MSE Pregnancy Club 24

emsbet

I'm glad you're on the home straight with the DIY BB. Hugs for you too, it must be incredibly frustrating waiting to see if you will be discharged from consultant care before the birth.
Have you looked into any hypno birthing techniques? I've not looked myself yet but I know a lot of ladies found them useful.

xx

fluffnutter

BB1984 wrote: »

Saw midwife re birth plan yest. Was fine but I ended up crying on her, which wa most embarrassing! Just all got a bit much, as she said i should prepare myself for going to the main delivery suite, as opposed to the midwife led one, i.e. no water birth She's written in my notes that I'm keen to be discharged from consultant care, but as I won't be seen by the consultant until after my next scan, when I'll be 40 weeks, I may well go into labour before that happens. I've said before on here that I'm not dealing very well with the whole lack of control thing, but this situation is making it worse - there are so many unknowns! Does anyone know of any online resources for preparing mentally for labour? As at the moment I'm dreading it rather than looking forward to meeting my baby

I can really empathise. I'm concerned about my consultant-led care because each time I've seen her she's mentioned that I'll 'probably be induced' if I don't have the baby by my due date. I really don't want this and if there's no medical reason for it, I'd rather that they didn't just 'follow protocol'. Basically, if my BP's fine why do I need to be induced? - all it does is raise your chances of some sort of intervention, e.g. forceps.

When I was at the active birth workshop the other day the midwife advised us to keep in mind an acronym of BRAIN. Whenever someone suggests something to you, e.g. we're thinking of inducing you, we're going to use forceps, we think you should have an epidural etc. ask the following...

B (benefits) - what are the benefits of this procedure?
R (risks) - what are the risks of not doing it?
A (alternative) - is there anything else they can do instead?
I (intuition) - do you (mother) feel there's a problem?
N (now) - does it have to be done right now, or can you wait half an hour/a day/whatever?

It's designed to help you take some control, to slow the medical machine down a bit and to encourage them to really think about the care you need for you and your baby and not just do things because 'that's what the guidelines say'.

The other thing to ensure is that you check what your consultant puts in your notes and discuss anything you're not comfortable with. Midwives will follow consultant's orders and you may find yourself swept up in a procedure you don't want, and no real way of challenging it (and a consultant who's not due on shift for another six hours).

Triangle

Well done for completing your assignment MrsManda :j This time last year I was in the middle of dissertation hell for my MA - have no idea how I would have coped doing it heavily pregnant!

Hi fluff, good to see you posting and that you are feeling cheerful! :wave:

BB, I'm so pleased for you that all the DIY stuff is nearly done! :j I remember when you started on the massive task, what a relief to get it all sorted in time for baby Hope you feel a bit better soon, just seen that Fluff has posted some good advice. Lots of love xxx

betty101

I never thought i'd say this but i'm so glad to see some rain! My feet and hands have started to go down and feel like a new person this morn I must say my dreams a re getting crazier by the night, actually very unsettling as they're mostly baby related.

turtlemoose

Fluff good acronym, I have a consultant appt in less than an hour an will certainly be applying that. At 40+1 today I'm ok for an internal and potentially a sweep. However as for induction, I absolutely agree with you (and have moaned about it on here before!!) about wanting them to make a decision about what's right for me/baby, not what, statistically, has been done previously.

Has anyone had a conversation with their midwife re using the pool during labour and high blood pressure? My normal midwife told me pool lowers BP because it calms you down due to the natural chemicals you release etc .....however the midwife I saw on Tuesday (and the student with her) both said the heat of the pool usually raises people's blood pressure so I'd be unlikely to be allowed to use it....erm....?????

MrsManda

BB and Fluff, I'm sorry you're feeling so out of control with consultant led care. NICE guidelines (what your hospitals procedure/guidelines really ought to be based on) all focus on informed consent, women focused care and taking maternal preference into account.

In terms of induction there is quite a lot of guidance about when induction should be offered and when it's not recommended. Most of the guidance suggests a sweep should be offered before an induction and even for severe hypertension induction of labour is not the only option. Induction shouldn't be offered just because the obstetrician thinks it'd be easier for them.

I had the opposite issue when I became pregnant - my midwife was convinced they'd induce me early (~37 weeks) but the obstetrician threw that idea straight of the window and couldn't see any reason for doing so.

I don't know if it'd be helpful to you or just make you more stressed but you can read the NICE guidance online.
Here's some links but there's quite a lot more.

A booklet designed to explain induction guidance for laypeople can be found here:
http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/12012/41272/41272.pdf

Some more detailed guidance can be read here:
http://publications.nice.org.uk/induction-of-labour-cg70/guidance#induction-of-labour-in-specific-circumstances

http://publications.nice.org.uk/hypertension-in-pregnancy-cg107/guidance#intrapartum-care

http://www.nice.org.uk/usingguidance/donotdorecommendations/detail.jsp?action=details&dndid=263

If you don't want to trawl through the NICE stuff but want more information the NHS website has basic details about induction and links to more info
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/induction-labour.aspx

turtlemoose

Mrsmanda Good timing, I read the NICE guidelines for high blood pressure in pregnancy last night and found it quite annoying ...it says you should not be told "bed rest" because that doesn't lower BP.....guess what my consultant told me..... And also officially, technically, my BP is actually only MILDLY high (not even moderate) which the NICE guidelines say just needs monitoring not treatment.....but I'm on beta blockers..,,errrrr makes me wonder if the consultant even knows what they are on about.

MrsBryan_2

Morning! :wave:

How is everyone today? Not as hot thank God! Although I'm still not chancing putting my engagement and wedding rings back on yet just incase!

Welcome again to the newbies!

Hugs to rjh and emsbet for your sore hips and no sleep
My spd has got a bit better lately but I have literally had my feet up for most of the day, every day this week. I think thats helped, although I've got a busy weekend so will probably be in agony come Monday!

Its our 1st wedding anniversary today! Wow, can't believe how quick its gone, so crazy! This time last year I was enjoying a glass of wine with my bridesmaids on the balcolny of our hotel in Zante! It really was the best day of our lives but think the birth of our little boy will top it!

You all give such good advice on here, you're all like a giant baby encylopedia, love it!

Had MW yesterday, baby still measuring up huge, 40 weeks! Am only 36 weeks! She wasn't too fussed. In fact, she's really laid back about most things! My bp has always fluctuated between 128/69 to 140/70, so its interesting that you're on a consultant led care for high bp fluffnutter, as my MW seems to think mine is fine. Although, is it the lower number that they monitor more?

Babys head is right in my pelvis which is good apparantley and although baby is a fat bum, they said to see how things progress naturally with labour and I will be kept an eye on. Reassuring! Also on iron tabs as blood count has gone down to 9.1

Have a good day people!

J x

RebekahR

turtlemoose wrote: »

Lol you've all just made me think of a funny post on the house buying/selling/renting board......people find funny things on right move and share....here's the original post, it's pic 5 on the rightmove link

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=53403431&postcount=4518

Is there something wrong with me for actually quite liking that idea!!:rotfl:

emsbet

Happy anniversary MrsBryan

xx