April 2013 Part 8: Welcoming our Easter Chicks & as Alex & Evan hopefully go home!

[toobreathless]

Over here Ladies!

I hope you don't mind me starting this thread too.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1689714-April-2013-Part-7-As-our-miracle-Alex-continues-to-grow-the-one-that-sees-us-reach-TERM

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1560543-April-2013-stats-thread

Wonderful news for today as we welcome babycandy and little Charlotte and hoping that this thread sees little Alex and Evan home very soon.

How many more babies will this thread see?

I had my sweep today, had been really scared but didn't hurt. Apparently my cervix was very favourable booked induction next Wednesday morning, but being "primed" the day before and mw thinks I'm likely to go into labour then just with pessary.

The induction process sounded nice and quite positive, am happy to wait now till next week or at least would be except I'm in a lot of pain since getting home, not labour just too much walking stiffened up my pelvis again, have back cramps and fidgeting bump is stretching and hurting me!

Hope everyone else is doing good still waiting, I had a read of post natal thread earlier, super jealous!

40+5

Aw username so glad your sweep went well - hopefully if I need one this time mine will be easier.

I have been really grumpy today - defo got to the point of being really fed up - feeling tearful and frustrated! 40+6

Hi all
jh - make sure you take it easy and unplug the phone tomorrow!!

user - I'm very jealous of your favourable cervix!! Did mw say what your bishops score was? I was still a 4 during my sweep yesterday. I read on another thread that chances of induction failure are high if bishops score is less than 8. Come on cervix- do something!

river - I'm fed up too- but news like empress' has put things into perspective- so I'm slightly more chilled out today.

Xxxx

40+ 10- do I win? Has anyone heard from birdbrain?

Xxxxx

p.s. tonight could be the night!! again!
Xx

Well today is my due date and no sign of baby, she's still not engaged. I've been doing lots of walking and lots of ball bouncing but bump is still very high.

jaq hoping you have a very punctual baby and tomorrow is the day. I know what you mean about the enquiring phone calls, I'm getting a little sick of those now too.

user I'm glad the sweep went well, it makes me feel a little braver about potentially having one next week. It sounds promising, I hope it kicks things off for you.

Wishful I know Empress awful news definitely does put another perspective on things. We are really needing to have something good happen for us - oh lost a good friend last week which was expected and we also had the bad news of a very good young friend losing his life unexpectedly this week and leaving behind a young daughter and currently I don't even know if either of us will be in a position to attend his funeral - it just seems to have been nothing but bad news lately. Adding to it is our local news of that poor young Lowestoft girl and her 3 children - literally half an hour up the road from where we live. Just seems to have been a lot of doom and gloom.

And of course none of the 4 of us can show our faces anywhere at the moment without questions about the baby/"helpful" suggestions of how to bring on labour!!

And of course the ability to get about normally without the inhibition of a bump who likes to wiggle and keep me awake half the night - lack of sleep and doom and gloom defo not helping my current mood!! Soz!!

Ps what is a bishops score!?? I have never heard of it

Thanks all for your kind words. Sam is fighting the good fight. The immediate challenge is keeping him alive long enough for him to be big enough to deal with the tumour in his heart.

They are also trying to identify an underlying condition as it's incredibly rare for a newborn baby to have so many tumours. They are all benign and the others are not too big.

However, the smallest thing could be too much and tip the balance, that's the scary thing.

At the moment they are feeding him through a tube in his tummy so I am about to head off and do some more expressing!

Bishops score is like a rating system of your cervix consistency, position etc that tries to work out how likely you are to need induction or if its likely to work I think. I was given a 6 only but you get bonus points for things like previous births or pre eclampsia so even if your score is low its not necessarily bad.

It was a massive relief to get sweep over with tbh, I was so scared but they were super nice and induction doesn't sound so bad now, means I can get more organised with a date in mind.

I hope everyone else waiting isn't feeling too bad, I bet we get a few more babies in next 48 hours!

Empress really good to hear from you again, thank you for continuing to post. Sounds like Sam is another fighter and I will continue to keep him in my thoughts everyday and will wave the virtual pom poms to keep cheering him on.

Well done on the expressing, remember to rest whenever you can and make sure you look after yourself. Sam wouldn't want his Mummy getting ill.

