June 2019 - Part 7!

[Kescilly]

Hi ladies! Picking names, packing hospital bags - third trimester here we come!

I thought I'd start out with the stats this time and I'll post the updated name list in a bit. I've just included the data that I have, since a lot of people are missing bits (or quite possibly I've missed their posts). We come from all over, so I'll put that bit in another post later as well.

Our average age at estimated due date is 33! That should help some of us who are feeling older.

And that's not just because we're all second-timers! In fact, most of us are having our first baby this year.

Baby #1 - 31
Baby #2 - 26
Baby #3 - 9
Baby #4 - 1
Babies 1&2 together! - 1

Fifteen of us are expecting lovely little boys, nineteen of us are expecting darling little girls, and at least sixteen of us are waiting to be surprised!

The average due date is June 13th, and the most popular due date is June 24th. We don't have anyone expecting on the 15th, 23rd, 27th, or 30th as far as I can tell.

And if you happen to have a baby on my birthday (June 16th), your baby will be born on Father's Day this year!

Sorry to hear about the GD @coastergirl

Been really ill the last week with blocked sinuses causing a massive headache. Annoyingly I think a bit of Beechams and some Vicks would have done the trick but there is literally nothing you can take in pregnancy. Have been existing on hot lemon, the odd paracetamol (makes me nauseous though) and was recommended Sterimar which appears to just be a very expensive can of pressurised water! Although it did help clear my nose I guess.

Started to wash through the clothes from where we had DS. We have a few newborn and 0 to 1 month bits that he was in at first - he was 7lb 6. I remember having to buy more newborn stuff as I thought I was being clever and just bought 0 to 3 the first time as it would last longer but then it was all huge on him! We were in hospital about 3 days with DS and he managed to throw up on basically everything!

Oh and I'm getting a parasol for the pram this time! Please don't use a blanket over your prams to protect your babies from the sun as it can lead to overheating. I used a muslin over the pram last time but apparently it's not actually any protection from UV rays..

Hope you're feeling a bit more settled today @allfurcoatnoknickers any resolution with Doula?

Is anyone buying a Sleepyhead? They look great but I'm a bit worried about Sleepyhead weaning/SIDS risk. Thoughts?

@KoalasAteMyHomework I've found Breathe Right nasal strips to be absolute lifesavers at night for blocked sinuses, might be worth a try? Seems you can get smaller, cheaper packs in supermarkets (about £4) compared to Boots where they were £13.99 for a bigger pack!

Oh @KoalasAteMyHomework missed your message but I feel your pain. Genuinely was up every night last week for about 3 hours a night with a blocked nose completely unable to get back to sleep. Gave me a sore throat because I must have been sleeping with my mouth open! I spoke with the pharmacist and got a salt water spray which was vile but did help to be fair.

@mrshadders I've bought a Sleepyhead - from my research, it seems like the SIDS risks were linked to a different, specific type of sleep positioner, but The Lullaby Trust etc. have just decided to make a blanket statement against all sleep aids to cover themselves.

I am slightly concerned that I'll be making a rod for my own back, but a friend of mine was having trouble getting her little girl to sleep, rushed out and bought one, and found it really helped.

@mrshadders Just woke up (6:45 am here) - still noting from the Doulas, or the Dogwalker.

I'm going to take the dogs for a walk and try and get some breakfast down. I couldn't eat last night and I don't want to pass out on the subway!

We aren’t buying a sleepyhead. We’re going to try to stick to the flat surface/safe sleep advice as much as possible. But this is our first, so who knows what we might end up doing out of desperation!

I was wondering about the incline on some of the bedside cribs, and if that’s actually safe.

Thanks for the suggestions. It's much easier now it's in my nose, but was awful when I had the headache so badly. Will make a note of the strips in case it happens again!

I've bought a sleepyhead but will only use it for daytime naps, not overnight ☺️

Thanks all. Might see how we get on when baby actually arrives.

Have you all washed all the baby clothes/packed hospital bags yet? If not, when are you going to? I'm so excited and want to start washing but worried that they will get musty and need washing again!

Had my second antenatal class tonight, this one was focused on feeding. It was fine but very geared up towards breastfeeding, the midwife only touched on bottle feeding a few times.

I also had my 32 week midwife appointment today and she suggested I start doing perineal massage.. has anyone given it a go yet? Tried tonight but can't really reach so I'll need to ask DP to give it a shot tomorrow.

@mrshadders I haven't sorted my hospital bag yet but have started washing through the clothes.

I hadn't really heard of doing perineal massage before @fee1234 Had a quick Google and it makes me think its worth considering. Shame I didn't know about it when I had DS. Although I might have to check with my midwife first as everything is quite swollen and tender from the varicose veins I have!

I had my second appointment with the GD team today, I've been put on insulin at bed time. I expected it because my fasting levels have been too high the last 3 mornings. All positive enough with them.

Then I went down to maternity to meet my consultant...

