Pregnancy #64

[clmay]

I don’t particularly, but the consultant was keen I should have one. The midwife did say I could delay if I get monitored and everything is ok. Maybe I should just do that.

How many weeks are you? I had an induction with my first (I was 36) but only because I got to
2 full weeks overdue. I’d tried everything to induce labour, including 3 sweeps and nothing was working. My induction was with a gel. My friend at a different hospital had a pessary type thing. Neither of us had a choice. Both of us found labour came thick and fast.

I really want to try and avoid an induction this time, however if I do have to have one I’ll definitely do more planning for how to manage the pain etc. I wasn’t permitted any pain relief other than paracetamol on the induction ward and the labour ward was full. It caused me to panic and all of my hypnobirthing techniques went to tit and I couldn’t get myself back in control. I’d definitely plan to take a tens machine and maybe download an app to help control my breathing

 

[Tretps29]

Is anyone else heading for an induction? I have mine scheduled next week due to advanced maternal age. The leaflet I’ve been given talks about dilapan pessary (rods), balloon catheters, and propess pessary. Do they tell you which one you’ll have or do you have a choice? I’m going to do some research now, but has anyone had any of these or heard one is better than the other?

I was given the choice of induction or elective c section and I am not tough enough to take on the induction route…..

 

[Keera]

Please tell me you get your energy back after birth. I'm not meaning not to be tired, but I get worn out just doing the housework or walking 5 minutes to the shop. I'm such an active person normally and it's doing me in.

You do. I felt my body was made of lead in the last few weeks I cried nearly everyday. Literally got home after being stitched in 4 directions after an episiotomy and bad tear and STILL was surprising myself at how I could now run up and downstairs without stopping for breath

pregnancy tired was without a doubt worse than newborn tired, for me anyway!

 

[Scorpihoe]

Someone please tell me I’ll have the energy for the actual birth 35 weeks and I’m so knackered now, always got aches and pains, barely sleeping…dunno how I’m gonna do the actual labour part 🥲🫣

 

[Shinythings]

I don’t particularly, but the consultant was keen I should have one. The midwife did say I could delay if I get monitored and everything is ok. Maybe I should just do that.

Yeah, that's what I'd do if it were me. As long as me and baby are OK, I'd just wait it out. Maternal age has no evidence based for induction. You can read more about it here https://www.sarawickham.com/research-updates/induction-for-advanced-maternal-age/

Of course it's absolutely your decision and a reminder that no one can force you into any procedure you don't want, even if they try to guilt you into it.

 

[BWinter]

@clmay I’ll be 40+4 the day it’s scheduled for and I’m 41.

@Shinythings thank you, I shall look that up now.

 

[clmay]

@clmay I’ll be 40+4 the day it’s scheduled for and I’m 41.

@Shinythings thank you, I shall look that up now.

Personally I would ask to delay it another week and then assess how you feel then. Once I got to a full 2 weeks over I was begging for an induction as I was so fed up and miserable. You could ask for some monitoring to help make you not worry

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

Thank you! yep shove it up your a I need to hear this x

Sorry, I came across really unsympathetic to you and that I really didn’t mean that. I keep making the mistake of telling my own mum stuff then regretting it. I’m sorry you’re going through this because that’s totally rubbish, but the idea that everyone else can shove it up their a still stands!

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

@clmay I’ll be 40+4 the day it’s scheduled for and I’m 41.

@Shinythings thank you, I shall look that up now.

I’m 40 years old and the obstetrician has said I should have delivered by 40+6. But I’m 22 weeks right now and he’s not even met me yet and I have no idea if the guidance will change depending on how things progress. They’re operating on an assumption that I’m high risk but maybe I’ll be tip top all the way through!

A friend of mine is a paediatric consultant and was an older mum at 36 and when I told her this she did say it wasn’t good to go too late. But we never expanded on why and whilst I trust her implicitly she’s obviously not an obstetrician!

 

[calabazarock]

IDK what to think of all I read about inducing and blabla. I switched doctors because first one was telling me we would need a c-section because baby was in podalic presentation... at 18 weeks. New doctor was like "we will discuss when you are 36 weeks" and that she analyzes case by case, she supports natural delivery but is open to elective c-sections given the needs of the patient.

