Babes in Scotland this year - shall we have our own thread?

[whinegums]

Hi, I can't see any up to date antenatal threads for mums to be in Scotland, anyone want to join in this one? I think there are a few Scottish mums on the due in June thread, so I wondered if we should have our very own for all of this year's Scottish crop?

Hi everyone

I'm not used to posting - have just been looking (or bein nosey) at what others have had to say for the past 4/5 months...(learn a lot from here as dont see midwife or get much from her that often and classes dont start till 27 May!)

Anyone had a babes at Wishaw General? Just moved outside Glasgow before becoming preg and dont know anyone who has - and everyone else is giving scare stories about it?? Trying not to listen but realy thinking of asking to switch to PRM. (live in the middle, but now with Lanarkshire HB)

Due 30 June

Dont like asking people too much questions, I'm quite shy and cant even get myself to ask mum what its like!!! i'm just a woose and have not been thinking about the birth at all - scared if I do it will freak me out too much as I'm a worrier at the best of times!!

Hi mockingbird - you ask away honey! Any questions you want answered there's sure to be someone on here to help

Don't listen to scare stories from other people - just make sure you are happy with the care you are given and if there is anything worrying you - ASK!!

xxx

Had 4D scan - WOW!!!! My little girl is lovely....it was amazing...I will post pictures when I get them uploaded xx

Hi minipinkscottish - Thank you.

I got a 4D scan also last week - the pics are fantastic!!! Have been uploading them bit by bit.

Felt I had to realy cause only got the one scan at 15 weeks and never took any tests so just wanted some reassurance everything "looked" ok but only head shots as we want a surprise.....

Did get a wee look a the spine also (as babes had their back to us at first!!) and everything was fine there too.

I just cant wait to be a mum, babes already taking the pee out of dad (stops moving every time he puts his hands on tum he he)

Great pics mockingbird.....good luck with labour.....feeling any twinges at all yet? First baby? They can take a while....my first ds was 18days late and I was induced....2nd ds was late also and was induced....3rd ds was a week early and born within 2 hours....then dd was 6 days early and arrived in 1and half hours and last ds was born 1 day early at home in 40 minutes So it does get better with practice!!!!!! xx

Thanks

No twinges yet, but lots of movement. first baby and had no sickness etc feeling great just more tired and cant wait to finish work 5 weeks to go. (loads of annual leave to use up before mat begins)

Mums had 4 but hasnt told me what me or first bro was like and can remember her 3rd (sis - nearly had her in taxi on way to hosp) and 4th (bro - walked around town, came home @ 1230ish got her bag and born before 2pm) cause was in teens at the time and they were really quick.

Hi Klaw,
Ask away!
Well with dd I was 11 days over and had induction, think I just agreed to it at the time.
DS was 11 days over as well also induction.
But I suffered Pnd after birth of ds which Has been controlled with sertraline. I lowered my dose about two thirds of the way through this pregnancy, but stopped completely 3 weeks ago to avoid the baby having withdrawals.
I now think this was a wrong decision for me as I have been feeling shit ever since, crying all the time, feeling really low.
I didnt want an induction this time as I ended up having a forceps delivery last time, but I think the way I am feeling contributed to me agreeing to induction th9is time {just want to get it over!}
Anyway had a sweep Wed., nothing happened and midwife is phoning me in the morning to fit me in for a sweep tomorrow (hopefully)
Jaqx

Mockingbird, pictures are lovely!
Every single birth is different so pointless listening to horror stories!
You will sail through it Im sure

Well Jaq39, you could decide to put off the induction for a few more days if you wish. If baby's checks are fine and your checks are good too there should be no reason to induce merely for dates. It's obvious that you carry your babies longer, cos you've had to be induced every time.

