June '14 L&D Questions Thread

nunzchucks

ktcort13 said:

How long did you need to use the padsicles and dermoplast and all that? How long until it felt "normal" again?

@ktcort13 About 2 weeks for me. For reference, i had a 2nd degree tear.

PressLove

I've been looking for alcohol free witch hazel.  Any suggestions?  It's roughly $10 on Amazon.  Is that a good price?

MrsRahl

Does a lot of pain from the baby's movement in the lower pelvis indicate any kind of soon coming labor?  It's been SO painful lately, like jabs to my ovaries and clitoris, etc. and sometimes makes me yell out loud lol. Or do I really have over 3 more weeks of this? 

ElTrain5

Question:

For those of you who have had a slow break/leakage of your water....how much comes out? Like, can it hypothetically just kind of leak out drop by drop really slowly? Or would you definitely have enough to soak a pantyliner pretty fast?

flojo973

ElTrain5 said:

Question:

For those of you who have had a slow break/leakage of your water....how much comes out? Like, can it hypothetically just kind of leak out drop by drop really slowly? Or would you definitely have enough to soak a pantyliner pretty fast?

I am sooooo paranoid about this!  Would love to hear some answers.  

nunzchucks

ElTrain5 said:

Question:

For those of you who have had a slow break/leakage of your water....how much comes out? Like, can it hypothetically just kind of leak out drop by drop really slowly? Or would you definitely have enough to soak a pantyliner pretty fast?

I had a pretty slow leak. It felt like I was peeing, but I couldn't stop the flow just by squeezing my muscles. For the hour it took us to get it together and go to the hospital, I didn't even soak a maxi. By the time I got to the hospital and checked in tho, it was coming in a small flow with each contraction.

rastrau

nutmegs8 said:

PressLove said:

I've been looking for alcohol free witch hazel.  Any suggestions?  It's roughly $10 on Amazon.  Is that a good price?

I'm so glad I didn't make padsicles yet.  I just looked and the witch hazel I bought has 14% alcohol in it. My lady bits would have been screaming!

I bought this witch hazel from Amazon for just under $10 - it claims to be alcohol free. I worried that it might not be right because it says "toner" but the description of its uses are the same as the non-toner ones.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PP15L8/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

RaeJ004

ElTrain5 said:

Question:

For those of you who have had a slow break/leakage of your water....how much comes out? Like, can it hypothetically just kind of leak out drop by drop really slowly? Or would you definitely have enough to soak a pantyliner pretty fast?

My initial little trickle was when I was stepping out of my house onto my porch.  It went through my pants but there wasn't much there.  I didn't go to the hospital for another 4-5 hours after that and I probably would have only soaked one pad in that whole time.  It was mostly when I would move or jerk suddenly, go up or down a couple stairs, stuff like that.  Her little head was wedged in there just perfect so she wasn't letting any out. 

lest12

rastrau said:

nutmegs8 said:

PressLove said:

I've been looking for alcohol free witch hazel.  Any suggestions?  It's roughly $10 on Amazon.  Is that a good price?

I'm so glad I didn't make padsicles yet.  I just looked and the witch hazel I bought has 14% alcohol in it. My lady bits would have been screaming!

I bought this witch hazel from Amazon for just under $10 - it claims to be alcohol free. I worried that it might not be right because it says "toner" but the description of its uses are the same as the non-toner ones.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PP15L8/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This was the only brand I found to be alcohol-free, but I was concerned because they all seemed to have scents, or aloe. Is that ok?

nunzchucks

@KrystaJ‌ It was pretty constant. For me, the watery discharge happens once and then won't happen again for a few hours. This was like every time I stood up.

MrsRahl

@StrawberryDreams219‌ sorry if i came off as a SS. FTM here and just havent heard friends or family ever describe the kinds of pains I felt from baby movement like kicks and punches to organs lol. Ive been warned of pain from pressure of them descending, but I was not expecting pain from movement. Edit to add i also am not sure what pain to identify as beginning of labor or if it is just movement because sometimes the pains last a minute or so then stop, then maybe a few minutes later start, then stop. I just dont know what is what.

lest12

This could probably go in the symptom thread, but are you guys feeling extreme stomach hardening? I'm assuming these are contractions or practice contractions or BH of some sort. .. but man does it hurt! And they're weird... both sides harden, but LO hangs out on the right side and its so much worse there.

