Silly fears... Any advice?

[ml600]

Hello!!
As my due date is fast approaching, I'm getting rather scared of the birthing process! The strange part is that it's not the labour and delivery that I'm most worried about! I think there's so much informations and stories about giving birth, but I'm worried about the bit right after delivery...
I have no clue about delivering the placenta and stitching/ after care for myself!! I'm opting for the injection to get the placenta out quicker, but that's all I know.

Things I'm wondering are:
- if I deliver baby in a pool, do I get out to deliver placenta? Do I do it on a bed?
- does placenta delivery hurt? How long does it take?
- local anaesthetic for stitches... Does that hurt?!
- how long does stitching take?

I know a lot of these questions are very subjective, depending on amount of tearing etc, but I'd really appreciate any stories you're willing to share!!

Thank you xxxxxx

 

[H16]

If you have a water birth they make you get out of the pool and lay on a bed to deliver placenta. I don't recall it hurting at all, took about 10 mins after having the injection for it to come out. The injection for stitches doesn't hurt - you won't even notice it after giving birth trust me. I had a third degree tear and an episiotomy and my stitches probably took 20 mins, all I felt was a slight tugging and it was all over x

 

[kumber]

I had a water birth but had to get out as he got stuck, so the hope was he would drop with gravity when I got up. Worked like a charm!

They gave me the needle after the cord was cut, I think it took about 10 minutes ish to get it out. I stayed on gas and air cus they have to tug it to see if it's come away from the wall. It's not comfortable at all but they pull it out (that doesn't hurt, it's just the tugging feels weird and uncomfortable) and omg it's such a relief. I don't know why but I felt so much better when it was out. Even with all that though, I was so focused on this little bundle that it didn't fully register with me.

I didn't need stitches but was told if I did, I could stay on gas and air as it was working as a good painkiller for me.

I would imagine you would need to get out the bath, there was a lot of blood for me when my placenta came out but I think my postpartum bleed started pretty quickly.

I wanted to go for a shower fairly immediately afterwards, it was the worst shower I'd ever had but also the most refreshing! My legs were like jelly, my stomach muscles were b*ll*cksed from pushing and my boobs were so sore but I was covered in yucky stuff so it felt amazing to get rid of it all.

I know you didn't ask about the shower but I never knew about it with ds so thought I would share my experience of that.

 

[hayes]

Didn't even notice the injection for placenta n it just came out n was disposed of. I had second degree tear n fir me the local anesthetic was bloody painful but I had no pain relief during birth n then whack went in 4injections but it was ok n didn't feel the stitches at all n healed up nicely so shudnt complain.

Whatever happens u will b on a high from giving birth so u prob wont notice much!!

Michelle.x

 

[ShowingPromise]

Not silly fears at all ml!

My midwife has gone over these bits with me and the advice given by the ladies above is pretty much what she said.

I'm really worried about tearing/episiotomy and not feeling right again! only natural for ftm's and at every birth following!

 

[ml600]

Thank you everyone!
Kumber thanks for adding in about the shower! Hadn't thought about that!! What do you use to wash down there??

One more thing... Delayed cord clamping - how long does it take for cord to stop pulsing?? Do you continue to have contractions while cord is attached? X

 

[kumber]

From what I read it takes between 1 and 5 minutes for the cord to stop pulsating. As far as I can remember in my labour, my contractions stopped immediately after he popped out. Or if they continued I didn't feel them!

 

[JJ Mum]

Cant help with any of the above Ml600, but i really wanted to see my umbilical and placenta so do ask, you might see it anyway but in theatre I didn 't , they must have thought i was joking and so they lobbed into a big bin of them and after i burst into tears !! ( as you do ) they brought me one to see , but im sceptical it was actually mine after what they had said!

All your questions are very sensible so don't feel silly for asking the girls.. X

 

[Bexybun]

With regards to stitches, I didn't have local anaesthetic, the midwife just told me to huff really quickly on the gas and air so I was high as a kite lol, and it worked- I had no pain, just a pulling sensation. I was w*nkered tho, kept blabbing on about the windows I don't think it took much longer than 20 mins, i think that depends on how badly (if at all) that you tear.

