MSE Pregnancy Club 20

Metranil_Vavin

Evening Sammy

Bubs seems ok today. I haven't had the really massive movements I've experienced the last couple of days, but he is shifting about now a bit.

I do look huge, although that dress I am wearing isn't the most flattering..unfortunately I've grown out of quite a few of my maternity clothes!

lilian1977

Apricot: Here is some info about perineal massage so you don't need to google it!

Perineal massage

Although they're no longer done as a matter of routine, even the thought of an episiotomy can bring tears to your eyes so it's hardly surprising that most women are keen to avoid tears, cuts and stitches during birth.
Regardless of whether this is your first baby, or you've had perineal trauma in previous deliveries and want to avoid it this time round, performing perineal massage during the last few weeks of your pregnancy could be just the solution.

• What is perineal massage?
• What are the benefits?
• Who should do it?
• When should it not be used?
• Are there any dangers?
• How is it done?
• What babyworlders are saying

What is perineal massage?
Preparation for delivery begins during pregnancy with the hormones Progesterone and Relaxin softening muscles and ligaments to encourage stretching, and this includes the perineal area. Perineal massage is a technique which, by encouraging blood flow to the area, increases the elasticity of the perineum for birth.
The perineum is the area of skin between your vagina and rectum which can be cut (episiotomy) or can tear during delivery. In 2006 the Cochrane Database reviewed studies on perineal massage that included 2,434 women.
As well as finding that perineal massage reduced the need for stitches, it also found that fewer women needed and episiotomy, and there was a big reduction in the number of women reporting pain 3 months after the birth.

What are the benefits?
Perineal massage has many benefits which all help to reduce trauma during birth.

• It stimulates the blood supply to the perineum and helps speed the healing process after the birth
• It helps prepare you for the feeling of pressure and stretching that comes as your baby's head is born
• It helps to familiarise you with some of the sensations such as tingling or burning so you are less likely to tense up
• It can help you to relax when you have a vaginal examination

Midwife Tania Pearce to provide expectant parents with a more personal approach to antenatal and post natal education, including the benefits of perineal massage. She says, "From my experiences as a midwife I have noticed that women who have done perineal massage are more likely to have perineums that stretch well around the baby's head.
"These women also have more control over the expulsion of the baby's head, and allow it to be born slowly. "Because they are use to the sensations they are experiencing they are not frightened of them and don't rush the birth.
Who should do it?
The Cochrane Review recommends that all women should be advised about the benefits of perineal massage so that they can make their own informed choice about whether to do it or not. Tania agrees that the techniques should be routinely explained during the antenatal period.
"A relatively easy and effective procedure can have both short term as well as long term benefits," she explains.
"During the birth, women are not frightened of the crowning head sensation, post birth they are less likely to tear and long term they are less likely to experience pain, thus having a positive impact on a woman's birth experience as well as subsequent births."
When should it not be used?
Perineal massage should be avoided if you are suffering from active herpes lesions, thrush or any other vaginal infection as massage could spread the infection and worsen the condition.
Are there any dangers?
Perineal massage is very safe for both you and you baby, although Tania does stress the need to perform it properly.
She says, "It's important that the massage is done correctly by avoiding the urinary opening so as to prevent urinary infections."
How is it done?
You should start perineal massage about 4 to 6 weeks before your due date, and while there are different ways to perform it, they generally all follow the same techniques. Tania shares the massage that she teaches at her antenatal classes:

1. Wash your hands.
2. Find a private, comfortable place and sit or lean back in a comfortable position. Some women lie on their side and bring their hand round the back. Use cushions to support your legs.
3. Use an unscented vegetable oil, such as sunflower oil or olive oil on your thumbs and around the perineum.
4. Place one or two thumbs (or fingers if you can't reach) about 1 inch (2-3cms) inside your vagina. Press downwards and to the sides at the same time. Gently and firmly keep stretching until you feel a slight burning, tingling or stinging sensation.
5. Hold the pressure steady at that point with your thumbs for about 2 minutes until the area becomes a little numb and you don't feel the tingling as much.
6. Keep pressing with your thumbs. Slowly and gently massage back and forth over the lower half of your vagina. Do this for 3-4 minutes. Remember to avoid the urinary opening. You can start with very gentle massage, increasing the pressure as sensitivity is reduced.
7. As you massage, pull gently outwards (forwards) on the lower part of the vagina with your thumb(s) hooked inside. This helps stretch the skin as the baby's head will stretch it during birth.
   
   You can also ask your partner to perform the massage, especially as you near your due date and become less mobile. If the thought of vegetable oil doesn't appeal, you can also use Vitamin E oil, coconut oil or any of the specially prepared perineal massage oils that are now available.

annibee

Hello all, not much to catch up on seems to be quite quiet round here. Went to lakeside yesterday to take back some returns and spent £35 in boots all on my advantage card so very happy that managed to not spend any actual money!! Was also good to get out and about and walk around a bit as I have become a bit housebound recently since I was ill.

