Labour Preparations

I went to pick up the birthing pool yesterday from the Hospital. We got a phone call earlier in the week to say it was ready, and it dawned on me that it is all getting very close now!

We had a practise at inflating it, and C just sat there (and laughed) as I tried using the manual pump it came with. The electric pump that came with our inflatable mattress fitted in the vales on the pool and was much easier and quicker. It did run out of power when there was any back pressure, so the manual pump came out again to finish it off.

We forgot to time how long it took to inflate, but we think it was about 30mins(ish). Deflating it took 15 mins from pulling the plug to getting it back into its bag.

We're not going to fill it before it's needed as we've been told it takes 4-6 tanks full of hot water to fill it to the right level!

The TENS machine also arrived yesterday, so we need to practise with that at some point soon too.

Midwife visit

Dawn has been this morning to deliver the home birth pack and for my
latest antenatal check. All seems well. Head is engaging (2/5 above
the brim), baby lying to the side so not back-to-back and heart beat
strong. My blood pressure's fine, a bit of protein in the urine but
nothing to worry about, and I look "sickeningly healthy"!

She read through my birth plan and offered a few comments here and
there, but no real discussion about anything. In her words "It's your
birth, I'm just here to support you". Hurrah!

Birth plan

Although the midwife came the other week to talk about the "medical"
bits of my birth plan (ie monitoring, pain relief etc) I decided to
sit down and type it up, adding the "social" and "emotional" bits this
afternoon.
It's been good for me to write down things that I've been thinking
about over the last few weeks, such as Dave not being sent home if I
have to transfer and stay in hospital. And Dave's read through it as
well, so I guess it's helped him to get some things clear.
Dawn is coming tomorrow morning, so she can read through it and we can
discuss anything that needs it. I particularly want her comments on
the tone of it - although I'm clear about what I want (and the birth
plan does include the "what-ifs" of transferring etc) I don't want it
to become dictatorial and am keen that it works with the midwives, not
against them.

A busy week

It's all happening! I thought I was supposed to be resting now I'm on maternity leave. Fat chance!

I've just been to the osteopath. My last appointment was before Christmas, when she said everything seemed to be OK but she wanted to see me about now to check everything was still OK for the last few weeks and the birth. Today everything is still OK - the curve in my back is not bad, my spine is well spaced and even, and she says everything seems to be ready for the big event. She doesn't want to see me again before the birth - unless I have a problem - but suggests I go back with Bubble to check us both out two weeks or so afterwards.

I've made an appointment for a massage on Thursday. Dave's Dad gave me some money for Christmas to go and have one, and now seems like a good time. So I'm looking forward to that. It's for an hour at 11.30, so then Dave and I can go out for lunch (well, it is Valentine's Day)
which should make for a really nice day.

Dawn, my midwife, is coming on Thursday morning. It'll give Dave a chance to meet her, and she's also going to bring the home birth pack with her. Not sure exactly what is in the pack, but I've been told it's not that exciting - cotton wool, incontinence pads and some drugs!

Thursday evening is our second NCT antenatal class as well. Last week's was OK - a lot of the same stuff we covered when we went to Olivia's active birth workshop, but this week she's going to cover the intervention stuff, which hopefully we won't need to know about, but
at least if things don't work out we'll have information to allow us to make the right decisions.

And then I've just had a phone call from the community office at the maternity hospital to say they've got a pool ready for me to pick up. So that's a job for Friday (as well as picking up the pethidine that I want to have available "just in case").

So it's all very exciting - everything seems to be getting sorted out and then it'll just be a case of waiting for Bubble to decide when he wants to arrive

Maternity leave

I've now finished work - pharmacy on Wednesday, and then school
yesterday. It's a bit weird really - I don't know what I'm going to do
with all my time, but I'm sure I'll manage to fill it! Banking up some
sleep has got to be high on the list of priorities, and I reckon I
might have to "do lunch" with friends while I can! Yes, there's stuff
still to sort out before Bubble arrives - we've got no nappies and
we've got a few bits we need to get together for the birth. I've been
told to make the most of the next few days/weeks until Bubble arrives,
and to do something for me every day, so I guess I'll just have to
listen to the advice!

