I am scared of the epidural. How long does it take to be placed? How bad did it hurt? Can you feel it in your back laying down after it's been placed?
I got my epidural at 7 cm and could not tolerate the pain of contractions. Surprisingly contractions hurt more for me than the epidural, it took about 20 seconds and I INSTANTLY felt no pain!!!! It's amazing!!!! And no I couldn't feel it in my back
For any moms who went med-free: Do you have any tips to share or laboring positions that really helped you? I've been reading about using breathing methods to concentrate and get through the pain but I'm worried I'll forget it all in labor. Any tips to share would be appreciated.
So I know I said I got an epidural, but I labored med free for 30 hours to complete dilation and only got my epi when we had complications. I used Hypnobabies, was a complete skeptic. But you have daily practice relaxing your body and removing your mind from your immediate surroundings, and those tools were seriously the bomb during labor. I was comfortable and laughing and joking through transition. Even if you choose not to use birth hypnosis, loads of my friends swear by practicing some form of meditation to prepare for birth. Yoga, prayer, whatever it is where you discipline your mind to clear itself of worry and clutter because....
Do you know about the fear-tension-pain cycle? If not, I highly recommend reading up on it. Here's the simple version: you're afraid of the pain of labor, so your body automatically tenses up in anticipation of the pain, your muscle tension then amplifies your labor pain. As your labor progresses and your contractions intensify, so does your fear of the pain, your muscle tension, and therefore your actual pain level becomes exponential. You want to labor with the least fear and tension. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth gives excellent ways to relax both your mind and body so that your body can do what it was made to do. It's also just a really fantastic book to prepare for birth in general.
I also really loved laboring in the tub. After my complications arose (my little one got caught on my pubic bone for five hours, yikes), the tub was my friend. Warm water and weightlessness were beautiful.
Find someone to perform counterpressure on your hips and tailbone, which wonderful for relieving the huge pressure of contractions.
My favorite laboring positions were on my birth ball in a deep squat, leaned over the bed rocking my hips back and forth. That way I could sleep or just rest in between contractions. I also liked standing up and slow dancing with hubby. My best advice about positioning though is to just listen to your body. Your body will tell you what the best position is for you. If you suspect your baby is malpositioned closer to birth, come back and hit me up for ideas to wiggle baby into the right position.
Oh! I thought of another one! Apparently I have lots of questions
Can we talk about the first post partum poop? I have been told it is horrific. Can I do anything to prepare for it?
Okay, so the first poop wasn't horrible. BUT. But. If you're taking narcotics. If you're also breastfeeding. If you're peeing off gallons of swelling. It's super important to continue taking stool softeners. I'll just leave this info here.... my stitches came undone y'all. My vagina was a freaking nightmare. And I had horrible hemorrhoids from pregnancy and birth that burst because I thought I was cool quitting my stool softeners because I was drinking so much water. Eat the colace. Your vagina and butt will thank you. I have vivid memories of clutching the sink edge and the towel rack with a fussy baby latched onto my boob, beads of sweat rolling off of me, channeling my hypnobabies to see me through. Eat the colace. Your vagina and butt will thank you. I will personally thank you.
Another med free question here. What tips do you have to keep going when you are ready to give up?
Have someone there with you to remind you how strong and capable you are, how close you are to meeting your baby. Birth is a really vulnerable time, especially toward the end. I really needed someone to lean on emotionally, someone who could speak strength back into me. My doula validated that it was hard and felt scary, but she was completely confident that I was gonna make it. Women usually start to feel like they can't go on somewhere close to transition, which is RIGHT at the end. It's usually the hardest and most intimidating right before it's over :-)
I also put in my birth preferences that I'd prefer not be asked about my pain level or to offer me pain relief unless I specifically ask. I also asked not to know how dilated I was unless I specifically asked. That was to protect myself from feeling defeated if I had been laboring hard and not progressing as quickly as I thought I should.
Another great tool to use is to take labor one contraction at a time. Try not to think of the entire mountain you're climbing, think only of the step directly in front of you.
What did you bring to wear? I was thinking a robe and loose clothes for after. But anything else?
Pajamas for the hospital stay and a black maternity dress to go home in. Black so it wouldn't show any bleeding in case my pad leaked (it never did btw), and a dress to hide my diaper-like pad situation.
And thus concludes my novel. You win a cookie if you read it all.
I was lurking on the June board and saw this discussion come up and thought it would be a great one to start here as well!!
So here's how it works: -First time moms ask ANY question you want about child birth! (Ex: "Did you poop yourself while you pushed?" "What's it like to get an epidural?" "What did you wear while in active labour?"etc etc -Veteran moms answer with complete honesty!
