April 2017 # 6 - Third trimester is here!

[MyGreenSofa]

New thread for the lovely ladies due in April 2017. Suddenly there's only 3 months to go! And the thread has already welcomed two special, early arrivals.

Please continue chatting here!

Congrats, bangbang!

All the babies are coming in thick and fast! Congratulations to all new arrivals!

Luchi amazing to hear about the progress, what a relief he's home and well, you must be over the moon. Just amazing, what a little trooper, and not forgetting the journey you've been on!

I had my boy by c section on Monday after failure to proceed with induction. I was home by 7pm Tuesday cause I couldn't stay any longer in the hot hospital with screaming babies! Just getting used to being a mum to a newborn again but DH is brilliant and loves being a dad!

More babies please!!!

Congrats bangbang!

And thanks for the expressing video cuppa. Watching this, and hearing you all say to apply more pressure than I think is needed, I managed to get a few proper drops out for the first time this morning!

Congratulations bangbang and shark!

Glad the expressing video was helpful - there are some good breastfeeding videos on the same site, which was recommended by my hospital's lactation consultant. I'm pretty sure every tip is going to go out of my head when I'm actually holding my baby though

Those ladies who've had c-sections (quite a few of us, I think?) - any tips on what to do in the first few days to help recovery? I'm lucky in that I'll be in hospital for 4 days so lots of help available but keen to get up and about ASAP.

Also - stupid question maybe, but does the epidural/spinal totally paralyse you or can you move but just not feel it, IYSWIM? Bit freaked out by that aspect although obviously I don't want to feel anything!!!

You can move your top half. But it wears away fairly quickly. It's not as freaky as you might imagine.
Top tip is to wear a pad across the scar. Stops you from feeling your insides will fall out.
Also JoJo Maman Bebe have washable mesh knickers that are great.
I needed round the clock painkillers for 4-5 days. Then 1-2 a day for the next 2-3 and that was it. It was still sore but I didn't need painkillers. And TAKE THEM. No prize for pain martyrdom.

cuppa this was my first section but third baby, firstly the pain was not as bad as I expected but because of this I did a bit too much days 5-6 and ended up in a lot of pain by day 7. So rest! Do not lift anything heavier than the baby no matter how much you are annoyed by the baby bath lying full of water! Take the painkillers, don't forget and wait til you are sore, it's much easier to control if you stay on top of it.
With the spinal you will be able to move your top half and start to wiggle your legs after an hour or so, it just feels weird. After 6 hours they got me up to stand and it felt great. My catheter was due out at midnight (12 hours after insertion) but I got them to leave it til the morning so I wasn't going to the toilet during the night!

As others have said, the spinal leaves you unable to move your legs but that doesn't last long after the op. It's a surreal feeling for sure! I found the muscle pain in my back after a bit uncomfortable but they encourage you to get up and abouthe after the catheter is removed.

The first pee is the one they want within 6 hours of removal of the catheter, if you're in hospital they will keep on top of your pain management, I refused the morphine as unfortunately morphine does not do me favours as I vomit badly after it. If you're OK with it, bloody take it! As Luchi says there is no prize to martyrdom!

I'm on 8 paracetamol and 3 ibuprofen a day to manage pain. They gave me strong doses and that's more than enough. Of course you'll feel bruised and sore but PLEASE rest as much as possible as that will aid recovery quicker! It's major abdominal surgery so only pick the baby up and don't be afraid to ask for help!

Thanks for all the advice, ladies - much appreciated

I'm just back from pre-op checks at the hospital (bloods & ECG) so it's all feeling very real now!

Congratulations to all the new arrivals! I've not been on MN for a few days and look at all the babies! Very lovely and exciting. All being well I've got 10 days to go...

Can I ask some more questions to the c section mummies? Just wondering how uncomfortable you are in bed? Can you lie on the side of your section? Is turning over / general repositioning sore or just uncomfortable? Sleep is difficult enough with a newborn, so I'm just wondering how this factors in.

Also wondering about the 10 days of post op injections to avoid DVT. Are most people getting their partners to do this for them? And how is that going?

Hi all. Congrats on lovely new babies! And lovely to see luchi getting on so well.

I've had two sections and having a third all being well in 11 days.

My hints and tips are:

Yes to straightening up as soon as you can. It hurts but gets easier quickly and stops you stiffening up.

Getting up and about as soon as you can is key - but take it easy. I felt better than expected a few days after my first section and overdid it, didn't make the same mistakes the second time and recovered quickly, driving by 2 weeks post.

Cushion on your tummy when breastfeeding helps, is also a layer of protection from toddlers!

Stomach muscles feel shot for a while - in fact not dissimilar to being pregnant! I found best way to get up similar to now with spd...roll on to side, knees together then legs over edge of bed to sit up. I found it easier having Moses basket on floor or rather than stand as could pick baby up from sitting down. I had no issues with picking baby up.

Definitely over bump knickers and leggings/soft trousers for a bit! I've bought a bump bandit thing to try this time too, not used one before.

I did my own jabs, that's the worst bit for me but is over quickly. Take all the pain killers.

Obviously I have no vaginal birth to compare to and lucky to avoid infection so far, but I found my c section recoveries to be fine, and within a week of each felt better than I did for most of the last trimester of pregnancy!

