Due January 2024 🎉 PART 2

[sashastuck]

Hi everyone! I think mumsnet cuts threads off at around 40 pages… here’s part 2 for when it does.
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So sorry if I’ve tagged anyone I shouldn’t have or missed anyone! X

@buckingmad TENS for the win!! I need to get mine back from an ex colleague. I’m planning to do better at learning hypnobirthing, and really want to avoid epidural. I ended up both times with one because I just needed it at the time but hopefully things will be a bit more plain sailing 🙏🏻🙏🏻

@Mummyme87 good to hear tens is worth it! I have been contemplating a hypnobirthing course too. Once I got my breathing under control with the gas and air I was definitely a lot calmer, plus I know my DH really struggled with feeling a bit useless so this is something he could take the lead on and guide me through.

I know what will happen though, I'll snap at him and tell him to f off 😅

@Mummyme87 sorry to bombard you with midwifery questions. I had emergency c section basically for failure to progress despite induction after ROM and no natural labour beginning, think my CRP was rising a bit, I had a dose of labetalol as BP went up and I got a smudge of clonus in the old tootsies so they were worried about pre eclampsia but never actually progressed. If I did decide to opt for VBAC rather than planned c section this time I presume couldn’t have water birth as would need continuous monitoring due to scar rupture risk? I know I wouldn’t accept induction due to scar but if natural labour occurred could I have an epidural if I wanted or do they not like those much is prior c section as presume it could interfere with knowing if pain worsening in case of rupture?

Hi all, been a bit quiet on here, mainly because I’m almost always asleep! The naps are out of control!!

Possibly a weird question…does anyone know if it is safe to prune lavender in pregnancy? I’ve heard that lavender essential oil has been thought to have links to miscarriage due to it being used to regulate periods. But I can’t find any definitive answers online as to whether that’s true or an old wive’s tale. And if it is true weather pruning a lavender bush would be the same kind of thing. I know this probably sounds completely bonkers so don’t judge!!

@Eirlys1986 you can be induced with previous CS, most places do non medicated IOL - balloon or dilapan which is all mechanical, I had an IOL with the pessary as a prev CS but my trust so that and I was happy with the risk. Some units have a pool on the delivery suite so you can have continuous monitoring there (my trust are about to install a pool on DS tomorrow). Just a note on CRP in labour, it always goes up and continues to rise after waters break and or are in labour so isn’t reliable. And yes epidural fine with prev CS, scar rupture shows mainly in fetal distress and the pain overrides an epidural

This will probably sound like a naive and probably very individualised question but for anyone who has previously given birth, is the first trimester the “toughest”. Im just worried with nausea and exhaustion how il get through work but if it wanes some bit I’m sure I can see the finish line of this trimester. Absolutely so grateful to be in this position just feel I was a bit naive to how I’d actually feel

@Niam4 of course everyone is different but certainly my experience with first pregnancy was that first trimester was the worst in terms of nausea and feeling grotty. I felt fantastic for 2nd trimester and most of the third but the last 1-2 weeks or so of 3rd trimester became a challenge just from being cumbersome.

Thanks @Mummyme87 helpful as always, I never particularly wanted a “medicated” birth before but now think if I did go for VBAC I’d do gas and air for as long as possible as I found that really helpful during induction (all 14 ish hours of it on the drip 🙄)- however I kind of doubt I was having “proper” contractions as obviously things didn’t progress and I managed the pain really well with the gas and air. Interesting to know about the CRP - I think it went up from 30s on a day when pessary had been inserted and membranes had been ruptured for around 48 hours by that point then got into 100s by time of delivery. I’m kind of hoping my notes may have some further detail as to why they felt I didn’t progress as I vaguely remember surgeon saying something about his positioning when they got him out but by that point I seriously was past caring and fell asleep on the operating table after they’d delivered him and were stitching me back up.

@RaspberryTime I wouldn’t worry about the lavender. I think it’s meant to be clary/sage that should be avoided till close to term or in labour due to supposed ability to cause contractions.

@Eirlys1986 thank you. turns out I’m feeling so hideous because I have Covid 😭😭😭 I don’t think I’ve ever been this sick in my life. Utterly miserable. And worrying about pregnancy now so sleep deprived cos can’t get comfortable cos of nausea and aches and pains.

@Niam4 absolutely first is the worst (at least for me). Once I got over the exhaustion and sickness, second trimester was pretty nice. I was quite sore in my hips from all the stretching and moving but nothing a bit of physio and pilates didn't help with.

Third for me was pretty tough as I had horrific acid reflux but once I got put on omeprazole it was much more manageable. Third trimester is really tiring physically but then you sit down and feel better, whereas with first I feel like nothing helps. The main thing i remember from third trimester is lightning crotch 😅awful but very quick and not everyone gets it anyway.

Also with the first trimester (especially with your first) you have the whole 9 months of the pregnancy looming ahead and you don't know what it's going to bring which I think makes you feel worse. Whereas at least in third trimester you know you've got just a few more weeks to get through.

@Muriel84 so sorry that you’ve got Covid! Take advantage of the time off work and rest where you can. Hope you’re feeling better asap!! ❤️

It’s really interesting reading all the talk about different births and interventions. I’m sure I’ll be asking loads of questions nearer the time, NO idea what to expect!!

@Muriel84 oh god, sorry you’ve got the cov. Hope you feel better soon. Fluids and rest.

