July 2016 Babies (8) - 3rd trimester here we come

[Ellizardo]

Hoping this works as total techno-luddite! Happy Saturdays all.

Tams sorry to hear you're in the reduced movement club too, keep us posted. I get confused between you and dats as I know one of you is also based my way!

So I've had some good news but feel overwhelmed. Saw the consultant after scan. He is really pleased with the baby's progress - I am shocked at the change in measurements from Friday to today. He weighed 1084g on Fri and is now 1210g. Amniotic fluid index has now increased from 8.6 to 12cm. Surely this all can't be down to differences in sonographers?!? The blood flow has also picked up.

So the consultant has discharged me from hospital and said I need to go back for daily CTG monitoring, weekly consultant appointments, weekly Doppler scan and fortnightly growth scan. He said they want to get the baby to June but July is unlikely. I don't understand the implications of this. It seems like it will just be constantly reviewed but there is a cut off date that they don't want to exceed?

Sorry for long rant but I feel so lost. At least in the hospital I felt like I was being checked over and had some sort of clarity that the baby will be early. Now I feel like I've gone through all this worry and been left with massive uncertainty about what happens next. It says in my notes on Fri that neonatal were on standby but now it's all safe to go home?? I just can't get my head around it.

fifi glad you've had some good news. Really pleased that the baby is putting on weight and the fluid levels are up - sounds positive. Do you have a midwife you could speak to with some of your questions? You could also write them down as you think of them and take them along to your next consultant appointment. I find it frustrating when things aren't explained the way you'd like. I think they assume we know more than we do sometimes. Take the positives though!

It is me based down your way so I might see you at the CTG tomorrow! Maybe the midwife you see there will be able to explain some of the things you've been told.

Hi fifi. It sounds really positive. I am sure they are sending you home because they are genuinely happy with how you andbay e doing but keeping you very close by the sounds of it. They can't scan more frequently than every 14 days because it is too hard to identify any real growth trends more frequently. I would suggest get yourself a little notebook and write down questions and feelings you have to discuss with all the mw and consultants you meet.

They do want the baby to bake a little longer in the mummy oven but will want to meet the little one before full term. At the end of June you will be 35 weeks and they probably feel the baby will be strong enough to reuqire minimal support and thrive. They are the pros but do ask them the questions.

The important thing is you are very closely on their radar. They are not going to miss a thing and you get to sleep in your own bed.

fifi - I am pleased that things are looking good. Keeping everything crossed for you.
I am off for another scan this morning as a follow-up from last week. Going with my mum which is nice.
I can't wait for my mat leave to start. I didn't think that I would feel this way as I love my job, but I feel like I am just counting down the days until I leave. I make a final decision on when that will be when I see the obsetrician again. My line manager is being lovely.
Still haven't made a decision on the buggie. I need to just make a final decision. You would think it was life & death the way I am acting!
Just put a load of washing on and hoping to dry it in the sun. Fingers crossed it doesn't rain.
How is everyone today?

Fifi glad you've had some good news. Hope you are resting up now.

Anna beautiful dress! Hope you had fun at the wedding

Bel I'm planning to start packing bags too. Everyone's lists on here have been so helpful!

pulpi no idea but glad you brought it up! Interesting reading everyone else's views on elective vs section...

tams have movements improved since you last posted?

youandme sorry you're having to deal with people and their rude comments. It's probably not v mature of me to say these days depending on my mood I'm rude back. Just blame the hormones, i do ;-)

cookies I can't remember when you're due but I've got about 6 weeks to go too!

Elliz sorry to hear you were having a bad day. Think we've all had days like that so far, I know I have! Cake always cheers me up and I'm sure I've read you liked baking..:-)

4 more days until I start mat leave hooray!:-)
What's everyone's plans for the bank holiday? Hubby and I are going away for a baby moon no idea where I've left it all to him to plan so intrigued to find out where we're going...

36 weeks today, had the appointment with midwife to discuss birth plan. Going to go with the flow, aiming for the midwife led birthing centre. Open to all options on pain relief. Don't fancy the pool so going for an active as possible labour. Baby is 2/5 engaged so most of head below pelvic brim now. Doesn't seem to have helped with the breathing though!

Starting to worry about arranging for DD to be looked after. My last labour was quick. And DH could be a few hours away and un-contactable at work. MIL doesn't drive and my parents work full time!! DH has a rest week when I'll be 38 weeks so hoping baby hangs on until then or the week of my due date as SIL has the week off.

Fifi, glad they are happy to discharge you and that they are still keeping a close eye on you. Can understand it's a bit frightening going home though.
All feeling very real now!!