Off for a growth scan now after an emergency presentation scan yesterday as my bump seems to have shrunk . Bags in the car just in case the section is a bit earlier than I'm expecting!

Oh and HL, sleeping a bit uncomfortable first few days but still more comfy than 9 months pregnant I seem to remember! I could sleep on my side or back.

Gorilla they are great tips!

I felt totally unprepared for my section last weekend as it was my first birth and my DM and DSis all had a final deliveries so I just imagined I would as well! My stomach feels completely knackered so the tips to get out of bed are particularly welcome!!

Just to add my experience of EMCS. I had already had an epidural as baby was back to back and the contractions were horrendous but around 20-24 hours after my waters broke a section was first mentioned as baby was still back to back but also at an awkward angle and had a little swelling on her head. They also mentioned a ventouse, but ultimately she hadn't come far enough down the birth canal for that.

Having done a bit of reading about forceps I had stated in my birth plan that I didn't want them used unless it was absolutely necessary, but I have no idea whether that was taken into consideration at all.

When I was moved to theatre I found the whole experience very positive. While there were loads of people in the room everything was explained clearly to me at every stage, a lot of people introduced themselves to me and explained what was happening and I just generally felt very involved. Everyone knew their jobs and got on with them and the atmosphere was calm and productive. I think by that point it was clear that things were not going according to plan, but this was someone else taking control and making positive decisions to keep my baby healthy. It was also remarkably quick - after the long, long time I had been in labour this was a massive relief!

5 days in I'm feeling pretty good - my wound is still sore and I'm still a bit stiff but I'm barely bleeding and my energy levels are pretty good.

Sorry this is rambling, but for those who are worried about an emergency section, I hope it will come as some reassurance.

Please ask if there is anything I can try to answer, but I'm getting my wee beauty home today so may not be around as much.

It's due day. Will I be one of the 5% to give birth on my due date?

I really thought things were getting going yesterday morning as I had back ache and bad cramps coming in waves but then they stopped when I went and sat down. Nothing since.

Well top anything stirring? Gone so quiet on here? How many of us left? Was 39 weeks yesterday. Back in hospital tomorrow. Doctor said an internal but does that mean a sweep?

I'm still here! Had a couple of scares last week when my bump appeared to have shrunk and had to have emergency presentation and growth scans but all seems to be well. C section a week tomorrow! Counting the days now.....

Gorilla we're in the same boat - my section also due a week tomorrow, eek!

I'm also still here keeping an eye out! Congrats to all who have had their bubbas!

I'm struggling through my last few days at work (finish Thursday) and am due a week on Friday (21st).

Had a scare last week when my blood pressure went racing up but was monitored and tested and thankfully no pre-eclampsia - just blaming it on work instead. I now CANNOT WAIT to finish work.

I'm still here too! Just had a busy weekend! 39+3 today, due Friday 14th though trying not to fixate on the date too much!
How are you feeling today kittykat?
Sounds stressful petite and gorilla but glad all ok now!
No signs of anything imminent here for me at the moment I don't think.... no BHs to speak of, or certainly none that I'm noticing... just drinking lots of raspberry leaf tea and staying active at the moment!

Hi all, I'm still here too. I'm not due til 30th April. I'm finishing up at work on Thursday too Petite Can't wait!

I've ordered raspberry leaf tea, hoping it arrives soon so I can start drinking it. My bump feels sooo huge already and I'm starting to fear going over my due date. I'm hoping I won't have to birth a massive baby. I keep torturing myself by reading about difficult births. Why do I do this to myself??

So, I wasn't one of the 5%. No inkling of anything. I've had a few bh but have been having them throughout this tri so I don't think that's significant.
I've been out digging over our back garden this morning in the hope that some exercise might get things going but nothing yet. I'll be having a spicy soup for lunch.

Petite - you have my complete sympathy. I found my last few weeks absolute torture. Each day felt like a week!

Cath - I hope you're last week goes smoothly.

Gorilla, Petite - sorry to hear you've had a few scares but I'm glad things seem in check now.

HLBug, Gorilla - that must be nice to have a date when you know you're going to meet your little ones.

Marmite - my original due date was the 15th but it got moved forward at my scans so I'm sort of using that as my unofficial due date so as to stay sane.

Good luck everyone! I wonder who will be next...

Peanut - forgot to say that an internal might just be to see how favourable your cervix is. Are they wanting to get things going early for you? My hospital doesn't do sweeps until 41 weeks, I don't think unless I'm in for a surprise at tomorrow's mw appt

Hi tip you could be right. He keeps saying the baby is big & might be difficult for me to deliver especially the head if I went over. I feel a bit funny about him doing the internal even though I'm having a baby what's that all about! Need to get used to it! He hasn't been near me down there ha ha! Hope it isn't too uncomfortable

Our little boy arrived at 5.50am this morning. I'd had a growth scan on Friday, and an potential abnormality was picked up on one of the dopplers, so I was sent in for induction. Thankfully he's perfect and passed all his tests with flying colours.

It took a very boring 2 days for things to get going, but once contractions finally took hold, the little fella popped out after 12 hours of labour and an hour of pushing. Still can't quite believe it, an incredible and surreal experience. If anyone else has an induction - don't worry, just prepare to be patient and go with the flow. I can't say my experience was a negative one.

So far the little dudes favourite hobbies are sleeping on mum and cuddles with dad. ❤️