"Does anyone else not test early" Refugee Club

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Glad you ladies are loving you're new boobs.. I however am not a fan and wish they would stop getting bigger!

So I found out today at my appointment that in the last 5 weeks I've gained another 9 lbs. The doctor didn't say anything about it until I brought it up but said I look great so not to worry about it. Just seems like a lot to me especially since I have now past my full term weight gains with both my other two

 

[Toms Mummy]

If it makes you feel better more babies, I'm only pleased about my boobs as they've gone from an A cup to a B cup!... I look less like a 14yr old now

I've also put 6lb so far, so I reckon by the time I'm at your stage I'll have prob put on more than you. 9lb sounds good x

 

[Toms Mummy]

Aah, sorry just re-read!.... Still sounds reasonable. How much have you put on all together x

 

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I'm up 19 lbs now. DD1 was 14 lbs total and DD2 was 18 lbs total. I know those aren't normal totals but I think that's making me feel worse about my current amount even though its in the "normal" range. I'm also sure the fact that I've spent most of my time laying around all these months haven't helped anything either.

 

[Noo]

I'm waiting for a weight explosion... I've gained 1lb so far and was pretty peed off about that as I'm overweight as it is! I can feel it on my thighs!

 

[Toms Mummy]

I wouldn't beat yourself up morebabies, as you say you've had to do a lot more resting this time round. Put it down to taking extra care of your baby :thumpup:

 

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Waking up at 4am every day is getting REALLY old...

 

[Mrs. Eddie]

Great bump pics Noo and Tom's! I will have to post a pic eventually. My husband does take one every week so I am debating whether to post one of those or take one where my face is hidden...

I have to LOL about the comments re boobs and bums. My boobs have definitely grown and my DH has really been enjoying them.

Morebabies, I hear you re the early wakeups, on weekdays I am typically up at 5:00 a.m. I actually moved my work hours, since I am up I go and work out and then get ready and head to work. Makes more sense then just laying in bed for an extra hour...I have been lucky though since I am still sleeping through the night!

Also, try not to worry about your weight gain. 19 lbs isn't a lot and it might be that your baby is a bit larger than your other two (boys typically are right)?

I still don't think I've had BH yet. I've experienced a few mild cramps randomly so maybe that's what they are I figured that they were just round ligament pain???

Had a great long weekend here. Lots of gardening, socializing and working clearing out the soon to be nursery. We also got our paint for the nursery too and organized things a bit. Can't wait to officially get started.

We also have our third prenatal class tonight. The topic is pain relief methods and inductions. The more I learn about labour and giving birth, the more I am leaning towards an unmedicated birth. I am not sure if I will be able to go through with it or not (so am not going to put any major expectations on myself or be disappointed if I decide to get an epidural) but I really want to be able to move around as much as possible while labouring and use the whirlpool tub if possible. The more I learn about labour, the more appealing this sounds to me...but obviously I have never gone through labour before so I could be overally optimisitic

 

[Toms Mummy]

Sounds like a productive weekend MrsEddie

I had a completely unmedicated birth last-time. Wasn't expecting it though! Gas n air made me dizzy and out of control so I didn't use it. I actually have a higher pain threshold than I thought! I'm usually a woos and faint at the slightest bit of pain but I think the adreniline kicks in and your body just gets on with it! x

 

[Buttercup2]

Mrs. Eddie, I feel the same way you do. I'd love to be able to go unmedicated for the same reasons--want to move around, maybe stand in the shower, etc. It's hard for me to imagine what labor going to be like, tho... I keep reminding myself there is a reason like 90% of women choose epidurals! Tom's, it's encouraging to hear that you did it. Can you describe what it was like? Does it feel like period cramps? How long did it last? Were you induced or did you go into labor naturally? (stop me if I'm being too nosy!)

