Due September 2005 - Thread 6

[PiccadillyCircus]

Here is another new thread .

HI VF - have fun at your scan - will you be telling us what 'flavour' you're having?? Just did the Chinese predictor, and apparently I'm having a girl - will confirm in September . Have to admit, that's what I think I'm having too (although the way it's thumping me from the inside at the moment, it could well be a boy ).

Just been reading an old thread about group B strep. I now feel lucky to have been diagnosed and having read it, would recommend you all get a private test (cost £28) done as the NHS test is not done routinely as it gives lots of false negative results. Here is the link if you're interested.

andif- just read about strep b as never heard of it before, yet its really common apparently. maybe you can still have a waterbirth, being on a drip can be a pain but you can walk around with them etc so maybe they will let you have a waterbirth still.

Hiya all,
Havent been about recently, what with one thing and another!!
Had our 20week scan today, and everythings great. Both me and dh wanted to find out the sex (we did with our ds1), but the babys' hand was in the way, so got another 20weeks left before we know!!!

Hi all,
went for the scan and it was so great, everything looks normal. and the babys flavour is...... PINK! i am so happy its a girl now i can go out and shop til i drop and buy beautiful pink stuff lol. The gender prediction thingy was right too!

I also has a look round queen charlottes birth centre and it looks great, very relaxing rooms with bean bags and balls and birthing stools, the only hospitaly looking thing was the tube coming out the wall with the gas and air. which all 2nd/or more timers will know thats an essential bit of kit.
best thing about it was that the room you give birth in is the room you stay in after, and your partner can stay too on a roll out bed. It also has an en suite too.
I was considering a homebirth but now i have seen how comfortable the birth centre is i think i will stick to that as i can maybe have a water birth there too. hiring a waterbirth pool would be a nightmare in my badly plumbed flat, so not really an option.
well sorry for going on so much am just so excited

aww I'm pleased for you VF! I'm having a girl too

Congrats VF - what a lot of girls! Mind you, it's always less definite when they say it's a girl - I have a couple of friends who did the pink thing and ended up with boys! Personally I won't believe it til I see it!!
Feeling less down about the Strep B today, but feel like I'm getting sinusitis - one day I'll have a reason to stop moaning!!

Andif - here's something to smile about: tomorrow you'll have beautiful feet !! And it's Friday today!! [grin}.

VF - a girl - YAY!! Seems to be a lot of girls - does anyone know that they're having a boy? We haven't found out, but I'm secretly coveting the girls things in Baby Gap

Anyone thought about the great nappy debate (i.e. disposable vs. cloth?)? My current thinking is that I'll start with disposables until we get over the first month (think I'll have enough to worry about without worrying about all the extra washing as well), and then switch. Knowing me I'll get to comfortable with the convenience of disposables and all good intentions will go out the window . Have heard there are some biodegradable brands of disposable nappies out there, so thought I would look into those. Any advice from those experienced Mummies on the thread gratefully received...

I have to confess I've already rejected the idea of washable nappies. We don't have a tumble dryer so washing and drying stuff is already going to be a nightmare and I just don't think I can cope with washable nappies as well.

So envious of all of you who now know whether you're having a boy or girl - I can't wait to find out. On;y another week and a half to go (assuming junior cooperates!)

i really want to be ecological and have washable nappies but i also don't have a tumble dryer and already have to do 1 load a day at minimum in washer, i think i need to research it all. i used disposables last time. maybe this time ill use washables at home and disposables for whenever i go out. so best of both worlds.

i was just thinking about what a midwife said to me yesterday and just realised how ridiculous it was.
she said i HAD to have anti d given to me at 30 and 38 weeks because i am rhesus negitive and the reason for this is that the baby starts moving around more from 30 weeks (i thought they were quiter from that point due to less room) and the baby might kick me inside and make me bleed slightly this blood then may mix with babys and then create antibodies.
well what a load of C*!
nice guidelines state the antenatal anti d should be OFFERED. also the chances of the baby kicking you enough to make you bleed is just not beliveable for me. i am going to wait till they tell me the babys blood group and then take anti d if necessary.
Funny thing is there seems to be a few studies on the internet which suggest a natural 3rd stage of labour sensitizes you from producing antibodies against a positive baby. and using oxitocin to make uterus contract to deliver placenta can actually cause more risk to developing antibodies.

Its all a bit confusing but wildly fasinating as i have had 2 babies before and both of them i was given anti d after delivery as a precaution without knowing whether i needed it or not. and not in any delivery was i given a choice on how the placenta was delivered- infact i did not know until recently that you could deliver the placenta without help.
is there anyone else who is rhesus negitive?