All change!

Well, I've finally changed my midwife. A lot has happened over the
last couple of weeks - and I just haven't had chance to blog all the
instalments - but suffice to say that I now have a new midwife, Dawn,
who is very pro home-birth, very supportive and (most importantly) who
I feel is giving me the support that I want and deserve! Hurrah!

I did see my old midwife on Tuesday - I had an appointment anyway, and
things hadn't officially changed over, and Dawn was on holiday - and
everything was fine. Bubble was head down, curled to my left with feet
under my ribs, heart beat strong and still wriggling!

So, I'm a whole load happier about everything - well, most things! -
now. I've only got one more week at work and then "freedom" until
Bubble arrives. OK, so I know it's not really freedom - there are
plenty of things I need to do, including going and buying a nice first
outfit for Bubble, having a massage (Christmas present from Dave's
Dad!) and going out for lunch with Mel - but I'm guessing it's freedom
compared to "after-Bubble"!

What will I do?

Dave's away for the weekend - down visiting his sister. I'm missing him loads, but earlier today things got a little out of hand. For some reason - and I don't really know why - I had a bit of a panic about what I would do if I went into labour while he's away. At this stage - now 33 weeks - I'd have to go into hospital, and the thought of doing that without him is quite scary. So then I thought "OK I'd phone my Mum." But it would take her at least 1 1/2 hours to get here - probably nearer 2. And that's a long time! So then I thought "Maybe Mel would come with me." But she's not well. Who else would I want with me? No-one is the real answer. Help!!! I even got as far as thinking about the best way for Dave to get back up from Guildford - he hasn't got the car down there. 4 hours by train would probably be the quickest, but again that's a long time.

I know it's irrational - there's nothing to indicate that labour is going to start. But I think my hormones and imagination are getting the better of me!

Woohoo!!

Have just been to my midwife appointment and am feeling happy! There was no real discussion, just "You've been to see Dr W, haven't you? OK, I'll book the home birth and pool for you." None of the previous mutterings about it having to be an informed choice, and that someone would have to come to the house to discuss it all with me. She's obviously realised that I am informed, that I'm not stupid etc.

So, it's all booked. She phoned the office while I was there, so I know it's done. She was going to give me the bag of stuff today - obviously not many other home births planned - but then decided that she didn't need to and she could bring it round with the drugs once I'd decided about physiological/active third stage and Vitamin K. She asked if I'd got my birth plan written yet - so has obviously realised that I'm quite organised about this and am likely to know what I want! - and suggested I write it before my next appointment in a couple of weeks time.

Bubble is head down, which is great. But back to back, which is not ideal. She confirmed my suspicions that it's the feet that keep squirming under my ribs. So now we just need to persuade the little one that it would be more comfortable with it's back away from mine! Lots of scrubbing of floors for me!

So, I'm happy. Am feeling a whole lot better about it. Feel as though people are listening to me. And that gives me a boost. Big smiles all round!

Active Birth Workshop

Friday saw Dave and I go to an Active Birth Workshop, run by my yoga teacher who's trained with the Active Birth Centre in London. It was a really good few hours and we learned a lot - with an obvious bias on the natural birth process, but that's good because that's what we want. I think Dave got some confidence about positions, massage etc. and how he can help - he knows to get me to relax jaw, hands and shoulders between contractions, and has been told to make sure I go to the loo and eat enough during labour! We got chance to try out different positions that may be helpful, and bought a birthing ball which hopefully will get plenty of use. It's also left us with things to think about as well - ides of what we need to get hold of for possible use during labour (water spray, small fan, plenty of cushions and pillows and some plastic sheeting) and decisions to make (active or physiological management of third stage, birth plan).

