Due Dec 08 - Braxton hicks, baby kicks and leaking nips!

[Veggiemummy]

that was Disenchanted's idea for a great title not mine

Ooh VeggieI so hope mine moves like yours - did your placenta cover the o/s at 20 weeks can you remember?

i don't know for sure hatty i just checked notes and they said that i had placenta previa and then at 35 week scan it had moved, i can't believe the want you in from 34 weeks, i have to say if teh midwives are saying that it doesn't sound good, and poo poo to that consultant. I really think they need to make an appointment for you tomorrow with someone to have a good talk about this, it seems if you hadn't asked you would be non the wiser, what is going with these people. Oh now i'm getting angry and teary. Where do you live Hatty i can't remember? if your anywhere up in the midlands and have to be admitted i will come visit you.

Hiya everyone,

No time to do a big catch-up (will try later) but just wanted to drop in quickly and say how sorry I am to hear about what's happening hatty. I can totally understand how you feel about experiencing childbirth - I was fortunate enough to have a successful VB last time and feel like even if I end up with a CS this time then at least I'll have had that experience. Plus the prospect of being hospitalised from 34 weeks when you've got your DDs at home, and all the added complications that would bring ... you must be feeling quite overwhelmed.

How long till your 32 week scan?

Oh Veggie please don't you get stressed too! Thank you for being such a sweetheart. I've left a message with the head of maternity, the consultant I originally saw but not the one that said that it would move and gave me the 70% likelihood.

I'm hoping that I can get some answers from the head guy. DH hopping mad too as you say what if I hadn't rung?

I've been lifting my toddlers in and out of cars, carrying washing upstairs, if it wasn't for my highly attractive varicose veins down below we'd have still been making love - all the things that seem fine with a normal pregnancy when you have kids already, but now I'm panicked and confused about what I should and shouldn't do .

Dh should be home soon so at least I can have a cuddle and early bed. I don't think this work is going to get done today . We're up in Yorkshire so sadly not too near you. And my mum's in bloomin' China til the end of the month, why does she have to be away now .

32 week scan on 31st October poison but praying I can get a few answers before then..

How can they expect anyone to suddenly at 32 weeks make childcare/work arrangements for a month at the drop of a hat for 2 weeks later?

i just scrubbed all the hand prints off the walls in the corridor upstairs so feeling better now. So will your mum be back in time for a possible admision? could she come down and stay while you are in to look after DD's.

I think for now you need chocolate, feet up and your DH to give you a cuddle and a spoiling. Oh and sorry to hear about those V.C.s that sounds nasty.

and thank goodness you did call them Hatty i think it's best to do as little as possible (if that is possible).

oh and a nice hot bath.

Oh hatty really really feel for you. I am so hoping it moves in time. Don't know much about praevia, but hope you get some good advice soon. Maybe they can bring your scan forward so that you can plan accordingly.

Oh hatty I think I told you about my placenta previa before. But anyway not sure how this would work with your blood problem, but anyway with DS mine was a grand previa which meant that it was completely covering the cervix. From about this stage onwards I was having regular bleeds and was in and out of hospital like a yoyo. It did move when I was scanned at 34wks it had gone completely out of the way. The fact that you have had no bleeding atall is positive you can request to be monitored daily instead of going into hospital also is there any way you can have an epidural instead of GA if it does come down to CS. Sorry if thats not helpful I just wanted to let you know all is not lost yet. I remember on one of my hospital visits being told there was absoloutley no way I was having DS naturally and to even think I would was ridiculous. I dont think they mean to be completely insensitive I just think some HCP havnt got a bloody clue.

Cheers Veggie, Turnip and Jam and everyone - I'm so sorry to be so miserable.

I will cling onto your stories, especially yours Jam did you end up having a normal delivery rather than c-section after all that? That's amazing.

DH and DD's came home with big hugs and a half-eaten flapjack that they had saved for me from their tea (cue more tears from me which DD's didn't get at all, how can anyone cry when given cake ).

Trying to re-evaluate everything and work out ways not to lift the girls into bath, getting them to climb on the seats into their carseats, not lifting a thing etc.

