[Nee]

New thread time.

Link to last thread.

[Leha]

Hi Girls

Just thought I'd pop in and update everyone on how things are going. Has been a hell of a week as DD has been really sick since Thursday and I probably only had a few hours sleep in total for about 3 nights. Anyway had my meeting with the maternity manager and unfortunaley wont be able to take my own birth pool in which is a bummer. Showed her my birth plan and seems ok with everything else (no continuous monitoring, no cannula etc). Think I will aim to stay home as long as possible and try and get there with hopefully only a few hours to go. Have requested GBS at 39 weeks instead of 37 and am probably going to try the tea tree oil or garlic thing that one of the other posters mentioned.

Baby is still head down and hopefully wont turn now. yay!!! Had my obs appointment and he seemed very confident that I had a good chance and very positive so was happy with that. I am starting to feel I have a real shot at this. Will start using my epi-no this week. Cant wait for that (not!!!). Now I just have to practice my breathing and work on positioning and I will be ready.

Also Melissa F and I are going to try and meet up next Monday. If anyone from Sydney wishes to join us let me know.

Cheers
Leah

[Belly82]

i will join this group soon....well techinically i can BUT as its early days i want to make sure its sticks sooooo i will lurk and stalk a little while longer till i get my dating scan done in 2 weeks to confirm and see bubs hearbeat etc....

im hoping to achieve a VBA2C....

This post has been edited by Belly82: 11/07/2010, 06:11 PM

[JennAN]

Hope your little girl gets better soon Leha. Being pregnant is tiring enough without being up all night with a sick child.

Thought I'd give an update too. I had an appointment with the ob today. I am 37 weeks on Wednesday so it is getting close. All things are looking good for the VBAC, so it is just a matter of waiting to go into labour now and seeing how it goes. Hopefully I won't go too far over due (if at all) as the baby is measuring on the larger side.

I'm starting to get pretty anxious and am having some pretty strange/scary dreams about being in labour.

Anyway, we will see what happens. Hope everyone else is doing well.

[ackel]

Hi all, I thought I would introduce myself and join this group. I am 21 weeks and really hoping for a VBAC... My ob is really supportive and low interventionalist so lets hope my body can do it.

Last labour - spont @ 40+9, baby never engaged... waters broke at 4cm, fully dilated 6 hours later, never got that pushy feeling like I hear you get, baby still to high to vacuum out so c-section. I did have a epidural which I am going to try and avoid this time for a more active birth... I think I need that to birth this baby vaginally. Hopefully babys head was in a funny position, she wasnt posterior though.

So is anyone heard of things we can do to help birth vaginally? I am keeping fit (walking daily with the dog and toddler), seeing chiro, will head off to see acupunturist at about 30 weeks, looking into calm/hypno birthing (which is the Aust version?), will be bouncing on my fit ball in the last trimester. I took rasperberry leaf last time from 36 weeks, is anyone else doing the same? What do you all know about sage oil and evening primrose?

Goodluck to you all who wish to birth vaginally, I hope we all succeed... I know this time if I dint I will be really disappointed so need to make sure I have researched all I can so if it soesnt happen at least I have tried.

Will be thinking of you JennAn over the next few weeks

This post has been edited by beingmumisgreat: 13/07/2010, 05:10 PM

[SpiltMilk]

Hi everyone,

It was great meeting up with you, Leah!

JennAN - Do you listen to any pregnancy relaxation CDs? I'm sorry to hear you're experiencing anxiety about labour. I've popped a link in to Julie Clarke's CDs, which I've been listening to nearly every night. In particular, CD #2 and CD#3. Very positive, relaxing, helpful for getting back to sleep if you are awake in the middle of the night.

beingmumisgreat - calmbirth is the Australian version. Either is very helpful, but if I had a choice I would do calmbirth. It's newer, and I think more real than some of the hypnobirthing course material.

Welcome belly82!

I'm getting closer to my due date now. 34 weeks today! Hooray! Only 3 more weeks until I am okay to have a waterbirth in the birth centre (i.e. you must be 37 weeks). I'm in a bit of a hurry. My belly is so uncomfortable!

[Akeyo]

Hi everyone,

Gee it's been a bit quiet in here lately! I've been a bit MIA myself as DS (19mths) has fallen into a terrible sleep hole the past 8-9 weeks and it's taken a huge toll on me as the ONLY person he will allow to settle him day or night. But I do think we may be turning a corner at long last.

Leah - Sorry to hear about your sick little one and I empathise with the lack of sleep. It’s a killer when you’re this pregnant isn’t it? That’s a shame about not being able to take your birth pool in too. I suppose at least this way you can have it set up and, more importantly filled up, in plenty of time for you to get the most out of it at home. It’s great that bubs is head down and that you are feeling so strong and positive. I’ll be interested to know how you go with the Epi-No. Are you doing it as part of that trial?

Belly82 - Welcome. Have you had your dating scan yet? Hope everything is going well.

