Late December - Early January Thread 2!

[Bella1985]

Hi! We're on to our 2nd thread for babies due at the end of December/Early January. 3rd trimester is in sight...!

emz32 technically DD wasn't early, she came at 37wks. I had PROM a few days before and labour did not progress (no contractions). 40 hours post PROM the medical team decided to induce her and she arrived 2 days post waters breaking. She was tiddly only 5lb5 (2nd centile) and we had problems with jaundice and feeding. So technically at term, but could have done with a bit more cooking.

I've swapped to decaff as well. DD was an atrocious sleeper in the first year and I'm convinced it's because I drank 1 cup of coffee per day through pregnancy (not backed by any scientific research of course!).

It's still scary when you have PROM when not expected! Labour was fairly quick after PROM for me. 13 hours later & he was here. DS was 5lbs at 35 weeks so goodness knows what he would have been at term! Hopefully just about average. I'm quite small & carry small. A MW did tell me that your body will only grow a baby that it can birth ie. It won't naturally be too big. Not sure whether I trust that.

Fingers crossed these ones will cook a bit more. I don't drink coffee (never liked it) and iv got a good sleeper & he always has been. Hoping I'm lucky again.

Just came from my scan. I am 28+3 and baby is measuring 30+5 with an estimated weight of 3lb5 😱. Am starting to worry about the birth! Luckily I passed my glucose test, so that's something.

Glad the scan was ok Stealth & the glucose result was good. I had been told the estimate of weight can be out by quite a bit but don't know if that's true. Hopefully baby will be around 7lbs after a few more weeks of growth

It is true that the weight can be wildly out emz. Although my doctor added "of course, that's not necessarily reassuring as it can be wrong in both directions" [ie the baby can weigh MORE]. It'll be fine but if I am headed for a large baby i am going to have a c section - I am horribly hypermobile and am worried about damage. But we can discuss that at the 36w mark!

Glad the dr reassured you... Not. At least they are keeping a good eye on you both. Less damage is needed.

I'm hoping 2nd time round to not need stitches. I had a row last time of 9. Just to reassure anyone, they weren't actually painful. I was walking round the shops fairly comfortably the next day. Within a week I wasn't sore at all & felt healed. Is anyone hypnobirthing? I'm going on a day session here that combines yoga & hypnobirthing. Not the full course but a couple of hours worth.

That's comforting re stitches!

Don't think I'll do a hypnobirthing course but might have a little read up on it. Am doing weekly yoga mostly for the breathing.

stealth I don't know if this is reassuring but I have read soooo many times that having a big baby is apparently much easier than having a small one. A bit counter-intuitive but as I've said I've heard it that many times now I'm inclined to believe it!

Emz I'm really intrigued by the hypnobirthing thing but I'm not planning to do any classes (as yet). I have done a bit of reading and youtubing and it seems like it employs very similar techniques that yoga and yoga breathing does and I've been doing that nearly daily for the last 8 years so I'm hoping that will see me through famous last words. I'd love to hear from you what you think about the course - is it soon?

emz I'm really happy to hear the stitches don't hurt, I guess by that point you're too dazed and out of it to know what's going on down there anyway!

I remember at the beginning of my pregnancy googling about people's experiences of pooing during birth and the feeling was unanimously that you will not give a crap ahem at that point in time about anything that's happening in that region!

I will let keep you posted re: hypnobirthing. I feel I wanted to do something that built my confidence after my first birth. The birth itself was fine but I think it was everything else that made it feel traumatic. Iv been doing pregnancy yoga once a week so hoping to combine the 2.

I thought the poo thing would be the worst bit & was mortified at the idea. DH hasn't ever mentioned it and was very delicate at the time. The MW was very reassuring & made me feel like it happens to everyone & is completely natural. My only worry is that this time I'd like a water birth.... That fills me with horror!

Oh crikey yes. That's like 90% of the reason I don't fancy a water birth...but I've heard they're really good.

I heard they have a little net, like something you'd use when you fish for tadpoles, to pluck out any poo from a water birth

I must say that I am entirely unfazed by poo, blood or any other of those types of things at birth. I am clearly too shameless to embarrass easily! I am worried about doing damage to myself that takes time or money to rectify - bad tearing, problems with my pelvis or spine, prolapses or incontinence. So annoying that you can't know in advance what kind of birth you'll have.

Definitely report back on hypnobirthing emz!

You make a very good point Stealth. They are far bigger worries. Yes I had heard about the net. I don't embarrass easily but my DH does. We have been together long enough that we laugh about most things. I'm quite keen to throw caution to the wind & go for a water birth if I can. They are supposed to help with keeping tearing to a minimum, I'm guessing that's because the skin is softened being immersed in water?

stealth USS estimated fetal weight is an inexact science. I was constantly monitored with DD1 due to low PAPP-A and they told me her EFW was 25 centile but she was born at 2 centile. This is a Calculator that gives you the range of EFW - as you can see it's quite a large range depending on which equation they use.

While we are on the subject of poo - I had an episiotomy with DD and healing was fine but it was very sore and uncomfortable the first time I needed a poo after birth. I had this image that I may just burst all the stitches going to the toilet . I shudder to think about it even now.

I'll keep an open mind with regard to weight. My first growth scan is first thing tomorrow.

Going to the toilet did take a while to be less painful but after talking candidly to the other anti natal mums I got the impression this was as a result of birth rather than stitches as we all appeared to be in the same boat even though some didn't need stitches. I am dreading the aftermath. (Not to put anyone off). I was trying to be reassuring.

A colleague asked me today if I was packed for the hospital yet. I gave her a blank look. Please please tell me none of you are packed?! I know it could technically happen but still...!

