So many questions! :S

[Reena]

Hey everyone, sorry for all the questions but as a first time mum I feel so scared about what to expect. My friend told me yesterday that her auntie had a girl yesterday but her hospital scan told her she was having a boy! It was at ealing hospital, just wondered how many people expected a b or g and ended up surprised? I chose to find out at my 22 week scan and found out Im having a boy so rushed out and bought loadsa blue stuff (totally irresponsible I know but couldnt help it!) and now Im worried....
PLUS...how do you know when to actually go to the hptal? I mean...my friend was told to stay home till the contractions were 3 mins apart and she was in agony..I dont think Il be able to last that long, probs end up fighting with someone

Once again sorry for so many qs but they keep popping into my heaaad!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Emmylou]

At my ante-natal class we were told that we should stay at home for as long as possible, and the best way they thought to judge that was to wait until you can't stand the pain any longer, then stay at home for another hour

We found out at our scan we are having a girl, and although we got a few pink bits, we saved the shopping until after our 4d scan which was when the sonographer showed us her 'lady lips' (his words not ours )

 

[lmarszall]

Hiya,

We were told at our 19 week scan ours is a boy. I hope so as we have loads of clothes and a name!

She zoomed in on his man bits which DP saw but i was a bit emotional and didn't see them. But i have another scan at 34 weeks so hopefully i'll double check, lol!

Laura
x

 

[mummykay]

i found out at my 24wk scan when i mistook his willy for his foot!!!
OH was very proud lol!!!

 

[missac]

well everyone keeps mentioning to me that he could be a girl, but the mw said he deffo had boy bits! P thought he saw a willy then later admitted it could have been an arm

 

[kirlykird]

well I'm hoping that this is a boy as I've even got a rocking giraffe ith his name on!

 

[JustJen]

Ive been told on two occasions that im having a girl. I must confess ive bought quite a few pink things but if its a boy i'll just take them back - im not fussed either way. On my second scan I asked the sonographer if it was still a girl and although he said that they dont normally change sex he did confirm that it was but told me not to sue him if he was incorrect.

At all my previous scans with other children I have always tried to listen to what the sonographer says - wot sounds like "yes its a girl" might actually be said as "well it looks like a girl", so I wouldnt really hedge my bets if you get wot i mean. I really dont think they should make any comment unless they are actually pretty much 99% sure. The only 100% fail safe way of sexing a baby accurately is if you have to have amniocentisis (sp) when they can actually test the fetal fluid.

With regards to contractions and staying at home - i think its best that you stay at home for as long as you possibly can - theres nothing worse then getting to the hospital too early and finding you've only dilated 2/3 cms and are stuck at the hospital when you could be at home but obviously when its your first this can be a worrying time and you may prefer the security of being at the hospital. First babies generally take a lot longer to arrive so you've got plenty of time and shouldn't get caught on the bathroom floor delivering at home. Try not to worry hun, you'll body will tell you when its time to go to the hospital and if your in any doubt just ring the midwife or labour ward and tell them how your feeling, they'll tell you when to come in.
Take Care.

 

[cloud9]

I have seen my lo's boy bits 3 times so have no doubt about his sex.

At his 20 week scan he had his legs over the top of his bits but could see his balls from below, saw them at the 4D scan then he was flashing them again at scan last thursday..Think he's pround of them LOL

It says on our notes how accurate they are i think it says 95 or 99% ...Most won't gaurnteee for fear of been sued.

 

[Redshoes]

Reena, your LO will be what your LO will be, just relax, believe in yourself and take this last bit easy Hope peoples replies have helped ease your mind, and always phone your MW or hospital for further information, best wishes

well I'm hoping that this is a boy as I've even got a rocking giraffe ith his name on!

LOL kirlykird, that sounds like a great boys toy

 

[littlebump]

One of my colleagues has had 2 girls and both times he was told he was having a boy at the scan!! He didn't bother finding out for his third and he had a boy!

Re. when to go into hospital - it's so hard to know wiht your first. We were told once contractions have been 3 minutes apart for an hour then it's a good time to go in. At the end of the day they'll assess you and if you're not very far along they'll just suggest you go home where it's more comfortable and come back a bit later. Better to go in early and be sent home than to leave it too late. Some first labours take a really long time, whereas others seem to be over really quickly, so you just have to go with your gut instinct.

