Due March 2023 - Thread 6

[TeddyBeans]

The one where we might start meeting babies!?

23/2 - botleybump 💓
24/2 -
25/2 -
26/2 - TeddyBeans 💓
27/2 - Ubbee 💙
28/2 - BabyNumber3OnTheWay 💙
1/3 -
2/3 - BethBeef 💙, Cams50 💙
3/3 - LittleAcorn20 💛, LaForza101 💙, SammyJay5 💓, pamplemousse19 💓, Lauren11x 💙, Whatsforpud 💛
4/3 - EastyBaby19 💙, Cdoc 💙, Katdemar 💙
5/3 - Babynum2 💙, hopingforarainbow27 💓
6/3 - allthingssparkly, Thirdtimesacharm3 💙
7/3 - GreenIsle 💓, Noodle20, Pickles23 💛
8/3 - Splashh, June628 💓, BabyLimey 💛
9/3 - Penelope_2023, 91mana
10/3 - iratepirate 💛, PeonyPops 💓
11/3 - Chloe1896
12/3 - Katlouise24 💓
13/3 - ToffeeEl 💓, Franklin321 💓
14/3 - beatingheartbaby 💓
15/3 - Hrf1503 💓, TTC24 💙
16/3 -
17/3 - Room4onemore 💓
18/3 - XjustagirlX 💛, CristinaNov182 💓
19/3 - Dreamingof3 💓, alotoftutus 💙, AK93 💙, hellosunshineagainxxx 💙, Allthegirls3 💓
20/3 -
21/3 - FirstTimeTryer93, LifeOfRiley1 💛, Rose429 💓
22/3 - mrshenny 💓
23/3 - Choc2022 💛
24/3 - whydotheyallhaverubbishwheels 💙, Charlothevet88 💛, Mrs2022 💛, Blocklynn 💛
25/3 - Whywhwhy 💙, Missy95 💛
26/3 - purplerain555
27/3 - Cats23 💓, firstlittleone 💓, dmb91 💛, AGirlsNameIsAryaStark 💛, hol92 💙, Amy1303 💛, Bobduncan 💛, OonMP 💛
28/3 -
29/3 - Perexi 💙, SenecaFalls1848 💛
30/3 - ChristmasJumpers 💓, Moonlighting 💙
31/3 - Baby2iscooking 💛
1/4 - diamondbutterfly 💓

@havanamama My midwife asked for my birth plan and read through it when I was moved into my own room for delivery. I put one at the front of my maternity notes so easy to find.

I've also never done a birth plan, just made sure my partner knew the few things that I was most bothered about and we spoke to the midwives/drs about it

Curious to understand why that’s your preference? It wasn’t something I had thought about beforehand and ended up having a student obstetrician and a student midwife during various stages of mine and they were both great. They’re were always supported by fully qualified staff so it felt like extra support.

@Ubbee I'm fairly new to the UK NHS system, and previously have been used to a health system in which there's a lot of public reviews for medical staff, which is already a big difference for me, as so far my pregnancy has had practically 0 consistency when it comes to the professionals looking after me.

Unfortunately I can't afford private in the UK, but so far my NHS experience has highlighted how stretched the resources are, and therefore how little attention I've gotten as a patient in maternity units.
Therefore, for the time I will get, I want to have someone with experience rather to be someone's training.
As a first time mum I see it all as very delicate and precious - stitching me up, ensuring no placenta left, safe delivery, etc.

Plus lastly I don't want a group of students using me as a case study. I've heard of many people that had 5+ students learning in the room, but for me it's such a personal experience

@havanamama I can see it from your point but I'd also say that I think students tend to be more attentive and eager to make sure everything is being done correctly....they've not been desensitised yet 😂 but obviously your choice is your choice and they will respect that.

I had a student Dr and midwife with my first and they were my favourite people of the whole experience

Each to their own :) I've had hospital stays before and surgery, and was less concerned about the medical team's bedside manners than by their experience.

I have had students present in a few of births, you tend to find a midwife won’t stay with you the whole time you are in labour, they will pop in and out to check how you are getting on, the students I have had have stayed with me the whole time so we’re able to call the midwife back if they noticed anything changing

Are there no buttons to call staff?
When I've been in hospital before (not UK), I could ring a bell and someone would come to bedside.

@TeddyBeans aw super cute, what size is the mattress for it? ours is 120x60cm I was able to get fitted cot bed sheets from H&M online and they are a perfect fit.

I keep thinking baby will make an early appearance, god knows why, its just constantly in the back of my mind and part of the reason I want things done in plenty of time - just in case! My previous children were born at 40+1 & 40+6 so I dont think I need worry too much 😆 I just know the weeks will fly by now!

**

@havanamama I’m not sure private maternity care is something to aspire to - as soon as anything’s challenging most of them transfer to NHS facilities anyway!

You could employ a private midwife or doula if you feel like you want a familiar face?
Im always amazed with the level of care I receive, especially knowing how stretched and underpaid they are, but am maybe lucky being in London.

