I’m having another girl! 🥰 SO excited for my daughter to get a sister! (And I don’t need to buy anything haha) feel very happy and it feels a lot more real already! X
So been thinking these couple weeks about the time just after delivery.. I’m quite set on hospital birth but I didn’t realise you typically only get put in shared maternity wards in hospitals here and private rooms are rarely available .. also my partner can also only visit me in daily 2 hour visiting hours periods in postnatal wards due to COVID rules.
Doesn’t quite make sense for me to be in a shared ward with other people who are unknown to me versus having my known healthy partner by my side after the major event of birth..
those mamas who have been through birth in hospital before, what was your experience for overnight stays if any?
Thank you! Hope you get your date through soon @TeeAli22
Regarding hospital birth, I actually ended up booking a home birth last time but had to transfer in as my BP went up, so ended up having my daughter in hospital. She was born just before 5pm and think we stayed in the delivery room until 7:30 or something with me feeding her, skin to skin, having shower etc. But it felt like about 20 mins. Just such a blur! Then went round to ward. We asked if there were private rooms as in our hospital you can pay £25 or something if there’s one available but it had been SO busy the day my daughter was born that there was no space (they’d had to cancel all inductions and c sections because it was full- she was born a few days before Xmas so clearly everyone desperate not to have a Xmas day baby haha) so we were on a full ward but you obvs have curtain etc plus I was just so engrossed in the baby I didn’t really think about anyone else other than it was noisy haha. We’d missed dinner so my husband went and picked up a Pizza Hut haha and we ate that in my bay. Birth partners were allowed to stay with you for the first night, but if you had to stay longer they couldn’t which seemed odd to me. Thankfully we went home the next day. I didn’t sleep at all that night even though Bea did- just stared at her. Haha! We spent a lot of time in the lounge so we could chat away from the ward. Tbh though if it’s still restricted partner visits I’m really anxious about that because I was pretty immobile those first days/weeks so it was nice that my husband was there to pick her out of crib, do nappies etc. I hate the thought of a stranger doing that 😩 And just having someone to talk to and take it in with.
I’m hoping I’ll be able to book another home birth and try that again but too soon to say as still high risk and last time didn’t get sign off from obstetrician until 36 weeks so will see what lies ahead and trying not to get to set on any idea yet! X
@PGmama Personally I had an emergency section at 33+2 and spent 9 days in hospital post birth. The first few days I was in a shared ward before being moved to a private room. In total I think there were maybe 6-7 private rooms in my hospital maternity ward and maybe 4 shared wards of 4 beds. Private rooms were reserved for long term patients and those with twins/triplets etc.
I've got to be honest that I hated my time on the maternity ward. Neither me nor my baby required any additional help 99.9% of the time and we were broadly speaking left to it so it seemed pointless us being there but it was stressful and I didn't have any autonomy over my day etc. Being at home was 1000% better.
Having said that I would speak to your midwife and ask about your local hospitals. They're not all the same. Some have specialised maternity hospitals and maternity hotels attached which normally means private rooms and a lot more of a home type environment even though you're technically still in hospital.
The silver lining is that for most people they have a straight forward birth and discharge. In theory you should expect to be discharged 24-48 hours post birth if everything goes to plan. Normally the only sticking point is when they want to see you successfully feed the baby before discharge, but you don't *have* to stay if you're both well.
You could also look into birthing centres? The one we looked around the postnatal rooms were private bedrooms with double beds! And they said that even if you transferred to hospital then you could still go there postnatally if no complications. Again obviously no idea what their procedures are atm with Covid but maybe worth looking into and weighing up all options.
I think there were 8 beds in my postnatal ward so quite big. But I know from someone that went there that Tunbridge Wells hospital only has private rooms so guess every hospital is so different!
Any 20 week scans coming up soon? We should do a little chart of who is due when and what gender we are having (for those finding out) so we can keep a track! (I've seen it in a few of the other groups!)
I'm 20 weeks next Saturday and still no 20 week scan date called up twice and they are just taking their sweet time sending out the letters! Very frustrating!
Looks like the hospital we have here is a 4 bed ward with 1 private room so that’s that. I’ve hesitated around delivery in any other location aside from hospital, given it’s my first and I don’t wanna risk not being able to have access to what I need. So i don’t think I’ll have much choice ultimately
maybe things will change and they’ll allow partners to stay in ward postnatal for longer...