I refused to let them book me in at first, cos induction for VBAC is not a great idea, then they did book one for 42 weeks. I got cmw to cancel it and arrange to see cons instead. actually saw a registrar who booked me in for Expectant Management for the the next few days and suggested a sweep which I accepted, It was the 3rd time we tried since 41 weeks and was the only time they were actually able to reach cervix to do it.(went into labour that night and had baby at 42+1) I had a Bishops Score of 8 so if mw gives you a sweep ask for Bishops score so you can consider whether or not to go ahead with induction. Personally, if a Bishops score is 8 or 9 I don't think you need to carry on with induction as it's obvious your body is getting ready to labour anyway so why interfere? Have a good chat with mw about pros and cons, enquire about expectant management, remind her of previous gestations...

There are risks to sweeps:

Infection
accidently breaking your waters and so sets the clock ticking
discomfort/PAIN
demoralising if they can't do it or nothing happens
could start off some contractions over night which then tail off leaving you exhausted
only works if you were going to go into labour anyway so why stress yourself?

But in my eyes I see the pros as being able to show you if labour is at all likely to start and if one is successful and they work Bishops Score out to be fairly high you can then KNOW that your body is preparing and that it won't be long, iyswim

I understand your worries about ADs. Sertraline is my AD of choice and I send HUGS! Baby will be here soon and so you can start them again if you wish. I commend you for trying so hard to do the right thing, but remember that you must look after yourself first and foremost in order to be there for your children.

If you wish to contact me offline I am available via email or phone, endlessly! Seriously OK? Check out my profile to find contact details. No obligation

Remember, it's YOUR choice

not mine
not mw
not consultant

but you should be given all the info and careful checks to make an informed choice

not one of us as mothers would take unecessary risks but we don't often get told the real risks associated with procedures we are offered, and most often we are made to feel like we have no choice, when actually they have to get our permission to lay a finger on us.

Sorry, I'm sounding a bit ranty, excuse me!

Amazing pics minipink + mockingbird! Your babes are gorgeous! mp, I think you should go to the AN classes if for no other reason than the other mothers could benefit from your experience.

Further to what klaw said, jaq39, when my waters broke with dd but I didn't go into labour, all the junior drs I saw were very keen to induce after 48 hours but the consultant (who I never saw; they just spoke to him on the phone) was fine with me waiting a few days. I think the less experienced drs can be very keen to intervene so if you are feeling pressured by them do try to see someone higher up. And whatever you decide best of luck and we await your good news!

I had my 12 week scan this week so saw dc2 for the first time-- I've been feeling a bit low the past couple of weeks but that cheered me up no end! I guess I can tell more people now but as I've been unable to keep my trap shut since about 8 weeks there are very few who don't know.

Thanks for the advice - and i dont think you are ranting Klaw, you obviously feel strongly about the subject.
I will think on it, but after another bad day I think I just want to have my baby now!
My bishops score on Wed was 5 by the way.

Mybabysinthegarden - its hard to keep pregnancy secret! I was crap - told everyone!

klaw,

can i ask where would you find information about waters breaking then your labour not starting , whats your choices and what the medic recommend.

thanks

Yes I suppose I do Jaq39! I did a lot of research into induction when I sailed past 40 wks with dd...

As I post a lot on a VBAC board I've seen far too many women planning their VBACs after having an emCS due to failed induction and it saddens me greatly that women are stuck on a conveyor belt rather than treated as individuals and their own circumstances considered.

Induction can be a valid tool when baby needs to be born, is safer out of the womb rather than inside... but too often women are induced, and made to feel like they've no option, purely becuase they haven't given birth by a certain date.

We all have different menstrual cycles, ovulate at different points, gestate our babies for different lengths of time. Factor in the fact that they (the HCPs) trust a machine (complete with operator error) to tell them when we conceived and it all ends up like a bit of a farce, frankly.

So, for the next few days I suggest that you enjoy a nice soak in the bath or stand in the shower with water hitting your lower back, a massage from dh, a good comedy which makes you laugh from the depths, dimmed lights, lavendar in the oil burner, screen all unecessary phone calls, some nipple stimulation and get an early night so that you can rest as much as possible, thereby priming your body to do what comes naturally.

