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Due SEPTEMBER thread 11 - nearly there!

428 replies

pooka · 01/08/2005 17:00

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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jessysmummy · 09/08/2005 09:50

KF - glad doula meet went well. Do you think she might come and help me with my "to do" list??

LadyLazarus · 09/08/2005 11:08

KF - hope you find the hypnobirthing CD useful. I love mine, it's like pressing a magic button, as I always fall asleep when it's on!

I'm just back from seeing the obstetrician, everything fine and dandy, he reckons the baby will be about 8lbs , which according to him is "medium" (ahem, he might not say that if he had to push it out himself!). Due date probably nearer 12th September than 18th, so a bit confused about which one to use now... was 12th by scans, but adjusting for odd menstrual cycles was changed to 18th. Head not engaged yet, which he says is normal apparently. Was really pleased that he was so nice, as when you work in a hospital sometimes the consultants can be a bit "difficult" , but he was lovely. Discussed the third stage dilemma (managed or not) and he recommended to have a managed one, as there is a "significantly" higher risk (although still fairly low) of PPH and needing a blood transfusion, so I think I am convinced now (this was what I was a bit undecided about). So all in all I'm a happy camper

Kiwifruit · 09/08/2005 11:22

Lady L - glad to hear things went well with the obstetrician. Don't think I get to see an obstetrician now that I've switched hospitals.

RE managed 3rd stage - talked to my doula about this last night. I'm keen on a managed 3rd stage, and she said that there is an 'in-between' option where you can have the syncotin (think that's the right drug?) after the cord has stopped pulsing. She said that the tendancy is - if you opt for a managed 3rd stage - for them to inject you when the baby's head is out, and this means that the cord must be cut immediately (so DH/DP can't cut it if that is what they wanted to do), and the baby must be checked immediately (so can't be handed straight to you). I think she also said there is a greater risk of a retained placenta if they give you the injection that early (but could be wrong on that one - will check with DH, as he was there as well). If you wait for the cord to stop pulsing, you can have the baby delivered straight to you, and your DH/DP can cut the cord. She said you need to put this in your birth plan though, as they tend to be quite keen to inject immediately as they can move you out faster...

So that's another option to consider...(all these decisions are a bit much for my preggy brain...)

franch · 09/08/2005 11:36

Same here LadyL - I've started listening to my Birth Preparation one now (as opposed to the Preg Relaxation one) and must actually stay awake for it at least once! But they are great - like a magic button, as you say. Let's hope they help in labour ...

Glad to hear all's well with your bean, hope everyone else's are well too Mine moved its back over to the left yesterday so feels like it's raring to go ...

franch · 09/08/2005 11:38

I discussed 3rd stage with the midwife who visited me on Sat - decided on a natural (physiological) one, all being well - doesn't seem any reason not to, esp for a home birth where there's no hurry and hopefully everything will have been natural up to that point.

RedZuleika · 09/08/2005 13:54

I haven't confirmed third stage matters with my midwife yet, but after the conversation with the registrar last week, I'm not sure I need to be too concerned about it. Out of preference I would prefer to have a physiological third stage, but wouldn't be gutted if managed were recommended in light of my clottiness. Although I'm not sure I can see a reason why it would be. The registrar didn't seem to think it mattered though.

I hadn't realised until recently that a managed third stage can lead to a retained placenta. Which makes me wonder - when having the whole homebirth debacle with the doctor etc - why they say 'Aaah - but what happens if you get Problem Y...?' when one of the reasons you might get problem y is because of avoidable procedure x that went before it...??

andif · 09/08/2005 13:59

Where did you all get your hypnobirthing cds from? Beginning to feel very unprepared for the actual birth, and am determined not to have the epijural I had last time, so think I might invest in one.

Kiwifruit · 09/08/2005 14:06

Andif - I got my from my doula, but I think the hypnotherapy woman has a website - will check on the CD cover tonight and post the address if it's there. CD cost £16 from the doula, which is the same price as buying it direct, I think.

franch · 09/08/2005 14:16

I got my CDs from the Natal website . Expensive but highly recommended. You sometimes see them on ebay and there was someone selling them here not so long ago - you could do a search. You probably wouldn't need the whole set at this stage anyway.