 

[Toms Mummy]

No, not being nosy haha! My last one happened naturally about 3 hours after my waters broke. It just started off as period pains at 1st around the front then sort of radiated around the back and got more intense. There was lots of tightenings aswell during a contraction. But they'd only last 30seconds at the most and then subside for a minute. That's the main thing. If the pain was constant then it would be unbarable but because it comes in waves you sort of have time to get over it before the next one comes. When you get to push it's such a relief as you feels a bit like a release when the pain comes..... My labour was short though, only 7 hours in total from contractions starting. I think I could cope with the 1st stage for a lot longer as it's just like a really bad period pain but as it progressed I'm glad the stages went quickly. I couldn't imagine being in the 2nd stage for longer than an hour!

It all depends on how your labour progresses I suppose!.... I did sit in a bath for most of the 2nd stage which helped. Walking around also helped with the progress but I've heard that it's more painful.

I hope I haven't scared you x

 

[Noo]

Mrs. Eddie, I feel the same way you do. I'd love to be able to go unmedicated for the same reasons--want to move around, maybe stand in the shower, etc. It's hard for me to imagine what labor going to be like, tho... I keep reminding myself there is a reason like 90% of women choose epidurals! Tom's, it's encouraging to hear that you did it. Can you describe what it was like? Does it feel like period cramps? How long did it last? Were you induced or did you go into labor naturally? (stop me if I'm being too nosy!)

In the UK only around 25% of women choose epidurals.... They're seen as the absolute last resort once all other avenues have failed. I think that says an awful lot about the difference in attitude towards labour and birth between the professionals in each country! I also had a completely unmedicated birth with DS. I used water, heatpacks and mobilisation for pain management. Just as I felt I needed something a little more I was ready to have him and the Entonox made me sick so I had 3 puffs of that and threw it back at the midwife!

 

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With DD1 I made it 26 hours without an epidural then I gave in and got one and it was amazing after such a long period of time being in pain. I got stuck at 4 cms for almost that entire time. With DD2 I got the epidural after a couple hours not because I couldn't take the pain but I was just hoping for a short labor and thought maybe the epidural would help my body to relax and do its thing. However, the epidural did not work at all so I still felt everything, I still got stuck at 4 cms again and it took 18 hours. With this one I don't know what I'll decide to do. Just going to play it by ear I guess. I won't jump into it like I did with DD2 but I'm not going to rule out possibly getting an epidural. Mostly I'm just hoping for a much short labor time because at 28 and 18 hours its just flat out exhausting so the relief from a working epidural can be very welcoming.

 

[Mrs. Eddie]

Thanks for sharing your birth experiences Ladies!

Noo, I think you are totally right regarding different countries and practitioners attitudes regarding epidurals. The majority of people that I know have had them; its almost considered odd not to have one. However, I also know a couple of people who have done unmedicated births and while their labour might have been more difficult, their recovery was much faster and easier.

Last night in my prenatal class we actually went over all the pain medications available during labour, their benefits and possible side effects and it was honestly frightening. An epidural can have really awful effects on a mother and is now being linked to babies having troubles with breastfeeding as it can affect the sucking reflex. Two of my friends just had babies, one unmedicated, one with an epidural. My friend who had an epidural had a much more difficult time breastfeeding her son, which is interesting (though I know lots of people who have had epidurals and breastfeed with absolutely no problems).

I guess I really want to be an active participant in my labour and let my body do what it knows how to do. I am also hesitant to put unnecessary medications in my body given my past medical history. My Mom and best friend both had epidurals with their first babies and then had their subsequent children without pain meds and they both said that they liked the fact that without meds they were more in control and found it easier to ride out the contractions as they knew they were only temporary and could breathe through them (much like you described Tom's). Our teacher did recommend nitrous oxcide (i.e. laughing gas), as a good tool to use if you need something during the transistion phase of labour...

Anyway, I am not going to commit to anything 100% as I have never been in labour before and don't know how I will handle it. My Mom had extremely long labours with all of us so I have a feeling that I am in for a long haul when D Day comes, I may be begging for an epidural by the end of the whole thing

 

[Buttercup2]

These stories are soo interesting! Thanks for sharing everyone! In the us, as far as I've heard, epidurals are used much more as first line pain control. My Dr didn't even mention any other options when i asked her about it.