The questions I have: 1) did any of you go into preterm labor? Was your labor stopped and you were sent home or did baby come early?
2) did any of you c-section mamas feel like you were pressured into a birth procedure you didn't want?
#2 I didn't want a csection, but DS turned frank breech towards the end of 38weeks. They wouldn't do a version because of the shape of my uterus (it would have been unsafe) and I didn't have time to coax him effectively with other methods before my water broke and I went into labor. It was the safest delivery possible for the circumstance, so it was a clear choice. I know some other situations aren't so cut and dry.
The questions I have: 1) did any of you go into preterm labor? Was your labor stopped and you were sent home or did baby come early?
2) did any of you c-section mamas feel like you were pressured into a birth procedure you didn't want?
I did have a preterm labor. My water broke spontaneously at 33w5d. I didn't go into labor immediately, but of course had to go to the hospital anyway. The doctor said that if I started to go into labor they would not try to stop it, but if not, they would keep me in the hospital for about a week and then induce. Contractions started a few hours later and I delivered my son about 12-14 hours after my water breaking.
@kami09 I am really freaked out about the IV. I have never had one but since everyone is talking about how painful they are, I have completely freaked myself out about it!
It hurts because there's no meat there I kind of forget if everyone needs one? I'm guessing if you go med free, you don't need one. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Unfortunately, most hospital policies require an IV even for med free births. In the very least they require a hep lock (even lots of birthing centers require a hep lock). This is a bummer, I'm planning to deliver med free at a birthing center if all goes well and my birthing center requires a hep lock. At least I can get my fluids by mouth this way. The way I see it, the amount of pain I'll be in, getting poked will be the least of my worries.
Thank you! I was curious about this.
If you're going med-free and don't need to be induced you don't need an IV. You can look for an OB and hospital that don't require it. Most in my area don't require it. I'm delivering at a normal hospital and plan on not having an IV so I can get up and walk around.
@kami09 I am really freaked out about the IV. I have never had one but since everyone is talking about how painful they are, I have completely freaked myself out about it!
It hurts because there's no meat there I kind of forget if everyone needs one? I'm guessing if you go med free, you don't need one. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Unfortunately, most hospital policies require an IV even for med free births. In the very least they require a hep lock (even lots of birthing centers require a hep lock). This is a bummer, I'm planning to deliver med free at a birthing center if all goes well and my birthing center requires a hep lock. At least I can get my fluids by mouth this way. The way I see it, the amount of pain I'll be in, getting poked will be the least of my worries.
Thank you! I was curious about this.
If you're going med-free and don't need to be induced you don't need an IV. You can look for an OB and hospital that don't require it. Most in my area don't require it. I'm delivering at a normal hospital and plan on not having an IV so I can get up and walk around.
This is true unless you test positive for Strep B (they'll test towards the end of the third trimester). In that case, most hospitals administer IV antibiotics when you go into labor. Also, you can still get up and walk around with an IV, it's just not as convenient.
^ I got a hep lock. Even if you plan on no meds at all, it's there just in case things turn south and you need something immeditely. I barely noticed it at all during labor.
For any moms who went med-free: Do you have any tips to share or laboring positions that really helped you? I've been reading about using breathing methods to concentrate and get through the pain but I'm worried I'll forget it all in labor. Any tips to share would be appreciated.
No specific magical positions, but keep moving. I walked around (partially because I was so frustrated with what to do), bent over a ball, and stuff like that. Some people say they loved sitting on the toilet, but I couldn't sit still for the life of me!
I am a FTM but I just wanted to make a quick recommendation to check out the book "Active Birth". It is a little granola and the photos sport awesome 80s hairdos but it also focuses almost entirely on the various birthing positions, why they are effective, and when/how to do them. She talks a lot about the importance of using gravity and how many of the traditional birthing positions actually close your pelvic structure instead of opening it to its max capacity (allowing for an easier and faster labor). I've just finished reading through it once and am going to revisit some of the chapters which I felt really made sense to me. There is also a bit about how partners can be active and helpful during the labor by supporting you (physically) and offering counter-pressure massage.
@kami09 I am really freaked out about the IV. I have never had one but since everyone is talking about how painful they are, I have completely freaked myself out about it!
Mostly, it's awkward to get used to since they tend to run it in the top of the hand/wrist area. Mine didn't hurt going in, but I accidentally yanked it a few times which was unpleasant. You can have them tape it up though to make that less of a problem.
