[I posted this last week on the prem birth section, but didn't get many replies. Thought maybe more replies in 'childbirth' section. So here goes!]
Talk to me! What was your second birth like?
I had twins first time round who came at 29 weeks. I had PPROM at 28+6 and gave birth not too long after. Unfortunately the midwives on call at the time didn't fully appreciate I was actually in labour and therefore didn't monitor the twins (properly). Twin 1 didn't survive the contractions and descent through the birth canal, which is hard on such small babies. They did finally realise I was in labour when she was crowning ... :-)
As you can imagine I am viewing my second birth with some trepidation.
They always say that labour is easier/quicker next time round. Does that apply to prem births as well? I would assume not considering I gave birth to 1kg baby, rather than a whopping 3kg+ baby?
Although I always thought I would want to go for an ELCS second time round (to completely eliminate the risk of baby getting herself in to trouble) I am still strangely attracted to this peaceful empowering fuss free home birth. Am I crazy? I can imagine the actual process of giving birth might bring back a lot of anxiety inducing memories which are best left alone when you're trying to give birth. What did you do for your second birth?
Because it was twins first time round the consultants will probably point to that as the reason for prem labour and will not consider me particularly at risk for a second prem labour. (They didn't find any particular cause for my prem labour). What do you think of this? Can I expect to go term-ish this time? Where you offered any extra stuff? Steroids, progesterone? Because of the stillbirth I will be offered 3 extra scans, I do know that.
What did you do for support? I know I am going to need some support, mentally, to get through this pregnancy, and afterwards. I know the strength of emotions a pregnancy and birth evokes and I definitely need help managing those. I am not putting much faith in the midwives (most of them do a fab job btw). I can't get on to case load care because I don't want to give birth in my local hospital (King's) (for obvious reasons) and the other hospital that IS in my catchment area (St Thomas) does not have caseload care mws for my postcode. Argh. So I will be cared for by the normal mw antenatal clinic. My experience last time wasn't too great with them, ie you see a different one every time, they didn't actually have answers to my questions (my questions were about giving birth - this should have been within their realm of expertise!). I am considering perhaps hiring a doula. I have looked in to a private MW but that's simply too expensive. I have considered calling all the community midwives and begging them but I can't find any flippin phone numbers!!! Another reason I would like some extra care, postnatal, is that I have this strange idea that I don't know what to do with a term child (assuming we go term that is) and am worried that I won't be able to breastfeed. We had such fab care in NICU/SCBU, not that I want to go back, but I came home completely confident in how to take care of baby and relatively confident on the bf'ing bit. I know there are breastfeeding cafes but it's hard to get to those if you're recovering from a CS. Having a second child where there is 'one missing' will be a massively emotional process, which is another reason for getting some postnatal support - I don't want to get PND if can help it.
Anyway. Sorry for the mammoth post but would appreciate your thoughts and experiences.
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