Pregnancy #64

[ThisIsMyDragName]

I have no clue what my birth plan should be or what I want. The stork just turns up with the baby when it’s time, right?

I’d like to think I’m hard as nails with an exceptionally high pain threshold that has been instilled by years of really painful periods but the reality is I will probably get one solitary contraction and attempt to tap out from the entire birthing experience! The recommendation is I give birth in a doctor-led unit or at least the midwife led unit in the big hospital where the doctors are in the same place and given the geography of where I live, that is what I intend to do (drove home followed by an ambulance on blue lights a few weeks ago and realised just how long it would take me to be ‘rushed’ to the big hospital if something when wrong locally). Beyond that, I have no clue. Im 23 1/2 weeks though so I am somewhat hoping I have enough time to figure this out! I love a bath which makes me wonder about a water birth but doesn’t the water start to get cold?

I’m happy to give hypnobirthing a go because self belief isn’t one of my strong suits, neither is the ability to self-hype and tell myself I can do it. I had a look for any classes etc locally and there didn’t seem to be anything. Anyone got any online recommendations?

 

[clmay]

I have no clue what my birth plan should be or what I want. The stork just turns up with the baby when it’s time, right?

I’d like to think I’m hard as nails with an exceptionally high pain threshold that has been instilled by years of really painful periods but the reality is I will probably get one solitary contraction and attempt to tap out from the entire birthing experience! The recommendation is I give birth in a doctor-led unit or at least the midwife led unit in the big hospital where the doctors are in the same place and given the geography of where I live, that is what I intend to do (drove home followed by an ambulance on blue lights a few weeks ago and realised just how long it would take me to be ‘rushed’ to the big hospital if something when wrong locally). Beyond that, I have no clue. Im 23 1/2 weeks though so I am somewhat hoping I have enough time to figure this out! I love a bath which makes me wonder about a water birth but doesn’t the water start to get cold?

I’m happy to give hypnobirthing a go because self belief isn’t one of my strong suits, neither is the ability to self-hype and tell myself I can do it. I had a look for any classes etc locally and there didn’t seem to be anything. Anyone got any online recommendations?

I ended up having an epidural in the end (induction gave me back to back contractions and I just couldn’t cope after a 6/7 hours of it) but the hypnobirthing breathing techniques absolutely got me through those first few hours. I can’t remember what hypnobirthing books I read but they all described similar techniques. I’ve downloaded the Freya app for this time where the app talks you through it

 

[LittleMissMuffet]

I have no clue what my birth plan should be or what I want. The stork just turns up with the baby when it’s time, right?

I’d like to think I’m hard as nails with an exceptionally high pain threshold that has been instilled by years of really painful periods but the reality is I will probably get one solitary contraction and attempt to tap out from the entire birthing experience! The recommendation is I give birth in a doctor-led unit or at least the midwife led unit in the big hospital where the doctors are in the same place and given the geography of where I live, that is what I intend to do (drove home followed by an ambulance on blue lights a few weeks ago and realised just how long it would take me to be ‘rushed’ to the big hospital if something when wrong locally). Beyond that, I have no clue. Im 23 1/2 weeks though so I am somewhat hoping I have enough time to figure this out! I love a bath which makes me wonder about a water birth but doesn’t the water start to get cold?

I’m happy to give hypnobirthing a go because self belief isn’t one of my strong suits, neither is the ability to self-hype and tell myself I can do it. I had a look for any classes etc locally and there didn’t seem to be anything. Anyone got any online recommendations?

I truly don’t believe you can be 100% prepared. You just really don’t know how things are going to go. I’ve never felt anything quite like it and i was sent home to do most of my labouring because it was covid and they didn’t check my dilation. In the end everything happened so fast (again I wasn’t expecting it to) and I didn’t have time for an epidural or any of the things I’d thought about in my birthing plan. I kept trying to do the breathing like we’d learnt at our online NCT but ultimately just biting the gas & air mouth piece helped me.

however - it’s still important to think about things practically ie my husband and I discussed what we would want in the scenario of something going wrong ie does he go with baby or stay with me etc. I also do think that hypnobirthing is a useful tool (not that I’ve done it but I can understand the benefit). I actually think your birthing partner should do it because I was calmer during labour than my partner was (which is hilarious if you knew us as a couple). Things like where to park in your hospital and how the journey works to the maternity unit is from where you have to park (some hospitals offer spaces near the unit but you have to move your car at a later point and others like mine are just the main car park which is a good 10 min walk from car to unit) are a good thing to have planned.

 

[indeedjoy]

I have no clue what my birth plan should be or what I want. The stork just turns up with the baby when it’s time, right?

I’d like to think I’m hard as nails with an exceptionally high pain threshold that has been instilled by years of really painful periods but the reality is I will probably get one solitary contraction and attempt to tap out from the entire birthing experience! The recommendation is I give birth in a doctor-led unit or at least the midwife led unit in the big hospital where the doctors are in the same place and given the geography of where I live, that is what I intend to do (drove home followed by an ambulance on blue lights a few weeks ago and realised just how long it would take me to be ‘rushed’ to the big hospital if something when wrong locally). Beyond that, I have no clue. Im 23 1/2 weeks though so I am somewhat hoping I have enough time to figure this out! I love a bath which makes me wonder about a water birth but doesn’t the water start to get cold?