It's not about a familiar face, it's just that I've been used to always knowing who my doctors are and have been able to read up on them feedback online from previous patients. It's about trust.

As I said, I'm new to how NHS run, and the only baby in my life is outside of the UK, so I'm having to go by Mumsnet 😂

I've got a Chicco Forever Next To Me bed for baby, but I think their sheets would fit your mattress! I got super cute pink ones in the sales

@allthingssparkly I had a 120x60 one for DS, got clevermama waterproof sheets for it off Amazon in case you need any new ones in the future! This mattress is 90x54cm. DS was induced at 39 weeks and came at 39+3. He didn't show any signs of being ready to come though so I think he would have been 42 weeks if he'd been allowed to continue naturally. I'm half expecting the preeclampsia to kick in and set off an induction this time round or even something like IUGR with how quickly the consultant wanted to book another growth scan 🤷‍♀️

@havanamama oh! Excellent thank you! I'll have a look. My Google searches came up blank so happy to look into suggestions!

@havanamama
There should be patient survey result for maternity units, which might be able to give you a heads up about strength and weakness of where you are attending. Some of them can be a bit out of date, mainly due to Covid. Also you have the option to choose and change what hospital you're attending. For example I chose not to use my closest unit due to their CQC report and patient survey. Of course it's a balance between being close for when in labour, but perhaps I'm spoilt being in London.

I think currently it's really important to have someone with you to help you advocate for you when you may be in pain. Someone who can be polite but get you the attention you need.

I have 2 hospital near me and have chosen one, but was told that it's just a preference, and on the day they might send me to the other one if all beds are full in my chosen one.

@havanamama yes they have a bottom but a student can recognise something which you may not. It’s just I don’t find it a bad thing if it can stop problems occurring due to a midwife not being present at that time

@havanamama
Oh. I've not been told this, perhaps I'll check.

I wonder if it's different if your consultant led. All my appointments, scans and midwife have been at the hospital (I think the midwifes are not community based unlike some areas) and there has been no mention of having to go to a different one.

@havanamama -I only had a student midwife ( with a qualified midwife) at Dc#3 birth and this is how that went...,
Midwife breaks my waters- I asked for this as My previous birth was super quick after waters went before.
Midwife went on a break.
Student midwife was nearly at end of her training.
Within 20mins of waters broken, contractions started every 2mins, student said I should try bouncing on ball, I did but instantly felt urge to push. student midwife told me ' No, its too soon for that' This annoyed me- I knew exavtly what I was feeling!
I told her again.
She actually rolled her eyes, it was at this point I turned to Dp and told him to help me on the bed and deliver baby, as he was coming.
He did indeed help me.
Midwife returned within 30mins and told the student midwife ' When a woman tells you she needs to push, you listen and support that'.
Ds was born 20mins later (1hr from water breaking to birth )
And for this reason, Im happy to have a student midwife in but the qualified midwife has to stay haha!

Heads up- Aldi baby event starts this week coming! Ive found it great in the past- Muslins, bins, dummies, bottles , wipes , nappies, bibs , changing bags ect have been brilliant

Omg 😳 I'm not sure my husband would be ready for this level of action
Glad it was all safe for you at the end!

As an ex NHS nurse - I’d say totally your decision for no students. I had a student midwife and she was lovely..she’s the only person I can still remember now from the birth..she really kept me going.

Also on a note in the NHS you will not see a consultant on labour ward..unless something goes badly wrong I.e major haemorrhage during c section. You will have junior doctors and registrars. Even for c sections, theatre etc.
The consultants tend to do clinics and work 9-5 Monday to Friday so don’t really get too involved. However in my experience the Registrars and junior doctors are more thorough and better.

Consultants aren’t dealing with emergencies daily like the latter so they get abit out of practice so your care from a junior level doctor I can guarantee will be top notch. Of all the surgeons I worked with - it’s the consultants that caused the most problems as they get out of practice. More time experience doesn’t equal better care unfortunately xx

Hi everyone, long term lurker here due 17th March 👋

As an ex student midwife, please feel free to choose not to have students in the room. Although as others have said, there isn’t always time to read birth plans so may be worth making note of your preference on the front of the paper notes (if you have them!)

It’s also worth noting that you can have a student present but decline that they are involved in any stage you’re particularly uncomfortable with (eg. Students don’t do stitching etc). As a pp said, they can be lovely company and a real asset in helping you understand your care.

But absolutely no judgement, your birth, your choice😊

I had a student midwife there for my first birth. My personal view was that if you want trained staff they have to learn somehow, but I probably could have done without the qualified midwife narrating some of the more harrowing moments during my labour to the student! I did decline to let the student try an internal examination as I'd already had a pretty awful one (from a qualified doctor) and didn't want any more from anyone.

I agree, I just think they can learn on a non-FTM 😂 instead of me

I've only ever had student midwives at my midwife appointments, which was fine. I'm a nosy bugger so I'd probably like the running commentary as long as I was with it enough to comprehend what was being said.

Following on from earlier, I ended up back on Amazon and think I found some fitted sheets to fit my cot! They're arriving on Tuesday - excited to test them out!