In other news, bump is growing but not loads so given all the stress and worry, I’ve just gone ahead and booked an early reassurance scan today. Literally called reassurance seemingly to reassure mamas in between long NHS scan waits ? Anyway, excited and nervous as always. Looking forward to seeing and hearing the little one again and discovering more hopefully!
@PGmama I'm hoping things change a fair bit before September!
Nice to have a scan booked in! Hope all goes well today and you get to see lots of baby! I don't have a huge bump but it's my first too so not sure how big or not I'm meant to be ha! xx
That’s a good idea @TeeAli22! I keep losing track of who is due when! My 20 week one is in May sometime (can’t remember haha) but I’m 17 weeks on Thurs so in 3.5 weeks or so. That’s mad you don’t have your date still when it’s so soon!! As if they think people don’t have to make any arrangements to miss work etc! I was given mine at my 12 week one. So weird how each area does it so differently!
Yeah I’m really hoping that by September things will look different and fingers crossed we can have our partners with us 🤞🏻Also I think they’re generally way more flexible if there are any issues. My cousins baby was born in December and she needed some help with breathing initially and her fiancé was allowed to stay in the NICU the whole day until bed time. I’ve also heard of people delivering in the morning and being able to go home same day so Fingers crossed you’ll just be in and out and all straight forward!
Also I massively recommend Hypnobirthing if you’re feeling anxious about anything, whatever type of birth you’re planning on having. I was SUCH a nervous nelly about it all when I was pregnant last time and it helped me soooo much mentally I can’t begin to tell you.
@Olivia1990 I know crazy isn't it! So many people have said they got theirs pretty much after their 12 week scan but so far I'm still none the wiser! I'll make a list when everyone has had their 20 week scan then so we can keep track!
I've checked out the hospital where I am going to deliver (this is my first so would rather have everything on hand I need if anything went wrong). They have 11 private rooms, 2 with pools, which I would prefer. It also says that for straightforward births they try and get you out within 3-6 hours. If you need to stay in over night, subject to no restrictions, they let partners stay over night too. So really hoping things change by then!
Do you have any info on hypnobirthing? Are their videos on YouTube? I've heard so much positivity about it so definitely want to check it out! xx
My midwife during pregnancy is also a Hypnobirthing teacher so I did a course with her last time and will do a refresher course with her this time probably.
There are usually lots of local groups. If not there are lots with online courses- positive birth company, birth-Ed etc. They have Instagram accounts too if you use insta? I found following positive accounts about birth really helpful. I have bought the Hypnobirthing book from the person who runs positive birth company too so will read that soon. For me it was about understanding what was happening in my body at each point in the process and how best to deal with each stage and understand each feeling and best breathing techniques for each stage. I could really visualise what was happening rather than just feeling contractions. I was listening to some of the tracks through my headphones at some points in my labour when I felt myself getting anxious and heart rate going up and it really helped. And just understanding all your options and having the knowledge to weigh up all the decisions. And gives your partner a role too. As we did the course together, we discussed so much about what we would want to happen in all eventualities so he was able to advocate for me and nothing felt too overwhelming even when went off course a bit as we’d discussed it all. And when I got to hospital he asked them to dim the lights for me and put out battery tea lights and stuff and all the things that I wouldn’t be able to think of in that moment but made a difference. I honestly can’t describe what an anxious wreck I was about giving birth and then ended up booking a home birth and being really excited about giving birth which I would never have believed 😂😂
Yeh 3-6 hours is a bit too keen for my liking haha!
Yess I have Insta so any recommended pages would be great!
I'll have a look at some courses then as I'd like to do it all as naturally and easily as possible so this sounds ideal (obviously I know a multitude of things might happen in the meantime) but good to know it gives you the tools to think of each eventuality and the partner has a role too (although not sure how much use mine will be throughout labour haha!)
