MSE Pregnancy Club 28

freshstart11

can anyone with SPD tell me how yours started? I am in so much pain I haven't slept and just been sick cos of it xx

MrsC....tobe

I have very little in my birth plan. I'll show my question and answers below:

How do I feel about labour and birth? Scared shitless but I've left this blank
What are my expectations? Blank
Who do I want with me during labour and birth? DH
My environment for labour and birth (eg privacy, quiet, my own music, food and drink, lighting, comfort aids such as pillows, bean bags, chairs or mattress)? Blank
How do I want my babies heartbeat monitored during labour? Monitored as deemed necessary by medical staff
Do I understand when continuous electronic monitoring of my babies heartbeat may be advised? Yes but left blank as it's covered by above.
How will I cope with labour/contractions? They have included relaxation and breathing, changing my position, massage, water (shower, bath or water pool), gas and air, injection of morphine based drug or epidural, complementary therapies, tens machine. I have scored out those I don't want (epidural not available at my hospital) as I don't see the point in rewriting them!
Vaginal examinations to assess my progress during labour, my feelings about these are: carried out as and when required
How would i like to give birth (position)? Whatever way I'm most comfortable at the time
Discovering the sex of my baby? Left to myself and DH
Would I like my placenta delivered with or without injection? Injection, get it over and done with ASAP!
After my baby's birth: skin to skin contact with me first and then DH as soon as possible (as soon as I allow him!). DH to cut cord.
Would I like my baby to have vitamin k? Yes by injection.
Other questions of special requirements that I have? Blank but I'm going to update this section re sterilisation incase of section after I've been to consultant on Monday.
If you have given birth before you may want to think about your experiences etc etc. Blank since I haven't.
Discussion of preferences for labour and birth/issues arising. Blank.

And there's a list for hospital bag too:
For birth: comfortable clothes, music, snacks and drinks, toiletries, phone numbers, phone cards or change, camera
After birth: clothes/nightwear for you, underwear, maternity bra, sanitary towels, breast pads, clothes for going home, baby clothes - sleep suits, vests, scratch mitts, hat, shawl or blanket, nappies.
Quite a basic list compared to some that's online but obviously what my health board deem necessary.

Re loveactually finding the Pram at £250. I have a question for you all. My work give me up to £250 towards the cost of an item but I have been told that I need a receipt for it (would have been ideal to get it in Boots vouchers or something) and the problem is that we've been given most things. We already had a cotbed, furniture, were given a pram/buggy etc, and most things we have are second hand as I refuse to buy things brand new to be used for such a small time. I really don't know what we can buy, other than to give my Next account a hammering when baby arrives and we know what sex it is.
Does anyone have any suggestions? The only things I have bought new were the mattress £25, steriliser and stuff £65, and a new car seat with Isofix base for £80 instead of £160. I'd really like to get the money but don't know what to get!!!

angeltreats

freshstart11 wrote: »

can anyone with SPD tell me how yours started? I am in so much pain I haven't slept and just been sick cos of it xx

Oh bless you It really is horrible.

I've suffered with sacroiliac dysfunction on and off for several years and apparently SPD is related (it's also caused by problematic pelvic joints although for a different reason). I had my normal back pain through pregnancy which is always bearable but the SPD was different, it started feeling like I'd pulled a muscle in my hip but very quickly (within a day or so) I couldn't put any weight at all on my left leg, the pain was going from my lower back into my hip and bum cheek and down my left leg.

I don't have pain when I open my legs but have been told to keep my knees closed as much as possible and especially when getting in and out of the car, the physio says to keep a plastic bag on the drivers seat so I can kind of swivel in and out royalty-style. I'm also on crutches full time but struggle to walk even with them, and DH pushes me around the supermarket in a wheelchair as there's no way I could get round a big Tesco or Sainsburys.

It is very uncomfortable at night and keeps me awake, annoyingly it's especially bad when I'm lying on my left which is how you're supposed to sleep during pregnancy.

I know several other people who have also had it and they've all said it goes away the minute the baby is born.

My GP was extremely sympathetic and insisted I was signed off work. The midwives have also been helpful and referred me to the pregnancy physio but apparently the appointment can take a few weeks, but A&E gave me some crutches so I didn't have to wait for the physio and were very sympathetic. And my own physio (through Bupa) has been an absolute star, Bupa have been messing me around and I'm waiting for sign off for more sessions but she phoned them and gave them merry hell and told them off for leaving me unable to work or walk or sleep People who understand what SPD is all seem to realise how debilitating it can be, I thought when I went to the GP he'd think I was hamming it up a bit but he didn't at all. Also when I was still working (I worked for the first week or so after it flared up) people were ever so helpful, carrying stuff for me, fetching cups of tea and stuff I'd printed, checking my desk every time they went past to see if I'd anything needing shredding or put in the bin. My (male) boss said I'd done the right thing getting signed off as I'd clearly been struggling.

Seriously go to the doctor to get a referral and signed off if need be, if you've got private medical insurance definitely use it for physio, and don't be afraid to let people know you need help.

Huge sympathy. At least we know it'll go away when this is all over. Pregnancy is flipping tough.

angeltreats

Lilmiss yes please do post your birth plan, that would be really helpful

Mrs C thanks for posting that, that's also really helpful. Are you planning to breast feed? If so, what about a decent breast pump? If not, a Perfect Prep machine? Neither would cost £250 but are quite expensive. Maybe also a baby carrier if you'd like that, they can be quite expensive. I have a Close Caboo (second hand) which is about £60 but some are incredibly expensive.

freshstart11

cant be signed off as will bring maternity forward x x

I have pain all over my mid-lower back, around hips, upper legs, pain is also bad at front which im guessing is RLP.

