Erm, am I right in assuming I can't go in saunas / steam baths etc?

[overbuurvrouw]

Months ago I made an appointment with a good friend to go for a sauna day. I'm pregnant now (wasn't when we made the appointment) and will be 14 weeks on the day.

I'm guessing I'm going to be limited to swimming, jacuzzies, salt baths and other not-so-very-hot activities. Is that right?

yep
and i am not even sure you can go in jacuzzies

Grrr!

I suppose laying around reading and swimming a bit isn't to awful Not sure if it's worth the entry price though...

I think the reason they tell you not to go in saunas/jacuzzies etc is because it is easier for you to overheat when you are pg. If this is true, then you can use them but not for long. I would double check that though.

You're right ILikeTo!

I just phoned them, why didn't I just do that in the first place?

They say that it's not advisable in the first and third trimesters and that the infra red, oxygen and herbal saunas are no-go. Other than that it's apparently OK as long as you keep the sessions short and have longer cooling off / resting periods.

Yay!

Woohoo!!

I spent most of last Monday in a jacuzzi/hot tub thing on a spa day, had no idea it wasn't advisable - I was only told to stay out of the steam room.
I did get a bit hot but had a dip in the pool every so often.
I hope you have a lovely day with your friend.

I would go but just be careful. Don't get overheated, that's the main thing. I would not go in the sauna for more than 5 minutes at a time, same for the jacuzzi. Find a lounger and read the paper or whatever, or just concentrate on swimming... hope you enjoy it!

oh, overbuurvrouw, are you in NL? I'm in Amsterdam and feeling nervous about the whole Dutch birth system thing...

Yup, I'm in Holland.

The Dutch birth system is fab. No need to worry at all! I had my DD was born here last year and all in all I'm definitely a fan of how it's done here.

Oh, I meant to say that you can CAT me if you like.

What is CAT?

It's an MN thing like email 'Contact Another Mumsnetter'. You can only send if you've paid though (I haven't).

I'd be quite happy to chat about the Dutch system with you. Could do email or here too though

'tis strange to have a baby far from home.

shall we just do it here? as sauna question answered...

I'm seriously contemplating going for the home birth option, had DS in Belgium and had a mobile epidural which was great, but that's not available here, and there's no way I want to have the old fashioned kind of epidural where you're totally numb, which my mum had to deliver me in 1976! If I can't have the mobile epi, I would rather not be in hospital, although am nervous about the safety aspect, and also not that convinced of the quality of Dutch medical care (not convinced by UK either, that's why I would not consider going back there to give birth)..

I'm signed in with the local midwives here, and they are very nice, but they only actually stay with you after 7 cm, which seems like a very long time to me. I really need someone with me from, like, 4 cm! Last time I had 36 hours of labour and had a midwife with me most of the time helping me through contractions,and it really, really helped. The thought of being left alone till almost ready to give birth is daunting to say the least!

So what were your good experiences and do you have any tips? Do you think it's worth trying to get a doula or something?

The theory behind the Dutch approach to labour and birth is sound and really does stand up to scrutiny. It's often held up as an example of excellent practice!

The quality of care in Dutch hospitals really is good and there certainly aren't the hygiene problems they have in the UK. I think the medical insurance system makes a lot of difference really, there simply isn't the pressure to cut corners.

Anyway...

I must say I was pleased that the midwife wasn't hanging around when I was in early labour, but everyone's different and you need to do whatever makes you feel the most safe and relaxed. If you're worried about not having someone medical with you in early labour I think it would definitely be worth looking for a doula or even a private midwife.

I hired a birthing pool and found the warm water really reduced the pain, it really helped me to relax between the contractions too. Being able to move freely was fantastic too. I didn't actually give birth in it in the end but I wouldn't want to labour without one.

Don't forget that second births are usually faster than first births.

Sorry I'm pretty tired, I hope that makes some sense! I'm not sure I've actually answered any of your questions

Here's why you might want to be cautious:

here

On the other hand I read elsewhere that women usually feel uncomfortable and know when their body temp is rising signif.

Thanks ohIdoliketobebesidethe, it's not something I'm going to doing regularly.

