Pregnancy after LT TTC #14

[CK77]

Glenny, I've PM'd you re my OBs name ;-)

I just don't know where I stand in terms of being able to put my foot down and say NO to an Episiotomy or even a c-section? Is it really my choice or does the OB have the final say (because of legalities)? (again, I understand if baby is in distress). Thanks ladies for the suggestion of having a word with the midwives about only calling him up when I'm pretty much good to go, I think when the time EVENTUALLY comes I'll run with that and see if we have success.

Juniper, I'll have to jump onto the WHO website and have a look at their recommendations. Good luck with your appt today.

M2B - welcome back FX for a H&H 9 months. Were you hoping for twins or just hoping that one of them would be sticky?

WW - I'm guessing that your Active Birth class was about pain management techniques in the lead up to the actual pushing? I'm hoping that all of that labour time is without the OB anywhere in the vicinity, so even though your OB was a bit defensive maybe they wont actually be there when you're employing most of those skills?

KellyD - I hope your DD is on the mend from hand, foot and mouth disease, poor thing You sound like you need a holiday away from it all at the moment, such a busy lead up to Christmas.

Lairdoz, that's excellent news that the iron supplement has kicked in so quickly! Good that it was picked up with plenty of time to go.

AFM, had my weekly appt this morning and I have group B strep, so will be getting antibiotics during my labour to prevent that being passed to the baby. It was funny actually, my OB delivered the news "you have GBS" with a big smile???? Even DH after the appt said it was like he was congratulating us, strange!

So today, I will be spending time in front of the telly, as I've pulled both groin muscles kicking the soccer ball to my dog (it's been my 1hr of exercise each day), and I'm having trouble getting around because of it. See, just goes to show that exercise is BAD!!

Take care of those bumps ladies!!

Chrissy xx.

[sunshine 11]

Congrats M2B - that is FABULOUS news just in time for Christmas!!!

If it makes any difference, my stats on HCG at 18 dpo was 1800 (16 dpo they were 529) and there is only one in there, so there I am proof that there is no real way to tell if it's twins until the ultrasound. I was (as was my FS) fairly sure it must have been twins as my levels (as occurred with my DD two years ago when I also had crazy high HCG levels) continued to be WAAAYYYYY above anything I could find for singles, let alone twins!
I hope you are enjoying this magical time as you deserve and welcome!!

CK - I agree that exercise (or rather I should say Sport) is bad - all those injuries! Hope you are feeling better soon.
xxx

[Renee]

Chrissy, i have strep B also and have had since 28 weeks. Doc said that nearly 30% of all pregnant women have it. Rest up that sounds painful. I have real bad lower back pain today so i don't know whether i want to sit, stand, laydown GRRRRR!!!! I think it is bub moving down as i have a big space at the top of my belly now especially when i stand up.

[CK77]

Wow Renee! sounds like you are progressing along nicely :-) They say back ache is one of the signs...... I think my baby has moved down only slightly, but I certainly don't think I've 'dropped' as such. I just did a bit of quick research on GBS and apparently it's best to get the IV Antibiotics at the onset of labour (or at a minimum 4 hours before deliverying bub). So does that mean I should head to the hospital earlier than I ordinarily would have? Did you have any info on it?

[glenny_c]

CK77- I couldn't PM back as your box is full but thought I'd post my reply here- I've found that as well but have to say I've spoken to him about cord clamping and episiotomies and he's never been so arrogant with me. He has actually said that noone will do anything I don't want them to do. I think maybe he just has no social skills at all- prob comes from his training etc in Egypt- the whole doctor knows best thing. I think maybe he comes across worse than he actually is sometimes. I'm usually only in there for 4 mins or so as well but I find that if I have questions- he will answer them. I figure if he's been doing this for 20 years he's probably seen things go quite badly and that's likely to make him more eager to intervene. I'm just trying to focus on finally having that baby we've wanted for so long and let go of my idea of a "perfect" birth.

Renee- Exciting! I have "dropped" as well. my tummy is a LOT lower than it was before and I have a lot of back pain now. Also stabbing pains on my cervix like little OJ is trying to test the exits!

[juniper76]

M2B, congratulations!!! I'm so thrilled to see you back here! Now, you are absolutely NOT permitted to leave again (well, maybe in 8 months time)!

Lairdoz, yes, 1 less day... Not that I'm counting... Much... I'm glad to hear the iron is helping already.

WW, I mentioned to my OB that I was reading the Birth Skills book and she was actually quite supportive of it.

CK, I can't remember if the paper had an actual recommendation or if it was more of a discussion paper. Let me know if you can't find it and I'll send you the link (although I thought someone posted the link to this thread previously which was how I found it). I need to do a lot more reading on the subject, but don't have the time at the moment. I just thought the 3min delay the paper discussed was a bit of a compromise between the group that advocates waiting until it stops pulsating (up to 45mins) and the group that advocates immediate clamping. I also see it as another part of the birth that is dependent on how things go (eg if there's a lot of bleeding then immediate clamping may simply be necessary). Oh, and I agree that exercise is bad!