Morning everyone! I’m 20 weeks tomorrow I’m due on 1st September. I have my anatomy scan later in the week already feeling very nervous. I still have nausea and vomiting tried weaning back on some of my tablets and that was a complete disaster 🤢 I need to check with my OB tomorrow at appointment if I can stay on meds the whole way through. I’m still struggling trying to get calories in I’m currently reaching around 1200 per day. My husband has suggested I start eating ice cream in the evenings haha I’m not completely opposed to the idea haha. My bump is also still small but I think from 20 weeks it will start growing fast I can already see a difference from last week 😆Hope everyone is doing well. We are almost half way😆😆😆
Glad to see everyone is well. Although sorry to hear your sickness is still going strong @Bunnissa 😔🤢
I'm 18+3 today, 20 week scan is in just under 2 weeks 😄 due date of 13th September and we already know we're having another little boy. Really hoping the 20 week scan agrees with that 🙉🙈.
Feeling definitive movement inside and out near enough hourly now. Looks like this one is going to be just as active as his brother 😅. Not looking forward to the rib kicks later on!
Bump growth seems to have slowed now (thankfully) but I'm already a lot bigger than I was with my first. With my first I was in normal clothes until 24 weeks ish. I've started buying summer maternity clothes so I'm ready and we've started on the baby's room. Hoping to get that mostly finished over the next couple of weeks. We're aiming to get everything done super early just incase we end up with another premature baby/pregnancy complications.
We also went out and bought a Chicco Next2Me Magic crib at the weekend. 😄 Very happy with it.
@TeeAli22 You're right! 🙈 Due date is the 11th. Sorry I keep saying 13th cause I know when I ovulated 🤣 and that makes me due on the 13th. But going by my dating scan/NHS dates I'm 18+3 due date of the 11th (need to keep saying that over and over to try and make it sink in!)
Hi everyone! Glad to hear you are all well. I am 16+3 today and due on 25th September, we had our 12 week scan which went fine and have had a tender scan too and found out we are expecting another little girl 🥰 I’ve been to the shops to buy her a few things today, it’s so nice to be out!
I had an EMCS with my first so the main thing in my mind is trying to decide between a VBAC of a planned section. I am leaning towards VBAC at the moment but it’s so hard to decide!
Our maternity wards are 6 to a room and tbh I hated my last time and couldn’t wait to leave! Luckily my section went really well so I got discharged about 36 hours later but I’d have hated to be in longer. Our hospital have just changed the rules too and visiting hours are almost back to normal so that’s a huge weight off my mind 😊 has anyone else’s hospitals started relaxing the rules?
@Curiosity101 well at least I can remind you now we have the same date!! haha!
@SparklyBubbles aww how cute a little girl! Congrats! My hospital has opened up the visiting hours already to 11-5 from no visiting at all, which is great! You can also have one person to all appointments and scans now and all throughout labour, not just active labour. Hopefully that means it's all relaxed come Sept as I'm wanting 2 birth parnters if possible (providing no more waves of Covid!)
Replies
ahhh congratulations!
17+3 today for me and still awaiting my 20 week scan date through!
Hope everyone had a good bank holiday weekend!
those mamas who have been through birth in hospital before, what was your experience for overnight stays if any?
Regarding hospital birth, I actually ended up booking a home birth last time but had to transfer in as my BP went up, so ended up having my daughter in hospital. She was born just before 5pm and think we stayed in the delivery room until 7:30 or something with me feeding her, skin to skin, having shower etc. But it felt like about 20 mins. Just such a blur! Then went round to ward. We asked if there were private rooms as in our hospital you can pay £25 or something if there’s one available but it had been SO busy the day my daughter was born that there was no space (they’d had to cancel all inductions and c sections because it was full- she was born a few days before Xmas so clearly everyone desperate not to have a Xmas day baby haha) so we were on a full ward but you obvs have curtain etc plus I was just so engrossed in the baby I didn’t really think about anyone else other than it was noisy haha. We’d missed dinner so my husband went and picked up a Pizza Hut haha and we ate that in my bay. Birth partners were allowed to stay with you for the first night, but if you had to stay longer they couldn’t which seemed odd to me. Thankfully we went home the next day. I didn’t sleep at all that night even though Bea did- just stared at her. Haha! We spent a lot of time in the lounge so we could chat away from the ward. Tbh though if it’s still restricted partner visits I’m really anxious about that because I was pretty immobile those first days/weeks so it was nice that my husband was there to pick her out of crib, do nappies etc. I hate the thought of a stranger doing that 😩 And just having someone to talk to and take it in with.
