May 2017 #14 'A baby each day in the month of May?...'

[RasperryInAMelon]

Thread 14... I'll post the other page links below too!

Thanks mcbaby & everyone else who has given advice. Have been having some great BHs - I can't feel them unless I put my hand on my belly and its like a rock!

Hopefully won't be too long for you until you meet your baby jenny - hope all goes as smoothly as possible.

Good luck Jenny! Sounds like you are well on your way.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes all. Had a super day. Been wondering around up town for most of it and my feet are swollen and boiling now.

Wish sounds like you are doing amazingly with two. I hope my DD is as helpful as yours, but she's having a really stubborn phase so I doubt it. I'm hoping it's just because she's got two eye teeth coming rather than the start of the terrible twos.

Mine lived in babygros until about 3 months too. But she was long and skinny so it was hard to get clothes to fit her. She's 2.2m and only on her third pair of shoes. But she does have strangely small feet. Still only size 4.

@Sipperskipper that's how my BH have been. So uncomfortable!

Just updating the spreadsheet... looks like all of the below have passed their Due Dates - have I missed any babies??

@crazyzooo 💙 but no date
@ginandcake
@blossombottom
@Brightsmoke
@dreamofhungarianlanterns
@rose7120
@russiancaravantea
@Sipperskipper
@growcookeat
@jingles80
@Rabbitykins55
@savagehk
@shoney85
@mum2be2boys
@hexagon01
@McBaby
@gurtie28
@moonoverthewater
@mummyplus7

I also get this odd sensation before a BH - like a sort of mild headrush / pressure in my head. It doesn't hurt or anything, its a bit like if you hold your head upside down. Only had it today, so didn't mention it at MW appt yesterday, but BP etc was all fine yesterday.

Has anyone had similar?

@sipper I have been getting the same with my bhs this pregnancy it's the only reason I know I have them till I put my hand on my tummy.

Ahh I'm glad I'm not the only one McBaby! Have been getting BHs every few minutes this afternoon- have never noticed them before now!

I have got the worst back pain ever since my sweep yesterday! Don't know what I have done to it. Just put the tens on to try and ease it up!

So my tick box exercise of visiting the consultant today has turned into something larger than a tick box

They did a growth scan and baby is apparently measuring at 4.446kg (9.8 lbs), anything above 4.5kg they worry about, while I've been measuring on the 90th line on my growth chart this puts me 4 boxes above the line at 39+1

The consultant was lovely, she explained everything really well but now feels like everything has turned on it's head. Baby's head is nowhere near engaged, which also concerns her because with first babies she would expect to be engaged at least partly by now so she was going to try a sweep but couldn't.

The elective c-section list is currently full (unsurprisingly since anyone going for an ECS will have been planning it for weeks) and I initially said I didn't want that anyway. She doesn't want me to wait for baby to come on it's own, partly size and partly because she doesn't want my waters to go when baby is nowhere near my cervix in case the cord prolapses. So I'm currently booked in for an induction tomorrow, however.... 1) she's not confident that the induction will work because of baby's position, 2) it would mean labour ward not MLU 3) she was very clear that delivery (if we got that far) would be on my back on a bed with legs up. Basically the complete opposite of my birth "wish" list.....

So now I think I'm leaning towards a c-section, but no one has mentioned this as being anywhere near a possibility so I haven't looked into it at all. The consultant said we can go to the hospital to and say I don't want induction I want a c-section and they'll admit me and do the c-section when they have a gap.

Basically my head is a mess, feels like everything has just been turned on it's head and I don't know what to do. So concentrating on checking my hospital bag because whatever happens I'm in hospital tomorrow.....

@1004rise sounds like a tough decision and a shock when everything seems to be going ok.

I had a similar scenario with dd2. Dd2 turned transverse at 38 weeks I was immediately admitabd had to choose between ecv and induction, emergency c section of staying in hospital to see what happened.