Off to tesco to do the shopping in an hour and then collecting brother in law to come round for the day - hes 15 and lo loves having him here so should be a fun day but I will no probably not be posting again till later.

sharkey - sorry to hear your still feeling rubbish go to docs see what they say

sammygirl - I was doing this mid pegnancy like hiccuping or coughing and then sick coming up seems to have stopped now but it was unpleasant.

MV - you must be so excited your so close now. Dont worry about the clothes issue I just lived in one dress and a pair of pjs for the last 3 weeks (lo was 2 weeks late so i was like a bloomin house!) its whatever is comfortable that is important

right off to ransack my own empty wardrobe - I really have NO clothes that fit I ordered some stuff in the next sale but have to wait 2-4 weeks for it to come!!!

edit to add - Cant remember who was talking about homebirth with Grateful but when I had my last one they brought the box with them and they only brought round the gas and air ealy - 2 weeks early....they wouldnt ive me a mask though so I couldnt use it apparently theyd done it in the past and people had used it all before labour lol


hope everyone has a good day!!! xx

annibee

also on the subject of perineal massage - not for me lol. Last time I did tear but I never noticed - maybe because I was in pain anyway with the contractions or maybe because the water pool softened me up but I honestly didnt notice and i didnt feel them stitching me back up either

sharkeybabe

Morning Everyone. Thanks for your advice last night, I was feeling really sorry for myself. Good news is that I am feeling a lot better this morning, still coughin and spluttering but generally think that I am on the mend. I called NHS24 about 3am as I still hadnt felt the baby move, and the lovely nurse I spoke with told me to drink a really cold drink and see if that woke her up - sure enough by 3.15pm she was kicking the heck out of me and although I was glad she was moving, she was fair kicking me hard (cant have everything lol)

Still got no hot water so calling the landlord today to try and get it sorted, really want a hot bath, showers just arent cutting it.lol. Hope everyone is feeling ok today.xxx

Teenie_D

Sharkey glad you are feeling better

lillian :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:that's all I can say, good on you for giving it a go!

Sammy sounds like reflux or like Giz said acid. I get it sometimes when I'm sleeping if I have eaten too late then gone to bed or had junk food it is bl00dy horrible but then i tend to go on to full on throwing up!

Away to update list, I had to go last night so didn't do it sorry, really didn't feel well after I had been sick I came across all dizzy and super tired and was in a bit of a daze, ended up bedded by 7.30pm LOL

Teenie_D

EDD LIST

Loubylou - 24th December 2010 :male:
Molthedoll - 26th December 2010 *TWINS*
twoflower169 - 7th January 2011 ?
Metranil Vavin - 10th January 2011 :male:
Make-it-3 - 14th January 2011 ?
Sunny_Sunshine - 14th January 2011 :male:
Bargainprincess - 15th January 2011
little_princess - 19th January 2011
Delerium - 20th January 2011
Flower 72 - 21st January 2011
Stargirl12 - 24th January 2011
ASHeta - 24th January 2011 :male:
Jenapples - 26th January 2011 :male:
Chazsucks - 27th January 2011
lilian1977 - 28th January 2011 :male:
Chakani - 30th January 2011 :female:
2girlsforme - 31st January 2011 :female:
Lwcus78 -1st February 2011 :female:
oxclairexo - 2nd February 2011 ?
Gizmodo - 2nd February 2011 ?
On_The_Edge - 5th February 2011 ?
sarahangel - 5th February 2011 :male:
Hngrymummy - 8th February 2011 ?
Bexster - 9th February 2011
SJP - 9th February 2011 :female:
Salski - 11th February 2011 :female:
Lauren_1 - 14th February 2011 :male:
LilacPixie - 15th February 2011 ?
spaghetti monster - 15th February 2011 :male:
SharkeyBabe - 15th February 2011 :female:
paul2louise - 19th February 2011
Krystaltips - 21st February 2011 ?
Janinie7 - 25th February 2011 ?
Ticklepenny - 26th Feb 2011 :male:
Roodles - 26th Feb 2011 ?
Hitchins - 4th March 2011:male:
Rockinbikergal - 4th March 2011 ?
DueMarch11 - 5th March 2011 ?
Jojo1978 - 7th March 2011 :male:
coops228 - 18th March 2011 ?
FairyShazza - 20th March 2011 ?
My1stbaby - 20th March 2011 ?
Sammy_Girl - 23rd March 2011 :female:
Princess Coupon - 24th March 2011 :male:
gratefulforhelp - 24th March 2011 ?
Munchkin78 - 27th March 2011
Nikkiev27 - 30th March 2011 :male:
annibee - 31st March 2011 :male:
Alfalfa - 31st March 2011 ?
dustystar02 - 1st April 2011?
TitchD - 4th April 2011
Mrs Moc - 5th April 2011
Dipsy - 6th April 2011:female:
princesslilo - 6th April 2011
SexyBack - 6th April 2011
bellabear - 7th April 2011 :female:
Ema_o - 9th April 2011:male:
datamonkey - 11th April 2011 :male:
Neeny82 - 15th April 2011
Lottyxx - 15th April 2011
EssexGirl - 16th April 2011
Cutterby - 18th April 2011 ?
wendz86 - 20th April 2011 :female:
vroombroom - 20th April 2011 :male:
iceicebaby - 21st April 2011 ?
salesadmin - 21st April 2011
Teenie - 23rd April 2011?
nic2075 -28th April 2011 ?
Chickywiggle - 1st May 2011 :male:
Digitalphase - 3rd May 2011 :male:
Charlie1978 - 3rd May 2011 :male:
Fantafan - 9th May 2011 ?
Evansangel - 14th May 2011 :male:
becky_sleaf - 17th May 2011
Alamaya - 19th May 2011:female:
Fluffysox - 21st May 2011
lizbob - 21st May 2011
Faye6174 -21st May 2011
Curlylou1986 - 1st June 2011
GarnetLady - 5th June 2011 :female:
Babyboysmommy 6th June 2011
LittleBit - 9th June 2011
Madbird - 13th June 2011
Perdi - 17th June 2011
Galvanizersbaby - 3rd July 2011 but likely to be 2 weeks earlier due to planned c section
LabLover - 4th July 2011
Karen1907 - 7th July 2011
Supermaiden - 11th July 2011
Chopsie&Chelvis - 10th July 2011
hattifattener - 20th July 2011

