Due Sept '08: Bring on the babies!

[LittleConnie]

Well that was cutting it a bit fine...

lolly - so sorry to hear about your friend's baby. How devastating.

mamamufin - have you read Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth? I've just started re-reading it this morning and it is so reassuring about our bodies' ability to do this thing. She says how in the West we're overwhelmed with 'bad birth stories and experiences', and the first half of her book is birth stories, with the deliberate aim of giving you positive experiences to boost your confidence. The book isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I find it really helps stop me panicking every time I have those "how is this going to be possible?" moments.

starlight - crossed posts - I actually am KIND of looking forward to it, whilst also being really really nervous and aware of how tough it was both times before. But as well as being the hardest thing I've done physically, it's the most amazing experience.

mamamufin don;t be too worried i was really scared when pregnant with dd as ds's birth had ben so awful i had pethedine and gas and air and was in agony but the gas and air made me feel out of control and i think i was hysterical at one pointbut anyway i had decided to have an epidural with dd as couldn;t do that again, but my waters broke (with ds i was induced) and the hospital faffed me around by sending me home and by the time we had got back i delivered in 5 mins with no pain releif and it was so much easier second time roundam hoping this time he will just sort of drop out

am dead excited have midwife coming round with homebirth stuff this afternoon and after reading lolly's post am going to ask about testing for strep b but is it too late now am 36 weeks? i never had the test with the other two but my dh does know someone who's baby was infected with this too thank god she was ok but was quite poorly for a while afterwards

Hi all, how do we request a strep b test, do we go to the drs or mw or do we have to do it privately. Im 35 weeks now does anyone know when it is supposed to be done. sorry for all the questions.

Im starting to have nightmares about my vbac after 2 c sections that something goes wrong with my scar and the baby. I know I am panacking but was I foolish and should I have taken the c section. I know its not too late but just dont know what to do. I fought for the vbac when they all said no and here I am now back tracking. My reasons for wanting vbac are that I have never experienced going into labour, they have always been elective c- sects cos of extended breech and placenta previa. This time there is no reason not to other than the fact I have had 2 c sections. Really confused and not sure what to do.

Sassafrass I was just going to ask you if you were interested in seeing it. Of course you can have it. I don't think I have missed anything. I have gone through lots of webs run by midwifes and I have come up with the ideal one for me. It is a page A4 long. Shall I post it here? or do you want to post here your email address so I can send it to you? Whatever you choose you will see it today. OK?

I have made a copy to go with my maternity notes, but I will have another one in my hospital bag just in case they lose the other one.
This wednesday I am having another scan, I am 36 w. and a consultation with my consultant. I will show the birth plan to him then.I will let you know what he thinks about it.

Kel78 I am not having the test done this time because I am having and elective, but with my first I ordered a kit from "The doctorst laboratory" and send it back to them. The results were then sent to my MW and hospital. It costed 4 years ago about £18.00 and I had it done at 36 weeks.
So, YOU HAVE TIME TO DO IT.
216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:GGbgfRi2Y_4J:www.juniormagazine.co.uk/maternity_health/view/strep_b_wh ateverypregnantwomanshould_know/24.html+the+doctors+laboratory+strep+b&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=uk

Read that article, at the end you have the web and contact nbr for "the doctors laboratory" Phone them and tell them how many weeks you are and they will send the kit straight away. It contains 2 long cotton buds to be inserted by you in the vagina and the "rear one". You put them in different containers, label them and send them back to them.

starlight - my experience second time round was sooooo different to my first - so fingers crossed for you too. I'm not saying it was easy second time, definitely not, but I finally understood what women say about the amazing power of their bodies when they're in labour. It was awe-inspiring, rather than terrifying, if you see what I mean. First time I had a 3 day posterior labour, epidural, syntocin, ended up not even feeling the pushing stage, and the actual birth was all very remote and not what I'd wanted. My second daughter's birth felt like a real privilege, so I'm hoping for something a bit closer to that third time round! I should be getting good at this, right!? But then I look at my huge bump and think GULP, this can't possibly work!

Hi new thread!
lolly so for your friend, I tested + for group B strep in my last pregnancy, and am down to have IV antibiotics as soon as labour starts.
I was going to ask to be tested again this time at 37 weeks, and if - leave the antibiotics and try for a water birth, am a bit scared now the time is closer and hearing about someones loss.

With Dd my labour was only 2 hours and 20 mins and I think the antibiotics are supposed to have 4 hours before birth.
I don't know what to do now! I have the consultant on Thurs so will ask then, have a feeling I know what he will say though!

Have just packed my bag! Am 35 weeks this week and my 1st two have been born at 38 weeks, so am keeping my fingers crossed!

I am wondering if babe has dropped, bump seems lower, is solid, and i am getting alot of pressure and strong low BH.

Hi All

Lolly - so sorry to hear about your friend, that's so sad . I have heard some horror stories about GBS and just had a swab done recently as I've had it before a few years ago. Luckily it was negative but I am definitely going for the private one at 37 weeks as they are more accurate. I guess if there is any risk at all of having it I may choose the antibiotics (and lose the homebirth) but it would be worth it not to have a sick baby...

Pidge, thanks for your advice about the Kings midwives. I am feeling much more relaxed about things now and hope that the next few weeks will be uneventful! I've got 3 more weeks in work after this one and then I'm off - hurrah! Can't wait - have SO much to do and no time and my replacement starts on Monday and I've not finished my handover notes.

