February 2019 - babies babies babies

[Since2016]

New thread ladies! The final few weeks!

Woke up at five feeling damp and had a small leak of pink fluid again 🤔 it then turned to mucous so I'm guessing it's just my plug. Baffled as to why there is a tiny bit of liquid too?

Since then I've started having regular cramping - just started timing them and the cramps are about 45s long and 5 mins apart. Not sure what to do, wish I could sleep as I only had about four hours last night! Would really like a shower and to vacuum the house but can't summon up the energy to get out of bed!

Fingers crossed for movement soon from those who feel in limbo. It's so hard to know what to do and when.

Baby boy arrived yesterday. Having wanted to avoid induction and unsure about a sweep I was so pleased when my waters went. The ideal plan got derailed a bit from there though. There was meconium in the waters and concerns about my heart rate so I had to leave midwifery led care. The consultant unit was better than I imagined though. Managed to put off too many interventions for a few hours but agreed to an induction due to ongoing concerns. Baby boy was born very quickly (a bit like his sister although that was a natural labour). He needed some help to breathe so was whisked away very quickly but seems to be doing ok now. Just need to nail feeding and we should be ok. Didn't get much sleep last night, partly because he wanted holding and partly because every time I closed my eyes I could see him on the rescussitaire again. My induced labour was definitely harder and more painful than my natural one but still managed it without pain relief...stitches were another matter entirely though (nobody warns you about them).

@lanalawr Congratulations! Stitches are the only bit that makes me wobble...sounds like you handled everything like super woman though.

Congratulations @lanalawr! Sounds pretty scary having little one whisked away but fingers crossed you get to both go home soon.

Congratulations @lanalawr sounds like you bossed it!!

Still having regular cramping.... not sure if I can call them contractions when I can still talk through them etc 🤔 had a shower which seemed to slow them down a bit but now they are less than 5 mins apart. At what stage do I call the hospital? I thought it was when you had three in ten minutes, but I just realised my notes say when they are five minutes apart. Feels a bit early still, I don't want to be told to go for examination and then be sent home again!

Congrats to everyone having their little bundles of joy.

My due date is next Thursday but doubt little miss is going to make an appearance by then or even on her date lol

@detachablehoof You're normally meant to phone before you go in anyway. Why don't you give them a ring and see what they say? Sounds like you're well on your way 😊

Thank you.

@Leonora94 nobody told me how much the stitches could hurt last time. Everything is very tender when they prod about but generally better once the local anaesthetic is in. Definitely my least favourite part. I've now had two births with no pain relief but needed it for stitches both times. Don't turn it down if it's offered would be my advice (I used gas and air - I don't particularly like it but it was something to concentrate on and felt like I was doing something).

@detachablehoof if you're unsure then why not give them a ring and ask? They won't mind a call asking for advice or support. Trust your instincts too. If you think you should go in then ask to - even if it's for reassurance.

Wow congratulations lanalawr!!! Glad your little boy is here safely, sounds traumatic but hopefully it'll all be on the up from here.

detachablehoof yes I agree no harm in giving them a ring? I think they can sometimes gauge by how you're speaking whether it's worth going in. I definitely think it's worth staying home for as long as possible as my contractions slowed both times I went in to be examined, which is normal apparently. Try and potter round the house, stay calm, maybe go for a little walk if you can? Good luck!!

I’ve not experienced stitches with my other two... hoping for third time lucky! 😬😬🤞🏼

I did get up and have a shower, and as suspected that slowed the contractions down a bit. So have had some more sleep. Still getting them but less often and not always as painful. I think this is probably false labour or very early labour? Either way I'm pleased that something is happening ahead of induction tomorrow - my body does have some idea what it's supposed to be doing after all!

