March 2015 - the babies are starting to arrive as we waddle towards the finish line with maternity leave countdowns and TMI all around!

[Pisghetti]

New (and probably) final thread for those of us due in March (with a few lovely February ladies who didn't want to leave).

Still cant believe Zyla has had her baby, and how beautiful she is!! I must admit, I cried a bit last night seeing her gorgeous pic.

So ages ago, my sister said she wanted to throw me a baby shower. Then changed her mind later, as she had her 21st birthday to organise. Okay fine, whatever.

Turns out my cousin and mum have been organising one for a while as a secret. They decided to tell me last night, as they didnt know who I'd want to invite etc. I was so excited!! OH knew about it, he was going to organise his mum, aunt, cousin and SIL to come. I text them all last night, SIL is coming, his mum and cousin arent. His aunt has MS, so cant get upstairs to reach the venue (Obv I didnt book it or I wouldve thought about this). So the only person from OH family that will be there is his brother's girlfriend. Bet they're never away from the door when the baby is born. We'll see.

Also I'm getting scared now about the section. I dont like the thought of the spinal at all. I've had loads of surgery though in the past so I'm clinging to the hope that it'll be nothing compared to somethings I've had done!

Congratulations Zyla! And a good weight for 4 weeks early!

Beautiful

Gudgy, don't worry about the spinal, you can't see anything!
Had one with my first and was just gratefull at that point, it's no worse than the blood tests.

gudgy im scared about surgery too but mine is because anesthetic tends not to work well for me

Congratulations zyla beautiful baby

Where, I think its because I cant see anything, its bothering me! I dont look anyway for needles, but I feel better if I can see it if I want to? Its like with that blood thinning injection you get, I HATE that because I can't see them doing it. Yet I inject myself every 2 weeks with my crohns medication no problem. Its all in my head! Rescue remedy sorted haha.

Had my last growth scan today :) my lovely daughter is now an est 6lb 15oz at 36+3, was 4lb 5oz at 32 week scan, so growing lovely. Still extended breech so defo coming out the sunroof, she's too big to move herself now too :) cant wait!!

Huge congratulations Zyla, your little girl is beautiful! So exciting to think we're all going to have one of those sometime soon!

Just had my 34 week MW appointment. All fine, although measuring small now (32cm), whereas last time at 29 weeks I was bang on. Different MW though so it's probably due to different ways of measuring. MW didn't seem concerned but said she would see how things were in 2 weeks time, as when plotted on the graph it looks as though growth is slowing down. She thinks baby is head down and engaged, which might explain the huge pressure on my bladder!!

Seeing her again at 36 weeks and then will book to have a look around the birth centre. MW is also going to drop off a home birth pack as my DD came quickly, so it's just to be on the safe side. But I think I'm going to go with the birth centre. As you know, my mum is very ill and because of that I haven't had the time or energy to properly plan a home birth, hire a pool etc. So the birth centre seems like the best option.

It always feels more real after seeing the MW! Really need to get the last few bits for my hospital bag so I'm all ready.

It's all getting really real now. 35 weeks today should get my c-section date next Monday! Can't wait, though I'm doing lots of ball bouncing and hoping that baby might make a natural entrance before then.
Feeling totaly exhausted and really struggling to do much with my poor toddler. My mum's coming to stay next week which will be lovely to have some company she's also taking the dog back to hers untill after the baby is born so that will be a load off, really struggling to walk her these days, she's nearly one so turned into a naughty teenager and has been very naughty on walks recently. Feel so sorry for the dog I've been so incapacitated by this pregnancy and dh has been away for most of it so she's suffered. Dd has suffered too but she doesn't know it she thinks it's great to spend so much time watching tv!
Any one know how long spd will last after baby is born?
I know what you mean gudgy about getting the spinal I really hated it last time but you have to sit in such an awkward position to have it done that you don't think too much about what's going on.

With the spinal they keep saying bend over more. Ha ha can't they see that you've a massive bump. When I had mine gudgy they were great and talked me through exactly what they were doing and when. I found that helped. It is the weirdest feeling though.

Oh god no I dont want to know what they're doing haha just hurry up and get the baby out!! A bit worried in case I freak out when I cant feel my legs etc least OH will be with me, and if its the same anaesthatist I've had the past twice I've had surgery in this hospital, I know he's fab at calming me down too. Hope it is him, although I know the chances are probably slim :(

Can you actually feel the spinal? Or is it all numbed with the local?

I couldn't feel the spinal at all.