 

[Tretps29]

Sorry, I came across really unsympathetic to you and that I really didn’t mean that. I keep making the mistake of telling my own mum stuff then regretting it. I’m sorry you’re going through this because that’s totally rubbish, but the idea that everyone else can shove it up their a still stands!

No not at all. Thank you, I needed to hear this. You’re absolutely right.
my friends have been so supportive and said the same thing.
There’s something about your own mum and older sister where they think they can dish out opinions and not give a tit about how it makes me feel

 

[Shinythings]

IDK what to think of all I read about inducing and blabla. I switched doctors because first one was telling me we would need a c-section because baby was in podalic presentation... at 18 weeks. New doctor was like "we will discuss when you are 36 weeks" and that she analyzes case by case, she supports natural delivery but is open to elective c-sections given the needs of the patient.

I'm no hippy and generally I trust medical professionals but I am very against how medicalised birth has become and how many unnecessary interventions are pushed on women through fear. Especially when the science and research even shows in the vast majority of cases, interventions either have no differences in outcomes or actually make things worse. Induction, for example, is well shown to often lead to a cascade of interventions leading to a higher C-section rate. Mum's are often made to feel like they have no choice or are guilted into it by being told things like 'your risk of stillbirth doubles' without actually giving them the figures around that which actually show the risk might double but is still absolutely tiny, for example going from 0.1 to 0.2. Plenty of research has shown if Mum and baby are fine which can be checked through regular monitoring then there is no medical need for intervention even past due dates.

I'd always encourage people to use their BRAIN to make informed decisions.

What are the Benefits of this intervention?
What are the Risks?
What are the Alternatives?
What does my Intuition say?
What happens if we do Nothing?

 

[Scorpihoe]

I know I’m probably overthinking but can you wear jewellery during Labour? I’m just thinking if they rushed you to emergency c section…I have a Cartier love bracelet that I wear all the time, I’d need to bring my mini screwdriver to unlock it…I’d rather not remove it. Am I overthinking? 🫣

 

[opintionatedperson]

I know I’m probably overthinking but can you wear jewellery during Labour? I’m just thinking if they rushed you to emergency c section…I have a Cartier love bracelet that I wear all the time, I’d need to bring my mini screwdriver to unlock it…I’d rather not remove it. Am I overthinking? 🫣

Honestly I'd remove it just in case! If there is an emergency they will cut , they won't look for the screwdriver imo

 

[Hinchhater1442]

I know I’m probably overthinking but can you wear jewellery during Labour? I’m just thinking if they rushed you to emergency c section…I have a Cartier love bracelet that I wear all the time, I’d need to bring my mini screwdriver to unlock it…I’d rather not remove it. Am I overthinking? 🫣

I wore all my jewellery then needed an emergency c section. They took off what they could and taped over the rest. I have a welded bracelet - the ones without a clasp - and they just taped it. I don’t think they’re going to be hunting for gear to cut something that thick when they need to get you to theatre X

edit to add: I never even thought about taking it off beforehand. But you could if you’re worried

 

[LockdownLurker2020]

I had to take everything (all jewellery) off when i was took into theatre for my episiotomy both times and my husband was all fingers and thumbs trying to get it all off me. I think he was panicking about losing my jewellery more than me getting wheeled off to theatre cos he knew id lose my tit if he lost or broke anything

 

[Scorpihoe]

Thank you ladies I think I’m going to remove it better safe than sorry! I would lose my tit if my husband lost anything 🫣 and if I’m going to theatre the last thing I want to do is be fumbling around trying to unscrew my bracelet lol

 

[clmay]

The other one I was told was ideally they prefer you not to have nail polish on in case you end up in theatre unexpectedly

 

[Scorpihoe]

The other one I was told was ideally they prefer you not to have nail polish on in case you end up in theatre unexpectedly

Is this true? I was going to get my nails done this weekend 🫣

 

[Spencerskates]

Is this true? I was going to get my nails done this weekend 🫣

I’ve had two sections - had gel polish on my fingers and toes both times and had no issues.