MSE Pregnancy Club XIV

tiamai_d

Hmmm.... is your appointment at your GP office? Can anyone there keep an eye on DS while you go in if you say you want to discuss something with the midwife that he shouldn't be hearing?

got-it-spend-it

Fingers crossed that this is the start then Tink x x

Nikabella

Just read your post Nicki and couldn't read & run.

I don't have any experience of traumatic childbirth as the birth of my DD was a wholey positive experience, however, I would say talk to your doctor as soon as you can about this as it can't be healthy for you to feel this way. I have terrible nightmares (related to other things) and I often wake up screaming, unable to work out whether it was a dream or reality - the effect of these lasts for days.

Personally I can recommend Hypnobirthing. Although I haven't attended the course - it was £300 and last time we couldn't afford - I bought the book & CD off of Amazon. I found the CD quite effective (even if OH kept laughing when the woman talks about "imagine your vaaaagina opening like a flower") and used the meditation technique to calm myself leading up to before and during the birth. The midwife at my birth said she had never seen a woman give birth so silently, calmly and in control. If you can afford the course and feel you could go into it with an open mind then I would say go for it.

Other than that what about a Doula? I'm thinking about training as one soon as I believe they are a valuable resource. Someone who knows all about you before your birth and who at the birth will remember and support all the wishes you had expressed.

Sorry I can't be more help.

A.x

Nikabella

PS No idea where you live Nicki but if you live anywhere near me I'd be happy to keep an eye on your son for a couple of hours. Although I appreciate most people wouldn't want to leave their child with someone they meet through the internet!

Nicki

tiamai_d wrote: »

Nicki, can you make an appointment to see your GP? If you speak to him he can speak to the midwife and hopefully arrange some counselling for you. You should speak to your consultant about it too and make them aware of your flashbacks and decide on how you want the birth to go as well as talk through what happened and how it can be avoided.

If you can't speak to your consultant about it, can you write a letter or can your OH go and speak to them for you?

Most maternity hospitals have support counsellors now I wonder if someone from there can see you?

You have my sympathy, I am no where near as bad as you but I know how bloody scared I am right now and you just sound so much worse.

I don't know any of the GPs at my local surgery at all. We moved house and practise 2 years ago and I've never needed to see them. The ante-natal appointment is at the hospital I plan to give birth at, and its the same consultant as with my other two. I have seen a psychiatrist twice since I became pregnant because of the previous PND but the flashbacks have got more frequent since I last saw him and I've remembered a lot more. He says I have PTSD as a result of the birth and that it is likely to happen again next time round, and has recommended breathing exercises to try to help control the fear. I'm not due to see him again for another month, but perhaps I should bring that appointment forward if I can Trouble is one of his suggestions was that I should arrange for my OBGYN to get me to spend time in the delivery suites and obstetric wards every day until my terror levels fell back to normal, and firstly I couldn't face doing that, and secondly it isn't possible anyway given that I have 2 kids and its school holidays.

harley1

SugarSpun wrote: »

Harley, what a nightmare - I'm so sorry you're still dealing with this!

You deserve massive compensation - and don't let them give you a low level minion to talk to - go straight to the manager.

How's the stuff, at least?

Actually, not bad - thanks for asking. As long as you ignore the nicks and dents, its a lovely pine and feels pretty sturdy. It's really only the inepitude that has been the problem. If it had been right first time I would have been over the moon with it, it's only the damage it's sustained during manufacture that has let it down so badly and the fact that nobody seems to care about it.

Fingers crossed for a cash refund and not vouchers, as I am currently (surprisingly) reluctant to buy any more of their stuff for the time being.

On another note, does anyone know where I can get the Tiny Love Symphony in Motion Animals mobile? It seems to be out of stock everywhere and the newer version (farmyard) has different characters and the swirly bits are coloured not black and white. I believe that the contrast of black and white appeals more to newborns.

Any help will be hugely appreciated as mum and dad want to buy a present for baby. (They have really come round now, and are so excited, it is brilliant).

xxx

got-it-spend-it

I think you definitely need to see the psychiatrist sooner if possible, since your situation has changed since your last meeting with him. Have you stated to him that his suggestion of spending time on the labour ward isn't an option for you, so that he can make other suggestions?

Also is this the only hospital that would be an option for you? Do you think it would make a difference if you had the choice to have this baby in completely different surroundings at another hospital?

Jenny- thanks for that book suggestion. I'm going to order it I think. I've also just looked up some hypnobirthing stuff on iTunes as I've been meaning to find out more about it for ages and time is creeping by.

searching_me

why is tesco being a pay and not letting me change stuff on my order x

jennynoo

got-it-spend-it wrote: »

Jenny- thanks for that book suggestion. I'm going to order it I think. I've also just looked up some hypnobirthing stuff on iTunes as I've been meaning to find out more about it for ages and time is creeping by.

To be honest I haven't read much yet, I'm still on the first section which is just birth stories and it's a bit more hippy that I would like but it does seem to be having a good effect on me reading lots of positive birth stories.

jennynoo

The 'Three in a bed' book was really good - although obviously haven't had a chance to put it into practice yet!