Caution is definitely the name of the game though. If anything doesn't feel right I'll have to resort to reading, swimming and beauty treatments. Oh the hardship

thanks overbuurvrouw..

Well, I'm trying to embrace it since we're living here, and I wasn't so totally impressed with the very medicalised Belgian way, but equally I'm not totally on board with the stoic Dutch pain is good way either. Anyway this will be my last child so however horrific, hoping it will turn out ok

Oh blimey, it sounds like your really dreading the birth Sorry to hear that.

There is a new pain relief drug that's available in some hospitals here, I forget what it's called but it's one where you control the dosage yourself by pushing a button. IIRC you are able to be mobile whilst using it. I didn't look into to it in much detail but your midwife should know about it.

Is it not possible to be mobile with Pethidine?

Have you thought about doing an Haptonomie course? It's supposed to be about techniques to help during labour but I found it most helpful for preparing myself psychologically for the birth.

I hope you don't think I'm speaking out of turn but I think it would be really wise to discuss your fears about the birth (and lack of pain relief you're happy to use) with someone. Maybe your midwife or even better, a councilor?

The more anxiety you have during the birth the more adrenaline in you system. Adrenaline blocks our endorphins which really are a powerful painkiller.

well, I'm dreading it because now I know how bloody painful it is. However I am much more confident this time because I did manage to have the baby successfully last time, albeit after 36 hours of labour. I'm looking forward to it of course, because it will be lovely to have the baby!! I am admittedly one of life's worriers and have researched a lot about birth, so I know I don't want pethidine or other opiates as I wouldn't want to be spaced out.

I had the 20 week scan on Monday and have the next appointment with the midwife next week. I quite liked the sound of 'bevalcentrum West' which is a kind of home-like birth centre attached to a hospital. I'm quite attracted by the idea of having the baby at home, the only fear there is the safety of the baby, so I would have to be very reassured that the midwife could monitor the heartbeat via hand held doppler or whatever.
I suppose the thing I don't like is that I've heard that the midwives do everything to make you hold on and on and have it at home, and the culture is very much to leave everything alone unless there is a very serious problem, so I'd be a bit worried about something going wrong and the midwife not acting quickly enough. However, this could of course happen with a doctor in hospital as well. There are just so many variables in a birth.. Hmm! are you going for the homebirth then?

Oh it's not at all strange to be nervous. I'd be worried if I wasn't

The midwives are keen for you to stay at home, but only if you want to. I've never heard of anyone being forced to stay at home when they don't want to. The main reason they like you to at least dilate as much as possible at home is because it usually happens faster and with lower levels of reported pain that way. BUT if being at home isn't feeling right for you or is causing anxiety then they will accept that without any problems.

TBH the only problem that I had with DDs birth was that the midwife acted to quickly and without consultation. Not at all what I had expected. The first stage went swimmingly and according to my notes dilation took only 5 hours so there was no cause for concern at all.

Despite that she basically took over completely as soon as I reached 10cm and forced me to push whilst I wasn't having the urge to push (I was having a silent transition). I truly believe that if she had 'kept her hands in her pockets' in the traditional Dutch way I think things would have gone a lot better.

As it was I was exhausted by the time the urge to push came (because I'd been pushing without pushing contractions for 3/4 hour) and ended up being transfered to hospital. IMO, with hindsight, she made that decision a bit too quickly too. However DDs health was obviously my first priority so I didn't question her decision at the time.

She listened to DDs heartbeat with a doppler between each set of pushes. I think that's standard, but you can always request it if in doubt.

I'm pretty sure I want to try for a home birth again this time, but it's not a decison I want to make quite yet.

A lot of Dutch women book for a hospital birth and then take the final decision about whether or not to go only when actually in labour. That way the assumption is that you'll be going to hospital but you are free not to if you're happy were you are. Maybe that might be something you'd like to consider? Mind you, the Bevalcentrum sounds like a good half way house.

Must go now, DDs getting bored!

Oh, I meant to say I can't recommend the birthing pool highly enough. This is the one I hired, because it's heated we didn't need to worry about it cooling off to quickly.