Due April/May 2016

@blou, aaah! i get you. trust me, i understand the power of options. The way the touring nurse at ParkLane responded to my numerous questions about eating, drinking, walking around, using birthing ball, squatting...ya neh, Let's just say I really like my decision

@Maj,yeah, a friend told me they did a crash course and watched ante natal class videos. i'm 28 weeks and 3 days along:)

Hi Ladies. Wow ninies and BlouSonneblom 32 weeks!! where has the time gone?!!

@blousonneblom, have you visited the hospital? perhaps go with a list of what you would like: will they let you stand, no stirrups, etc, and see what they can offer you. I really dont want to be forced into positions and into things just because that is how they always do it. The birth may not be special to the sisters and the hospital, but it is to me, and I want to try it in a different manner from what they are used to.

I am also thinking of changing hospitals to the new maternity hospital in CT, but they only open in March. My gynea has also said that he only practices at this hospital, but he is so nice, so im hesitant to change.
I am going on a tour of the netcare hospital tomorrow, and then I will go on a tour of the maternity hospital. Will also have to look into their prices, med aid cover, etc.

@ monei, there is def a lot of info out there. read somewhere that there are numerous antenatal classes offered online as well. How far along are you?

@ Monei, I am in Cpt and my classes are just around the corner in Durbanville. I am going to talk to my Gynae on Wednesday about his view on no medication and intervention births (he normally does natural with epi). He also said to me that if my coccyx has healed in an inwards hook shape I will not be able to have a natural birth but I have been doing some reading and many women have had natural birth even with a hook coccyx, so the appointment will be interesting.

@ Blou, I would've loved to have a waterbirth but my medical aid does not cover it.

@monei, the hospital has a very high c-section rate, and I don't think they are very pro-natural birth, I think they specialize more in epidurals and c-sections, just concerned if I want to go all natural and they expect me to lie flat on my back when I have to push, when I would prefer to be standing for example. If I use the midwives, I can even use a birth stool or the bath so I can have a water birth if it is easier

Hello Ladies!

Glad to hear you and nanas are well! We are having our first midwife appy on Friday at 28+6. I decided to go to Genesis so informed my gynae. so hard to do! felt bad. He took it well tho. Also booked a 4D scan for then. Hope baby co-operates.

@Maj, there are some classes by midwives at Genesis but i'm happy to prep for my planned natural birth so I think the hypnobirthing it is. Must just enquire about costs and book. Am trusting my mom, sisters, cousins, and midwife for any advice i will need. plus there is soooo much info out in this world.

@Jaybee, glad to hear you are learning so much and enjoying your classes. I will probably take mine with ConsciousBirth- i recall a Theoni but don't know how it works yet. Where about are you?

@Ninies, I am sooo grateful for the aircon at work. I onyl realise how hot the day is when i knock off. then last week Friday my husband's bank card melted in my car!!! i can only imagine what the temperatures are in our parking lot during the day.

@Blou, Why do you foresee things going wrong at Mediclinic? I think the way you see urself at the birthing centre is how i see myself at mine.lol. I went to view Parklane just to complete my inofrmation before i chose. It was a hospital at the end of the day. I'm sure a great one- clean, has everything you need but i still preferred the experience i foresaw at Genesis.So i'm content with my decision. They also have private midwives at Parklane (thus a different active birth unit/delivery room-which we weren't shown during tour). I didn't pursue that avenue tho coz i just felt i must make my decision.

Hello ladies!

@ninies, not very long until we meet our babies, I will be 32 weeks on Thursday
I am also dying in this heat in Pretoria, and my aircon at the office does not work very well, so by the afternoon I can hardly concentrate

AFM, I met with a friend who works at Midwives Exclusive, saw the birth unit, it is beautiful and I can really see myself giving birth there, the medical aid will cover some of their fees and our gap cover will cover the rest, but sadly, their consultation fees will also be quite a bit of money, and medical aid covers very little of that and the gap cover does not pay for that, I will need to see them at least 7 times before the birth and another 5 times after, which is a couple of thousand rand on its own. Not sure if we can afford it

I am already seeing how everything will go wrong in hospital and that I will end up having the exact opposite type of birth experience that I want Currently was planning to give birth in Kloof Mediclinic, but want to do it all natural with no pain meds. Wish I could have a doula or private midwife there, but as far as I have heard, they do not allow it...

Feeling very depressed now

Hi Ladies

@ Ninies, wow almost 32 weeks already, how time has flown! Luckily it is cooler in Cpt now and can only imagine how you feel in a heat wave.

@ Monei, I have started HypnoBirthing classes with Kim and on my second class and learning so much. I am going to have the natural birth without pain relief and believe that HypnoBirthing will prepare me for this.

I have my 27w scan on Wednesday and super excited to see baby again. She is moving around so much and I am loving it