 

[ml600]

Thanks everyone!! I like to have in my head a rough idea of what to expect. This forum is amazing x

 

[flisstebbs]

I had an epidural so didn't feel much of the injection, or placenta or stiches at all . Plus I was cuddling my baby and I think they could have done anything to me without me noticing anyway! It is pure elation when that baby arrives, I literally didn't care what they got up to down the business end.

What I was totally unprepared for was how wobbly I felt when I went round to the ward (but I had been up 3 days at this point!). The shower felt good but I made the mistake of gently washing down below of had a slight melt down of OMG!!! Everything is very swollen and feels like it will never be the same again!!! Literally a few days later, things were much more normal so it is very transient so don't panic. I just used water to wash with, no soap.

Other thing I wish I'd had last time was some sort of light support garment for my middle as again that first couple of days leaves you very saggy where the bump was, but its amazing how fast it tightens up. I plan this time to have my big tubigrip they've given me from physio for pelvis support which goes from top of legs to just below boobs. I've read that this helps the muscles knit back together. Last time I felt very self conscious as I only had under bump pj bottoms which are not flattering after delivery!!

 

[ml600]

Thank you flisstebubs! I might pop some over the bump leggings in my bag to 'hug' my saggy bump lol. A lot of people have says you just focus on baby so don't notice what's going on... I hope that's the case!! X

 

[Bunnykins]

I tore 2nd degree, but didn't feel it happen at all, when they stitched me up they did a local anaesthetic so I didn't feel it and I was allowed to keep the gas and air, but I just used my hypnobirthing breathing and chatted away to the Dr doing it. I only felt a bit of tugging. It didn't hurt until a day after then it was sore and a bit uncomfortable when shuffling off my bed or having a wee and wiping.

The placenta I literally have no memory of at all, I think I was too engrossed in my little boy!!!!!

 

[Laurajcole]

I barely noticed the process afterbirth because I was so shocked baby was here.
Placenta injection was given and a few minutes later the midwife was pressing on my stomach. Wasn't painful at all. They lay it all out and check, I didn't look though.
Then a small nip was all I felt getting the anesthetic for my stitches. I didn't have many and it was all over in a few minutes. Well it felt like minutes anyway. Baby had some wee checks done and hubby was cuddling baby I was so distracted I never really paid too much attention.

 

[xjdx]

When I had a water birth. I held my daughter until the cord stop pulsating then they cut the cord. I got out of the pool and sat on a commode like chair, where I pushed and the placenta dropped into the bowl underneath. I didn't have an injection xx

 

[MummyBee]

I had an episiotomy and didnt even know. Also didnt know i had an injection to help deliver my placenta, I was too amazed by my baby in my arms. My oh actually asked what it was for after. I just remember looking down and seeing my placenta coming out and shouting to my OH omg dont look haha! I have to say its the most horrid thing iv ever set eyes on lmao! Delivering the placenta never even crossed my mind till it was there!! Didnt feel any anestetic going in when i was being stitched. I only felt one prick which they hadnt numbed but a quick top up and that was sorted. My stitches took a while simply because the mw was teaching a student while he was doing it xx

 

[Sugar10]

I can't speak for a pool birth as I don't know the procedure..
But I have also had the injection for placenta and didn't notice it too much to be honest, or was too busy to notice! Which I think is more the case. I was also suffering a sever PPH with the placenta during my last labour, so I had a lot of people around me so not sure what I would have normally been aware of. But don't remember noticing it being painful or anything with my others, and took about 10 minutes. I had stitches with my first and just felt 'tugging'. Also afterwards at home I think it was the midwife who checked on my stitches. Not sure if the procedure has changed.
You will be cuddling baby and won't care I promise!

They are not silly concerns and worries though, it doesn't matter how many times you do it, it's still worrying. I am anxious and scared and its number 4. .

Eeek soon be baby cuddles! X x

 

[Gillyboos]

I didn't notice the injection or placenta, there was a slight tugging and she pressed on my stomach but I was having baby cuddles so paid no attention to it all. There was certainly no pain for me.

 

[ml600]

Thank you for sharing your stories!! Makes me feel much more at ease! Xx