RZ: totally agree with you about doctors and their 'what ifs'. That's what led to my traumatic spiral of intervention last time. Will be trying to let my body do it all this time - after all, the injection for the 3rd stage is a pretty recent invention and there's absolutely no reason for it to be routine. The most effective way to get the placenta out (if you're not in a hurry to vacate your bed, that is) is to get breastfeeding started - that gets the contractions going that push it out.

Katts · 09/08/2005 14:16

I got my hypnobirthing cds from the gentle birth website. Still haven't managed to get through them without falling asleep though.

Lady L, glad your appointment went well.

Kiwifruit · 09/08/2005 14:23

Andif - the CD I have is one of the Natal ones that Franch has posted. Not sure which one it is though...

zubb · 09/08/2005 14:40

midwife was round earlier to discuss home birth / birth plan. Have asked for a natural third stage, but not bothered either way, and haven't managed one yet.
She's booked me in for a scan next week as baby hasn't grown in the last two weeks, though he's now part engaged so might just have moved down. Not worried at this stage as heartbeat is strong and still lots of movement. She told me to have a protein snack every couple of hours, so no more biscuits for me!

moschops · 09/08/2005 15:43

a short message to let you all know i'm home and fine.......

little bit sore down below as episiotomy was necessary.......

been reading my notes and my labour was just under 4 hours.

will post all the gory details in full when i'm settled in.

Kiwifruit · 09/08/2005 15:55

Hi Moschops - good to hear that you're home and recovering. 4 hours is pretty impressive!!

mummyhill · 09/08/2005 15:57

WELCOME HOME. Take your time posting love and enjoy a babymoon.

jessysmummy · 09/08/2005 16:01

Wow Moschops! 4 Hours is pretty good. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN! Hope it all wasn't too much of a shock for you in the end and you're having a chance to settle in with baby moschops...what have you called him?
Well done!

Katts · 09/08/2005 16:35

Welcome home Moschops!

franch · 09/08/2005 19:49

Once again, well done moschops - sounds like you've done a great job

mummyhill · 09/08/2005 19:55

How do you intend to deal with visitors when you come out of hospital?

Last time round i came home to a housefull of people expecting me to wait on them and pass dd round like a parcel. Think they were all a bit upset when i took her upstairs so we could both have a lie down after half an hour. Left DH to deal with them.

This time i think i will lay the ground rules down before I go into labour. Am going to tell them taht they are all welcome to pop in to the hospital whilst i am there, but would the family then give us 3-4 days at home on our own to get used to being a family of four and friends give it a fortnight so that i can have some company after dh goes back to work.

Another good idea is to leave takeaway menus strategically placed around the house so that DH/DP gets the hint and buys you dinner on your first night home cause you probably won't want to cook.

franch · 09/08/2005 20:07

Probably won't want to cook??!!!

mummyhill · 09/08/2005 20:15

queen of the understatement me!!!!!!!

franch · 09/08/2005 20:17

Don't think I cooked for a good month or two after I came home with DD!

mummyhill · 09/08/2005 20:21

Have had a bad mummy day to day, DD has not got dressed at all today and has been left to her own devices with telly and her toys whilst i got on with the house work. I changed her pj's and tucked her in a couple of mins ago and am now going to think about cooking mexican for our tea when dh gets in (even though i had chicken nuggets, chips and spagetti hoops with dd). Will try and do some more housework till dh gets in from training. Out with Nan tomorrow then picnic in the park on thursday then my mum is having dd whilst my sister comes along to help get the house sorted. Mil will have her friday afternoon so i can rest. I have to get the house straight befoe the bank holiday as midwife is comming out to do my antenatal as our surgery is closed.

mummyhill · 09/08/2005 20:22

OOhh how did you manage that franch? I had to start cooking after the first night as dh burns everything and couldn't really afford takeout everynight. Doubt if either set of parents/siblings will assist in the capacity of chef either

franch · 09/08/2005 20:37

Hmm, burning everything is a good tactic, wish I'd thought of that one DH is pretty good, even tho he works long hours. He made some really good simple healthy meals - just what I needed. This time he's thinking of asking his sisters to do some stuff for our freezer If he doesn't provide, we'll all starve.