User thanks for the info on the Bishops score I had no idea either, I really hope I do get a sweep on Friday. The idwife didn't say anything about me having one on Friday but I will be 40+1 so can't see why they would refuse it.

Off to bed now with everything (apart from my legs) crossed in the hope I will wake up in immense pain Lets hope tonight is the night for loads of us and we have a batch of new babies to stare at tomorrow!

Ah thanks user despite being on dc3 I have never heard of it before!
Empress glad to get an update on little Sam - baby's are more resilient than we realise sometimes - hoping he has some of Alex's strength to baffle the docs and be ok xxx

And Jaq I am also now off to my bed and also not crossing legs - just waters breaking by the morning would do me! Also have midwife on Friday - last time baby's head was 4/5 engaged but understand after 1st pregnancy that doesn't mean much as they pop in and out more easily!! Plus we were only measuring 36 weeks!!

Empress- how wonderful to hear from you and hear that sam is fighting hard. I have been thinking of you. I have everything crossed that they can figure out what's going on quickly.
We are all here cheering him on xxx

Alex was let home last night after being thoroughly checked over, I have to check his temp two hourly but so far so good.

Just checking in - still no baby but another one with everything crossed besides legs! tht tonight will be the night! I've been in the most horrible mood today but have also had period type pain backache, very strong bh and pains in lower bump - sounds horrible but strangely hoping it will get worse iykwim! Also have a mw appt Friday but I have no idea if I'll be offered a sweep etc and know nothing about induction dd's were born term+1 and bang on due date so never been in tht position and hope I won't be this time. Interesting info on bishops score - I'm oblivious!

Lovely to hear from empress, Sam sounds a little fighter and I'm sure he cldn't be in btr hands.

39+5

Empress my heart goes out to you and your family. I can't imagine the worry you are going through.
Praying for good news for you xoxo

Thanks for keeping us up to date empress, you are clearly in so many of our thoughts.

I had an attempted sweep yesterday (40+6) but cervix was still closed so things not looking too hopeful. Just wanted to reassure anyone yet to have one that it was uncomfy but not really sore. It made my bp drop so that I felt a bit faint, but I am a semi-regular fainter so this isn't something to worry about for most - apparently it's common for 'fainters' to go after attempts to dilate the cervix (eg having a coil fitted) which I had never heard of, so just a wee heads up in case anyone is in the same boat. It passed very quickly and was nothing to worry about, but I would have felt better if I'd known it wasn't an unusual reaction.

I'm off for an accupuncture session this morning as I really want to avoid hospital induction if I can. I know that one session when things aren't looking that ready is unlikely to kick things off, but every little helps and if nothing else it might relax me as getting increasingly wound up here.

41+1

Well still no baby here. Went for a sweep yesterday, was really nervous beforehand but wasn't too bad. Only problem was she couldn't do it as my cervix is completely closed, long and hard....great!!

Nothing was mentioned about Bishops score but have since googled this and based on my notes I would guess my score would be a big fat zero! Now googled and scared myself to tears based on articles indicating in these circumstances an induction is unlikely to work and strong possibility of it ending in emergency c section...if this is correct I think I would prefer to skip the induction and have a scheduled c section but this was not mentioned as a possibility by the midwife.

I'm very anxious and tearful about the whole thing so seriously need to try and relax and become more positive today as I know such anxiety could make things worse. Also conscious that I need to get this is perspective as I realise things could be a lot worse.

FX for everyone else waiting and hope someone pops soon.

Empress continuing to think of you and Sam and so happy to hear that he is fighting hard.

40+9

Empress, thinking of you. Fingers crossed.

Bishop score: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_score

Hi all- STILL NO BABY!!

empress - thanks for the update. Sounds like Sam really is a fighter- I hope you're ok- are you able to stay in hospital with him?

mama - glad Alex is back home. Does that mean all the cp worry is over?

edin - good luck with acupuncture- be really interesting to see if it works!

river - sounds like you and your family have really been through the mill lately- here's hoping the baby is the start of things turning around for you x

luella - I've been getting myself in a bit of a stew about induction too- but realise there's no point in panicking. I too feel I'd rather go for a planned c-section if induction is likely to fail- but the mw didn't bring this up, and neither did I. Not sure now to tackle it. I think, if I get to Saturday and go in for induction, I'll ask for my bishops score again, and ask what the likelihood is of induction succeeding- just to open up the conversation. From what I can understand, the risks increase mainly because, as contractions can be so intense, more women need an epidural, which in turn results in higher likelihood if forceps/ ventouse/ c section - the general cascade really.