The more I think about it the more pissed off I feel. I walked in and he just said "so you have GD", told him yes and had just been put on insulin. I expected a bit of an introduction and for him to talk through what would happen. He just asked if I had any questions, first one that came to mind was birth options and what would happen. He was vague and said I wouldn't be allowed to use home from home, the midlife led unit at the hospital, which I suspected anyway. He went on to say i'd be induced if I didn't go naturally before 40+3/4, possibly earlier. I really don't want to be induced, I've tried to research and educate myself. When I told him that and asked about a section he pulled a face and may as well have said 'stupid woman'. He asked why I didn't want an induction, I started going through my reasons, when I got to the baby getting stuck (increased risk with GD) he just stopped me and said that could happen to anyone, waffled about baby's position and never let me finish or talk about my other reasons. I didn't even get to ask any of my other questions as he summoned me on to the bed for my scan. I just felt completely shot down and not listened to. Baby seems to be fine according to scan, he's 3lb something (30 weeks on Friday) the consultant didn't really explain much and said all was average but when I look at the print out of measurements they range from 28+6 to 33+4 and the EDD is down s June 11th rather than June 21st
I only realised this after and he never went through them. I left feeling less reassured than when I went in! I really hope he won't be my consultant the whole way through 😢😢

Oh forgot to add he said about C-sections being problematic when you have more children, I said we wouldn't be having any more and he said "well let's not get into that" arrggghhh!! Sorry for the rant, I'm just so pissed off!

Straight to the Supervisor of midwives @weebean

Being a dick with no compassion seems to be the MO for most consultants it seems😬

@PaulHolywoodsSexGut I had wondered and then thought maybe it was a bit dramatic. Everyone else I've seen has been so lovely!

Regardless, I think you need a conversation not a diktat.

GD is not to be trifled with and on balance you probably didn’t take in the facts you needed to know thanks to the consultants’ delivery being pretty uncompromising.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, insert [trust name] and “Supervisor of midwives” into google and it should come up. You are totally within your rights to get a second chance at an important conversation.

(can you tell this pisses me off?)

@weebean that sounds horrible, sorry you had to deal with that.

@mrshadders I’ve not washed any baby clothes at all yes as they’re currently being stored in open shelving after our move, still need to get a chest of drawers...

@weebean sorry you’ve had such a crap appointment, I agree with the others that you should ask to see someone else.

I am under the consultant this time due to DS being large and having a PPH. I am feeling lucky as I was offered a ELCS if I wanted one right back when I was 11 weeks. Still undecided. I don’t think I want an induction either. Fingers crossed this baby is a more average size.

I cannot understand why some of the professionals we see insist on causing undue anxiety in pregnant women! Your body, your baby, your choice.

Weebean so sorry for your apt. Can you speak to your mw about it and see if you can see another consultant? Fwiw I was told because I had gd I would be induced on my due date. I wasn’t given an option and wasn’t told I could refuse this. I was made to feel I would be risking my baby by refusing this. It’s only now I realise I could have declined the induction. They donit because of concerns over size so see how the size progresses and if baby is measuring very big. Hopefully being on insulin will control this. I also mentioned csectoin at my apt for dd during a similar meeting you had and was told it was not an option for gd, but this was before you could have an elcs, you were only allowed them then for medical reasons, it’s changed now. I would do a lot of research and see if you think csection would be a better option for you if you hadn’t gone into labour by a set time and discuss with mw how to go about getting it. Fwiw I don’t think all inductions are bad and there can be advantages to being induced. It’s all about knowledge and choosing the option best for you. As for saying this will be an onoy child so that isn’t a concern with having a csection I think the hear it all the time from everyone. I know I was met with the same response from mws and doctors about having a csection and I said there was literally zero chance of me having another. Look at me now! I reckon it’s probably thought of a bit like being gingered with hg (in that you hear it all the time and makes your eyes roll). Not that that in any way makes his behaviour acceptable.

I’m so fed up and keep dreaming of being about to do stuff again. I’m pretty much on enforced rest as any activity aggrevates my nausea so much. I’ve tried fighting it the whole pg by doing little things but I’m just at the point of giving up because it makes such a difference to rest. Just the idea of taking dd to the park for a little walk or take her shopping and out for lunch have been completely unachievable for so many months and I can’t wait to be able to do it again. I know I’ll be tired and it will be difficult lugging baby stuff around etc but at least I’ll be able to go out and not feel sick, which right now is my goal.

29 weeks +3 now and hoping for planned section at 39 weeks so onnthe 10 week countdown. Every day is still an endurance.

@Daffydillo I’m also unsure of whether to go for ELCS (previous EMCS so automatically offered) - I’m tending towards it for a few reasons but I just can’t properly make up my mind! It’s really hard.

@hexagon01 I am being seen for previous birth trauma, the main issue (aside complications scaring me) is my loss of control. ELCS scare me, but I think I’m more scared of an induction if it leads to further interventions. I did eventually give birth to DS unassisted which makes me hold onto the fact I’ve done it once I’ll do it again. Growth scan Friday and seeing consultant next week. So undecided and feeling nervous!

@Daffydillo I hope you are able to resolve your issues, and I absolutely and completely relate to the feelings around loss of control. I am very scared of what happened in my first labour happening again, and the caesarean was by far the best part of my birth last time, but I’m still unsure if the infection issues I had last time are likely to reoccur (really need to talk to my midwife). I also had a big baby (though not as big as yours!) and am looking forward to my growth scan next month in the hope it might help me decide.

@hexagon01 all good so far the therapy has really helped. Just a shame I didn’t deal with it all sooner! I am the same as you, holding out for the growth scan and hopefully have a clearer picture after. My local hospital have been absolutely fantastic so feel I can have a balanced conversation with the consultant/midwife.
Not long to go!