I’d guess at early labour, mine started like this with my first on the 1st March... he arrived on the 4th. Contractions were not strong enough to go to hospital, but too strong/frequent to sleep through. I was knackered! Sleep when you can and keep eating 👌🏼

I'm feeling really disheartened ☹️ Just been to see the doctor. I'm consultant led because I had a caesarean last time, though am desperate for a VBAC this time.

Dr insisted on booking an induction in for next Wednesday (I'll be 41+3). She wouldn’t really even answer my questions on leaving it longer, especially since that would be me only 10 days overdue and I’d previously been told I could be 12 over. She basically told me all the risks of induction and then wrote down that I agreed to it.

The Dr then suggested I have a sweep, which a midwife attempted, but it was not possible as head is too high and cervix is pointing too far back still. ☹️☹️

Don’t let them dictate to you!!! I hate that medical professionals can do this to women. Research it all yourself so you are sure of your decision, you can opt for monitoring etc. to check everything is going ok in there.
If there’s no medical need then don’t let them push you into anything.
I went 14 days over with my first, they tried telling me they ‘only let you go 12 days over’.. bollocks to that.
When my son was born, he wasn’t showing any signs of being overdue.

These decisions are yours.

Do you have a birthing ball? If not get one... and use it as much as possible.
Don’t bounce, that doesn’t do anything.. but rock side to side, or circles, or figure of eights. Sit on the edge and lean forward a bit as you do these movements. Stairs are also good or just walking helps to get baby into correct position.

I've been bouncing!

I'm struggling to find research specific to VBAC and induction. I'll have to have another look this afternoon. The hospital claim to be very pro VBAC which makes this more frustrating.

My husband is very risk adverse, and won't be happy for me to argue against the professionals! Which is why I had wanted to put a plan I was happy with in place today when he wasn't there!

@lanalawr - congratulations! Glad to hear baby is here and you're both OK. Yes to stitches! I couldn't have pain relief for mine with my first (it was a bit of a life saving / serious situation) and it hurt like a bitch! So so worth it all though x

It’s not always about risk... they just like a schedule I think! When you speak to a lot of midwives off the record, it seems like the majority of them are against intervention unless there is a definite medical need.
Also, I know he’s your husband etc. but he doesn’t actually get to decide either... it’s completely your call.

Do you have a midwife you can call and speak to about this, rather than the consultant?

Also, congrats @lanalawr

I thought it but didn’t post it! 🙈

@NotAsGreenAsCabbageLooking that's really interesting thank you! Husband is getting all excited and has come home from work (I did try and tell him there is no point)... would actually be quite nice if things ramped up quickly so I could avoid induction tomorrow 🤞🏻

Sleeping and eating sounds like a great plan 😄 I've stopped timing the contractions and I'm trying to have as normal a day as possible instead!

Obviously, every situation is different... and I’m just another mum, giving an opinion.

I just hate how women are railroaded into these decisions when it might not be the best decision for her. Good luck with those contractions! 🤞🏼

Well done to the ladies having babies and good luck to those who are still waiting! My little lad is 7 weeks old but due today! He's still a dinky weight at 8lbs. He's a good baby, sleeps and eats well :-)

Congratulations @lanalawr!

I’m soooo looking forward to joining you ladies in the baby group. Due on Sunday and no signs yet but this is DC3 so hopefully it will just happen!

On a completely different note... I’m due tomorrow, so thought I’d have a tidy up down there.

I don’t remember how I looked in my last two pregnancies (I’m guessing similar..) but it’s really not very pretty is it?? 😬😂

I was going to book a wax, but no one except medical professionals are going near there until I’m back to normal! 🙈🙈

Currently sitting in postnatal ward with my new arrival sleeping on my chest. He arrived at 5.30am weighing 9lb 8, what a whopper!

@mummymummymumumum it was a successful VBAC and I felt incredible pushing him out. But contrary to what I’d hoped it was an induction which started with membrane rupture and didn’t progress, leading to syntocinin drip and the glorious wonderful epidural. I can PM you what I have learned about VBAC inductions if you like.