Due March 2010 - "Hello Baby... Goodbye Pelvic Floor"

[Arcadie]

Welcome to the March Preggos. Here's hoping we see nearly 1000 posts before anyone pops!

Hey scooby you sound just like me, I like things to be clean and would walk an extra 2 miles whilst out shopping if it meant I could use a clean loo! From my own experience and from friends' experiences too, many labour wards are similar to what you're describing but don't be disheartened. There are things you can do to make it a better experience such as...

• Take a few muslin cloths to place over the birthing ball, it makes you look like Niles from Frasier, but it's worth it!
• Take in your own antibacterial wipes, I wiped all the surfaces in the labour room when I arrived and instantly felt better (OCD alert!), antibac hand gel also useful
• Take some flip flops to wear in the shower, also bring a special towel you can use as a bath mat for stepping out of the shower on to, the showers were filthy in the ward I was on, they don't get cleaned in between uses, neither do the baths
• I took two bags, for my items last time, a labour bag and a post labour bag, that way all your yucky mucky stuff can be separate from your nice clean togs
• Also took spare carrier bags that I could put wet towels in to

Anyone got any more tips?

Thanks for link Henrietta x

Pacific - I agree entirely!

I did everything I could to go for a VBAC and would haev been irrationally disappoitned not to have succeeded so I have no regrets.

However, if I'm honest with 20/20 hindsight, each time I got hung up on an outcome and had a sense of hormonal irrational failure compunded by the baby blues following the birth.

My experience of the VBAC was a theatre ventouse delivery which was very nearly a CS. I think it could have been avoided if I had laid off the epidural top off (the midwife made me top it right up which pretty much stopped my contractions). I found recovery from the stiches slow and painful but obviously not as bad as with a cs. Long term my fanny/pelvic floor was fine after the CS but not after the CS so I guess I have had long term consequences of the vaginal delivery but not of the CS (apart from an ovehang). I'm still glad I succeeded in the VBAC though!

My advice is not to get hung-up on any one outcome/birthplan. Go with the flow - go in informed but open minded. Do what feels right for you!

BTW - at both the hospitals I delivered out - the balls came from sterile packs...

Agree ont he wipes wipes and flip flops!

I found the delivery room was clean but the recovery room was minging - especially the toilets.

Good morning everyone

pacific - great news about the blood results and glad biopsy wasn't too traumatic.

scooby26 - Yuck at birth balls...I was told to take mine if I wanted

Ok, it's official: my mucus plug is out (last nigh I got this big blob)! Can I panic now??????!!!!
Just another 2 weeks please, please, please...

evitas - mine came out early and I was 1 cm one month before I went into labour...

probably no need to worry

Hmmmm, all this talk of lost mucus plugs and filthy birthing balls is making everything seem much more real. I really do have to turn my mind to important questions like, "Where do I want to have this baby?"

Baby is 3/5 engaged as of yesterday and the pressure is really quite intense. Don't remember that sort of pressure until much later (40+ weeks) last time. I also thought that second babies usually didn't engage as early as first ones but it seems that there are a few of us whose babies haven't read that script!

Fingers crossed that everyone with breech or transverse babies gets the results they want, whether that's the baby turning on its own accord, a successful ECV or a C/Section. FWIW my DS was breech until 34 weeks and then transverse until 36 weeks but he turned on his own. No idea if my marathon sessions of floor scrubbing and birth ball bouncing helped but presume they can't have hurt. Also, a friend of mine had a successful ECV with her first baby at 37 or 38 weeks and she said it was quick and easy - so they are evidently not always as bad as they are sometimes painted.

Sorry for the lack of individual shout outs but "hello" to everyone. Oh, actually, just one: Arcadie, I also sneaked a peek at that FB pic of you at your sister's wedding. You looked lovely - and your DD looked very cute with nary a sign of a spot. Hope she is feeling rather better now.

Sariska that pressure you're talking about re. the baby being engaged..... is that the feeling of pressure on the pubic bone/pelvis area? This is my first baby so I'm a bit unknowing at times! Am 36 weeks on Thursday, but for past few days have been getting an intense pressure discomfort, especially when I stand up.

Is that Baby TLC engaging? I have NO IDEA!

just ducking my head in...nothing to report really (certainly no plug) but have started on raspberry leaf tabs as I have TEN DAYS to go....fortunately the Winter Olympics starts on 13th. I remeber when I had the Pocket Dictator it was the Olympics and they were perfect 'educational' television to park her in front of in the baby chair whilst I had a shower. How I missed them when they ended. Never mind, have dug out West Wing box set (watched last time I was bfing) and will put it in the new TV unit we have arriving on Thursday.

