TTC 10+++ Months Grads Thread

[sweetgrouch]

Decided to start the new thread seeing as the old one is filling up.

free - that visiting schedule sounds exhausting! I was so tired over the holidays when I was at the end. I am so impressed you're toughing through it and I'm glad to read that you'll get some time to yourself before the baby comes.

Buzz - I've been loving your photo updates on the other place. How are you and your family doing?

Euro - I'm glad you're working from home. Is it possible to get a window AC unit? Lots of people around here purchase them cheaply in pawn shops. I am thinking of you and centime and trying to will the weeks along with you.

Critter - welcome back . I hope the next 7 weeks go by quickly. I really have everything crossed for you.

sea - that is awful. We thought Mr. Grouch's 3 weeks was short. Here, conventionally employed men get 5 weeks after birth (women 12 weeks) and then the couple can split the parental leave (up to 12 months). Me and Mr Grouch are in a bit of a unique situation here compared to most workers.

The renos will involve lifting the home Yikes! We are considering adding a master suite extension (with closet and bathroom) while we are at it. We're trying to make lemonade out of the lemons .

Just popped in and wanted to say huge hurrah for being back critter! Everything crossed for you the next 8 months until you hold the twibling in your arms.

Waves to the others, early motherhood is much more challenging than anticipated but lembie is a fab little boy'

Hello lovely ladies. I've had a torrid few days. At Thursday's scan (with a new sonographer as the consultant we had been seeing was on holiday), we were told the baby should be delivered and booked in for a section next week. We got a second opinion on Saturday and he came up with the same view as the consultant we had been seeing before Thursday - that the pregnancy could continue for now with close monitoring. So that is what we are going with, although the limbo is very hard. Every week that centime stays put is better for his/her development, but we and the drs all know that leaving it too long could be catastrophic so it is pretty stressful.

sweet we have AC - the previous owners put it in when she was pregnant and had taken to sitting in the car as the house was too hot! Lifting the house sounds complicated but a master suite sounds lovely.

driz aw, that's lovely.

MN keep eating my posts!
Euro I'm keeping everything crossed for you that centime stays in for just that little bit longer. It sounds like your health professionals are monitoring you closely which is great. I know you must be worried and a little anxious. It won't be long now until you have your child in your arms - keep focusing on that. Thinking of you and sending you lots of love x

euro - that sounds so stressful. Limbo is a terrible place to be. I am impressed at how closely you're being monitored, I am hoping for the best for all of you.

So sorry for this limbo nightmare euro. Glad you're being watched very carefully.

Hi Euro any update? I hope you are taking it easy at home and not feeling too anxious.

Free are you resting now that you are on maternity leave? How many weeks are you now?

Question for all you ladies. Have any of you tried epi-no? It's a balloon that you erm insert into your fanjo to try and prevent tearing and get used to the sensation of childbirth from around 37 weeks. My doula has suggested it and says reviews are v good. I'm in two minds as to whether I should invest in this or not. Anyone had any experience?

I had the epi-no on my list of things to do in the third tri but now for obvious reasons I am not bothering. I was also going to try perineal massage, raspberry leaf tea and all those sorts of things. It was all part of my plan to have an as intervention-free birth as possible.

My scan last night showed the same as Saturday's - both were an improvement on last week. Even if there is another deterioration back to that position, they still have a few days to act, so at this point I am really hopeful that we can get close to 34 weeks (a week tomorrow). Every week further along is good for centime, and we're a long way from where we were at 28 weeks when the issue was first picked up. I'm still terrified of the section and wish I could try induction but the drs are advising that in all probability I would just end up with an EMCS if I do.

Hello, another grad just popping in.
Congratulations Critter, I have everything crossed for you and really really hope it all goes well, I think of you often.
Euro - sorry you are having a stressful time. One of my best friends has two little boys (both IVF), both born between 32-34 weeks due to placental problems - both absolutely fine now (aged 5 and 6 months). I won't lie, it was pretty stressful for the first few weeks, but it is a reasonable gestation to get to with v few problems. I will have everything crossed for you as well and look forward to hearing news of centime cuddles.

To everyone else, I hope you are managing to enjoy your pregnancies in some shape or form!

My little boy is nearly a year. He is just amazing and it is all worth while. You might remember he had some visual problems - they have resolved. But he has some developmental delay- we just have to wait and see how it will all pan out. But he is super smiley and happy and a joy to be around.

We are starting to try again, very exciting - and daunting. Life is now so busy I'm hoping to just aim for regular sex and not obsessing. I give it two weeks

MrsM, critter is sadly miscarrying.

