April 2016 babies - 20-week scans, growing bumps and little kicks!

[suffolkblonde29]

Hi all,

I've started a new thread to take us up to the third trimester.

Hope you are all feeling well. I feel like my bump is a little small and I'm not feeling lots of movement (but this may be due to an anterior placenta). Got my 20-week scan tomorrow so not long to wait to see if everything's ok - it's actually nearly 22 weeks though as baby really wasn't playing ball when we went last week and was hiding with its back to the scanner.

Getting excited that I'm halfway there though...

That's awful Oops.

oops if this is your last can you ask if they can combine a scheduled CS with the surgery to repair your prolapse? I can only imagine what you are going through.

Not on the NHS Wants! Ladies, please don't worry, it was intended as a funny post rather than a need for sympathy :) There are much worse things people are dealing with than a bulgy Fanjo! I think it's got to me this week as I have Crohn's disease and an attack that has lasted all week, starting the night before my birthday (thank you Sod's law, you absolute bastard) which has meant extended sessions on the bog. That is not conducive to keeping one's fanny on the inside as all the pressure is in the wrong place!

At least this cough is on the way out so I've stopped pissing myself 100 times a day....small mercies...

oops it just sounds so painful. I was so upset with having a CS first time around but in hindsight it was for the better. My sister has had all sorts of issues from her first vaginal which she did with no drugs etc. 2nd time she listened to the dr and got the epidural!

I had a 3b tear the first time and have had some problems with pelvic stability due in part to the tear, the labour, core muscle weakness and a previous broken coccyx.

This time I've been worried about the effects of another labour on my pelvic floor. I'm scared of any prolapse.
But after discussion with the consultant midwife have decided to go for another birth centre, pool, gas and air birth if possible.
I'll also not be agreeing to the induction they want me to have at 40 weeks as, whether logically or not, I feel that would increase my chances of further damage.

That's if the baby sorts it's act out and turns round before then

I've been quite productive today and sorted out the cupboard that's now the baby cupboard. Put some drawers in it and sorted out all the newborn baby things.

I've also written lists of things I want to get done when the nesting kicks in.

Only 12 working days left to go!

We're making the big purchase tomorrow - the travel system! Ooch they're expensive (thankfully getting a little parental help - first baby n'all )

I had a 28 week growth scan last week - he's already head down and back to tummy - do you think he likely to stay that way at this relatively early stage?

I had an induced gas and air birth with my DD and I healed really well with no issues. Plus it was four hours long from start to baby out. I was lucky and I'm very scared about not being so lucky this time around! Definitely going for another G&A only birth hopefully but will likely be induced even earlier this time around so who knows really. Pelvic floor is feeling the weight of this baby at the moment
brooke I was told first time babies don't move too much in the end few weeks but second time plus ones can be dipping in and out of engaged-ness. That could be complete rubbish though as I can't remember who I heard it from.

Has anyone else started getting the cervix pains yet? I've had quite a lot this week and I'm not sure if it's a bit early for all that yet. Consultant/hospital again tomorrow so will mention it to him and see what he says.

fatima I totally hear you on not wanting an induction. I was induced with my first and was in labor for 22 hours followed by a CS. My recovery took a lot longer compared to my 2nd which was a scheduled CS.

The only downside to zero labor was that my stomach muscles never recovered from my second. It was like one big jelly bowl around my midsection. To keep it under control I was doing Pilates twice a week but then I stopped and wore spanx instead.

crumbly Just a bit jealous of 4 hours! I joke that my kids have strong arms because they were clearly holding on when in me!!!!

I have had zero cervix pain. Def mention it to the doctor. I've had a lot of tightenings with this pregnancy and she is quite the kicker.

Want2 I'm not sure if I will be so lucky this time around! Think we will have to be prepared for a home birth just in case though.

Lovely midwife today, think this new one is sticking around now after lots of changes! I'm measuring a couple of weeks ahead but she said it's nothing to worry about so that's good and she helped me figure out where the baby is lying (all across me with back down at the bottom, feet at the right and head and hands high up left!). I'm only 30+3 so lots of time to move. I asked about walking epidurals though just to find out and they don't do them at my hospital, which is a pity as they sound great! Looks like I'll be trying to do it with gas and air, hope it's as good as they say.

Haven't had chance to check this thread in a few days so just popping in to say hi and catch up. Sorry to everyone who's having difficulties at the moment, hope things improve soon.

At my last midwife appointment (28 weeks) she said the baby was head down, but that he could still easily move around at that time. I'm looking forward to finding out if he's still in the same position at my next appointment. I was told I have an anterior placenta which I hear can contribute to babies being back-to-back, so I've ordered an exercise ball and am planning on doing everything that's recommended to help him get into a good position.

What travel system did you get brooke? We went for the Silver Cross Pioneer in the end as it just felt right when we tried wheeling it around the shop. We'll mainly be walking and using public transport so we liked that it's light enough to move around fairly easily but still feels quite sturdy and not too breakable. They are so expensive though aren't they?

By the way, I noticed that Mamas and Papas have quite a good offer on at the moment where you get a £10 discount if you spend £50 or a £25 discount if you spend £100. Just wanted to mention it in case anyone's about to make big purchases like a travel system or crib and might be able to make use of it.

Also, does anyone know how you join the Facebook group? Have seen a few people mention it but I'm a bit rubbish with social media stuff so have no idea how to find it!