It was sore and annoying, but less so than the malfunctioning blood pressure cuff that turned my whole arm blue. I will say the tape for the IV wouldn't stick to my skin so that was an extra level of annoying.
Re: the private room question: at first I was only thinking about my own privacy concerns but then after having to go to L&D for a scare a couple of months ago and sharing a room with another mom, you definitely should consider all the noise/distraction/visitors/etc. from sharing a space. My "roommate" was crying, moaning, interacting with the nurses, had her husband and mom with her, and it was really distracting and kind of unsettling to hear when I was worrying about my own baby.
What are some ways that husbands/SOs can be helpful during labor?
Light touch massage, rolling a tennis ball around the lower back area (sounds silly but it really helps during contractions), being there to squeeze/lean on, bringing ice chips, holding a vomit bucket (he did this after, but women some vomit during), managing the IV while I was walking around, taking pictures, playing room-bouncer, were all things he did that were great. He also helped me get my wedding rings off and kept them safe since my fingers swelled up when I got my IV. He managed the spotify playlist I had made, and we just talked too.
What are some ways that husbands/SOs can be helpful during labor?
Light touch massage, rolling a tennis ball around the lower back area (sounds silly but it really helps during contractions), being there to squeeze/lean on, bringing ice chips, holding a vomit bucket (he did this after, but women some vomit during), managing the IV while I was walking around, taking pictures, playing room-bouncer, were all things he did that were great. He also helped me get my wedding rings off and kept them safe since my fingers swelled up when I got my IV. He managed the spotify playlist I had made, and we just talked too.
I will be printing this and hanging it on the fridge for DH to study!!
khochanadel #1 - I went in to preterm labor (twins) at 23.2weeks. That wasn't true labor and the contractions slowed down just with a few bags of IV fluids. The OBs told me to rest for 2 days, but then I could go back to work, etc. The contractions came and went, but I felt a little different at 25.2weeks. I went into the office and was 1cm dilated. I was sent to the triage department to get steroids to mature the twins' lungs, just as a precaution, but then I quickly dilated to 3cm, and was admitted. I was given IV magnesium to protect the twins' neurological systems and nifedipine to stop the labor. I was stable at 4cm the next day, and was transferred to the high-risk OB floor, where I was hoping to stay for weeks or months. 2 days later, I progressed to 8cms, got an epidural, and a c-section (malpresentation) a few hrs later. My water didn't break, and we avoided a full-out emergency (babyA in the bed), so we did have a lot to be thankful for. The OBs said they would try to stop the labor, but in the end, the body does what it wants. Please don't hesitate to ask more specific questions about pre-term labor! It is obviously on my mind a lot these days. Please keep in mind that this is a rare complication. But always listen to your body!!
#2 - I don't regret for a minute having a c-section for the twins - they survived! But of course I would have rather had a vaginal delivery (I was already 8cms with my legs crossed!). I also had a vertical uterine incision, due to prematurity, which prevents me from safely laboring during any subsequent pregnancy. It increases my risk of uterine rupture to about 10% - way too high in my book. I want to be around for all 3 kiddos!
Mama to Three Girls: Twins born March 2014 at 26 weeks due to preterm labor and our 37weeker born May 9th, 2016!
The questions I have: 1) did any of you go into preterm labor? Was your labor stopped and you were sent home or did baby come early?
2) did any of you c-section mamas feel like you were pressured into a birth procedure you didn't want?
Never went into preterm labor, but will say I was pressured into a birth procedure I didn't want and did not consent to. I was admitted in total liver and kidney failure from pre e and HELLP at 34wks. I immediately demanded that they get my son out because I knew I was going south. Instead, he got over 16hrs of exposure to morphine and mag sulfate while they ridiculously prepped me for a vaginal delivery. Mind you, I was not in labor, he was not in station, my cervix was clamped tight, and I was having seizures. So I was pressured into a very unnecessary treatment of prepping my poor cervix instead of going right to a CS. The OB at the hospital was furious with my midwife! Take it from me: fight for what you want. I was very adamant about safely delivering my baby no matter what. Instead I let someone else make decisions that were not right for me or my baby.
@LadySamLady I asked a few friends out of curiosity, and only one of them didn't get a private room (asked for one but not available either time she delivered at two different hospitals, NYU and NY Presbyterian). She said it would have been nice but wasn't the end of the world. If it happens, it happens. You have the right mindset not worrying about something that you can't control.
Also to make you feel better about the cost, my friend just told me she paid $1500/night at Lenox Hill. She had a c section and was there 6 nights!