I chose the induction and it was slow to start as they turned her and she was still not in a great position but it took 36 hours from start to finish.

Oh rise that sounds really tough. Its so frightening when there are professionals giving you this (pretty massive!) information. And so hard when you've had a pretty clear idea in your head of how you would want your birth to be. We do these things to try & keep some control & choice, & then it all seems to change in an instant!

So hard to know what to do. Although you cant be on MLU, is there a specific reason why you have to be on the bed? Even with continuous monitoring you can be on a ball / kneeling etc, just cant walk around or use the pool.

I'm sorry I can't remember your reason for seeing the consultant - was it because baby measuring big, or any other reason too?

Rise, not the day you were hoping for I would think about how you would cope with the potential for an induction to take a very long time and then end in EMCS. You could be looking at 48hrs of induction and then a section which would understandably be knackering and frustrating. Is there a history of big babies in your families? Do remember growth scans are often in accurate.
On the positive side you will be meeting your baby very very soon and that will make whatever happens worth it. Try and get the best nights rest you can tonight. Sounds like it will be much needed. Looking forward to hearing you news this weekend x

Hiya gang. Sitting in my hospital room waiting to see what happens next as I near the end of my 24hr induction starter. Hope to squeeze in a bit of telly before they break waters etc (if decide to). Second heat of Eurovision and Masterchef finals ;)

Cramping increasing 22hrs into pessary and they are happy with progress, but still could be Saturday before I meet bubs.

Congrats to the new arrivals!!!!

Good luck @jennymac31!!

@1004Rise thinking of you!! Bottom line, you can say you've heard recommendations but want to continue with the plan of xx can't you?

Belated happy birthday @EsmesBees - glad you've had a good day!!

@McBaby sounds like you're close: exciting!

@dreamofhungarianlanterns re contractions: me!! CTG shows every ten mins but only feeling 1 in 3 (common for 1st timer apparently). That's after 1st pessary of induction though.

@CoxsOrangePippin @RasperryInAMelon sounds like you have quite the haul of gifted clothes!!

@1004Rise gosh that's a lot to take in. Agree get those bags packed and then do something nice and relaxing this evening.

I think the Consultants planning is for the worst case scenario but you might find the induction isn't so bad. I have been allowed to be very mobile during the early stages. At each stage of induction they'll talk you through what is happening and if progress is being made or not. 2/4 of mine were delivered 'on my back' and maybe not what you would want but better to have a go and see if it works out for you? Very personal decision but I would rather a controlled monitored vaginal delivery in bed than a C-section but only you can say what you'd prefer. Good luck!

All the best @Teaspoon74 !

Oh rise really feel for you. Is getting a second opinion an option? It sounds like it's only marginal on the weight front, and growth scans are notoriously unreliable. However, I gave birth on my back in the labour ward last time and it was fine, so an induction might not be as bad as you imagine.

Teaspoon not long for you either! Glad you've got some good telly booked to take your mind off it.

rise sorry to hear. I can't see induction being any particular use aside from getting baby out before it's any bigger (and being in hospital when your labour starts, if they're worried about prolapse, I guess...).

And I really can't see why you need to be on your back with your legs up to deliver; once you've got that far they know there's no prolapse so it sounds like the daftest idea known, unless she's expecting you to be on an epidural?! If baby is large anecdotally they're easier to birth (gravity or something) but can't see that working if you're on your back!! And if you are on your back with an epidural and a large baby I forsee a large tear (speaking from experience). Hope you get a chance to think through everything she's told you and make a decision. Worth asking what induction they're intending, pessary then drip, or just pessary to start (seeing as the sweep didn't work I'd imagine you'd need a pessary first, or two, as your cervix doesn't sound ready).

How would you feel if you had an elective c-section and baby ended up being smaller than predicted? Would you still be happy given the risk of cord prolapse which you've avoided?

