August 2016 number 5 - waddling towards the third trimester!

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For the August 2016 ladies and babies!

Glad to hear it's good news fizzy if a little bit inconclusive. So pleased for you.

Salene my cold is just starting to lift - I've been steaming my head too.

Just had my 32 week appointment with midwife. She seems happy for me to go ahead with homebirth and has booked a homevisit for 3weeks time to double check everything at home.
Still have to up my iron intake with the supplements though- means more prunes and activia yoghurt to try and keep my digestive tract moving! The glamour.

So happy for you fizzy, knew you'd both be fine! So is that it now for scans or do you get a few more peaks at her before she comes?
Does anyone know what the protocol is for a water birth, I've decided that's what I want but my midwife (no one) has ever asked me my plans or seemed to care what I want to do. Is it just a case of telling the hospital when I get there? Or is it something that I need to tell my midwife at the next appointment? Is there any reason other than her being too early or other complications, that I won't be able to have one? Worried I've missed the boat on arranging it

Christine I'm hoping for a waterbirth too :-) As far as I know, you just put it in your birth plan that you would like one, and I imagine you tell the hospital that when you ring to tell them you're in labour. Check whether your hospital/birthing centre has a class about them - mine had an hour-long session where we got to talk it through and ask any questions. If you are going for a tour there you may be able to ask as well. You need to be a low-risk pregnancy and not to have been induced (though if you have the first stages of induction then go into labour naturally, I think there is some leeway). You can use gas and air but not anything stronger. If they detect meconium in your waters you may not be able to use the pool.

My midwife said at my 32 week appointment that I should start thinking about a birth plan and jot something down in my hand held notes christine. I mentioned wanting to try a water birth, or at least some labour in the pool and she said to tell the midwives when I arrived, as it take s20 mins to set up the pool, and made a note of it in my notes.

fizzy hooray. Sounds very reassuring. The MRI at 6 weeks should be straight forward, our local paediatric imaging dept do it with baby asleep (ie after you've fed them, not needing an anaesthetic or anything!)

Rum not too long now then. Having the last week be a 'winding down' week sounds like a very good idea ! Roll on mat leave!

Oh no Salene, that's miserable! Do you have anyone who could come and stay with for a while if there's nobody locally to babysit? Hope the tablets kick in quick and you feel a lot better soon.

That sounds really positive fizzy, it must be a massive relief that as far as they can see everything's working fine. That'll make such a difference being able to deliver closer to home too! Hope you can sleep a better in that knowledge now

Loads to catch up on.

Salene and everyone else who is feeling poorly or suffering in general.

Fizzy! That's great news.

Christine I get a few more peeps at her yet, I've got another consultant appointment next week so I'll see her again then, hopefully her profile or face maybe? I'm more familiar with her 4 chamber view than her profile!

Lots oh that makes sense! We were only just discussing how they might go about doing an MRI on a baby! I thought of you during the consult afterwards, they were using almost identical terms you had, about it being isolated etc and how they see more of them these days, not because there are more, just the technology is there... I thought, she's a smart one that Lots! I need you working down here!

Salene my DH has just had the most horrendous cough bug thing, I appear to have bizarrely avoided it? (I had the flu jab is the only thing I can think of) and he found sleeping almost sitting up really helped...

Glad today went well Fizzy :)
Birth plan - my midwife will discuss with me at next appt at c34wks. I guess in reality if you give birth v early then choices are limited so that's why they wait til further on.
Re water birth - yep, whoever said meconium waters put the kybosh on birthing pool was right (certainly in my experience) because then baby needs continual monitoring. I believe there is a way to monitor in water but few hospitals will have the equipment. Also availability of pools on the day will be a factor too.
Midwife did say that having to have a cannula in my hand/arm (partly because of strep b antibiotics, partly because of haemorrhages last time) needn't mean that I can't use a pool - they will just put a glove over that hand to keep it dry. (Though actual birthing as opposed to labouring in the pool might be ruled out for me)

Boob question! The last few days ONLY when squeezed my nipples have produced tiny tiny little beads of white. Is this the beginning of milk? Images of colostrum (I think?) on google are yellow? But this actually looks like milk

christine I feel I am the resident boob expert here. I have had every colour under the sun since 21 weeks and the conclusion from the midwife is its always colostrum. milk doesn't come in until a few days after birth. Get thee some breast pads in preparation!