My mom is gone now, but i remember her telling me the same thing you ladies are saying about contractions coming and going and getting a break. My sister was induced and she said there was no break in between contractions. She got to 7cm and then got the epidural because it had been 14 hrs and she was exhausted. Here in the us, they are pretty quick to induce if you're more than 10 days late.

 

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Sounds like a great class Mrs. Eddie!

I will add in I was given pitocin with both my labors so that did made the contractions much more painful. With DD1 they gave it once I had been stuck at 4 cms for a while and with DD2 there was a possible pre eclampcia scare so they started me on it as soon as I got there to try and move things along. I'm hoping to not be put on it this time and would really like to see how well my body works on its own.

My mother never dilated at all with any pregnancy and ended up having to have all sections so I am thankful that I am at least about to deliver vaginally.

 

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These stories are soo interesting! Thanks for sharing everyone! In the us, as far as I've heard, epidurals are used much more as first line pain control. My Dr didn't even mention any other options when i asked her about it.

My mom is gone now, but i remember her telling me the same thing you ladies are saying about contractions coming and going and getting a break. My sister was induced and she said there was no break in between contractions. She got to 7cm and then got the epidural because it had been 14 hrs and she was exhausted. Here in the us, they are pretty quick to induce if you're more than 10 days late.

Same here. I've never been offered or told about anything aside from an epidural when it comes to pain meds.

The pitocin can be a real bitch!

 

[Noo]

I think if I was being induced or augmented with syntocinon (Pitocin) I'd be more tempted with an epidural as those contractions are far more intense and unforgiving than a natural labour where your body has had time to build up its own endorphines and you've got used to the build up of the pain. But again - Syntocinon is an absolute last resort for failure to progress during labour (unless induced at 42 weeks) and seems much more freely used in the US than in the UK. It's scary stuff and the increased risks of instrumental delivery and caesarean section with it actually would tempt me to refuse permission for it's use unless there was something wrong with my baby.

 

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I think being older and more informed in general this time around I will be more inclined to speak up about my own personal preferences.

 

[Mrs. Eddie]

Yes, most doctors simply assume that you will want the epidural and don't inform you of alternative measures. Because I have a midwife and the classes I am taking are through their office (taught by a certified instructor, who is also a doula) they tend to lean more towards an unmedicated birth. The only thing the instructor recommended was the nitrous oxcide again because it has only a temporary effect and quickly leaves your system (and as I mentioned she recommended only using it in the tranistion phase of labour as you need to remain in bed while on it so you don't fall over or anything). Again, the other methods were introduced and discussed so we were all aware of the options but it was clear that she really believed that if possible unmedicated was best (she had a hospital/epidural birth with her first and a home birth with her second and enjoyed her home birth experience much more than her hospital stay).

What we also talked about last night was avoiding induction if possible and trying natural methods first to bring on labour. She told us that the reason the number of C-sections has risen so drastically is because doctors now push for inductions so often. Usually labour has not yet started because baby isn't ready to come, (or may not be ready yet as due dates really are just an estimate), which means labour may not begin after less invasive induction methods are used, leading to the use of pitocin, which as some of you mentioned causes strong contractions with no breaks. This often results in a Mom getting an epidural, which means she can no longer be active during labour (bed ridden), which can sometimes lead to a c-section as the mother's labour may not progress. So basically its a vicious cycle. Our midwives will not induce (unless medically necessary), until 42 weeks and as that time draws closer they will start mentioning other methods to try and help jump start labour (i.e. stretch and sweep, evening primrose oil, nipple stimulation, etc).

It is all very interesting really. Our midwives and teacher have also suggested labouring at home for as long as possible as you are most comfortable there, can move around freely and will be more relaxed. Often women's labour slows when they first get to the hospital so the further along that they when they arrive at the hospital the better and will reduce the risk of requiring any medical interventions. In addition, they also suggest going home within hours of delivering your baby (as long as all went well with the birth and the baby is healthy), as again you will be much more comfortable at home, sleep better, etc. Also, as my DH can't stay in the hospital with us overnight, (I only qualify for a semi-private room through insurance), I would prefer to go home if possible.