Due March 2008 Surely someone has to pop soon...

[turtle23]

New thread

good on you MMH

HQ pethidine has a role to play in labour yes. They should only give it early on, as it crosses the placenta and will make a baby drowsy, which you don't want in later stages (need it active to help turn down birth canal and to latch on after birth to encourage 3rd stage labour). I'm a pehtidine refusnik, as I know I will get trippy and sicky on it, if my reaction to other drugs is anything to go by. Mind you I didn't have the choice at DS1 birth as Tommy's don't offer it.

There are antidotes available if it makes you particularly sick/out of it. From what i've heaard from other mums, it can be particularly useful in first births first stage, which are so often long, as it can let you rest for a good few hours before you get to second stage, whether by simply knocking you out, reducing contraction pain or a combo of both. As direct pain relief it seems to be a bit hit and miss, i've heard mums say it didn't stop the ouch, but it stopped them caring so much!

There's a bit of a negative thread about it here and review of other forms of diamorphine here and for balance there's this one

My last day at work too (till September) - yipppeeeeee!

Tori - have dropped you an email

I haven't had GBS test either aprilfools, nor can I offer any advice HQ on diamorphine. Hopefully there are others out there in the know!

HQ - love the thought of birthing to Abba with the glitterball going round

Marchmum - I'll join you in the still enjoying being preggers (shhhh emoticon).

Had my GP check-up yesterday - all fine, baby heads down, but not yet engaged (35+2 so that's ok). Asked if it hurt when weeing (which it doesn't) but he's sent sample away for testing, so I guess something showed up!

Ah, thanks MB - I didn't realise pethidine was essentially the same as diamorphine. That makes it easier as I'm not keen on pethidine unless I really need it.

I'm sat here a bit down in the dumps. I finished work yesterday and was planning my first day of mat leave to involve making cakes for DH (and me, of course...) But I've just had my 34 week check and have a trace of sugar in my urine. So now I have to go for a fasting blood test on Monday and the doctor has told me to cut back on all sugar in my diet to make sure it doesn't develop further. I'm also a bit worried that this could stop me being allowed to use the lovely birth centre which I got so excited about last night, as they said they won't take anyone with complications. I'm just hoping that this isn't gestational diabetes yet and that I can turn it round through diet, but not eating sugar is going to be really really hard. Sigh...

Ah - cross post merryberry - I didn't realise it's pethadine by another name. I too am going to refuse this one (will go straight from gas and air to epidural if needed)

Yes, my birth plan also has me going from pool and gas and air straight to epidural if possible.

don't fret yet about the GD HQ love if you only got a trace result, might have been your last meal! Cutting down sugar will really help stabilise levels if there is a problem, if you get some sort of borderline result from the gtt get a senior midwife to argue your low risk case for you!

have lots of cheesy treats instead ?? Home made cheese straws? mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I don't know what it is, but I've got some sort of addiction to blueberries at the moment. I've been buying them by the truckload. Thankfully, they've been on offer at Waitrose!

But seriously, I've had to make many batches of blueberry muffins to keep up with my consumption. And I put them in my porridge/cereal. And in my yoghurt.

I. can't. stop. eating. them.

But I tell myself they are good for me, even in muffin form!

As far as GBS, I asked about it a few weeks ago, and MW said they don't routinely test as you can be positive one test and neg the next, or vice versa. So, they figure it's not overly accurate. I had considered doing it privately, but haven't thought about it recently.

Suggestions please for what I could do this weekend to keep busy. DH is in Amsterdam for Sat Sun and Mon, so feel as though I should do something, but what?! Can't really get much further than eating what I like.

oh FNCK OFF british gas.

have a debt colelction agency notice for random period at last rental including time not lived there. 77 quid only. makes me spit with anxiety tho aS i know how this crap escalates.

two phone calls later, bpo thru roof. just feck off you incompetent muppets AAAAARGH

You tell 'em Merry!!!!!

turtle23 come and do my ironing?

[insert cheeky emoticon here]

Last time round i was really anti pethidine when 'planning' my birth but after a long latent stage (3 days and nights of contractions at home) it enabled me to rest and relax, in one of the articles it says that when sleep deprived your pain threshold is lowered, i agree it can get like that.

The pethidine knocked me out for an hour, then i woke up bolt upright and announced to dh i was pushing so he had better get the midwives! I did then use gas and air as i pushed and baby was out soonish, she immediately latched on and fed as i was having a physiological third stage so wanted to feed to get placenta out.

I think the important thing was as i was birthing in a birth centre and trusted the midwives i was able to confidently follow her advice regarding pain relief, that would be the ideal for everyone. I think dd may have been sleepy the following day and didnt feed well in the day but fed all night, this could have due to the pethidine or purely because she had day and night reversed when she was born, which took a week or two to change.

I would def prefer having pethidine in the circs i did to an epidural as after an hour when the placenta was out i was up and about cleaning baby and having a shower unaided, whereas with an epidural i would have needed time to recover. I may have had a low dose though which could account for it wearing off fast.

I think that all options have a plasce in different labours and circumstances and it is best to go in with an open mind, although reasonable to have prefernces you shouldnt rule anything out as it becomes and added pressure when you want to change your mind in labour but feel you cant.

Thanks littleducks - it's really good to hear your story. I think my plan is generally that I don't want to go down the drug route if I don't have to, but as it's my first I could have a really long latent phase and then you're right that I may want something stronger to assist me along. I think you're spot on about sleep deprivation leading to lower tolerance of pain - I find sleep deprivation gives me a lower tolerance of everything!