My new granny chair has arrived and I can finally sit reasonably comfortably. Moved Moses basket into our room today. Dh packed his hospital bag at the weekend. And MW is sorting out my private room today (at least that's what she said yesterday)... I think I might be ready a week early!!

Oh, and I bought a house yesterday!!

Pixie - welcome to the club!! When is EDD? I have an appointment at 2pm with my consultant. I'll definitely mention that I've lost mine, I'll let you know what she said.

Henrietta, pacific - thanks for info on turning babies. I'm just back from a midwife check up. Two MWs palpated me, and neither could tell where the heck the baby is! So, I guess it might be clearer at my 36 week prod. Both MWs gave quite hard prods and pokes, but I guess the baby is well padded.

I'm a bit and at the weirdidity of my blood group (A+) being recorded as O+ by the staff at the hospital I'll give birth in. I went there a week ago for a check as I'd bled a little. I noticed this morning that the hospital MW or obstet had written down the wrong blood group. That worries me.

Scooby at state of ward/toilets/birth ball. I think you're in the same hospital as me. My tour is in a couple of weeks time. I could take my own ball, but not sure if that helps because it would go on the same dirty floor/mat which their dirty ball is currently on. Hmmm...

evitas Mucous plugs, nice. Why couldn't they come up with a nicer name for them? Like Baby Seals, or just Stoppers.

pureeandpearls - Oh yes, the Winter Olympics. I plan to do lots of slobbing preg exercises in front of telly while watching it. p.s I love the term 'Pocket Dictator' and will adapt it for my own use from now on . You bought a house yesterday? Very nonchalantly said!!

Shroomer- when you are ordered around by an 18 month old the term will have so much more meaning And I'll be with you on the slobbing exercise front!!

Oh Lawks. I go away for a quick wedding (those of you on FB - check the profile photo of world's largest bridesmaid) and you all go nuts. Will read through and post proper replies but brief Arcadie report:

DD spent the morning in hospital having her front tooth removed under general anaesthetic. She cracked it in half yesterday ( on DS's 4th birthday ) and so out it had to come. Very very about my gappy little 2 year old beauty but consoled that at least she performed well and with a full complement of incisors for her Aunty Laura's wedding. And you could hardly see the chicken pox marks on the day [phew] .

Love to you all and PROMISE a proper catch up.

Hi,
I just came back from my appointment. Not very useful really, I was checked by my consultant's assistant who doesn't know anything about about my pregnancy's history...

• mucus plug - she didn't say much. She just asked if I was leaking. She wasn't very reassuring regarding the risks or not of going into premature labour. The useful bit of information was: in case of strong and regular contractions or any leaking just call the hospital and not the MW (sorry Pixie I know this is not the information we were hopping for)
• transverse baby - she wasn't sure which way the baby is. She thought it might be head down... but inconclusive. My MW will check it again next week.

The good news is that I'm back on just one tablet of iron per day, which is better for my IBS.

Arcadie you looked fantastic!

TLC, for me, at the moment, it is like a heavy weight on my pelvic floor. I've heard a fully engaged baby described as feeling like a "bowling ball between the legs" but I remember feeling like I was a John Wayne wannabe with a very over-effected cowboy walk. Thank god I am not at that stage yet! When are you seeing the MW next? Sure she will be able to tell you if your LO is engaged or not.

hi all,

well good news for me - went to the 'breech clinic' today (didn't even know such a thing existed!) and he is not breech, he's head down yaaaaay! So no ECV and CS for me, yippee. Hope everyone else with transverse/breech babies gets good news too.

arcadie - LOVE the pic but about your poor little DD. Will they just wait for her adult tooth to come through? She will still be beautiful, one of the most beautiful girls I know as a huge gap between her teeth!

evitas - what a rubbish outcome! I suppose they can't really tell you anything in that they have no idea when you'll go into labour - but still, a bit of reassurance and information about the average amount of time between show and labour might have been nice. At least they don't seem too concerned. Just take it easy and rest a lot and I'm sure labour isn;t too imminent (and same to you pixie!).

Wow at 3/5 engaged sariska! We are really getting close now - shall we start placing bets on when the first baby will be born?

Sariska thanks for that. I'm seeing MW tomorrow, so will ask her then.

DrSkidaddle v glad to hear your baby isn't breech! I'm sure you are smiling lots this evening.

TLC waves hello to everyone else on the thread. Hope you all are well.

I have to say I am loving the new MN smiley I have to say that is how I look a lot of the time currently!