Midwifes do birth plans at 34 weeks here too.. Mine will be very much as last time.. Open to anything, prefer not to have epidural/section unless completely necessary, dh to tell me the sex and cut the cord, delayed cord clamping and skin to skin.

Considering water birth so may also write that and if anyone's doing hypnobirthing remember to write it in. I'm not doing to course but will be listening to cd again so there's a few things to include there, dimmed lighting etc..

My midwife had really strong opinions on forceps delivery though.. She said she'd rather a section than use those and if if was her own daughter she would not allow forceps . One of my friends from NCT the first time around was very much the same way so need to do a bit of research!

My midwife this morning said we would discuss birth plan at the next appointment. I'll take it all with a pinch of salt - as if I'm in control of how my baby decides to arrive!
Zumba forceps completely freak me out as well. NCT teacher was demonstrating how they use them to turn the baby's head - seems so dangerous.

So after this mornings check up I am being sent for a growth scan as I am measuring 31cm at 34 weeks. ARGH. Its just one thing to worry about after another. I googled a bit and it seems 90% of the time everything is fine and this is just a precaution, but its inevitable I will now spend the next few days worrying about having an emergency delivery or something! Doesn't help that DH has just got on a plane for a work trip so I'm alone :(

Has anyone else measured small?

Try not to worry basket (says me, the biggest worrier!) My fundal measurements have been equivalent to the number of weeks I am, but when I had an ultrasound, baby himself was below 50th percentile, which shows how inaccurate the tape measure can be! It can completely depend on how the MW is measuring you - growth scan will hopefully be completely reassuring. Do you have any neighbours you're friendly with? Mine have offered to drive me to the hospital if I ever need it 'day or night' - even though I probably won't take them up on the offer, it's comforting to know they're there. Or do you have family that you could go and stay with if DH is away for a while?

Re: birth plans, the only bit of mine I'm not so sure about is whether to go for a managed or physiological third stage. Apparently, you can still do delayed cord clamping and have a managed placenta delivery. The idea of hemorrhaging absolutely terrifies me, so am tempted to go for managed, but is there anything I'm not considering?

I started off writing mine and being very particular, but the more I read about and after visiting the birthing centre the more I feel comfortable trusting the midwives.

SPD has really kicked in over the last couple of days so am now walking with a crutch and feeling really sorry for myself! Am so, so lucky that most of my work is from home, but I find it psychologically difficult being on my own and not having social contact - finding it so difficult to focus on work right now instead of wasting time online!

In good news, sister has organised me a small baby shower on Saturday, which I am really looking forward to. My two best friends who live in Yorkshire and London are coming up, which is just what I need . Lord knows what my mum will have bought - she is being so crazily generous. Latest offering (and indeed it does seem quite biblical!) is a sheepskin!

basket I measured small with DD - iirc I stayed the same from one appt to the next, was several cm under what I should have been. Had a growth scan at 35-ish weeks, she was absolutely fine and was 7lb10oz born. Measured a couple cm small at my last appt this time round too, although in fairness I was 27 weeks so things could have changed since then! The bump measurements are useful to a point but they're absolutely not the be-all and end-all. Definitely don't panic!
Sophia sorry to hear the SPD is ramping up, you poor thing! Baby shower sounds lovely though, enjoy

No real thoughts on birth plan here - planning a homebirth but will be doing the same as last time, which is winging it and seeing how we get on! It's worked once before, so hey ho. The only difference is that I'll definitely be going for a managed third stage this time - was totally natural last time and ended up having a slightly scary moment a few days post-birth when I had a massive gush of blood (thought I'd peed myself - it soaked down to my knees!) and passed a big clot of some description. Placenta was supposedly complete at birth but to this day I suspect a little bit of retained product or something. Also bled for a v long time after birth so I'm hoping a managed third stage will help avoid any similar issues this time. Don't want to scare anyone, incidentally - none of this is common or likely with a natural third stage - I'm just a bleeder, so for me personally it's the best option!
Finally got round to doing a bit of sorting out - have cleared a drawer in DD's chest of drawers for baby bits, and have washed some of the newborn stuff! It does look v cute all teeny tiny on the airer