VF - congrats on your scan and finding out you're having a girl. That birth centre sounds wonderful. Especially knowing your partner can stay over after the baby is born. I hated it when my dh had to go home the night my dd was born.

Kiwifruit - I used cloth nappies with my dd. If you decide to go down that route and have any questions, feel free to ask.

My Sister-in-law is Rhesus Negative. She had her second (and last) baby in January. I think she declined the anti-d but I don't know for sure. She was talking about declining it. I'll ask her next time I see her.

we're having a boy - it will be ds3!

I have used cloth nappies for my 2 so have them all already. My parents in law bought us a tumble dryer when we had ds1 - they asked what we wanted for the baby and as I wanted to use cloth got that rather than a pram or cot - we managed to get them from friends.

Zubb and Beatie - do you use traditional cloth nappies, or the new fancy schmancy ones?

Zubb- thank goodness it's a boy, I was starting to worry that all these girls wouldn't have any boys to play with when they grew up

We have used two different types. We used the prefolds - the type that are a square of lots of layers of fabric - and fitted/shaped ones. Both of these required a wrap cover on the outside. Once we were in the swing of using cloth, it never seemed like a bother. You do get strangely adicted to it too.

We have managed without a tumble dryer- we used our spare bedroom as a drying room.

I used a nappy service with ds2. It was a prefold system, and they picked up the dirty ones once a week and delivered new. Still cheaper than disposables (it was then anyway) but that wasn't the main reason for doing it. Cannot stand the sight of the tons of rubbish neighbours with young kids produce - sure it's all down to nappies!
This time I will wash myself. Have several friends who are test-driving all sorts. Good old-fashioned terries with nappy nippas and fleecy wraps seem as good as any and economical. They also love tots bots and imsey vimsey (?sp) and have even used muslins for newborns. Still need to get my head around it all! Ebay has loads, but with postage it is apparently cheaper to buy new as several companies offer free postage. At least I know there will be a good resale market as this will be the last!!

Just re read my post - I assure you all (esp those coming to meet tomorrow!!) that I do wash myself regularly - not just a plan for the future!!

Whew Andif - was getting worried there for a minute

VF, I'm rhesus negative and this is my second pregnancy. With my first I didn't really pay much notice to the whole issue but must admit am a bit more concerned this time. In my Health Authority they don't give anti d as a matter of precaution but wait until the baby is born. I can't even remember them testing DS but notes in his book confirm they did! The issue of a kicking baby causing you to bleed sounds pants doesn't it?!!

Re the Chinese predictor - sorry but the stats for my first predict a girl ..... I had a boy! It predicts another boy this time so we'll see!

VF & sarahal, I'm also rh neg and I've opted out of the precautionary anti-d on the basis that as far as I can see, having had anti-d after dd born, I'm starting from a blank slate, as I was last time. I'll have the normal blood tests at 28 and 34 weeks to make sure no anitbodies are being created; otherwise I just don't like the idea of having blood product "just in case".

Doc was 99% sure at the 12 week scan that we were in line for another boy and after the 20 week was 100% sure. Yeah!!, was really hoping to have another little fella.

I used cloth nappies (MEOS,tots,ME wraps) from the day we got back from the hospital. Have been over the moon with them and have bought a few more as I'll have 2 in naps at the same time. I have been a bit spoilt here though as even the tots are dry within the hour with the desert heat and wind. Don't know how cocky I'll be in the middle of a New Zealand winter

andif - I have strepB & had to have an antibiotic drip in my last labour. Didn't get the full dose as was in labour for only 1 & half hours. I don't even remember the drip!! It didn't get in the way at all. I went into the bath & was told that if I didn't get out I'd be giving birth in there & if this was ok if this was what I wanted. I didn't fancy a water birth so managed to haul myself out. I also used a birth stool & supported squatting - all fine. My dd had to have antibiotics injected daily & had a canula sited on her hand for this. She had this bandaged and on a small splint. This lasted about 3 days and I was happy when this was removed. This was the worst part for me. Don't know if this will happen for you but worth asking about how you baby will be treated. It was necessary for my dd as I didn't get the full treatment dose.

Andif - re the strep B and water birth issue - you can just have a canula in (no drip)and get antibiotics every four hours. It shouldnt stop a water birth but the midwives may not be allowed to give the IV. It depends on their training.

I enjoyed yesterday - would be up for another. Pedicure has lasted over 24hrs! Sorry you couldnt be there Franch.

Kiwifruit - where did you find out/ locate your doula? At dinner last night with friends, the husband told my DH that he felt very stressed calling the shots for his wife/baby alone during labour when his wife was 'out of it' and felt a doula may be the answer. Is this what they do?
Does anyone have experience with doulas?

Pass - I don't even really know what a Doula is??. What's the difference between one of them and a midwife - help me out?