Guest guest Posted August 6, 2001 Report Share Posted August 6, 2001 Welcome to the group! You sound like you are doing brilliantly after only 3 weeks! Kirsten Mum to (2 years, just!) Step-mom to Shelby (6yrs) Trainee ANT, and Memb-sec Woking and Knaphill Branches. Hi - new joiner >Hi, > >just to introduce myself as I have just joined: > >my name is Siobhan; I have a new baby, Lucas - coming up to 3 weeks old. This is my second child - I have a daughter, who is 7 & 1/2 yrs. SO is Tim and we live in East London. > >My first birth was quite traumatic so I was increasingly panicky towards the due date - plus it was discovered at 29 weeks that I had gestational diabetes, which threatened to make the previous complications even worse - so he was induced a couple of weeks early. So I had a short but " extreme " labour - the first stage was excruciating but fast, the second stage (where I was half expecting the previous nightmare to begin again) was over in 8 minutes without any problems and Lucas was fine immediately - 7lb 13 oz. The whole birth (from established labour) was less than 3 hours. It was such a positive experience compared to the first time. > >We're doing quite well now. I had diamorphine this time as the contractions were so intense so quickly - plus it was too quick for me to sort out the most comfortable position or get into any rhythm or control my breathing, and he was born well before it wore off, so he was pretty sleepy at first. I had to bully him into his first feed as he only wanted to sleep - there was talk of giving him a bottle... but since then he has become a real guzzler. I had a couple of stitches which are now pretty much healed and I'm feeling well but tired (surprise!). > >Breastfeeding has been harder than I remembered - he was feeding for hours in the evenings and I got so sore I was in tears every time he latched on. I've been using shields now, and that's much better. I got a homeopathic remedy for his colic - that's also much better, although he is still definitely less comfortable in the evenings. He's good natured and doesn't cry much otherwise. I can't wait for his first smile. > >Generally things are getting easier and I feel like I'm emerging from the fog. > >Well - that's me. I'm looking forward to being part of this group. > >TTFN, >Siobhan > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2001 Report Share Posted August 6, 2001 Welcome to the group! You sound like you are doing brilliantly after only 3 weeks! Kirsten Mum to (2 years, just!) Step-mom to Shelby (6yrs) Trainee ANT, and Memb-sec Woking and Knaphill Branches. Hi - new joiner >Hi, > >just to introduce myself as I have just joined: > >my name is Siobhan; I have a new baby, Lucas - coming up to 3 weeks old. This is my second child - I have a daughter, who is 7 & 1/2 yrs. SO is Tim and we live in East London. > >My first birth was quite traumatic so I was increasingly panicky towards the due date - plus it was discovered at 29 weeks that I had gestational diabetes, which threatened to make the previous complications even worse - so he was induced a couple of weeks early. So I had a short but " extreme " labour - the first stage was excruciating but fast, the second stage (where I was half expecting the previous nightmare to begin again) was over in 8 minutes without any problems and Lucas was fine immediately - 7lb 13 oz. The whole birth (from established labour) was less than 3 hours. It was such a positive experience compared to the first time. > >We're doing quite well now. I had diamorphine this time as the contractions were so intense so quickly - plus it was too quick for me to sort out the most comfortable position or get into any rhythm or control my breathing, and he was born well before it wore off, so he was pretty sleepy at first. I had to bully him into his first feed as he only wanted to sleep - there was talk of giving him a bottle... but since then he has become a real guzzler. I had a couple of stitches which are now pretty much healed and I'm feeling well but tired (surprise!). > >Breastfeeding has been harder than I remembered - he was feeding for hours in the evenings and I got so sore I was in tears every time he latched on. I've been using shields now, and that's much better. I got a homeopathic remedy for his colic - that's also much better, although he is still definitely less comfortable in the evenings. He's good natured and doesn't cry much otherwise. I can't wait for his first smile. > >Generally things are getting easier and I feel like I'm emerging from the fog. > >Well - that's me. I'm looking forward to being part of this group. > >TTFN, >Siobhan > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2001 Report Share Posted August 6, 2001 > TTFN, > Siobhan > > Hi Siobhan, it's always good to have new members! I hope you will enjoy this group, we wax lyrical about all kinds of things and the group is incredibly supportive too! 8-))!! Ruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2001 Report Share Posted August 6, 2001 Welcome Siobhan - well done you for getting organised enough to join the group so quickly after having your son. There's lots of different experiences here, so don't be afraid to ask questions - we're here to help or lend a listening ear if things get tough. Where abouts in East London are you? I used to live in East Ham then Ilford then Romford before moving to Oxford and finally now am 3miles from Stansted airport. Until she retired my mum taught on the Isle of Dogs, so I know round there quite well and also I went to City Poly and spent alot of time either at Aldgate or Tower Hill. Hope you enjoy the group Todman Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5) Mum to , 3½ > Hi, > > just to introduce myself as I have just joined: > > my name is Siobhan; I have a new baby, Lucas - coming up to 3 weeks old. This is my second child - I have a daughter, who is 7 & 1/2 yrs. SO is Tim and we live in East London. