October 2004 - Moose massive, part 3

[beansprout]

Does anyone want to come and play here? There's loads of space!

Turtle - sorry you were ill on holiday, hope it didn't make too much of a dent in your fun.

You asked about my section, post-op, before you went away. Well it was all round weird, I was knackered from 20 hour full-on induced labour, which you wouldn't be if you went straight for it. It wasn't awful actually, just felt very stiff and quite bashed about. My recovery was good, mega arnica helped. I remember the first or second night I got home, scar like agonising paper cut, inching into a new position in bed only to want to inch back to where I was BUT, big but, J-Lo sized, I didn't dose myself up fully with all painkillers once I got home, had ridiculous idea I should wean myself off. Crazy. Would keep absolutely topped up if it happened again. Sure that would have been the answer. HTH

Sunny here today. Have to go and watch friend playing in charity cricket match, so nice weather will take the edge off the tedium

Turtle, osteo is for buttock / leg pain which midwife reckons is sciatica, but basically until I saw osteo could barely walk. Haven't been induced before - both over due and enormous (last one 9lb 1). Not sure I understand how inducing would help poor position but at the moment i'm just adopting wait and see attitude!

Geoteach, my dr has indicated inducing me also, baby apparently very big, how big is big? I am suffering from really bad back pain, can't walk for more than 5 minutes without doubling over. Physio says she can't help me any more and that it can't really be treated until baby is born. Perhaps that is the approach your dr is taking with you and the sciatica? Maybe they will try and turn the baby? how many weeks are you now?

By the way Toots, thanks for the info, I can't say I envy the 20 hour bit and then after all of that, they decide on c section, I think I would be mighty p'd off - no? Do you think there is a possibility you might experience same again? is that to sensitive for you?

I had a massive growth on an ovary about 8 years ago and had to be cut open for op, I have a similar scar as c-section and remember is damn hard to do anything afterwards for about 2 weeks and was on major pain killers. I gather having a c-section is similar?

Turtle - yes section is a possibility I suppose. Will take the paracetamol if that's the case So sorry you're in so much pain. Makes me wonder how well you would labour if induced... I'd get some opinions on it. Can imagine you'd be wary of more abdominal surgery following your last experience, but you do have a rather wonderful, exciting distraction to deal with after a section. I'm really beginning to be reminded what a friend said to me in the run up to my due date last time about how ultimately it doesn't matter how they get here, as long as they're safe and you're OK. If I was told tomorrow that I had to have another section, I don't think it would freak me out (not 'til night before anyway - and only 'til I had my pre-med )

After all that talk of inductions, long labours and c sections, how about this - Aunty had baby girl on Friday (Maisie Clara) - went into labour at 5:30pm, went to hosp by 7:30, started on gas and air at 10pm and baby was born at 1am with no intervention. Sounds okay to me. Not as ideal as a pain free, 10 minute birth, but there's hope for us all!

Now lets all visualise short, low pain labours and maybe it'll happen

Anyone else wearing splints for CTS? I am seeing physio tonight about getting them - sounds uncomfy and a bit crap really, but better than numb hands I guess.

Toots, what encouraging words, thanks you are so right - the end result is hopefully healthy wonderful baby - aww I can't wait. As I have shared care, midwife and GP, I gather I will also see a consultant before a decision is made on whether to induce or not. To be honest I feel so cumbersome and huge now, the Physio can't do much for the back pain that I would really love to get this over and done with with as long as it's OK for baby. We'll see.

Bibi I am sure the splint will help, besides if it's driving you nuts you can take it off. I find the worst thing about CTS is constantly dropping things on the floor, it sometimes gets the better of me because I know bending over to pick up what ever I dropped is gonna hurt. urrghh.

I do love the sound of your Aunty's labour and delivery. Sounds about as good as it could get. Was it her first child?

Has anyone heard of the book the Gentle Birth Method by Dr Gowri Motha? Apparently all the celebs use this method, her approach is all about training the mind and the body, helps woman have short, natural labours. Don't get me wrong, I am all for the drugs to help but wondered if this method has been used before.

