October 2017 #5!

[GimbleInTheWabe]

Hope no one minds me setting up a new thread- we were getting full up on the other one!

Here is the link to the deets sheet, feel free to add or edit your details as you please:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pa8LZMKMLvREYH4kFiNqn1dD7aTb053cT_KHvghwvSM/edit?usp=sharing

Bring on the third trimester aches, midwife appointments and birth plan chat!

What a lovely experience potatoes, and so nice that your other DCs were so close by for the whole thing.

Glad everything worked out @PingusMistress and don’t worry @Bobbiepin despite being due first I think I’ll be here at the end of the month too

I’ve felt really down today, don’t know why & i just can’t shake it. DP has been lovely and I even went to get some Jaffa cakes which I’ve been yearning for. Gone on a long walk, done some yoga, eaten well and drinking lots.. think I’m just fed up of waiting. Sorry for a negative post! I am putting on my big girl pants as we speak.

Amazing birth story @thepotatoesofdefiance , and how brilliant that your children got to be involved too. I'm glad the midwife arrived in the nick of time!

Sorry to hear that you are feeling down @GimbleInTheWabe. Waiting is hard. I'd recommend watching a good film to pass the time, I don't think I got to watch a whole film in one go for two years after DD was born! And I still haven't been to the cinema.

Nothing wrong with having a down day @GimbleInTheWabe, it's a really uncertain and unpredictable time when your due date is very near/gone. (And I don't want to assume you're like me, but I openly dislike uncertainty so am definitely finding it hard to tolerate the unknown of both when/if labour will strike and how I'm going to experience it). Enjoy those Jaffa cakes, you deserve them! I'm trying to give myself a treat a day until baby comes, if I'm still pregnant next week I might even be brave enough to book a last minute haircut!

I've spend the last 3 hours tidying the house slightly manically, which I'm refusing to term as nesting, more that I suddenly saw the state of our stairs (trust me, they were disgusting and shameful!) and thought "I can't bring a child home to this?!)

Totally reasonable to feel down Gimble, uncertainty always stresses me out, it's frustrating to not be able to plan things. Just try to chill as much as possible, a happy film is a great idea

I'm feeling the baby blues today, massive hormone crash! Helped my my mum leaving and my MIL arriving. Sigh.

Thanks everyone. Still feeling sorry for myself and annoyed that I’m feeling sorry for myself and can’t get out of this funk. Get. Over. It. Gimble!

I have my mw appt tomorrow (which I smugly thought I wouldn’t make when I booked it) so I’m hoping I’m not going to have to battle with the mw over induction again. She totally assumed that I’d want to be induced last time and then spent 15 mins explaining to me why I should be and even drew me a diagram. ‘I want to wait as long as safely possible’ didn’t seem to get through. Maybe I’ll draw her a diagram

Big hugs @nessalina, first fee days after the high wears off are meant to be tough. Keep your head up. Can DH have baby for 20 mins so you can have a bath and relax for a bit?

@gimble don't be so hard on yourself. Baby is super comfy and will be here soon. Maybe plan in some stuff for each day so you can keep your mind occupied. Do you read much? I could recommend some good books to keep you busy.

We have the same views on induction Gimble and the same response from health professionals! (At the hospital at least, my actually midwife doesn't seem to ever discuss anything that the pack I was given at the beginning outlining what each appointment is for!) Stick to your guns, they can't force you to have an induction before you feel ready to and technically anything up to 42 weeks is a normal pregnancy range as everyone seems to say, right...?! It seems backwards to me to tell women that but then say right we need to consider induction as soon as you hit 40 weeks!

I've got an appointment with my MW booked preemptively for when I'll be 40+5, note how I no longer say "if" I'll be 40+5 🙈🙈 She hasn't booked any after that and she's really overbooked so Ive said to Bubbabean it's in both our interests to not need another one after that!

Gimble I had a day like that yesterday- after thinking my waters may have started leaking on Tuesday I had another episode of reduced movement yesterday , which is my 3rd , so spent the day in hospital being scanned etc. The consultant was fantastic and spoke of induction/ section if things didn't look right on scan. The scan showed fluid around baby and heart beat etc were all good but baby just wouldn't budge for anyone so they couldn't get any measurements etc. They decided to do a sweep but it wasn't a great one as body just wasn't ready for it. I'm only 38+5 so don't know why I am so bloody frustrated- I'm just desperate to avoid going 2 weeks over like I did with my little boy and having another horrible induced labour. I need to be patient!
New carpets are being fitted today- I've decided if I hover over them long enough my waters will be sure to break

@asilikeit what was the sweep like? I never had one last time and I've heard they can be pretty uncomfortable, so I'm in two minds about whether to say yes if offered.

