September babies thread #6 - half way!

[easterbuns1]

New thread!

Average weight of a newborn last year was apparently 7lb 7oz

At the risk of sounding dumb, once your baby is born and you go home, how do you know how much they weigh? Do you just try different size clothes and see what fits best?

@Hsunshine
I think they get weighed a few times once home by MW and HV to start with. I think our surgery has weigh in clinics or something.
But yeah, I reckon trial and error!
And cloth bums often need a bigger size.

Baby is weighed once born hsunshine also measured for length and head circumference. They are then remeasured and weighed at set points by mws who visit after birth

Thanks all for the info on travel systems on previous thread.

I've been fine with the heat. Actuslly I sat out for too long yesterday and got burnt so I was too hot at night because I felt like a lobster. Whoops. Feel better today

I was fine in the heat too Whisky, could definitely get on board with more of it.

Thank you for baby sizing info

Yeh, wish I was off all the time and it was sunny all the time! I was out gardening and walking. Life is so much better in the sun!

@Megan2018 Up until recently I worked in delivery suite theatres. Still would be if the hours had been better. Anyway..... I can't remember any patient coming through who voiced that they thought they would wind up there. Plenty who had detailed well thought out birth plans that contained nothing about what actually happened, but none of the former. Therefore, I have come to believe that all the pessimists wind up having perfectly fine natural births with no tears or retained placentas. XD

My own birth plan so far is to go to said delivery suite and just wing it from there. I have zero interest in a home birth, and even less in the other midwife led units in the area. My trust doesn't offer elective sections unless it's for medical reasons, but then I don't really want one of those either. The midwife led unit attached to the hospital itself is a maybe, but late September it's usually closed due to staffing issues as it's super busy around that time. As well, my mum had 2 natural births, 2 forcep deliveries and one emergency section, while my sister was induced at 42 weeks, but delivered naturally. So I have family history of it all just about, so I want to be in the best place for if/when it all goes tits up.

@knobjockey thanks! That one is lovely and DD is obsessed with turtles so quite fitting.

Jo Jo is too expensive for my taste too. See also: frugi, Boden, joules!

@Dyra
You can insist on ELCS anywhere, NICE guidelines say so. You just have to be a pushy person and see several people to convince them you aren’t mad. They have to refer you on to someone who will do it eventually. I’m just not sure if I want the fight.
I am hoping for a medical reason though!

As I am old I am consultant led anyway, so full on labour ward is my only option and without doubt I want an epidural and all the drugs going.
Gas and air does nothing for me, I have had it a lot before. It’s rubbish and I hate the idea of being in water. It’s my nightmare. So a birthing pool is out. Yuck!

Not all trusts do the length and head circumference @DECAF. Mine definitely doesn't do either at birth. They might do all that at later checks (truth be told, I know nothing about those) but initial obs, a visual check over and a weigh in is what our midwives do, and then you get your baby back.

Oh really dyra? I thought that was pretty standard!

I'm not making a birthing plan. I think it's a set up to feel disappointed.

Mine didn't record length either. Not sure if they did head circumference... my notes have two different times for birth in them too
My MW practically forced me to do a birth plan. I found it really helpful tbh. I got a taste of the MW lead unit, labour ward and theatre during DS1's birth. Having some basic info they could repeat back to me really made me feel like I hadn't totally lost control of the situation.

@whisky2014 I totally get that, most of my friends told me it was nonsense. But I got really anxious at being told all the things that would be done TO me and had a very, very detailed plan that set out what I wanted to happen in different scenarios.

I had an incredible midwife who read it and chatted to me about it, then made sure I got nearly everything I wanted. From having the cannula covered up (they freak me out) to DH telling me the sex. It also made sure that DH knew what I wanted to happen when things did get tricky and he advocated for me.

I know I was very lucky and lots of people aren't, but just wanted to say that if certain things are important to you, it's worth raising.

@Ivegotthedecaf They didn't measure DS's length at birth here either. The MW told me it's because it can be dangerous to stretch their legs out so early on, when they're still so curled up at the hips. They did take it after a few weeks, however.

@Twittlebee The good thing about arranging a home birth is that you've got clearance for it, but you can decide at any time (including during labour) if you want to go to the labour ward or birthing centre. We're a five minute drive from the hospital/birthing centre which gives a bit more reassurance. Maybe you could convince your DH it would be better to be prepared for a home birth in case of a fast delivery Also, apparently it's frequently the most experienced midwives who are on the home birth teams. I had a TENS machine last time and found the pads during labour a complete faff so I doubt I'll even pull it out again! I would like to have a birthing pool as I laboured in water for a long time last time. I don't think it's until about 30 weeks that the MW actually comes to the house to talk it all through!

@KLane I'm pleased to read why length isnt taken - MIL took me not knowing DDs length as the first affront of many things she later got pissy about (recently accused me of taking 7 weeks to name DD, it was about 10 days, but clear evidence I'm neglectful obviously). We roughly did it a week later and knocked off 2 cm!

@stroan

Hema have loads of awesome colourful clothes

@bbell2 She sounds an absolute delight 🙈 Now you’ve got a solid comeback when she asks this baby’s length after the birth!

Is the not measuring length a newer thing? Or just dependent on area? All of my four were measured in length at birth (aged between 2 and a half, and 11 years)

@bbell2 how unreasonable of you....

DD wasn't measured at birth, she's 3.5.

Having the day from hell, DD was an absolute horror this morning. Huge tantrum over getting in the car, 20 minutes to get her in her seat while my judgy neighbour was curtain twitching. she was so late getting to nursery that I wouldn't have made it to work on time for a call, so I'm now working from home.

Popped into Asda and someone asked me when I'm due. I lied and said August (I knew what was coming...), she sucked in her breath, shook her head and said "oh dear".

So today can just do one.

stroan

My dd has also been a horror this morning. She is 6. She has been tormenting the life out of dc4 (2.5)

I have had awful toothache but am now able to eat thanks to paracetamol

21 weeks tomorrow. I feel like my bump growth has slowed abit although still very visible. Had lots of shooting pains down below yesterday. Nice.

Had my 20 week scan yesterday, all looking good. Although got myself in a bit of a panic when I looked at the measurements and saw the head circumference is at the low end of average and the belly circumference at the higher end. Convinced myself I’ve got gestational diabetes and have harmed my baby by eating too much sugar and crap. I have no medical training and my consultant didn’t say anything of the sort but my mean inner voice took over. 🙄 Anyone getting bloods and urine tested at this stage or is it just later? Also anyone else feeling fat and enormous and anxious and wanting to eat their feelings? Aaarrrgh! x

@ivegotthedecaf solidarity with awful DDs! I have no idea what's going on with mine, there just seem to be so many flashpoints where she kicks off and we can't get her to listen. So infuriating.

Sorry to hear about the toothache. It's the worst.

@firstbabybean the inner voice is awful. But the measurements aren't necessarily accurate or mean anything at this stage anyway, try not to worry.

I do have GD and it isn't caused by eating crap. Obviously, if you have it you need.to watch what you eat but you definitely haven't harmed your baby.