October 2014- thread 13. Getting the eviction notices ready!

[MundayCakes85]

Thought we'd better start a new thread, how many more will we get through before babies arrive??

Happy birthday to you Jelly!
I'll have my 39 week appointment on Monday, still haven't been asked about a birth plan actually, there's a wee section in my notes where I can write stuff down myself (currently blank!), I just assumed a midwife would prob want to chat about it too though! Wondering whether I should jot some stuff down now while I'm still compos mentis!

Wondering if a couple of successive sweeps would work - I mean if I agreed to having one on Monday - although baby might not come as a result of that one, would it set anything in motion so that a sweep the following week would be more successful? Or when sweeps do work, is it just as a result of the one sweep where the cervix has been "ripe" enough or whatever? My family tend to go late, and baby isn't even engaged - so I'm wondering if a sweep on Monday would just be a waste of time? I'm easy-oasy about getting one, and in a way I thought it might be good practice, for letting strangers see my lady region, given that I'm too shy even for a bikini line wax! I was OK being examined when I was in hosp few weeks ago when I had my mystery bleed, I think I even surprised the mw and doctor (who probably thought I was tuned to the moon going by my BP and pulse), I'm hoping that's a sign I'll be relaxed-ish in a medical environment come 'labour day'.

No mini wellies as yet - bed rest has slowed contractions down to every 10 minutes. They are still sooooo much less than last time - don't even want paracetamol. I'm due a second dose of steroids tonight and I'll be monitored and on a glucose and insulin drip as the steroids screw up blood sugars. Then hopefully I'll be home by lunch tomo and we'll see if anything progresses.

DH has sorted out a proxy vote for the referendum which doesn't involve him turning up in a wig! (Our previous back up plan!) Just in case I do go into active labour. The doc who dismissed my convictions at our last appointment that this would be a September baby now agrees with me. Some point in the next 10 days he guesses. If he/she hasn't emerged and my induction is looming I'm going to ignore the bed rest advice and get walking as that has me cranking out the contractions!

Oh and I highly recommend Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch - so glad I took it to my appointment yesterday it's kept me happy.

All good other than hourly blood finger prick tests 24/7. Being woken just as you've nodded off after the last one! Very nice to hear the wee squeaks and snuffles of the newborns - they are so quiet compared to my marauding toddler!

Slide is there any reasoning behind the 4 hourly BF? Isn't a 4 hour feeding cycle based on FF? I was told it needs to be no less than 3 hourly to bring milk in. Maybe push for more frequent attempts to help u both get into the swing of it?

I was surprised how well some of the girls were getting on on the ward with BF given there were some real clusterfuck birth stories, and given how manic this place is. The MW said anyone having a September or October baby is mad! It's so different to Orkney. There was a real emergency last night we were woken to hear a full team of medics thundering past effing and blinding in real panic, sending instrument trollies clattering and yelling at the MWs "just fucking leave it and HURRY!", turns out in the madness of so many labouring mums and overcrowding a new mum had nearly bled out. The MW commented after that my pulse was raised - no shit!

Oh good news baby has been cephalic, breech, cephalic and breech today - wee sod! Doc has said he'd happily let me go naturally if baby is head down when I go into active labour. Whoop! So yeah all good here, no pain but no bub either. If I can get to 35 weeks he/she might escape with a long NICU stay

kirsti yes a sweep is more likely to be successful if cervix is ripe etc...if you do have one, it goes in your notes & a Bishops score is calculated...is usually, tho not always, an indicator of how likely you are to go into labour after it.

But it can start a bit of an 'intervention' process for want of a better word, depending on how many gets done...me will be able to correct me but I think no more than 3 is usually done due to an infection risk?

I had 2 done last time...but I was just approaching 41wks at that point & had induction booked in just in case... I had one sweep on a Friday & I think the other on a Tuesday... First score was 7 (out of 10)..& then second was 9...tho I still did lots of walking after it, a bit of DTD with DH after the 2nd one..cramping started at midday the next day & first contraction was at 2.45pm...madam was born at 8.10pm.