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2001 Report Share Posted August 6, 2001 Welcome Siobhan - well done you for getting organised enough to join the group so quickly after having your son. There's lots of different experiences here, so don't be afraid to ask questions - we're here to help or lend a listening ear if things get tough. Where abouts in East London are you? I used to live in East Ham then Ilford then Romford before moving to Oxford and finally now am 3miles from Stansted airport. Until she retired my mum taught on the Isle of Dogs, so I know round there quite well and also I went to City Poly and spent alot of time either at Aldgate or Tower Hill. Hope you enjoy the group Todman Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5) Mum to , 3½ > Hi, > > just to introduce myself as I have just joined: > > my name is Siobhan; I have a new baby, Lucas - coming up to 3 weeks old. This is my second child - I have a daughter, who is 7 & 1/2 yrs. SO is Tim and we live in East London. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 7, 2001 Report Share Posted August 7, 2001 Hi , thanks for your reply and everyone else who said " hello " . > > My first birth was quite traumatic > My only birth was very traumatic, maybe you will share your experience with > us one day, I'd be quite happy to post mine again, although it did have some > in tears - eek! I'm not sure about posting this - its quite long for a start, and a bit grisly, and I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea, being new to the list. Shall I post it to your own email? - not really familiar with the netiquette here! Would very much like to hear your experience - you're welcome to post it directly (tim.a.wilson@...). > > > (of second birth) It was such a positive experience compared to the first > time. > So glad to hear this - I'm hoping one day this will happen to me too, so I > will be able to bury my demons once and for all. > I hope very much that you have a second, more positive experience. My experience was that I thought I'd left the whole thing behind some time ago (daughter now 7 & 1/2). But once I was pregnant, it did come back to me very vividly. The day after the first birth, the midwife who delivered my daughter came to see me to make very sure I was aware of the seriousness of the complications, in case I had a second child. She told me that the cause of the complications was having a pelvic opening rather too small for the baby, and that any subsequent births should be caesarean. I've moved to a different area since then, so early in the pregnancy I was extremely stroppy about getting my notes over and having them read by the consultant. I didn't want a c sec unless it was absolutely essential - I suffered post natal depression last time, and it seemed to me very important to try for a (closely managed) vaginal birth - mainly to lay those demons to rest. The consultant was fine about this, but wanted to monitor the baby's size closely and induce at 38 weeks if becoming as large as previous baby (she was only 8lb 7 oz - not enormous), and we agreed that if, at any point during the birth, there were signs of the previous complications then I'd have an emergency c sec immediately. And then I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which I was able to control through diet only - my blood sugar levels, diet and baby's weight were really closely monitored - but the induction became inevitable. The support from the midwives at the hospital was good too - the senior midwife from the AN clinic had told them of my fears, and I was given midwives sympathetic to my history and birth plan choices. That really helped. But in the antenatal period, I really did have to watch like a hawk that they were reading my notes, had got the right notes, knew about my feelings & the subsequent depression, and that I wasn't passed from pillar to post with junior doctors and no continuity of doctor. I still have a slight suspicion that my notes weren't really read properly until half way through the induction process... I have far more faith in the midwives than the doctors. So, my way of dealing with the fear, I guess, was control freakery. It might have been good to have done something like counselling but this didn't occur to me at the time. Well - sorry, you've touched a nerve and elicited a really long-winded response (you should read the first birth experience!!). The most incredible thing for me in the second birth was how my brain just seemed programmed to expect everything to happen exactly the same way; I couldn't believe it when there were absolutely no problems with the second stage - as mentally I had steeled myself for an emergency c sec (but at the same time, desparate not to have that). Also, when you're in labour, logical thought flies out the window, and I almost felt more comfortable with the idea of doing everything the same way again (even going through the problems) rather than facing a section. In retrospect I probably should have asked about the logistics of it in advance, just in case - but luckily, that knowledge not needed. The best thing this time was actually caring about the baby the minute he was born, and all of that being so normal. That's got to be a good start for life, hasn't it? :-) (Have always seen my daughter as a bit of a " warrior princess " in view of her rather heroic endurance at her birth, and also felt a bit guilty about being too wrapped up in my own pain immed. after the delivery). > > Breastfeeding has been harder than I remembered - he was feeding for hours > in the evenings and I got so sore I was in tears