Hatty hope you are feeling a little better now you have had hugs from your dd's. I have just remembered by SIL had to have a CS with her first because of low lying placenta (i think) she didt have a full general anaesthetic (sp?) ..sorry what im trying to say is maybe even if you do have to have a CS there might be a way they will do it with a spinal block so at least you can be awake?

Cheers Reban - the problem with my blood platelets means that they drop so low that I am at risk of haemmoraghing in big surgery like section - I think the low platelets stop the blood clotting properly.

So last time, they had to knock me out and ban DH from the operating theatre in case I suddenly haeomarrgahed (sorry so tired my spelling has gone!).

So it's a safety thing and I know the main thing is that the baby is safe and me too - i just so hoped that this pregnancy would be a normal one with a normal delivery .

Sorry so self-absorbed I forgot to say I hope all is okay with the growth scan - I'm sorry you wont get your sweep, hope the baby continues to be okay.

Hatty: sorry to hear about the PP. As Jam said, it could move, so here's hoping it does. Friend had this severely and ended up with her baby being delivered early (33w I think) BUT all was fine* and her DS is now a strapping 6mo. Not sure about keeping you in: even after a couple of haemorrages she was given the option of staying at home (10 mins from hospital) or being admitted, she stayed in in the end for reassurance. But then she had several major bleeds, as Jam said the fact you have't had any bleeding is a very very good sign.

Reban: glad to hear the scan went well and they are sure your baby is fine

DS's birthday today, so we were out in the sunshine trying out his new tricycle (he is very excited about it, andhis new toys). Looking forward to Xmas now, he's at the age where he lvoes getting and opening presents .

also, can you request another scan rather than waiting and worrying until 34 weeks or whatever they said? How many weeks are you now?

hatty yes I did I had to go into hospital as soon as it all kicked off and they monitored me very closely DS turned back to back which was a bit of a nightmare but thats another story but in terms of the placenta previa delivered naturally.

I really hope it all goes ok for you call in as many favours as you can for help with the DD's. If it does come down to a CS a friend sent me this mail when I thought I was having a CS with some great recovery tips in it. She also said an elective CS is much much easier to recover from than an emergency one.

Have you got Big Pants? If you have a section, and frankly if you don't, you'll want the Big Pants in ginormous size for a while. They help keep the Big Pads in place and are much nicer than disposable pants. If you have a section you won't want regular pants for a while, even boys shorts style aren't going to cut it. Get thee to M&S and buy Big Pants, up to your waist, in 100% cotton and black. Which you can then chuck in the bin after a bit.

Also, trapped wind is a problem if you have a section and is so so so so SO painful. You get the pain in your shoulder, referred pain. Peppermint tea/cordial is a must!

Oh and to get out of bed, and remember this, lift up one leg and bend your knee 45 degrees, then put your hands behind the knee and lock them, and then pull towards you. Your tummy muscles are wrecked for a while and gettin gout of bed is hard, but doing what I've just described means you use your leg as a lever and is pain free!

What else. Sneezing is very painful. If you feel one coming, rub along your left eyebrow and it will go. Weird but works. Or lick the soft bit of the roof of your mouth.

My general advice would be to take all the drugs they offer for a few days, and get top ups before you feel any pain. Get out of bed ASAP, and stand up straight. The temptation is to lean over to alleviate the pain, but will make your recovery slower.

HTH for all the CS peeps.

Oh Hatty sorry to hear that. Really hope the placenta moves. With DS, mine had just moved out of the way enough at my 37 week scan to have a natural delivery so hope you are lucky too. I know it is upsetting, but if it doesn't move, at least they are on top of the situation.

Hatty I'm so sorry you're having such a difficult time. i don't have any advice but wanted to say I'm thinking of you.

reban so glad to hear that things are looking positive for you.

Happy Birthday to Master Perine, what a lovely day for it!

my goodness that CS recovery seems all too much, why would people actually believe that women would choose that instead of a natural birth, (refering to that stupid metro a few threads back) unless there was a legitimate reason. Sorry to all those having to have CS i have even more respect for you now.

