November 2020 babies - thread 7!

[wannabebump]

Another thread for us all x

Have you seen on the news that from 15 June all hospital appointments we will have to wear masks in the hospital?

@Pink15 Yeah just seen this, although it was already the case at my hospital had to wear one as early as 7 weeks when I went into the EPU. They have a security guard outside the antenatal bit with a box of masks for us to take.

Same for travelling on tube etc. But the email I received specified 'face coverings' and had a link on how to make some at home. Suggested a piece of fabric or something similar would be sufficient. I'd imagine ordering masks at the moment will be even more difficult.

I got a washable reusable mask on Etsy - it’s quite nice! I’m sure you could make your own easily but I’m really bad at crafts and have no time. Think it was about £5.

We went for a Private scan tonight, it was amazing to be able to see baby again and here the heartbeat. All measurements were correct for dates and everything looked good. Baby was being a little awkward tho and had knees together and cord between legs so we weren't able to find out what we are having but was so good to see. Also found out my placenta is at the front so may be a little longer until I feel movement

@ns34 I went for a private scan too!! My husband and daughter were allowed to come along... It was sooo nice seeing the scan with my husband! My placenta is anterior too which explains the lack of movement. It was such a relief seeing and hearing the heartbeat isn't it?!

My bump seems to have exploded in the past 2 weeks. I'm about 18weeks and my friend took a pic of me the other day I was shocked.

@amiz I am 18 weeks too.
I noticed that about my bump too!! I think for me it is because I am in my jogging bottoms and baggy tops all day so when I do actually wear something slightly tight when going for a walk I suddenly notice it!

Ahh lovely to hear about the scans!

Has anyone started using anything on their tummy to prevent stretch marks?

@Pink15 I use bio oil but I have heard that stretch marks will either happen or not regardless. I more like the smell of bio oil lol.

I've started using palmers, I used it with my other pregnancies and didn't get many stretch marks at all

I'm using the mama mio tummy rub oil, which I ordered online with a discount code. I tried to get palmers from boots but in my local store (due to covid) they were 'doing your shopping for you' and the shop assistant picked me up firming/tightening cream instead 🙄 so that was a fail.

@FilthyforFirth I am getting the stomach pulsing thing. I think it must be all the blood working extra hard around that area.

It’s a scientific fact that rubbing stuff into your skin does absolutely nothing to prevent stretch marks - the tearing happens at a deep layer underneath and massaging the top layer cannot stop that. Whether you get them or not depends completely on genetics. However, it’s a really nice thing to do and it can help with the general dry/itchiness you get when the skin stretches so it’s not a waste of time at all. Just don’t spend loads of money on the cream/oil because any old moisturiser will do the same job. I use palmers too.

The most important prep id recommend to people which will actually make a difference to your life during and post birth is do your pelvic floor exercises!!!

I agree with the pelvic floor exercises @HarrietM87! I will admit, I didnt do them much on my first, and I was so lucky that I have had no problems, but all my NCT friends had problems, and many of my colleagues have talked to me about how they now accept that they pee themselves when they laugh or walk fast, so I am religiously doing them morning and night.

Also I have downloaded an app called "gentle birth". Its mindfulness based and I have loved it so far.

On a slightly far away note, has anybody been thinking about having a home birth? My maternity voices held a q&a yesterday and I watched it. It's been a thought at the back of my mind. I hated being in the hospital on DC. I swear being so not relaxed in that environment is what made my labour so long. Has anyone else been thinking about a home birth?

The bio oil one I think does have evidence of reducing stretch marks from what I've googled - but that might be once they appear it helps fade them?

I need to start pelvis floor exercises soon!! What about perrineal massage is anyone gonna do that?? 🤣

@SqidgeBumas it's my first and I'm clueless I wouldn't want a home birth but I imagine if it was my second and thefirst had been absolutely straight forward then sounds like a nice idea!

That's where I get a bit wary. My first wasnt straight forward. By the end I had been 52 hours in labour and both she and I were so knackered she needed ventouse. I have asked and they say the chances of having an assisted birth is something like 35% on your first but 5-10% on your second, and I am literally 5 minutes from the hospital. I dont know if I am just a bit mad. I thought I would see if anyone else here was thinking the same.

I would have loved to try a home birth this time especially with how the world is at the moment with covid but our nearest hospital is 20 minutes away on a good run and I'm also concerned if there was to be a second peak during flu season over November there might be more delays getting an ambulance here in the first place and then with the 20 minute journey once they do arrive, I'm worried that there won't be enough time to get baby out safely if there were any complications. I think if you are close enough to the hospital then I would go for it. Chance of having complications with the second birth as you said are significantly reduced and after going through it once you will be more aware if things aren't progressing as they should.

