mommies to be DECEMBER 2010

Wow ladies! What an informative class that was.

We went through the different stages of labour. Also the different pain options and breathing techniques. Here is a mini breakdown for ladies not doing the classes.

Apparently its better to tear rather than be cut unless its going to be a deep tear.

When to go to hospital:
- Show (mucous plug)
- Rupture of membrane (if clear thats ok, if brown baby could be in distress)
- Regular contractions (every 5-10min, 3 contractions in 10 min)
- Any bleeding

Tips:
- Keep a towel with a black back in your car in case your waters break while travelling to save the car seat
- Keep a nappy in the car as its the most absorbant

When going into labour:
- eat a light meal (fruit, salad, yoghurt). Your body needs fuel
- drink lots of water
- rest/sleep
- enema is not necessary
- drip is put in for safety precautions

Baby:
- You can still have natural if the cord is around the baby's neck
- Fetal heartbeat (100-160bpm) baseline
- Good variability and accelerations
- Heart beat slows during contraction if the umbilical cord is against the baby's body
- There is a problem if the heartbeat desselerates after contraction

Should engage at 35 weeks

Effective contractions:
3-4 in 10min lasting 45-90 sec
Results in cervical changes

Different stages of labour:
1st stage: Latent - 3cm dilated - having the first contractions
(12-24hr)
Active - 4cm + dilated - having effective contractions
(6-8hr)
2nd stage: Fully dilated (10cm) till birth
(1hr)
3rd stage: Deliver the placenta
(30min)
4th stage: 1hr of monitoring

Pain relief:
Non-pharamcutical
- Breathing
- Work with the yoga ball
- Bath
- Walk around

Pharmacutical
- Entonox gas can be used from the start
- Pethadine and Aterax injection - 3cm dilated to 7cm. Affects baby past 7cm
- Epidural 3cm - 8cm. Takes 15min to work. 1% chance of being paralysed. That happens if you move when the are putting the drip in.

I was always very anti the epidural however now I'm not that against it. At the hospital I'm going to deliver at, they do what is called a Walking Epidural. That means that you can still move and it just blocks the pain. Within an hour of the birth, you can walk around. The midwife says that some places do a complete epidural and that is horrible because you can't feel anything. So far, I think I will work with the Entonox gas and see how it goes.

Well thats a little breakdown of what went on... We were given notes on breathing techniques and when to push etc which is quite indepth.

I'm really pleased I'm attending these classes.

Have a nice evening girls xxx

Re bottles and warmer: I'm just thinking that it will be December and the family will be gathering every now and then. With hubby's family being so full of men I may need to use the bottle instead of directly breastfeeding all the time. So I will express and freeze and use when we go out or have visitors. Hoping I wont have issues with nipple confusion. Plus hubby will be home as well so he may will want to help feed him. I'm not sure though. Still thinking about it.

Well champers- I'm sure you're going to have a good birthday.

The site is being weird today... keeps on giving me errors too!

wooohooo Champers! Sounds like you are going to have an awesome weekend.. and its your birthday!

Silicone or latex... i have no idea.
Be careful of the "starter sets" rather spend that money and buy only big bottles ( i think they are 240ml) . If you are going to breast feed for a while you wont really use the small bottles for very long... i remember with Mikayla that i thought it was a waste...

Thermometer - yes you will definitely need one! a standard one that you can stick under baby's arm will do the trick. I have used it 100's of times with Mikayla. Definitely worth the money but you really dont need an expensive one.

Bottle warmer - not necessary in my opinion. I use to warm mik's bottle's with warm water in a jug. That is how i defrosted the breast milk as well. I understood that that is the safest way to defrost / warm the breast milk without destroying all the good stuff.

We are pretty close... its very excited! I keep on thinking 24 weeks and baby is viable...

Ladies

More questions:

Is a Thermometer necessary? Will I actually use it? Those who have it how many times did you use it?

Is a bottle warmer also necessary? I heard that when you do use it, it shouldn't be used for long periods of time as they damage some good stuff in the milk.
Will it work for defrosting frozen breast milk?


I'm going all OCD again. Do you ladies realsie how close we are to the finish line? We will be packing our hospital bags pretty soon..

Ladies I have a question about baby products.

Which bottle teats are better? Silicone or Latex teats and why?

The Nuk website says that Latex is better. However they make them in both materials. So confusing.

I have decided on Nuk bottles for the baby. There is a bottle set (o-6months) for R600 at baby City. Other places have starter kits. I dont know what the difference between the two are

Thats great GML that you have classes that suit you! Long hours though! Wonder why you are having probs accessing the site. Weird.

WELCOME BARBS! I could never wait and keep it a surprise. I have already been given so many blue outfits (second hand) that I wouldn't have had I not found out. Also, we are going to paint the room (finally) probably next weekend.

Hubby is back from the UK so we are going to chill this weekend. Saturday is my BIFFDAY! Going to be weird not celebrating it properly without my wine...

I will let you know how the class on Natural Childbirth and the different pain options goes.

Have a great day ladies! xxx

morning

i am loving the warmer weather too GML!

Welcome Barbs! i felt the same way and this is my second baby! VERY worried that something would go wrong... but now that i can feel baby moving around i'm enjoying being pregnant much more! Please ask away... we will all try and help where we can!

Champers i'm sooooo jealous! I wish i could have a little afternoon nap.. hope you enjoy your class tonight!

AFM just been to the gynie for a check up (she didnt do a scan cause i had my formal scan on Tuesday) anyway... seems like i still have a bladder infection!! GRRRRR... so i have to go back on Monday for another check up! Apart from that both me and baby is healthy... i have picked up 8kg oops....