*~*~* The Decemberists! *~*~*

[gaiagirl]

I have had some annoying comments about how small I am too, but considering I am still only 22 weeks I figure it is just people being a bit clueless about what I actually should look like! I have a definite pronounced bump, but unless my top is form fitting I do still just look a bit chunky in the mid section...ah well, soon enough

I would LOVE to have the baby at a birth centre, but unfortunately we don't have one in my area. Too much medical red tape I think...stupid policies. It would save our medical system so much money so I don't get why they aren't more on top of it!

For me, going into the hospital just honestly adds more stress and makes me way more nervous. If there is ANY reason that I should be there, I will be of course. But I really do believe that birth is a natural process that doesn't need to be treated as an illness in most cases...so it just feels right to be at home. I also feel like I will be limited at the hospital, as there is no tub really and I don't think I would feel as comfortable moving around and changing positions.

However, the one thing I still need to work out for home is the logistical issues. Where would we set up a tub, who does the set up and cleanup? That kind of details...

My midwives do about 30% of their births at home, so I feel very confident in their ability and experience

Will just still need to wait until closer to the time to see how we feel and make sure there are no risks!

 

[Shh]

Hi ladies!

Gaia, I would have loved a home birth first time, I was mainly discouraged by my Mum, who felt that the nearest hospital was too far away in an emergency (its 45 mins), so I relented. I wouldn't have been able to in the end anyway due to being induced. Have you read the Ina May Gaskin book? I've just finished it, a really worthwhile read, especially if you're thinking home-birth, but I'd recommend it to anyone that errs on the side of being interested in a natural birth.

I can't remember whether I replied to the question about hospital bags. I haven't even begun to think about mine yet! But last time I bought mega-big cheap knickers, I didn't want the disposable ones, the material didn't look like it would be very comfortable! I had proper maternity pads, which the midwives may insist that you use to start with, but I then just used the thickest/heavy flow night-time Always pads, they did the job and I felt much less like I was wearing a nappy!!

Smawfl - The SPD hasn't got too bad yet, just little episodes here and there, so bearable at the moment. My hips are sore though, I can't sleep some nights if I've done to much during the day. Going to go to the chiropractor soon though, she said she'd be able to help me.

As for those of you feeling small/getting comments, don't worry about it unless your midwife does, the fundal height measurement isn't accurate and I think a lot depends on how you're carrying, I know I look very different this time to last, I think smaller, but maybe thats the anterior placenta, which means that the top of my bump doesn't look as pronounced, though I'm sure it will in a few weeks when the baby starts to run out of room. Last time I got loads of comments about how small I was and then suddenly EVERYONE couldn't stop saying how huge I was!

 

[smawfl]

Hi ladies!

Had my 28 week midwife appointment today, all went well!

Measuring 27cm fundal height which is right on the 50th centile. She also said baby is head down which I suspected as my kicks are all high up and I felt hiccups low down on Sunday!

 

[seaweed eater]

Thanks. Yeah, the extra scan is because I'm high risk. Hypertension is a big risk factor for IUGR because it can restrict blood flow through the placenta, so that's the worry.
I just read that a non-anterior position (baby facing forward or sideways) can make the bump look smaller, so maybe that's part of it. It makes sense, b/c if the baby's spine is right in front then that can make that big protruding basketball shape. I am pretty sure mine is not usually anterior; I think he's probably facing sideways. We'll see!!

Speaking of birth preferences, I just had a nice conversation with my mom. I had been dreading talking to her about my desire for a natural labor and birth because I know she and her friends are very open to inductions and wouldn't dream of going without an epidural, and she can be a little judgmental of people's preferences. She brought it up last week and I answered her honestly and tried to explain what my reasoning is and some of the risks that are associated with different kinds of interventions. At the time she was quite dismissive and negative. But she brought it up again today and was really lovely and supportive -- said she'd done some reading about it and could understand where I was coming from, and even suggested that I could talk to a daughter of a friend of hers who's a midwife if I'm interested in switching to midwife-led care or having a homebirth.

I was very impressed with her open-mindedness! And, I've never thought of lying to anyone about my preferences but I definitely have tried to avoid the topic whenever possible, but the fact that I was able to communicate my point of view made me hopeful about future conversations I might have with other people who have never even thought about natural birth. (Of course, my husband was a bit skeptical at first too and he has come around, but I had better expectations about him.)

 

[seaweed eater]

Smawfl: HOORAY! Glad all is well and baby is definitely head down! Hope he/she stays there!!

 

[smawfl]

Thanks Seaweed..! While midwife was listening to the heartbeat, she asked whether we had a feeling of whether it was a boy or girl and I said we both thought girl. She replied saying it sounded a lot like a girl heartbeat!

 

[Pusscat]

Smawfl - excellent news about your good little baby! Your midwife sounds lovely - a girl heartbeat Glad your bump size has been confirmed as normal too!

Seaweed - that sounds like a really good conversation you had with your mum. Just goes to show you can't assume people's opinions, sometimes they're not as stuck in their ways as you might think! It must be a relief to know you can be honest with her now and she'll be able to support you

Gaia - I think you're very brave if you have a home birth with your first. I can see all the advantages of a home birth and think I'd be more likely to go for it with a second baby, but think I'd worry too much about something going wrong. More so than I'd worry about the restrictions of being in hospital. I know I'll worry about something!