If you need to be continually monitored, apparently taking a sling / wrap or scarf to tie the thing on can help as the elastics they use sometimes move around. I had huge issues with the monitoring in my last labour as it kept losing baby's heartbeat even though it was fine, it was to do with where he was and where my placenta was.

@1004Rise - wish I'd had @savagehk's advice re a wrap for the CTG monitor!! The straps kept slipping off so my 20-30 minute monitor last night turned into two hours! Have also realised that there's huge variance in skill of MWs in finds/ pinning down FHB. Both today's measures were sorted immediately with no faff!!

& thanks for best wishes. Contractions are getting more noticeable so high hopes induction will work and I avoid CS (the fear of being cut is up there Beyoncé needles... the insertion of the vanilla last night was NOT FUN!

@1004rise have a read of this evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-for-induction-or-c-section-for-big-baby/

Good luck teaspoon and Jenny hope all goes well for you both. Rise what a lot to take in, try to keep as calm as you can whilst you do your research and make your decision, easier said than done but we're all rooting for you.

Esmes sounds like you need a foot rub from DH now

Went for a gorgeous walk to try and tempt baby to join us out in the world. These are the woods that the Sir David and Richard Attenboroughs played in as children and the rocks you can see inspired David's career choice. He is a bit of a hero of mine Baby has been dancing for 4 hours continuously, dive baby don't dance!!

What a stunning place you live in Dream!

I took the pooch for a walk today, and have done lot of ball bouncing. Looks like everything has died off, and I'm now planning baby to come at induction, can't see it arriving before :(

No advice Rise, but just wanted to let you know we're all here if you need to talk through anything. Must be a really tough decision, but try and think about what is best for you and baby, regardless of what MW has said

Mucus plug - so I had a bloody show after sweep yesterday. And keep getting period pains today swiftly followed by losing large bits of bloody show.

I know your body will keep producing mucus but with the accompanying pain does this sound like things are progressing?

Slightly freaked out that if this carries on I might go to the toilet and have a baby (which is what nearly happened the previous two times)!

Need to catch up on thread - but thought just occurred to me...Maternity/nursing bras?
I've stayed in same style bra up to this point, just bought bigger sizes. Now my nips are starting to hurt. Have realised I have totally overlooked any new bras - so need to know, does everyone but nursing bras? Are they softer? Can I breastfeed using normal bras just pulling it down?!
How am I this disorganised?!! Xx

Bright keep the faith lady! Think your induction was Tuesday? If so there are 4 whole days for our bodies to get round to birthing spontaneously. Surely the chances are on our side the longer we wait, and clean, and walk, and bounce! I'm a total numpty and have only just blown up the birthing ball yoga teacher lent me at 17 weeks pregnant wtf was I thinking it's really comfy and fun 😖 Thank you I love living somewhere so underestimated, we rarely have to share our beauty spots with strangers.

Mcbaby no experience to advise but sounds like you're on the right track

Strangers? I meant tourists!! I sound like I'm in League of Gentlemen!!

@Sipperskipper the only reason we were seeing a consultant was because I've moved so now in a different NHS area (still Scotland) but they check everything again... if we hadn't moved no one would have identified a possible problem

@peasandquiet that's what I'm worried about, if I spend a day and a half trying to get induction to work and then we end up with a c-section anyway I'll be knackered and sore.... I could just be sore.....

@savagehk yes, they're worried about the baby getting bigger and yes it'd be an epidural, consultant thought that i'd also need episiotomy and more help because she'd be worried about the shoulders getting stuck. They'd do pessary (up to 3) then drip if the pessary worked.... so not a short process.

I think I'm still in shock that my calm low dependancy birth is gone and I need to process that first. Then if I'm not getting the nice calm birth I hoped for I need to work out which option is calmer and makes me feel more in control.

Thanks for all the advice and the thoughts.... no doubt I'll have hanging about posts tomorrow!

Good luck @Teaspoon74 fingers crossed @McBaby sounds like you're on the right track!!