Due Dec 08 -- Getting Ready for final push (in every sense!)

[Beans33]

Here's a new thread for us all lovely Dec Mums!

Hello Jolly. My bump feels tight and achey some mornings. Is that what you mean? And it feels horrible if I walk too fast, a pressure against it like G-force.

WHich reminds me - Arti, if you are out there, hope you're feeling a bit brighter my dear.

Right, MUST get ready now or I'll miss my train!

X posts badly there - sorry to everyone I've missed. WIll catch up later on if I get time, otherwise tonight. XXXX

trace and abby thanks for those CS stories, really good to hear them and you make it sounds much less scary than the usual horror stories of crash sections. If it's planned, or you have a bit of warning, must be much easier to make it more how you would like.

Anyone want to hear an amusing catheter story from when DH was a medical student?! (it's ok, no ladies are hurt )

DON'T READ ON if feeling delicate.

Chap needed a catheter putting in to relieve a bladder blockage that meant he hadn't been able to pee for about 24 hours. For blokes they use a kind of anaesthetic gel that helps both to numb the area and slide the tube into the little chap more easily. Junior doctor has a try, fails, has another try, still fails, chap looking rather uncomfortable but doesn't complain, he's a stoic type, fought in the war etc and is pretty hardy. After the 5th failed attempt, junior doc calls the senior doc on duty who gets the tube and pops it in first time. Patient is duly relieved of his bladder pain, smiles greatly, and says "Thank you so much doc, it went in much easier when you used that gel stuff"

Thanks Chutney. That is super helpful and reassuring, thank you, and I may well email you anyway. As for the steriliser, I wouldn't want to put you to the trouble of putting it in the post, or certainly not unless I send you postage. I am not 100% not coming to the lunch; it depends on when my driving retest is going to be.

LT no, I completely understand. It's a daunting prospect, especially if you've not done it before (I'm nervous too). I'd had 3 days of labour last time so they could have done anything and I wouldn't have cared. Going in without labour is going to be odd, and I think it does take some thinking through. That's why the thread was really useful. You aren't making a fuss at all - I think it's natural to question what will happen and to feel anxious about it. I wish I could do a link for you to the thread, but I'm a bit rubbish! People were really reassuring.

LT I'll bump it then at least it's near the top when you get a chance.

JJ Ouch. Poor man!!

cat i have been to one homebirth group in Nottingham (i'm in Derby) and it was great but i am doing a course at the moment working towards a breastfeeding support/helper (eventually counsellor) qualification and it's on the same day as the group and in the opposite direction but it was def worth it and might help you with the risk assessment.

I am quite looking forward to the birth now i had DS privately with an independent Midwife group in London and it was a brilliant experience. We were going to try to go NHS this time but they have been a bit crap with things up this way so we opted for private again a few months ago and very happy.

Chutney I have finshed work. I should be able to get a bit of a rest today. But I HAVE to pack my bag today. If I don't get it done soon then I'll probably go into labour with all my stuff still at home unpacked.

LadyT - Just to add my experience, in case it helps. I also had an emergency section and it was absolutely fine.

Re the epidural/spinal block - what they do is get you to sit up with your spine curled. They first give you a jab of local anaesthetic (regular injection) so when the epidural needle goes in you don't feel it. Nothing like a lumbar puncture, which can be a nasty business! If the anaesthetist gets it right (which was my experience), its no trouble at all. In fact in my case, complete bliss, as I hadn't slept for about 3 days and finally got to feel human. They also check its kicked in. The only thing to watch out for and it happened to a friend of mine, is that if they nick the membranes when the epidural goes in you can get some blinding headaches - if that happens they can patch it up very easily, just make sure you get sorted if it does!

Like traceface, have no memory at all of the catheter, so again, assume they put it in after the anasthaetic.

The op itself was pretty civilised. Everyone introduced themselves, the radio was on (madonna I think) and I remember making random small talk with the lovely anaesthetist. DH was with me on my side too. I am blind as a bat, so without glasses or contacts couldn't really see too much. When DD came out, DH went with her to see her get weighed etc while I was stitched up.

I got DD in recovery, where I think we spent about an hour or so, before moving to the ward.

Physically I was in OK shape after the op - none of the vomiting, wind, nausea problems that people talk about. No pain either - all fairly well controlled with the drugs they give you. Not that much to being examined either. The one annoying thing medically, is that after the op I had a drain (a kind of plastic container attached to me by a tube to collect gunk - lovely!). You won't necessarily need one. The doc pretty quickly confirmed I didn't need it anymore, but I had to nag and nag to get the midwives or someone to take it out - but if you're at the Lindo(?) you really shouldn't have that kind of problem.