Tams,
Hoping your CTG is ok and movements pick up. Must be so worrying.

Fifi - agree with everyone's very constructive and positive advice here vis the hospital's treatment. They clearly want to avoid any premature births with all that comes with those and keep you close in the meantime. The notebook idea is fab.

thom - hope scan went well.

becks - can't believe you're 36 weeks already. where has the time gone.

Jem - I am making courgette and lime cake today. It's like you're a mindreader!!

And met with the consultant too today and got my section date which is 6 JULY, wahey! Very pleased. And in fact I found out she's breach at the moment (and has been for weeks) so it is very possible I would have had to have section whether I liked it or not.

I'll be going in the previous Friday for bloods etc and then show up at 1130am and she'll be out, depending on the list, between 1330-1700 that afternoon. It's surreal thinking about it...but has cheered me up no end for some reason.

Now off to buy big black pants from M&S.

fifi glad for the positive news. Although I completely understand yu have questions - they would not let you home if they felt there was any major concern, they can't take that sort of risk. But good that they are keeping you on their radar so to speak so you can be checked on.

jem I do, Infact 5 weeks 6 days til due date now ha! Given the nature of my job/the state of my pelvis it's for the best to stop. You're very brave in letting DH organise (control freak over here!) but sounds very lovely and sure you'll have a great time away.

becks you really are close now- not long to go! Similar situation here, last labour was super quick so this one is going to fall out apparently?! Do you have any friends close by you can call in an emergency just to watch her until someone else to get there?

elliz cake is always the answer. We all have days like those. Don't beat yourself up. Sorry to hear about your friend though.

Hope all is ok tams always good to get it checked out. Hope the scan goes well. Fingers crossed to stay with the midwife team- sending positive thoughts your way

youandme not my own personal experience but I know of several really positive induction stories. At 38 weeks. First started at 9am and had their babies by late afternoon with nothing more than gas and air. And she's a size 6 with teeny hips! I've also never heard of someone being able to choose an ELCS for being overdue

beautician I remember my maternity allowance took ages to get back to me last time- made me so panicky and nervous as wanted to budget etc. Fingers crossed for you it arrives soon. Glad the midwife went well. You must be looking good for normal measurements etc. I've been quite fortunate as next Monday is bank holiday then the following 2 or 3 I'm using holiday for.

Youngest DD was really sick in the night and exhausted getting up for school run this morning. Reminded me of what it's going to be like once babba is here still trying to get all the bedding washed etc. Trying to be positive that at least I can get it out on the line today.

I've been admitted back to hospital. Went for CTG this morning and they weren't happy with the decelerations. I was told to prepare for c section and they wanted to review in 30 mins. The heart rate improved so no need for delivery today but back in hospital.

Best of luck fifi will be thinking of you.

Thanks everyone. Movements have been ok the last few days but had to go for CTGs anyway. They keep getting worried because the baby doesn't move when I'm on the monitor but it never moves first thing in the morning!

jem baby moon sounds lovely! I'm curious about where you're going now too. I'm sure you'll both enjoy it.

elliz glad you've got a date now. You'll know what you're working towards at least. So exciting that the babies are all going to start arriving soon(ish).

fifi so sorry to hear that the plans have changed again. At least they picked up on it and were ready to act though. It's got to be encouraging that they're so on the ball. Fingers crossed baby gets a bit more time to cook but if not then at least you're in the right place. Thinking of you. By the way - I think I might have been in the bed next to you earlier if you were in the day unit early this morning!

My god fifi what a rollercoaster. Hand holding dont know what to say but i hope you have support around you to help deal with the stress of everything!

Any of you second time mums i have a potentitally very silly question - did you have a feeling you would go overdue and then did you? I have a horrible sinking dreading feeling that ill be a 42 weeker and i just cant cope with the stress of having to worry about movements and things for that long :/

Fingers crossed for you Fifi, hope that things settle down and you can have a few more days cooking your little one.

fifi - I am so sorry, but it sounds like they are keeping a every close eye on you. I hope that you are comfortable and have your hospital bag near at hand. Did they give any indication as to when they might deliver. I hope you and the little man are being looked after and supported.

primary I didn't have an early feeling about going over due, but gradually as each of the other women in my NCT had their babies before me, I kind of realised that nothing was happening! I had a sweep at just before 40 weeks, and the midwife can work out something called the Bishop score, which gives an indication of how near you might be to going into labour. Mine was a low score (bad), as the cervix was still long, closed and posterior. Also, DC1 was never fully engaged which was a sign as well I think.

