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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Can anything make the big push easier?

42 replies

1stX · 01/01/2018 20:01

31 weeks now and starting to think/ panic about the big day. At my last scan I was told ‘he’s a big boy!’ DP was 10lbs and keeps making jokes about broad shoulders 😡

I’ve heard people talking about raspberry leaf tea and perennial massage oils.
Has anyone tried them? Do they work and what brands do you recommend? X

OP posts:

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RavingRoo · 01/01/2018 22:09

Standing and walking if possible. Every one of my friends and family who were able to stand and walk during labour had a better experience.

waddleslikeapenguin · 01/01/2018 22:09

Linseeds- same idea as raspberry tea, sprinkle a tablespoon on your cereal or into a yoghurt every day.
And in the German-speaking corner of the world there is a thing called Epi-No. It's not cheap but it does what it says. Found it easier to use by myself than perennial massage (just couldn't reach and was so tired by that point I was going to bed well before hubby!)

Oysterbabe · 01/01/2018 22:41

I found the pushing stage fine both times too. I was able to pinpoint the second the contractions changed from dilating ones to pushing ones. My second particularly the pushing required no conscious input from me, my body just ejected him. First baby was 4lbs 13 and I had a first degree tear. Second was 8lbs 1 and I had a small second degree tear. Both births were speedy but my second was easier even though he was so much bigger. I didn't do the massage and remain unconvinced that it helps.

FanSpamTastic · 01/01/2018 23:22

Water - either bath during labour or water birth. I tore and had stitches with dc1 - my smallest at 7 lbs. But had water births with dc2 and dc3 who were 9 lb 3 oz and 9 lb 10 oz respectively. No stitches.

Original poster

1stX · 02/01/2018 15:59

Thanks guys. I’ve been googling perineal massage. How the hell are you meant to get down there as you get bigger?!

OP posts:

GummyGoddess · 02/01/2018 22:11

Get DH to do it?

GummyGoddess · 02/01/2018 22:11

Ger DH to do it?

annlee3817 · 02/01/2018 22:23

I had four to five cups of raspberry leaf tea a day from 34 weeks, I tried the perineal massage a few times but struggled with the angle. I did have a small second degree tear, it was deep rather than long and they ummed and ahhed about stitching me. Then decided they should, it didn't bother me at all post birth, couldn't even tell I had stitches. Pushing wise, that bit took a whole despite all the tea that I drank, although total length of labour was just less than 5 1/2 hours.

Pisstaker · 02/01/2018 22:32

Raspberry leaf tea will not do a thing.
Big babies birth as well as small babies in most cases.
Scans are often inaccurate at diagnosing big babies anyway

GimbleInTheWabe · 02/01/2018 22:46

@1stX my DS (11 weeks) was 9lbs and I had no pain relief whatsoever during my labour (he was born so quickly I didn't have time!). However I did get a third degree tear which tbh I didn't feel at all. I had used perineal oil and all that but it obviously didn't make much difference for me! The recovery for the tear was actually completely fine as well so don't worry too much. I did do hypnobirthing which I personally found to be amazingly helpful.

Original poster

1stX · 03/01/2018 11:44

Thanks again guys. I’m not too sure about a water birth. I don’t like being in the bath too long. I’ll try havin a dip at home though if I can.
I’m not sure I can afford a hypnobirthing course but I’ll look into podcasts.
I’ve bought some raspberry leaf tea to try. If nothing else at least it tastes nice x

OP posts:

Biscuitsneeded · 03/01/2018 13:17

I found the raspberry leaf tea disgusting and am also massively sceptical about almost everything, but I stuck with the tea and had one birth that was quite quick for a first time (about 6 hours in total) and one that was 32 minutes and he shot out all by himself without me even pushing. It can't hurt to try it!

GummyGoddess · 03/01/2018 13:39

You might still like the water birth, I hate baths and swimming as I really dislike being in the water but it was really nice. A hot water bottle or those heat patches might have a similar effect, maybe one on the back and a couple around the front?

Honeyjo87 · 03/01/2018 13:55

I had 6 dates a day in my last 4 weeks.. it’s my first baby, n I was due for an induction on 10th Nov, but I started to have contractions early morning on 7th Nov, by 3pm I rang hospital, they took me to labour ward by 3:30 and by 7 pm my baby is out.. I only had to do 3 pushes.. didn’t even get a chance to take any painkillers.. it was amazing..

Honeyjo87 · 03/01/2018 14:02

Oo forgot to say, I had gestational diabetes n was told not to have dates, but my mum said it helped her when my bros (twins) were born. So I tried it. I will say don’t stress, I was always calm all the way through my pregnancy n that helped me to actually enjoy it.. one of my colleague actually tried to make me scared by saying how scary it is... she tried her very best in the last 6 months of my pregnancy, but I didn’t let her spoil my time., coz I know I will not get those moments back. P

Firstchild7 · 03/01/2018 19:07

When is the best time to start taking raspberry leaf tea?

Potteryprincess30 · 03/01/2018 20:05

@poster 1stX i'm due the 7th of March but hope she'll be a bit early like my first. Amazing we're due almost the same day

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