It was really only the first day/night or so that was really a problem - bending to get up (or across to get DD) was tricky for maybe the first 24 hrs, or not even that long. I would say be shameless about calling the midwives if you need them e.g. to start with I couldn't get DD out of her cot near my bed on my own very easily - don't hestitate to shout for someone to hand her over! Although to put it all in perspective, I only spent two nights on the ward after the op and certainly by the second day I was fine to get about the ward, get washed on my own, look after DD etc etc.

All in all, it was a remarkably unscary, untraumatic, unpainful experience! The main reason I am not going straight back for a section this time is that I think an inability to pick up DD for a few days will annoy her no end and I think all our lives will be easier if we limit the disruption for her as much as possible. For my part a section seems like the easier option!

i know we have all said this before but i will say it again that stupid article that had a go at women for having C-sections as the 'easy' way out was so far from the trueth it all sounds just as anxiety inducing and painful as labour. That women from the Tommy's charity should be ashamed of herself.

IH and chutney thanks as well for your CS stories, it's so helpful hearing all this positive stuff. It just reiterates that the way births are shown on the TV is sooo unrealistic, no wonder a lot of people get very scared of both CS and VB

I've been doing my best to do lots of affirmations and reminding myself that birth is what my body's evolved to do. A nice relaxed homebirth may not work out in the end but that's what medical care is there for - if the baby needs extra help it will get it and we'll both be fine.

Oh I just want to send a huge virtual hug to everyone on the thread in a slightly hormonal way. Within 8 weeks we'll all have met our babies and life will have changed hugely - but for the better [soppy icon]

Errr I lost my post. Damn and blast. Here we go again.

ladyT I suppose it is just general aches and pains of pregnancy, the weight of the baby etc.

Chutney I haven't had a c-section but had a big abdominal operation which left me with painful wind, and I'd echo your recommendation for peppermint tea. I must confess that it was so painful to hold it in that I used to let it out even if there were people there . However, I did have an arrangement with DH so that he'd say "oh excuse me", so people might think it was him!

JJ Ouch, poor man!

That's great, Invis, thank you. I was so absorbed in your description I am now going to have to get a later train! Yes, I am at the Lindo but I have never actually met any of the midwives there. I presume they're fine though. It's so great to hear everyone's experiences. Really reassuring. Although I want to hear if anyone's had bad times too, just so I can be prepared! I'm the type that likes to know, though I know not everyone is like this.

The only person I know who had a CS was a friend of mine who really was 'too posh to push' She asked for a CS on the NHS who told her they weren't too happy letting her have one because it is still major surgery. So she sold her car and went private.

She wanted to keep her figure and wanted to make sure down there was normal. She said if she has another baby she'll have another CS.
She said I was insane for not wanting a CS and wanting a VB.

Sold her car? Oh my. Keep her figure? How? I think it is probably worse for your figure, with scar, overhang etc! Gosh, I wish people would not assume what's right for them is right for everybody. Also, CS is not a choice for the vast majority of people. Anyway, I doubt you took much notice of her, Kayz!

You can all have your babies out of your noses for all I care, as long as you are doing what's right for you! I think that's the consensus on our December board, which is really lovely.

No I didn't pay too much attention. I did look at her like this when she told me she had sold her car.

For me the only problem with a CS is the epidural. I hate needles and I can't even think too much about an epidural without feeling sick.

kayz that is exactly my worry about an epidural/CS, the big needle - I think I'd prefer to handle lots and lots of pain than a needle in my back (but ask me again when I'm in labour and screaming for drugs cause I discover I have the lowest pain threshold EVER)

They asked me if I wanted an Epidural when I had DS. I was like NOOOOOOO!!!!! I struggled to have the pethedine even though it was so nice. I told DH if they said I have to have a CS I want to be under general anesthic(sp)

Tens machine and G&A for me I think. Though G&A made me feel very drunk and really sick it did work.

Oh Kayz, this is why one size doesn't fit all. I had pethidine when I had kidney stones earlier this year and I hated it! Now morphine, that's another story...

kayz, zj - honestly, don't worry at all about the big needle. The doc normally does a pretty good job of making sure you don't see the thing and you don't actually feel it going in as they'll have given you some local first. The drugs feel kind of strange going in - kind of like ice trickling down your legs, but not bad. And it is the most amazing thing ever to feel human again! I had contractions for about 3 days before DD was born - not awful, not unmanagable pain at all, I felt sort of OK all considered, but tired. But I hadn't realised what a zombie I'd become until the epidural kicked in - all of a sudden I really felt like a human being - could talk to people, have a laugh etc etc. Very strange. There are all kinds of reasons why you might not want one, but if you need one, they do an amazing job!