I’m happy to give hypnobirthing a go because self belief isn’t one of my strong suits, neither is the ability to self-hype and tell myself I can do it. I had a look for any classes etc locally and there didn’t seem to be anything. Anyone got any online recommendations?

I am a natural a planner & I like to be in control. Everything work wise due to my role comes down to me and my planning so for the birth I am actually releasing control and have decided to have a very loose birth plan I.e I’d like to avoid an induction & pethidine, give birth on all 4 or upright due to the way my birth canal / back arch is.
The rest I’m putting my trust in the midwives and their knowledge I’m not opposed to a C-section whatsoever I believe I will trust in my body & them on the day and wing it

I’ve been doing some classes with ‘The Honest Midwife’ first one is free and is for you & your partner

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

I truly don’t believe you can be 100% prepared. You just really don’t know how things are going to go. I’ve never felt anything quite like it and i was sent home to do most of my labouring because it was covid and they didn’t check my dilation. In the end everything happened so fast (again I wasn’t expecting it to) and I didn’t have time for an epidural or any of the things I’d thought about in my birthing plan. I kept trying to do the breathing like we’d learnt at our online NCT but ultimately just biting the gas & air mouth piece helped me.

however - it’s still important to think about things practically ie my husband and I discussed what we would want in the scenario of something going wrong ie does he go with baby or stay with me etc. I also do think that hypnobirthing is a useful tool (not that I’ve done it but I can understand the benefit). I actually think your birthing partner should do it because I was calmer during labour than my partner was (which is hilarious if you knew us as a couple). Things like where to park in your hospital and how the journey works to the maternity unit is from where you have to park (some hospitals offer spaces near the unit but you have to move your car at a later point and others like mine are just the main car park which is a good 10 min walk from car to unit) are a good thing to have planned.

The hospital parking is actually notorious for how awful it is. I am possibly more stressed about that than I am about giving birth. It’s the one thing putting me off giving birth there (the local midwife led unit is actually on the same street as my house. I could probably walk there even in late stage labour , but they have no doctors and don’t always have on call midwife’s to be a 24/7 unit either). MrDragName and I need to do a dry run or 12. I fear he’ll drop me off and miss the birth due to practically having to drive all the way back home to park. We don’t have someone who could drive us/drive our car for us either. That’s really interesting about the birth partner ‘personality swap’. I am not a calm person whereas he only sweats the small stuff and is completely calm through major things, so maybe I need to prime him in case that does a complete 180. I don’t need him hyperventilating!

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

I am a natural a planner & I like to be in control. Everything work wise due to my role comes down to me and my planning so for the birth I am actually releasing control and have decided to have a very loose birth plan I.e I’d like to avoid an induction & pethidine, give birth on all 4 or upright due to the way my birth canal / back arch is.
The rest I’m putting my trust in the midwives and their knowledge I’m not opposed to a C-section whatsoever I believe I will trust in my body & them on the day and wing it

I’ve been doing some classes with ‘The Honest Midwife’ first one is free and is for you & your partner

This is so interesting! I also have to be massively detail oriented at work (although it’s mostly due to not having quite the right people around me rather than my role which is supposed to be a bit more general and sweeping than it is!). I think I’d like to avoid an induction because the WhatsApp group I’m in scared me with their hormone drip chatter and talk of balloons. I’d prefer not to have a c-section because of recovery time but ultimately it just needs to be what’s best. I was a breech baby who refused to turn so my poor old Ma had no choice and I’m not going to say no. I’d like to not tit myself in front of my husband but I doubt I’m getting that lucky and he is on strict instructions to stay by my head and no peeking at the business end

 

[RedPotter]

My partner is the chilled calm one in our relationship too so will be interesting to see how he is during labour
Parking is a nightmare at the hospital I will be giving birth as well.
We are doing an NCT course in a couple of weeks so I am hoping that will be helpful as well.
All I really know at the moment is that I want to try and avoid an induction!

 

[LittleMissMuffet]

The hospital parking is actually notorious for how awful it is. I am possibly more stressed about that than I am about giving birth. It’s the one thing putting me off giving birth there (the local midwife led unit is actually on the same street as my house. I could probably walk there even in late stage labour , but they have no doctors and don’t always have on call midwife’s to be a 24/7 unit either). MrDragName and I need to do a dry run or 12. I fear he’ll drop me off and miss the birth due to practically having to drive all the way back home to park. We don’t have someone who could drive us/drive our car for us either. That’s really interesting about the birth partner ‘personality swap’. I am not a calm person whereas he only sweats the small stuff and is completely calm through major things, so maybe I need to prime him in case that does a complete 180. I don’t need him hyperventilating!

Yep - our hospital was such a walk to the maternity unit. I had to get dropped off at the main entrance while mr muffet tried to find a space so was standing there having contractions at 1am. Then waddled to the lifts and had to be on my own in triage because of covid. Then mr muffet had to go and move the car because he was going to get fined for using an emergency space - luckily he was back 35 mins before baby muffet literally shot out of me.