@PingusMistress I haven't had a sweep yet but from what I hear the discomfort thing depends on how close to being "ready" you are anyway- so if your cervix is soft and close to going into labour anyway then sweeps don't hurt and are likely to get things moving... but if your cervix is still closed and hard then not only does the sweep feel uncomfortable/painful but it doesn't make the sweep likely to have any effect on kickstarting labour!! I guess the problem is that until you start to have one you don't know what your cervix is like! (I'm in 2 minds as to whether to have one next week if things haven't happened by then, maybe the midwife could just shine a torch up there and speculate as to how my cervix looks before attempting to have a rummage?) 😂😂

@PingusMistress I had a sweep on Tuesday night and it was absolutely fine, I didn't find it that uncomfortable at all, and my cervix was pretty much completely closed so should have done!

@mummabubs

maybe the midwife could just shine a torch up there and speculate as to how my cervix looks before attempting to have a rummage

This is entirely do-able. They just put their fingers right up there, prod and will know. You won't need to be lucky-dipped in order for them to decide whether cervix is ready or not.

asilikeit, the thought of you hovering over the new carpets in the wishful thinking of having your waters break really made me giggle!

Yet more congrats to the new babies!!! Getting bored and impatient here, 37+5... so guessing I will be here to the bitter end with some of you! One more week of work to go...

Last scan showed baby had turned, got midwife appointment this morning so enjoying a lie in, hope little madam has stayed head down!

Think the symptom spotting for labour is almost worse than that of looking for signs of pregnancy, have to keep reminding myself that potentially there are still four or so more weeks to go!!

I'm worried about sweeps because I find smear tests absolutely excruciating! They don't do them here until 40+5 so hopefully baby will make appearance by then. If not I'll have to see how desperate I'm feeling before I accept one!

Seeing midwife later. Curious to see if baby is more/less engaged as I feel heavier in the pelvis but there seems to be more baby up by my ribs than before!

Hope you're feeling a bit better nessalina. All those hormones are terrible but at least you know what it is and that it should pass soon. Hope your mil behaves!

Thanks for sharing your story potatoes. Really nice to hear. I need to keep reminding myself that birth is normal and natural!

asilikeit good plan about the carpets . I just ordered a tens machine and reckoned that would mean baby arrives before it does but no luck so far!

@TheLegendOfBeans that's amazing to know, thanks for letting me know! In that case I think that's my plan for next week as if cervix is closed evidence doesn't suggest it would work anyway.

@boxesoffrogs definitely, 100%. I can honestly say I didn't symptom spot at all when trying to conceive and didn't even take my first pregnancy test until I was 3 days late despite knowing we could be pregnant. At the other end though... literally keep hoping every mild twinge suddenly develops into a full blown contraction! We'll all get there in the end I suppose.

And thanks for reassurance about movements! Good to hear I'm not the only one with a random baby.

Hi all
Here's my story. It's been a whirlwind since Monday. I'd say going from a 'textbook scenario' to emergency c section. However my bump has always been small & tight & Austin was massive 9lb6! Also turned out to be back to back which wasn't discovered til they pulled him out & neither was the weight predicted (there wasn't a lot of water around him at all)
Here goes:
Possible labour signs on Sat: painted skirting boards deffo had a burst of energy.
Sun: Uncomfortable all night couldn't settle, really bad pelvis/hip pain. Up & down to toilet.
Mon: woke up to wet knickers, not loads but it was clear & had a twinge of blood. From about 9am had a constant trickle. Showed MIL next door she was certain so phoned & made our way to hosp 45 mins away & phoned O/H to come home from work. (About 11am)
Hosp only looked at a pad I had on & says yes that was waters but to go home, go for walk, eat & see if any contractions start.(it had actually been back waters) If nothing plan was phone at 8am tues & go in to get induced. We did this, nothing happened til 2am. Timed contractions until 5-10 mins apart & decided to phone & set off to hosp about 7am.
We waited an hour in the waiting room having contractions & when eventually seen, they said I was textbook 3cm already dialated & asked if I wanted pool birth etc.
I was checked by a doctor about 1 contractions weren't coming to anything more frequent. He tried a crochet hook as he suspected front waters not burst but then said yes they had. (they hadn't, just were right at the back of baby's head & not loads) I suddenly went weak & from chatting away to like a ghost & out of it. I had an infection from back waters going. Long day 2 more hands up me & they put me on 2 bags of fluid & oxytocin induction drip at about 9pm. Next midwife to look after me at midnight she wasn't convinced waters had gone so a doc stuck his hand up & crochet hook at exactly midnight. (Been on drip 2 hours at this point) he broke front waters but wasn't much of a gush etc. Carried on drip til wed morning 8am.
Wed: 9-30 -9-45 am someone came to check progress I was shattered from infection & extremely weak, hadn't held food down since Monday only had drinks. I was only 5cm dialated so nowhere near labour actually starting. Also my cervix was very swollen. A consultant came options were carry on drip til after lunch see what happens or c section. I did have a panic & got emotional esp about not driving but left in their hands & so we went for c section. It was all so fast but they were lovely & very reassuring. Gowned up etc & O/H in theatre & ready & he was born 10.22am! They were shocked at his size on delivery & also discovered he was back to back.
I don't think realistically I would have ever pushed him out. During exams they said entrance to my pelvis was narrow too.
Over the moon with my massive bundle of joy & so pleased we made that quick decision. Not showered since Monday, 1st night home last night he's been a dream. I've been breastfeeding as he's a natural & it feels so right (after me going on about deffo using bottle) he's absolutely perfect & we're in love. I've not got lots of sleep as in agony but taking naps here & there between us. My local midwife coming this afternoon so I've plenty of questions for her & she will take my dressing off. Feels like we're in a bubble so I'm trying to relax, recover & enjoy it.
Simply amazing end result. Whatever happens girls it's all worth it my advice would be go with the flow & listen to midwives/docs they know what they're doing! Lots of love xx