I was more fed up than worried, as by that point the bump is so big you are very aware of all the movements of the baby.

tams - so pleased that things are looking good. All went well at my scan today but booked in again next week. It feels a bit OTT but I know that it is just clinicians being risk adverse.

Primary I wish someone would tell me I look small Instead I get the "my god you're the size of a house"comments.

Tams I hope you get lots of kicks and movements from baby soon. These babies do like to worry us literally from
the moment of conception and it never ends.

Eliz sorry you are having a rubbish time. Hormones will be playing a huge part at the moment. You need cake. Yay for the c section date. How come you are having one sorry I've forgotten.

Pulpi I don't think you would be given a c section in place of an induction. I've not had an induction but I have heard it's a more intense labour. Although they say you can have an elective c section now they are very, very difficult to obtain. However, unless there is a risk to you or baby you have a right to refuse induction and just wait for baby to arrive.

Jem definitely get your bag packed. You never know what can happen and it's a relief to have it done believe me. I'm due the same date as you. It's going fast for me now. Can't wait to know where your DH is taking you on your babymoon. How exciting.

Cookies thank you. I vaguely remember it taking ages last time. I just thought I may have a letter soon as all being well maternity pay should start on 13th June. I may need to top up my national insurance so I wanted to know ASAP. Although I did make an extra national insurance payment just before I went off my maternity allowance form to try and cover it.
I feel for you re the sick. Ds3 was taken to the zoo today by childminder and was sick three times in the car. Bless him he was sick when we went on holiday so I think he's definitely a travel sickness sufferer now like ds1. Emptying the bag to put the sick covered clothes in the wash almost made me sick too

Fifi sorry to hear you are back in but you are in the right place. You and baby will be fine try not to worry although I know near impossible. Eek we could have our first squishy newborn soon.

Primary with a first you often have a feeling one way or another which is usually completely incorrect. My friend last year kept saying how she would be early as its her first,she went two weeks over. I had:
Ds1 day before due date 39+6
Ds2 day after due date 40+1
Ds3 40+3
So I fully expect this one to be quite close to due date but you never know. May just be a massive coincidence but every time my labour has started the day of or the day after a long walk.

Trying to get organised here with the last few bits I need to buy.

We are going to stay with FIL and SMIL in Skegness for the bank holiday weekend. It was all very last minute as I want to make the most of spending time with the boys before baby arrives. It looks set to be good weather so I'm really excited.

Is anyone planning on going abroad when the baby is small

33+4

I am terrible for reading on and off throughout the day and instantly forgetting all the news, so I'll just say Hi everyone :) (and fx for Fifi, thinking of you)

Beaut I'd like to go on holiday fairly soon with the baby, but I'm not sure if I'm being overly ambitious, so we might see how we get on and go for a late deal. We are however planning to book a ski trip for when baby is 8 months, so that we can't wimp out nearer the time!
Do you think there is an optimal age range for travelling when they are still in an eat/sleep/poo cycle not requiring too much more faff? Or is it easier when they are a bit older?

I am probably over optimistic in hoping we can go to weddings at 3 weeks and 7 weeks, and a weekend in a cabin with friends at 11 weeks!

Fifi - thinking of you & hope you get clarity soon

Beautician - I sent off my matb1 form and heard back within 10 days but they asked for more info so had to wait about another week before I got my final settlement

And I'm having csection because my last diabetes/failed induction experience with Ted so recently meant it was strongly suggested this time round

Primary - as beautician says nobody knows anything re timings but agree with you about straying over 40 weeks. Several friends went over and it's so frustrating and nerve wracking too

Foobio the older they get the more difficult it is to go away. That's why we want to go away early. We then won't bother going abroad again until baby is about 3 as its just too stressful.

Eliz thank you for the maternity allowance info hopefully I hear soon. I know it must be difficult having a c section but it must be nice to have a clear date and to be able to get prepared.

Oh Fifi what a stressful time. Not knowing whether you are coming or going just makes everything so much more difficult. I hope you get some clarity soon and that all continues to be well with baby.

I've discovered today that from next week (36 weeks) I have to have a weekly session on a CTG to monitor baby, and something (a scan I guess? Was unclear) to check fluid levels. Apparently this is standard for diabetic mums round my way. I'm not bothered about extra monitoring (although I wish I'd been told before, since they knew it was going to happen!).

I am a bit fed up that it's going to be a logistical horror. I have to go to one hospital (the one where I'm actually going to have the baby) at 1130 next week, and wait at the Day Assessment Unit to be seen. This could all take any amount of time really, as they are always heaving. Then in the afternoon I have to go to another hospital (the one where I have been going to Diabetic Clinic) to see my consultants. The other hospital is on the other side of the city. I don't drive.

