MSE Pregnancy Club 26

Kayalana99

bella2121 wrote: »

I personally wouldn't even consider having baby at birth centre for me it's more important to have the medical intervention available if I need it, my last pregnancy was straight forward but the birth awful ventouse delivery 3rd degree tear with babies heart rate really low I can't imagine going through that in an ambulance or even going through that then having to travel 30 mins in an ambulance to be stitched up, I've also known 2 friend have there baby at the birth centre then have to be transferred to the hospital because of problems with the placenta etc don't want to scare people it's just my perspective on it, if the birth centre is in the hospital then that's a different thing all together but ours is in a different town altogether

This is exactly same for me, one of the reasons I won't have baby at home. They keep pushing me to have a home birth because my first was so easy (well straight forward shall we say) but I need a hospital for peace of mind, I never had any pain relief as I didn't like gas and air and everything else had side effects that could affect the baby...I wasn't bothered about me so much lol (not sure about epidurals if they have side affects on baby but I'll refuse to have a needle in my spine unless it was an Em C section lol *shudder*)

I did have abit of a scare as the babys heart beat started to drop...but I think this was my fault as everything happened so fast and I felt the 'need' to start pushing but I was kind of waiting for the midwife to tell me it was ok ... I actally asked her if I should start pushing lol...what a relief when you start pushing....

dizziblonde

Kayalana99 wrote: »

It was pretty standard really, normal births nothing to scary, a c section but didn't show to much just the peoples reactions really....

I would of turned that episode off...I couldn't of watched that. So many people kept telling me to watch OBEM when I was pregnat with my first and I was glad I didn't after some of the stories I heard.

It took me a long time after my eldest's birth till I could watch OBEM again. I won't go into the details as I don't think it's fair to be sat regaling pregnant women with horror stories - but suffice to say, anything that could go wrong did - including prematurity, forceps and my mother in law rocking up in the delivery room and me asking her to leave. I ended up with quite severe PTSD over it all, on anti-depressants which I obviously had to come off when I got pregnant again (and probably should go back on since I'm depressed again - but I don't believe it's PND and more reactive depression to a set of circumstances)... trouble was the first one I watched was a follow up one - and one of the couples they followed up were a really young couple who'd delivered at 33 weeks... and I remembered absolutely vividly I'd watched it toward the start of week 33 and thought along the lines of blimey she looks like that by now... and of course - see sig - it was a bit TOO close and raked a lot of stuff up.

I don't watch them now, and I hate all this stuff in fact because I've seen the impact it has on women who've had traumatic non-straightforward births. It's not so much the programme - it's the whole internet "ooooh that one in the blue top's really annoying me silly mare" or "oh that girl did really well" rating of it all afterwards - that REALLY gets me incredibly annoyed as it's part of this whole ridiculous "success or failure" mummy competition that's absolute freaking tosh as you can't control so much that goes on with it all in terms of how the baby is lying and the like. Hell on paper my second birth looks an amazing one - 15 minute actual labour, only gas and air... it was only "good" because the baby was in a really obliging position, and because I have precipitate labours (very very very fast ones) which has the side effect of meaning I'm not deemed to be "in" labour (despite being in pain with stop start contractions and latent labour for a flipping fortnight) until the very very end - so I get no TIME for anything other than gas and air and very nearly didn't get THAT!

Sorry - it's my pet rant the whole way the internet gets lit up with people evaluating these women's performances after any birth programme. I just very nearly went for the renactment of the Neighbours one where she didn't get her dungarees off at all (it was close between my jeans and the baby).

TTC40

All these choices have been taken away from me - saves making a decision. Due to the Placenta Previa I think I will have all medical intervention available to me & the baby! That's fine by me - as long as we both come out of it OK.

Made a start on hospital bags yesterday.

Have packed a 'if I need to go in quickly' bag for me (which seems to be a large holdall). Also a 'if I then give birth' bag - well actually I know I will give birth at some point! I have enough baby stuff for a few days (i.e. all the newborn babygros). As I know I am having a section I will be in for a few days.

I will revisit these bags over the next few weeks - if I do have to be admitted for a pre-birth stay I will be packing a lot more. I know I can give OH a list of what to bring in, but IMO it's just easier to get it sorted.

Whilst the consultant told me a couple of weeks ago I would have to go in for 2 weeks prior to birth, the midwife told me this week that many people don't. TBH I will promise to do almost anything (or rather nothing) at home to avoid hospital bed rest/ supervision.

Watch Midwives last night again with OH, as with last week I think it has been useful for him to understand what could happen. He won't be looking anywhere other than at my face during the section!

33+2

kerri_dfw

I've been watching Midwives as a sort of biology lesson, having not done this before I don't really know what to expect (other than the obvious). I seem to cope with things a lot better when I know what's going to happen, so now instead of saying "I don't want to talk about the birth stage" with my sister, I can now openly talk to her about it in a matter of fact way. I know some people have told me not to read all the birth stories, but I've found it really informative to understand the complications and what can go wrong as it seems the actual birth part is a bit of a taboo conversationally. They've definitely taught me that my body will know what to do and is designed for doing this, so I don't need to be scared although it is going to hurt.

Bangton

I had a wobble over giving birth at about 28 weeks but since then I'm not really worried about any part of it, which is strange for me and I wonder if it's a touch of denial!

I'm over 36 weeks now and I thought this would be the moment I became petrified but actually I am more scared he will come a little too early and the house won't be ready (although it nearly is).