I'm hoping for a water birth but I'm very aware of the fact LO might not allow this!! Everyone keeps telling me I'm really calm towards the idea of birth, but I don't see the need in stressing myself out when I can't know what it will be like or when it'll happen. I just want it to be calm and chilled and an amazing experience.
My cousin had her baby this week and had to have forceps my sister said it felt horrible

Oh yeah managed third stage here.. Last time I had an injection my leg whilst cuddling my newborn and have no recollection of anything else!!

Just dropped my wee guy off at the cattery for the weekend and am having to fight off the tears. Stupid hormones!

I'm going for a natural third stage under the assumption that they wouldn't suggest it unless there were some benefits, but happy to switch if I've had a long or traumatic labour. Tbh, my birth plan consists of "I'd like this, but open to alternatives if necessary". Only things I'm firm on are we find out the sex, delayed cord clamping, skin to skin and DH to stay with the baby if we have to be separated.

Aww hgleslie Totally understand. I am feeling a lot more soppy towards my pet bird - he's still my baby right now!

Your birth plan sounds similar to mine - except the already knowing the sex!

Had my repeat scan to check my placenta today, it's further over my cervix than before, so looking unlikely that I'll be having a lovely home water birth.

Got to go back in 2 weeks for another scan and to see the obs dr who will decide the plan of action. Most likely planned c section. I can't imagine it will all of a sudden move out of the way.

Also a bit worried about going into labour early-2 of my babies were born at 36 weeks so not sure if they'll plan an early section or just do an emergency one if I go into labour early.

Suppose I should read up on c sections, I usually tend to skip all those bits on pregnancy pages as its never been an issue before.

Really feeling a bit down about it, I suppose i just have to look at it being the safest option for the baby, not about how I wanted to give birth.

Positive section stories will be gladly and gratefully received

As you know my previous section was an emergency, but I recovered faster than lots of my nct group who had natural births. It will be fine, just different.

I'm getting really fed up, it's DS's birthday on Sunday and I just want to sleep. I cannot be bothered with baking and Sandwich making. I'm feeling so overwhelmed I could cry.

Sorry to hear that Santa. I think C-sections can seem really scary as they are often an emegency, but planned ones are very different and you can still plan things to make them more personal and suited to you. It may be that after the scan they decide to admit you early to hospital, and I think they do a C-section at 38 weeks with placenta previa any way.

Forceps give me the fear too. That will go into my birth plan!

I know a few people who had planned sections (for various reasons) and a few EMCSs too. Only one friend had a true emergency; others were unplanned. Recovery has always seemed pretty straight forward on the whole.

The main thing I found hard last time was not feeling prepared for things going off-plan. My birth plan last time was pretty laidback so the change of hospital/lack of water birth wasn't a big stress. What I hadn't considered was the immediate afterbirth being anything other 'hand baby over and get on with it'. This time if that doesn't happen it would be less of a shock. It's still my preference but who knows what will happen on the day!

Im measuring small too Basket - was 28cm at 28wks then 27cm at 32wks... off my chart. But had a scan within a couple of days and all fine on measurment, pretty centreline, little small on weight so another scan coming up.... baby just down in my pelvis really low.
Which is expected as my hips have been pushing out since really early on! It was great to see baby again - feels like forever since 20wks.

hgleslie I feel you! my dog got an ear infection, or scratched it last week, incedentally vet visit was minutes after midwife measured me small: I cried like a baby - dog was more worried about me being upset than bothered about her ear.

Santa My friends having an elective C-section after problems in a natural birth (that alone seems a ridiculous statement to me, natural birth) last time and really positive that its planned in and she has time to consider how she will recover after. Everyone knows its happening so are lined up ready to help if she needs it. You could take that approach and if you dont need it, still pull the favours!

Excellent news, Fizzy! You must be so relieved.

Hope you feel better soon, Salene. That sounds miserable!