I've googled 'mumsnet positive induction experiences' however, and there are plenty of positive stories- perhaps have a read of those- it might put your mind at ease a little bit?

I'm frustrated but fine- know that there's only 2 sleeps until something starts happening! I've definitely been starting to lose my mucus plus over the last couple of days - nothing dramatic or bloody- just a bit of snotty thick mucus when I wipe. Not really enough to get excited about- but atleast it shows that something is happening- and that makes me feel that perhaps something could happen before Saturday of its own accord- I hope so!

Anecdotally, 3 close friends have been booked for induction, but had their babies the day before- so lets not give up hope yet!!!

Looking at the due dates we're definitely due a flurry of babies soon!! Fingers crossed that we're all writhing in agony by lunchtime! (Isn't that an absurd thing to want!!)

40+11!!!!!

Xxx

leluella don't worry, you still have time. try to relax, go for walks or a massage, you body will know when it is ready.

I myself am 38+2 and anxiously looking forward to my Mum's arrival, who flies in on the 27th.

leluella (and anyone else who is waiting for babies) - I have heard really positive things about reflexology being effective. Its something I plan to try if I go over!

Just to add to the acupuncture/reflexology approach to trying to get things moving-I had acupuncture on and off before and through pregnancy (I credit it with getting pg after 12 mths ttc).

Had a session yesterday where she tried a more 'targeted' effort to gently encourage things along, because I am also PETRIFIED of induction (mainly thanks to being scared by friends' stories). I've definitely had new sensations since the acupuncture session...been having practice contractions for weeks but now also weird squirmy movements and tightenings down low (baby lower I guess) plus shooting sensations (not quite painful just a bit shocking!) down towards where I assume cervix is. Feels vaguely promising....

Could be a coincidence of course but you never know! Off for more needles on Sunday if baby hasn't arrived by then (which let's face it is probably unlikely).

empress continuing to think of you and Sam and sending much love.

39+6

empress thinking of you and baby Samuel. He sounds like a trooper, and he is in the best hands. Look about both of you xx

leluella I went in for an induction at 38 weeks over concerns about the size of baby. Three pessaries later (and 18 hours of watching he other ladies waters break and go off to labour suites) nothing had happened. I'm adamant he was too cosy in there! This meant I had to go for an emergency c section. It's called emergency, but don't feel it. They do red light or rush you, in fact, two real emergencies came in when we were meant to go, so we had to wait for ours. It was relaxed and we were really well taken care of. Recovery is a pain (I wanted a water birth so pretty far from that!) but it's so worth seeing and holding your baby. I agree reflexology is amazing, just take some time out to relax xx

Congrats to everyone whose babies have arrived, good luck to everyone else! I had an awful pregnancy but am missing bump lots now. Maybe selfish, as now baby Flynn is here I have to share him, ha! Boy is pleased as think he would like another (which I had ruled out!) xx

Thinking of you empress. Little Samuel sounds like a fighter. Look after yourselves, we'll all be thinking of you.

I don't know if it it helps those facing induction but my sweep was really not that painful - like an uncomfortable smear. They did it because my waters broke first and my cervix wall was still quite thick. Contractions came on thick and fast after that! I realise it wasn't a full induction but hope it reassures someone.

photo tht's really interesting about reflexology, my cousin is a beautician and swears she can tell the sex of the baby by feeling ur feet! We wanted a surprise so wldn't let her near my feet

Today is my due date so I have been keeping busy in a relaxing kind of way.

Dropped the dc's at school, then went for a drive with DH in the beautiful sunshine, then met my Mum, Dad and 3 week old neice (who is scrummy) for a lovely carvery lunch. Now grabbing an hours internet time before we begin the school runs all over again.

Light dinner and an early night all round as I have been up since 4am.

Someone please give birth today, I don't want my due date to go unused

40weeks Yay, booo, yay, bugger