Anyone due mid 2003?

[Ghosty]

Hello!

I told Katherine I would start this thread! Are you there Katherine? Am feeling shy now!!!

Oooh, good luck tomorrow bundle ... what do you think you will do? Will you try for a natural birth next time or will you go for a c-section again?

I'm having the sleeplessness too at the mo, which really annoys my DH as I lie awake between 2 and 4am and then moan about being tired during the day ... I need a couple of nights at a health farm ON MY OWN I think ... I think I will write to Father Christmas for that!!!

feel strangely ok..in spite of lack of sleep. dh away on business at the moment, so great to potter without him moaning! Not sure what I'll go for yet, spoke to very good friend yesterday, who had a first birth c/s (breech) and elective c/s 2nd time..delighted with both. don't know if I can be bothered with trying for labour - puked through last one which made everything terrible, got dehydrated and exhausted - worse than the pain. I remember the consultant was a very nice woman, so I feel I can chat it through with her properly. what would you like to do?

Mmmmm... that's a tough one. I would like to try for a natural birth as I felt cheated that I couldn't give birth to DS - in fact I felt a complete failure!

But, now that I am older I just wonder whether it is worth the hassle? I can organise childcare for DS if I have an elective (No close family nearby and wouldn't leave him with friends as we have only been here for 6 months).

Also, the reason that I had to have a c-section last time was because he was a huge baby ... it is therefore likely that I will have another biggie isn't it?

I think what I would like to do is ... have a scan at 36 weeks to check the size of the baby and then, depending on the results of that, have a trial of labour on the understanding that if it looks like history repeating itself I can have a caesar ...

I like the idea of going into labour because then the baby will come when it is ready ...

I know what you mean about the convenience thing. my parents are up north, the in-laws are a couple of hours away on the south coast..so an elective would make lots of sense re: childcare. my c/s was for foetal distress (blood sample, not just measuring heart rate) following a very slow labour. luckily i'd had an epidural so it was quite straightforward if a bit scary. not sure if I'd want to do trial labour..dd was nearly 2 wks late! she was 8lb 4 1/2 oz...so not small! they normally get bigger, but a friend has just had a teeny under 6lb baby after one which was nearly 8lb last time, both boys. I suspect I'll leave things till 36 wks to make a final decision but I can feel myself veering towards another c/section..I don't have any of the 'failure' feelings you mentioned, I'm very much having a baby, not a birth, IYKWIM!

Hi guys. I've been lucky enough to have two smallish babies 6lb and 7lb1.5oz. For me the smaller one hurt much more. I know of people who had much larger babies so I think the bottom line is its going to hurt anyway. Just a question of whether you've got the umpff to push a biggie out, although I know its easy for me to say having not been in that position and it all depends on your build etc. I think Bundle is right though. You shouldn't feel it was less of a birth because it is CS. It must be amazing to wake up and think "I'm having my baby today" and to know exacly what is going to happen. I do agree it would be nice for it to start naturally and then go to CS if you want. Much more convenient. I haven't a clue when mine will put in an appreance, both were early and I worry that DH will be at work and not get home. It would be great to plan it all.

Watching a CS birth on TV yesterday it struck me it must be heck of a shock. Baby could be fast asleep and then suddenly the light pours in and these arms appear. Then again going into labour must be a shock too as its not as if they know what to expect - and they get a cuddle a lot quicker from a CS with none of the squashing.

There is no shame in opting for a CS if its going to be easier and safer. I think the birth must be every bit as exciting and the end result is the same, just a different way of getting there - like taking a taxi instead of waiting for the bus

katherine, how brilliantly put! my dd was covered in meconium when she was born so obviously wasn't happy about what was going on! dh and lovely midwife gave her a nice bath and then brought her back to me for a little suckle once I'd been sewn back up.

Hi All - pleased you are all doing ok. I am feeling much less sick now (13+ weeks now) but still pretty knackered. Have got my 'booking in' appointment on thursday.

I know this must sound dreadful but I'm kind of jealous of those of you who have an exuse to choose a c-section. A very large part of me would like to have a good reason not to go through the hell of labour again. I say go for the easier option (although not to undermine the difficult recovery period etc). There are no medals for childbirth - the end result is the same.

Katherine, thank you for saying those things in such a good way ...

I think that is why I would like a trial of labour so that my baby knows that it is time to come out (sort of, IYKWIM!)

My son was 10lb 1/2 oz (I am 5'7" and not a big frame) and I was in labour for 3 days before the c-section took place and was in shock for a very long time afterwards - didn't get to hold my baby for 6 hours or so and so bonding took a very long time. I just do not want that to happen again ... I want to be able to have contact with my baby straight away next time ...

Percy, glad you are feeling better ... my friend just had her third baby and she said the same as you, she would have given anything to have had a c-section as all three seem to have been pretty nightmarish!! She says, 'Natural childbirth is over rated' LOL!

But IMO the most important thing is healthy happy baby and healthy happy mummy so who gives a monkeys how it comes out?