Wow, it sounds like we've got a few bubs racing towards the finish line! Exciting times ahead!!

Afm, we didn't end up seeing the OB today since she was at the hospital delivering. And we don't see her next time either because she's on holidays. The MW did a scan and the good news is that bub has turned! Her head is down near my right hip, so she's almost in the right position. BP was down (lowest it has been all pg) and I'm ignoring the MW's scales because my scales at home say my weight is still stable. But I will be good and cut out the sugar (except for some Christmas indulgence) just to be safe... I'd been a bit less strict recently and I really should be more careful.

[Renee]

Chrissy i'm not too sure, no one has mentioned that to me. Just that i will have the antibiotics during labour. I have a doc app tomoz so i will be sure to ask. It is hard to be able to time 4 hrs before giving birth however. What if you have a real fast labour, it wouldn't matter what time you were at the hospital! Will let you know if i find out anything.

glenny, yes it is getting exciting. Can't wait for this little monkey to join us. Stabbing pains hurt hey! Bub enjoys moving its arms and hands while its down there which makes it even more uncomfortable, but funny at the same time!!

[mum-2-be]

Hey all,

Thanks for all the lovely welcoming messages!! It's amazing reading all the blogs - it looks like everyone is almost at the end of their pregnancy!! All of which I have to look forward to!!

Its great to see that all the pregnancies are progressing well and are dropping when they should be!!

AFM - I'm just tired - all day!! I guess that is normal though!!

[juniper76]

M2B, with those hormone levels, I'm not surprised you're tired! I'm still so excited about your BFP! I can't wait for your scan!

[Renee]

Chrissy, i asked the doc about the antibiotics and she said there is no timeline. It would be ideal for it to be in your system when bub is born but sometimes things can happen so fast you don't get it till late. She said it is so common these days that many women don't get the antibiotics in labour cause there is such a low chance of bub getting it. I personally wouldn't be happy with that cause there is still a chance. Hope that helps a bit.

AFM just had doc app and bub is posterior, which isn't ideal, hence the lower back pain! She seems to think i may go early but not to take that as a def!!

[CK77]

Renee - thanks for asking :-) I've been doing my research on the government health sites and can only really see that if you don't get it within 2hrs then baby might have to have antibiotics when born as the antibiotics takes 2hours to pass from you to baby, so I think that's why they were saying 4hours is ideal as baby will definitely be covered when born.

I've heard getting down on all fours is good to try to get baby into anterior position. Scrub those kitchen floors!!!!!!!

[juniper76]

I've heard getting down on all fours is good to try to get baby into anterior position.

Ditto. Basically, any position where you're leaning forward, so gravity is encouraging bub to turn around. Their spine is supposedly the heaviest part, so it tends to move to the bottom. If you're reclined back in a chair, the "bottom" is towards your spine. If you're leaning forward, the "bottom" is towards your belly...

[worrywart]

Hey Mum-2-Be, congratulations and welcome!! Hope you're getting plenty of nanna-naps and can't wait to hear how your scan goes. It's so nice hearing about a BFP and just reliving that excitement. So excited for you!!

Wow, Chrissy, you doctor really needs a course in social skills eh? Jesus. Strep B with a smile.

Actually, my Active Birth class was more of an "anti-intervention"/pro home-birth class. The doula who ran it was constantly talking about the "cascade of intervention" which inevitably occurs the second you cross the hospital threshold. It gave me about 3 or 4 weeks of anxiety & tearfulness. I told my OB and he was mad, saying he wished "these people" would "jump in the lake". Still, I'd like a low drugs (I won't say No drugs) birth, but who knows ... I have long-term back/pelvis issues and a biggish baby, apparently, so probably dreaming.

Renee, still plenty of time for baby to turn. Hope it's all going well and back ache reduces. Not long now!

AFM, we saw our OB and went through the birth dot-points (I am nervous about the word "plan"). Anyway, he was fine with it. We've asked for a few minutes delay before clamping the cord. Otherwise, just asked for privacy, minimal exams and monitoring and minimal attention really. But who knows how it will go. Baby is still with his/her head down low on the right, and back curving up on my left, but I have a wonky pelvis ... so I'm assuming things may not be straightforward.

Otherwise, we;'re having a bit of an issue with a neighbour's child (who is aspergers) who has to have her light on all night, but it shines into our bedroom (we have a blind, but on these hot nights, need it raise so we can get some air in). I just braved it and went over to ask if she could actually just move bedrooms, but that was a No (she's too anxious for the other rooms, because they're too distant or they have street noise). I manage to extract the very vague promise of a better blind on their side and whilst I was pretty clear that we can't sleep with the light, I still feel like I kind of lost that conversation, and that nothing will be done. This is starting to eat me up a little. I'm having so much trouble sleeping anyway with hip/buttock pain, and each time it's such a struggle to get back to sleep because of this damn light. I tried a mask (like on the plane!) but sweat started pouring down my face!! Any ideas?