God no colonol. Not packed. I figure if I give birth at this stage I'm going to be in hospital for a looooong time so DH can go home for stuff or I can order some stuff to the hospital on Amazon. Mind you, I haven't done anything else baby related yet really, other than sign up for a paediatric first aid course. I am travelling for most of Ovtober finishing up all my work travel for the year -I figure I'll tackle all the baby related stuff in November.

That's reassuring lucy. My doctor said the same thing - they're estimating weight based on linear measurements so there's a high degree of error. That said, my little man is currently 95th centile for head size and femur length and 90th centile for tummy size, so he's clearly on the bigger side.

emz sorry I didn't mean to come over all holier than thou! I am just genuinely worried about the after effects of birth. I would love to have a water birth if I could - i love being in water generally and it is great for the joints so if I can I'll definitely have that in the plan. Luckily my hospital has a water birth place and all the c section stuff (along with everything in between) so I can really make that choice right at the end.

Oh, I didn't take it like that at all. You do make a very valid point. Easy to forget the bigger things.

Erm.... Iv mostly packed. Iv also got drinks in the fridge & a few in the freezer (to keep the rest cold). That's only because I wanted to be ready before 30 weeks in case this one is earlier than its big brother. I was so unprepared last time!

I haven't packed but planning to do it at the end of month at 30wks. To start with I'll pack for myself and leave it where DH can find it and then over Nov-Dec buy stuff for the baby and pack those. We have a kitchen refurb scheduled for late Nov (because of supplier muck up, not by design) so I do hope baby stays put.

Glad to hear all the scans and results have come back with good news for everyone. Haven't had my gtt result yet (they did say they'd call if there was a problem so I'm taking no news as good news).

I'll be interested to hear how the hypnobirthing classes go, haven't booked on to anything, I just go to yoga once a week.

I've been sooooo grumpy in work this week, my colleagues think its hilarious but I think it will become less funny the longer it goes on...I don't want to be grumpy, but everybody just annoys me and I don't care about anything, so have been very 'abrupt' with them. I have 7 1/2 weeks left before leave ...somehow I need to pull myself out of this!!

I haven't packed yet but have a pile of things I'm collecting in the spare bedroom for the hospital bag. Will get it done at the end of October when I have a couple of days off.

I haven't even thought about a hospital bag yet. I'm away for most of the last week of October so thought I'd do after that, around 32 weeks.
I'm interested in hypnobirthing too. We're already booked on 2 different antenatal courses so don't think I've got time for another course but I'm definitely going to get a book and some downloads. I've been doing pregnancy yoya too though I've been a bit rubbish at going lately.
Bella I hear you on the grumpiness! I have days where literally everyone and everything annoys me (not particularly just at work). I call it the pregnancy rage!! I'm also developing a couldn't care less attitude about work. I have exactly 43 working days left not that I'm counting or anything and really can't see the point!
29 weeks tomorrow

No hospital bag here either, was thinking I'd start it at 30-31 weeks just in case baby decides to make an early arrival. I've not bought anything specifically for it yet for it, but think (hope) I can muster basic contents from random stuff I've bought over the weeks. I'm going to have trip to primark for nighties and giant pants in a couple of weeks!

I think I'll be mortified of poo'gate during the birth, but I think it happens to everyone. At least with a water birth it can be fished out fairly easily, if it happens in bed it may take a bit longer to clear. My OH is remarkably relaxed about poo so I think the embarrassment will be on my side only. (He is the one that volunteered to check me for piles )

I've heard the scans and fundal measurements are fairly inaccurate (fundal more so) so to be taken with a pinch of salt. Seen loads of stories on MN of people induced early due to expected high birthweight and ending up with a 6lber!

I'm also interested in hypnobirthing. I was considering signing up to a class as I don't trust myself to read (and understand correctly) a book or CD. There is a class run at my local hospital which I made an enquiry on months ago and need to follow it up (as time is running out). I don't do pregnancy yoga as I could find a local course or any real exercise since BFP. I console myself that I have a fairly active job (for the moment) and walk to and from the train station every day (0.6mile each way). But I'm a bit worried about my core strength (must get on my Swiss ball!)

Had my 28 week check today, all things seem good. Well my wee, BP and fundal measurement were as expected. They booked me in for all my appointments until my 40 week check. Very scary . The midwife told me to cancel any appointment if baby comes early!!!

I also found out that they induce at 42 weeks here. That seems a long time, in that this would be an induction date of (Friday) 13th January! What happens in your areas?

I always forget something... Grumpiness is here too. I find it more so in the mornings as I generally ease into the day, also my patience is non-existent! I think my work colleagues are treading carefully around me!

I'm so glad I'm not the only one with the grumpyness. Just did a quick count and I have 32 working days left - countdown is on!!

No idea when they induce here. I'm seeing mw on thursday so will be interesting to see what she covers. She mentioned last time that the birth planning will happen at 32 weeks during a home visit.

I'm a bit intreagued now about how they clean up the poo from the bed and what on earth will my reaction be when it happens I've always thought it a bit weird they suggest a spicy curry to bring on labour especially as that = unpleasant poo which can't be good during childbirth!!

I didn't mean to make anyone worry. Without being too graphic.... As my DS descended (so the MW informed me) I could feel pressure & I was aware that I may have poo'd but as I was lying on my side facing DH the MW just wiped. She cleaned me up straight away. (It happened a few times). It wasn't like going for a poo in the conventional sense. I think some people have an upset stomach in the early stages of labour (I had it a bit after my waters went). Which can be your body having a natural clear out. I'm by no means an expert! But i think it's more about your bowel being squeezed as the baby passes. Oh god, I'm reliving it now