35+ TTC #1 Graduates!

[Kescilly]

This thread is for those of us over 35 who are pregnant with our first! It’s a continuation of a great group of people from the TTC thread. Doesn’t matter how far along you are, come on in!

@Weathergirl1 gosh - keep us posted when you can!

Glad to hear your doula is available to give advice and is being supportive!

@birdbybird I'm home! Basically they keep you in for obs to ensure you don't go into premature labour, which I haven't. The risk goes down dramatically if nothing happens within 48hrs and the consultant was of the opinion that I've been leaking for more than that so far so was happy to get me home especially as we live not very far away (10' taxi drive).

Am on antibiotics for 7 days and they will want to get the baby out at 37 weeks which is 5th November. I have an appointment already next week to discuss ELCS options anyway and they're happy for me to keep that. Feeling a bit shell shocked really as this was totally not the ending I was expecting after having such a straightforward time so far 🤪

@Weathergirl1 sounds like you had a long day! Shell shocked sounds like an apt description.
Are the antibiotics for preventative reasons?

@birdbybird yep - with leaking waters at pre dates they like to be proactive about preventing infection. Just had my placenta placement ultrasound and fluid levels are normal so that's a relief. However, baby is very much a frank breech (as I have been suspecting for a while) despite multiple midwives over the last few days being adamant it was a bottom under my ribs... I now feel guilty for believing that because I've been patting it's head as though it's a bottom 😳

@weathergirl1 glad to hear your scan went well even if baby is not in correct position 🙄. My DD was breech then transverse and only turned at 36+2 (on her own) as they were talking about me having to go in to see if they could turn her or being kept in once I got past 37 weeks if not. Babies will just do what they want and keep us on our toes right up to delivery and beyond.

@Weathergirl1 glag everything's ok, fingers crossed little one can wait until the 5th!

We came home on Tuesday as DS (feels weird typing that!) has a severe tongue tie so has had feeding problems. Breastfeeding went brilliantly at first but by Sunday night I was in agony with bleeding nipples, and had to resort to formula, so have been expressing and mixed feeding. Fortunately as it's severe and I'm a stubborn git determined to breast feed they referred him urgently and it's getting fixed on Saturday.

@pinkywoo thanks for the 🤞 - I'm crossing everything including my legs 🤣 I'm still leaking waters and sent DH out earlier to get me some Tena Lady pads for overnight as bog standard Always just are not coping 😬

Sorry to hear you've had issues with tongue tie, but it's good you got an early referral - hopefully that will sort it. Our doula does breastfeeding support so I think she's going to be doing some more of that with us now she's not going to need to be on call for us as originally expected! I'm comfortable with mixed feeding, but going to really try and put extra effort in now it's going to be ELCS to help ensure we get the baby's microbiome off to as good a start as we can. Can I ask what you did in preparation for breastfeeding? I mean did you buy creams in advance etc? I have some reusable pads already but that's about it!

Congratulations @Pinkywoo!! 😍 💙

Goodness @Weathergirl1, not long until you meet your little one. You sound really calm!

Still lurking, we've put ttc on hold after my last mc. Had a recurrent miscarriage appointment yesterday and feeling more positive moving forward. Hopefully back to ttc in the new year and I might get to post on here legitimately 🤞 😊

@VenusStarr I think I'm still in denial a bit
... 🤣

Good to hear from you and glad to hear that you feel a bit more positive after your appointment. Really do hope that you get your BFP in the new year🤞

Hello everyone!

Sorry I've been silent.

@Pinkywoo congratulations!! And @Weathergirl1 eeek not long now! I hope you're feeling ok!

I have horrific pain in my left hip and I genuinely don't know what to do with myself. It started off feeling a bit like an ovarian cyst type pain (like dull but painful constant pain round at the front) but now it just permeates my whole left hip/pelvis. It kind of hurts on the top of my hip bone/pelvis, if that makes sense, and then round the back (at the sacroiliac joint area I think) but I just can't get comfortable - if I lie on my left, it hurts with the pressure, if I lie on my right, it hurts - I assume because it's not supported. I obviously can't lie on my back or my front. So falling asleep is an absolute nightmare. Paracetamol is crap, and a hot water bottle/oats heated thing only takes away the pain for a short amount of time. It's worse when I'm sitting or the worst is when I'm lying down. It relieves, temporarily, when I walk about and stretch. I can lie down and put my feet together and stretch out my knees to the side (you know what I mean?!) quite easily, so not restricted with tight movement...

HELP ME I want to rip my hip out :(

Does this sound like SPD/PGP or do I actually need to go to the doctors to get a diagnosis?

I hope everyone else is doing fabulously, by the way!!