The questions I have: 1) did any of you go into preterm labor? Was your labor stopped and you were sent home or did baby come early?
2) did any of you c-section mamas feel like you were pressured into a birth procedure you didn't want?
Never went into preterm labor, but will say I was pressured into a birth procedure I didn't want and did not consent to. I was admitted in total liver and kidney failure from pre e and HELLP at 34wks. I immediately demanded that they get my son out because I knew I was going south. Instead, he got over 16hrs of exposure to morphine and mag sulfate while they ridiculously prepped me for a vaginal delivery. Mind you, I was not in labor, he was not in station, my cervix was clamped tight, and I was having seizures. So I was pressured into a very unnecessary treatment of prepping my poor cervix instead of going right to a CS. The OB at the hospital was furious with my midwife! Take it from me: fight for what you want. I was very adamant about safely delivering my baby no matter what. Instead I let someone else make decisions that were not right for me or my baby.
That is so appalling. I'm so sorry that happened to you and your DS.
What are some ways that husbands/SOs can be helpful during labor?
Light touch massage, rolling a tennis ball around the lower back area (sounds silly but it really helps during contractions), being there to squeeze/lean on, bringing ice chips, holding a vomit bucket (he did this after, but women some vomit during), managing the IV while I was walking around, taking pictures, playing room-bouncer, were all things he did that were great. He also helped me get my wedding rings off and kept them safe since my fingers swelled up when I got my IV. He managed the spotify playlist I had made, and we just talked too.
I will be printing this and hanging it on the fridge for DH to study!!
Mine did a lot of hand holding and calming me down. (My son came in 4 hours, sounds great but it's a special kind of awful to go from 1+ cm to 10cm in an hour and a half -ouch! Plus the epidural didn't really take).
What are some ways that husbands/SOs can be helpful during labor?
Be as rested as possible! My DH had been up for over 24 hours by the end of the day and he was cranky and not as patient as I needed him to be towards the end of the day. Also, it is a day for him to pick his battles and by picking I mean picking none. I hated the sight of DH when I had contractions, was mad at him that the lady barely pushing me through the hospital wasn't going fast enough, and I was mad at him the nurse kept missing my vein when trying to put in the IV. He was tired and not as tolerant as I would have wanted.
Been married since 2009. Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter) Several MCs DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
Did anyone have to deliver early for medical reasons, before their water broke, without getting a c section? I need to deliver at 38.5 given my risk, but a c section is even riskier so I'm curious how they manage it.
Did anyone have to deliver early for medical reasons, before their water broke, without getting a c section? I need to deliver at 38.5 given my risk, but a c section is even riskier so I'm curious how they manage it.
So you would be induced at 38.5 unless you into labor first? Different OBs and hospitals vary as far as preferred method of induction. It depends if your cervix is soft or long. Some start with cervedil, a medication inserted into vagina to soften cervix. Others insert a catheter with the intention to help you dilate to 3cm. and of course pitocin. Does that help?
As a general rule (but not set in stone), a woman who is 3cm dilated and effaced at the beginning of the induction has a better chance at a "successful" induction than someone who is closed and not effaced at all.
Mama to Three Girls: Twins born March 2014 at 26 weeks due to preterm labor and our 37weeker born May 9th, 2016!
Did anyone have to deliver early for medical reasons, before their water broke, without getting a c section? I need to deliver at 38.5 given my risk, but a c section is even riskier so I'm curious how they manage it.
I had pre-e and was induced at 37 weeks. I didn't end up with a c-section. I came close to getting a c-section, though, because I wasn't tolerating the pitocin well and I wasn't progressing at all.
37 weeks is really early. I would assume an induction at 38.5 *should* go more smoothly. And if the doctors specifically need to avoid a c-section I would think they would do whatever they could for a successful induction!
One thing I'm wondering about is the necessity of a private room. I am delivering at big NYC hospital and while of course the L&D rooms are private, the recovery rooms aren't. They do have private rooms but they're first come first serve and cost an extra $525 per night that is not covered by insurance. I really feel like I do not need a private room and since it can't be guaranteed it feels like something that isn't worth spending too much time thinking about, never mind the cost. My H and family members think I'm crazy, that I will want a private room when the time comes and should be sure to request it the moment we get to the hospital so that we'll be at the top of the list when/if one becomes available. STMs - what do you think?
@LadySamLady I gave birth at St Luke's Roosevelt and had a shared room. I regretted not opting for the private room, despite the cost. Not having DH with me over night was really hard, and my roommates (I had two different women over the course of my stay) were also tough for different reasons; one had way too many visitors - literally they were busting out of the room, and the second was incredibly noisy and would wake me up at all hours. This time around I'm in the suburbs, and all rooms are private, but if I was still in the city, I would get a private room if available, for sure.
