March 2016 Babies #9 - we're on the final countdown!!

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Thread 9!!

I just had my 34 week MW and now I'm really panicking about having a huge baby! I'm 33 weeks and measuring 35.5cm and have been scaring myself by seeing the resulting baby size at 40 weeks . I've jumped up by quite a bit on the growth chart too so I'm going for a scan to check fluid levels but my bump feels all baby iyswim, so I can't imagine I've got an abnormally high level of fluid in there. I know some of you have real problems to deal with, so I feel a bit silly getting so worked up about this, but I'm terrified of ripping open the scar tissue from the tear I got with ds and I know that's more likely with a bigger baby. Someoine talk some sense into me please!

Just off too check out the link TheMShip posted. Maybe I'll give birth nice and early to an average sized baby? .

Oh my god trijo I can't believe someone would actually say that! I despair at humanity! Hope you had your chocolate

Luckily I get the same bus every day, so they have all worked out how pregnant I am by now, and about 5 people jump up as soon as they see me :)

Mini ffaux is most definitely not allowed to arrive more than 9 days early (15th March) as that's the date I would have been in my job 9 months, and I'm not entitled to any maternity benefits if she comes before then! I mean I hardly get anything as it is, but nothing would really suck! So will be holding my breath until then!

I'm old too - 36 in May! Feel pretty great though, so very lucky. Although I'm working until I have the baby so getting very jealous of your posts about leave, sob sob. Would love to be at home from about 37 weeks just to nest but nothing I can do. So please enjoy it and be thankful for the UK benefits - I don't want to hear anyone complaining that they are bored at home haha! Otherwise I'll be sending you some of my work :)

scared hope you get some reassurance. I don't think 10 scans is excessive, I know people who have had far more so try not to worry, better just to know that she's okay.

If I didn't already say this good luck pug and well done missi - Zach is so gorgeous and I can't wait until you have him at home!

Thanks for that website! I am now looking up how likely it is to have a third baby before 39+1 (section date).

Pre-op assessment today. Was at hospital from 9am until 4pm

Missi Zach is so handsome!! He's going to be a little heartbreaker. I bet you can't wait to get home. Life will be so much easier for you all then. Thank you for keeping us all updated :)

Tri I can't believe someone said that to you! I get upset when someone has their coat on a seat and won't offer it to me. I think I'd cry if I was in that situation. I hope the rest of your day was better

Scared The scans won't have hurt her. People who have high risk pregnancies sometimes have to have scans every 2 weeks and no harm is done. Don't worry

Trinpy There are several of us measuring big in the thread now. That fact alone gives me some hope as it MUST mean that there is some kind of problem with their ''science''. Hope your scan goes well.

ffaux I hope baby Faux stays put long enough for you. I can't believe some places don't have a maternity policy in place. Are you entitled to any leave at all?

MrsBen How did it go? Do you have a date now then? Would you rather have baby early or are you quite happy to have a section?

No news here! Another growth scan tomorrow to make sure baby Cookie is growing at a steady rate as he's been up and down on his centile the last 3 times. DH can't make this one so I'll be going on my own sigh There must be quite a few of us at our term dates now? How exciting! Between Pug and MrsBen to pop next I think

Hayley I'd prefer a section as it's scary to labour after abruption and crash section last time, but would happily labour if it was safer for baby before 39 weeks, as DD was a 'normal' delivery and it was all straightforward with a very short pushing stage.

Ideally, my waters will go some time after 37 weeks and I will get a section! I have had steroids and baby is now weighing over 6lb, so (although I know they like sections done after 39 weeks according to the new guidelines) I would like him here soon so that I know he is ok.

Haley I think anyone due on 1 March is 37 weeks tomorrow, correct me if I'm wrong. I'm due 5th and 37w on Saturday.

turbo welcome to the measuring big club! I was 37cm at 34 weeks, I see the midwife a week tomorrow at just over 37 weeks and suspect I'll be well over 40cm. I am, ahem, very well endowed in the boob department, and my bump is making the girls look like they'd fit tidily in a B cup.

Good luck with your scan hayley! I've got mine on Wednesday.

scared I've had 15 scans I think. 16th on Wednesday then another on the 24th. I'm not worried about it!

Sympathy Beaut, and respect too. I'm not cut out to be a SAHM.

Glad you're feeling better today, doc. Hope the feeling continued all day!

Me & TheM, I loved all that data! Thanks for sharing!

