August 2021 Moms
bmo88
member
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Birth Wishes Thread: How are you hoping your birth experience will go?
bmo88
member
I like the idea of birth wishes, which recognizes that while we can plan all we want, a lot is beyond our control. Wishes allow us to envision what we want, but remain flexible when we need to be. It's never to early to contemplate your options, hear from others and think through the best choices for you, your baby and your family. Talking with friends when I had my first child really helped me prepare for what to expect, but also realize I had to be flexible and go with the flow when things did not go as I had hoped for.
I would love to hear what others are wishing for!
Due Date:
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
Will you have family/friends present?
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
I would love to hear what others are wishing for!
Due Date:
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
Will you have family/friends present?
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
Re: Birth Wishes Thread: How are you hoping your birth experience will go?
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?
Not this time. I did all the birth classes and a breastfeeding class during DS pregnancy. I thought both were amazing and would recommend to any FTM and FTD.
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?
Hospital
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
Hoping for a VBAC this time. Definitely medicated. Props to all women that go unmedicated but I know my pain tolerance.
Will you have family/friends present?
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
I really don’t want another CS but definitely want a happy baby/mama.
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?
I dont plan to this time, unless I try hypnobabies or go the water birth route.
I really liked my breastfeeding class and postpartum class. Highly recommend. Postpartum focused on ways the partner can help out mom and how to be supportive of each other.
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?
Stand alone birth center, just toured it today at our first appointment. Loved the layout and environment.
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
Hoping for unmedicated this time and considering a water birth.
Will you have family/friends present?
DH only. Did that last time and liked that.
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
Last time, I tested positive for group b strep and wouldn't dilate. I got pressured into using pitocin, so contractions got bad fast. End up with an epidural and forcep delivery. This time, I am hoping at least staying in the tub longer and having more pain management options (woo-hoo laughing gas) will help.
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?
Not really, I am going to a pelvic floor therapist in a few weeks so I hope I'll get some guidance there.
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?
Hospital
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
I'm definitely going to be medicated. Hoping for in and out easy peasy.
Will you have family/friends present?
Probably just MH. My parents are out of province and it looks like there will still be a 14 day quarantine required for them to come. And I just feel weird about my MIL being there. If @pickle-chips wasn't pregnant and there was no covid I might try to bribe her to be there.
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
Nothing really. Maybe I just haven't thought of the process enough. I haven't done any research and am pretty much expecting it to be go in, push, boom, baby. I'm probably naive
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?
Yes. The birth center requires it, but I'd do it anyway. I've been researching classes to see which would be most beneficial. I think we might go with Mama Natural's online class, so we can be self- paced and avoid covid concerns.
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?
Birth center that is 2 blocks from a hospital with a level 3 nicu.
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
Definitely unmedicated. That's not an option at the birthing center. Probably water birth. I'll at least labor in the tub, probably.
Will you have family/friends present?
MH of course. My best friend is a midwife, but she's going through infertility. We haven't had a chance to talk about how she'd feel about being there with me. If she wants to be there, I'd love to have her, though obviously not in a professional capacity. The birth center doesn't restrict visitor numbers, so I have options. We're also going to have a birth photographer.
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
Working in pediatric hospitals for years, as well as in labor and delivery for a little while before that, I am acutely aware of all of the things that can go wrong during delivery. I will be grateful if I get to stay at the birth center and there aren't any complications, but I'm prepared that I or baby might need a hospital.
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful? I did last time, which covered pretty much all methods and I feel like I know everything between my experiences and all of my mom friends. Definitely definitely recommend you take a childbirthing class if you are a first time mom. A doula taught mine and the birthing center/hospital offered it so it was very tied to exactly what my hospital offered which was helpful.
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)? Hospital. Definitely not an option to be anywhere else since I had postpartum hemorrhage last time and now am at risk for another. It's a fancy brand new hospital so I'm hoping it will be nice! Last time was more like a birthing center so will be glad to have extra help if an emergency happens.
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
Safety most of all. Would love not to be induced again but not realistically expecting that since no woman in my family has gone into spontaneous labor in several generations. Personally not into the struggle olympics things of medicated vs non that I experienced last time. If I need pain relief I will get some and if not, then not. Last time I wasn't able to dilate post induction without the epidural and pushing was not an issue, baby actually came out too fast if anything, so I am over the epidural scare tactics that were pushed in my community last time. I don't live there anymore, so not expecting that here, this is a more medically intervention heavy community. I am somewhere in the middle - few interventions as possible, but if they're needed, not worrying too much about it. Also last time we waited too long to induce and baby was in distress, so this time I'll make them induce me sooner so I can avoid that stress. Plus the baby was way too big (9lbs 6 oz) because I was two weeks late, which also made everything harder.