Mr muffet was very good but I could tell he was a bit ‘ruffled’ if that makes sense. He’s usually the one who is very calm and I’m like chicken licken thinking the sky is falling.

 

[Shinythings]

Mr ST is getting on my bits this week. Every day he's got a tiny minor ailment he won't stop moaning about. I got a bit fed up of it last night and kindly told him that bodies hurt or do weird things sometimes and he's doing himself no favours by fixating on it as it just makes it worse and he has to just ride it out because there's nothing anyone can do about whatever it is and it will go away quickly. He mumbled something about me having no sympathy.

This man then had the audacity to say 'well last week you were moaning your hip hurt'. Yes, because we're in exactly the same situation Honestly, why are they such babies?

 

[Scorpihoe]

This was me first time round as we were driving to hospital my husband said “Am I asking them to set the birthing pool up when we get there?” Then think my response was something along the lines of no you’ll be asking for an epidural the second we are through those doors! Cannot recommend an epidural enough

i love that, once the contractions hit I’ll be like “just anaesthetise me and wake me up when he’s born ”

can you have a water birth with an epidural?? I’ve heard such mixed things. People also say if you’re induced you can’t have a water birth? dunno I’m just turning up to the hospital with good vibes, I don’t know what’s going on

 

[Keera]

i love that, once the contractions hit I’ll be like “just anaesthetise me and wake me up when he’s born ”

can you have a water birth with an epidural?? I’ve heard such mixed things. People also say if you’re induced you can’t have a water birth? dunno I’m just turning up to the hospital with good vibes, I don’t know what’s going on

No you can’t have an epidural and water birth - the small plastic tube placed in needs to stay in ur back for the entire labour/delivery and you are attached to a drip which tops up the epidural, your legs are numbed so getting you back out can be quite an issue (if needed to quickly for some reason), your bladder needs emptied via catheter by the midwife at regular intervals as its numb and you wont pee on your own for a time, plus (controversially and I know a lot of people have a lot of opinions on this) they would like you and baby on the continuous monitor tapes.

induction usually fine unless it’s the hormone drip in which case again they will recommend being on continuous monitor which isn’t compatible with water birth xxx

ETA: I think this is the best outlook to have - be informed about ur choice and have a brief idea what you do and definitely don’t want if at all possible and just roll with it is my advice xxx

 

[clmay]

i love that, once the contractions hit I’ll be like “just anaesthetise me and wake me up when he’s born ”

can you have a water birth with an epidural?? I’ve heard such mixed things. People also say if you’re induced you can’t have a water birth? dunno I’m just turning up to the hospital with good vibes, I don’t know what’s going on

I was offered a water birth after my induction as space came up in the midwife led unit before the labour ward had space. But after being stuck on the induction ward for hours with no pain relief I’d already decided it was going to be labour ward and epidural for me!

 

[indeedjoy]

Can anyone offer advice iron tablets wise?
I’m already severely constipated from the pregnancy and taking daily lactulose - I am petrified it will get worse if I take them
Can I ask for the liquid or do I need to get over myself?

 

[LavaFlake]

Can anyone offer advice iron tablets wise?
I’m already severely constipated from the pregnancy and taking daily lactulose - I am petrified it will get worse if I take them
Can I ask for the liquid or do I need to get over myself?

I would personally get liquid. I had severe constipation with my first and for me it was the hardest thing about pregnancy as I ended up with horrific piles too. It can be so uncomfy and even painful so anything you can do to avoid it is good I think. I hope you unblock soon!

 

[Scorpihoe]

No you can’t have an epidural and water birth - the small plastic tube placed in needs to stay in ur back for the entire labour/delivery and you are attached to a drip which tops up the epidural, your legs are numbed so getting you back out can be quite an issue (if needed to quickly for some reason), your bladder needs emptied via catheter by the midwife at regular intervals as its numb and you wont pee on your own for a time, plus (controversially and I know a lot of people have a lot of opinions on this) they would like you and baby on the continuous monitor tapes.

induction usually fine unless it’s the hormone drip in which case again they will recommend being on continuous monitor which isn’t compatible with water birth xxx

ETA: I think this is the best outlook to have - be informed about ur choice and have a brief idea what you do and definitely don’t want if at all possible and just roll with it is my advice xxx

Thank you for the advice, yeah I’ve realised I should be informed about my choices, but mostly be open because not everything will go 100% my way and I should just go with the flow. As long as me and baby are here on the other side, that’s all that matters!

 

[ahtisyourself]

I find the fatigue in week 10 has dialled up a notch dear lord.. I am absolutely exhausted. Slept for 13hrs last night also had a nap on the couch yesterday evening (first time this pregnancy) and I still feel a groggy mess. From some googling it seems the baby kicks ass with the growing from weeks 10-12 so I’m guessing that is what has me so zonked but wow. Am so thankful today is a BH in Ireland as there is no way I was waking up my usual time this morning, I was dead to the world

 

[Bubblesandflowers]

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Pregnancy #65

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