Ctx every 10mins - think we are a GO for HBAC :)

[JustKeepSwimming]

Not sure how long I'll manage to keep posting but always fancied a go at a live labour thread :)

Brief history:

• DS1 HB (19hrs + 2 hrs for the placenta) at 38+1
• DS2 EMCS for undiagnosed breech at 39+6

• this is DC3 (a surprise) and I'm 40+3.

Been going slightly spare since I've never been this pg before so I'm quite happy that things are finally moving.

Mucus plug yesterday & this morning, bit of bloody show this lunchtime.
Ctx now every 10ish mins or so.

Waters not gone, yet so am hovering over a towel in case :)

Not phoned MW yet, guess I should at some point?

Anyone want to keep me company? :)

Congratulations on your new daughter JKS! Yeeeouch about the tears, really hope you get it sorted out today it must be bloody uncomfortable (understatement) and you must be gasping to get home. Good luck!!

Bit dopey so not entirely clear but op is over:)
Surgeon came & spoke to dh - not best person I think! - and seemed to say it went well, phew.

Confused as MW & reg last night said I had a fistula, hole btw vagina & rectum but surgeon said he couldn't find a hole.

Am v tender, but worst bit is I have to stay in until Sat for iv abs:( fecking hate hosps.

JKS no fistula is fab news - in the years to come you will appreciate just how fab

It's horrible that you have to stay in for iv abs though

Just focus on your little Mary - and you will be home for Easter so chil up as well as you can.

You have unlimited permission to moan at me - you know where I am x

chin up that is

JKS - sorry you have to stay in till sat

But good news op went well and its all over

JKS. best to have repair now than suffer later. Heal well. Shall I send healing vibes? I always feel it best to ask.
Take advantage of having feet up time as it were.
Our new 'grandperson' is expected to arrive via section, next tue.

JKS - glad the surgery went well. Is there a District/Community Nurse who can come to your home to administor the anti-biots? Or is it feasible to go home and just return to the ward for anti-biots?

So glad your surgery went well. I would imagine the surgeon has had a better view of things than the MW and reg when he was actually doing the repair, so that's good news that he's not found one. Better they thought there was one but not, than to think there wasn't but there actually was.

I know it seems a lifetime but Saturday is the day after tomorrow, so it's not long and then you and Mary can get home and enjoy being a family again [bugrin]

Welcome to the world Mary!

Well am feeling a bit more cheerful aftea longchat with a lovely hosp MW (yes she does exist!).
She talked us through the surgery notes:

Not a 4th deg tear, called a 3a.

Fecal incontinence NOT going to happen as inner sphincter is intact

External sphincter was torn, has been stitched up successfully and hadn't opened too much.

Perineum stitched more than the CMW had done at home as well as leaving her stitches.

All much more positive than I'd been led to believe and actually not that painful so far, uncomfortable yes but manageable with paracetamol.

Was told by junior girl person at 4.30 that I wouldn't be allowed dinner and I wanted lactulose before eating anything anyway but no sign of MW until 6.30 when angel arrived, said that was rubbish and reassured me (though still scared of first poo), got me some dinner & dh a sandwich :)

Have had fibre stuff & lactulose equivalent and eating & drinking, waiting for things to happen.

She also said I might get out tomorrow with less iv abs if all else is working.
Dh got me a tv card an Easter egg and gone home :)

Congrats on the birth of Mary! What a fab name

Sorry things didn't go entirely to plan though :(

Ooooooooooooh sending lovely warm fuzzy soft poo vibes. It'll be FINE. Well done you :)

JKS that's an answer to prayer - so good to hear this

you won't need the fb message I sent you - phew

now take it easy so that all is go for going home tomorrow xx

Phew! re the tear outcome, enjoy the choccy, cuddles with Mary, and here's hoping you get home tomorrow :)

another one hoping you get home tomorrow, glad the news is good

Congratulations JKS. Hope you escape from hospital soon.

Welcome to the world baby Mary.

Congratulations! Welcome Mary

I'm sorry about the tear. What a ..er..bummer. On the plus side you haven't had a long depleting labour or any other tissue compromise with long 2nd stage and swelling etc. All that means that your body will throw all it has into healing the already healthy tissue that is desperate to heal. It may just heal well, fairly quickly and with no troubles . The stitches will make sure it heals in the right places in the right way. It seems under proper examination with adequate painrelief and good views the damage wasn't as bad as they initially thought, thats great.

I worked in a perineal floor clinic and truly it is remarkable how little trouble the majority of people had with what seems such a scary massive thing. Loads just didn't come to their 3 month follow up and when we rang they said they'd forgotten and everything was fine

Those who did have problems, mainly it was pain and/or infection. If you are at all worried go straight back to gynae/obs clinic. Early antibiotics can work a miracle.

Now eat lots dried apricots and drink them down with lactalose whilst doing your pelvic floor workouts. Thos are really going to matter to you, so do them. Lots of them

Congratulations! Edwyn turned up at 2am yesterday. Only about 4 pushes but enough to get me a 3 degree tear. Surgery was great and although tender feel positive abt it.

On the lactulose and fibre drinks too. First poo just fell out of me, was a breeze. Home now and can't remember what to do with a newborn, feed?

Congratulations JKS and Jurassic - happy lovely news.

Fingers crossed for an easy poo :)

Congratulatiins Jurassic!!

Am slightly of your first & easy poo.
Not a sentence I ever thought I'd write.

Still waiting here...

Thanks for all advice am reading everything, will reply properly when home on laptop.

I guess this means no going home today :( ?

JSK congratulations - just to reassure you, I had a HBAC and a 3a tear last Sept. By mid-Oct I was back horse riding. If you'd have asked me at any point up to about 10 days after my baby was born if I was thinking about riding any time soon I would have laughed you out of the house! It did feel like everything was going to fall out if I just walked wrong! But I spent the first week in bed at home with my baby getting to know him and being waited on hand and foot, and when I did get up I felt brilliant. Have had no problems since. I am doing Pilates as part of my post-natal getting back into shape, and that is good for your pelvic floor, as well as doing your Kegels.

congrats jurassic

JKS - are you staying in hosp for another night?

No sign of very shy poo

So planning on another night. It's ok, it's fairly quiet here, M is snoozing between feeds and I have lots of fruit to eat. The longer I stay the more iv abs I get in which is good too, if stingy & painful when they go in.

Backinthebox - thank you that helps.

JKS. SHY POO!! it definitely conjures an image. Am far too suggestable
Hope you are productive soon.