Will you have family/friends present?
DW, no one else, even if Covid wasn't a thing.
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
Really really hoping I don't hemorrhage again. This hospital had advanced special techniques to combat those so I think they will be easier to help me better than last time. Also trying to keep baby small because I've have a hernia repair done twice now and I don't want it a third time. (Didn't expect to have more children when I had the repair, but then my wife got cancer and now I'm carrying our last baby which wasn't the plan.) Also hoping they can repair tears better this time and help clean up the mess from last time. (If you guys remember, my stitches burst and they never repaired that tear for a second time, so it healed all wrong.) Definitely concerned about the extensive scar tissue I have from that labor and hope it's not too painful.
We did the prenantal class last time. It was good for my husband but I learned a lot through my own research.
Hospital is really the only choice for me. We are quite rural and if I chose a home birth is be terrified of something bad happening
Hoping for unmedicated. Last time my water was broken for 30 hours and I didn't dilate even with cervadil. I had to get a new one put in like 3 or 4 times because I had so much fluid gushing out 😂
I ended up on pictocin and had an epidural because I felt like I was being hit by a freight train. I also vomited through my entire labor after I got the pictocin.
None really. My last labour was fine even though it was far from what I wanted. My baby arrived safely.
I really hope the next baby can nurse right away. I had to syringe feed my first for nearly a week and I think I'd die if I had to do that again. She was lip and tongue tied but "not that bad" according to my dr. That plus having flat nipples was a nightmare.
I hemorrhaged after my first but that's because the doctor was impatient and yanked my placenta out. So it tore (part got left behind) and infected. Resulted in a d&c surgery later. So my new CNM isn't worried about that this time and cleared me for a birth center option.
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/ cpr/ breastfeeding/ postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful? With all covid stuff I don’t know how possible this will be. Definitely going to look into it, but I don’t think online classes would be as helpful as in-person ones
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)? We are doing a hospital birth with a midwife.
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)? I’m hoping to do an unmedicated birth.
Will you have family/friends present? Just my husband. I don’t want anyone else at the hospital, even in the waiting room.
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration? Nothing really. I’m just hoping for a straightforward, simple birth but I know the experts are there if things get more complicated and I feel really confident in the hospital we chose and the birth team we’ll have.
I'm going to bring my nipple shields just in case because expressing and syringe feeding was awful and so draining. Also any lip/tongue tie is getting snipped immediately.
Breastfeeding is so much harder than I thought.
This thread is so interesting I love hearing about everyones plans and experiences.
Due Date: 8/31
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful? Have never taken any and don't really plan to.
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)? Hopefully will make it to the hospital.
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)? If I make it to induction day then I'd love to get an epidural. If not, I just need to get baby out as safely as possible.
Will you have family/friends present? SO only. If I go into labor at work (work at the hospital), I'm fine doing it alone.
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration? I have a history of precipitous labor, where my water breaks, contractions become constant in about 30 minutes, and baby out in less than 2 hours. Barely time to get to hospital and no time for epidural. Its been so traumatic I hope to make it to 39 weeks for induction, but #1 was 38+5 and #2 was 39 +2 so who knows.
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?
I'm considering it, for newborn care and breastfeeding. My good friend is an acupuncturist in a birth center, and I'll probably go to the classes that they offer. My partner has ZERO baby knowledge so I think it'd be a good idea to get him involved!
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?
I have no choice but hospital due to medical history
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
I'm going to have a planned cesarean I'm not thrilled about it, but it is what it is
Will you have family/friends present? Just my partner
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
I had an abdominal myomectomy 5 months before getting pregnant, I had HUGE fibroids removed and my surgeon/RE/current OB all agree that laboring is to be avoided for me and cesarean is the only route. At least my cousin who had the same surgery and gave birth to twins via cesarean after said that her recovery was easier than the surgery because they go in through the same spot so here's hoping!
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?
Hospital. I wish we had a birth center.
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
I felt pressured to get an epidural too early last time. I’m going to definitely go for no epidural this time, or at least let it be more of a purposeful decision.
Will you have family/friends present?
Just DH. My mom and friend were with me last time. With covid, it’ll only be one anyway. My mom was stressful last time. I’m happy do be doing this with MH this time.
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
My first birth went well, though I felt pressured into an epidural and it stalled labor. Then there were so many questions about whether I could breastfeed on my medication. It’ll be nice to have more courage this time, as well as know that breastfeeding is safe on my meds.
