but it wasn't the glorious family experience we'd hoped for to begin with!
I shall rest easy until the next scan

Sorry about your horrible clamping experience W. But glad you're being philosophical about it!

Does anyone know where Tessiebear is???

Is the coast clear? Am I allowed back in after my chocolate-mentioning sins?

Glad your scan went so well Lippie, just a shame your DD didn't quite appreciate the moment in quite the way you'd hoped. They never do though do they? Putting up the Christmas tree was not quite the magical experience I was hoping for - DS smashed two baubles as soon as he saw it, which resulted in a telling off from me and a tantrum from him.

Haven't seen Tessiebear on any other threads, it's very strange. Cobweb hasn't been around for a while either.

Congratulations on the scans Mrsw & Lipstickmum.

Uwila-I think you are brave to have a CS-I lived in fear of having to have one last time around!

Berolina-congratulations on your scan & finding out you are having a son

Scraggyaggy-I am with you on the home birth idea.I hate hospitals & being 'interfered' with.I'm going to enquire about a homebirth tomorrow & see what response I get.

I had my 2nd midwife visit today-only to find out that my midwife is leaving next week.She is lovely & looked after me really well with DD.I don't know who my new midwife will be,but don't have to go back until the end of Jan,as I'm a 2nd timer & low risk.

I get my 12wk appt at the hospital tomorrow morning-not bad considering I'll be 16wks on Thursday.I won't get a 12wk scan because I had a scan at 10wks due to bleeding-so the whole visit is liable to be a bit of a waste of time.I do plan to ask them about a homebirth though-should be interesting.

On a more positive subject-the midwife found the heartbeat for me today,which reassured me no end.I had begun to wonder if anything was actually happening in there,especially as I don't seem to have put any weight on at all yet,despite eating everything in sight.

Can't believe its only 11 days til Christmas-so only 17 days til 2005,when we have our babies!!!!!! And we still can't decide on any names.

had my second midwife visit today aswell. My midwife is really lovely. I say second visit but i keep bumping into her, she lives near me and i work next door to the maternity hospital!!

So pleased you got to hear the heartbeat Mirage. It makes me cry every time I've heard that sound - and it freaks me out a bit too. For some reason it's the heartbeat that makes it seem like there is actually something (someone!) growing inside me! The scans are great but they are just pictures on a screen.

It's a weird stage, the start of the second trimester, hormones are settling down, getting more energy but no obvious signs that the baby is growing busily inside. Can't wait until we all start feeling them kicking, it's just the most amazing feeling in the world. I remember how much I missed it after I'd given birth to my DS!

Katzguk, did you get to hear the heartbeat too? My second midwife appointment isn't until 10th January - only had my first one yesterday.