Can sympathise with the kitchen/mess. Ours is still not quite finished and yesterday I found a mouse running on the work surface! I hate them, yeurgh. Can't wait to seal up all the holes. And then we have to do the bathroom and paint everywhere! Not much time left.

I am quite excited about giving birth at the moment, but this does sometimes alternate with complete panic!

lolly so sorry to hear about your friend's baby. it's our worst nightmare come true. It definitely spooked me, but I've done my best to think postively throughout this pregnancy. I'll be asking the MW at my next appointment what my hospital's policy is on strep b testing. I think I had a swab when I was in hospital last week so they may have tested for it already.

Feeling knackered today and too full to eat (but hungry), wish my baby would drop.

sassa I'm most looking forward to holding my baby in my arms, seeing it smile for the first time and watching DH hold it.

just had my hb appt unfortunately haven;t been able to fill out my notes as they havent come despite them being posted on friday so i have to take them to my next appt in 2 weeks time!!

feel ok about the whole thing and am gald that i donlt need to have anything apart from some old towels and a lamp (incase i need stitches)

have been told i can visit my doc and arrange for pain releif other than gas and air can;t remember what she called it now it began with an m and she said that it's like pethedine but doesnlt make you feel out of control and sick so may go and get it just incase

baby has not dropped yet despite me feeling that the bump is further down than it was but his head is down and at the brim still so at least we are in the right direction

mellabella,
what state are you from? i'm from texas.

potxola gives the right link etc for StrepB testing. I went online and ordered my test a few weeks ago and it arrived within 2 days. it's free to get the test, incl free postage, then you (or DP) do one swab in vagina and one in rectum (nice ) and send them off. It costs £32 and they will even text you the results, within a few days. I'm only 34 weeks, and they advise 37 weeks is best time.

I had my 34 week scan yesterday and all good. My mw was concerned that baby was breech and very large via fundal height. but baby definately head down, spine to left and is only very slightly larger than average - they reckon final birth will be about 8.5lbs.

But then i was stupid in the afternoon and fell over bringing washing in - fell front-first slap onto concrete and right onto bump. Thank god DP was working from home as I was hysterical. He got me up, bless him, and I was all cut and bruised like a big kid. But my lovely local mw offered to come visit me at home when I called for advice. She popped in and listened to heartbeat and felt flumpet move. So relived and lots of kicks today - put things into perspective........

Oh and BTW, don't read the postings on the home page (pick of the day) about whether you enjoy being a mother - some of the Mnetters posts about how awful their lives are post babies are enough to make you seriously panic......

Imoscarsmum I can't believe how much the strep B test has gone up in price. It is awful. I remember I found out about the need of having the test done watching an interview with a doctor in "This morning" programme 4 years ago. If you all go to the web of this morning you would also find information about it. That made me decide to do it privately.
It should be free to all pregnant women. Lots of babies die and nobody seems to care.

mamamuffin we are all feeling a bit excited, scared and very hormonal about the whole thing.
I, for example, am scared of going into slow labour before the 27th and being told that they are not going to do the C-section. They don't have my records from my last labour and don't know how dangerous that was and they could insist to try a normal delivery.
I swear, if that happens, I would threat them with giving birth in the street calling my consulate, anything, I just don't trust their decisions. When you have had a bad experience you are ready for anything the second time. Besides, there is no way I am having a normal delivery without a Strept B test.
I have nightmares about it!!!
SO, you are OK. We are all pretty histerical about the whole thing

Potxola, my email is [email protected]

GBS isn't that straightforward an issue - the NHS will definitely test for it in certain circumstances - I was tested when my waters broke early last time and I know people who have been tested eg when they had a bleed late in pregnancy. Once they know you have it, generally (although policy varies) you will have to have IV antibiotics in labour which can mean your labour is restricted in certain ways... If your labour is not long enough your newborn may have to have 48 hrs of prophylactic antibiotics directly - so this means a large proportion of mothers giving birth or worse, new babies being born would have a large dose of ABs unnecessarily when only a miniscule percentage of babies would be infected. This is the argument against wholesale testing, quite aside from the fact that it can come and go so you can test negative one minute and be positive the next.
A lot of people quite sensibly take the approach that they don't want to take this tiny risk (particularly when you hear such devastingly sad stories as lollyheart's friend ) but I can see both sides.

I'm originally from Minnesota but I moved to the UK about 4 months ago

I read that approx 700 babies are affected by Group B Strep a year, so that's not many when you think of how many are actually born each year, although obviously it can be devistating as per Lollyheart's experience.

I asked my MW today about it and she said that anyone whos waters break early will be tested as there's then a risk of infection, but if your waters break at the same point as labour then they don't.

I now don't know whether to get a test or not, it seems a bit pointless if the infection can come and go like Slinki says ... decisions decisions.

Hi guys thank you for all of our reassuring posts. I am defo going to get that book thank pidge
Well, I was at the breastfeeding cafe this morning and spoke to a midwife I have known for years. I am so hormonal and tearful at the moment. I told her all of my fears and distress/panick. It really helped talking it thru. She is going to lend me a tens and suggested that I should remain at home for as long, long, long as possible to avoid this labour being as traumatic and medicalised as last time. I feel so much happier, I really hope I can remain at home. I wish they could provide gas and air though
Oh big thunder storm, powers going....

how awful to hear of your friends loss lollyheart, can't imagine the pain she's going through.

Starting to be a bit scared now....this baby is due a month today!!!! it's really got to come out AAARRRGGG!!!!

Hope you all well