Baby News

Imogen Kate Pinney finally made her appearance at 3:49am on Sat 22nd March weighing 8lb 8oz (3.8kg) after a very fast labour. It wasn't the home birth we had been hoping for, but still a natural birth with a fantastic result.

We are both doing OK now at home, after some initial problems, and a night in hospital

More details and some photos soon, when we get chance!

Todays escapades

First thing today the midwife came to visit for a scheduled check and do another sweep. She managed to a sweep, and said that the cervix was shortened and just over 1cm dilated. She managed to feel the baby's skull and a 'fontinelle' (sp?) - the soft squishy bit of a baby's skull - but couldn't work out which one before she moved, so couldn't work out which way the head was facing. The back is still in the right position, so that's OK. Before and after the examination, Bubble's heart rate was elevated (160-180bpm) so the midwife said that we should go to the hospital for a CTG (continuous measurement over ~30 mins) to check it out over a longer time-scale than she can do with her machine at home. She advised that we take a bag, since if there turned out to be a problem, they would want to keep C in - either to closely monitor her & Bubble, or to deliver baby ASAP, by C-section if req'd.

When we got to the hospital, we got a nice surprise in the way of free parking, courtesy of STH in their multi-storey, so we didn't have to scratch about for change! The midwife had phoned ahead, so they knew to expect us, and soon after we arrived, C was hooked up to a machine that goes boing and it started to record Bubble's heart rate, which appeared to have settled down since Dawn examined her. The midwife there said everything was OK, and let us go again.

After that faff, we grabbed a sandwich & drink from Starbucks, just down the road from the hospital before going for her acupuncture appointment. That was a bit 'hand-wavy' and odd for me, but C says it was fine. The needles were in for about 45 mins, and the acupuncturist kept "twiddling" the needles every 5 mins to 're-stimulate' them to encourage things to get moving. Nothing has happened yet, although the tightenings are gradually becoming stronger, but are still miles apart at the time of writing!

Things are moving in the right direction at the moment, so lets just hope & pray that they continue that way.

Another one!

Another NCT baby as been born. Holly and Guery have a daughter, Luma,
born last Sunday morning. A short intense labour, with no pain relief
for Holly, and no complications. No photo yet, but I'm sure she's
lovely.

So that only leaves Olivia (due 17th, so she's overdue now as well)
and me, and then we'll all be happy.

Wincing

For some time now, C has been wincing every time Bubble decides to kick her, to thump her, has a Braxton Hicks, or for a variety of other reasons. Every time she does, I start thinking "What sort of wince was that? Was it a well (badly??) placed kick or thump? Was it a braxton hick, or was it the beginnings of 'proper' contractions?

I've still not been able to decipher the winces, and I keep thinking (hoping!) that it's the beginning of 'proper' labour, but so far, to no avail!

She'll come when he's ready!

More baby news

Have just got an email from Cath & Jawad, another couple from NCT.
After developing obstetric cholestasis and having to be induced,
Oscar, their little one, was born on Sunday (9 days early).

Hopefully we'll be the next sending out the announcement email, but I
have a funny feeling we might be last!

Midwife visit

Midwife came again yesterday, with mixed results. I'm feeling more
positive and relaxed about things, even though it didn't all go great.

She brought a homeopathy kit, so I've now got tablets to take for
inducing labour, relaxing and bruising (to use during labour, when it
eventually happens).

She had a good prod and poke of the belly, and decided that, even
though the back seems to be in a good position, the head is slightly
posterior, meaning that it's not sitting on the cervix quite right
which is probably why I haven't gone into labour yet. Not quite what I
wanted to hear, but at least I have a reason and a plan of action - no
sitting on the sofa, using the ball/kneeling/rocking etc to tip the
pelvis forward, and another homeopathy tablet to help it turn.

A second attempt at a sweep was more successful - although the cervix
is still thick and closed, she did manage to get a finger through and
do a partial sweep. So, that's an advance from last Thursday when
nothing was happening. Dawn is coming again on Friday morning to try a
third one.

In addition to this I've got a acupuncture appointment for Friday
lunchtime. It's something I've been thinking about, and we decided
that if it got to the point of having to go into hospital to be
induced and we hadn't tried it we'd be forever wondering. When I spoke
to the acupuncturist she's had a lot of obstetric experience, which
was good to hear. She said the needles will be in for about 45
minutes, with her "reactivating" them every 5 minutes. And then she'll
be able to give us - Dave can come along as well - some information on
acupressure pints to use to continue the effect after the appointment.

So, I'm doing all I can, and if it gets to the stage of hospital
induction etc, then at least I'll know that there was nothing else I
could have done.

Perceived wisdom

Have just come back from the hospital, and the consultant appointment. What a faff - Bubble, I hope you realise that we really don't want to go there again!