What did you bring to wear? I was thinking a robe and loose clothes for after. But anything else?
I brought a couple of t-shirt nightgowns to wear for after everything. It was a great choice because 1. The nurses are constantly checking you to make sure swelling is going down, you are bleeding as needed, healing, etc. And 2. It's one less thing to worry about when you have to pee. Pants are pointless at that stage!
To wear home I brought some loose fitting black yoga pants and a t-shirt. I was all about the comfort (also, I live in a hot climate). Princess Kate I was not! But it was definitely the right choice for me.
ETA: Warm socks! And some cheap slippers (I got mine from IKEA for like $2 that I threw away when leaving the hospital).
The questions I have: 1) did any of you go into preterm labor? Was your labor stopped and you were sent home or did baby come early?
2) did any of you c-section mamas feel like you were pressured into a birth procedure you didn't want?
1) I went into preterm labor at 36 weeks 2 days. There was no stopping it (though they wouldn't have tried at that point) because (I mentioned in a previous post) by the time I was checked at triage they could already see that baby had brown hair! We were very lucky in that he was completely perfect, did not need a NICU stay or anything aside from his little sun lamp for very mild jaundice. I had pretty severe complications, but that was not related to being preterm it was just a freak occurrence caused by my body. We were both released two days later without delay.
What did you bring to wear? I was thinking a robe and loose clothes for after. But anything else?
I brought a couple of t-shirt nightgowns to wear for after everything. It was a great choice because 1. The nurses are constantly checking you to make sure swelling is going down, you are bleeding as needed, healing, etc. And 2. It's one less thing to worry about when you have to pee. Pants are pointless at that stage!
To wear home I brought some loose fitting black yoga pants and a t-shirt. I was all about the comfort (also, I live in a hot climate). Princess Kate I was not! But it was definitely the right choice for me.
ETA: Warm socks! And some cheap slippers (I got mine from IKEA for like $2 that I threw away when leaving the hospital).
My hospital had robes and very warm socks with grippy bottoms. I didn't wear them because it was July when I had my son but still.
I brought a satin pj shirt, the kind with the buttons in the front. I figured it would be nice for breastfeeding. But I didn't take the whole July thing into account and didn't wear it because it was too warm.
Mostly i I just wore the hospital gowns and robes because who cares if you bleed on them. I went home in the clothes I came in wearing (stretchy skirt and tank top)
this may be a question for the high risk board, but has anyone on here gone into labor knowing they were high risk (especially blood loss and heart failure) and requested certain things in the room? I have a ton of people saying they would donate blood in the case I need emergency transfusions- have people planned for that route and if so, what all did they need to do?
this may be a question for the high risk board, but has anyone on here gone into labor knowing they were high risk (especially blood loss and heart failure) and requested certain things in the room? I have a ton of people saying they would donate blood in the case I need emergency transfusions- have people planned for that route and if so, what all did they need to do?
AliciaD39 Have you brought this up with your OB? What did he/she say? Are you at high risk for blood loss or have you hemorrhaged before? What is your Heart situation? Are you going to be delivering in an ICU setting?
I can't answer this question for your hospital, but where I used to work, each laboring (or c-section) patient was graded on their risk to hemorrhage.
(Here's the long-version if you are interested): Not everyone who was High Risk had a hemorrhage, and being Low Risk didn't 100% preclude you, but it was a place to start. For example, my last pregnancy was twins, so I was automatically Moderate risk. This delivery will at least be moderate risk because I am a repeat c-section, with my last c-section being a vertical incision. When you are Moderate or High Risk, 2 samples of your blood are sent to the Blood Bank (upstairs), so that your blood type can be checked and verified ahead of any possible bleed. Then, 2 units of blood are placed on Hold for a set number of hours, in case you need it. Should massive blood loss occur, there is a Massive Transfusion Protocol in place to literally bring a cooler of O Neg RBCs to the operating room, platelets too, if needed. Most OB hemorrhages involved the uterus/cervix area & associated arteries (c-s only), unless there is an underlying clotting disorder.
Mama to Three Girls: Twins born March 2014 at 26 weeks due to preterm labor and our 37weeker born May 9th, 2016!
this may be a question for the high risk board, but has anyone on here gone into labor knowing they were high risk (especially blood loss and heart failure) and requested certain things in the room? I have a ton of people saying they would donate blood in the case I need emergency transfusions- have people planned for that route and if so, what all did they need to do?
