MSE Pregnancy Club 25

Gillyx

I was the same regarding an epi, it was at the top of my do not want list. They told me though that if I didn't take it and I ended up needing a c sec, they would have put me under a general, and the thought of not seeing my son being born upset me.

He was in a real awkward position though which was why my labour wasn't progressing still an awkward sod now

Gillyx

Nephthys wrote: »

Gilly - that sounds really rough and a little scary. I was on the delivery suite at the time under the constant care of a midwife so maybe that was a positive thing for me. Who knows. I guess no one really knows how they'll react to a particular drug until they are in that situation.

The delivery ward at the royal was horrendous but the delivery suite and post natal wards were absolutely brilliant. My birth wasn't the best and it's not what I would have planned, but I still see it as a positive experience, my son got here healthy and we were both fine, thanks to the skilled doctor who delivered him.

Nephthys

Now that would be one reason I would accept an epi - and the reason i would take it if advised. I was really lucky. DS was 10lb 10oz at birth and i had no complications. he was fine all through labour and delivery. Midwives had no idea he was that size though. I had an episiotomy (thankfully) and he was a textbook labour and delivery. Am dreading the thought of how big this one will be. Have done the same this time - nothing to show thil about 20/21 weeks and now I look huge so doing a lot of growing now. Am beginning to wonder if it is another boy!

Nephthys

Aw - I wondered if you had been at the Royal! I was too. I wasn't on the delivery ward though. Got taken straight to delivery suite which was good as was not staying without DH. Good job your DH ignored them! I found the post natal a bit chaotic but overall pretty good. Was very glad to get home. This time, I will stay if I have to but if not will go home when they let me!

Gillyx

They couldn't tell me why I wasn't progressing, my contractions started and within 2-3 hours they were coming every 3 minutes and lasting 90 seconds, so after 36 hours they were a bit perplexed as to why nothing was happening.

Which is why they recommended the epi as they said if I still hadn't progressed a few hours later then I'd need to be taken to theater.

Turns out he had turned and was attempting to come out sideways :rotfl: which they didn't discover until the last minute, so would be why it took so long, even with the drip.

I'd easily go through those 48 hours again though

And 10lb 10oz :eek: I had growth scans and all sorts as I was told I'd be having a 10 pounder, he ended up being 7lb 13oz but realllly long, so must be where all his weight was

Nephthys

I had them too but they still said about 9lb. Every midwife in the vicinity (including the one who admitted me and she came upstairs specially after he was born) came in to have a look at him as they couldn't believe a woman with size 3 feet could manage a baby that size on her own with no intervention. Apparently I did wonders for natural delivery at the Royal. Lol! I didn't know any different!

Right - am off now. Chat later!

babymonster2

Ah Nephthys that's a tiny baby, mine was 10lb12 :rotfl:

MissKeith

Thanks ladies, all this labour talk is making me very nervous! I'm feeling much better now, I've been to see my midwife and she found that my blood pressure is low which is why I've been feeling so poorly since I left hospital. I'm on strict orders to rest, the baby's doing fine, growing brilliantly and he's now engaged. It'll be a miracle if I go full term apparently so perhaps I should be thinking of a birth plan now. Haha.

Rups32

good luck misskeith. rest loads hon and allow work. when do you leave anyway?

fluffnutter

Bamama wrote: »

I'm not sure if I'll have the same midwife throughout. I've not really had the same midwife for my checkups. That's partly down to the fact I moved and had to change surgeries. They've told me I may see some of the midwives from my old surg, as they are one large team. So god knows.

I'm just going with the flow now... too much planning will drive me nuts. Do you think pethidine will affect the babies ability to breastfeed? I'd think I'd rather the pain than struggle to BF due to a drowsy baby.

Pethidine can make babies a bit too drowsy to feed straightaway but try to bear in mind that even if your baby doesn't manage to feed in that first magic hour, that doesn't mean they won't successfully latch to the breast a little later on that day. Sections also make babies drowsy and full of mucus (it gets squeezed out during a normal birth but stays in their tums if you have a section meaning they sometimes feel too full to feed).

There's much made of babies being put to the breast within an hour of birth and women panic and worry that their baby won't feed well if this opportunity is missed. It's nonsense - you can still have a great BFing experience and no problems at all even if you have pethidine or a section. At the end of the day it's about balancing what's best for you (and your baby) during labour with any possible drowsiness your baby might experience in the first few hours of life. Your midwife will be well trained to make that call for you. Try not to worry.