I won't lie the sweep wasn't comfortable but as some one else said it's worse when your cervix is closed and not ready for it. It's also no where near as bad as a contraction so I figured just go for it and try and get things going!
I don't think they usually do them as early as they have with me but I have a section booked for term plus 10 days if I don't labour naturally so they would obviously rather me do that than go for section so they were willing .plus repeated reduced movements etc.

If baby can just wait until I et my bedroom put back together after carpets are down then it can come whenever it likes!

@ButterflyGem Well done you, it sounds like an incredibly tiring process, but with an amazing end result! Glad to hear you're home and settling in well

Thanks for the good wishes all, I'm feeling more cheerful today - DH has been fab actually, I've been taking myself off for a leisurely bath each evening to bathe my stitches and put on fresh pjs. Haven't worked my way up to real clothes yet!

Lol @ 'lucky dip' @TheLegendOfBeans 
Yeah, they can just have a gentle prod, you just make clear that you are consenting to a cervical exam and not a sweep. If they say things are softening up, then you probably wont need a sweep anyway!

I also agree that talking too early about induction is silly. It's totally normal, common in fact, for first babies to go over, so just don't entertain even talking about it until you get to 41 weeks plus. Because my original dates were put back by more than a week I'd already decided I'd refuse induction even at 42 weeks, as I'd rather be monitored daily and go into labour naturally than have it all medicalised. Induction definitely has its place for medical issues and concerns, but I think it's worrying when midwives present it as the natural action when you go over.

Re sweeps I had one with ds2 and it was agony and not something I would ever want to repeat, and it wasn’t that my cervix wasn’t ready, as they said at the time that it was very favourable and believed it would work quickly.

Thought we might be heading into hospital last night as had contractions from late afternoon and they got stronger late last night but then they tapered off. So at this rate it will be CS as planned for Monday instead. Heard something today that shocked me, someone had a baby last week in the hospital we are going to, was their first baby and an EMCS, baby was a bit early and yet they were sent home 24 hours later?!!

@Loopyaboutmy2boys the midwife who ran our antenatal classes said last week that c secs (both elective and emergency) used to be a 3 day standard admission whereas there is now the option for patients to go home after 24 hours providing all looks ok. Personally I found this reassuring as if all was ok I'd much rather be resting and recovering at home than stuck in hospital for 3 days where DH can't stay with me but appreciate everyone is different on these things, I'm sure some would feel 3 days wasn't enough!

Also loopy sorry to hear about your false start, it's so frustrating! Hubby and I are trying to remind ourselves that it could be another 2 weeks before we meet bean but we've had a couple of very mild teasing false starts in the last week and I find it frustrating! If I was actually having contractions and they disappeared I think I'd be a bit beside myself! X

It’s definitely not meant to be that here, she had it at the same hospital I will be using and my consultant said they use the same system as my old hospital did, day of delivery is day 0 and you go home on day 2, when they have monitored you and baby to make sure no infections, wound looking like it’s healing ok, baby feeding ok etc. Am just shocked that they sent her home after 24 hours, her mom said she really should have stayed longer. The hospital by all accounts is very very busy and they need the beds...

Yes contractions are frustrating! I’ve been having them off and on for most of the past week but yesterday they were stronger and getting closer so really thought that could be it. They are happening again now but trying not to get my hopes up, although if she could arrive today that would be most welcome as it would avoid go to the hospital for the next 2 days for steroid injections and the pre op assessment stuff and would avoid having to be there again by 7.30 am on Monday....

Gosh, I guess there's a difference too between people like me who would want to be out asap and being turfed out if you actually feel like you need longer :/

I've got my fingers massively crossed for you that this is it Loopy! My due date is tomorrow so I've been talking to bean about it would be most lovely to go into labour this evening and then deliver tomorrow... I keep telling them that they want to be one of the 5% of babies who come exactly on EDD, I'm sure they're listening right?!