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?
I didn’t take any “formal” classes with my first two. Just read a lot of books, watched a lot of videos, and asked a LOT of questions. Plus, I had watched my sisters give birth, so I felt pretty comfortable with the whole process. Honestly, the most helpful thing for me was reading books on breastfeeding. I felt very prepared, and even though it was freaking hard, I felt like I was ready for that and knew how to deal with the curveballs.
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
With both of my last two births, I said I wanted to “try” to do it unmedicated. I made it to about a 7 both times before I was begging for an epidural. I’ll “try” again, but I also had amazing experiences with both of my epidurals, so I have no qualms getting another one.
Will you have family/friends present?
DH and my mom (if they’ll let her come in). My mom has been at the birth of all eight of her grandkids, so I know it would be devastating for both her and me if she couldn’t be there!
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
Nothing specific. Like most of you, I just want an uncomplicated both and a healthy bebe!
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?
not this time. I took a birth class with my doula, a cpr class, breastfeeding and general class at the hospital for my first. I took a required birth class with my second at the birth center.
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?
Birth center. It’s stand alone but across the street from a hospital.
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
Unmedicated.
Will you have family/friends present?
My husband
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
Nothing so far. Maybe I’ll have to wear a mask. Hopefully by august things with Covid will be better.
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful? Our province used to offer in-person prenatal classes but they switched to online before my first was born in 2017. And they sucked! I think I looked at 1.5 modules before I was like NEWP. I listened to a lot of the Birth Hour podcast and read Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth when I was pregnant with my first. At the time I found them to be interesting, but both were pretty negative toward hospital births and that left me feeling a bit uneasy as a FTM planning a hospital birth.
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)? I’m hoping for something similar to my first two! Unmedicated and able to manage pain warm bath/shower and movement.
Will you have family/friends present? Just MH even if COVID wasn’t a consideration. Same as first two.
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration? I actually feel a bit more anxious about this birth than my second. I was in labour for just over 4 hours with my first, and just under 2 hours with my second, so is this going to be an hour? Luckily we live 15 minutes from the hospital, so I think we can avoid a car baby? But on the other hand maybe it will be a really long labour this time! Also just wondering what the COVID situation will be come August?
no classes for me. I am a labor and delivery nurse and it’s our 3rd baby. I got this 💪🏼
I am a TOLAC. I have had a successful VBAC x1 with my 2nd baby and super super hope to be able to also deliver this baby vaginally!!
I also plan an epidural. Not only because I love modern medicine lol, but also it’s a safer options with being a TOLAC, and if I needed a crash c section, that saves time.
right now my hospital is only allowing one support person! So that will be my husband. I had my mother and mother in law with my 2nd baby, and loved they got to be apart of it, but my husband is hoping for this one to be just us 💜 so even without the rules, that’s what we are planning!
so excited to see how all our births turn out!! I really wasn’t sure if we were going to have a third. And even tho I’ve been totally miserable...there is something about the last baby that gives me ALL the feels!
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?
I might do an online hypnobirthing class, maybe one on breastfeeding. I went to an in person birthing class with my best friend when she was pregnant in 2019 because her husband was in residency and couldn’t attend. We both found it to not be that helpful, but we’d worked with babies at a children’s center for a few years and we’re pretty familiar with the process lol I think it’s from all of the “A Birth Story” I watched on TLC as a kid 😂
I’ve also been super involved with both my sister and best friend’s pregnancies and was in the room for both, so I feel pretty comfortable with how things go.
I’d love to hear if anyone has online classes they found to be helpful!
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?
We don’t have a birth center in our area but I really wish we did. I’ll give birth in a “birth center” at the hospital but it’s a pretty standard medicalized birth experience. Hoping to luck out and get one of the 2 rooms with a tub in it.
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
Hoping to at least have access to a tub in the birth room.
Will you have family/friends present?
My husband will be there, I don’t think anyone else. Not much of my family is local and my best friend will have her daughter and my sister will help with our dogs. I don’t mind it just being the 2 of us, I’m not always the nicest when I am in pain lol
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?: We’ll definitely take some online classes, I doubt in-person classes will be offered in my area anytime soon. I’m feeling a little in the wilderness because not only am I a FTM, both H and I have basically zero experience with baby stuff- never had a friend, sibling, close cousin etc. go through this, so I feel like we don’t have any of the pregnancy/labor/child-rearing knowledge that many people absorb by osmosis. So we need to catch up on the basics!
