Premmie Mums #8

[Janie]

Thanks Sally . I'm feeling really nervous actually. Few movements on the CTG yesterday, so we have to go in early for another one today. I think that has raised the anxiety levels a tad . I KNOW bub is okay, I got a nice kick minutes after waking up this morning, but it would have been nice not to worry about another CTG session. And we're trying to cram alot in today......I have NO maternity bras to wear after the birth, none of my old ones fit me, and my current bras just won't be suitable post-birth. So I want to go to the Mothers Direct shop today before going into the hospital, as I really need to be fitted. It sounds crazy, but I really feel like I need to do this before bub arrives.

A question about birth.........we had a lovely middy yesterday on the ward who chatted alot to us about birth, and SCN etc. I asked if I went into labour now how much monitoring I would be having. And she said that given the baby's circumstances I would be monitored the entire time, on the CTG. I was kind of prepared for that, but a little disappointed, as I won't be able to use water etc. So glad we're doing Calmbirth (if only we get to finish it LOL). Soooooooooo, has anyone else had this experience, and how did you deal with it? My labour with DS I was active or in the shower/bath the entire time, so I'm really unsure as to how I will deal with being hooked up and basically immobile. Both my Ob and the midwife have reassured me that they think my labour (if we have one) will be pretty quick, but of course no one can guarantee that.

TIA

[butterfly_warrior]

Janie, I was on monitors the entire time with Sam at 36 weeks... We did ok, I think. I did struggle with being able to move, especially as labour started out posterior. It wasn't that I wasn't allowed to move, it's just that when I did, the monitors would often lose Sam and I would freak out. When it got a bit too much to cope with, they offered me a scalp monitor for Sam, which I accepted. I also asked them to help me into another position to help... and as soon as I was on my knees leaning over a bean bag, Sam flipped as well so things then went very, very quickly and I really couldn't give a crap about what the monitors were doing. 5cm to pushing in two contractions (not that I knew this, I struggled on trying to stop my body from pushing despite the urge). I honestly don't think the shower, bath or being able to walk around would have made a whole lot of difference, especially with things going so quickly. Perhaps work on optimal positioning and hope that the predictions of a quick labour are correct? Ask about scalp monitors when your water breaks and are dilated far enough - they gave me a bit more freedom of movement.

BW

[Janie]

Thank you so much for those tips BW . So they're happy to use scalp clips on weeny babies? It's not something I ever would have thought I'd be keen on, but if we need continuous monitoring I think I'm prepared to change my mind . Yeah, my labour with DS was 14 hours, and there is no way I could have tolerated being hooked up the entire time without pain relief. The midwife said yesterday that in all likelihood, by the time we arrive at the hospital it's unlikely I'll have much time to be thinking about running a bath etc . Like I said, one can only hope so!

[butterfly_warrior]

I don't know how small a baby would have to be before they wouldn't want to use a scalp clip. It just left Sam with a little scab on his head for a week or so. I've seen worse marks on babies after forceps or ventouse extractions. I still had to have one monitor on me... but it was the one measuring contractions, not keeping track of bub's heartbeat.

BW

[Early Kids]

I was strapped to the CTG for Brendan's entire labour/birth. I had to ask permission and wait for someone to remove it to go to the loo, I was allowed to have a shower, but it was timed. I laboured in my back and it was really hard to get comfy without trying to move to move. Every time I moved the CTG would lose bub. I think this is one of the contributing factors to having so many drugs (morphine, gas and an epidural) With Tristan I was on the CTG for a while in early labour but they were happy with our progress so I was allowed to have a loooong shower and walk around a bit.

It really depends on the Dr you get for delivery and the midwives too. Another contributing factor is bub, Brendan was all over the place for my labour, his heartbeat would rise too high and fall too low (which is why I was given an epidural they were going to do a c/s) where as Tristan stayed fairly steady for the time he was on the ctg.

All the best hun xxx

[tk1999]

Hi Janie,

I was on the monitors the entire labour with DD. I was induced due to PE & HELLP so also had the synto drip...

I wasn't able to use water (which I had planned to do) but was able to remain active. The cords are fairly long (well mine were but I did ask them to ensure I could still walk around) and I had one of my support people in charge of moving the drip as I needed to.

The monitors did fall off at times but I just buzzed for the nurse to come in and fix them up. I did panic a few times that I couldn't hear DDs heartbeat but at the same time the monitors usually fell off mid contraction so I didn't really care about them until the contraction had passed and then I realised that the CTG was having an attack cause it couldn't find the heartbeat.

There was one point where they asked me to stay on the bed because the trace they needed kept being interrupted by the montiors falling off. I told them I would stay still (or not as active) but not on the bed. So I sat on the fitball for that trace and bounced but I held the monitor in place so they could get their trace.

I didn't use any pain relief just visualisations, walking, bouncing etc etc.

My only advice would be to make sure that they leads are long so you can walk around

Best wishes xox

ETA: oh yes, the asking to go to the loo etc... that annoyed me no end!!