LadyT - sorry to have made you miss your train!!! Its kind of self indulgently nice to be able to talk about this stuff again. No one in RL really wants to hear the gory details, certainly not a year or more after the event....

Pethedine is a bit of a love it or hate it drug I think. From what I understand, it doesn't really take away the pain, just makes you not care about it and can be a bit weird and trippy. My BIL had it for something (obviously not in childbirth) and absolutely loathed it - the only thing he kept telling me is to avoid it and he is normally pretty mild mannered. I suspect its not a drug you'd enjoy if you are the kind of personality that likes to be in control...

Kayz, when i'm having the G&A i suck it back until the contraction reaches it's peak then stop, that way i didnt feel completely out of it and sick, though did love that completely out of it feeling. I when i say suck it back i did it with a vengence, the mouthpiece on the hose thing was all mangled, i have warned the MW to bring 2 mouth pieces. Although i am going to attempt to keep my jaw a bit more relaxed this time, i think i was a bit tight in that area and apparently that makes your pelvic floor tighten a bit.

Oh someone was atlking about old literature on BF, it reminded me of some swedish friends of ours and the video they were shown in their antehatal class in Malmo. It was very 70's and started off with a norwegian women cross country skiing. She comes tearing down some slope then stops in front of the camera and say something about BF being easy and that it won't get in the way of your everyday life, then she unzips her ski jacket ad flops out her poor infant who has been sucking away at her boob (apparently) the whole time!!!

Ooooh Pethedine was wonderful. I had it during the night when I was still in early labour and it meant I could get some sleep and had energy for labour. But I did have it again when I was about 20 minutes off giving birth and it didn't help and made DS very sleepy.

I did get a book about BF from the library, I can't remember what it is called and it was really bad 70's fashion and hair. I think I spent more time laughing at the pictures than actually reading it.

Interesting morning chat. I just made the mistake of reading a bit in the paper about the little baby in Tottenham. I just started to cry. And to know that my council once again has left a child to die in appalling circumstances....anyway. Sorry to be so

Welcome Cat - I am just up the road from you in N4 and due 3 days before you. Hope all goes well with having the homebirth! There's lots of us from this little triangle of North London so we should arrange a meet with babes sometime in Jan.

LadyT - LOL at having the baby out of our noses. Have you SEEN the size of my DC's heads . I found the technicalities of the CS really very interesting InvisableHand. Now I didn't know they shaved you and would NOT like that due to regrowth itchiness. Unlike LadyT I do not have a Hollywood - but always do got a pre-birth wax and a pedicure..I am also impressed LadyT that you have been maintaining said Hollywood yourself. I couldn't reach if I had to (the joy of SPD ).

Like Veggie I lurrrrrve G&A. It's like a massive Gin and Tonic. But I have decided to try and go without it this time because like you I clamp down a lot on the mouth thing and that doesn't go with Ina May's Law of Sphincter, eh! Also of course I will be totally blissed out on the rainbow relaxation state of Hypnobirthing. (Ahem - see my furture birth story for details of my attempt to decapitate a M/W who tries to remove the G&A...)

Kayz that's odd they gave you pethedine so near to the end of your labour. Did you catch them out by progressing v quickly at the end?

Just spoke to my SiL (you may recall she had a 8 week premature baby back in August). Am very cross because she was told by the health visitor (in Dublin) that she wouldn't give the baby her "12 week test" because she would probably "Fail" it. Hello? WTF? What kind of health care professional (a) starts talking about 12 week (5 week adjusted) babies "failing" tests and (b) doesn't realise that of course she shouldn't give the "test" until she is closer to 12 weeks in her adjusted age. I know that FGS/ Sorry for the rant. SiL is freaking out because there is some concern about lack of oxygen for a period at birth and the general worry of longterm problem due to prematurity....
Baby care is a bit backward in Ireland in my opinion. Imagine calling it a "test".

Turnip They said it would help me concentrate a bit more while pushing and as it was so good when I had it during the night I thought I'd have it again. Now I know it was stupid and probably was the reason we struggled at BF as DS was so sleepy from the pethedine.

The HV sounds bloody useless! Is there anyone else she can see?