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?: Hospital... I’d love to go to a birthing center but the closest one is too far away for us.
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?: I really don’t want to be induced and need to ask my doctor how long past 40 weeks they let patients go as a matter of policy. I don’t have strong feelings about trying to do unmedicated, which means I’ll probably end up medicated, haha. Wish water birth was an option near me, I’m just hoping to get a room with a tub so I can labor in water at least!
Will you have family/friends present?: Just H! Wouldn’t be interested in having anyone else there even if COVID wasn’t a thing.
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?: Eh not really... just overwhelmed with info and trying to wade through all of it.
8/19
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?
I doubt it. I just watched a bunch of home birth videos on YouTube while pregnant with my 1st.
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?
I had both babies so far at home with a CNM. I couldn’t have asked for better birth experiences so I’m planning the same this time too!
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
Unmedicated water birth
Will you have family/friends present?
Both of my parents, my closest sis, and DH were there for my 1st. 2nd Mom, DH, and a photographer were in the bedroom and Dad watched DS downstairs. This time I’m hoping for the same as my 2nd. FX my parents can make it!
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful?
I'm hoping to start doing prenatal yoga on a regular basis. I did prenatal yoga/ meditation consistently with my son and felt that it really helped with pain management. We also did a natural childbirth class with my son through the hospital, and a postpartum education class after he was born. Both were very helpful! I'm the baby of the family and was one of the first pregnancies in my family/friend group, so I went into my first pregnancy having pretty much no idea what to do. It also served as a great place to meet and bond with other moms to be/new moms. Not sure how these classes would look at the moment with COVID restrictions though.
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)?
Most likely the hospital.
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)?
With my son and daughter I was able to have unmedicated births, but I very nearly asked for an epidural with my daughter. In fact, I asked to be checked one more time before I agreed to the epidural. They checked me, said I was a 9, and I immediately had to push after. If I had been less than that I'm sure I would have gotten an epi. I wish that gas was an option, but unfortunately they do not offer it at our hospital.
Will you have family/friends present?
No. Just my husband. Would definitely prefer that in non- COVID times too.
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration?
Childcare for my older two when I go into labor with #3. We live 7+ hours away from family, so I'll likely have to ask a friend to watch them. I'm not the best at asking for help when I need it, so I need to buck up and get this conversation over with sooner rather than later.
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful? We didn't do any classes with the first two and it turned out okay. There is a ton of breastfeeding support at my OB's office and the connected hospital, so I have a ton of access there. And one of my F19 besties is a lactation consultant.
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand alone birth center, etc)? Hospital for sure
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)? Gimme alllll the drugs. My first was a failed epidural, Sunnyside up induction, which is an experience I would not wish on anyone. My second was the most beautiful, easy birth ever. My epidural worked, which felt miraculous, and I went into labor spontaneously. I did need pitocin towards the end to keep things moving (it had been 23 hours from when my water started leaking to when she was born, so right on the edge), but even that wasn't bad. I remember when they were wheeling us up to recovery I felt like I could give birth all day every day because it was such a wonderful experience.
Will you have family/friends present? Just my husband - my mom will be with the kids. I want a birth photographer, but am unsure if covid restrictions will allow for that by August.
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration? Luckily my mom lives just a few houses down from us, so it'll be easy to drop the bigs with her on our way to the hospital. Our hospital is also within walking distance of our house, so it'll be a much easier ride there than last time!
Are you planning to take any prenatal education classes (birth/newborn care/cpr/breastfeeding/postpartum)? If you took any during previous pregnancies, which ones were most helpful? Not this time. Took a class with my first and it was not helpful.
Where are you hoping to give birth (home, hospital, stand-alone birth center, etc)? Hospital for me!
What type of birth experience are you hoping for (water birth, medicated/unmedicated)? Scheduled C-section (will be my third). I had an emergency C with my first. I was induced 10 days after the due date, was not progressing at all after 24 hours, and the baby's heart rate was all over the place in distress. I was open to VBAC (so was my doctor) with my second if I went into labor and was progressing on my own. Ended up scheduling the C-section at my 39-week appt. This time, I'll just have it scheduled as the 2nd surgery/recovery was WAY better than the first. Checked-in at 9am and in recovery with the baby by 11.
Will you have family/friends present? Just my husband. We had too many people in the waiting room 1st time around and it stressed me out. In-laws won't even be allowed to come to town until we are home and rested. That would be the case even without COVID. My parents who are local will have the older kids while we're at the hospital.
What special things or circumstances are you taking into consideration? Only if I happen to go into labor on my own which is doubtful but anything could happen.