Sorry, kind of a SS. I really just want someone to say "Me too! Drink some water and put your feet up!" Its been a few days since I've heard that lol.

katekat8721

@lest12 me too mine just started a few days ago. Drink water and put your feet up and eat ice cream. I added in the ice cream because ya know, why not!

lest12

@katekat8721 - great minds! Dh is actually making me a root beer float right now!

elsa1688

@lest12‌ @katekat8721‌ me three

temursgirl

@MrsRahl‌ I have the same thing. My doctor tells me that my baby cannot, in fact, head butt her way out. She frequently gets me in an organ and sometimes when I stand up I feel incredible pressure to the pelvis. Hopefully I have several weeks of this left because I'm not ready! @lest12‌ BH feel exactly like that to me. Water and rest both really help.

mercy0606

rastrau said:

I've heard a lot of good things about using various essential oils throughout the L&D process. I know Lavender is popular along with citrus scents, but also Basil and Clary Sage. Does anyone have any good/bad experiences with these during L&D?

Further - anyone have recommendations for where to buy these? I've been browsing Amazon, but there are just SO many options and there is a crazy range of prices.

I bought my lavendar oil at Wegman's!

babygabe614

lest12 said:

nutmegs8 said:

PressLove said:

SNIPSNIP

This was the only brand I found to be alcohol-free, but I was concerned because they all seemed to have scents, or aloe. Is that ok?

@lest12 I found this one (same brand) that is unscented: https://www.amazon.com/Thayer-Unscented-Witch-Hazel-Fluid/dp/B001DJDP7C/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1400768637&sr=1-1&keywords=alcohol+free+witch+hazel

rastrau

lest12 said:

nutmegs8 said:

PressLove said:

I've been looking for alcohol free witch hazel.  Any suggestions?  It's roughly $10 on Amazon.  Is that a good price?

I'm so glad I didn't make padsicles yet.  I just looked and the witch hazel I bought has 14% alcohol in it. My lady bits would have been screaming!

I bought this witch hazel from Amazon for just under $10 - it claims to be alcohol free. I worried that it might not be right because it says "toner" but the description of its uses are the same as the non-toner ones.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PP15L8/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This was the only brand I found to be alcohol-free, but I was concerned because they all seemed to have scents, or aloe. Is that ok?

When I googled how to actually make them last night, the DIY blog that a lot of people referenced was using the same brand, but the rose petal scent. I stuck with lavender.

lest12

Thanks @babygabe614 & @rastrau!  I ordered the aloe one!

 

Mia081081

wareagle1220 said:

I don't think this has been brought up, but I'm not sure.  During our childbirth class over the weekend, the L&D nurse that taught it said that sometimes, having an enema before childbirth helps things move along a little quicker.  Especially if you've had problems with constipation.  She said they could either do one at the hospital, or you could do one at home.

Has anyone else heard this?  Done this?  I thought I had heard at one point that having an enema before wasn't recommended, but I can't remember where I heard that.

Isn't this something they did in the 1950's? I'm pretty sure this is passe. I'd also rather hit up Taco Bell for a more natural enema.

diagonalley

mrsgerman said:

wareagle1220 said:

I don't think this has been brought up, but I'm not sure.  During our childbirth class over the weekend, the L&D nurse that taught it said that sometimes, having an enema before childbirth helps things move along a little quicker.  Especially if you've had problems with constipation.  She said they could either do one at the hospital, or you could do one at home.

Has anyone else heard this?  Done this?  I thought I had heard at one point that having an enema before wasn't recommended, but I can't remember where I heard that.

I have not heard about doing this or done it but a lot of the sites I have read that list symptoms or early labor state that typically a lot of women have really loose stools or diarrhea a day or 2 before labor starts and that often our bodies do their own clense. 
At the beginning of my labor my body definitely did it's own cleanse. I thought I had a stomach bug at first.

temursgirl

wareagle1220 said:

I don't think this has been brought up, but I'm not sure.  During our childbirth class over the weekend, the L&D nurse that taught it said that sometimes, having an enema before childbirth helps things move along a little quicker.  Especially if you've had problems with constipation.  She said they could either do one at the hospital, or you could do one at home.

Has anyone else heard this?  Done this?  I thought I had heard at one point that having an enema before wasn't recommended, but I can't remember where I heard that.

I heard NOT to do that. My doc said people occasionally do it and it leads to diarrhea along with labor and you probably don't want extra diarrhea.

ElTrain5

@wareagle1220 I wouldn't have thought it was necessary, but on our birth center tour a midwife told a story about a woman who they just could not get her baby to drop enough and ended up needing a C-section, and they couldn't understand why baby wouldn't budge...then the OB who did the section remarked that she was EXTREMELY backed up and that may have had something to do with it.  So maybe if you extremely constipated?

whoberry

Speaking of diarrhea, I mentioned to the midwife that I've been having it every day, usually up to 3 times a day. It's seriously become painful to wipe b/c it takes like an entire roll of TP to clean myself. Anyway, she said this could be an increase in prostoglandins which is a sign that I am getting closer to labor. Seems weird because it has been happening for a couple weeks.  Has anyone else heard of this?  I thought maybe it was from eating too many tums b/c I can't think of anything else I eat consistently that's changed in the last couple weeks.

temursgirl

@whoberry‌ tums can aggravate your stomach in that way. When do you take it in relation to food? My doctor recommended taking it 60-90 minutes after eating, rather than right after, and I noticed a big improvement. Diarrhea lasting a couple of weeks sounds very uncomfortable!

