December 2016 Moms
slartybartfast
member
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Med-Free Check-In 12/29 (for graduates too - whether med-free or not)
slartybartfast
member
I'm hoping this is the last one for everyone!
1) How far along?
2) Dare I ask... How has pregnancy treated you this week?
3) How are you being supported in late pregnancy (which, for me at least, was harder than post partum)? Do you have post partum supplies stocked and handy?
BTDT - was the med-free experience (or attempt) what you thought it would be?
1) How far along?
2) Dare I ask... How has pregnancy treated you this week?
3) How are you being supported in late pregnancy (which, for me at least, was harder than post partum)? Do you have post partum supplies stocked and handy?
BTDT - was the med-free experience (or attempt) what you thought it would be?
Mother of an April '15 baby
Due December 16
Re: Med-Free Check-In 12/29 (for graduates too - whether med-free or not)
1) 39+6
2) Like I want to punch a kitten in the face.
3) Trying to keep things quiet and low-key. I'm only working PT hours this week and some of them from home. I'm pretty exhausted. I've been gathering PP items for a few months and just stopped at the store on my way into the office this morning for the final few things.
2) Dare I ask... How has pregnancy treated you this week?
3) How are you being supported in late pregnancy (which, for me at least, was harder than post partum)? Do you have post partum supplies stocked and handy?
Not sure if it's just me, but even with the aches and pains of PP, as soon as the placenta was out, I immediately felt ten times better than I had in the last two months of being pregnant, like all the pressure was just gone and I could move again.
BTDT - was the med-free experience (or attempt) what you thought it would be?
I wish I had asked them to check me again before I got an epidural. My labor was intense and I finally asked for an epidural after about three hours because I didn't want to keep going like that for who knew how long. Turned out that I was already in transition when I asked for it and as he was trying to place it I felt like pushing. The nurse checked me after he got it in and I was at ten. None of the nurses expected me as a FTM to progress so quickly so they didn't bother to check me first. Even the anesthesiologist said he wouldn't have done the epidural if he knew how far along I was. And I wouldn't have gotten it if I had known.
DD- 11/2016
2) Dare I ask... How has pregnancy treated you this week? Feeling quite a bit stronger post partum despite the lack of sleep. I finally was able to engage my core a little bit yesterday so I'm feeling optimistic although I still have a big diastasis. I'm still up peeing and BF at all hours of the night but being able to lay on my back is fabulous!
3) How are you being supported in late pregnancy (which, for me at least, was harder than post partum)? Do you have post partum supplies stocked and handy? I got the nurse to give me two packages of maternity pads in the hospital to come home with and my doula made me a couple herbal bath satchels so I'm feeling pretty pampered lol.
BTDT - was the med-free experience (or attempt) what you thought it would be?
Yes and no. I had no idea active labor would slip by so quickly- I was in transition before I knew it. I also thought there would be a little lull between transition and second stage, but no I was pushing before I knew what was happening. I had some relief when baby came out but I was a new person as soon as I delivered the placenta, all the pressure just let up and I felt amazing.
after having birthed with an emergency c/s, birthed vaginally with an epidural and then birthed med-free, I have learned so much- primarily that there is so much out of our control and the labor will unfold how it does. It's funny that birthing med free this time really helped validate needing an epidural with my second. No two labors are the same.
My Wedding Bio!
the mental game - which is soooo huge (at least for me) in childbirth was what I expected and my preparation and outlook worked for me as I expected. It was hard but a little more manageable than I expected. Post partum I'm night 1 was way worse than expected. I was so tired, 12 hours of cluster feeding and horrific contractions nearly broke me. But I held off pain meds (despite drug pushing nurses) and got through. I think the epidural last time helped with some of the initial post partum discomfort.
one thing I didn't expect- I was on cloud 9 about the birth for about... a day. Now it feels completely irrelevant. My birth with DS didn't go how I wanted - it still went well but I got an epidural after 18 hours - and I was left feeling like wtf just happened. I turned it over in my head for about a month before it felt irrelevant. Interesting difference. Reflecting back I know I could have done med free the first time too but didn't have the right support system in place to create the right setting for me mentally. And that darn fear mongering nurse!
i feel like if I had a negative birth experience it would take me a lot of time to work through and my heart goes out to the mamas dealing with that
5 days old.
2) Dare I ask... How has pregnancy treated you this week?
It gave me a baby
3) How are you being supported in late pregnancy (which, for me at least, was harder than post partum)? Do you have post partum supplies stocked and handy?
Im actually going to venture out of the hide today for more PP supplies. The pads I bought are actualy way over kill and I used up all the ones stolen from the hospital. I'd rather not feel like I'm wearing a giant diaper if don't have to.
BTDT - was the med-free experience (or attempt) what you thought it would be?