Sympathy for you too, TriJo. What a train wanker. And I'd have reacted exactly the same in the canteen.

scared. Hope you've been reassured by now.

Trinpy, the consultant reassured me that you're much less likely to tear on #2. I've got a ginormo-baby to apparently (90th centile, anticipating 9lb11oz if he stays on that line), after tearing with 8lb8oz DS. But it's head size that makes the difference. And my midwives have a plan to reduce the likelihood of tearing. Have you discussed a plan with them?

(Mind you, I'm still in half a mind to deliver at RD&E where they can do the repairs if they're needed).

Hang on in there ffaux. Every time I think about the US maternity 'system' I'm astounded that it's still so backward. But, each time I think of finishing early, I remind myself of the US women that work till they drop and then go straight back in after only a few weeks. If they can do it, I can!

Wow, TheM! Term on Saturday! So exciting!

I had my 34wk appt today. As I said, still have a huge Octo-baby. Otherwise all is good (phew!).

Hmm, whenever I see discussions about age, I feel like the Granny of the thread at 42!

Scared, with ds1 I had far more scans than that and he is currently a very healthy 5 year old. I think it's only in the v early stages that lots of scans may slightly increase the risks of a mc; otherwise, there's nothing to worry about and certainly not at the 3rd trimester.

Hayley and Mship I think I'm term on Weds (due 2nd March)! Finally got my bag packed this morning (apart from last minute things); it felt so good to be putting tiny clothes in the suitcase as it really made the birth seem imminent.

Missi What an adorable picture of Zach. Hope he can go home soon. It's amazing how well he has done and massive congrats on feeding him so well.

Thanks to all for concerns re iron levels. The good news is I am managing with the liquid iron and this morning actually felt normal for the first time in ages. I was v tired again in the afternoon, but it's definitely a step in the right direction. I am feeling so much more positive about things now.

scared a friend of mine had scans every 2 weeks right from the beginning for complications, so that must be 20 in total, plus she had a couple of private 4D ones! There's nothing to worry about. I feel a little bit jealous of you getting to see your baby, having had just 3 myself (one private early one and the two standard NHS ones) but then obviously I'm grateful that everything has been fine for me so I haven't needed additional ones!

I will be term on Friday! My SIL had both her two at 37+1. It's crazy to think that it might happen to some of us!

Back from hospital. Posted on pregnancy board to but thought I'd update here
Protein 2+ found in urine. Bp taken three times, readings where 135/90, 125/80 and 140/90. Blood taken and sent off came back clear two hours later.
On Friday at my routine midwife app blood pressure was 120/80 when normally all through my pregnancy it has been 115/70-120/70. No protein in urine on Friday

Sent home and have to go to hospital again Wednesday for blood pressure check and growth scan. Told not to worry and any visual disturbances, headaches, swelling to phone triage.

Baby had trace done and she was fine. But I am worried this is the start of something bad and my baby won't make it. I'm terrified and don't know what to do.
Also not felt baby since trace taken off still. I'm worried as I heard pre eclampsia can cause the placenta to start failing but she said it was a good sign their was no sign of anything in blood work and that babies trace was good.

Have been very stressed the last couple of months but it's never affected my blood pressure before.

I'm 36 weeks tomorrow, so one week till term. Not even remotely ready yet! I really don't think I'm going to come early though. My due date is a few days out anyway by my dates so I'm fully expecting to go over 40 weeks or if early very close to it. Should really start finishing packing the hospital bag though! I've started but just had no time. Had call from birth pool people today to discuss the birth bool I'm hopefully going to rent - they are going to ring back after my 36 week appt on weds once I know if home birth is likely/allowed. Fx baby is the right way up/down on weds!

House is a complete mess and I'm starting to stress about it - no time to clean at the moment, I can't wait for maternity leave to start so I can get the house in order and ready to go. I feel like my body/brain has reached a point where I just want to change gears out of work mode and into 'about to have another baby' mode. Really struggled with work today, just want to be done with it. I know its only four days to go but I'm getting really antsy about all the mess and things that need sorting - me and DP are quite disorganised house wise and messy people, and its really starting to get to me but don't have the energy to do everything on top of work too!

Thank you to those of you that have given me some reassurance, I really appreciate it. I'm not a particularly anxious person but this has got me feeling really panicky! Its a mix of the fear of tearing and potential issues with that, and also MiL had similar sized babies and seems to be always in for gynae ops which she blames on having 'big babies'. Indom That's a good idea to discuss a plan with my mw to help prevent tearing. We haven't discussed anything about the birth yet, but mine doesn't even go through the birth plan until 36 weeks. Do you mind me asking what kind of plan you've decided on re the tearing?

shield glad you're feeling more positive now and that the liquid iron is boosting your energy levels a bit.

