u/cabbageleeksoup

Hi all, I wanted to share my experience at a Birth Options appointment this morning as I wasn't able to find much information about it before I went and I imagine some of you might be looking for this information too! For context, I've always know I wanted a planned c-section, so I was offered this birth options appointment (as well as an online workshop where you learn about the different types of birth - I would recommend you join this too so they know that you did your homework).

I went in ready to be on the defensive as I had read on this subreddit that people were having difficulty convincing midwives on this, or were facing judgey midwives. I think I got very lucky with my choice of hospital and everyone has been non-judgey so far. Turns out I didn't even have to prepare my speech / put on a show because the midwife didn't even ask me my reasons.

It was like a regular appointment where the midwife takes your urine, BP, doppler etc, except she then talks to you about your choice. She started right off the bat saying that this was not an appointment to talk me out of my choice, and that whatever I decide today could be changed. I knew only a c section would be an option for me, so I stated it, and then she moved right on to talking to me about what happens the day before, the day of, during and after. She was so incredibly kind and patient and answered all my silly little questions.

I was still very uneasy when she said "I'll put your request through" and I was like, "Can a request be ... denied?" And she explained no - once the request is in, it's like an order. And then she even sat me through how she filled in the form on her laptop so that I could rest assured.

So I hope this helps someone else out there anxious about their appointment! I think it's good to be prepared anyway to advocate for yourself and have your reasons, but knowing that some of these appointments go this way would have helped me a long way as I was extremely anxious going in!

Hi there! I am a thalassemia beta carrier and 30 weeks pregnant. My blood work came back 2 weeks ago and showed that my iron levels had dropped slightly. I then took a ferritin test, results pending.

I'm pretty concerned because I was told my whole life by my mother (also a carrier) to NEVER take iron supplements, only folic acid/methylfolate. The hospital however said that if I do have an iron deficiency, and my ferritin test comes back low, I should take iron pills. What does this community think? Was my mother giving me wrong advice this whole time? Can I just take beef liver supplements instead?

PS. Is being a carrier = having thalassemia beta minor?

Thank you!

hi! i’m currently 30 weeks. i’ve been dealing with a cough for over 6 weeks, but otherwise feel fine and not with any regular symptoms of a cold/flu eg.fatigue. there’s a little bit of phlegm but it’s been pretty clear/white. i took a covid test and it’s negative.

i saw a GP on friday and he said that because im pregnant it was hard to determine what it could be, but prescribed me antibiotics in case it was bronchitis.

what‘a REALLY bothering me now though is that i’ve lost my sense of taste and it’s been 4 days since i’ve been able to taste anything!! i tend to lose my sense of taste when im congested so this is not new to me.

im wondering if this is “pregnancy rhinitis” instead of bronchitis and jsut want to know if anyone else out there has suffered the same symptoms so i can feel less alone!