Sorry, I haven't been on in a couple of days. I'll do a proper catch up tomorrow but in the meantime...

hatty sorry to hear about your pp, fingers crossed it will move & you get the birth you want.

reban glad to hear baby seems fine

minieffie happy birthday!

I've been staying away from the thread as I've been feeling a bit down & stressed over a couple of things. Its been making me quite hormonal and upset & I didn't want to bring the thread down. Hopefully, I'll be back tomorrow with a proper catchup and feeling much much better.

will be nice to see you on here again soon Rosemerta

Hatty I'm sorry to hear about your placenta praevia and possibly having to go into hospital early on. It does seem unfair when you so wanted a 'normal' birth this time round. I felt completely robbed last time too as DD's birth wasn't remotely what I'd hoped for - and this time I'll be having a c/s and am quite of those who get to pop out babies quite happily and then tuck into a cup of tea and biscuits without a care! Jam's advice sounds v good re c/s recovery - we'll both have to study any tips very carefully! I've been trying to work out how to manage post-op too, as I won't have any help once DH's paternity leave expires. (Your DD's sound v v v lovely, btw.)

rosmerta please don't worry about bringing the thread down. I think we've all had wobbly times at various points and I'm sure you'd get loads of support here, whatever it is that is troubling you.

I've not been on in a couple of days either. Work has gone completely MENTAL and I seem to have lost my usual ability to delegate like crazy/be assertive/stroppy (?) and get things back to a more manageable shape. I don't know if I'm just worried they'll think they can manage without me if I don't DO IT ALL - it's not like me at all to allow things to get on top of me. I ended up going to bed at 7:30 last night because I've worn myself out the past few days and DH got his head bitten off by asking me, "so what made you so late tonight then?" I took it rather badly and got all upset about how hard I'm working and never seeing DD and all the Braxton Hicks I'm getting etc etc - and so to preserve what was left (?) of my dignity I went to bed!

Just a quick one from me as I have so much to do before pre school etc.

Rosmerta - sorry you are feeling low. Anything we can help with? Big love to you honey.

Hatty, I am so sorry about your placenta. How are you feeling today? Hope you get the news soon so you can plan one way or the other. FWIW, I know someone who had complete PP and was allowed to stay at home and rest on the understanding that ANY bleeding meant straight to hospital. Not ideal when you have 2 DDs but may make things a little easier?

CS recovery - some good tips there thank you. I'd add industrial strength arnica tablets from the chemist, out of bed as soon as you can, take some prunes for the first poo and drink as much water as you can so your catheter can come out quickly. AM being hassled now to read stories and get children dressed but will be back later once i have thought of more.

Hope everyone is OK today.

Morning all

I hope everyone's feeling alright this morning. Hatty, how ar eyou doing? Rosmerta - I hope you're ok - chin up - I so know what you mean on the emotional front. Mine hasn't been too bad, but that's more because I tend to just put it off and put it off because I hate arguing with DH, which is inevitably how it resolves itself, then I end up having a bit of a melt down like I did on Monday.

Last night we put our cot together and it looks great. When we finished I burst into tears. I'm such a saddo! I bought these for the nursery last week, with the matching border, and they are gorgeous! Going up in a couple of weeks. Just thought they're kind of unisex, so doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl. DH getting excited about it!

Morning all, and hugs today to hatty and rosmerta - I hope you've both had a good nights sleep and can feel a little more positive today.

As a first timer I can offer no useful advice to hatty at all, but I do want to. Instead I'll be thinking of you and have my fingers crossed the placenta does move - 70% sounds a pretty good chance to me - more than two thirds!

In a strange way your story has reassured me - I have been very scared about needing a CS, mainly because I'm such a wimp and would want to be completely knocked out for it, which unless it's elective I don't think I'd get (I insisted on general anesthetic (sp?) for my wisdom teeth to be removed!) However hearing how removed you felt has made me feel better about being awake during it, should I need a CS. I'm sure this is no help to you at all, but you have helped me with this mental block of mine, so thank you for sharing.

xx

Rosmerta: please don't feel bad about posting on here when you're low, we've all had wobbly moments/extended periods. I'm sure worrying is an integral part of pg and tied up with those pesky hormones. But don't feel you have to suffer in silence (I certainly don't )