LBxx

 

[trixipaws]

hey
cant help with the labour questions as this is my first too but about the babys sex- well, i had 2 20-week scans and both times said poss. girl but neither sounded very sure at all, so only bought cream, yellow, green etc baby clothes just in case! i wish i did kno 4 sure coz i could go berserk with hello kitty and pink cherries baby clothes shopping if i did!!

 

[Reena]

Phew (again), thanks for the replies I guess it doesnt matter what I have..not to me really, altho dh really wanted a girl ok I think its time for labour dust for the overdue-ies and mums fed up of waiting! there should be an emoticon for labour dust, maybe with a lil wand? 8)

 

[sarah113]

i found out this one was a boy at my 20 week scan, then i had a 3d/4d scan and we saw his boy bits!!

 

[Reena]

Ok just thought of another q do contractions hurt more than the actual pushing out part?

 

[JustJen]

From personal experience I think the contractions are far worse than the actual pushing. Obviously your contractions are at their strongest when you have fully dilated and are pushing the baby out but i think because you are able to bear down you are so focussed on that part that the contractions dont seem as bad. You no that once they give you the green light to start pushing your mind tells you it will soon be over and you will have your little bundle of joy. In the end you look foward to having your next contraction so you can push if you get wot I mean.

The actual delivery / crowning is a very weird feeling, sometimes painful but this only lasts a relatively short time. My advise to anyone at this point is to do EXACTLY wot the midwife tells you to do - i.e., push when instructed and most importantly PANT when instructed. You dont want your babys head born too quickly as you more likely to tear and although it feels like trying to stop / pant through the most enormous poo you ever had and the overwhelming feeling to push will seem unbearable - its the best way to deliver.

 

[littlebump]

Ok just thought of another q do contractions hurt more than the actual pushing out part?

Definitely in my experience too - the pushing didn't hurt at all (apart from the crowning but that was more like a burning sensation that I just knew I had to push through).

Totally agree with JustJen - put your trust in your MW and do exactly as he/she says and you'll be fine!

LBxx

 

[*saulino*]

Hi

Try not to worry hun everything will be okay
I was told girl with Kiara and it was right and this time boy but i seen his bits no way could that be a girl
Katrina

 

[Redshoes]

Hope this helps Reena, sometimes we forget that we're perfectly made to give birth, obviously there are special circumstances where medical intervention is needed

"How the Uterus Works During Labor

During labor, your uterus will undergo radical changes to transform itself from a baby-holding organ into a baby-ejecting one. Its muscle fibers will draw upward using waves of contractions, as many as 300 for first-time moms, and 100 less for moms with experienced wombs.

One big misconception about birth is that it consists mostly of a woman "pushing" her baby out. But, in reality, it's the uterus that does most of the work of labor and delivery.

A contraction will start, then rest a minute, or so, then contract again. The muscle work of the uterus gets increasingly more coordinated and stronger as labor progresses.

Even mothers who are in a coma or have serious heart conditions that prevent them from pushing, thanks to their uteruses, are able to easily give birth. Sometimes, amazingly, their bodies accomplish the task even more efficiently than women who struggle and push to try to get their babies out. It appears that sometimes bodies, especially the bodies of women in labor, work better when their owners just relax and trust."

http://www.happyhealthypregnancy.com/in ... check=true

 

[Reena]

Ur absolutely right, we keep forgetting this is what our bodies have been perfectly designed to go, gosh...Il remember that when the pain hits me. Dont think Il be telling DH though, could use all the sympathy I can get!

 

[Reena]

Guys, I got up last night to go to the loo (one of my very frequent trips in the middle of the night), it must have been around 4am, and started getting mild period cramps, and Im still getting them now, but they are not that strong just mild, I dunno..maybe Im sooo praying bubs will come on time Im psychologically willing them on sometimes I think Im gonna miss the contractions cos every little twinge makes me think Im in labour, but definitely mild pains, mostly in back...wonder what this could mean, watch this space!