Thinking of you and wishing you a lovely birth when the time is right. (preferably before induction )

jaq39 - totally agree with klaw try natural methods to get you going. Do you have a breast pump> If so use it gently...it worked within a few minutes with baby number 5 for me....good luck

Ihateironing, sorry I missed your post. I have to go out now so will get back to you later if that's OK?

You should have birthed within 96 hours and most labours will begin within 24 to 48 iirc. However many HCPs jump the gun and want to induce after 18 hours. The risk of infection increases so it's important not to have VE and perhaps to shower rather than bath, change pants regular....

I was with a lady last year who thought her waters had gone, we tried to encourage labour for 36 hours, I then went home. Saw lady a week later, her bump visibly increased to waters having replenished and she gave birth 10 days after the hindwaters (as it turned out) had initially gone. At home, in her birth pool, It was fab!!!

Will get back to you, as I say, with some research based links.

ihateironing, (me too!) NICE guidelines say you can wait up to 96 hours (though as Klaw says, hospitals often want to do it earlier) but I went over 120 before saying, sod it, let's get this nipper out! They just told me to take my temperature regularly, no baths or nookie, and I went in every day for FHM. I think it's more usual for the waters to go after labour has started though; and if not, often the baby 'sinking' down and pressing on the cervix will get things going. In my case I think dd was a little sideways so maybe didn't drop down properly, but that is just my entirely unmedical opinion based on reading lots of MN! I'm sure klaw will be back with more scientifically-based info for you.

Ihateironing a few links to read through:

www.gentlebirth.org/archives/prom.html

www.radmid.demon.co.uk/prom.htm This is a page which has various discussions from various health care professionals so there is a variety of opinion and also practice, depending on where they work. It's up to you what you take from it and I thinks it's important that women read for themselves and make up their own mind, depending on what is important to them.

Is this enough for you?

Morning everyone, Klaw, interesting reading on induction.

I have to say, yesterday's Parentcraft class was loads better, that mw must have been having an awful day last week, because she was really nice this time. And kept reminding us we could refuse interventions, and saying that the mws try to keep the docs out, especially when they are trying to keep to the hospital policies on timing, etc. So she went way up in my estimation!

I think my birth plan will just say 'Bugger off and leave me alone unless there are any real and serious contraindications.'

Hi mockingbird - you must be finishing work the same time as me, at the end of May? I'm counting the days now (21 actually!).

Hope you're all doing well.

whinegums - have CATed you from other thread! feeling all technofriendly now!

mockingbird might be difficult to switch between healthboards from Wishaw to PRM as they are funded separately? think you would need to have a valid personal reason rather than heresy? Have you asked to go and have a look around? ask your MW about any negative stories that you've heard! Wishaw should at least be nice and clean as it is so new.

Also, remember that people always tell scare stories because they are far more interesting than everything-went-well-and-it-was-quite-nice-thanks stories!

Well done Laura!

Hello everyone! I'm still hanging in there. Suddenly feeling VERY pregnant today which is weird, but no signs of baby.

How are you getting on jaq39? Soph - are you there?

Off to get a cup of RL tea ... again ...
if nothing else it gets the BH's going which at least makes me feel like there's some hope of baby arriving this year .

I haven't been on here for ages - family vacation (which was lovely). northeastmummy - you're getting me excited with your VERY pregnant comment! Somehow I don't think I'm going to clue in that I'm having a baby soon until I've seen yours in your arms!

I'm off to prenatal yoga this afternoon which has me very happy - it's such a lovely class.

aberdeen - your comment made me well up . All part of how I'm feeling today I think. I've puffed up a bit too ... and was out for lunch with a friend and could barely concentrate with all the twinges and pains in my belly.

I'm reluctant to get my hopes up though. There's still nothing very definite. Just a vague feeling of something going on!!

aberdeenhiker, does Judy teach your yoga class? She's lovely, isn't she?

Klaw - yes, Judy does my yoga class. I went to her last time and did her active birthing course too and find her so calming and helpful!

northeastmummy - progress is progress - you'll get there soon! (Please say the same to me when I'm overdue!)