I'm sat here eating a not at all sugary lunch of stir fried veggies and cashews with egg-fried rice. Basically having a big cupboard and fridge clear-out and cobbled this together. Irony of the day: just 2 hours after being told to cut out sugar from my diet, my Amazon order arrived, including a copy of Nigella's How to Be A Domestic Goddess... I had my morning tea with no biscuit while looking at all the photos of cakes and salivating

Oh, how woeful am I? I need to cheer up - I don't have to go back to work for 13 months, and I'm off to see Strictly Come Dancing Live tonight at the O2

HQThat really is ironic. Lots of savoury recipes in Nigella too though. Am v jealous of your trip to the O2 tonight.

Slightly worried that my dogs might have a strange canine sixth sense, and know something I don't. Boy dog has been extremely restless all morning, and girl dog is following me around everywhere, and keeps stretching her oaw out to me and whining. Both are fed, walked and watered, so it's a bit out of character. Could do without it coming today...

HQ - I had a trace of glucose in my urine at my 28 week appointment(which incidently was shortly after Christmas)My midwife didn't seem overly concerned and said if the next test was the same I'd have to go for the gtt. At my next test at 32 weeks everything was fine. I put it down to the copious amounts of chocs I ate of the festive period as a I really cut back on sugar after that. Try not to worry too much - everything will be fine.

Thanks to everyone for your comments on GBS. I feel a bit let down by the amount of information available from health professionals and still don't really understand how they realise if your baby has it. Got 34 week check on Monday - think I'll ask then.

ive put on almost 3 stone, and ive put on the same amount with my last 2 as well. im trying to be a bit more sensible though as i have been eating anything thats not fastened down

i have a massive craving for blood oranges but sainsburys had ran out last night so i had to have normal ones instead

i had meptid with dd1 and pethidine with dd2, with dd2 it was more a case of i paniced at the thought of the head crowning so demanded it. she was born half an hour later with no probs but the pethidine hadnt particularly kicked in so i was high as a kite afterwards. hopefully ill manage on g&a this time but its always best to try and be open minded about these things.

Thanks aprilfools - that makes me feel better! I'm hoping this is the same with me. I have been having more sugar than usual - because I've been finding water has been tasting odd, I've been having a lot of squash whereas I normally just drink plain water so my sugar intake has gone up substantially through that. So I'll cut that out as well as choc and cake and see what happens.

Oh spugs - now you've got me wanting blood oranges. I love them!

I have to agree with spugs and littleduck about keeping an open mind. With dd my 1st stage was 27hrs and this was at home with a tens machine which I found fab, however, once I got into the pool at 5cm I started to lose the plot because of being exhausted. Pethidine would have helped no end. It stays in your system approx 2hrs so ok in the early 2nd stage usually, especially for a first baby.

I have to also add that pethidine and diamorphine are not the same drug. They are both controlled drugs but have different life spans etc.
I suppose there are pros and cons to all pain relief. Epidurals can hinder the feel of contractions and being able to feel them to push at the right time etc.
Keep an open mind.

MOBTK off to email you back !

Oh and on the sugar in urine thing, try not to worry. I had a trace in mine last week (having already had a GTT due to size of dd) and the nice MW reassured me that it was likely to be the Frosties I'd eaten for breakfast .

You ladies have been nattering away. I've been relaxing on maternity leave and am now bored of being pregnant. Been having baths with lavender oil and taking my rasp leaf tabs to help things along.

HQ I love Domestic Goddess, the coconut macaroons are devine.

Have been feeling rather uncomfortable down there with dull pain since yesterday. Think it's the baby getting lower. no other signs though.

I'm getting that dull ache downstairs too and closing my legs is starting to get uncomfortable.

Is anyone else getting really absent minded? I can no longer go to the supermarket without a shopping list. Last week I had to leave Sainsburys because I could not remember when I was there. Today I came home from the corner shop without a pint of milk, which was why i went there in the first place.

'Last week I had to leave Sainsburys because I could not remember when I was there.'

In my last week at work I packed up a manuscript to send out to a freelancer, and when it was all securely taped up realised that not only did I have no idea who I intended to send it to, but I had put my notepad and ruler in the parcel too...I quite like the absent mindedness though. It amuses me as much as it amuses other people.

Oooh, SHHayls - are you in publishing? What sort of freelancer were you sending a manuscript to? Just asking cos I'm planning on setting up shop as a proofreader (and ultimately copy editor) in a few months so I can work from home and if you know the business, I can pick your brains!

Anyone else feel constantly in pain? Something is always aching at the moment and I've had enough!!! Only 4 more days until I can safely start wishing for LO to make an appearance, but I'd be really annoyed if she showed up now and I missed my home water birth by a matter of days.

Derah, I know what you mean about always aching! If it isn't one thing, it's another. I've also developed a crop of spots on my chin which really pi**es me off!

Have just found out that my SIL, due on 4th April, has been admitted to hospital with pre-eclampsia. They are saying she'll def be there til Sunday but that she may be able to go home then on bed rest. I thought a positive pre-eclampsia test would automatically mean staying in until the birth? Anyone know anything about this?

P.S. Spugs, you must have been skinny as a rake before pg if you've put on nearly 3 stone! In your profile pic you look rather svelte!

Loads of chat! You all seem to be so organised and know so much about the different pain relief things and stages of labour, I have forgotten everything from ante natal classes. I don't have any kind of plan - but have got a TENs machine.
MW today - baby 1/5 engaged! Sounds alot to me but mw said it doesn't mean anything - it's definately uncomfortable though! any experiences about how long after engagement LO might arrive?
Feel inspired to pack hospital bag today - think I've got all the baby stuff butbwhat sort of clothes/pj's/nighties might I need?
Have a lovely weekend all!