@sqidgeBum we are considering a home birth but it's still early days. I'm just over 17 weeks and the idea right now is lovely. Nearer the time, as its my first baby, I may change my thoughts.
We live in a terraced house, and whilst both our neighbours are fortunately lovely, I'm not sure how comfortable I'd feel if I was making noise and it went on for too long. I know I wouldn't care about the noise in the moment, but planning it knowing I may be has made it quite off putting.
I think a happy middle ground for me is a birthing centre. I don't really want a hospital birth unless it's in a pool. The idea of being pinned to a bed with lots of people staring at me freaks me out. The birthing centre sounds fabulous, relaxed and a home away from home. I quite fancy the idea of a pool.

@OurLittlePumpkin that was my plan last time around. I was so adamant I wasnt going to be on the bed. I wanted a pool, and a midwife let unit. What I got was exactly what I didnt want. I ended up in the normal hospital as my DD went quiet 3 times over my pregnancy so they monitored me (she just kept going asleep, still does sleep for ages). Their policy said 3 times of that and I wasnt allowed a midwife led birth. No idea why. Also, as my waters broke but my labour took aaaaages, I wasnt allowed in a pool because of the risk of infection. I ended up on a bed because that was all that was sin the room. I wasnt even offered a birth ball and I wasnt in my right mind to ask for one. I had no help with pain relief as I said no to an epidural and that seemed to be all they were concerned with. My midwife sat in the corner for 20 hours. She seemed to think I was 'doing fine'. I 100% was not. This time I am so much more realistic and determined to have control over what I can. I ended up with genuine PTSD after what I went through and I refuse to be like that again. I have even concocted a mental list already for DH of what he needs to make clear or do when I cant. I know its a long way off still, but I have had a genuine fear of doing this again since the moment I gave birth last time.

As it’s my first and my hospital is only a 12 minute drive away I will not be considering a home birth. The maternity unit is on the other side of the hospital to A and E and the COVID wards, so that’s not even a consideration for me. At my first appointment I was told all options were open to me but now I’m consultant led due to low levels of PAPP-A I don’t think I would be allowed a home birth anyway.

Also good shout about pelvic exercises! Should probably start doing them.

Hi.

Mousy wanted to pop on to give my experiences of consultant lead birth, to hopefully reassure those of you who won't have a choice of where they birth.

Im considered very high risk so had no option either time. Was disappointed I couldn't use a pool the first time, but honestly they Hospital were fab.

I was given birthing balls, birthing chairs, was able to play my own music and dance though the earlier stages (I was induced early for both). I was encouraged and supported to move around a lot.

No one made my stay on a bed, I did have to hop up on one once for twice for monitoring, but only for as long as that took and they got down again.

Just wanted to share good stories to higher risk births. As I know the first time it would have helped me to hear some.

As a complete aside to this my 1st has some significant medical problems that were hit picked up antenatally. I cannot tell you how happy I was to be in the place with immediate access to doctors. And now, even if I had a choice I think I would chose to birth in hospital- which I never would have expected!

*not picked up

Bloom fat fingers

@SqidgeBum my midwife told me In my phone appointment yesterday I need to seriously consider home birth this time because there’s a real chance I wouldn’t be able to get to a hospital. I was induced with my first and ended up with a really fast labour (under 3 hrs from first contraction). It sounds good but was actually terrifying, and I felt really safe in hospital. Chances are it will be faster this time and we live 25min drive away, plus would need time to offload our son on someone. I really don’t know what to do for the best. We’re out of area for our hospital so if I do go for a home birth we’d have to move to a different one and I deliberately avoided it because it has a terrible rep....but then again if all went well I wouldn’t have to go there. I’m so conflicted about it.

PS I know loads of people who have had fantastic home birth experiences, including those who had long difficult labours first time round. I just have a lot of anxiety personally and would rather be in a hospital environment I think.

I am torn between the anxiety that the hospital gave me, and the anxiety of not being in a hospital in case something goes wrong. I just had such a bad experience in the hospital, even though they medically looked after me ok. My DH said I looked like I was managing everything really well so he wasnt surprised the midwife didnt play more of a role but I didnt feel like that. Honestly, the thought of it all had kept me up every night since I found out I am pregnant. It's a major source of stress for me. I am trying to get my head around it.