Mums' stories

Hiya
Aw a little boy, bless. Hope everything goes well for you. Dont worry, Feb will come around quickly enough. Before you know it christmas will be here and then it will be February and your little bundle of joy will be here.
I just wanted to tell you about my experiences of birth to maybe help you decide what pain relief you would like to try, but remember, whatever you decide in your birth plan its not set in stone and you can always change your mind once you are in labour.
When I had my first baby, a little boy, I was induced due to high blood pressure. Because of the induction and the strength of the contractions I couldnt use the gas and air properly so I asked for an epidural and had it after only being in labour for about an hour. As a pain relief it was excellent, it completely got rid of the pain and I spent the next 7 hours led on a bed talking to my partner and midwife and occasionally napping. When I was almost fully dilated the midwife told me to stop topping up the epidural so that I started to regain some feeling so that I could feel the contractions to push properly. After an hour of not topping up the epidural I was told I was ready to push and to start with the next contraction. The problem was I still couldnt feel any contractions. The only feeling that had come back was a dull ache in my lower back from being sat in the same position for so long. I was relying on the midwife to tell me when to push but apparantly, and I only found this out afterwards, because I wasnt feeling the contractions I wasnt pushing "properly". After pushing for an hour I was exhausted and baby wasnt budging so they decided to use the ventouse to get him out and had to cut me to make room. Afterwards I didnt like that I couldnt walk around. I felt that I couldnt look after my baby properly, especially as it was after visiting hours when he was born so my partner was sent home pretty much straight away.
My second birth experience, almost 4 weeks ago, was amazing and alot more straight forward. I went into labour naturally and took paracetamol while I was still at home. Went to hospital and by the time I was examined I was already 6cms dilated. I decided to try gas and air again and because the pains werent as bad as the chemically induced ones from my 1st labour I found that it did work. Obviously you still feel the pain, and they still hurt quite alot at times, but the gas and air took the edge off and made them more manageable. After about an hour I opted to have pethidine as the pains were getting stronger and I thought I would still have hours left and not be able to cope if the pains got much worse. As it was by daughter arrived 30 minutes later, so the pethidine didnt even really have chance to work before she was born! She was 2lb heavier than my son but because I could feel the contractions and that "urge" to push she was born with no problems. I only pushed for about 15 minutes, had no intervention and she came out all by herself.
Anyway, sorry ive gone on abit, but what I really wanted to get across was that although the epidural was good for the pain, im sure thats what caused the problems with actually getting my little boy out. Ive spoken to other people who have said the same but then ive also heard people have an epidural with no problems. I guess everybody is different and I think now you can have a lower dose or something so that you stay more mobile.
Good luck anyway, im sure you will be fine and everything will go well x

Aww bless, I didnt have a first scan, Only a scan at 21weeks, my baby wouldnt stay still so i couldt find out what i was having, I had another scan at 36weeks as my baby is on the small side, stil is with only 3days to go.
best of luck to ya both .x.x

Hi!

its really weird i dont feel nervous at all, i had so many friends tell me horror stories but know everyone is diff and hopefully we will be fine. of course theres pain but just think after the pain comes a little person, its so magical.
I wish i could go and have him tomorrow, im that excited. have you thought about your birth plan yet? and what drugs? im really not sure i want to just be brave and have gas and air but have been told epuirdal is better, but im just so put off by the fact you dont feel contractions and cant walk about, i think that the whole part of giving birth is feeling contractions and feeling your baby come out, knowing that you acheieved that.

anyway i hope that your well and feeling great, hows your bump?? im massive already.

Hi kazza,
I am too due in feb 09 and cant wait to see him, i too am having a boy! I feel quite nervous for the birth but i guess everyone is. I am going to go for a 4d scan soon and hopefully get a dvd of the scan. I hope you have a easy birth and everything goes well for you.