Community Posts, Tips & Support on Labor & Birth

Can anyone share their experience with Cervidil? I’m being induced tomorrow morning, but was only 1cm dilated and 50% effaced, so they inserted Cervidil around 3pm today. Just looking to see what I can expect!

How many of each thing are you packing for hospital for baby? My first born had quite a few changes that I actually ran out and partner had to bring more but we were in hospital for a week.

6 weeks post section, is it normal to still be having constipation, it’s got a little better but still quite difficult to pass stools, started taking lactulose again but don’t want to rely on it!

TMI but Im currently 37 weeks pregnant and since around 3.30/4pm today I haven’t been able to stop leaking urine! But when I go to the toilet, my bladder doesn’t feel like it needs emptying?? I’m trying to wee but I literally can’t, yet when I’m walking around it just trickles out. I’ve had cramps and cramps and mil...

How do I know if my water broke or if I’m just leaking amniotic fluid?! Did anyone else’s water break by a slow leak instead of a pop & gush?

After baby being transverse (sideways) at week 36 and 37 I’m now on my 3rd night in hospital. Day 1 here and baby turned head down 🎉 so hoping tomorrow he is still that way so I can go home for Xmas as they need him to be in that position for 48 hours. Feel totally fine within myself but being here and hearing…

Hey girlies any tips on naturally inducing my labour ? I’ve been told I need an induction due to the size of my baby just after Christmas ( he’s 8lb 1oz at 37 weeks ) so want to try everything to make it easier / come on naturally 😂 thanks x

How long after your c section did you take pain relief? I'm two weeks pp and feel I still need it.

Hello, I am due to have my dressing removed on boxing day and been wondering if there is any advice of how I can keep the scar area from getting sweaty. As a plus size girlie I'm worried my apron belly may cause the area to get more sweaty more quickly

Has anyone had the pessary as an induction method only. I’m hoping if I have to go through with an induction next week that it will be with least intervention as possible. I presume the more interventions used the more complicated and long labour can be but hoping it is pretty common that a pessary only is used and ...

Had my first baby there and had the worst experience but other hospitals are so far so no choice but to go with them this time too. Everyone I’ve met whose had a baby there dont have a good experience so anyone actually had a positive experience and want to share?

Hi, I recently found out that I am pregnant (currently 2-3 weeks) and after reading reviews online my husband and I have decided to self refer to St Thomas in central for care although we live locally in Bromley. Wanted to ask if someone has had a similar experience at a hospital away from their local area or at St ...

Hi, can anyone tell me whether my partner will be allowed to stay overnight in hospital with me after I have the baby? I am due in January and will be having a planned c-section. Thanks

whats a good birth plan for a planned section?

Can dad's stay overnight at the hospital with you once given birth?? Or will it just be visiting hours they are allowed?

Still grieving my ideal home birth as we were so prepared for it 🥺had a low risk pregnancy and we were both healthy but now our baby is apparently really huge plus they have just found out I have no amniotic fluid left 😭they don’t know what happened with it as my waters haven’t gone but they assume baby just drank…

whats everyone’s birth plan? what all should i include🤔

I had an emergency C-section with my first in April 2023, and I was hoping to have a VBAC this time around. Reasons for wanting a VBAC: I want to experience it, recovery will hopefully be straightforward so I can still be hands on with my toddler, I will hopefully be able to just generally be on my feet and active m...

So yesterday I had and appointment with maternal fetal medicine, the day before yesterday was my appointment with my OB they checked my cervix everything was good (I was scheduled for every two weeks until January 17th) so after my appointment with mfm yesterday they explained I had excess aniotic fluid. I see in my...

I went for my 34 week midwife appointment a few days ago and she said they now try to induce at 41 weeks? Is this true or even normal? I had a date booked for 41 and 6 days with my first but thankfully she came before then I always thought it wasn’t necessary unless medical complications/conditions or over 42 weeks