MSE pregnancy club II

My_Fathers_Daughter

candygirl wrote: »

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I know!!and when's you ladybird baby due?
ps i'm gonna be a Nana;)
DD's mental at the mo with hormones, it's gonna be a rocky ride :eek: :eek: :eek:

Ladybird baby due early March 09, t'internet tells me 6th, midwife is keeping schtum for the moment but ladybird nana is CONVINCED it will be the 5th (it's her birthday and the birthday of my husbands late father)

Keely - lol, I can't fit into my usual trousers now :eek: I am only 8+4!!!
I am dreading waddling too - I haven't worn any kind of pad since I was about 14...still I suppose I will have greater thigs to worry about when the time comes!

miss_corerupted

it semms everyone is going for a hospital birth, i def want a home birth is anyone else having home birth????i hate hospitals the thought of them sends me in a panic and all my family is really starting to annoy me by going on that i should go to hospital!!! the midwife said fine to a home birth.

Also i'm thinking of getting a tens machine for my bad back are thses any good???

Fritha_2

elle_gee wrote: »

This is a pic of one of the LDRP rooms - http://www.nlg.nhs.uk/services/department_of_family_services_files/09.jpg
One of the few good things good ol' Grimsby has going for it! Only opened in 2004.

*moves the Grimsby* Go Yorkshire! I've on the wrong side of the country now and blimey I miss it! (Although I don't actually come from Grimsby that's not the point it's all Yorkshire! )

No idea what happens in our labour ward/ post labour ward (I don't even know what that bits called!) all I know is I may have to argue to get in the pool and that they discourage visitors (fine by me! As long as Himself can come in a lot I'll be more than happy!). I have to point out I have a tour in the 19th so hopefully I'll know lslghtly more then!

Welcome Nana Candygirl! :-)

Keely, I've had similar visions about the maternity pads, especially when I read in the mothercare catalogue how many it reckons you'll need! :eek: MFD, I plan to wear maternity trouser post-partum and then for the rest of my life, they're soooooo comfy!

Miss_Corerupted, I'd love a home birth but we decdided that since we're a goodly distance from our hospital it wouldn't be a fun journey in an emergency, I also just don't know how I'm going to react to birth so thought I'd rather be in hospital where the heavy duty drugs (well, an epidural) is an option if I need it. As long as your midwife is happy with you having a home birth tell the nay sayers to get stuffed! There's nothing wrong with them, in fact they tend to be quicker and easier than hospital ones, I think it's becuase you're more realxed!

As for TENS, I'm getting one of those! I've used a normal one for chronic back pain I had last year and it was absolutely amazing! I've no idea how much it'll help in labour as I figure a lot of the pain is round the front where you can't put it but I'll give it a go! If you need it for back pain during pregnancy have a word with your midwife first :-)

Phew, that was an essay!

Toto

I really want a home birth miss but I doubt it's a good idea. I have a very autistic daughter and she would be very upset if she saw me in pain. So, I think I'll have to go to the hospital.

pollyanna24

Sorry I haven't had time to go through all the threads since last week some time, but I just wondered if anyone had given birth at Watford General.

I'm trying my best not to panic as I still have 12 weeks or so to go, but I'm just looking for information as to the services there. I don't even know what services they provide, i.e. if they have birthing pools, 24 hour C-sections etc.

I am going for an antenatal class there in September, but that seems ages away, and I just wanted a heads up. I also get a tour of the Maternity Unit that day. All my appointments (save for 20 week scan) have all been at my gp's surgery so far as they have a midwife there, so I haven't even been able to nosy around.

Tapping Watford General Maternity Unit into the internet is just bringing up loads of reports about how bad it is, but this doesn't help me as I now have no choice, but to go there!

My_Fathers_Daughter

pollyanna - not sure if this will be a help at all but my midwife did stress to me that I could change where I wanted to have the baby at any time, I just had to tell her and she would book me in at another hospital. There would be differences (I would have to go to the other hospital for all my bloods etc) but she stressed that I have a choice and I can exercise that choice at any time

I think that there is a big nhs kick on this at the moment, being given a choice is one of the questions that they judge maternity care on...

pollyanna24

My_Fathers_Daughter wrote: »

pollyanna - not sure if this will be a help at all but my midwife did stress to me that I could change where I wanted to have the baby at any time, I just had to tell her and she would book me in at another hospital. There would be differences (I would have to go to the other hospital for all my bloods etc) but she stressed that I have a choice and I can exercise that choice at any time

I think that there is a big nhs kick on this at the moment, being given a choice is one of the questions that they judge maternity care on...

Thanks for that. I wasn't given a choice in the first place. Turned up at my doctors and the midwife there works at Watford General, so they send everyone there.

I don't think I have a problem with the hospital. There will always be good births and bad births, and it is the closest to me, but I do feel that there are not enough antenatal appointments, scans etc.

I suppose I could just bug the midwife and ask exactly what the facilities are, but seeing as I'm going to a class on 18th September, I will find out then. I just wanted to know in advance what kind of facilities I may find, but it's not like a hotel where I can just find the brochure on the internet cos I've been looking!

m_dorph

elle_gee wrote: »

Anyone else allowed to have their partner to stay overnight with them after the birth?

I've been reading the "introduction to Maternity Services" booklet I was given about our local hospital and it says..

"Labour / Delivery / Recovery / Postnatal - LDRP
The birth of your baby is always in the privacy of a single room. You will remain in this room for the duration of your stay. The room has en-suite facilities and a reclining chair. If your partner / support person wishes to stay with you overnight they may do so"

Apart from the cabin fever of staying in one room all the time, that sounds rather good, especially for a first timer! Just wondered if it's normal or unusual.

Hi Elle,

That sounds really, really nice! Here I think you are moved to a ward with 4 beds almost straight after the birth.. And partners can only come in for limited visiting hours. Most girls I know want to get back home quickly since there is no rest with 4 new mothers and babies in the same room!

Enjoy your privacy

Mette

keelykat

Hi pollyanna24, you should have been given a choice-i was def asked what hospital i'd prefer to go to.

As for the amount of scans and things, is probably down to what you need. Some ladies don't need many scans, if all is going well. Towards the end of pregnancy you will see the midwife more often though. Ive ended up having more scans and appointments with the midwife and consultant because of my high bp etc and being consultant lead instead of midwife lead.

If anythings worrying you though-i'd let your midwife know. When you go visit the hospital im sure you ll feel more reassured-i know i did. make sure you make the most of the hospital tour and any antenatal classes by asking loads of questions. If it helps-write down questions before yo go so you dont forget, i know my mind can go blank!

As for bad reports on hospitals-dont listen to everything! For example, a short while ago i read reports on how my hospital had a bed shortage....when i went in the nurse who showed us around explained that this was a lie and in fact they had reduced the number of beds per ward to make it more comfy and relaxed.... and not even half the beds were taken when i looked around! so not everything is true.

keely.x

My_Fathers_Daughter

pollyanna - have a look at this article from the Watford Observer...

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/3201726.Maternity_review__welcomed_/

It basically says that Watford General Maternity didn't provide any data for 4 of the questions - so they automatically scored the lowest possible score in those categories...

They still scored 3 out of 5 which is deemed 'acceptable' - they could well be much better! They have also started implementing the improvement measures introduced in April which is good.

It just goes to show that you can't believe the league tables!

As keely said - talk to your MW if you are worried, she may even have some leaflets on the services they provide. I already have some about my hospital.