I read some online reviews about the Gentle Birth Method book Turtle - most were positive, but this one highlighted a few probs that put me off buying it to be honest ...

"I bought this book under much hype from television and internet reviews and hoped it would help me to have a healthier pregnancy and "easier" birth. However, much of the advice on offer in this book is aimed towards people who are wealthy and live in London. Who has plenty of time on their hands for daily yoga/exercise and visual relaxation techniques? Who has plenty of money for creative healing and massage sessions with a recognised practitioner? Who has a live in chef to help you stick to the no wheat diet recommended? Much of the advice on offer also contradicted the advice I had been given on diet/exercise from my doctor and midwife e.g. I have been told to eat plenty of fruit, but the book suggests a maximum of 3 portions a day. I have been told the best form of exercise is swimming, but the book suggests no more than once a week unless in an "ozone" treated pool. This is fine if you live in London or are rich, but the majority of people do not have this luxury. "

Most of the other reviews were positive though. I got them off Amazon if you fancy a read of some more.

thanks Bibi,

Hmmm I kind of thought that might be the case, there was mention of Gwenyth Paltrow, Elle McPhearson and Kate Moss to mention a few....clearly they are very rich, live in London and would of probably had a wheat free diet and personal trainer/chef to begin with!!!

I did order the book from amazon and will take what I want with a pinch of salt

I'm 35 weeks on Friday, midwife said if not changed position by Fri she will book scan and consultant appointment for next week with a view to induction at 38 weeks. Main prob i've had with splints for CTS is they make you sweat and get very smelly, can't remember much else but not sure if I was driving when I had them.

Geoteach, how do you feel about that? can you tell me how the baby is lying? Is 38 weeks the average time to induce? were you induced with your prev pgs?

Geogteach - is baby still oblique? What way is that? Why do they need to induce? Sorry to be so dense if you have already told us. Hope you are ok. Same to Turtle and Toots (and everyone else).

Actually, "dense" sums me up today - physically and mentally. Have just been asked again if I am having twins. Am now at the stage where I simply don't respond. A bit like the advice on "Little Angels" i.e. I don't reward bad behaviour

Can we all just skip to the cute bit now please? How would that be?

Sorry Geogteach - didn't see Turtle's post - you must feel like you are being interrogated by the meece. All we need now is to shine a lamp in your face! We are nice meece really!

Its oblique - don't understand how induction will cure that, but if I get as far as the consultant i'll ask! Haven't been induced before and not that keen, however if i've got to have induction / cesear or whatever i'd much rather have it planned than emergency (got as far as signing papers for cesaer after 3 hours pushing last time but very skilled reg got her out with ventouse), i'm notoriously laid back about everything though - osteo commented on it today so maybe I should be more worried?

Ok sorry for being thick but what is oblique? sideways? surly that would be very difficult to push out? perhaps they will try turning baby first?

I think it's great you are laid back - much better than being a complete worry wart like myself. What will be will be right

Geogteach - you can be our calming influence. Worrying never helped anything, ever, so please stick with being chilled if you can.
Btw - good to have you back Turtle!

Am actually feeling ok today, although did have anxiety attack last night. Dp assumed it was about the birth but it was about everything really - got it out of my system though and feel much better today (until the next one of course!)

There is a rumour going 'round that September is the month before October, but I'm not having any of it!!!
Sounds like some of us could sneak into September anyway!! Yikes!!

Bean, September means October is next I'm afraid. I've been having panic attacks too - last night dh heard me sobbing myself to sleep in my horrid beige wrist splints and came to rescue me. I've been trying to keep most of the mental rantings to myself (or within the confines of MN) because I don't want him to get as stressed as I am about it all, I need him to be calm for me, but boy oh boy he got it all last night.

I am terrified. Totally and utterly terrified.