Just been for my midwife appointment. My blood results have shown a potential problem. My platelet count is slightly low so she took more blood to see if it has dropped any lower or stayed the same, or hopefully gone back up. If they've gone lower I'll have to go and see a haematology midwife at the hospital and it could mean complications with the birth. But if it's still borderline I might not have to go. But it's looking a bit shaky for the Birth Centre plan, they wouldn't let me go there with low platelets. Not too worried at the moment, just going to wait for the results which will be next Wednesday. Once I know those I think things will be clearer.

Other news is that she thinks baby is probably head down as there's no evidence of a head up the top of my tummy. But the mw agreed that she's very low in my pelvis, which is why it feels like she's poking my ovaries most of the time. And I measured 29 cm, which I'm very happy with!

 

[seaweed eater]

I'm sorry about your blood results, Pusscat what would it mean in terms of complications? I just read a few links on it and it sounds like in most cases it's nothing to worry about...unless it's part of HELLP, but it doesn't sound like you have any other reason to suspect that. (Your BP and urine are fine, right?) I'm surprised by the number of risk restrictions in birthing centers...I mean of course it's for good reason, but so many women seem to have one issue or another, I wonder what proportion are really perfectly healthy enough not to risk out!

Please keep us posted

 

[Pusscat]

I'm sorry about your blood results, Pusscat what would it mean in terms of complications? I just read a few links on it and it sounds like in most cases it's nothing to worry about...unless it's part of HELLP, but it doesn't sound like you have any other reason to suspect that. (Your BP and urine are fine, right?) I'm surprised by the number of risk restrictions in birthing centers...I mean of course it's for good reason, but so many women seem to have one issue or another, I wonder what proportion are really perfectly healthy enough not to risk out!

Please keep us posted

Thanks Seaweed . She didn't really go into what it would mean for the birth as I don't think she wanted to worry me unnecessarily as it was just border-line. But she did say something about it affecting if I could have an epidural, which I don't want anyway, so that's not really an issue for me. And if I was at a birth centre I wouldn't be able to have an epidural anyway, so it would be ridiculous if I wasn't allowed to go there because of that! Looking around on the internet, it looks like there's a bit more of a risk of heavy bleeding and them not being able to stop it. But I think the platelet level would have to be very low for that to be an actual risk. Blood pressure, urine, iron level all fine. My iron level is really good in fact, and mw said low platelets usually go hand in hand with low iron. So my body isn't conforming to that pattern!

 

[smawfl]

Seaweed - glad the chat with your mum went ok!

Pussycat - sorry about your results, hope the re test is ok. Was it a routine bloodtest? I had my bloods taken yesterday but from what I understood it was to check for iron levels and antibodies?

 

[Pusscat]

Seaweed - glad the chat with your mum went ok!

Pussycat - sorry about your results, hope the re test is ok. Was it a routine bloodtest? I had my bloods taken yesterday but from what I understood it was to check for iron levels and antibodies?

It was just a routine blood test that I had done at 28 weeks so I expect they'll test your platelets as well

 

[smawfl]

Thanks Pussycat.

Baby is REALLY wriggling tonight.. I think I'm feeling some kicks in ovaries too

 

[smawfl]

Does anyone else feel like labour and birth is just around the corner and will be here before we know it?!

I've been buying stuff in preparation, but I just think that I've still got a lot to do and get ready before Baby arrives! Eeek.

So excited for my 4D scan on Saturday!

 

[seaweed eater]

I do now, after dreaming about premature labor last night we didn't have a bag packed or the birth plan printed, and we couldn't find the doula's phone number...it was a good reminder to get organized!

Can't wait to see your pictures, smawfl

 

[smawfl]

Dreams are so frightening at times!! Happy 30 weeks Seaweed!!!

I can't wait till I'm in the 30's... just seems like a big milestone!! Only one week and a couple of days though!!

 

[seaweed eater]

It was ok...mostly I felt relieved that (in my dream) it didn't hurt that much. Hope it's like that in real life too, but I doubt it

You are very close to 30 weeks!! I just like being able to say it because it sounds much farther along somehow than 29

 

[smawfl]

I know what you mean, it's all psychological

Is anyone thinking of using a TENS machine?

 

[Pusscat]

Smawfl - WOO , scan day tomorrow! I'm really excited for you! It really does feel like I'm nearing the end now. Just one more week of school left and then I'll just be in full baby preparation mode for the remaining 8 weeks!! I'm going to look into TENS machines after I finish work. If they're not too much to rent I'm thinking it'll be worth having just to try out.

Seaweed - WOO, congratulations on your 30 weeks milestone You'll be there before you know it Smawfl!

 

[seaweed eater]

Had our first growth scan today, everything looks good! Baby is just a little smaller than average, head down, positioned just where I thought he was.
Smawfl, I hope yours is more cooperative tomorrow than mine was today...they usually do 3D but didn't even bother with it today since he had both hands over his face (seems to be a favorite position of his!). Granted they didn't try super hard, and that wasn't the point of the scan. But I was surprised at how much harder it was to see everything than at 20 weeks...it really is getting crowded in there!

Hope everyone's feeling well today

 

[smawfl]

Scan day today! Woke up way too early! Had another dream about our baby and it was a boy this time!

Glad your scan went well Seaweed x