There were only two other couples at the workshop, and it was good to talk to people who obviously have the same sort of ideas as us about it. Some comments we've had - particularly about the issue of home v hospital - have not been particularly helpful: "You're so brave", "It's a lot to take on", "What happens if something goes wrong?".  So it was good to talk to people who are positive about the whole thing. And it's made us more confident about it all, so hopefully the midwife appointment on Tuesday should be easier to handle - I'm ready to ask for a referral to another midwife if I still feel she's being unsupportive of our wishes. But that another blog entry altogether, and it can wait until after the appointment.

The nursery looks lovely!

With help from Dave's Mum & bloke, the nursery is now painted and looks lovely. The combination of orange, yellow and green may not sound the best, but it's gorgeous, and I'm sure Bubble will love it. The jungle border and stickers finish it off nicely. Most of the furniture is in - we're just waiting for a delivery of a nursing chair from John Lewis - and then all it needs is curtains and bedding. Bubble's even got his very own photo of Daisy!

It's a bit illogical that we've painted the nursery before the playroom, when the playroom is likely to be used first, but never mind. The playroom is next on the list!

Missing brain cells!

It's amazing just how much pregnancy affects the brain! I always thought people made it up. Ha, how wrong was I!

Shredding prescriptions that haven't been dispensed. Writing on a white board with a permanent marker (at least the maths was right!). Getting half way through a sentence and totally forgetting what I wanted to say. The list goes on and on!

Dave thinks it's hilarious!

My doctor supports me.

I went to see my GP, Dr W, this morning about home birth. I know I don't need her "permission" but her support was important to me. She admitted that she's not really in favour of home births, and for her she would want everything possible - drugged up etc - but accepted that I'm not stupid, have done the research and have made a informed decision and so supports me. And that's all I really want from her - I know she has nothing practical to do with it, but just knowing that there is someone in the medical profession who respects my decision makes me feel a whole lot better. Dr W is going to speak to my midwife, CF, about our chat and pass on her support, and has advised me to ask CF for a referral to a midwife colleague if she's not happy to support me. So I think I will go to my appointment with CF in a couple of weeks time - I was thinking of just phoning her and telling her that I wasn't going because I'd lost trust in her - and see what she says. But I'm prepared to ask for another midwife if that's what's going to be needed to get the practical support.

Proper names for Bubble

We've had plenty of discussions about it, and still can't decide, but here's a list of names we're considering. They're in alphabetical order, not preference, so as not to give you any more clues! And these are just the first names - it's likely to have a family middle name.

Boys: Aidan, Elliott, Flynn, Hugo, Isaac, Jacob, Kai, Magnus, Marcus, Nicholas, Robert, Seth, Theo, William

Girls: Bethan, Bridget, Ellen, Eloise, Emma, Faye, Georgina, Hannah, Imogen, Jana, Juliet, Kaitlyn, Kiera, Kirstin, Kristin, Lauren, Niamh, Siobhan, Tamsin, Zara

NCT antenatal classes

I've just got an email with an invitation to antenatal classes. I wasn't sure we were going to be able to get on one, as we'd been told they were fully booked. To be honest, I've learned a lot from the discussions at yoga class, and we're going to an active birth workshop next Friday, so I wasn't panicking too much, but its a bonus that we've got on an NCT class, even if it's only so we can meet other people. I think it might give Dave some information and more confidence as well. It's four evenings during February, finishing about 10 days before Bubble is due, so let's hope he doesn't decide to make too early an arrival!

Spending money at last

We've now started spending money for Bubble. We went over to the biggest Mothercare in the region yesterday to investigate the various things we still require for Bubble: Push-chair/buggy, Car seat, cot mattress, etc etc.

Having spent a couple of hours trying various combinations of car seats/bases (including a seat that was supposed to be suitable from birth to approx 4yrs, but that didn't fit our car) and pushing a number of sets of wheels round the store, we settled on their basic 3-wheeler push chair, a spring-interior cot mattress and the car seat that fitted most securely in our car. These have been ordered, and will be delivered during mid-February, hopefully about 3 weeks before Bubble makes his entrance into this world in his own right!