The first 27 hours were easier than expected. I said that around hour 26. Then transition kicked my ass for even thinking that. But since I expected transition to be rough, I guess it wasn't any worse that I thought it would be. And knowing that meant I was right at the end made it manageable.
1) How far along? 40+3
2) Dare I ask... How has pregnancy treated you this week?
Urg! Pregnancy is actually just fine... it's just this stopping and starting prodromal/prelabor that's kicking my butt! Just want it to be clear... definable... I am sick of thinking "could this be it?" And then it coming to nothing! I know it's normal but still hate it!
3) How are you being supported in late pregnancy (which, for me at least, was harder than post partum)? Do you have post partum supplies stocked and handy?
My husband is a hero... he's being so supportive, speaking truth to me in love, making me great food and trying to keep me from feeling discouraged.
BTDT - was the med-free experience (or attempt) what you thought it would be?
Thank for sharing your stories... it's helpful for me!!!
Due December 27th with baby #7
2) Dare I ask... How has pregnancy treated you this week? I'm punching kittens with @ajstevenson. Soooo ready to be done.
3) How are you being supported in late pregnancy (which, for me at least, was harder than post partum)? Do you have post partum supplies stocked and handy? My mom made it in! So I'm happy she'll be here for the birth. And she and my MIL are treating me to a pedicure appointment, at this very moment. So even though I feel like a watched pot, things could be worse. And yes, all three of my postpartum baskets are ready and waiting for me!
Not BTDT but reading everyone's experiences with med free is really encouraging!
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
So much hoping for you, @ajstevenson, and @maamawaabangi! Feel like the med free mamas are bringing up the rear of the pack.
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
Pregnancy is the devil's handiwork.
DH has been a good sport about back and foot rubs, which I look forward to every evening. I have no idea if I am ready for life PP, but I do plan to take everything I can (and then some) from the hospital. I don't want to buy anything ahead of time in case I don't need it. And if I do, I'm hoping an excuse to get out to the store will be a good thing. I can't stand being cooped up in the house.
We are staying optimistic about a med-free birth. Tomorrow is the membrane sweep, hopefully things will get going very soon!
I would have gone in sooner, but I called and they said that as a FTM, I probably had time and to wait an hour. My back labor got worse that time, so we spent most of it packing stuff up. I called on our way and said we were coming no matter what they thought... they could check me and if nothing, I'd go home. Nope, it was time.
I can't remember how far along I was once the epidural was done, as I was in SO much pain; I needed that thing, but know it worked too well as I couldn't do any successful pushing for a couple hours. They stopped the drip and once I could start feeling some thing again, it was MUCH easier.
TTC Since: November 2015
BFP: March 31, 2016
DS: November 21, 2016
Baby is 15 days old
2) Dare I ask... How has pregnancy treated you this week?
I was totally unprepared for how hard newborn stage is; being a FTM, and since DH and I were never around babies, everything is brand new for us.
3) How are you being supported in late pregnancy (which, for me at least, was harder than post partum)? Do you have post partum supplies stocked and handy?
Made out like a bandit from the hospital, which is good because I didn't have anything for post partum. Oh, the freezer full of sweets has come in handy, so happy to be done with GD
BTDT - was the med-free experience (or attempt) what you thought it would be?
wow, it was intense. I haven't written about it yet. I need to find time for that. It was too hard to think about for a while. Got to the hospital fully dilated after water breaking at home about 12 hrs prior. Writhed in transition in the public restroom for 45 min while they "got a room ready" then fought the pain as they asked a million med history questions even tho I preregistered. They called in a dr even tho I was supposed to have a midwife. He was an ass, thank god they finally called a midwife for me. Not just my opinion - the nurses and mw felt the same. Contrax stalled to 10 min apart. Pushed for 4 hours. Went med free, begging for meds the entire time, the pain was so bad and my body was totally exhausted. The nurses and DH were nodding off between contrax. Felt amazing to finally have LO out and placed on me, most wonderful feeling of relief and love for her. She did great through it all. Unfortunately my cervix closed up and placenta wouldn't come out. Midwife tried manual removal, good lord that was worse than labor. Had to go to OR for removal...so no longer med free, but at that point I welcomed being knocked out for a bit.
3)Do you have post partum supplies stocked and handy? I stocked up on pads before I had the baby, bc I knew I wouldn't want to go out after.
BTDT - was the med-free experience (or attempt) what you thought it would be? Well I haven't had a chance to post my birth story yet, but it was a whirlwind. During the whole pregnancy I always said I wanted to go med free, but once the contractions started I said to my husband that I wanted an epidural. When we got to the hospital I begged for an epidural. By the time the anesthesiologist got there he tried to give me the epidural but it was too late as I said I had to push so I went without one. I was happy that I went without. I felt great afterwards. I never had a bad experience with an epidural with my other 2. I don't know if I would go through it again, only time will tell.