Hope all goes well with your scan tomorrow haley.

MrsBen how annoying for you having to spend most of the day in hospital. Was there lots of waiting around? Good that you have a proper plan in place now though.

ffaux how much time off do you get after the baby is born? I really feel for pregnant women living and working in the US (and other countries with crappy mat leave), it must be very hard to not have the option to rest at home during the last few weeks.

indom thanks I will hang in there! As you say millions of other women do it. Doesn't make it right but means it's doable!

trinpy and hayley technically there is no government obligation to provide any leave, so it's up to employers. Mine provides only 2 weeks paid leave, but the Union has just negotiated an increase to 6 weeks, so I'm crossing everything that comes into place in time!

After that I get 6 weeks at about 60% pay - but that's only because I had the foresight to pay into a short-term disability insurance policy when I started so thank goodness I did as you can't just add it later! Then I have about 10 days holiday, and then they are letting me take a couple of months unpaid. So I'll be off for 5.5 months altogether, will be tight financially but could be worse I guess!

scared I'm so sorry you have more things to worry about! I'm no expert so hopefully you will get replies on the main thread. I have heard that protein in urine can happen quite commonly and it not be pre-E, e.g. you could just be a bit dehydrated and the kidneys are working harder. So they will continue to monitor it. Your BP doesn't seem worryingly high to me, and it has only just started to creep up this week by the looks of it. So even if you do have pre-E, (and it doesn't sound like they are convinced of this yet), then it's been picked up right from the start and you will be monitored carefully. I know it's scary but you are in the best place, and it is a common and treatable condition; I know many women who have had it and everything has been fine. Keep us updated

Oh, scared, this has been a tough pregnancy for you. I'm sorry it's been so difficult. So this latest blip will pass, you'll meet your baby soon and you'll get your body (mostly) back to yourself! With luck, your second will be a much more enjoyable experience!

Marmite I know the feeling re: work. I'm finding it increasingly difficult to focus/think deeply about what I'm doing. ( actually, as one who's often stuck in her own head about stuff, it might not be such a bad thing to an extent).

Trinpy: firstly, I saw the consultant at 20 weeks and she reassured me that I was far less likely to tear this time (but did say it's likely to be worse if I do). Between her and my midwives ('my' midwife is retiring next week, I've been seeing them all here!) we have a plan:

1. Only allowed in the water in early stages. Have to get out by transition to let everything dry out!
2. She recommended kneeling or squatting. No stool or anything.
3. Midwife to apply perineal support (joy)
4. Midwife to give direction when it comes to crowning. (Last time they wanted DS out in a hurry. I was expecting someone to tell me to pant or something but they didn't). Midwife I saw today said when it comes to it she often gets people to hold back during a contraction and then give very controlled pushes in between to ease through that part. She was very confident I'd be able to not only manage it but that I'd be unlikely to tear with these suggestions.

Hope that's helpful. I'm feeling quite pragmatic about it at the moment. No doubt The Fear will set in at some point!

I forgot to mention; I've only had the two standard scans, but found out today that the MLU now do routine presentation scans (to check for cheeky breechers). So hopefully I'll get one last little peek!

I'm in bed late, and breaking all the sleep hygiene rules. Here's hoping for a better night than last night.

Ooh indom that's interesting - especially the water bit, I would have thought water would help?? Do you think that strategy will help a FTM too? Your midwives sound fab! Lovely that you get one last scan.

I forgot to mention that someone on the Facebook March group just had their gorgeous baby - she was on here earlier in the thread but hasn't been back for a while, not sure of her MN name. Anyway she was 37 weeks and said baby came terrifyingly quickly - within 10 minutes of arriving at hospital They thought they were going to have her in the car!

Woah, ffaux! Extend our congratulations to her!

The midwives here are lovely. The only one of the team I think I haven't seen yet is the one who delivered DS, and who will be taking over from my named mw!

I expect those strategies would work for anyone. The water thing is that as your skin softens in the water if it does tear the tear is likely to be worse/more ragged.

With DS, because there had been meconium in the waters they were keen to have him out asap, hence the lack of slowing me down at the end! (That, and frankly by that point I could see the light at the end and was keen to get pregnancy over with!).