I think anyone who is on the Facebook group can add people to it - you can't search for it as it's secret so you'd need to add someone who is in the group as a friend then they can add you. Happy to add people if you like - PM me with your Facebook email address or something so I can find you :)

knits the Silver Cross Pioneer was exactly the one we originally went in for - it's gorgeous! Our minds were changed by a recommendation that more suits our needs by the sales person though. We are quite a bit out in the country, and any daily walk will involve a few bumpy paths, so we've ended up with one we had never previously heard of - the Cybex Priam - and like you, it just felt right when we were wheeling it about the shop. So after much checking up, we went back to order it yesterday. It's all very spendy, isn't it. Thankfullly we chose to forgo the ski attachments(I'm not kidding)

And yes I wouldn't really expect baby to stay in the same position from 28 weeks, so we'll find out at another growth scan we're having at 32 weeks (I'm almost 30 weeks now).

Hope everyone is doing well.

Working from home today and I just can't be bothered! Wish I could just sleep.

We're heading off for the weekend to the Scottish Highlands. With any luck we'll catch some snow (our youngest DD has never seen any before!) and do a bit of sledging.

I got my whooping cough vaccine yesterday and don't have another MW appt until March, but I've a scan with the consultant towards the end of this month. Going to call the osteopath for an appt today. I've a stiff neck and shoulders and SPD is playing up.

How is everyone else doing?

I'd never heard of that brand brooke. Sounds like it's a good choice for your needs though. I was definitely a bit at the cost of them - hopefully it'll be worth it as we should be able to use it for a good amount of time though.

Mazzle, I'm working from home today as well. Finding it a bit of a challenge, especially as sitting at a desk for longer than about five minutes really sets off my back pain. Reminding myself that I only have a few weeks left before maternity leave is cheering me up a bit though. Hope you have a lovely weekend in Scotland, it must be so exciting for children to see snow for the first time.

I've had my 31 week appointment and got the whooping cough vaccination at the same time. They said the baby was still measuring just right and seems to be head down, which is all good news. Can't believe I'm 31 weeks already - time seems to be flying past. Less than nine weeks until due date!

Hope everyone is doing well.

Question for you all... Im starting to feel really anxious about how big this baby is going to be... My bump is much bigger than last time, though my weight is the same, but my son's head and height were off the chart despite him only being 8lbs... The bump measured small the whole pregnancy and this one is slightly ahead of where it should be! If second babies are bigger I'm just not sure how it's going to come out safely... We were so close to an emergency c section with my son and it was only big forceps intervention and huge episiotomy that finally got him out... I'm 31wks today and starting to feel really panicky... Hoping it's the hormones!! I have a 32 and 36wk scan so I'm hoping if those are showing the baby to be big they'll either allow an elective c section or induce me... But I'm not convinced they will! Eeeek... Any helpful thoughts from anyone? I'm scared!

emma with ds I had a scan a week before he was born, the sonographer told me he was gonna be massive and when I was In labour nearly every dr/nurse/mw said the same. He turned out to be 6lb 11, not by any means massive, and I'm 5ft6 and average build!

Don't worry, its really not an exact science (god knows why not though, we've been at it long enough!!). If the sonographer draws the line a micro mm wrong it can through the weight predictions WAY off!

Everyone I know who's had a forceps delivery first time round has had a much easier time of it with their second. In fact, I don't know of anyone who had to have an emcs or forceps with their second. Hopefully you will be the same.

I'm in the US and they are measuring me at 38 weeks and will decide. The scans here measure within 2oz of actual weight so are very accurate. They have said if baby is 9lb or over they will have me scheduled for Monday morning. If she is under 9lbs they will let me go until March 28th. See if you can find a place for the accurate scans if you are concerned.

I had growth scans with DD1 and was induced early as they estimated her at 6lbs 10oz and IUGR. She was born 5lb 15oz. They can be out by a whole pound in the UK. Definitely voice your concerns, and if you feel more comfortable with an ELCS then definitely push for one. I believe they can't deny you one if you do push for one.

I've always heard that scans and measurements are notoriously inaccurate too. A friend of mine was told her baby measured small throughout her pregnancy and she was sent for extra scans and monitored quite a lot as a result. When her DS was born he was a perfectly normal weight (can't remember exactly but I'm sure it was 7lbs something so right in the middle of the normal range).

Would it help to talk to your midwife about your feelings about your son's birth and your concerns about this baby's size? Maybe she could reassure you that having a difficult experience the first time round doesn't mean the same thing will happen again?

It all depends on the machine used. The machine in the obn group is awful at estimating - its out by up to 1lb normally. The machine in the hospital is a 4D thing that is extremely accurate. If in doubt about size (ie your baby is weighed at 9lbs) the obn group sends you to the hospital.

I would be asking the midwife where you can go for an accurate scan as you know the scans they give are normally quite far out and if they don't do this you will push for a CS. They have the machines in the UK but they are normally only in the bigger hospitals where they handle the higher risk pregnancies. A big or small baby is higher risk. I have learned the hard way that there is a link between big babies and development delays.

I think whether you get a cs or not (if you want one of course) is down to were you live and what consultant you have.

The NICE guidelines recommend counselling for women who have had bad birth experiences or are scared by the idea of birth. After this if you still want a cs the guidelines recommend that it be granted.

I have been through the dismissive consultant, to the councillor and am now hoping to see the dismissive consultant next Friday to ask for a CS, I'm hoping its granted!

Good luck with your consultant's appointment Writer. It seems so unfair that even though the NICE guidelines say women should be able to have a CS if that's their preference, people still have to worry about their request being turned down. I can only imagine how much stress it must cause if you're sure that a CS is the best option for you and yet you end up having to almost fight for a consultant to agree to it.