I am high risk for blood loss. I talked to my doctor at length about it and asked if there was a game plan needed. He said there wasn't but asked if I knew anyone with my blood type (I'm O- and can't receive any blood but O-). My doctor was really on top of everything so I didn't have any extra planning on my part. Definitely talk to your doctors and nurses (they sometimes have more info about the nitty gritty things to do) and see if/what your game plan needs to be. GL!!
ETA: I lost a lot of blood during DD's birth but not enough for a transfusion. They hooked me up to oxygen was the only thing that wasn't planned.
Been married since 2009. Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter) Several MCs DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
The questions I have: 1) did any of you go into preterm labor? Was your labor stopped and you were sent home or did baby come early?
2) did any of you c-section mamas feel like you were pressured into a birth procedure you didn't want?
I can share my experience with #1 - my second arrived at 36 weeks and my third arrived at 34 weeks. I was told that at 34 weeks, they don't stop labor. My water broke both times and as soon as I arrived at the hospital, I stayed until baby arrived. Both were healthy girls and I feel very lucky that neither needed anything "extra." My 36 weeker and I went home after one night in the hospital and my 34 weeker spent 6 days in the level 2 nursery as a precaution, but never needed anything.
Im a FTM but a friend of mine from back home (Australia) who is expecting #3 highly recommended a book to me to help with managing pain if you're planning to try naturally and med free. It's written by a physiotherapist in Sydney and focuses on using your body including visualization, vocalisation, physical movements etc to prepare your body and manage your pain. Its called Birth Skills by Juju sundin. I have just finished reading and would HIGHLY recommend it. It has made me much more confident with my decision to try and deliver naturally. What I love it that it talks about all options and isn't about necessarily about being med free and refusing an epidural but at least trying to labour naturally for as long as you're able to...because some things are out of our control.
I'm scared as hell but going in with a plan to manage the pain that doesn't immediately include an epidural is important to me. I feel like the book has really prepare me for that. Also she spends time making sure you really understand what is happening to your body at each stage and why you feel certain things...having that understanding makes it easier for you to focus and push through!!
I hope i didnt miss this question elsewhere. Ladies who gave birth preterm, were there any signs prior to? Any clue it might be coming or did it just hit you one moment? My concern is that I work up to an hour from anyone who could take me to the hospital and the hospital itself, so if I go early or fast I might not make it to the hospital. I do not, DO NOT, want to deliver in the hospital in the city I work. They suck. Also did you carry your hospital bag with you or leave it at home for someone to pick up?
@Soontobejones33 I had my hospital bag by the door and slowly added things to it as the third tri went on. Around 37w I put it in my car since mine is the family vehicle with the car seat and I knew it would be the car we took to the hospital. It worked out well for us.
Ladies, please get an IV or at least the hep-lock upon admission. It is much safer to have an IV in place and ready for use in the case of hemorrhage or an emergent c-section. You can always deny the fluids if things are progressing normally but get the IV access right away for your own safety.
Also, IV's tend to be placed in the hand or wrist because once they are in place, the veins below that site are not suitable for use. So if you had one by your elbow and it became clotted or got pulled out they would have to use the other arm. It basically limits them on places to put a line....again, not a good thing in an emergency or a long stay....so let them put it lower in the arm or where they see fit.
Just wanted to share my thoughts and what I learned from working in L&D for three years The IV is your friend.....an annoying but necessary one!
@josie12367 Yes! When I was first admitted in the ER, they immediately put an IV in my left antecubital. I was resisting and everyone was trying to calm me down, thinking I was loopy, but I knew it was going to blow out my one good vein on that side and kept begging they do the hand! Well, guess what? The vein was shot, huge bruise, the works and I needed at least 2 more lines because some of my IV meds/fluids couldn't be piggy backed. When I got to the floor, the L&D nurses were rightly pissed and I distinctly remember shouting "I told them! Didn't I tell them?!" while grabbing MH. So maybe I was a bit looped, but I did remember that tidbit.
Re: Ask a STM anything about child birth!
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
The questions I have:
1) did any of you go into preterm labor? Was your labor stopped and you were sent home or did baby come early?
2) did any of you c-section mamas feel like you were pressured into a birth procedure you didn't want?
So I know I said I got an epidural, but I labored med free for 30 hours to complete dilation and only got my epi when we had complications. I used Hypnobabies, was a complete skeptic. But you have daily practice relaxing your body and removing your mind from your immediate surroundings, and those tools were seriously the bomb during labor. I was comfortable and laughing and joking through transition. Even if you choose not to use birth hypnosis, loads of my friends swear by practicing some form of meditation to prepare for birth. Yoga, prayer, whatever it is where you discipline your mind to clear itself of worry and clutter because....