Slept better last night. But woke up on my back. Octo-babe's wriggling, so assume I haven't caused a problem there! I've got a terrible feeling the lack of hours is going to kick me in the arse today or tomorrow.

Indom that's really interesting about the water - I'm not planning to use the pool anyway but I'd never have realised it can make you tear worse. The other advice you've been given is useful and sounds similar to what I've been told too - kneeling or squatting is a better position to avoid tears, being on your back is worst. Obviously sometimes it can't be avoided - epidural eg - but I'm hoping to keep mobile if I can.

Feeling smug this morning after DH encouraged me to weigh myself - I haven't put on anything at all in the last 3 weeks, although bump has clearly grown and I've been eating like a horse. My total weight gain is just under 2 stone from my pre-pregnancy weight and about 1.5 stone since booking in - I had already put on half a stone by 8 weeks so I'm glad the gain has slowed down! Let's hope I don't ruin it all with the last 3.5 weeks.

Morning all,

Shieldbug I am with you on the oldies bench. Am 42 in April. (Although I feel 62 at the minute)

To all those of you still in the CSC I have had a fabulous nights sleep and I suspect it is down to EARPLUGS I didn't hear a bloody thing all night, and I think shutting out all the background noise really helped. Might be worth a try?

Day 2 of Mat Leave today. Yesterday I was a bit headachy and had a few period type pains, but like a few of you I will be 37 weeks at the end of the week and will find out on Thursday when I'll be induced (hopefully around the 21st).

Hope you all have a good day, take it easy and if anyone pisses you off on the tube give it to them with both barrels

paper am with you on the earplugs, I wear them all night every night and it's bliss....DP is a very heavy breather and it drives me nuts (no idea why to be honest...he's very lean!). Doesn't stop me waking up for wees though. Also think I might have a UTI which is annoying. Am really prone to them.

Freaking out about waterbirth meaning you tear worse as I was really desperate for a waterbirth! Now not so sure

scared I really feel for you, you've had such a hard time. Plenty of for you.

Second week of maternity leave - anyone else feeling a bit like a lazy lump? I am meant to be going to pregnancy yoga at 12.45 but now sure I can be bothered to haul my arse outside...

I made life a little easier and got the bus this morning, only had to threaten to sit on someone's bag to get a seat because someone else was literally allocating a priority seat to each arse cheek... Commuting is making me tired and cranky at this stage.

Me I'm up around 2 stone/13kg as well and I'm only 34+2... need to curb this third trimester chocolate habit!

Thank you so much Indom, thats all really helpful. I'll make a note of all your points and discuss it all with my mw next time I see her. Having a plan in place makes things a bit less scary! It sounds like we had some similarities with our first births - I also had meconium in the waters so they wanted baby out asap, I pushed in between contractions (because mw wanted transfer and episiotomy and I got scared!) and thats how I tore. I was also on my back for the second stage because I got tired and a bit lazy , so I'll have to force myself to kneel this time round. Fx we have lovely, straightforward births this time and that neither of us end up at the rd&e for a post-birth repair!

Just looked at scan measurement from yesterday. EFW is 6lb 9oz at 36 weeks! Thank goodness he is coming out of the sunroof!

Morning all didn't sleep to bad considering I suppose, was really restless for a good couple of hours at one point though and felt so bad for my oh as I think I kept him up to, told him he should go to spare room or I can but he insisted he was fine. oh is at work and I'm home alone in a right old state.
My anxiety is not going to help my bp come down is it. My nan is meant to be coming over and tbh I'd rather she didn't today as when I'm anxious people are the last things I want to see a lot off. Still not felt baby move again. So once she goes if nothing still I will be straight on the phone to triage, today and yesterday she has only moved on the monitor and I'm really concerned. Almost a guarantee for high bp right,
Also I randomly vomited two days ago after nearly six weeks vomit free and have a pain in my right side but towards the back that I forgot to mention. Urgh I don't know what to do, I thought the pain was muscular because it happens when I twist and sit leaning towards my right side, I don't feel it any other time but now I'm not so sure. Drunk plenty of water today but to scared to eat,
babies born at 34 weeks arnt guaranteed to be alright are they? I'm desperate to make it to 37 at least. I'm so scared for her well being. I feel like I've come so far and everything is going badly.

Maybe- I'm not on may leave but taking loads of annual leave at the moment and I'm a right lazy bum as well tbh.
Want to thank everyone here for their support.

Also very fearful of still birth now, more so than I was before this happened.