The March-ers 2019 - #9 Meet the Babies

[Angelmiracle]

Thread 9 wow 🤗

All being well a lot more birth announcements this thread 👣🍼🤰🏿🤰🤰🏾🤰🏼

Check-in mamas ✔

I don't miss the being pressed in the same place over and over, but this time have the fun of her dropping in engaged and today she is out so much that the midwife could wiggle her around in my bump!

DS has given me a horrible bug so she can stay put for the 2 weeks so I can get better!!! A new born and a streaming nose isn't nice at all!!

Good luck @HidCat I hope it's a good sign for u and things kickstart soon x

Oh @HidCat let's hope it's the start of things!!

@SquirtlesMumAgain hope you get better soon that wouldn't be pleasant with a baby.

Baby's bum very high in my bump and so firm I was convinced they changed back to breech. Really active the last few days. Then I wonder were the previous days too quiet

Just Thurs and Fri left of work so glad. Pelvic pain taking it's toll. Baby feels likes it's gaining so much weight. Bump is rock solid!

@Harley8888 my little one loves sticking his bum out too! He does that when he falls asleep as well, always have this bum and back shaped lump on one side of my belly when he does.

Hope everyone else is holding up okay. Had a fair few fanny daggers tonight, he's definitely lower down and the frequency of my toilet visits is getting beyond ridiculous. 38 weeks on Thursday and very much keeping an eye out for changes now. Was convinced my waters had started to go on Monday but turned out to be discharge. It really is a minefield what we have to look out for!

@ballanj Totally agree with it being a minefield! I'm reading so much into everything. I feel so much pressure and responsibility to know exactly what is going on with my body. My husband keeps asking me if I'm sure it was just a pain. Am I sure it's just discharge. what is the pain? Is it Braxton hicks? tbh I HAVE NO CLUE! I'VE NEVER HAD A BABY BEFORE!

@ballanj i’m 38 weeks tomorrow and feel similar. Weirdly nervous about my midwife appointment tomorrow. I had a bounce on my birthing ball and it has resulted in fanny daggers! So maybe it’s succeeded in getting her low down!

Hope everyone is doing ok. Excited to see more birth announcements!

Finish work on Friday and can’t tell you how I am looking forward to it now. Barely sleeping and gripey tummy since last week. Will be glad to be able to kip in the day haha.

@Sictransitgloria my last day at work is tomorrow, feeling grateful to have one less thing to deal with and hopefully get some time at home before little one arrives. Still plenty to do and organise before he turns up.

@Harley8888 you are exactly the same as me, I'm questioning everything especially my own judgment! I'd like to think that whenever waters go I'd be aware of it 😬 when I mentioned this to my other half he replied with 'surely your mucous plug will go first?!' Good to know he actually paid attention in antenatal and knows what is meant to happen I suppose! 😂

@Gronk27 I have my 38 week check tomorrow aswell and hadn't thought of it but weirdly I'm kind of with you on that front. I was told his head was engaged 2 weeks ago and the amount he's been moving I'm really hoping she doesn't say he's now turned around and breach.

I'm hoping I can get some more sleep once I've packed up work. Was waking up every couple of hours last night. I'll look forward to some day naps when I need them before he arrives.

Good luck to everyone who is possibly half way through having their baby by now.... Very exciting!

With the other ftms, my husband just keeps asking "well is that normal or do we need to do something?" to everything and I'm like "I dunno, fyi also haven't been in this position before!!" ... I think my baby has dropped again as I can now put all of my hand above my bump and I'm also getting a flat tummy back at the top sides of the bump.

I'm definitely not ready to finish work yet although have another 2 weeks to go as pushing it fine with dates and just thinking about how much I need to do between now and then is scary. I'm putting the pressure on myself to get these things done, it isn't my work, it's just I like to be in control and hate the idea of different people doing all of my stuff as am convinced they won't do it as well as me (which I have definite grounds to think/know). Tempted to say I'll continue doing stuff from home until the baby comes as long as I still feel ok but I know that I just need to let go as it's not as if an extra week of me is going to solve all of our problems!!

Also went to the dentist yesterday and she told me to come back as soon as I can after the baby is born to get all of the X rays done even though she doesn't think I need them, with her logic being that I can then get everything done in the year when I get it for free. She also gave me a prescription for loads of bottles of mouthwash on the basis that "you get it for free so I may as well" .... I expected them to be like "you're clearly just here as it's free" in a judgey way so was pleasantly surprised! Then she proceeded to give me lots of advice about ensuring the baby doesn't get hooked on sweets from birth!!

@cardboard33 I understand being reluctant to finish work and other people not being able to do it so well. I finished on Friday and I've already offered to go in today for an hour or two to make payments as I'm worried the person I left in charge will forget some!

@cardboard33 my dentist was also very enthusiastic about me going back for X-rays after birth and having lots of treatment. Although I definitely need at least one filling and my pregnancy sweet cravings can’t be helping!

Hi all

Is it just me or are these last weeks dragging? I also thought baby had disengaged. Normally I can see where his back is just from looking at my oddly shaped bump and the bits that are rock hard. I was convinced he'd moved back out (he was 3/5ths engaged nearly 3 weeks ago). Anyway had my midwife appt yesterday and hes still in the same position but she said up to just under his eyes are engaged so that sounds more like 2/5ths to me.

My sleep hasn't been great throughout but now it is horrendous. Had a little cry in the middle of the night as I just don't feel like I'm sleeping more than 30 mins at a time before either needing a wee or being uncomfortable and having to switch sides. I'm so exhausted but when I try to nap my brain won't switch off whereas before I could nap quite well.

