Due February 2024 Thread 5!! 🤰🩷💙

[MummyTo4BoysXXXX]

last thread is nearly full so thought I would make a new one for us all 😊

@Ebonythoughts I ended up having epidural with my first. He was back to back and I was stuck at 4cm for hours in absolute agony. I begged for an epidural and after 15hours (there was only one anaesthetist in the whole hospital at the time) I got one.. and I cannot express how I went from being in extreme pain to having a lovely blissful labour. I honestly loved it. My second came so quickly I was unable to have anything other than a bit of gas but I don’t like to inhale things so I chewed on the mask rather than breathed it in 😅 As lovely as it was that he came quickly, to me my labours were complete opposite in terms of pain. Obviously everyone’s pain threshold is different but I’d just say go with whatever you feel! We all want a healthy baby at the end of it so you do whatever you gotta do to get through it!

I am really struggling with sleep at the moment.. if it’s not me getting up 3,4,5 times during the night to have the smallest wee possible then I’m waking up with my hips in so much pain. So achey and I just cannot get comfortable at all. It only seems to happen when I’m in bed which is really annoying!

I think my bladder was his favourite toy lastnight 🙈😂
If he stays in there til the end then 15 weeks to go for me 🙂 that feels so short doesn't it.

15 weeks for me too @CheeseAndCrackersx - I can't believe it.

Baby was having a rave at 5am this morning. My cats sensed it and joined in. Who needs sleep?!

@CharXo I'm with you on the pelvic pain at night, can manage in the day, but dread the nights. Have been to physio and on codeine but still so uncomfy. I tried propping myself on pillows so could sleep on my back but realised then I stopped feeling my baby move at all overnight so have to stop that, and that was the only way I was getting decent unbroken sleep 😴

Did you have bad PGP/SPD in your previous pregnancy? I did and had pelvic separation which I think helped with getting my back to back first baby out! Got to have some perks of this pelvic pain crap 😩

@Ebonythoughts - I had such weird reactions to the pain relief!!! Please remember everyone's birth is very different but happy to share my story?

I was induced - my waters broke and there was meconium, so we had to get baby out right away, but contractions hadn't started. Because of the meconium, I was told I would have to be in the doctor-led unit and I could no longer have a water birth, which was what I'd planned on.

I went into hospital and about 3 hours later there was a room available and I was placed on the drip. Immediately, contractions were very intense, I felt like we'd gone from 0 to 100 in a few minutes. I did try gas and air, but it made me vomit. I also tried morphine, but it made me vomit too!! I had done a hypno-birthing course but honestly I couldn't concentrate on any of the techniques.

I eventually opted for an epidural, which was pretty quickly administered - but in that time I had fully dilated and was ready to push. That bit was really tricky because I suddenly felt really relaxed and calm (vs really struggling through contractions) and I found it hard to tell when I needed to push. Baby was born by vacuum in the end, with an episiotomy (and I was SO glad of the epidural then). Whole experience only took 7 hours from when I had the drip so I considered it quite a good birth!!! I didn't plan for an epidural but honestly? It was fine, it actually wore off quite quickly, and I was walking around the hospital fine after a few hours. You can request 'walking epidurals' now too.

I gave birth at the RBH in Reading, which is a great hospital. Next time I'm probably going to opt straight for an epidural, lol, in the hope that I can relax more and conserve my energy to push.

@Ihatewinding ahh it’s soo annoying and uncomfortable isn’t it! I don’t recall any of this in my previous pregnancies I’m really struggling with it. It’s another 4 weeks until I see the midwife too ☹️

@CharXo I would recommend getting in contact with your midwife sooner, did they give you a mobile number to contact at all? Or ask the GP receptionist to pass on a message for a physio referral? Can be weeks before get seen so better to get referred asap!

Also have you got a pregnancy ball? I basically do everything I can to avoid extra pressure through my pelvis, so no sitting on the floor with my little one (managed to convince her to sit with me on the couch to play for most part!), husband does all the lifting he can, and I avoid any hard chairs - I have my pregnancy ball at the dinner table as my seat! Can then do exercises while food cooking and after eating. These little things have made a difference to progression I think 🤞

I know @amyg1985
Feels like forever since seeing that faint line on the pregnancy test 🙂

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I'm praying for a slightly smaller baby this time around 🤣

This is my second baby too.

I haven't actually received my appointment yet for the GD test, do they normally do it before 28 weeks do you know?
I hope you are still clear of it when your test comes round 🤞🏼

@anony1111 just thought I'd say your midwife should make the oppiontment for you through the antenatal clinic and then you'll receive a letter through post.. unless your local trust does things differently.. I'm booked in for a retest/recheck for 20th November this month x

It’s my first and I’m starting to panic about the birth too 🫣🫣
I’m booked in for hypnobirthing so hopefully that’ll help but I just don’t know where to start with a birthing plan!
im consultant led (IVF and old 🤣) and they’re pushing for elective caesarean…. Has anyone got any experience/opinions??
I always wanted to try for as natural as possible (whilst being open to medical intervention if needed) but the consultant has scared me a bit about everything that can go wrong 😐😐

Thanks @MummyTo4BoysXXXX 😊

Anyone know where to access antenatal classes?? I will look online, but is there anything face to face that anyone knows about?

My first was IVF, I chose to be MW led but I was booked in for induction on my due date.

What has he said that scared you about a natural birth?

@Clueless13 we're starting bump + baby classes in mid-November, since they seemed to be the best option for face to face. They seem to have classes nationwide - bumpandbabyclub.com

Haven't found anything face-to-face on nhs. Bump + baby is a bit cheaper than NCT.

Also doing bump and baby. It was brilliant last time socially and I'm in a new area, so hoping it will be similar again

@anony1111 I can imagine you are 🤣 hope your test comes back all clear also

Oh anyone know of anything similar to bump and baby in Ireland by any chance?

Ooh is bump and baby in a certain area or are they all over? I'd like to find some classes near me

@Meeting I just followed that link and it has all locations on it, there’s 143 but they are all in the Uk (if ur there) looks like a great service

Why do some people who you don't even know but they know your partner think it's ok to try & goad you into saying your due date or chosen names. Then make you feel guilty cos you've been firm and said I don't want to say.

@DmcinT just had a look and closest one to me is nearly an hour away :(

@CheeseAndCrackersx I don't get offended by people asking when I'm due, but expecting to be told the name would really annoy me!

Irish but not based at home anymore! But cuidu (the Irish childbirth trust) used to do face to face antenatal classes in Ireland.
https://www.cuidiu.ie/AntenatalClassessupports_antenatal_classes

https://antenatalireland.ie/

We did bump and baby for our first and really reccomended it. Still friends with some of those I met there.

In terms of birth stories/pain management: my first waters broke naturally and I was a few days in labour. Induced in the hope it would help progress me but little one had other ideas and had an EMCS after 4 days. Actually liked the labour but - even the drip and the dressed contractions and managed with very limited pain relief (just a tens machine, but I react to them/puke with gas/air so that was a motivator to avoid everything!). Second EMCS with #2, with failure to progress again. So suspect it’s linked to my past medical history rather than bad luck! This one will be ELCS.

My pain relief tip is to have paracetamol and ibuprofen packed in your hospital bag. The midwives can be too busy to respond quickly and having it to hand is brilliant. I also recommend something for gas (ducoease? Or peppermint capsules).

Personally I didn’t find the positive birth company helpful, as I did feel guilt/blame for ‘having’ to have a section. I hated it, but in my case baby was NICU and consenting possibly saved both of us.

But each persons hopes and experiences are so different!!