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 ✔

@Sheeni I have noticed how clumsy I am this pregnancy!! I burnt myself twice last week on oven and then on slow cooker its so weird!

@HidCat and @ballanj thank you both for your good thoughts

After saying I've felt nothing I've had an hour of regular tightenings..uncomfortable but not painful really. The trace looked really good and midwife said it was a good sign. Yay!

@ballanj I think my midwife said I would have been offered a sweep at 40 weeks but not sure if that is standard across everywhere?

@Sheeni sorry about your phone screen! I knocked mine down the stairs through sheer clumsiness a few months ago. Thankfully it was the glass screen protector that shattered not the actual screen but I've actually done the same with the two previous phones I've had for some reason! Always bouncing down off every step because I've dropped it randomly at the top of the stairs!

Ooooh @melissa112 this sounds really positive! Thinking of you.

Thanks @Angelmiracle that's kind of what I was thinking on the sweep front. I too have developed a clumsiness this last few weeks. I keep dropping things annoyingly. Just what I don't need right now!!

I clearly need my head testing as I've just had on Emma Willis Delivering Babies on in the background as I'm laying in bed catching up on the feed. Not exactly relaxing viewing!!

@melissa112 try and get some sleep tonight if you can, save some of that energy for the later stages x

@melissa112 you’re so right. Hope you manage to get some rest and relaxation.

I’ve just had some mouldy cake at my in laws. Hoping my usually fairly cast iron stomach will deal with it!!

@ballanj sorry missed the last page of the thread! Yeah I think I was feeling a bit fragile and couldn’t cope with him feeling a bit fragile too because as you say I’m the one growing a baby.

I’m due on the 13th but I’m trying to ignore my due date and think it could be now, it could be in two and a half weeks. I’m being offered a sweep at 40 weeks on Wed but I’m going to refuse and hope things happen naturally. I might have one if i’m getttng to the 42 week mark as I want to avoid induction and going over 42 week as they might not let me in the birth centre.

@melissa112 you've got this .. regardless of what does or doesn't happen one way or another you're going to meet your baby very soon. And you WILL get him out and hopefully your partner will be there too.

Just an idea but where I delivered they have a bridge community care team which basically looks after anyone needing additional support post birth and you can then get extended home visits etc from the midwife over a longer period. Could you ask to speak to them regarding your anxiety? We were referred to this team initially due to my lack of reaction immediately post birth but then they came to talk to us and said given the contextual baggage combined with how early/quick he came (I know he was literally just full term though) they could have predicted the reaction, but they'd take us on the enhanced visit pathway anyway if we wanted. We accepted as it felt silly to deny help when neither of us have a clue about babies, so now we will get a lot more visits. They may already know about you from the midwife team (as I think the online course referral was via them?) but if not make sure they know this before you leave and push to speak to the equivalent team at your hospital about how they can continue to support after birth,

@ballanj we somehow ended up watching the friends episodes where Phoebe has the triplets for the initial hour or so of my contractions ... We both literally couldn't stop laughing when her waters go very dramatically and they all rush to the hospital immediately ... Now we are educated enough to know that would not actually happen, at least under the NHS!! How are you doing?

@badbadbeans thanks, it really really meant a lot that I was able to prove them completely wrong even on the "offer early epidural front" as I was probs too far along when we arrived (my husband hates/loves this stubborn trait...) but realise it was also just the luck of the draw so if there is a next time it may all come back to bite me. I genuinely thought they would tell me that I was about 2cm if they when we arrived as had been managing with just the lowest setting on the tens machine as wanted to save the higher settings for when I was actually in pain... I got to 3 out of 8 by the time he was born but didn't really feel the need to go higher.

Sorry to hear about the breast news although really good that your GP is on the same wave length and you've got an appointment on the next few days so you can stop focusing on it during the baby's birth. Sounds like you've had A LOT to cope with emotionally recently... How has your husband been?

@Sheeni ugh everything always happens at once doesn't it? I hope your hand is ok and your phone is repairable.

@Angelmiracle Hope your burns are healing too!

@ballanj I'm 39weeks today and midwife did mention possibly doing a sweep at my 40week appointment. Going to see how I feel on the day. I watched Emma Willis this morning too (got up at 4am, bloody insomnia), I quite like it even with seeing some difficult situations.

@melissa112 sounds very promising!

Last day in work today - and hubby has a weekend full of sport lined up so I said he can choose sport if he wants and I'll take his or my Mum if I go into labour; he jokingly considered it and then said no chance lol. I've had strong tightenings on and off for several days and lost a huge amount of mucus yesterday (sorry) so hoping things are moving in the right direction and she won't keep us waiting! @Gronk27 I'm like you in trying to keep the 2 weeks overdue possibility in mind when thinking about due dates so when asked I'm like "anytime in next 3 weeks" but it's so hard not to be impatient! I hope the dodgy cake has no ill effects for you!

@Gronk27 that's what I keep thinking, could be now, could be another fortnight. I'll likely eventually take a sweep as like you, I want to have the birthing centre option.

Saying that I feel like he's dropped down massively overnight. Incredibly uncomfortable nights sleep and very restless. This morning feel like I have some lower back pressure and keep thinking I need to have a number two but don't. Although I have a pile which could be bringing that on I suppose! Praying that also goes once he arrives 🤪

@HidCat well done you working up to this far! With you on the insomnia, I've had a very restless night and been awake since 6am

@ballanj @HidCat with you both on he insomnia front. I was awake last night between 2am and 3am-ish. Got back to sleep but was woken up at 6.30 for the day by DD. Luckily she's at nursery today so I'll be able to go back to bed at some point which should make me feel better.

@melissa112 I hope the induction is going ok - not long to o now, fingers crossed.