As to epino, I was warned that the evidence is weak on its effect. I didn't do anything like that and came out with a natural birth (albeit v monitored as my waters broke 36hrs before lembie made his appearance). Only a small year to show for it and that was due to the monkey keeping his hand next to his face... I did hypno birthing prep and I reckoned that helped as I went through most of the 1st and 2nd phase without realising labour had started... Neither did anyone else realise...

All the news sound sounds good for a change, euro! Everything crossed for 34 weeks!

Waves to all.

Thanks Euro and Lemons for your Epi-no insight. I am still in two minds.

Euro - I am really hopeful you will at the v least get to 34 weeks. Why do they think you might end up with an ECS even if you are induced? Have they given a reason why that might be? I know you are scared of a section. Is this because of your fear of scars and hospitals? Oddly enough I considered an elective c-section and it's the thought of a natural birth w o pain relief that is really scaring me. I think I am scared of losing control. I have been reading a lot about natural births and I am slowly changing my mind. I really think the only that that matters is safe arrival of the little one. You are doing so well in staying calm. I know so so many ladies who have had positive c section experiences - really. I think I have heard more horror stories about vaginal births than c sections hence my irrational fear of them. Thinking of you and I really hope you are taking it easy.

Lemons - what kind of hypnobirthing prep did you do? Did you do classes or CDs or book? I considered classes but I can't bear the thought of doing a whole weekend of classes. I am borrowing some CDs and might give it a go and then decide on the classes. I read the other thread and ittle lemie sound like a real joy!

Mrs Mellow - Your little one sounds just adorable and glad to hear all is well. I can't believe you are trying for another already. Maybe I will change my mind but I am not sure I can do this again.

Just got to my 3rd trimester and it looks like morning sickness has come back again.

sea basically there is no way I will get to term, so my options are a pre-term induction or section. The baby is tiny at the moment - estimated at under 3lb at the last growth scan. So probably a bit fragile for a VB full stop. And there is a risk that during an attempt at labour the baby gets into distress and I end up with an EMCS. Or alternatively my body doesn't cooperate as it is no way ready to labour this early so I end up with an EMCS. I've been told by two consultants that an EMCS is the most likely outcome of attempting induction. I would still like to try for my own sake but don't want to make things harder than they will be anyway for a tiny fragile baby. The consultants also think that a calm ELCS will be better for me than an EMCS given my ishooos (I disagree - I think I would accept a CS more easily knowing I had at least tried to labour but they just don't get that) but I wouldn't do it if it puts the baby at significant risk, and I think it would at this point. If by some miracle, I last another week or two and the baby puts on some weight, I will revisit it with the consultants.

I wish I could get past The Fear but I can't. There is nothing positive I can see about a section. I'm terrified of the op itself, and the scarring afterwards. Also, most people I know who have had sections have been left with pain or endo around the scar that stays with them for years, and many have had problems with healing and infections. There is also the practical - I'll be paralysed from the waist down in recovery while my baby is taken away and I won't be able to follow for god knows how many hours. And then I'll be discharged after a couple of days while the baby stays in hospital and I will somehow have to make my way across London with a bunch of stitches in my stomach to spend time with him/her. On every level a VB would be better for me. But as I said, I just don't think the baby could withstand it at the moment.

I used to be terrified of natural birth but somehow built up trust in my body and belief that I could do it. And now I have to undo all of that and hand over complete control to the drs.

Re:hypnobirthing, I was booked to do the Judith Flood course at 35weeks but I'm not going to get that far or have any use for it! I've downloaded the Maggie Howell stuff (as recommended by my mw), but I'm not massively convinced by it.

Boo to the return of morning sickness. You are not having an easy time of it. Hurrah for entering the third tri though!

Oh Euro! I do understand the worry and fears. I am so sorry it doesn't seem like you will get to go through the kind of birth you want. I do think a planned CS will probably be better than an EMCS though. The having to traipse across to hospital is horrible but I am hopeful for you that the skill of the consultant doing the CS will be excellent and you won't have the issues that you are fearing. All my friends who had CS had no issues at all with scarring. I really hope that will be the case for you. I am just so sorry you are having to go through all this worry having been through the TTC from hell. Sending lots of growth vibes your way for your centime. xx

Euro - I'm really sorry you won't get the birth you would like to have. I had asked my aunts about all this when I was pregnant and a few friends. One aunt who has the experience of an EMCS and two planned CS said the planned ones were less traumatic. I haven't heard of problems with painful scarring after a planned CS, but recently heard of that issue after vaginal tearing. Like sea, I'm sorry you have to deal with this worry, it's really unfair.

sea - Sorry about the morning sickness, you really aren't having an easy time. I have no opinion on the epino, because it wasn't offered to me. I only had a first degree tear which happened after birth, placenta got stuck. I was told perineal massage would help a lot.

lemon - wow, you had a long labour! How is mini driz?