@Eirlys1986 crp is the most random thing to do in labour 😬 waters breaking before labour is a sign of fetal malposition, not an uncommon story. If the head isn’t applying pressure on the cervix equally due to it being a bit skewed, you won’t dilate effectively.
Your hospital may have a Vbac clinic/session which can be quite useful.

I did a course called yoga bellies, which was basically a combination of positive birth and hypnobirth, the biggest thing I took away was to breathe, seriously focus on each every breath.

I really wanted to go in the pool, but ds arrived 20 minutes after my arrival at the hospital, so fast the closest to pain relief was them placing the gas and air mask on the pillow next to me. If he hadn't been tearing me he would have been born in his sack. I had been discouraged for 2 days to go in because I was 36+5 when labor started, but was written off as braxton hicks because too early with a first pregnancy. I begged them to check me and said I was happy to be sent home, as it happened I was checked in triage and taken straight to delivery.

I know this all sounds horrific, but actually it was quite nice that it was so fast. My notes say " waters broke at 9.38, baby arrived 9.43" and that I am the perfect candidate for home birth... errrm no thanks!!!!

Symptom wise I'm alright today, I remember feeling so sick with ds, this time I seem to be able to pretty much carry on as normal with slight waves of sickness. I have my booking in a week today I'm 7+6 today, so my scan will be early July. Ds birthday is also early July, so might send a photo of him holding the scan photo to the wider family telling them all what his birthday present is 🤷‍♀️

Had my booking appointment with my midwife this afternoon- she was absolutely amazing as was the student midwife! I was so anxious about it as I have raised BMI and was terrified of how they would treat me but they were so lovely. I'm going to be on higher dose folic acid and some Aspirin from 12 weeks. She did explain why and was so gentle and lovely with everything, never once made me feel guilty or worthless or stupid! Just wondered if anyone else has been prescribed these?

Hi all, I’ve been reading but not participating sorry. Had another scan today to see if the pool of blood at the bottom of my womb had changed and I’m pleased to say it’s gone! Measuring 8w 5days and a strong heartbeat so I feel a lot more real and I can relax a bit as we are past the point of the last miscarriages too. Apart from not loving the twice a day pessaries and being dog tired, I’m feeling positive for the future. Here’s a pic of our ‘Beanie’ who looks like a blob on the pic as my bladder was soooo full it was so painful 🤣

Well I started bleeding again this morning so I called my Dr who I've just seen now.

She did an examination and told me I have a "copious amount of watery brown discharge" pooling in vagina.

She is sending a swap off for testing and I've got to go for another scan this Friday. She thinks it's possible to be either a MC or a vaginal/cervical infection.

I'm not sure how to feel, I've not had an easy start to this pregnancy, I've been bleeding on and off since 4+0.

I was so greatful at 6+1 when they finally found baby and in the right place having spent a week convinced it was ectopic.

I had another scan at 8+1 and measured perfect. Now it's all in doubt again... my head is in chaos :,-(

@Muriel84 so sorry to hear you have covid stay rested and plenty of fluids and hopefully you will be over the worst in the next few days.

thanks @Eirlys1986 @buckingmad ye i think it’s really the nausea that gets me I have always been terrible from a young age when feeling sick it’s something I don’t handle well and get quite panicked. I definitely think aches and pains I will manage better. It’s nice to know it’s a brief period usually it makes managing it easier anyway.

@Vikki7 so sorry to hear that, hopefully it may just be an infection. It’s good that your scan had everything as it should be even though the bleeding was there before. I know it must be really frightening but the fact it’s brown and watery may be a good sign. Thinking of you ❤️

Oh Vikki really hoping for the best for you, hope it something they can sort out with some meds xx

Hi @FirstT1meMum I had the higher dose folic acid and aspirin with my first pregnancy because my BMI was over 30. I think the aspirin was because of my age too, over 40.
I have not had my booking appointment yet but have spoken to my gp and am on the 5 mg folic acid even though my BMI is just under 30 now. Glad to hear you had a good experience, which is exactly as it should have been 🙂

@Vikki7 so sorry, you’ve had a rough time with this bleeding :( I really really hope it’s just an infection. Like someone said, the fact it’s brown and watery is something to hold onto. I hope tomorrow flies by so you can see your baby on Friday asap xx

@Muriel84 oh poo 💩 sorry you’ve got the covid (or “covee” as it’s known in our house) Hope you are managing to get some rest with your toddler x
@Mummyme87 that’s really interesting about the waters breaking and fetal malposition. I was 39 plus something so it was the right time as such but I basically went for a pee got back into bed and very gently shifted bump with my hands to get comfy on my side and they just broke. All my contractions were felt in my back and rectum which was not pleasant, nothing across anterior abdomen so again I wonder if this is more likely a funny lie?

@FirstT1meMum glad booking appt went well. Yes I’m on folic acid 5mg, have been since 4weeks as knew I needed it due to raised bmi

@Vikki7 so sorry you’re having to go through all this worry.

Well after moaning yesterday about the lack of symptoms I’ve spent the whole day feeling nauseous 😂.
Also managed to get an early scan booked in for tomorrow. I’ll be 6+5 so hoping I’ll
be able to see baby they’ll find a heartbeat.

Hi all, due with my first baby end of Jan and am about 6 weeks now. Does anyone have any tips for coping with lightheadedness/feeling faint? Have been stuck in bed the past 2 days and every time I get up I feel like I am going to faint and have to lie down quickly. Have been sipping water all day and having small regular meals but still don’t seem much better. TIA