Sorry, that was a very me me me post :(

@lauralooderby it might be SPD but I have painful hips which isn't, it's just a tight piriformis - don't think mine are as bad as yours but I can't sleep for more than 90' stints before waking up in pain. I would get yourself to an osteopath - I know one based in Ealing Broadway (you're in London aren't you?) who sees pregnant women (did some work with Beverley Turner's antenatal group). PM me and I'll give you her details!

@Weathergirl1 I had bought a haakaa pump and a few mam bottles so DH could do the odd feed (but wasn't planning on using them for the first month), and had nipple cream and washable breast pads.

@Pinkywoo which nipple cream did you get? I have some washable breast pads and have just started to use them because I'm leaking a bit. We got a free Mam bottle from Boots Parenting Club and I'm impressed with it so I think we will go with Mam - might look at getting a couple more in that case. I think I'm going ot hold off on the pump front and see what happens in hospital - I think they hire them out at ours.

@Weathergirl1 I've got the lansinoh cream in the purple tube, oh and the other thing I got in advance is a milton cold water steriliser. They only cost about £12 and are what the hospital used so must be pretty good.

@pinkywoo ah, I picked up a MAM microwave steriliser on FB marketplace for £11 and it also does cold water sterilisation. I've been advised to start harvesting colostrum by our doula so I've started having a go at that. It's all a bit weird... and I'm a bit weirded out by it 😂

The other thing I've been doing is getting going on the PBC postpartum digital pack as we need to get through this information now double quick! I'd actually recommend it - lots of information and not judgey. Our infant first aid course has fallen through though because we were supposed to do it at the end of September but it got cancelled as not enough people signed up for it... New date is the Saturday after my CS so we aren't going ot be making it there!! 🤦

@Weathergirl1 How's it going? Was wondering how you were...how long before your c-section?

I went to a breastfeeding class where they recommended harvesting colostrum from 37 weeks and gave out syringes. So I have a couple of weeks before I start. They suggested using one syringe to try it out on and just dispose of anything collected, and once you get the hang of it, start storing it in the freezer. You can add to a syringe 3 times, after that to put it in the freezer. Besides the weirdness, how easy/difficult is it to collect?

@birdbybird I'm ok, still pottering on leaking fluid but baby is moving ok and I don't have any infection signs 👍🤞 i have nearly run out of my stash of Always pads I was using up and I am determined to take care of my pelvic floor as I get older as I never want to have to wear Tena Lady overnight pads again once this is over 🤣🤣

I've managed to fill 2 syringes already that our doula gave me on Tuesday but the midwife forgot to bring me some to the appointment on Wednesday and then didn't drop them off at the house like she said she would so I had to get a friend to order me some from Amazon Prime (male friend - he's now going to get hounded with adverts for baby stuff 😂😂). Our doula said it was fine in the fridge for 24hrs and then freeze. It was a bit slow at first (like only a few drops - didn't get very far up the scale on the syringe) but I tried again in the middle of the night when I was up and noticed I was leaking a bit and I filled the first one pretty quickly then, and the second one was a lot faster so maybe it was just getting used to the technique 🤷 I will say that I have noticed that it's one side or the other at the moment - the 1st syringe was mostly left side and the 2nd one was all on the right! I haven't tried yet today as the order only arrived at lunchtime. Despite still feeling quite weird out about it I did find myself feeling rather competitive by the 2nd one in terms of wanting to fill it - must be the athlete in me 🤣

PS: 6 days to go!

Oh gosh... not long to go! :)

Sounds like you've got the technique already. What they suggested to us was massage the top half of the breast, kind of a kneading / pressing with your fingers towards the nipple for a bit, then squeeze quite firmly two or three inches from the nipple. I'm not leaking any at the moment, so waiting till 37 weeks to give it a proper go.

Glad to hear no sign of infections...!

@birdbybird I've been leaking for ages! Only small amounts mind. Yep any signs of infection and I have to go in and I assume then it's game on, so keeping everything crossed that I can hold out to Thursday by which time I am hoping to feel a bit more prepared!

@Weathergirl1 not long to go now for you?

How is everyone else doing?

We have our 36 week midwife appointment on Friday and last antenatal class next week. Was feeling really fed up yesterday, but feel a bit better today. Am keeping up with the exercise routine for now.

@birdbybird yep - last night tonight! Off in tomorrow morning - DH is cooking me a lovely friend breakfast to try and fill me up before i'm not allowed to eat anything else (really not looking forward to no food...). Will update from the other side!

Glad you're keeping going with exercise - I've been inactive since I've had the dribbling waters and it's not helped my mood at all (or my hip discomfort).

@Weathergirl1 All the best for today!