BIRTH LIST

:female:katyj10 - 9th December 5.45pm - Sophie Ann 8lb 3oz
:female: Kataratarina - 10th December 3.03am - Olivia Anne - 7lb 1oz
:female:Welsh lassie- 10th December 10.37am - Charlotte Megan - 8lb 5oz
:male: Snugglepants - 10th December 9.30pm - Logan - 6lb 11oz
:male:Catwoman - 14th December - 6.22am - Callum Matthew - 9lb 13oz
:male:Slightlymad99 - 18th December 2010 - Jake - 8lb 4 1/4oz
:female:kt1985 - 23rd December - 10.23pm - Lucy - 7lb 7oz
:female:PoppyW- 24th December 2010 - 2.56am - Isobel Alice -9lb 1oz
:male:Beakatron - 27th December 2010-6.56pm - Callum James - 5lb 2oz (6 weeks early)
:male:anm - 29th December 2010 - 3.26am - Name tbc-8lb 5oz
:male:Casperlarue - 29th December - 12.05pm - Benjamin David-8lb 4oz
:male:Ejecoms - 30th December 2010 - 4.51am Kal - 8lb 8oz
:female:Tigerlee - 30th December 2010 - 5.40am -Emily

PROBABLY GIVEN
BIRTH BUT TOO WORN OUT TO LOG ON LIST
allow 2 weeks after EDD before transferring to this list...

katy1987 - 6th December 2010 :male:
Sharon30 - 6th December 2010
gemima27 - 9th December 2010
Sarathechemist - 12th December 2010
Sadie204 - 15th December 2010

CONTRACTION MASTER TIMER

Please post your birth stories here when you
have time/energy

MSE Parents Facebook group. Please PM Sami_Bee with your real name to be accepted

Sammy_Girl

Afternoon ladies

Thanks for the advice on the reflux. I think it must have had something to do with what I ate. Had really bad heartburn once I was in bed but really cba to go get the Gaviscon, so just lay there and suffered

Thanks for updating the list Teenie - load of newbies. Can you all believe we're having our babies this year :eek::T

I've been outside making sure my bargainous Maxi-Cosi seat fits in the car and it does :T It is a bit of a faff with the seatbelt so think I may invest in a base. I want to get a Maxi Cosi EasyFix one so if anyone sees any good deals - pls let me know. The cheapest I can find is £67 on Amazon - but I've got time to wait for a cheaper one to come along!

Off to a 2 year old's birthday party this afternoon. Jelly and ice cream and pass the parcel - fab!! DH has got out of it though with a cough - hmmmmmm *roll eyes*

Hope everyone is enjoying their bank hol Monday

S x

bellabear_2

Hey ladies, sorry I've not had a chance to catch up on last few pages, just looking for a bit of advice please..have just nearly fainted for the 3rd time today, have gone out and got fresh air the 1st time and felt slightly better, then came back and nearly fainted at my desk (oops!) at which point i was sent home, then nearly again while lying down on the sofa just now! My mw did say that my iron levels are a teeny bit low so i got some supplements today, but the pharmacist didn't seem convinced that this would help as my sanatogen tablets do contain some iron, has anyone else had this problem? (i was also sent home with the same problem about 10 days ago).
Thank you xxx

Teenie_D

Sammy_Girl wrote: »

Thanks for updating the list Teenie - load of newbies. Can you all believe we're having our babies this year :eek::T

:shhh::shhh: la la la la la *sticks fingers in ears* not listening, don't want to think about it LOL