Each trust has different policies on it...at mines they won't do it til 41wks (tho I've asked this time if they'll do one earlier, given this is no 3). But my SIL up there is a mw & she said do them at 39 wks if someone wanted one/asked nicely....tho not a first timer as she put it! . In saying that, my friend down here had a sweep on her due date & baby arrived a few days later & that was her first.

I'd be inclined to wait it out a bit but that's just me..

WithOUT a long NICU stay!

Where are you Yellow? Sounds a bit scary, all the drama there..

But good you're getting a bit of a rest, albeit interrupted rest! Fingers crossed bubba gets head down & then decides to go for it.

I'm in Fife but I think the Christmas / New year baby boom hits pretty much UK wide. Don't get me wrong it's an awesome newly built unit it is just so busy because of the time of year. My sister had the same at the Simpson in Edinburgh - one MW between 3 labouring Mums wish we'd asked a MW before about which time of year to avoid! On the island it really soothed my nerves having 2 MW to myself for reassurance - hope its straightforward as I'd hate to be worrying on my own waiting for help.

I'm not going to have sweeps because I can't see anything good in having someone's fingers up my cervix when it's not really ready to be open to the world. I'm not embarrassed about it, I've had coils for most of my contraceptive choices for the last 20 years, and I know for sure that having coils shoved up there isn't a good thing either!! It's. just. the. wrong. way.

I've met 7 midwives having babies this month or next, so I'm not sure they are particularly good at the advice on timing. I'm glad I've got a doula, I want someone to stop me pushing until I really have no choice, and if me and the boyf were left alone with 'you can try pushing if you like' I just know for sure I'd do it to get it over even if not ready, and I'd end up with a messed up 'golden window' before they start talking interventions.

I'm slightly concerned that I'm going to be a really angry 'patient'. If anyone tries grabbing my boob to 'milk' it for me they'll get what-for. That's abuse when you're vulnerable that is.

CJ good luck for tomorrow
punky great news about the GD fingers crossed your other results are good
Happy Birthday Flip and Jelly
Yellow fingers crossed you will be home soon sounds like a manic hospital!

Last midwife appointment today just my pre op Friday then the CS Tuesday scary! Flaming BP was up but no protein/swelling to managed to escape phew! Found out that GD mums go first on the CS list so barring a mass influx of emergencys I should have baby b4 the kids start school on Tuesday I really hope so as I know they will spend the day worrying otherwise.
I also now have my new car seat yay! Went to Halfords 3 different fitters and lots of trying and we have the perfect seat :)

Happy birthday jellybeans!

Well 4:30 has come and gone with no word from the diabetes clinic so I must be in the clear... Just tried calling antenatal for my iron results and no answer

All this must be a sign from the heavens that tonight it is my destiny to have a nice slice of cake while watching GBBO who's with me?

cabster I'm always there with the cake although none in the house so it'll have to be chocolate tonight

Gun even in the utter mania here (MW making nervous jokes about topping and tailing patients two to a bed) whilst elective sections have been knocked back all day - diabetic sections seem to be untouchable! I also get all my meals first and regular offers of cheese on toast! Could get used to this. Haven't seen j since yesterday evening - visiting hrs for kids isn't until 7-8pm so DH is letting him stay up late. Am sure he'll have a whale of a time with the birthing balls

Happy Birthday Jellybeans too!

What do they actually do in a sweep? I'm c-s bound so have never really looked into it, but I'm wondering if I've inadvertently had one done after reading this. A Dr had a good feel of my cervix when they took the labour swab thing and explained why, but reading my notes, I saw they gave me a Bishops Score of 5 (which I had to Google). Why give me a Bishops Score if there is no need to induce me / bring on labour?

Yellow good news baby is cooking a bit longer though I expect you'll go soon!

