Due April 2018 thread #3

[Whymustyoubringinthebirds]

Motioning all

Thought I would start a new thread as we have filled another!

How is everyone feeling?
I’ve got the cold so feeling a bit sorry for myself at the moment

19+4 today and have to wait until 21 weeks to see my little bun again! Jealous of all those who have had there scans already

Ah @rosegarden45 he's beautiful!!
Hope you recover quickly!

I had my consultant appointment at 11.

They don't normally give a sweep until 41 weeks but did one today (40+3)

It didn't hurt as much as my first sweep 4 years ago. She said my cervix is open and forward, but not fully - it's funnel shaped at the moment as it needs to open more at the back.

BUT she could feel baby's head and said she could feel his hair through my waters and it felt like there was a lot of it! Which makes sense as we could see it on the scan I had at 37 weeks.

I'm going to get on the birthing ball tonight and take the kids for a little walk tomorrow. Then I have another sweep lunchtime on Thursday.

If baby doesn't arrive - I'm booked to be induced Tuesday evening!

Just seen this in my notes from my sweep today! Can anyone explain any of it in simple terms?

The baby is head down (cephalic - "ceph") and lying with its back against your front (longitudinal - "long") and its chin tucked under (vertex) - ie perfect position for birth.

You're 3/5 palpable which means 2/5 engaged - ie 2/5 of the baby's head is in your pelvis and 3/5 is above it. Station is another way of describing where the baby's head is in relation to your pelvis. Think the scale is -5 (out of pelvis) to +5 (crowned), so again you're slightly engaged.

I think caput and moulding relate to whether the baby's head has been squished in the birth canal, so not relevant here.

Looks like you're 1.5cm dilated and the cervix is soft.

I'm not a medic btw - looked up all these things after my last appointment!

Did they tell you your bishop score?

@harrietm87

Thank you! I'm very impressed! I tried finding things but everything is so confusing!
No idea on bishop score.

I know he is likely to not engage right until the end as he's my third.
I just hope he doesn't take much longer as I really don't want to be induced! My children go back to school on 17th, which is when I'd be induced (that evening).

Hope that you are both recovering well rosegarden. My waters broke about 2 hours after yours (which was my due date) and after an uncomfortable night hooked up to a baby monitor because of bleeding he was born at around 8am.
I have feeding issues as well for different reasons as baby was born with an undiagnosed cleft palate.
Good luck to those still waiting. I was convinced ours was going to be late so the house is still a mess. We also still haven't picked out a name!

Congratulations @twiddler, hope you and baby are doing well and that feeding gets easier.

Had my consultants appt this morning- I am being induced on Tuesday (my due date) baby is big, but my body is showing no signs of being ready, consultant said she is still only 3/5 engaged and in his opinion it could easily be another couple of weeks before she comes naturally and he’d like her out sooner because of her size so I agreed. Actually feeling ok about it all, I’m sad I won’t get the drug free, pool birth I’d wanted but I’ve had time to get my head around it and I’m just ready for her to be here now in which ever way they think is safest.

@pink, we’re being induced on the same day!

@Aspenn17 that's exciting!!

I had my midwife appointment today and she said I'm 3cm dilated now. (Was 1.5cm on Tuesday before my sweep).

Had my second sweep today and she apologised because it was more uncomfortable.. but she said she did a "really good sweep" and thinks he'll arrive in the next couple of days.
She said she hopes it's tomorrow because she's doing a shift at delivery suite so could end up delivering baby haha!

So I'm currently standing in my kitchen leaning against the worktop, legs slightly apart and swaying. I can feel the pressure but I'll just do this for as long as I can!

DH was up for having sex last night - but my thighs hurt so much that I can barely move them once I'm in bed so I think we've missed our chance!

Some promising updates! Also congratulations @twiddler - I hope that feeding gets easier for you.

I am 38+5 and still not remotely engaged, I know there's still time but it's getting in my head! When did you all feel the baby/bump drop? I know it's very individual but still interested to know.

Congratulations @twiddlerthefidget! Hope the cleft palate is ok and feeding issues can be resolved quickly.

@Aspenn17 that is exciting! Slightly worried by your consultant's view - I'm either 40 or 40+4 today depending whether you go by my or the hospital's dates and at my appt yesterday I was only 2/5 engaged. They tried to do a sweep but couldn't as my cervix is still closed and posterior. I'm starting to feel seriously depressed about it - wanted to avoid as many interventions as I could. They tried to book me in for an induction but I refused so have another sweep in a week (at 40+6 or 41+3) instead. If my cervix is still "unfavourable" I think they will really push for an induction as they normally induce at 41+3 in my area. It's annoying that I'm sure they have the date wrong as that would buy me an extra few days.

Sounds like everything is moving forward for you @pinkflamingo121318 - I'm jealous! Good luck!

@pink still sounds like you have a good chance of going in naturally then!

@harriet Fingers crossed you still managed to go into labour naturally! I have mild polyhydramnios and at my scan 3 weeks ago baby was already measuring 7lb 7 (2 wks ahead of normal) so I guess that’s why the consultant doesn’t want to hang around past 40wks in my case. He said they wouldn’t even attempt a sweep on me at this stage as it wouldn’t do anything Part of me wishes I could be braver and insist on waiting but I think with the added complication of the extra fluid, I would just feel safer with her being out. I’m also not sure whether to opt for an epidural if I end up on the drip. I’ve heard the drip is v. painful and most women do end up having an epidural but I was SO keen to avoid all intervention and drugs and now it’s sounding like I might end up having everything :( need to do some more research and write a new birth plan I think.

Congratulations rose and twiddler sorry to hear things weren’t as smooth as you’d like rose glad all is ok now tho. And twiddler I hope the feeding gets easier and the cleft palate is something they can help with I know they can be quite serious and others not so much?