My midwife did say that as I have an appt with the consultant at 39+4 not to bother seeing her at 39+5 for my 40 week appt. I can see why but I've already had my last appt now with her until potentially 40+5 and have had no birth options chat. I know I should have brought it up yesterday but I was so tired I could barely think straight.

She also said that they may do a sweep at the hospital at 39+4 because of the reduced movements I've had but if not to see her at 40+5. Just feel a bit blind sided by it all and no idea if I'm meant to be more prepared with options etc?

Also, rather cute but realised baby goes crazy for music now. Never really did on my hour commute even though I had it on all the way there and back but these last few days after saying I couldn't feel him as well, a bit of music and hes having a party.

Hope everyone is doing well. I've lost track of the thread a bit over the past week

@melissa112 not just you! I feel like it’s really dragging now. Feel like I’ve been pregnant forever! Desperate to have him here now.

@melissa112 with you in that I feel like I've been pregnant forever now. My sleep is also terrible at the moment. Feel like I'm not sleeping more than 1-2 hours at a time. Feeling so uncomfortable and whilst I want time to do things before he arrives, at the same time I want him to just be here now.

@melissa112 you are definitely not alone! Time is passing so slowly which I'm grateful for as I always try to not wish it away but also 🤯

Had my growth scan today at 36+6. I went in there thinking we'd be discussing induction around 38 weeks due to his size and was psyched up for it (maybe a bit excited?) but no! He's actually slowed down on the growth front, not enough to worry but enough to mean no need for induction. So another scan at 38+6 it is! He's still measuring at 40+ weeks around his tummy and weighing just over 7lbs though xx

Just had my midwife appointment. All fine. She says i’d routinely be offered a sweep at the next one at it will be 40 weeks (if I make it of course). What’s the general thought on sweeps? I generally want to avoid induction if possible and I’m prepared to ‘go over’.

Sorry to all of those of you who feel it's dragging. I guess I worked so late relatively last time I didn't have that issue.

Was back in A&E last night with the breathing issues again, but turns out I have a horrible chest infection and Flu! One of the strains the vaccine didn't cover this year I guess.
Feel like death warmed up, and a friend has just told me to track my temp as her first ended up being evicted as she had flu with such a temp. Not helpful at all!

@gronk27 the main ‘risk’ with sweeps is the potential to accidentally rupture the membranes at the same time. It’s not that common, but does mean labour would be anticipated with 24hrs or then you’d need to be induced.
Personally, I’m all for doing anything that might help, as if really rather avoid an induction too.

That said and done, generally most things that ‘help’are anecdotal at best, with limited research to support whether they really helped, or whether it was actually going to happen anyway. A sweep is probably the most well supported by research.
Also consider antenatal hand expression. Being mobile and active will help to some degree- more with fetal positioning than anything. Everything else is by the by really.

@melissa112 @CaseofEllen yup, ready for it to be over with here too! Although I had some niggles last night and panicked about what I'd have to do AGAIN 😀

@Gronk27 I avoided a sweep until I was 40+9 the last time and went into labour the next day. I think it was coincidence though and I'm in no rush to get it done this time, definitely not at 40 weeks.

Oh no @SquirtlesMumAgain you poor thing I hope dd stays put a while longer whilst you get better what rubbish timing.

@squirtlesmumagain that sounds just awful!

@babycatcher411 as in a sweep might help avoid induction? I also found out that going over 42 weeks rules me out of the birth centre and sends me to the labour ward so that's got me thinking. I will try hand expression. I am very mobile and active still and doing yoga and bouncing on my birth ball. I suppose I'll just have to wait and see (as will most of us). I think it was just that the midwife was saying I am going to offer you a sweep so have a think what your answer will be.

Glad I'm not alone with feeling like I've been pregnant forever. I also have loads of bits I want done before he comes but yet now I'm nearly 38 weeks I'd be quite happy if he hurried up now!

@CaseofEllen baby sounds like hes a good size but not too big? I was all ready for being induced at 37 weeks due to reduced movements and the consultant was about to book me in for later that week until she spoke with someone else so I get the excitement at having a definite date. Glad all seems ok with baby

@Gronk27 I think I'd accept a sweep if it was offered at my next appt to avoid induction. Is it the case that if baby isn't ready it won't do anything but if they are ready it can push it along a bit?

@SquirtlesMumAgain oh that sounds terrible, you poor thing!! Hope you recover soon and baby stays put!

Yeah the theory is a sweep will help bring labour on, thus reducing the risk of needing an an induction.

But the main risk of a sweep is the potential to rupture the membranes by accident which would then mean if you don’t labour you even more so need inducing (after 24hrs). But rupturing the membranes doesn’t happen that often.

The issue with a sweep, is to actually successfully do one, you need to be able to get your fingers inside the cervix. The ‘sweep’ part is using a finger/or two to separate the membranes from around the base of the uterus/top of the cervix and thus stimulating the body to produce the same hormones released in labour.

If we can’t get a finger in, it can’t be done, you’d basically be having a cervical tickle 😂
If we can get a finger(s) in then it’s quite possible your body is already trying to do something anyway, so labour might’ve been going to happen anyway IYGWIM, but the theory is that it might just help the process along.

@melissa112 I think I'll see how I feel when the time comes! I suppose you can't do any more than that!

@babycatcher411 thanks for the info, really helps!