***(61) 2015 November Sparklers***

[Mimzy3]

Appointment for me today! Nothing exciting - bump measures at 35cms, and baby heartbeat was like 145. Only gained about 1 pound since 2 weeks ago too, so I'm happy with that!

My next appointment is 36 weeks, October 7 ... and they start checking my cervix at that one! Then I go in every week. OMG... the end is near! DYING to see what/if I'm dilated at all at 36 weeks. With Parker, my cervix was so high at 36 weeks that he couldn't even touch it, then at 37 weeks I was dilated to a 4, where I stayed until 39 weeks when I went up to a 5. Is each labor radically different from the one before, or can I expect latent labor for a month again this time??

How long was your labor? Your contractions didn't start till you were already 5cm dilated?! Thats considered active labor already. It took me over 14 hours of intense contractions coming less than five mins apart...till I even reached 4 1/2 cm then the second half of labor from then to fully dilated was only 2 hours.

I think they say all labors are different just like all pregnancies are. But I've also heard that it gets easier and fast the second, third time around.

 

[aley28]

Mimzy, I actually ended up being induced last time, at 40+3!
I was 4cms from 37 to 39 weeks, then 5cms from 39 weeks to when they started me on the pitocin. I was induced because he had a heart arrhythmia and I decided it was better to have him out rather than wait for natural labor to start. He was born 7 hours after the pitocin drip was started.

But from 36 weeks on with him (maybe 35 weeks? can't recall for sure), I had contractions every evening. They'd start around 6p when I was cooking dinner, and then I'd get them for longer and longer every evening. But they all felt like Braxton Hicks. At like 38 weeks, I started timing them ... I'd get them for like 2 hours every night, and then they'd just stop - and walking, squats, nipple stimulation, etc never really made them stronger/closer together.

When I went to the hospital that morning to be induced, the nurse didn't believe me when I said I was dilated to a 5. Then she checked me, and I was dilated to a 5, and I was definitely not in active labor.

I only know of one other person this has happened to -- with her 3rd baby, she was in latent labor for ages, and she dilated all the way to an 7 before she went into active labor. If it hadn't happened to me, I wouldn't believe it could happen at all.

I just wish I knew if I can count on it happening again, or if this baby is going to be way different! I also had no pain with Parker until 7cms, and at most those were "groan worthy", but not really "I have to concentrate on breathing" type. Waters went at 9cms with him, and THEN it hurt! (Probably because I then panicked lol)

I am really, REALLY excited for labor and I have been since my BFP excitement wore off. And I mean I'm excited for the actual labor, not just the joy that comes in seeing your baby after. My biggest fear is that I'll go into labor at home and not realize it until the baby is crowning or something, that's how pain-free my labor was last time.

 

[lomelindi17]

Aley I am super excited for the actual labor too, really looking forward to the experience lol! Bet not many people say that!!

 

[Mrs_Bump]

This time I have no expectations about labour. I did last time and after it all went wrong I felt guilty. Even though they were telling me it was a medically recommended epidural and it worked medically there is still a part of me that feels guilty. So this time my only plan is to avoid gas and air and hope that sorts out what went wrong last time. That and insist they let me drink.

 

[Mimzy3]

Aley that is nuts! But you're so very lucky that you basically had a pain free labor. Mine was painful that's for sure...all 16 hours with no drugs!! And I tend to have a very high pain tolerance. But it was ALL back labor.
I'm not looking forward to it again. First time around I was very excited this time not so much. A part of me is excited because I think I'll be a little more prepared this time around and maybe it won't take as long and maybe I'll get the water birth I was planning for last time. But then I think about how painful it was and how the whole time I was just hoping it would be over with soon. I'm hoping I don't have back labor this time but I'm not sure if that is something some women just experience with all their labors or not

MrsBump I understand the disappointment you felt. I got my natural birth but there was A LOT of things that didn't go as I had hoped. I wanted a water birth, I didn't want to give birth on my back, I had an episiotomy, ect I for sure felt disappointed on how my labor turned out at first. So like you this time around I'm trying to not have such high expectations. They say your birth plan is just a plan and to not expect it to go exactly as you 'planned' and I've definitely learned that, that is true.