I’m hoping I’ll be able to book another home birth and try that again but too soon to say as still high risk and last time didn’t get sign off from obstetrician until 36 weeks so will see what lies ahead and trying not to get to set on any idea yet! X
I've got to be honest that I hated my time on the maternity ward. Neither me nor my baby required any additional help 99.9% of the time and we were broadly speaking left to it so it seemed pointless us being there but it was stressful and I didn't have any autonomy over my day etc. Being at home was 1000% better.
Having said that I would speak to your midwife and ask about your local hospitals. They're not all the same. Some have specialised maternity hospitals and maternity hotels attached which normally means private rooms and a lot more of a home type environment even though you're technically still in hospital.
The silver lining is that for most people they have a straight forward birth and discharge. In theory you should expect to be discharged 24-48 hours post birth if everything goes to plan. Normally the only sticking point is when they want to see you successfully feed the baby before discharge, but you don't *have* to stay if you're both well.
Any 20 week scans coming up soon? We should do a little chart of who is due when and what gender we are having (for those finding out) so we can keep a track! (I've seen it in a few of the other groups!)
I'm 20 weeks next Saturday and still no 20 week scan date
xx
maybe things will change and they’ll allow partners to stay in ward postnatal for longer...
In other news, bump is growing but not loads so given all the stress and worry, I’ve just gone ahead and booked an early reassurance scan today. Literally called reassurance seemingly to reassure mamas in between long NHS scan waits ? Anyway, excited and nervous as always. Looking forward to seeing and hearing the little one again and discovering more hopefully!
Nice to have a scan booked in! Hope all goes well today and you get to see lots of baby!
I'll make a list when everyone has had their 20 week scan then so we can keep track!
I've checked out the hospital where I am going to deliver (this is my first so would rather have everything on hand I need if anything went wrong). They have 11 private rooms, 2 with pools, which I would prefer. It also says that for straightforward births they try and get you out within 3-6 hours. If you need to stay in over night, subject to no restrictions, they let partners stay over night too. So really hoping things change by then!
Do you have any info on hypnobirthing? Are their videos on YouTube? I've heard so much positivity about it so definitely want to check it out!
Yess I have Insta so any recommended pages would be great!
I'll have a look at some courses then as I'd like to do it all as naturally and easily as possible so this sounds ideal (obviously I know a multitude of things might happen in the meantime) but good to know it gives you the tools to think of each eventuality and the partner has a role too (although not sure how much use mine will be throughout labour haha!)
Glad to see everyone is well. Although sorry to hear your sickness is still going strong @Bunnissa 😔🤢
I'm 18+3 today, 20 week scan is in just under 2 weeks 😄 due date of 13th September and we already know we're having another little boy. Really hoping the 20 week scan agrees with that 🙉🙈.
Feeling definitive movement inside and out near enough hourly now. Looks like this one is going to be just as active as his brother 😅. Not looking forward to the rib kicks later on!
Bump growth seems to have slowed now (thankfully) but I'm already a lot bigger than I was with my first. With my first I was in normal clothes until 24 weeks ish. I've started buying summer maternity clothes so I'm ready and we've started on the baby's room. Hoping to get that mostly finished over the next couple of weeks. We're aiming to get everything done super early just incase we end up with another premature baby/pregnancy complications.
We also went out and bought a Chicco Next2Me Magic crib at the weekend. 😄 Very happy with it.
18 week bump pic
@Bunnissa hopefully you’ll feel better soon! Ice cream sounds like a fab idea!! Are you going to find out what you are having?
this is my bump pic today 😬🥰
Aww, your bump is super cute 🥰.
I had an EMCS with my first so the main thing in my mind is trying to decide between a VBAC of a planned section. I am leaning towards VBAC at the moment but it’s so hard to decide!
Our maternity wards are 6 to a room and tbh I hated my last time and couldn’t wait to leave! Luckily my section went really well so I got discharged about 36 hours later but I’d have hated to be in longer. Our hospital have just changed the rules too and visiting hours are almost back to normal so that’s a huge weight off my mind 😊 has anyone else’s hospitals started relaxing the rules?
@SparklyBubbles aww how cute a little girl! Congrats!