You can't really feel that you can't feel your legs iyswim so you shouldn't freak out Hopfuly. I'm sure it will all be very calm and they will talk you through what you need to hear and help you to relax. I found mine fairly relaxed and nice enough and it was an emergency last time.

its a good job i couldnt feel or move my legs tbh because id have jumped off the operating table when the anesthetic started wearing off. im really scared its going to happen again but i dont want to be put to sleep oh says not to say too much to the midwife or consultant about it or they will insist im put to sleep but i suffer panic attacks so worried when i walk into theatre im going to have a massive panic attack and end up being put to sleep. sorry just getting very nervous now as it seemed ages away until recently and now its getting real. im excited but scared at the same time

I think you should make your midwife aware of your fears. They aren't keen to put people to sleep unless they have to so I think they'd rather work on your anxiety before they put you to sleep, and you could have a panic attack going into theatre to be put to slee. Having a coping strategy laid out with the people who are going to care for you might help with your fears As you will know what will happen in different circumstances that might arise.
Try not to stress stress, focus on the end result not on how you'll get there if at alpossible.

Apparently my epidural was really well done, so I just had that topped up and they checked how far up my body it came before they started and didn't have to have a spinal. I couldn't lift my legs, but could still wiggle my toes and could move a lot sooner after, was good! I definately couldn't feel any pain, just a sort of rummaging inside, but zero pain.

Congratulations Zyla! Gorgeous baby. Xx

hi zyla congratulations on your new arrival

yes thats exactly what i expected to feel. someone said its like someone doing the washing up. i had concerns before the op last time as epidural didnt work in my first labour so asked about the spinal they said it would be fine. but they did the spinal then prepared the things for surgery and the spinal wore off before they even finished cutting. so im going to tell the consultant i will need more anesthetic than last time and they need to do it when they are ready to start so it doesnt wear off

Congratulations Zyla, fantastic news.

I've been away a few days since now on maternity and I did most of my MNing from work, and so much to catch up on.

Its all so exciting. I've been batch cooking, so far I have made bolognase, chilli, lasagna, cottage pie, fish pie and beef stew, all in all around 30 meals worth for me and DH. Potentially I have got a bit carried away!

Cant believe that I am at 38+ 2, it really is getting close, next MW wont be until 39+4 so a few days before due or I wont be going at all depending on how keen bump is to stay put.

Well have had another eventful afternoon. Had growth scan today which showed baby growth has severely slowed and she now sits just under the 10th percentile... Thankfully the placental blood flow is good and her movements haven't slowed down. However, have to have another scan next week...if she shows signs of growth then is further scans...if not then I've been told baby will need to come early (emcs or induction). Anyone else had scans for growth reduction that fall below the 10th percentile?

I'm afraid I don't know anything about that Durham but I hope it's all ok and they are just being cautious, at least they are on top of it and monitoring you. How may weeks are you no?

Me DurhamRed
DS was scanned at 36 wks to check the position of the placenta and it was discovered he had intrauterine growth retardation (nice name!). He was on the 9th centile. He didn't grow much at all in 1 month (estimated 2oz put on). i was induced at 39+5 but it went pear-shaped and ended up with EMCS. I also had low fluid and it kept decreasing every week.

This time, fluid level has dropped 7.8mcms in 6 weeks from 13.5 to 5.7. Growth okay but slowing, placenta fine. I am on weekly scans now and it could be she will be born next week (35 weeks) or week after (36 weeks).

Spinal for EMCS was fine. They had to do it lying down for me as I was in so much pain and groggy. Felt the first needle and it felt no different to a scratch or a flu jab. Also felt absolutely nothing in surgery - not even any tugging or pulling. Having a spinal again this time.

Durham - I am on the opposite end. Had a growth scan today and little Jacob is on the 90 percentile.

Try not to worry too much, the sonographer told me that growth does slow down at this stage.

Thanks Riding I will be 35 weeks tomorrow, and will be havng weekly scans. Apparently they are happy with fluid levels but measurements were on the very small side (from what I could tell on the report they were around the 8th centile). I had bloods taken to check for signs of pre-eclamsia as I am high risk for that. Just hate the waiting and wondering what's slowed her growth. I'm trying not to worry but it's difficult not to!

Sometimes it is nothing but purely genetics!
The centile charts can only be developed and produced by haivng babies born with varying weights - a bit like how averages are calculated. You can't have an average unless you have those beow and those above what is considered 'average' - iyswim!
It means that out of 100 babies, 92 are heavier than yours and 7 are lighter, that is all.
I have a friend who had twins. Her girl was 50th and her son wasn't even on the chart (less than 2nd!) and he continued like that for 18 months. Health professionals weren't bothered. He was small, yes, but hitting milestones, no obvious sign of mental disabilities or genetic deformities and he continued to grow on 'his' centile. They're now 2 and he has 'caught up'.

kept a low profile until now..but feeling a need to share!

Durham - I am 36+3 and had a growth scan at 34+4 as was measuring small. Was told baby on the 10th centile and weighing approx 4lb7 . Had MW appt yesterday, and typically did not get my usual MW, but two measurements put me as dipping even further on the chart! Have a scan booked for 38 weeks, but suspect it will be brought forward.. Trying to stay upbeat and positive, but it's really worrying esp as this is 1st pregnancy. Movement is all good though - I am get battered most of the day - so that is what I am trying to go by. MW suggested if inuterine growth retardation suspected then I could be induced at 38 weeks…thats a week on Monday! Help!