 

[Mrs_Bump]

The only thing that gives me hope is the anaesthetist I had to see read my notes and said she doubted I would have the same experience as it seemed the problems were caused by severe dehydration which was caused by gas and air making me vomit profusely and poor advice not to drink.

 

[aley28]

LomeLindi, I get it - I totally do!! I was excited for the experience of it the first time around, now I'm excited to experience it again. Also, I'm excited that labor = the end of pregnancy and I am SO over pregnancy.

MrsBump - they refused you water?!? OMG. I'm packing snacks in my hospital bag this time, in case of another induction as they won't let you eat anything during labor. They let me have stuff to drink last time, but maybe I should pack a water bottle too.

Mimzy, I've been lucky not to experience back labor. I thought back labor was caused by baby being back-to-back (or "sunny side up" )?? I have no idea if that's true. I hear back labor is the worst though

 

[Mrs_Bump]

I was allowed one sip of water every half hour for 23 hours during which time I was being so sick. Basically all my muscles seized up.

 

[Twag]

I am looking forward to labour again also so odd ha ha
I have back labour too but not back to back baby but all my af pains used to always be in my back too

 

[Twag]

My 34 week appointment bump was measuring 32 weeks :-\ heartbeat was all good 😊
Next appointment 36 weeks on 6 Oct 👍 but stays every 2 weeks then until baby arrives and they do not check you until you are overdue boo

 

[Smile181c]

I'm still not on fortnightly appointments until 34 weeks boo! But that's only from next week so not toooo long to wait.

I'm looking forward to labour if only because it means I won't be pregnant anymore I'm so ready to have it over and done with now!

 

[Twag]

Just realised only have possibly 3 more midwife appointments left

 

[Mrs_Bump]

My midwife appts are 36, 38 & 41. Really makes me anxious as I'm starting to fear going overdue. If I get to 40 weeks I ideally want a rescan to check the placenta and then induction at 41 if I get that far. I'm so scared of a repeat of last time plus with that 3 week gap when do I get a sweep?

 

[Smile181c]

I have one at 34, then consultant at 36, midwife at 37/38 (they'll decide depending on what consultant says) then 40 I think

 

[Twag]

Yes Mrs Bump just checked mine and it is 36, 38, 41!!! but I think I am going to ask for 40 weeks as I want sweeps etc I do not want to be waiting until 41 weeks that is redic!

 

[Mrs_Bump]

Well now I don't even get a 36 week appt so fat chance of me getting an extra one at 40 weeks. My midwife is like stone she doesn't even try and sympathise with me. Had a high blood pressure reading and trace of protein but then had a normal one 10 minutes later. She wants me to go in for a recheck on Sunday but I'm freaking out after what happened last time, but she didn't seem to care. Normally I just accept how shit the antenatal care is here but today I'm really hacked off.

 

[Twag]

Really Mrs Bump so when is your next appointment (other than the one Sunday) not until 38 weeks? that is redic!

So sorry your antenatal care is so shocking!! I am really lucky my normal midwife really listens to my concerns and tries to ease my worries!

I hope the high BP and protein trace are nothing to worry about (those are signs of Pre-E aren't they?) what was your BP?

 

[Mrs_Bump]

Apparently she's oversubscribed so can't justify seeing me at 36 weeks. So 16th October will be my next one.
It was 138/90 the first time and then 132/80 just 10 minutes later. The thing is my placenta failed with no symptoms last time so obviously this has worried me. Plus my mum and sister both had preeclampsia and my sister also developed hellp syndrome and the low Papp-a thing is also a risk factor.
Ben was kicking away with a good strong regular heart beat which is wonderful. As I suspected he's popped back out my pelvis again and swung to the right side. Trying to concentrate on that and look up ways to get him to the left again.

 

[Twag]

That is high I would have thought at this stage and with your history and family history they would take it more seriously!! Can you go to antenatal ward and get them to check you out?

Oversubscribed that is awful!!!

Glad Ben was kicking about nicely and had a good strong HB bummer he has moved back on that ball?

 

[aley28]

MrsBump, it seems like a shit excuse for not seeing you, seeings as you are concerned (for good reason!) and at this point you really ought to be seen more often anyway?!?! I guess the best you can do is go to the hospital any time any tiny little thing concerns you, maybe then they will take you more seriously?

I hope Ben doesn't give you any scares and you go into natural labor right at full term so that you can get him out safe where you can snuggle him