Kirstie worth reading up on but for first timers I think the research shows there's no real 'benefit' to a sweep before 41 weeks. I had three between 41-42 weeks with DS as I was desperate to avoid the induction at 42 weeks (which happened anyway). Had one with dd at 40 weeks and she was born 2 days later. So I'm quite pro-them but wouldn't really rely on them. But there are risks with them, eg your waters could go but labour not start causing induction (rare I think but worth thinking about). If you want to help things along then try the fun stuff like shagging (says me who will be dusting off my breast pump at some point for a bit of nipple stimulation - glam or what?!).

Pusscous the other thing I thought to mention is that breast pumps are available on your insurance so check that out. Also discuss with your OB about doing double layer suture in case a c section is needed. I'm sure it's standard but worth making sure as some OBs don't do it (and single layer would mean no future vbac).

Gun good news on the car seat! Crickey, your baby will be here within the week!!

Alfie I had the same - it's just an internal to assess how dilated you are and to ascertain if you're cervix is gearing up for labour. A sweep is similar but involves the MW rotating her finger around the cervix to loosen the membranes. My internal bloody hurt - as did the steroids which is daft as last time I didn't notice them! Proof of how much gentler this 'labour' is. If I'm noticing an injection I'm far too compus mentis! As for sweeps they are worrying about giving me a second internal because they don't want to stimulate the cervix any further. So it can be powerful but only I think if you're ripe.

Thanks Flip and Granny, only reason I've been offered it early is because my clinic is closed on the day I'd normally have had 40 wk appointment, (when I would be 40+2) so my next available chance wouldnt be til the following week when I'm 41+2. Been Googling all day and it does sound better just to hold off I think. Any ideas for a preggo to seduce their hubbie?? There's been no DTD for ages, think DH reckons he'll break baby or me

Glad to hear you're OK Yellow, a baby for you in the next week or two then, exciting!

And Cabster, I say get caked up

Thanks Yellow The internal bloody hurt! I was expecting it to be more smear-like. As did the steroids. Hope they're looking after you well!

Slow cooker cake is ON!

flip/kirsti what flip described is more or less what happened to me with DD - I had a sweep following monitoring for reduced movement at 40+4, my waters went a few hours later but the contractions didn't keep up the pace so I was induced.

kirsti I usually find that body contact is my best weapon, lots of stroking of skin and snuggling. If all else fails just jump him. Haha!

Kirsti I told my DH that it was his duty to DTD, and the erm final product was very important!
Don't try to seduce him then start crying half way through like I did at the weekend, apparently that's not so sexy

Oh no munday! That's sad but also quite funny! Lines like "that stuff got us into this situation, it's also going to be what gets us out!" Another idea is to remind him it's probably going to be one no further the last times for quite a while, and then you will have a lo in a crib at the bottom of the bed for 6 months! Hehe.

Lol loving the seduction tips! No shagging here much either (am taking even primrose oil as a more reliable source of prostaglandins!)

Cabster slow cooker cake? Please please share! That sounds like my kind of cake...

Slow cooker cake....yes please!

Yes a reminder that this could be the last shagfest before there's a squeaking, staring, easily disturbed baby just feet from any attempt to DTD might focus his mind! Mmmmm slow cooker cake sounds lush - I got choc sponge and custard with lunch today - the MW gave me a wink and promised to adjust my sliding scale insulin drip!

Just had my second steroid jag - whoop both shots in - more than I managed with Jonas. Feeling much more prepared now. Also got the staff nurse to sign my proxy vote form.

Sorry Alfie that sounds no fun.

Hope the babies are doing better with sugar levels/milk.

Thinking of you Yellow

Good luck for tomorrow excited!

Snap Kirsti I decided no-one was ever going to discuss it with me first and filled it out at the weekend. Also, my dp refuses for the same reason and yet when offered ahem a different kind of 'treat' the other day ended up pouncing on me afterall! They've no resolve ha ha!