So tonight really is the viewing of the birth centre. I'm still going to go but have dug out pamphlet and there is another birth centre at the hospital I'd have to be blue lighted to if there was a problem. But then this hospital is still 25 - 30 mins from home anyway, worse if I went into labour at rush hour..likewise that's where the delivery suite is too. I don't see my midwife till 38 weeks so no idea what happens if I hate the birthing centre as it says on the pamphlet that viewings are on referral of midwife only.

I'm so un-organised but can't help blaming the midwife for just pushing for the birth centre even though OH has clearly said it's my fault too!!!

butler_helen

Woweeeeee it's due day! However no signs of baby at all, very dull.

I think baby knows what a state some of my house is, so it's staying put in protest

However I do have ovary ache which is a new feeling, so I'm hoping the process is starting and I can ha my baby for the weekend, I just want to meet them now.

I am an avid medical fan, I love Obem as midwives, I like to feel prepared. However, they all make me cry at the moment!

I have a birth plan which basically says "leave me alone, unless I ask", as I am trying to have a MLU experience at the hospital. I.e just gas and air, which I have been lead to believe is quite possible. I think I've spent more time preparing my fianc! for the potential issues and shock than I have myself. Seeing as he will be completely conscious and sober throughout, however I may be potentially high on drugs!

an9i77

Good luck to all those due very soon. Those who don't want pain relief (except gas and air - I mean the hard stuff), what are your reasons? Is it because you want to be fully 'compos mentis' at the time of the birth, or is it to avoid affecting the baby?
I only ask because I had every drug they gave me last time, and it did mean that I was a bit too out of it to really appreciate what was going on (said to OH just before they cut me open in EMCS 'this is possibly the most surreal moment of my life!') but I'd rather have a bit of feeling surreal over the pain, any day (I have a low pain threshold).
Also the diamorphine was, until the emergency started that led to the EMCS, very relaxing and nice.
Just curious why people would prefer no pain relieveing drugs.

AFM I'm ok, getting fed up with being pg now especially in the evenings when I get rib-ache, also getting v tired, but whenever I feel bad I just think of my friend who was forced to deliver at 26 weeks (baby is ok so far) and would probably do anything to be back being pregnant again with baby safely inside her not in a NICU.

amus

dizziblonde wrote: »

I don't watch them now, and I hate all this stuff in fact because I've seen the impact it has on women who've had traumatic non-straightforward births. It's not so much the programme - it's the whole internet "ooooh that one in the blue top's really annoying me silly mare" or "oh that girl did really well" rating of it all afterwards - that REALLY gets me incredibly annoyed as it's part of this whole ridiculous "success or failure" mummy competition that's absolute freaking tosh as you can't control so much that goes on with it all in terms of how the baby is lying and the like. Hell on paper my second birth looks an amazing one - 15 minute actual labour, only gas and air... it was only "good" because the baby was in a really obliging position, and because I have precipitate labours (very very very fast ones) which has the side effect of meaning I'm not deemed to be "in" labour (despite being in pain with stop start contractions and latent labour for a flipping fortnight) until the very very end - so I get no TIME for anything other than gas and air and very nearly didn't get

Completely agree this whole success and failure thing has a lot to answer for.


It's great saying 'oh wow didn't she do so well, no pain relief and looked great afterwards', well yes that's wonderful, but even if not on purpose, implies that women who don't have nice, natural, wonderful births are failures somehow. And like you say it's not that at all, a large proportion of what goes on in childbirth is due purely to luck, so not a case of 'ooo didn't she do well'.

amus

an9i77 wrote: »

Good luck to all those due very soon. Those who don't want pain relief (except gas and air - I mean the hard stuff), what are your reasons? Is it because you want to be fully 'compos mentis' at the time of the birth, or is it to avoid affecting the baby?
I only ask because I had every drug they gave me last time, and it did mean that I was a bit too out of it to really appreciate what was going on (said to OH just before they cut me open in EMCS 'this is possibly the most surreal moment of my life!') but I'd rather have a bit of feeling surreal over the pain, any day (I have a low pain threshold).
Also the diamorphine was, until the emergency started that led to the EMCS, very relaxing and nice.
Just curious why people would prefer no pain relieveing drugs.

AFM I'm ok, getting fed up with being pg now especially in the evenings when I get rib-ache, also getting v tired, but whenever I feel bad I just think of my friend who was forced to deliver at 26 weeks (baby is ok so far) and would probably do anything to be back being pregnant again with baby safely inside her not in a NICU.

I tend to find a lot of first time mums (purely anecdotal based on people I know) go for the 'no or minimum pain relief' on the birth plan (including myself with my first!), doesn't seem to be quite as common with subsequent pregnancies...

KScarlet

Yay Vic for 3rd trimester! How are you feeling? X

I personally like the birth program's but I do get what you guys mean about competitiveness/ etc. I just found it interesting how people went into the hospital with such different views, and seeing a new baby is pretty amazing

I really wish I could birth at our local birth centre, its 15-20 mins away, the rooms are all private and huge with TVs (!), comfy chairs, private bathrooms etc whereas the 'big' hospital I'm booked into is an hour away, fairy grotty looking and last time I didn't have a particularly pleasant experience.

I went into labour assuming I would turn down all pain relief, with this relaxing natural water birth but in the end I ended up with an assisted birth with a spinal (which was the most relaxing part of my birth!) it wasn't a great birth, but my son was fine and well eventually and obviously I'm crazy enough to be pregnant again!