every time he latched on. > I've been using shields now, and that's much better. > Do you use shields all the time now? > No, I've been told to get off them asap as its affecting my milk supply... so just on one side now. Much less hassle, and the soreness (on that side, at least, has stopped). But in the short-term they were a god-send. Just need to crank the production back up a bit! Well - I'm off for a sleep now the going's good. Wow - you're right about the volume of mails... Is " digest " form a bit less overwhelming? Siobhan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 7, 2001 Report Share Posted August 7, 2001 Hi , thanks for your reply and everyone else who said " hello " . > > My first birth was quite traumatic > My only birth was very traumatic, maybe you will share your experience with > us one day, I'd be quite happy to post mine again, although it did have some > in tears - eek! I'm not sure about posting this - its quite long for a start, and a bit grisly, and I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea, being new to the list. Shall I post it to your own email? - not really familiar with the netiquette here! Would very much like to hear your experience - you're welcome to post it directly (tim.a.wilson@...). > > > (of second birth) It was such a positive experience compared to the first > time. > So glad to hear this - I'm hoping one day this will happen to me too, so I > will be able to bury my demons once and for all. > I hope very much that you have a second, more positive experience. My experience was that I thought I'd left the whole thing behind some time ago (daughter now 7 & 1/2). But once I was pregnant, it did come back to me very vividly. The day after the first birth, the midwife who delivered my daughter came to see me to make very sure I was aware of the seriousness of the complications, in case I had a second child. She told me that the cause of the complications was having a pelvic opening rather too small for the baby, and that any subsequent births should be caesarean. I've moved to a different area since then, so early in the pregnancy I was extremely stroppy about getting my notes over and having them read by the consultant. I didn't want a c sec unless it was absolutely essential - I suffered post natal depression last time, and it seemed to me very important to try for a (closely managed) vaginal birth - mainly to lay those demons to rest. The consultant was fine about this, but wanted to monitor the baby's size closely and induce at 38 weeks if becoming as large as previous baby (she was only 8lb 7 oz - not enormous), and we agreed that if, at any point during the birth, there were signs of the previous complications then I'd have an emergency c sec immediately. And then I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which I was able to control through diet only - my blood sugar levels, diet and baby's weight were really closely monitored - but the induction became inevitable. The support from the midwives at the hospital was good too - the senior midwife from the AN clinic had told them of my fears, and I was given midwives sympathetic to my history and birth plan choices. That really helped. But in the antenatal period, I really did have to watch like a hawk that they were reading my notes, had got the right notes, knew about my feelings & the subsequent depression, and that I wasn't passed from pillar to post with junior doctors and no continuity of doctor. I still have a slight suspicion that my notes weren't really read properly until half way through the induction process... I have far more faith in the midwives than the doctors. So, my way of dealing with the fear, I guess, was control freakery. It might have been good to have done something like counselling but this didn't occur to me at the time. Well - sorry, you've touched a nerve and elicited a really long-winded response (you should read the first birth experience!!). The most incredible thing for me in the second birth was how my brain just seemed programmed to expect everything to happen exactly the same way; I couldn't believe it when there were absolutely no problems with the second stage - as mentally I had steeled myself for an emergency c sec (but at the same time, desparate not to have that). Also, when you're in labour, logical thought flies out the window, and I almost felt more comfortable with the idea of doing everything the same way again (even going through the problems) rather than facing a section. In retrospect I probably should have asked about the logistics of it in advance, just in case - but luckily, that knowledge not needed. The best thing this time was actually caring about the baby the minute he was born, and all of that being so normal. That's got to be a good start for life, hasn't it? :-) (Have always seen my daughter as a bit of a " warrior princess " in view of her rather heroic endurance at her birth, and also felt a bit guilty about being too wrapped up in my own pain immed. after the delivery). > > Breastfeeding has been harder than I remembered - he was feeding for hours > in the evenings and I got so sore I was in tears every time he latched on. > I've been using shields now, and that's much better. > Do you use shields all the time now? > No, I've been told to get off them asap as its affecting my milk supply... so just on one side now. Much less hassle, and the soreness (on that side, at least, has stopped). But in the short-term they were a god-send. Just need to crank the production back up a bit! Well - I'm off for a sleep now the going's good. Wow - you're right about the volume of mails... Is " digest " form a bit less overwhelming? Siobhan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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