[CK77]

WW - any chance you could use a portable air cooler/conditioner, so that you don't have to have a window mount aircon (unless of course you've got an aircon already installed in the wall), and then maybe rather than have to open your blinds you could just pop the air con on for an hour or so before you hit the sack to cool the room? Or fight fire with fire and if there is a room of yours that shines into one of their bedrooms then change to a 100Watt super mega bulb and shine the bejesus out of them!

Re "cascade of intervention", I'm pretty sure that term is used word for word on the 'mybirth' website (.au) and I think that website probably freaked me out a bit but it certainly opened up my eyes to a few things.

[mellybelly81]

Hi girls

I just thought I'd pop in to say good luck for the last few weeks for most of you who are in the home stretch! I'm almost halfway now and getting more and more tired, but you know all about that!

Mel

[Leabie]

Hi all you lovely ladies! Been MIA for a while, laying low in the heat...

Firstly, M2B - congratulations! So very excited to see you back in here. Hope everything is going along swimmingly. I too am looking forward to the results of your scan - thats some HcG level you've got there!

CK77 - I'm still fuming after reading about your OB! Thats terrible. Sounds like you'll be armed with lots of facts and a quiet determination to get things done the way you want (as much as possible) - I think labouring with the midwives as long as possible sounds like a good idea. Hope your groin has recovered after kicking the soccerball! I can hardly contemplate walking for 30min, letalone kicking a soccer ball for an hour!

Renee - I found out last week that my bub had turned posterior, after 34 weeks of behaving itself! I've been leaning forward over the back of a dining chair (ie straddling it backwards), on my hands and knees with bum in the air and wiggling hips (much to DH's amusement), and lying on my left side on the couch and in bed. My girlfriend who is a GP checked bub yesterday and it had turned back around to anterior. Don't know if my efforts helped, or if it just did it of its own accord!

WW - sorry to hear the Active Birth class was very "left field". I guess at least it shows you the other extreme, and helps you find a happy compromise for what you want to do. I too have written a birth non-plan, I called it birth "ideas"! The midwife had a chuckle. She said to highlight the really important parts (eg don't offer an epidural), so any new staff can pick up the most salient points quickly.

What a bugger of a situation with your neighbour. Have you got a fan in your room? I've got ours on all night every night now, as we can't have the blinds open due to a streetlight right outside our room.

Juniper - great news that bub has turned, and that BP is down! Hehe had to giggle about the midwife's scales, my OB's are always "fast", so I take a kg off my weight before I tell him. PLUS, they're on carpet, which I think adds more... should take off two kg next time! You are starting to race towards the finish line too! How exciting.

Mellybelly - great to hear from you! Hope all is going well, definitely hear you on the tiredness front


AFM - all is going well, apart from bub not behaving itself and turning posterior. The heat is really slowing me down, but I guess thats a good thing, been trying to fit too much in! Got 5 birthdays between now and Xmas (including DH's), then 10 people coming over for Xmas lunch. Luckily my sister is coming to stay before Xmas, so I can just boss her around from the couch and she can get everything ready Getting my bag packed for the hospital, baby's room is semi-done, birth "ideas" are on paper, so I'm feeling a bit more relaxed about the impending arrival!

Have a great week everyone.

[CK77]

Wow Leabie, less than a month for you, bet you're on the countdown now :-)
That's fantastic baby is anterior again after all your efforts.

AFM: I can tell you all about the movements of Oprah, as there's NOTHING else on!!!

[airline]

oh my goodness. life just doesn't seem to ease up eh?! everytime i think i'll have time to sit and get to the nitty gritty of this forum and something crops up. Anyway have read last couple of pages and can't believe so many of you are getting so close to finishing line! that's just flippin' awesome. I'm almost 25 weeks, and still in bed at 9ish every night, still up 3 times a night and still tired. Bit concerned as to how I'm going to cope with a bambino when i'm soo tired now and by all accounts from my helpful friends, I'm getting more sleep and rest than I will when he's born. Working certainly takes its toll, but still....

Re. all these birth plans, and birth ideas.....i feel really outta my depth. I'm still reading my 'what's happening every week' in my 5 books i got given. Haven't given too much thought to birth except, I'm a bit scared, I would like to have a natural birth, unsure about the drugs. I watched Ricki Lakes' doco film 'The business of being born' 2 years ago, and it was fascinating but .... still not sure about my capabilities.

Re. the OBs my Northwest OB is Martin D'arcy Evans and he's been great. Didn't make us feel rushed in the first app.ment, was happy with all our questions and said he'd let all his ladies 'give it a go' before intervening.

For the ladies who have written Birth ideas/plans/etc where should i go to read up on pros cons of epidural, and other drug options. Also the episiotomy/tearing debate.... why are some so against getting cut? I am purely asking this as someone who hasn't got to that point of my thought process. ( Not trying to rile anyone up or anything. ) belly rubs to all, xx