We've had a bit of a sequence of unfortunate events this week that has meant it's looking likely that DH will have to stay with DD while I have the new baby on my own. I've been let down/messed about with a previous childcare offer from family and given that I'm now overdue, don't really have time to get to know a doula/emergency babysitter etc.

I'm hoping baby comes during the day so we can get DD off to nursery then DH can come back from the hospital pick her up at the end of nursery day, but who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️ I'm trying to be pragmatic about it - women have babies in their own all the time - but it's all been quite upsetting and stressful and I'm ready for new DD to be here and he birth part to be over.

Babies would be so much easier if they were a bit more predictable!

@MistakenHoliday I'm so sorry to hear you've been let down by family. Is there parents from nursery you would trust to have her a few hours after nursery if all being well you begin labour in the morning? There was a MN thread discussing how a lot of mum's labour starts at night when they're relaxed etc. But mum's of school children found their labour didnt start until the kids were at school. It's like your body can sense a safer time or something. And 2nd baby hopefully delivers much quicker allowing your DH to go back to DD.

In saying that my auntie had all 7 of her kids on her own and she highly recommends it!! Her DH literally dropped her off at hospital doors. She said she had great support from the midwives each time. Hope something works out well for you.

@Angelmiracle I have a friend from work whose wife is a SAHP. DD is friends with their little boy and they've said they'll have her if we need it which is amazing. I'm having a dither about whether DD will be comfortable with it though - potentially being shipped off in the middle of the night etc.

I have to say, there are some elements of doing it alone that are massively unappealing! It's more a sadness for DH that he'd miss the birth and cutting the cord and stuff and what I'd do if something went a bit wrong (I had some blood loss last time which they're preparing for this time too, as a precaution). Ive spoken to the labour ward who have been amazing and said they'll do whatever they can to accommodate so we're just going to play it by ear and see how it goes 🤞🏻

@melissa112 ooo I hope things are going well. The tightening yesterday evening was definitely a good sign! Thinking of you.

@MistakenHoliday that is very hard. It's funny isn't it that a few decades ago it was the norm not to have your partner with you while you have birth? And so sad for him if he has to miss that moment. I really hope it happens on a nursery day for you.

@cardboard33 you're a bloody legend - that's a great birth story! I'm so pleased for you. There's nothing like proving people wrong. One of my best friends wanted a birth with no drugs and her sister in law (doctor) told her she wouldn't be able to do it. She did! I mean obviously it doesn't work out like that for everyone (me, par exemple!) but it's just so great that it does for some people.

I actually had my appointment yesterday for the nipple in the end. The doctor I saw was lovely and said she didn't think it was problematic, but that the only way to be sure would be to do a punch biopsy through the centre - which would leave me completely unable to breastfeed. She has asked me to come back and see a consultant next week to double check that I don't need a biopsy. In the meantime she sent me for an ultrasound, which was clear. Mostly I feel reassured but I did get home and have a bit of a sob to myself because of the shitty timing and because I so badly want to breastfeed my little baby - as a last hurrah for my boobs really before I get rid of them. I know what will be will be, and it's better to be safe than sorry, but I also worry that my own anxiety and need for reassurance might push me to a place where I have a biopsy of questionable necessity done that will prevent me from doing something I really want to do. I am hoping the consultant will be able to guide me on Tuesday and won't just leave it up to me.

My other half is okay I think, thanks for asking. He is very supportive of my surgery decisions, including my leaning towards no reconstruction. Less supportive of the emotional side - he's very much a pull yourself together type person. But in the middle of the night last night I had a wobble and he was lovely and said he would look after me over the weekend. He's had a horrid cold the last few days which I am now coming down with - more crappy timing as I don't want it by the time the C-section rolls round in a week! I was having mad thoughts in the middle of the night about delaying the CS so I can have a biopsy, etc. But I've had a biopsy before and it was quite painful for a good week, and that was without being mauled by a newborn, so... And I don't even know if they would be willing to do that.

Anyway yes. I would rather that my biggest stress was getting the house clean 😂 But it could obviously be worse and I am v glad that the doctors don't think it is likely to be cancer! Xx

Good news on the initial assessment @badbadbeans. Hopefully they can confirm it for you without too much stress.

@BadBadBeans It's a shame, but we are where we are so there's no point fretting I guess. And he'll have a lifetime of moments (and nappies!) to make up for it

It's nowhere near what you're going through at the moment though. Good news that the scan was clear - that must be a little reassuring. And a cold on top of it all - you're a bloody warrior getting through all this!

Hi all, haven’t posted much on here but have been following. Just checking in to report that our little girl arrived on 21st February at 38 weeks 5 days. Another quick labour to report here.

Anyone got any tips for babies that refuse to settle at night? She’s great during the day but refuses sleep at night till around 5am and can’t be put down!! We’re taking shifts at the moment but DH is back at work next week and I’m not sure how we’ll cope after that.

Unfortunately it is normal @jellybean023 - get the rest you can when you can and try not to think about the clock.
It will get easier, try swaddling, try putting something that smells of you in the bottom of the bed, and obviously safely bed sharing. Hope it settles really soon for you.

Contractions have started this morning but very gentle at the moment. Definitely contractions rather than anything else though! At least my mum is here to look after DS (sorry your plans fell through @mistakenholiday). It sped up quite quickly with DS so wonder if it will be doing the same this time, we're about an hour in so far!

@BadBadBeans reading your posts is putting a lot of my minor concerns into the shade this morning, you're amazing!

@MistakenHoliday I hope you manage to work out your childcare cover when b-day comes around and that you're happy whichever way it ends up.

@SquirtlesMumAgain how exciting hope it’s not a long labour x

Thanks @SquirtlesMumAgain, I thought that might be the answer - guess I’m looking for a miracle! Oh well, will keep persevering and hope it gets better.