At some point I have to make sure I have my lunch, which I can't buy on the go because I'm restricted in what I can eat. I'll have to take it with me to the first hospital in case things run over so much I don't have time to get home in between. It takes an hour to get from home to Hospital 1 on the bus, and about 35 minutes to get to Hospital 2 from home. No idea how long it takes to go between them. I think I will end up spending a lot of money on taxis to make this bearable. Apparently it is both vitally important that these appointments happen on the same day every week, and also impossible to have them in the same location.

This also means that I will miss both the coffee meet ups my NCT group have organised, as they are on Tuesday mornings (which I'd expected to be fine as no one told me about this extra monitoring so I thought I'd only have clinic in the afternoons!). I'm really gutted about that.

Sorry for the epic whinge. I know it's really important to keep an eye on baby (and I think I will find it reassuring). I just wish it wasn't so badly organised!

Becks. How pld is dd. Is a or night sitter an option to look after her. Then she could stay at home.

Primary. I didn't go over with DS despite DP being convinced that "it is my first so will be a full 42weeker" so not exactly what you are asking, but I was sure the baby would arrive early and he did. At 38+4. It was a 10 hour labour from start to finish. And I have a feeling this one may well follow suit. We shall see.

Fifi hope you're doing ok. So disorientating for you, but it's good that they're keeping a close eye on you. And exciting that you could have your baby so much sooner than expected!

Tams thinking of you too.

Ellizardo, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. Sympathies. Hope you felt better today than yesterday. And great that you've got a date set for the baby, I confess that sort of clarity is quite appealing to me!

Gosh Youandme, what a palaver. Logistical nightmares like that can seem insurmountable especially when pregnant, but it'll all fall into place. Like you, I've had the "your bump's small" comments, and I know they're trying to be flattering but it does make me feel somehow inferior. I'm only 1cm less than average which is well within the normal range! I think most people have no idea what normal looks like (I wouldn't have either, to be fair) and they're just trying to be nice, so I smile along with it and try to take it in the spirit that it's intended.

Ooh Jem how exciting re the mystery babymoon! Can't wait to hear where you're going!

Bel I can sympathise re the crying. I cried in a yoga class on Saturday 😳 Good luck with everything at work. I'm hoping for promotion after my maternity leave but can't even begin to imagine how I'd deal with a promotion panel right now - I'd be in absolute meltdown! I've been stressing enough just about my annual appraisal. Sending you positive vibes for your panel.

I've been really struggling, the last week or so. It's been brewing for a few weeks and in the last few days I've become an emotional wreck. On the whole, I had a fairly easy ride for the first few months of my pregnancy, and I think I lulled myself into a false sense of being able to breeze through pregnancy without needing to wind down / take it easy. I've been setting my usual, very high expectations of myself eg running to work, leading my team capably, delivering/achieving everything I would normally be able deliver/achieve at work, plus planning for a baby on top of it all. Which sounds silly (now I stop and think about it), because I'm pregnant dammit, and there's no way I should be expecting myself to operate at my normal level. This week I have finally let the superwoman facade crumble and, after a couple of tearful conversations yesterday with the other team head and with my deputy, today I had a chat with my boss which was really helpful. She reassured me that I need to have objectives/expectations that are realistic for me now, as opposed to what would be realistic for a non-heavily-pregnant me. So we've reigned in what I/she expect me to deliver in the next 4 weeks. Which is a massive weight off my mind. And Fifi I thank you for that, as for some reason it simply wouldn't have occurred to me to have that conversation if you hadn't suggested it. Thank you so much.

I had two helpings of cake when I got home from work today, but they were different flavours of cake so I don't think it really counts as two helpings.

We have three weddings to go to this weekend. I'm very happy for them all of course, but my god I wish they hadn't all picked the same weekend - it's going to be exhausting! Still, I get to spend a couple of days in Oxford which makes me happy - my favourite place in the UK 😊

Now that I've taken the pressure off me at work, I'm looking forward to pulling together my list of things I need to buy / pack pre-baby. I'm a bit behind! So far I've bought a few random clothes (but not really thought through), some dribble bibs, and one pack of wipes. That's not going to cut the mustard! A buggy is first on my list. Thanks for all the tips re what we need.

32+2, and just under 5 weeks left in the office 😊

I'm having a c section around 9-10 tomorrow will catch up when I can. Please keep my baby in your thoughts xxx