Do you know about the fear-tension-pain cycle? If not, I highly recommend reading up on it. Here's the simple version: you're afraid of the pain of labor, so your body automatically tenses up in anticipation of the pain, your muscle tension then amplifies your labor pain. As your labor progresses and your contractions intensify, so does your fear of the pain, your muscle tension, and therefore your actual pain level becomes exponential. You want to labor with the least fear and tension. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth gives excellent ways to relax both your mind and body so that your body can do what it was made to do. It's also just a really fantastic book to prepare for birth in general.
I also really loved laboring in the tub. After my complications arose (my little one got caught on my pubic bone for five hours, yikes), the tub was my friend. Warm water and weightlessness were beautiful.
Find someone to perform counterpressure on your hips and tailbone, which wonderful for relieving the huge pressure of contractions.
My favorite laboring positions were on my birth ball in a deep squat, leaned over the bed rocking my hips back and forth. That way I could sleep or just rest in between contractions. I also liked standing up and slow dancing with hubby. My best advice about positioning though is to just listen to your body. Your body will tell you what the best position is for you. If you suspect your baby is malpositioned closer to birth, come back and hit me up for ideas to wiggle baby into the right position.
AnastasiaBeaverhausen09 said:
Okay, so the first poop wasn't horrible. BUT. But. If you're taking narcotics. If you're also breastfeeding. If you're peeing off gallons of swelling. It's super important to continue taking stool softeners. I'll just leave this info here.... my stitches came undone y'all. My vagina was a freaking nightmare. And I had horrible hemorrhoids from pregnancy and birth that burst because I thought I was cool quitting my stool softeners because I was drinking so much water. Eat the colace. Your vagina and butt will thank you. I have vivid memories of clutching the sink edge and the towel rack with a fussy baby latched onto my boob, beads of sweat rolling off of me, channeling my hypnobabies to see me through. Eat the colace. Your vagina and butt will thank you. I will personally thank you.
Have someone there with you to remind you how strong and capable you are, how close you are to meeting your baby. Birth is a really vulnerable time, especially toward the end. I really needed someone to lean on emotionally, someone who could speak strength back into me. My doula validated that it was hard and felt scary, but she was completely confident that I was gonna make it. Women usually start to feel like they can't go on somewhere close to transition, which is RIGHT at the end. It's usually the hardest and most intimidating right before it's over :-)
I also put in my birth preferences that I'd prefer not be asked about my pain level or to offer me pain relief unless I specifically ask. I also asked not to know how dilated I was unless I specifically asked. That was to protect myself from feeling defeated if I had been laboring hard and not progressing as quickly as I thought I should.
Another great tool to use is to take labor one contraction at a time. Try not to think of the entire mountain you're climbing, think only of the step directly in front of you.
A maternity tank top and panties. Panties got trashed by mucus plug. Unsure what I'll wear this time.
Pajamas for the hospital stay and a black maternity dress to go home in. Black so it wouldn't show any bleeding in case my pad leaked (it never did btw), and a dress to hide my diaper-like pad situation.
And thus concludes my novel. You win a cookie if you read it all.
DS1: May 2016
DS2: Jan 2019
Baby #3 EDD: 6/18/24
#1 - I went in to preterm labor (twins) at 23.2weeks. That wasn't true labor and the contractions slowed down just with a few bags of IV fluids. The OBs told me to rest for 2 days, but then I could go back to work, etc.
The contractions came and went, but I felt a little different at 25.2weeks. I went into the office and was 1cm dilated. I was sent to the triage department to get steroids to mature the twins' lungs, just as a precaution, but then I quickly dilated to 3cm, and was admitted. I was given IV magnesium to protect the twins' neurological systems and nifedipine to stop the labor.
I was stable at 4cm the next day, and was transferred to the high-risk OB floor, where I was hoping to stay for weeks or months. 2 days later, I progressed to 8cms, got an epidural, and a c-section (malpresentation) a few hrs later. My water didn't break, and we avoided a full-out emergency (babyA in the bed), so we did have a lot to be thankful for. The OBs said they would try to stop the labor, but in the end, the body does what it wants.
Please don't hesitate to ask more specific questions about pre-term labor! It is obviously on my mind a lot these days.
Please keep in mind that this is a rare complication. But always listen to your body!!