JennAN - Wow, you are close! I can understand some nerves might be setting in and those full on pregnancy dreams don’t help sometimes. Just remember all the preparation and work you’ve put in towards this labour and birth and that each one is different. I second Melissa’s suggestion about listening to relaxation CDs. I have a birth affirmation one by Marie Mongan (Hypnobirthing) that really helps to calm me down. I’ll be for news...

beingmumisgreat - Sounds like you’re doing all the right things. I definitely recommend doing either the Calmbirth or Hypnobirthing course. DP and I did the latter and got SO much out of it. It really helped alleviate a lot of anxiety I had from DS’ birth and gave us fantastic tools to use in labour. Are you reading any books on natural childbirth?

Melissa F - You’re getting pretty close too, can’t wait to hear some baby news! You've just reminded me that I need t have a chat to the MWs at my next appt about a possible waterbirth. I'm not sure if it depends on whether the MW on duty is accredited or not. I don't know yet if I will feel like birthing in water on the day but everything I have read and watched (LOTS of waterbirths on youtube!) makes it seem like such an amazing way to bring your baby into the world.

AFM: I’m 34 weeks now and my preparations have definitely kicked into a higher gear. I have been devouring everything I can get my hands on with regards to books, articles, videos, forum threads etc, to try and better prepare myself. I’ve been taking copious notes, with ideas for birth posters and affirmation cards and birth positions. Occasionally panic kicks in a little because I get the fear that there is something I’ve missed, something so obvious and huge and it’s going to affect my labour and birth terribly. Which just sends me into a whirl of yet more reading and researching! Just baggage from DS’ birth I guess. Just as well I’ve been listening to my relaxation CDs every day to balance myself out a bit!

DP and I really need to sit down and talk about things a bit more. It’s been a bit crazy because he has just started a new and pretty exciting job as well facing some big freelance writing deadlines so he has been working like a madman around the clock and I’ve been trying to support him as much as I can as well as battling it out with DS every night. I’m feeling a bit ragged to tell the truth.

Hopefully things will start to calm down a little and I will be able to focus a bit more on the baby and how we can prepare ourselves for it as a team.

I had my first acupuncture session at about 31 weeks which was so lovely and relaxing. The acupuncturist has decided to treat me weekly from 36 weeks though as everything seems to be going well otherwise so I’ll be heading back in 2 weeks.

Bubs is also head down, has been for several weeks now, and favours the left side just like DS. So far so good!

[SpiltMilk]

Hi everyone!

Wondering whether Leah has had her baby yet. I am pretty sure she was next, and weeks ahead of me. I'm 36 weeks today!

missemm - I bet I've already said this, but water birth is awesome. I believe you can labour in the water without a water birth qualified midwife, but can only birth in the water if there is a qualified water birth midwife available. It's a shame to have to get out of the bath, but better than no water at all! It is so relaxing if you get in at the right time. (As in, not in early labour, but in established labour).

That's great news that your baby is head down and on the left. Mine still seems to have enough room to swivel around from left to right. It is painful when she does that though (her head grinds against my pelvis, or at least, that's what it feels like).

[Akeyo]

Yes Leah, you must be 39 weeks at least by now? Any news?? Will be

I have just bought a VBAC Preparation CD Set online - as recommended by a VBACer in the Active Birth thread. It has a fear release meditation on one CD, similar to HypnoBirthing, and a Birth Preparation meditation on the other. The Birth Prep is a guided meditation through the labour and birth in really good detail. I have just started listening to it and definitely recommend it. The voice is soft and English which makes a nice change from the American hypnobirthing CD I'm listening to.

I got it from Natal Hypnotherapy in case anyone is interested.

36 weeks, how exciting Melissa! Do you know it's a girl or is that a hunch? Hope she settles down on the left. DS did a few switcheroos from left to right and it is more and more painful at this stage isn't it? (ETA: Oooh just realised I called bubs DS! Perhaps it's another boy in there after all!)

I agree with you about the water - I am definitely keen to at least labour in water, if not give birth. I can imagine how much it would help to keep me relaxed and calm.

I had a MW appt earlier this week and I asked to stick my head into one of the birthing suites as a refresher. Just walking into that homely space felt so good! So different to the delivery ward where I laboured last time. It was good to remind myself of what I am working towards. Bubs has even started to engage (just 4/5) which surprised me. DS didn't begin to move down till at least 38 weeks. Hopefully that is a good omen!

This post has been edited by missemm: 29/07/2010, 09:33 AM

[Leha]

Hi Girls

Still pregnant unfortunatley. Im 38.5 weeks now and really wanting this baby to come out. Had my first accupuncture induction session on Wednesday to start ripening my cervix but nothing as yet. In the last week 3 of my friends have had their babies so you can imagine Im pretty keen. I feel like I have at least a week to go but you never know. Important thing is I have finally shaken this cold and flu and am excited and ready to go into labour and have a good birth.

Melissa F, you are almost at your target of 37 weeks which will allow you into the birth centre. Hope bubs continues to stay put for a few more days.

Missemm - how far are you now? Congrats on bub starting to engage. My bub has dropped as well but not sure if engaged. At my 37 week appointment I had a trainee midwife so she wasnt sure if bub was engaged but was definitely still head down.

Anyway wishing everyone well and here's hoping I go into labout over the weekend.

Leah