Hello, all, and yeah to DrSkid's well behaved baba! May many more follow the set example .

I was always under the impression that mucus plug and level of engagement do NOT predict with any kind of degree of certainty that labour is imminent at all?? Same with waters breaking? - ha, love using the new smiley!
I think engagement is important to note so they are aware if head is still free in labour to avoid chord prolapse. Equally mucus plug may only come away during labour or many weeks before or any time in between. I may well be wrong, you better all go and ask your MWs/consultants about it...

Poor Arcadie's LO! Hope she is not too traumatised. And does the tooth fairy come after the traumatic loss of teeth? I think she should ! Glad the wedding went well and you were all in top nick for the photos ...

Hello, all, and yeah to DrSkid's well behaved baba! May many more follow the set example .

I was always under the impression that mucus plug and level of engagement do NOT predict with any kind of degree of certainty that labour is imminent at all?? Same with waters breaking? - ha, love using the new smiley!
I think engagement is important to note so they are aware if head is still free in labour to avoid chord prolapse. Equally mucus plug may only come away during labour or many weeks before or any time in between. I may well be wrong, you better all go and ask your MWs/consultants about it...

Poor Arcadie's LO! Hope she is not too traumatised. And does the tooth fairy come after the traumatic loss of teeth? I think she should ! Glad the wedding went well and you were all in top nick for the photos ...

Sorry about double post - had trigger happy posting finger .

Oh, and forgot to say, now that my local anaethetic has worn off, my bum hip is sore, wail! Where is the self-pity emoticon when you need it...

Pacific I agree that plugds, engagement and dilation are not predictive of imminent labout. However if you're waters go then you'll be most likely be induced within a couple os days as there is a risk of infection.

Good news Dr Skid!

Mucus, engagement, dilation, oh my!

Ok, I'll confess it here - Ive been feeling VERY low since yesterday. I'm not entirely sure why. I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed and feel completely (practically) unprepared for the baby but just have no... oomph to do anything about it. Kinda feel on the verge of tears half the time and completely lethargic the rest of the time.

I won't let it go on indefinitely. But I think two days isn't really enough to get all 'Oh my goodness, it's AND!'

manda I also feel on the verge of tears half the time and I'm not a teary person. I am also completely lethargic. I want to do nothing but sadly that's not possible with 22m DD around and a husband who is always working.
I did however manage to get a long overdue haircut today (last one was maybe June ) and I got other hairy bits dealt with too - full leg and bikini wax so along with a packed hospital bag and moses basket ready I'm feeling quite prepared.
I agree engagement doesn't mean babies coming just that it's settling down in the right position (hopefully!) I was 3/5th engaged last week at my appointment and like you Sariska thought that wasn't 'normal' for a 2nd time but hey ho.
I never had a show or lost mucous plug with DD - a lot of snot like discharge in the last week but when my waters went it was a big whoosh and then none stop dribbling!
scooby I don't mean to sound nasty but your post really did make me giggle. I think your hospital tour has been valuable in that you now know it's not to be compared to a 5 hotel. I'm more of a backpacker than top class hotel girl so my standards are quite low but I went to the hospital armed with my Flash wipes and didn't need them, it was really quite respectable and I didn't use the birthing ball so have no idea what state they were in. If you want 5 treatment and facilities I think you have to go private.
I do think that mumbot's tips are good though.
Arcadie your poor DD I hope she is recovering well. Glad the wedding went well.
DrSkid great news that baby is in the right position that must be a big relief.
evitas sorry that your appointment with the consultant's assistant was so useless. I've had friends who have lost their plug early and gone full term so I don't think it means there will be action soon (but still think you should be ready just in case )
pureeandpearls is that a real house you have just bought or a wendy house? you just dropped it in so casually, oh my baby is coming in 10 days and I've bought a house!
So still a race between P&P Pixie and EmlouT for the first baby? No news from you EmlouT - I hope all was okay at your scan/appointment.

Hahaha- no it's a real house. We moved when DD was five weeks old so now will be a standing joke that a house for us is a requirement for habving a baby. Plus had to tell someone as very excited and totally unexpected (got asking price offer from very first person who looked at ours!!)

Mucous plug- I am with those of you who think that it has no correlation to imminent birthing...still eek that it's s atrting to get so real for us all!

Arcadie- you seem to have had everything in the last few days. I'm amazed you haven't lost the plug (geddit- like lost the plot?! )

Dr Skid- hurrah for heads down, though [cinfused] for evitas

Probably missed someone but waiting for DH to get home so he can help me to bed and too tired to think xx