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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

usagal - in hosp bed - amnio in a min - then poss induction - positive vibes please x

107 replies

usagal · 18/05/2007 16:39

Hi everyone,

After yet ANOTHER bleed (and another one since being in here) my doc has said I should have an amnio to check for lung maturity and if it is ok they will go ahead with an induction. She has just left the room now and is going to come back with a time for the amnio to be done but it will be at some point today. .
I do still have the option of waiting one more week when I will be almost 37 weeks before the induction but I will probably have to stay in hospital until then. The bleeds are becomming more and more frequent (due to placenta abruption) so the longer we leave it the riskier a crash c-section becomes. I am in a bit of a dilema as to whether I should wait - but at the moment I am thinking I really wouldn't mind the last 18 weeks of strict bedrest and constant hospital admissions to be over. Am being reassured that most babies born at this stage do really well with very few problems. I know the best place for it is still inside me if everything were ok - but there is a risk that if the placenta pulls away completely then it would be a disaster. Just dont want to make a decision which could result in a poorly baby for a while. . My DH has bought in the laptop so hopefully will be able to keep you updated on any decisions we make - and possibly a live labour thread from the USA!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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macmama73 · 19/05/2007 16:41

Hope everything is going well, sending positive vibes your way, usagal.

Original poster

usagal · 19/05/2007 16:48

Hi everyone!

Managed to get a reasonable sleep! Was woken a few times as the baby kept moving therefore they kept loosing its heart tracing. Contractions calmed down though.
I am having a scan this morning as they were concerned about low fluid levels yesterday. If they are low they will induce labour without having another amnio. (more worried about another amnio than an induction now!)
Do you think that nipple stimulation could kick-start the contractions again - even though I am only 36 weeks?
Is 2.5 - 3cm enough dilation for them to be able to break my waters? Not sure if I would prefer that way if possible rather than an IV with drugs. Will ask the doc when he comes round. - At least I don't have the problem of the doc I didn't like delivering the baby. After the amnio experiences I was even more concerned!

OP posts:

macmama73 · 19/05/2007 17:00

Glad to hear you slept ok.

Don't know about the nipple stimulation, we tried everything to try to jump-start my labour with DD (melon, cinammon, stair climbing, sex, not necessarily in that order) but nothing helped. Not a single contaction (at 42 weeks). Can't do any harm though!

lulumama · 19/05/2007 17:01

nipple stim has to be done quite intensively, info here , having waters broken can be a way to stimulate labour, and 2-3 cm is dilated enough, but it means if baby not in a great position, harder for them to turn after waters have gone......i am sure you will get all the options explained to you x

Original poster

usagal · 19/05/2007 17:08

I don't mind doing the intensive nipple stimulation - it is not as if I have anything else to do - being trapped in bed! .
Anything to avoid an induction if poss.

OP posts:

lulumama · 19/05/2007 17:10

orgasm is helpful too , if you can do so quietly

are you stuck in bed, or are you up and about, a walk, or some time on the birth ball, or anything that gets you upright for a while, swinging your hips, belly dancing, that sort of thing, get baby's head on your cervix

Original poster

usagal · 19/05/2007 17:18

At the moment I am on a monitor so confined to bed. I asked my own doc about the possibility of moving around in early labour and they have just got hold of some mobile monitors so will be able to move around. Will ask the nurse in a sec. I kind of feel that they do not consider me in labour - or there is a big question mark over it. - I am sure I don't need for them to consider me to be in labour to be on a birthing ball though!
I need to be on a monitor as the baby's heart rate drops when I have a contraction. Not loads but enough for them to want to monitor. I think that is another reason they are concerned about low fluid levels.

OP posts:

lulumama · 19/05/2007 17:20

surely the leads on teh monitor are long enough to enable you to stand by the bed, or walk a few steps.....better than being in bed !!

lulumama · 19/05/2007 17:20

how frequent are your contractions?

Original poster

usagal · 19/05/2007 17:27

I can get up and walk around about one side of the bed. I am on a short leash! I do disconnect it fairly frequently when I need to use the bathroom and I always take a short walk round the room then! I make the most of shower time as well! Stand up to dry my hair etc. The contractions are really infrequent now - just irritability. Yesterday they were every 2-3 mins and strong - hence the dilation!

OP posts:

lulumama · 19/05/2007 17:29

then do you need to be monitored constantly.....? can you ask about intermittent monitoring...? things might be grinding to a halt because you are virtually immobile.....

Original poster

usagal · 19/05/2007 18:03

Sorry lulu - hospital internet went down! I will ask the doc about intermittent monitoring when he comes round. As it is a weekend they usually make their rounds a bit later in the day! I have been on intermittent monitoring loads of times whilst in here so I think I will be allowed.

OP posts:

lulumama · 19/05/2007 18:24

ok. keep us posted

Klaw · 19/05/2007 18:26

Definitely ask for intermittant monitoring!

Also monitoring needs to be done BETWEEN contractions as that is the true indicator of any distress. Babies are designed to cope with the stresses during a contraction and will likely show a dip or increase in heartbeat. But in between contractions baby's heartbeat should recover well!

Original poster

usagal · 19/05/2007 19:35

ok I will do! I have just had a really long shower, a few laps of my room and stood for ages drying my hair! Feeling them start up a little now. Doc still not here though - and no news about the scan. .

OP posts:

lulumama · 19/05/2007 19:36

try to focus on the positive

if labour gets going, you will get to meet your baby very soon!!

stay strong you are doing so well !

VoodooMama · 19/05/2007 19:37

lots of love and happy thoughts!!
You can do itX

Original poster

usagal · 19/05/2007 19:38

thanks for info on monitoring during contractions klaw! wish the doc would hurry up.

OP posts:

lulumama · 19/05/2007 19:39

try and let it go about the doc not being there

right now, focus on getting the baby born

try a visualisation, or just some relaxation and let things happen

is DH with you ?

LadyOfTheFlowers · 19/05/2007 19:47

just concentrate on those contractions!
i dialated 3-4cms with ds2 without even knowing it and was not considered in labour till i was moaning! lol
try and stay up and about if you are allowed to.
stand at the side of the bed and rest your forearms on the bed, leaning forward and sway your hips side to side.
i found standing up straight made my legs get pins and needles and my feet ache.

usually, when the doc takes ages it is because they have good news IME. Xx

Original poster

usagal · 19/05/2007 19:51

Thanks Lulu!
I will try not to get too stressed about doc. The baby will be here soon - that is the most important thing. My dh is with the children for a couple of hours as not much going on with me at the mo. I think he will be here again in about 40 mins. We are heavily relying on our neighbours to look after the children - they are stars!

OP posts:

lulumama · 19/05/2007 19:53

you keep going!! swing those hips and think birthy thoughts!

LadyOfTheFlowers · 19/05/2007 19:54

sway and relax....
sway and relax....

Original poster

usagal · 19/05/2007 19:57

I'm trying! I promise! just tucking into a nice banana! I am sooooo easily pleased!

OP posts:

LadyOfTheFlowers · 19/05/2007 19:58

and munch energy rich, light snaks....

very good! keep it up! x

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