In relation to inductions and pool births/intervention.
I got my consultant to agree to a pool birth on the basis that my induction was going well which he did! Luckily I only had one pessary and ended up favourable so pessary wS taken out and I got my pool birth with the cordless monitors and only G&A apart from popping my waters I didn’t get examined once after that and midwives didn’t do anything bar lift the baby onto me when she came!

So it’s possible x

@sunshinesaz that sounds like a really positive experience! Great to know it’s still possible. Do you know if you were close to being favourable before you went in for induction? Was baby fully engaged?

aspenn Well I was induced at 38 weeks due to cholestatis when I went in they put the pessary in at 7am on the Thursday morn, they said my cervix was soft still a bit long and tilted backwards (they like it forwards apparently) they give me a Bishop score of 5 (out of 10 I believe) I wasn’t dilated all at..... literally apart from the odd twinge, nothing happened all day. The evening I asked a midwife to check pessary hadn’t slippped she checked it had so moved it back in place. Again nothing happened all night.

Next morning back on monitor could see I was having contractions (couldn’t hardly feel them) dr came around checked me said I was 1-2cm 70% effaced with waters ‘bulging’ so still not completely favourable but getting there. Not sure if baby was engaged or not second baby and no one ever really said plus I was early! Sent me over to labour ward to pop water an hour later. 57 mins later she was born in pool but I had to tell them to fill it as I knew I was going fast (the intensity of contractions from waters going went from 0-100!! I was only in pool about 20 mins. They were intending to leave me a couple of hrs bounce on ball etc and wait until I was 4cm plus, I think I was lucky where the midwife and student listened to me and I think could tell things were happening hence they decided to fill pool for me!

So yes very positive in my experience if you speak to consultant they have to actually write it in your notes tho! So make sure they do that if they do agree!
If I’d of needed a second pessary or the sinto drip I wouldn’t of been able to go in the pool and I did understand that, so I guess very lucky that I took well too induction!

I’ll keep my fingers crossed you get to experience a hands off birth that you want!

My first labour was completely different (failed forceps, episiotomy, kiwi cap suction, stirrups the lot...only with diamorphine) so the two in comparison couldn’t of been anymore different!

Not long for everyone now! Good luck!

Started having contractions 30 minutes apart from 7:50-10:20 and now they've stopped!

Whyyyyy!

Ah @pinkflamingo121318 that's frustrating! But sounds like things are moving along in the right direction anyway! Hope they start again.

40+5 here and still nothing!

@Aspenn17 I've decided that despite
really wanting a natural birth I'll probably take the epidural if I have to have the drip - apparently it's just so painful. Though depends how far along I am and how things are going otherwise I guess.

My due date is today but so far no signs of baby coming. I think it'll be another late baby for me. Getting a sweep next week. It didn't work the last two pregnancies either so not holding my breath.

Thanks @Sunshine, your story has given me more confidence! Good to hear the entire process didn’t take too long either. My best friend was induced last year and it took 5 days!! Think that’s pretty unusual though. How are you and DD getting on?

@harrietm I think I’m going to consider it too. I’ll see how I’m getting on but yes I’ve heard it’s pretty intense!

Going to yoga tomorrow, think everyone is going to be pretty surprised to see me as I was sure last weeks session would be my last!

Fingers crossed we see some more babies over the weekend x

41 weeks today.

I rearranged our newborn photoshoot yesterday which I'm gutted about because I really wanted pictures of baby with my other two but she has no weekend slots!

I have another shoot booked in November for them all but that's AGES away!

I had more contractions last night (only 5) but they were 13 minutes apart. So frustrating when they stopped!!

Went for a walk for an hour, hoping to do the same today!

I am fed up!

I am still pregnant.

I went to a get together today and SO fed up of everyone commenting on the fact I've still not had him... as if I hadn't noticed!!

My mum was rather drunk and wouldn't leave my bump alone. Rubbing her hands all over it even when I asked her to stop. Making me feel really uncomfortable but she said it's fine because she's my Mum.
Gah, looking forward to not being pregnant just for that!!

Scary to think that if I'm induced.. tomorrow is my last full day without a baby! (Or being in hospital)

Morning Pink!

Me too-eek. It’s a weird feeling knowing tomorrow is the day! (Or at least the day it’s starting) I tried everything over the weekend, swimming, walking, dates, pineapple, spicey food but she isn’t budging! Do you have a time for your induction? I have to call at 8am and they will let me know, depends on the bed situation.

That’s annoying about your Mum 🙈 I’ve woken up to about 8 text messages from people asking if I’ve had the baby, think I’m just going to start ignoring people now tbh. I haven’t told anyone but my parents and in laws and best friend (and you lot!) that I’m being induced.

Hope everyone had a good weekend, the weather this week is supposed to be beautiful!

I just don't get people who ask if you've had the baby yet - you'll obviously tell them when you have! The amount of people who have said 'let me know when you go onto labour'... um, no!

Baby has dropped over the weekend and this morning have either lost the first bit of mucus plug or had a sudden big increase in discharge so feeling positive, though I know it could still be a couple of weeks.

@Pink and @Aspen got my fingers crossed for you both that things get started naturally for you!

@Aspenn17 Good luck! Jealous you can ring so early!

I have to call at 6pm to see if they have beds! If they do, I go in at 8. If they don't, I have no idea!

If it helps pink and aspenn I was on the drink and only had the gas and air. I don't think I found the contractions worse than last time. The pushing was not as great this time round but I think that's cos I went from 6cm to pushing in 30 mins but it was totally manageable with an epidural xx

Sorry I was on the drip... Drink may have helped though!!