The 36 hours were not all labour! Waters can go without any c

Contractions, as they did with me. No action whatsoever for the first 8 or sp hours. Then some "cramps" regular but shorthand not that painful. Those increased during the day, but I only thought I had proper contractions about 6-7 hours before lembie arrived and the mw didn't think I was in established labour even then I only realised things had started when I got the famous urge to poo (and I turned out to be ready for pushing). From that moment it was about 1,5 hrs til birth.

Lembie is fab. Spent most of last week screaming but appears to be happier now. It's month ago I started to push him out...

Enough self indulgence, time for other boob :)

lemons - sorry I misunderstood! The 3rd week was the hardest for us in terms of lack of sleep, luckily everything got much better from there. I hope it's the same in the lemon household.

sea sorry to hear of the return of morning sickness - I hope it is not too bad and you are able to cope. How are you managing with the home renovations

euro I am following your updates on the other thread. So sorry for the stress you are under at the moment and keeping everything crossed for you and centime for a safe and uneventful delivery.

Today I got the news that I tested positive for group b strep and will take antibiotics as soon as labour starts and regularly throughout labour to reduce my chances of passing it on to the baby. This is not really in keeping with my plan to stay at home for as long as possible coached by a doula. But as demonstrated so often on these threads and the forum, things don't always go to plan so trying not to worry and to be very grateful that they routinely test in my country and it's been picked up.

Euro I read about the likelihood of centime having to come out this week on the other thread. Just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you. I know you are fearful of the CS and no doubt worried about the babe. I'm sure it will all be fine and your skilful consultant will keep scarring to a minimum.

Free so sorry to hear about antibiotics but it's good they picked it up. A friend in real life had the same but the Nhs didn't test her so she passed on the infection to her baby. I know it might not be what you want - a more medicated approach but sometimes it's good to have the medics on hand to make sure both you and baby are well.

Love to everyone else.
X

Free - I am group B strep positive too. I was really worried about it, but they just plugged IV antibiotics in while I was in labour and it turned out that it wasn't a big deal at all. Mini-Sweets was checked on slightly more often to be safe and he was fine too . It is unfortunate that none of us ever seem to have a birth that goes to plan.

Euro - I've been following on the other thread. I am so sorry centime might have to come out earlier. I am thinking of you and hoping for the best for you and centime.

thanks sea
Thanks sweet as it reduces the chances of my kid being ill, I am definitely having the ABs. I'm feeling a bit nervous that there won't be time to get enough dosage or that despite ABs the baby will pick something up on the way out anyway. I will ask my doctor about it. how is mini-sweets getting on?

free - I had the same concerns, I just made sure to tell the staff about the positive test once I arrived at the hospital.
Mini sweets is great, he has started giving giant open mouthed baby kisses this week that or attempts to bite my face . If you're on fb you can pm me so I can add you if you want to see the boy.

sea sorry about the sickness, I had it all the way through and its miserable, I'm not sure about the epino, I think it depends on what kind of labour you are how fast things are happening etc.

euro thinking of you, hope you and centime are ok

lemon congrats on your little one :)

free I think gin had strep b if she pops on she might be able to offer some advice but I think sweet is right about giving you AB's

mrsm glad your little boys eyesight has improved, and yay to trying again

sweet Thank you, things are going well, she sleeps well and is now in her own room, she is rolling around and pulling on everything and we have started weaning which is a bit of a faff, oh and she has 2 teeth now, I keep forgetting to brush them , BB is totally fascinated by the cat :) the cat is being very patient with her, most likely thinking 'training the new human servant is going to take time' I hope all is well with your little one

waves to others

Thanks buzz. I just had a meeting with my midwife. She's just done some acupuncture on me and we went through my birth plan/wish list. Despite being Gbs positive she's still told me not to come in until the contractions are 5mins apart. I asked if thIs was not a bit late to get in the 2 antibiotic doses 4 hours apart. She said, with you? No. You will not be a quick and easy labour. You think too much. Thanks for that.

Free - I was 3 mins apart with broken water when I got there and got 5 doses 4 hrs apart (baby born 2 hrs after last dose). It's easy for me to say now, but it will all be ok. That being said, I really hope your labour is short enough you only get 2 doses.

buzz - glad to hear she is getting on with the furbaby! The photos of her are gorgeous. I see a lot of your Mr in that girl of yours! No teeth over here, lots of drool though... mini loves my fat cat and the dog thinks he is her baby.

euro - congrats on your little girl!