Due April 2008 - the one where Mollyfloss does not have a rat!!

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Hope this works - and someone finds it

I was at the Doctor's this morning and we started planning my birthing plan. It goes something like this: call midwives if having 2 contractions every 10 mins lasting 40 seconds or if waters break or if there is any vaginal bleeding. Then the midwives will tell me what to do and keep in contact with me until it is time to come in. Labour companions: DH only. Monitoring the baby's heartbeat: Intermittent monitoring if all well. Ways of coping with pain: Possibly TENS machine at home and until arrival at hospital. In hospital, gas & air, might try pool for a while, I'm going to try to not have an epidural (have no idea why i'm doing this!) but am to be told when the point of no return is in case I decide I want one. Mobilisation is to be encouraged in first and second stage. If I manage wityhout an epidural I must think in advance of something to focus on when dialeted between 8 and 10 cm as this is the most painful stage. That's how far we got today. Does anyone have any comments?

Thanks v much for that link TA, would kind of make sense to be joint related as seems to be on baby movements.

For those of you pondering the BF/FF still, whilst shopping earlier thought id get a tin of 'just in case' milk, have previously used Aptmil - its now £7.85 a tin .

Molly sounds good, I found TNS really helpful with backpain - DS was back to back, but bit of a faff if you want to get in and out of bath as you have to keep taking it off.

Gas and air was fab but can make some people sick, have you got a back up? What about painkillers like co-codamol (ha) or pethadine?

The keeping mobile sounds great, even if you cant walk around its helpful to stay on your feet/knees/ball. I went from 3cm to 9cm just from walking around and swaying hips from side to side in an hour and half - didnt go any further but thats a diff story!

Pethadine seems to get the thumbs down from most people. In fact they are not using it atr all apparently in some hopitals. It is in fact a class A drug so you are on a trip so to speak. It can work brilliantly but then if it doesn't work for you (bad trip) then it takes 3 or 4 hours to wear off... that's what I've heard anyway...

I looooooved Pethidine... (happy memories). I hadn't wanted to use it at all beforehand but in the event when it was turning into a really long-drawn-out labour and I was completely knackered it was just what I needed. I made sure I didn't take any doses once I got past 5cm dilated, though, so that it would be unlikely to affect DS. Admittedly part of the attraction may have been that because they put an anti-emetic in with the Pethidine the bits of labour where I had it were the only bits where I wasn't regularly throwing up in spectacular fashion .

I loved pethidine- had it with all three so far.

Would haev it with this one but they don't do it any more, the antidote causes severe problems for the babies of drug addicts, and as sadly not all drug addcits admit their problems, it's a no-no for home births where there is no resuss equipment.

Think that's just local policy though.

VS www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1365/485890

Ah the birth plan ... questioned my mid-wife about this last week and asked was it necessary etc (second baby). She looked at me and said - no, you'll be fine - just keep active if you can (which we have discussed) - so that is that for me! Yours sounds good Mollyfloss. I just want to be able to 'grin and bear it' so to speak this time rather than have an epidural which I had last time.

Here is that link Mollyfloss - but think I may have nabbed the last one! sorry!!

Grrrrr... they're all gone! Could you tell me what is in it? I'm writing down my list of stuff to bring to the hospital right now. The hospital gave me one list, NCT another one and there is another one in my book so I am sort of picking and choosing from them all. It looks like I'll be bringing a lot more than I initially thought...who knew you should bring your own pillows

I have never taken a pillow into hospital. How bizarre!

If you just took a nightie for labour, one for after, bath stuff, lots of knickers, baby things including nappies and reams of maternity pads you'd survive, although your DP would have to do a few top ups- anything else is optional, and should be what helps you get through.

Ive just got a few coloured muslin clothes as lost 3 or 4 white ones last time in the hospital laundry.

Thanks for that link Peachy I do like to do my bit for the VBACers amongst us

Hey

I had a long bath and a lie down on my left side and it calmed down at about 5.30pm. Back uncomfy still, Millie still active so all OK. I am seeing MW tomorrow anyway so will mention it. Thanks for the help and concern

Glad to hear you're doing better Scorpio.

I think I will keep my hospital bag to a minimum as I hate having gtoo much stuff with me when I go anywhere. Still, it's interesting looking at these lists to see what they suggest... Has anyone heard about herbal pack for going into labour? Apparently you can buy a made up set of herbal stuff that will help you get through labour...

lol - that herbal pack sounds illegal to me!

Glad you're feeling better Scorpio

God you could fill a labour bag with all sorts of crap!!

I just needed a nightie and a flannel during

there's some funny stuff on these lists alright. What about entertainment: cards, a puzzle etc. as if I would be in the mood to play cards! I'd quite like to bring my laptop if only they had wifi and write to everyone on this thread and get some support, now that would help!

You could plug your laptop into your mobile Molly and we'll cheer you on

I could even do a live webcam! Can you imagine? I bet there is someone somewhere who has done that!

yeah and we could have pom-poms!

I was on the phone telling my Mum all about my birth plan and how I am going to at least try to go through labour without an epidural (but obviously if I change my mind thaht's fine). My Mum predicted that I will be demanding that epidural withing 5 mins of arriving at the hospital. Unfortunately, I think there is a good chance she'll be right!

Anyway, one thing that is defintely going in my bag is a nice bottle of champagne. I may not have it the second the baby pops out but as soon as I feel up to it I'm downing a glass. I haven't had any alcohol since becoming pregnant which is a big deal for a wino like me

i havent either Molly we are keeping champers here too. you will be fine!

The NCT woman told us today to take something to clean the bath with at the hospital in case we want a bath after labour. Said she had seen lots of dirty baths with blood in them from other labours. How grim is that!!

Just realised I think I have had a few braxton hicks contractions over the last few days without realising! Felt like bad tummy pain when you have bad constipation. Didnt last long though but made me stop for a minute. Would that be them?

That is so gross about the bath.

I can't wait to have some champagne here too.

I want the option of the epidural but at the moment I am down to go to the home from home centre at St Thomas' ... the midwife said I'd be fine without it (I am not so sure) although I told her the epidural sounded like heaven to me. A couple of my friends changed their minds about the epidural but it was too late.