Caesarean section for every pregnant woman?

So today across the media it was revealed that NICE are planning to make caesarean section available for every pregnant woman that wants it,, free on the NHS. Apparently the risks of a caesarean are now similar to a more conventional birth. Yes a c-section costs an extra £800 compared to a ‘grit your teeth and push’ but apparently this is a great step forward in choice for women.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2055227/NHS-women-right-caesarean-section-birth-dont-need-it.html

NICE doesn’t move quickly so if it does decide to make c-sections widely available I’ll probably be pregnant with my fifth child by then. None the less, it has got me thinking. If I had the choice what would I choose?

I haven’t yet decided on how to give birth, or been exposed to the NCT,’ natural is best’ argument, but right now, drugs sound sensible and generally trying to reduce the pain as much as possible sounds like a good plan. I also want to be able to look after my baby as much as I can when it arrives, so avoiding a c-section if I can. That said, the aftermath for my body after pushing out a baby which just shouldn’t be able to fit through there seems frightening at best.

Would I choose a caesarean? I think probably not, but do I blame other women if they choose to? No I’m not sure I do. 

Underwear upgrade

There is no denying it, I may only be 20 weeks pregnant but my underwear collection already needs a rewrite. My baby bump may not be here yet but the increase to my chest size certainly is. Looking through the NHS advice and midwife advice, at this point I should be looking for new bras to last me the next few months which accommodate my ever increasing frame. However all the advice says I need to ditch the underwiring and go back to non-wired alternatives.

I haven’t worn a non-wired bra since I was about 15! Looking online and during a dire trip to M&S all the non-wired options I can find can only be described as hideous and each cup is the size of my head! Without the wiring an F cup seems to be made of twice as much material to provide the same support. Surely they can’t be suggesting that I wear something that my Gran wouldn’t even be seen dead in?

As soon as I search for non-wired bras of my size, google seems to think I want a maternity bra. While they will certainly be needed at the end of this nine month process I don’t think I really need a breast feeding mechanism right now.

Any advice on shops, websites or designs would be gratefully appreciated. I cannot believe I am the only woman who has a decent sized rack and can’t find a bra that doesn’t make me feel like a 50’s washer woman! Thanks everyone.

First scan: D Day

Written 29th August 2011 (Before I got my self in gear to start this blog)

It is nearly here. Tomorrow we finally see the first images of the newest member of our little family. I’m very excited but more than a little anxious. It has felt like we have been waiting for this day forever.

It wasn’t that long ago that ultrasound wasn’t that widely available. However, the 12 week or 3 month mark has been then magic deadline for a long time, when we can all breathe a sigh of relief and feel just that bit more confident that everything is going to be ok.  We reached the great date on Saturday but have held off telling anyone until we have seen he/she with our own eyes. I wonder if I was a religious person I would feel differently about this, being accustomed to having faith in things I cannot see or even understand. The development of two cells in to a child is surely one of the most amazing things that can happen in today’s society but I just cannot quite believe it is real until I’ve seen it. This lack of faith is even more ludicrous when you take in to account all the signs of pregnancy I have been putting up with over the last couple of months:

·        Nausea – so much nausea! If I managed a day without wanting to be sick I had a little celebration. This happened twice in a two month period!

·        Fatigue – I have never been so tired! I used to get home from work and lay on the sofa until I went to bed which was stupidly early. I became one of the most boring people I knew.

·        Tea and coffee. I cannot even think about them, let along drink them without feeling ill

So taking all of that in to account I feel confident then when I lay on that ultrasound table tomorrow and she covers my tummy with goo, that a picture of a baby will appear on that screen and we can celebrate and tell everyone we have ever met. However a little niggling doubt remains so until tomorrow I will continue to tell my mum “Yeah I’m fine, nothing major going on here”.

Welcome

Welcome to my first blog post. :)

This blog will be an honest account of our preparations, as husband and I get ready for the arrival of our first bundle of joy. If you are trying to get pregnant or currently carrying your own little person I hope you find this useful or at least entertaining.

For me I hope this blog will offer an opportunity to share excitement, vent/moan and just generally get down on (virtual) paper how I feel as we prepare for March when EVERYTHING is going to change.

Wish us luck

Mrs A