Due February 2022 (thread 3)

[Winterfellismyhome]

Our other thread about to max out so welcome to thread 3! How is everyone doing?

@Hope2022
I'm kind of in the same dilemma...
I had a failed home birth first time round. Baby was delivered by forceps within minutes or arriving at the hospital with episiotomy and 3C tear.
I am really torn (haha) between trying again for a natural birth, knowing if all goes well I am out on the same day and can recover at home or opt for the section. My son could be booked into nursery for the day, so we wouldn't struggle finding care for him as we would with a natural birth as we don't have family around.
Had a consultant appointment on Tuesday and he said it is completely up to me. However the risk of having similar injuries again and maybe not healing as well as I did first time round are there.
With a planned section, I do worry about my risks as it's a big surgery but I do also worry about baby as C section babies especially without any labour before sometimes struggle to adapt to the outside world.
I'm really not sure. We postponed the decision for now.

Just found baby's heartbeat with the fetal doppler. After the consultant found it straight away, I was more confident and after a bit of searching I found it. Very pleased :-) As soon as I will experience reliable movements, I'll sell it on though ;-)

@Peachi82 thank you for taking time to share your experience and thoughts!

Until now my main worry has been conceiving and mc and now it’s all very real birth has become my next thoughts 🙈

I'm definitely having an ELCS after an EMCS.

I could go for a VBAC but that could end in an EMCS so I would rather cut out as much unknown risk as possible

Hi, I’m new here.

Due on 26th Feb, first time mum so very nervous/excited!

Could I please ask to join the fb page too?

I had a gender scan today so after 2 boys I'm having a little girl this time 💕

Congratulations! @feb2022

@feb2022 ah how fab, congrats 🎉
@Daisymacx hey welcome, I'm a first time mum too! @Peachi82 can you invite you to the fb group 😊

@becatefuloutthere aw thank you! This seems like a great support network😀 nice knowing all the things I’m experiencing are ‘normal’ haha!

@feb2022 Oh that’s lovely, congratulations!!

I find out sex next week (hopefully), really don’t have any bias at all and it’s my first. Will be nice to finally stop calling him/her an “it”.

@Hope2022 and @Peachi82 I've already requested an elective section. I had awful birth experience last time which resulted emergency section which I want to avoid, avoid, avoid.

I physically recovered very well, and my daughter BF just fine (until she was 15 months )It was mental recovery from the birth experience that was hard!

My midwife was great when I requested it last week 'why risk a 3rd degree tear?'.

I already have my consultant appointment booked in !

@Rmw99 - I am also EXHAUSTED, so so tired! I'm waking everyday about 3-4am to wee 😩!

Sleeping on your side - anyone else finding it difficult? For the first time in my life I am not able to sleep on my side! Only seem to be falling asleep on my back. The guilt is setting in....

I'm 18 weeks

@CurlyWurlyTwos thank you for your response! 😊
For me I think my biggest concern is the recovery afterwards, I’ve had several friends who’ve had CS and they’ve said take painkillers and rest and you’ll be fine. Having said that the recovery time for 3DT was the same, 6 weeks no lifting driving etc..

Id love to think I’ll have the birth I’ve planned, but I’m thinking it’s out of my control and second time round V delivery May not run a smoothly and I May end up with intervention or CS anyway. I’m worried I’ll opt V delivery then have the flash backs and tense up..

@PrettyPlatapus I’ve never slept on my back but often wake up on my back these days!
I find if I lie on my side I often wake up with a numb hip 🤦🏼‍♀️

@theworstoftimes thank you for your comments!
I understand that! Why risk ECS!
Although 3DT had no impact on my daughter, I don’t think I could go through that again just to end up in theatre and maybe not recovering so well second time round xx

Can I ask a personal question to those who previously had 3rd degree tears?

Did you do perineum massage in the run up to birth?

Ftm here and wondering how effective it is?

@PrettyPlatapus
I did, but it was a forceps delivery, so not much use.
We did a hypnobirthing course and it was great as I spent all of the labour at home (with pool and midwives), but in the end baby had stress, I had no more contractions and they sent an ambulance to get me into hospital.

Thanks for your advise regarding ELC, I really haven't made up my mind yet. I'm still thinking day by day. Next big goal is the 20 weeks scan!

Sleep has been horrendous all during pregnancy despite being so so so tired. It's just difficult to find a comfy position.

I'm sleeping terribly too!
I just can't seem to get comfy at all, even the thought of water is making me need to get up and go for a wee at 2,3,4,5 am 😂
Ohh I found out yesterday at my scan that my placenta is anterior... can't wait for the rib kicks in the 3rd trimester now 😅

@Peachi82 I had a forceps delivery with my 1st and an episiotomy, I thought my second birth was gonna be really bad but it wasn't as bad, I did tear 3rd degree but I healed really well! And I've got no problems now
I actually think the episiotomy recovery was worse than the tear though but I do think that way maybe because it was my first birth but not too sure

@feb2022
I had the 3rd degree tear in addition to the episiotomy
It took me a few months to recover and maybe 1.5 years for my pelvic floor to be back to more normal. Not recover in terms of pain or anything, it healed really well and I didn't need pain killers after a few days. But until I could control the toilet urge again (bladder and back passage), it was really a while.

I really haven't made up my mind yet, but obviously the thought of becoming fecal or bladder incontinent is not a nice one.

I am pretty sure though that if my son hadn't been back to back, I would have easily birthed him at home. The hypnobirthing was amazing, I didn't need any gas&air at home and felt really well and calm all the way through. He just didn't want to come out...

I feel the hospital wants a decision when I reach 30 something weeks, so they can book me in for a CS or not. I don't think they can accommodate things like I want to wait until I go into labour naturally and then have the section. Or that I want to get assessed and if baby is again back to back, then I want a section. I think this is asking for too much flexibility on their part.

Congratulations on having a little girl! ❤ 2 boys and a little girl, so perfect ❤️😍

I'm due the same date 🥰

I've just come on to moan!

Between 10.30pm and 7am this morning I had to get up to wee 4 times! 😩😩😩😩

I didn't get a good nights sleep and am completely shattered - where does it come from!

Started work a bit late, but not a good start to the week!

Hey all - hope you're doing ok? I'm 16 weeks and have surprisingly been feeling much better (no more nausea really, no aches, twinges, the odd few headaches etc). I'm hoping this is the start of the 'bouncing back' in the second trimester but I'm worried as keep wondering if everything is ok. My stomach also changes in sizes - sometimes harder during the sky than at other times and sometimes a little softer and not as big / other times but bigger. I understand it may be bigger due to water retention and bloating which may now have subsided but still anxious. Has anyone else been feeling this / experiencing this?

@miracle2022
I'm 15+4 and feeling so much better , just a little breathless if walk too fast. I too have got variable stomach size! Not enough to say there's a bump yet and most of the time think it's just because I'm bloated.
Have you felt any movement yet? X

@Detta123 no movements yet but have heard it can take a few weeks yet. Glad I'm not the only only inflating and deflating at different times! X