First they wanted a pee sample - despite everything being OK last Thursday and a midwife coming at lunchtime to do an antenatal check. Then I had to see a midwife - not quite sure why. She had a feel and said that Bubble is "sitting" well - head down and back to the left - and then listened for the heartbeat, which again was fine. She asked what I was there for, so I said it was because I was declining induction at 42weeks - and then she asked me if I wanted a C-section
instead! No, I don't think you understand, I want nature to take it's course as much as possible.

Then we had to wait 1/2hour until the consultant decided that he'd better do some work. I was just trying to persuade Dave to go and find out what was going on, when the doc came waltzing in. It took less than 5 minutes for him to tell me that the "perceived wisdom" is that induction at 42 weeks is the best course of action. But no mention of "evidence" - just this "perceived wisdom". Anyway, to cut to it, I've agreed to daily CTG monitoring at the hospital from next Monday and then if there's any indications that Bubble is distressed or anything, we can then decide what to do from there. Not really looking forward to the faff of all that - I've had more words with Bubble and pointed out to him that it would be much easier if he could just make a move before we get to that point!

I'm not convinced of the dates anyway. When we first knew I was pregnant, we worked out that the earliest possible due date could be 9th March, but because of my irregular periods, it could well be after that. At one point, not long before I got pregnant, I was ovulating at about 21-22days, so that gives as an extra few days as well. Who knows, it's all just a bit of a waiting game, and having faith in nature.

It's not imminent!

Dawn has been again this morning for another antenatal check. I'm
fine, Bubble's fine :) - but labour isn't imminent :( She tried a
sweep, but the cervix was closed, so no go on that. We talked about
options. Wendy, another midwife, has offered to come next Tuesday to
bring a homeopathy kit, so that's going to happen (and she'll do
antenatal checks and try another sweep at the same time). I've also
got the phone number for an acupuncturist so I'll maybe give them a
ring and talk about what they can do and how much it will cost.

I've decided to turn down the option of induction at the moment - even
if I get to 42 weeks. So, I've got an appointment with the consultant,
also next Tuesday, to put a plan in place for closer monitoring after
Easter. Dawn has warned me that there'll be pressure at that
appointment to go for the induction route, but she's 100% behind me,
and says I'm entirely within my rights to decline it, and still opt
for a home birth. Closer monitoring will basically be the baby's heart
rate, with possibly scans to check the placenta and blood supply -
could be every day, but not necessarily.

So, all in all, I'm feeling OK. Yes, I'm fed up of waiting, but if
Bubble isn't ready then so be it. And I'm feeling better now I know
that I've still got midwife support for a home birth, and not hospital
induction, after 42 weeks. That's what I've been a bit worried about -
Dawn says I have to stop thinking negatively like that, and think
positively instead, which I feel I can do more now.

NCT baby news

The first babies from the NCT class have arrived - but sadly not Bubble!

Karen gave birth to Henry yesterday morning (6lb 14oz), after what
sounds like a lovely quick labour. He was 9 days early (but late
compared to his sister who was 5 weeks early.)

Then I've just had a text from Sam to say she gave birth this morning
to Max (8lb) - he was due on Saturday, so just a few days late. Again,
from what I can work out, I don't think her labour was bad - certainly
quicker than her first.

So I've had stern words with Bubble. We were due the day after Max, so
I've told Bubble that tomorrow is going to be it!

"Overdue"

D-day has come and, virtually, gone - so Bubble, you're officially
overdue now. Yes, OK, so the majority of first time pregnancies do go
overdue, but I was hoping!

Stretch marks

Right. I want Bubble out NOW! Dave has just said those horrible words
"You've got some red marks", whilst pointing to my lower belly, "and
they're a bit shiny at the edges". Grrr! I can't see them properly,
other than in the mirror - my belly is too big - but get this baby out
now. I don't want any more!

Bring it on!

I'm fed up now. Everything is ready - nursery, nappies, Dave, me... -
and now I'm fed up of waiting. I'm not sleeping well - just can't get
comfortable - and feel restless during the day, itching to do
something but not knowing what to do. I just want Bubble to arrive
now, so that I've got a job again!

The midwife came on Thursday and said that Bubble is "cooking well"
(whatever that means?!). She said she didn't need to come every week,
so I'll be past my due date by the time she comes next - unless of
course I phone her in the meantime! Let's hope I have to do the
latter, I really want to just get on with being a Mum.

Nappy watching practice

For ages now, Daisy has been very prone to bouts of diarrhoea and we've been watching what comes out of her in terms of number, and quality/quantity of poos and wees.

Having been to all the NCT antenatal classes now, we've been told that nappy-watching is the best way to check that Baby is getting enough nutrition/hydration if it is purely breast-fed.

It seems as though we're now already well practised at noting what comes out of our baby!