[~Serenity~]

I was monitored with niesha 35 weeks went on all fours she was posterior with hunter I had none cos he was just a sudden urge to push and I was waiting in the labour ward after my waters broke to see what they wanted to do and serenity I was 7cm after 10 min but they noticed she was footling breech so emerg csec

[Early Kids]

I wasn't able to use water (which I had planned to do) but was able to remain active. The cords are fairly long (well mine were but I did ask them to ensure I could still walk around) and I had one of my support people in charge of moving the drip as I needed to.

wow that's awesome! My cords were only just long enough to move on the bed!

[Sally2]

We were on the monitors too, but as Charlie was so small and posterior as he moved down the canal, the monitor lost him. Sal FREAKED at that point and pushed him out after they broke her waters in four minutes ( 2 contractions )as they couldn't hear a heartbeat. He was bruised from head to bum all down his back poor thing
It was hard for her not being able to move, but as we were still in denial up until they broke her waters that we were having a baby that day, I don't think she really understood she was in labour and there were other options for pain relief ie moving around, water, if you know what I mean?!?!?

Janie, good luck honey, we have been watching your story on the forums, hoping bubs has a MASSIVE growth spurt in the next couple of weeks!

[tk1999]

wow that's awesome! My cords were only just long enough to move on the bed!

At first I thought they were 'standard' length but I could walk around the bed and if I stayed on the side that the machine was on I could walk maybe a metre and a half from the bed.

One of the middies knew my doula and said to her at the end of it all that I was lucky to get the machine with the long leads LOL.

I just asked to be able to move and apparently one of the middies who was on when they first broke my waters went and got that machine only because the one that was in the room didn't have paper - quite lucky I guess

[*Beema*]

I wasn't on the monitors, there wasn't the time, they used the doppler a couple of times, but then lost DD HB and everyone got all stressed, but it wasn't long and I was pushing her out anyway, and I could feel her kicking so I knew she was ok

If I was it wouldn't have mattered as I was comfy kneeling and leaning over the back of the bed, until I had to turn around

[Early Kids]

TK, very lucky!!

I am one very proud mumma Tristan is officially crawling NORMALLY at 7m3w old!!! (he's about 6m1w corrected I think...) It's sooo awesome, he's soo cute and cos he's still quite small it's actually quite odd to see Now I am going to know I am alive rofl...

[nickers]

Janie, i hope everything goes well for you your almost 32 weeks which is fantastic.
With Nixon i had to be hooked up to the CTg the entire time, so i had to labour on the bed the whole time, and un connect every time i wanted to go to the bathroom!
I end up sucking on gas for the pain, but i never made it to pushing stage i had a c/s.

Just also coming in to update that Nixon is having his big diagnostic assesment tomorrow. Its at a diagnostic clinic and to be accepted for the assesment we had to have an extensive phone conversation, fill out many forms regarding Nixon's history/ behaviour etc and have referals from several different professions.

So its a long one, goes for 4-5 hours. he will be seen by a Paed, a speech therapist, a OT & a child physologist, some parts we will sit in on and others we wont be able to.
If there it is clear to them they will break for a meeting then bring us back in and discuss and give us a diagnosis. If they are not 100% sure then we wont get a diagnosis then.
somewhat nervous, not because of what the outcome may be but just the stress that they may have to put him under to carry out all their assessments.
we've been waiting for this for 6 months, it seemed way too long away when we first got on the list and now its actually here.
Another thing on my mind is my dad has his specialist appointment tomorrow which will determine if his blood count is on the rise again and he may need to start hormone therapy (had prostate cancer 4 yrs ago, also had radiation treatment 12months ago.
gonna be a big day for all the family

[*Beema*]

WTG Tristian!!!!Clever, clever boy!!!

[tk1999]

WTG Tristan!!

for Nixon & you, nickers... that will be a very full on day!

Hello to everyone else

I meant to come in yesterday and say happy half birthday to my DD... wow 6mths of BFing via various means - expressing for tube feeds, suck feeds... sucking at the breast whilst being fed via tube. It all feels like it was a lifetime ago but it also feels like it was yesterday - I cried yesterday when I thought about how far we have come - I think getting to 6 months has brought up a lot of emotions for me - surround DDs birth, those first few weeks, questioning why I had PE, GD and the gammat of other things that didn't go to 'plan' etc etc. I was recently diagnosed with PND and have commenced meds yesterday.

I have a long road ahead of me... did anyone else find that once the hectic premmie mums life had settled down a little bit (lets face it - no ones life settles down completely after a child whether prem or FT) that everything just came crashing down? That is how I felt/feel.

Sorry to be a downer

Anyway... 6 months old... that went super quick. We tried her on a bit of BLS last night (so DP could see it too) and I don't think she is ready - but we will continue to try every couple of days

[Early Kids]

Nic, good luck for today xxx

Beema, Thanks

TK :hugs: I totally understand, I come crashing down every single Feb, the 2 weeks leading up to the 10th when my waters broke and then I re-live every day in hospital until his birth... In the first year, I would crash more often, but after the first year it's just the important dates...

It's a hard day for me today.... 3 years ago our hourney toward NICU began, I was 28 weeks pregnant.

[Sally2]

WOO WOO TRISTAN
Big crawling bubba! Great job Sal

[*Beema*]

Big hugs Sal