MSE Pregnancy Club XIII

SugarSpun wrote: »

We'll be flying with a 5-6 month old at Christmas :eek:

Totally worth it for all of us. I love the bustle and chaos of Christmas, I think my OH loves the family element (his are all much, much further away and there aren't many of them left) and hopefully the family will love the newest addition and yet manage not to spoil her rotten.

I've bought a bunch of toys for future Christmases to assuage my urge to buy stuff, but she's only getting a book, a rattle and maybe I'll wrap up her Christmas clothes this year. She's not going to have a clue what's going on anyway.

Sugar we're be flying with a 3 month old to the states in Jan, eekk I'm not to keen but have been told we'll be well looked after on flight etc.. just remember to feed when your taking off and landing... x

nanc - have you looked at Newlook? DP? Topshop - but this is getting pricier. I agree, a couple of mat trousers and tops should see you through, but you do start to get bored oft he same stuff by the end, lol!

nancmat wrote: »

Sugar we're be flying with a 3 month old to the states in Jan, eekk I'm not to keen but have been told we'll be well looked after on flight etc.. just remember to feed when your taking off and landing... x

My friends who were living in the states when their baby were born regularly made this trip and had real problems getting seats where they could use the skycots. I'd really recommend that you check, double check and hassle the airline before your departure dates both ways to make sure you've been allocated the bulkhead seats and a skycot. Its one thing nursing a baby in your arms for a short flight but not for 6+ hours, and they will not let you use the skycot if you aren't in the right seats, nor will they move other passengers for you to give you access to it, even if those passengers aren't travelling with babies.

Nicki wrote: »

My friends who were living in the states when their baby were born regularly made this trip and had real problems getting seats where they could use the skycots. I'd really recommend that you check, double check and hassle the airline before your departure dates both ways to make sure you've been allocated the bulkhead seats and a skycot. Its one thing nursing a baby in your arms for a short flight but not for 6+ hours, and they will not let you use the skycot if you aren't in the right seats, nor will they move other passengers for you to give you access to it, even if those passengers aren't travelling with babies.

Cheers, yes thought of that and friend is Manager of large travel chain has asured us when we book we will have cot (i wouldnt fly without one)!

Hi Everyone

Sorry Ive neglected to post my BS, Ive just scanned through and wanted to say congrats to all the other new mums and to all the masses of newbies that have appeared!! :T

Well here goes I was due May 18th and booked for induction May 28th. Had first contraction mid afternoon Weds 27th and then on and off til about 8pm when they got very regular and stayed at 5 mins so called mw who arrived at midnight, only 1 cm dilated so told to stay put. Contractions stayed 5 mins ALL night so come the morning I was micro sleeping between them!! Got up for brekkie and they slowed down until about 1pm had bath at about 4:30 and they were getting more regular again. Had to ring hospital at 6pm anyway to check on bed for induction - they said still dont come in until 8pm when appointed. Rang them back at 7 to say we have to come in!!

Got offered gas and air and given the birthing ball, hated the g&a ut got the hang of using it as a distraction technique (did sod all for the pain). Got moved into delivery suite at about midnight so quickly changed into my nightie and got my bits and bobs together, things stayed very steady from then really, when I was 7cms at about 3am I asked for an epidural as I didnt want to leave it too late. Dr came in and did it, hung around for 20 mins asking me to move my legs then left -- I could move my legs and feel everything still, at first I thought it took the edge off but it soon became apparent it wasn't really doing much for me!! Mw said 'oh you'll have this baby by 6'

Anyway looong story shortened a bit - once I was more dilated I was repeatedly asked if I wanted to push - which I had no urge to do, this was at about 7am. Eventually I did get urge to push and did get instructed to push into my bum but after pushing for ages not alot was happening. Dr was called in to check babys heartbeat trace as it was dipping - Im sure this was just where I was moving with the contractions but I was administered Hormones to quicken the contractions. So once baby was nearly there(legs up pushing on 2 mw's) I had to be cut as he was too big and I was starting to tear then I had to be cut again as his shoulders got stuck - that didnt hurt as the stinging of the birth was really all I could feel.

After that its a bit of a blur, they stitched me up and I felt really really unwell, hadn't seen baby apart from a quick look. Kept telling them I felt bad and it felt like I was bleeding, and they said' yes you are but it's your stitches' I was convinced it wasn't as it felt as if it was coming from above the stitches. ANyway - not getting much shorter is it!!

We were left alone and DH walked past me only to see blood pouring out (his words) He was told not to leave the room so had to shout down the corridor for help. Anyway again not sure of details but this part was pure torture - minimum of 5 people, opening me back up to retrieve bits of leftover placenta, no pain relief!! I was trying my best to stop them, grabbing their hands, begging for them to put me out but it carried on and I thought I was a goner. Was being held down at this point. Started shouting to DH that I was sooo sorry he had to see it all and how much I loved him and LO. at one point my BP was called out as some number over 30 - this was nowhere in my notes btw. Im told I was begging them to stop butchering me.

Im crying now as Im writing this as it was sooo traumatic, I was given 3 lots of blood, 2 lots of antibiotics and stayed in for 4 days. I couldnt really move but had to change beds to go back on ward, once I mananged to shuffle onto new bed I could see that the old bed was just a pool of blood!! despite this I didnt have a bath until the Sunday, I couldnt get up or even shuffle very well to change my position in bed but was pretty much left to it and had to ask for pain relief, bed pan etc

All in all Ive vowed to have more children but elective caesarian will be on the cards, I dont want to EVER risk feeling all that pain again, Im sure I would have thrown up if I had eaten anything in the previous 20 hours as I kept retching and still feel very sick at the thought of it all.

Im sure the staff did all they could, I feel very resentful but don't have the desire to relive it all by complaining. Ive been signed off now by the MW's but am still not doing 100% went to park yesterday and after an hour walking I was pretty sore and stiff and very tired.

But Jacob is great, Im breastfeeding and he loves it and has gained loads of weight to his already chunky body, Id love to got to the BF class but dont want to risk driving and its too far to work, DH went back to work a few days ago.

Ive missed loads that I wanted to say but hope that covers it as tbh I found writing this less theraputic than Id hoped and can't see me discussing it ever agian, under the carpet with this one!!

Please dont let this put anyone off, the birth itself wouldnt have put me off it was just the complications after - and as you can see we're through it relatively unscathed and loving our mother and son bond.

xxx