CoUnTryBB1

ugabamafans said:

wareagle1220 said:

@eltrain5, that's a good point too. I think that's the point the nurse was trying to make. I guess it will depend on the situation. On a side note, when do they recommend you start taking stool softeners for the after birth BM.

As soon as you have the baby. And if you haven't had one in 2 days, go to the next in line of poo-assisting arsenal. Pain meds can constipate you big time.

I went 4 full days before I was finally able to go...trust me, you do NOT want to wait that long. That was some scary crap.  This time, I'm going straight for the laxative.

Ditto - ASAP

tbmadeamistake

I didn't need a stool softener after birth, but I also didn't take anything stronger than a tylenol and tend to err on the softer side of things when I'm anxious....and having to actually bring a tiny, helpless person home with me made me anxious. 

babygabe614

I have been taking stool softeners daily for the majority of this pregnancy after having major constipation issues in the beginning. Should I be just as scared about the post-birth BM as everyone else, or do you think it might be a more "normal" BM since I am finally - FINALLY - regular after having a daily stool softener routine for about 5 months? Also, do they offer laxatives at the hospital in lieu of the softener, or should I bring my own just in case?

k318

@babygabe614‌ you can ask for one since u aren't supposed to take your own meds I the hospital unless otherwise instructed. I can't see why you wouldn't be able to get one if you ask.

whoberry

@Temurlang1 I take a Tums whenever I get reflux, so no real pattern to it.  Sometimes I get reflux after drinking water or in the middle of the night so I take Tums then.  It makes more sense to me that my tummy trouble would be related to Tums and not a sign of labor.

diagonalley

My after birth bm was not scary at all because of the stool softeners. It also took me 4 days before I went though.

JulieSmiles

I cannot remember this from my cb class. If my water breaks, do I have to go to the hospital right away? Like if I'm having no contractions, can I stay at home a bit so that I'm not limited on food and water?

Mia081081

snuff9861 said:

JulieSmiles said:

I cannot remember this from my cb class. If my water breaks, do I have to go to the hospital right away? Like if I'm having no contractions, can I stay at home a bit so that I'm not limited on food and water?

Youre supposed to head in


Yep but I would drink tons of coconut water or Gatorade and eat something.

ChristineBaker23

Super special snowflake here. My mom did not feel contractions with two of her kids and barely made it to the hospital on time (I nearly made my debut on a sidewalk out side the hospital). I have also heard a few women on here say they didn't realize they were in labor. This is my biggest fear and I just don't want it to happen. Now, I have been having tons of contractions at random intervals and varying intensity for 2 days now and am just assuming I am getting close to labor. I am a STM but did not notice any contractions until true labor last time. I was also only dilated to a 3 when I got to the hospital and didn't get past a 4 till ten minutes before pushing in which time I went 4,7,10 boom! baby! (Kinda freaked the nurses out, I had tried to warn them my family goes fast) This pregnancy is so different I feel like a total newb half the time. Can anyone share their experience with "not knowing" you were labor and maybe some symptoms you might have overlooked initially but looking back you were like oh! ? Sorry if this is the dumbest anxiety ever.

Also, I have said this before on another thread, puppy pads are usually scented to attract the pups to pee on them. I would not recommend having one in your bed or car. Maybe a trash bag with a couple towels on top for the car? Personally, my water was broken when I reached 10cm so I have no idea how much of a mess it will make.

JulieSmiles

Did you notice any change in movement from your baby in the days leading up to labor? 

whoberry

So once the baby's head comes out is it like instant relief?  Or do you still feel a lot of pain as the rest of the body comes out?  Once the whole baby is out do you pretty much stop being in pain?

eta: fixin' my po' gramma

tbmadeamistake

@whoberry, I had an epidural, so that may be different.  The insane pressure stopped when her head was out, the discomfort didn't stop until she was all out.  I would imagine without the epi, most of the pain would be gone when the head came out but still uncomfortable.

diagonalley

whoberry said:

So once the baby's head comes out is it like instant relief?  Or do you still feel a lot of pain as the rest of the body comes out?  Once the whole baby is out do you pretty much stop being in pain?

eta: fixin' my po' gramma

A bit of a relief, but I still had another push to get the rest of his body out. Then it was instant relief. I tore but couldn't even feel it.

ElTrain5

JulieSmiles said:

I cannot remember this from my cb class. If my water breaks, do I have to go to the hospital right away? Like if I'm having no contractions, can I stay at home a bit so that I'm not limited on food and water?

It varies by provider. My sisters water broke At 2am and they had her continue to rest at home and come in around 6am. My midwives said to call them first and they'd let you know when to come in.