There, I've said it. I don't want to go to hospital, don't want a baby's head coming out of my lady bits, don't want midwives telling me to "push through the pain", in fact, I don't want any pain. I don't want a c-section or anyone messing about with my insides (or outsides) and I just want my baby now thank you.
How's that for a birth plan?

Aw Bibi, I do understand how you feel. It's very hard to embrace the prospect of being in horrific pain, for hours and feeling utterly overwhelmed etc etc (and that's without the Casualty type scenarios my head comes up with). I have found that reading about it and knowing what I can do etc has helped a leedle bit, although when it grips me, it's still "Goodnight Vienna". Have you had any classes and stuff yet? Can you face those sections of the books?

It will be ok lovely, and it WILL be over in a few hours, honest xx

Hi everyone. All of you in pain have my deepest sympathies. It´s actually made me feel a bit guilty for moaning on to DH just because I´m feeling big and uncomfortable. I think I´d be unbearable if pain was added into the equation. Decided to be a lot more positive today.
Must admit I finally gave into feelings of panic yesterday. Until now I´ve been feeling pretty calm and DD´s birth really wasn´t that bad. Last night I just started sobbing that I didn´t want to go through labour again and spent ages crying. After calming words from DH felt much better and this morning can´t even really explain why I got so upset.
Bibi following on from what you said about wanting a calm dh by the birth, I have to say that dh remaining calm and cool was the one thing that helped more than any other (well apart from the epidural) during dd´s birth.I hope your dh manages it because it does make an enormous difference.
Just think in a couple of months we´ll be swapping horror stories about sleepless nights, painful boobs etc. and all this will seem like an eternity ago.
However, it really, really is worth it all and as soon as you have that baby in your arms he/she will be the most important and amazing thing in your lives.

Huppa I know you're right, but why can't I see past the next 6 weeks?! I have this awful feeling of dread hanging over me and can't seem to enjoy being pg, or the prospect of motherhood. I was always scared about the birth but now it's imminent, it's all I am thinking about.
Bean, I am trying to read the birth chapters and watch births on TV, knowledge is power and all that, but they scare me witless! The thought of being turned into a moaning, helpless, pain riddled woman begging for relief leaves me cold. I don't do pain. I don't know what I was thinking when I got pg, but it certainly wasn't about how the baby was going to come out. Mother Nature obviously over-rides that part of your brain when you're conceiving, eh?
I know I'll be oay, and that i'll get through it whichever way I can, but it doesn't make me feel any better. Oh dear. At least in about 10 weeks time we'll all be on the 'Mummy Moose' thread with totally different worries and fears for our ickle babies and not ourselves.I am going to be positive for the rest of the day now, honest. I am only going to say and think positive thoughts (well, until bedtime at least). I might as well enjoy the sunshine and eat my lunch outside and watch my tummy bounce in the bright sunlight.

Just to add - I think it is perfectly natural for you all (esp first time mothers) to be feeling nervous and to dread the birth. Have you noticed that people tend not to talk about their birth experiences as well which puts a veil of mystery over it all. I remember also worrying about whether I would know what labour was when it started - silly me - but to add to huppa's comments once you go into labour your body just seems to know what to expect and what to do. If it is any consolation, I am even more nervous this time and this is my third. It must be nature's way. Word of warning though if you are watching the american birthing programmes then they do seem to feature alot of people who birth on their backs with epidurals. It really put me off.

I have been advised that evening primose capsules are a great way for ripening the cervix and can be taken safely from 36 weeks so get your supplies in now .

Best wishes to all of you in pain and hope you manage to get some relief soon.

Bibi - that sounds good, hope the Welsh weather is good, it's lovely here in London town (I hear, being trapped at my desk, sniff!)

I also take comfort in hearing that "by the end, you just want it OUT" which seems to be the uniform heartfelt view of all meece when the time comes. I say "take comfort", what I actually mean is "depending very, very heavily on".

Huppa - will be passing your wise words onto dp the very next time I speak to him!!!

I am atill trying to locate piglit!