We've just last week celebrated dd's 1st birthday and I've been holding back on having no2 (but not really holding back, if you know what I mean) - and found out last night that I'm in my 7th week already!! DH was driving around in the rain last night looking for pregnancy tests and we're both a little stunned - but very happy. Anyone else felt that they weren't ready? I just feel that with dd things are getting much more manageable and on even keel and I enjoy her so much now. Also I work FT and do the whole nursery run thing - am worried have so much to do will threaten this pregnancy.(I know everyone does it but doesn't stop me worrying) I think i'm due early June - off to Doctors this afternoon.

percy - agree re: no medals!
saw consultant this am and although she said there was no obstetric reason for not going ahead with a trial labour..they wouldn't let me go more than 41 wks and wouldn't let me push for a long time if I chose to labour, and they'd have to monitor the baby throughout labour because their distress is usually the first indicator of anything going wrong (ie the 1/200 chance of rupture of the previous c/s scar - mmm, nice).
so I'll just go on as normal and see her at 38 weeks unless I start to feel very strongly that I want a c/s. heard the baby's heartbeat and everything was as it should be (including negative syphilis, hiv results!), decided to have a Barts test but I think she thought I was being over-cautious. Glad to hear everyone is ok. and congratulations Ouioui! I think a lot of people are anxious re: second child but you sound pretty robust to me. good luck

Glad to hear most of you are well, and congratulations OuiOui! As my pregnancy is as a result of IVF I cannot claim it to be unplanned, but let's just say I didn't expect it to work first time!

I also had a c/s last time: ds was big for me (9lb 3oz - I am just 5 foot tall), and like others I had a lengthy labour, with foetal distress. I don't really want to risk another emergancy with ds to look after as well. I'll wait until the 20 week scan to see how far ahead of dates I'm measuring, but I was already 4 days ahead at my last scan (8w 4d!) Though at this stage it was just by a mm or so.

Saw MW today for my bloods and to get the cheery news that there are even fewer midwives around locally than last time...

Well, had scan today, and took dh and ds (2.5) with me. Ds was quite interested in screen but wanted to play with the computer game "just like the man". All is well, but our hospital won't tell the sex of the baby, as they had had people aborting at 20 weeks as didn't like what they were told (god!!).

I really strained to look at the screen to see if I could see any dangly bits, but I don't know if they are that big at 18 weeks! I think I might just buy something pink just in case.

Went up into London on own on Monday, as in laws were down to look after ds. Ended up buying things from Hamleys for ds, nothing for self, and coming home with aching legs and feet. I am going to have to stop wearing my high heel boots.

Glad to see everyone else is well, and welcome to Ouioui. I think everyone with #2 is apprehensive, please don't worry too much or you will drive up your blood pressure - I know from experience. Just think you will be off on mat leave with #1 at a great time, cause anytime is a good time with kids, they are always doing something new.

I don't think there is ever an ideal time, for #2,3 or 4 you just live with what you are given.

We are all here to listen and help!

Thanks for reassuring words Deegward. I didn't know they let children in to see the scan - that'll be fun!. Am feeling great about being pregnant now. However, we have a funny dilemma in afew months time. I'm really small and drive with the seat really foward in the car - I don't think I'll be able to drive beyond 5-6 months so don't know how we're going to get dd to nursery???
Any bright ideas? Public transport is out of the question (London buses, pregnant with buggy is not vaguely funny) Thinking of getting a FT nanny from 5 months but is that less fun for dd than the nursery with lots of babies??? Carry on posting girls.

hello everyone, hope you're all ok. I decided to go for a Barts (quadruple) blood test, like I did last time and got the results this morning which I discussed at length with genetic counsellor. Basically the Downs/spina bifida risk is v low (1 in 50,000 or something ridiculous) but I have a 1 in 30 chance of the baby having Edwards syndrome (extra chromosome 18) so I'm going to have an amniocentesis on Thursday. Edwards is one of the really bad ones - babies can have a number of organs affected and I know another mum whose baby with Edwards (undiagnosed, she went full-term) died after 3 days. Luckily my own consultant can do it (she did one for me last time) and I should have preliminary results early next week. I've managed to fix extra childcare as I don't want dd there as last time I found it quite traumatic. I feel surprisingly calm after a little weep this morning. sorry to load this onto you, but it feels good to 'tell' someone apart from dh.

thanks Batters, I'm not too worried about the test, I have huge confidence in my consultant, she's very calm and kind. it's just the 'what if' stuff that bothers me....must keep positive for now though

Bundle, thinking of you and every fibre of every digit crossed for Thursday. I know from family experience that Edwards is bad news - please keep us posted and we will keep you in our thoughts.

thanks Marina, feeling the warmth of your thoughts coming through. These things hit you hard when you've already started to show and bond more with the bump...I don't think I even let myself do that first time around. Anyway, at least Edwards is clear-cut and I don't have to agonise over whether a termination is the right decision or not. Let's hope it doesn't have to come to that.

thinking of you, Bundle, and loads and loads of luck. Good thing you trust your consultant so much - not everone can say the same. Stay on the positive!

Hi everyone, lightening blew up my modem (again - 4 modems in last 12 months + printer, soundcard and 2 fans!) so been offline until today. Felt really lost without my daily dose

Not a good day though. 11 weeks now and seeing the MW tomorrow. Feeling really chuffed with myself then..... more bleeding. Not much but enough to knock me to pieces again. Thank god about my appointment tomorrow. Just hope she can hear the heart beat...

Sorry to be gloomy. Good to hear thinks are going OK for everyone else (and fingers crossed for me too, desperatly trying not to panic here)

Sorry bundle - just read through the other messages. Hope you didn't thin I was being flippant. Fingers crossed for you too.

feeling pretty grim now, had too much time to think today, so I'm slinking away to get a takeaway for me & dh and try to take my mind off things.I'll let you know how it goes

s'aright Katherine, didn't take it that way, just feeling a bit sad, that's all. hope all goes well for you tomorrow, x

Bundle and Katherine, just wanted to say I'm thinking of you and hope everything is OK.

Oh bundle ... have not logged on to this thread for a few days and so am sorry to see I am late in adding my best wishes to you ...

It is good that you have a good consultant that you trust and you seem to have the right attitude about it all ... I will be thinking of you on Thursday and will have everything crossed for you. Do let us know how you get on ... how long will you have to wait for the results (might have missed that bit if you already said)?

Katherine, hope your appointment went ok ... let us know how that went too!