#2 - I don't regret for a minute having a c-section for the twins - they survived! But of course I would have rather had a vaginal delivery (I was already 8cms with my legs crossed!). I also had a vertical uterine incision, due to prematurity, which prevents me from safely laboring during any subsequent pregnancy. It increases my risk of uterine rupture to about 10% - way too high in my book. I want to be around for all 3 kiddos!
Mama to Three Girls:
Twins born March 2014 at 26 weeks due to preterm labor
and our 37weeker born May 9th, 2016!
Also to make you feel better about the cost, my friend just told me she paid $1500/night at Lenox Hill. She had a c section and was there 6 nights!
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
deliver at 38.5 given my risk, but a c section is even riskier so I'm curious how they manage it.
So you would be induced at 38.5 unless you into labor first?
Different OBs and hospitals vary as far as preferred method of induction. It depends if your cervix is soft or long. Some start with cervedil, a medication inserted into vagina to soften cervix. Others insert a catheter with the intention to help you dilate to 3cm. and of course pitocin. Does that help?
As a general rule (but not set in stone), a woman who is 3cm dilated and effaced at the beginning of the induction has a better chance at a "successful" induction than someone who is closed and not effaced at all.
Mama to Three Girls:
Twins born March 2014 at 26 weeks due to preterm labor
and our 37weeker born May 9th, 2016!
37 weeks is really early. I would assume an induction at 38.5 *should* go more smoothly. And if the doctors specifically need to avoid a c-section I would think they would do whatever they could for a successful induction!
To wear home I brought some loose fitting black yoga pants and a t-shirt. I was all about the comfort (also, I live in a hot climate). Princess Kate I was not! But it was definitely the right choice for me.
ETA: Warm socks! And some cheap slippers (I got mine from IKEA for like $2 that I threw away when leaving the hospital).
I brought a satin pj shirt, the kind with the buttons in the front. I figured it would be nice for breastfeeding. But I didn't take the whole July thing into account and didn't wear it because it was too warm.
Mostly i I just wore the hospital gowns and robes because who cares if you bleed on them. I went home in the clothes I came in wearing (stretchy skirt and tank top)
this may be a question for the high risk board, but has anyone on here gone into labor knowing they were high risk (especially blood loss and heart failure) and requested certain things in the room? I have a ton of people saying they would donate blood in the case I need emergency transfusions- have people planned for that route and if so, what all did they need to do?
Have you brought this up with your OB? What did he/she say?
Are you at high risk for blood loss or have you hemorrhaged before?
What is your Heart situation? Are you going to be delivering in an ICU setting?
I can't answer this question for your hospital, but where I used to work, each laboring (or c-section) patient was graded on their risk to hemorrhage.
(Here's the long-version if you are interested):
Not everyone who was High Risk had a hemorrhage, and being Low Risk didn't 100% preclude you, but it was a place to start. For example, my last pregnancy was twins, so I was automatically Moderate risk. This delivery will at least be moderate risk because I am a repeat c-section, with my last c-section being a vertical incision. When you are Moderate or High Risk, 2 samples of your blood are sent to the Blood Bank (upstairs), so that your blood type can be checked and verified ahead of any possible bleed. Then, 2 units of blood are placed on Hold for a set number of hours, in case you need it.
Should massive blood loss occur, there is a Massive Transfusion Protocol in place to literally bring a cooler of O Neg RBCs to the operating room, platelets too, if needed.
Most OB hemorrhages involved the uterus/cervix area & associated arteries (c-s only), unless there is an underlying clotting disorder.
Mama to Three Girls:
Twins born March 2014 at 26 weeks due to preterm labor
and our 37weeker born May 9th, 2016!
ETA: I lost a lot of blood during DD's birth but not enough for a transfusion. They hooked me up to oxygen was the only thing that wasn't planned.
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
I'm scared as hell but going in with a plan to manage the pain that doesn't immediately include an epidural is important to me. I feel like the book has really prepare me for that. Also she spends time making sure you really understand what is happening to your body at each stage and why you feel certain things...having that understanding makes it easier for you to focus and push through!!
Also did you carry your hospital bag with you or leave it at home for someone to pick up?
Also, IV's tend to be placed in the hand or wrist because once they are in place, the veins below that site are not suitable for use. So if you had one by your elbow and it became clotted or got pulled out they would have to use the other arm. It basically limits them on places to put a line....again, not a good thing in an emergency or a long stay....so let them put it lower in the arm or where they see fit.
Just wanted to share my thoughts and what I learned from working in L&D for three years
The IV is your friend.....an annoying but necessary one!