I have drs apt at 4.40 so fingers crossed can give me something strong enough x

angeltreats

Freshstart all you can take is paracetamol or co-codamol. I can't take co-codamol as it sends me absolutely loopy and paracetamol did nothing so I'm just not bothering.

If you need to bring your maternity forward then don't beat yourself up about it, it's only a few weeks and it's not worth pushing through the pain. I'm still hoping to get back to work (I'm 31 weeks now and was planning to go off at 37 and start official maternity at 39) but if I can't I can't, I'm just not going to fret about it. I'd much rather be at work than stuck at home with building work going on and all the noise :rotfl:

lilmissreading

I will be birthing at home, and the following are my wishes in respect to the birth. I’d appreciate it if all people present would do their utmost to respect and enact them.

Midwife
Please do not examine me unless necessary
Please be as hands-off as possible

Positions
I want to be able to move around
I want to be able to use upright positions
Please make suggestions about positions that may be helpful

Environment
We wish to use subdued lighting unless brighter lighting is required for examination/birthing purposes
We wish to play music of our choice
I wish to sip water throughout and eat a cereal bar/flapjack if needed
I only wish for midwives and my husband to attend the birth

Pain relief
I do wish to use the birthing pool and warm water
I wish to use Entonox as a first option
I will also consider Diamorphine
I will use breathing techniques and imagery
I would welcome offers of massage, especially sacral
I have a mantra: ‘My body knows what it’s doing, my baby knows what he’s doing, we’re working together.’

Episiotomy
I do not want an episiotomy, I would rather tear but will discuss this
I wish to use breathing, waiting and gravity to stretch the perineum
I am happy for you to gently support the perineum if you feel it will help

If unexpected breech
I will take on board any advice given to me
Avoid a C-section if at all possible

At crowning
I do not wish to feel the head
My husband and I wish him to remain at my head end

At the birth
Please put baby on my tummy/chest once clean
I want to breastfeed immediately while awaiting the third stage
Please do the Apgar test while I feed

Third stage
I wish to have a physiological third stage
Please remind me to stand up to use gravity to birth the placenta
Do not pull on or fiddle with the cord
Do not press on my uterus
Please do not cut the cord until I say.
If there are any problems with the placenta delivery, please seek my consent before taking any action

Vitamin K
Oral dose only

In case of hospital transfer
Please intervene as little as possible
Do not do anything without discussing with me first and seeking my express consent
Do skin-to-skin contact after birth

In case of C-section
Do skin-to-skin, if not with me then with my husband as soon as possible
Delay cord cutting as long as possible
Keep lights and noise to a minimum – no music or chatting please

In case of dire emergency
Save me not the baby if a choice is necessary

lilmissreading

More preferences than a list I am militantly going to adhere to. I collect birth stories now and the theme for me is you never know what happen so i am happy to be a tree that bends in the wind rather than snaps through inflexibility.

I know bringing maternity forward is not ideal freshstart but the pg time is just as important as post birth. You want to be able to enjoy your wee one when they get here and not be a physical/emotional wreck at the start. Plenty of time for all that post birth. I hope between the GP and maybe some work adaptations they can work out a way for you to continue if you want to.

MrsC - not sure what to suggest. Have you got somewhere like a John Lewis? Does it have to be £250 all on one item? Could easily spend the £250 on things like an activity mat/mobile/sling? A photography voucher (not my thing as seems hard to find a photographer whose style I like)? A really nice picture for their room they will like when older as well? An eternity ring for you :rotfl:A voucher for one of those silver casts of your child's hand/feet?

freshstart11

my problem is my wages drop £700 a month while I am off and I do not become eligible for benefit/tax credit/ anything xx

MrsC....tobe

angeltreats wrote: »

Mrs C thanks for posting that, that's also really helpful. Are you planning to breast feed? If so, what about a decent breast pump? If not, a Perfect Prep machine? Neither would cost £250 but are quite expensive. Maybe also a baby carrier if you'd like that, they can be quite expensive. I have a Close Caboo (second hand) which is about £60 but some are incredibly expensive.

Thanks angeltreats, I'm no expert when it comes to giving birth since I've never done it before so I intend to more or less play it by ear and I'm happy for me or DH if I'm unable to, to make decisions on whatever is suggested at the time.

I am intending breast feeding and have a manual breast pump, will upgrade this if I feel necessary, and hadn't considered anything like perfect prep. Got a baby carrier brand new in its box at the happy mums market a few weeks ago for £5! Because we've been savvy about the baby spending it's left me in a sticky one this one! Might have a look at bigger baby carriers for our holidays next year as we got to the same place every year and this year I spotted a walk we hadn't done which goes up to a gorgeous lake and it would be fine to have something to carry baby for that, it's a bit hilly and mountainous and baby will be about 8/9months by then so will need something more substantial.

The big thing about me having to send in the receipt is I won't get it back. What if the item develops a fault and needs to be returned for replacement etc (not that there's a lot of baby choice locally!)? I'd be kind of stuck then! If it's something I buy online the I can give them the email receipt and I'd still have proof of purchase so I'd probably have to go down that route.