September 2019 #11

[Stroan]

We're really racking up the threads!

kyles i am short as! About 5ft.

Ive not had growth scans yet this pregnancy, on the bump measuring i was over and moving higher and higher from the 95th. Then last week i was on the 95th. If i go under 95th now i get a scan.

God, they want all these babies to be perfect little graph line plotters don't they. What's weird I think is that in my head I sort of think I'd know about it if the baby was feeling too big for my body? But it genuinely doesn't, I'm pretty comfortable most of the time, bar some really early discomfort around 12 weeks or so. Turning over in the night has only just become mildly inconvenient, I don't have feet in my ribs or anything... maybe I just have a really considerate large baby?

@Megan2018 mines on the 19th now at 37 + 2 - we may end up both being that following week then. I did really want to try to hang on for September for the new school year but I guess that just ain't likely.

DD was predicted to be less than 8lbs. She was 10lbs 3. I can't take growth scans seriously at all and I get quite grumpy when they are used to make important decisions about my body.

Don't let that scare you though, everyone I know had their baby over estimated with growth scans. My baby was the anomoly!

This one was apparently 6lbs at my 33 week growth scan. He's definitely big, but who knows what size he really is.

Suddenly having a day of feeling totally not ready for this baby. Physically or mentally. I can't get my head round bringing an actual human being home from hospital and having to balance his needs Vs DDs. I just want to scoop her up and cuddle her all day long because we're about to drop a bomb in her happy little life. And I've never been away from her overnight so the hospital stay is worrying me. (She won't care but I will!)

@kyles101 I’ve been threatened with something called metaformin or insulin but they intend to review tomorrow. Since wed I'm 37 weeks I’m half thinking why not just induce rather than medication? Since they intend to induce around 38 weeks anyway!

There can still be some benefits to getting.blood sugar levels under control even just a few days before birth for the benefit of the baby. GD babies can be quite poorly, I suspect DD was badly affected mostly because of my 3 days on hospital sending my blood sugars all over the place.

That said, it can take ages to figure out the right dose of insulin and Metformin anyway...

@kyles101 my scan last week at 35+1 baby was estimated at 7.5lbs. Head is also measuring off the chart. Hence my confusion over wether to go VBAC or c section. Consultant said if we get to 40 weeks it could be a 10lber. But to take it with a pinch of salt, growth scans can be up to 25% out. Kind of makes you wonder what the point of them is really in some cases!

@Karigan195 they told me that metformin wasn't shown to be effective after 35 weeks so that was why I would have to go straight to insulin if that was the route to take.

Ah @Stroan I can imagine you must be feeling so many emotions with having your dd at home already. If I think about my own brothers and sister though they're such a joy and a comfort, I'm glad I have them all 😍 I was about 7 I think when my sister arrived and 8 my brother and only have brilliant memories of them being babies and growing up together. My big bro would probably tell you I ruined his life when I came along though - but he was a moody teen at that point!

And for those of you with GD are you looking into harvesting colostrum? I asked my mw about harvesting breast milk because mine leak pretty badly some days anyway. She said we could re-look at it at my appointment this week, but mentioned that it has real benefits for babies/mums with GD in stabilising the baby's blood sugars? Don't know how true that is though.

@Florencenotflo will they let you go to 40w? I just don't know what to do at the minute, basically I just nodded along today and just kept saying well we'll decide at my next appointment when dh is with me. I'm so confused!

@Florencenotflo yes to the harvesting- need to ask for some syringes at my next appointment actually. Not sure how I'll get on with it though - I've had no leakages yet... they feel a bit clammy or sticky sometimes though - sorry tmi!!

I'm not sure how accurate the growth scans are either. I just don't understand how my 2 can be about the same sizes as all the singletons on here! I'm told all the time that I don't look absolutely huge, or alot or people are surprised when I say it's twins, so how can they fit in there?! My next scans not til 21st when I'll be 36+5, which is roughly when I'd like my elcs anyway!

@florencenotflo I've started already, just to try to build up. Couple of days early, but whatever! It's hard going just now, why do your boobs never leak when you want them to?!

I really hope i can go home same day as baby is born as i have the last three times. My dd is already fretting about me having to stay in

I'll still be having consultant appointments and if necessary another growth scan if nothing has happened by 40weeks. My consultant wasn't concerned that baby's size was a reason for a c section, but said they have no way of knowing if the size could cause issues or a need for intervention. I suppose they can't say that for any birth.

To be honest the way I'm feeling today I'm so tempted to just ask my midwife on Wednesday how I go about scheduling an elective.

@ivegotthedecaf your births sound straightforward so fingers crossed.

I'm definitely in for at least two nights. Maybe 3 before hand if I need steroids. I will miss DD so much.

@kyles101 I was 6&8 when my siblings were born so definitely understood. To be honest, I'd rather have had a puppy! My sister was 2 when my brother arrived and she's been a nightmare ever since. 27 years...

How come you're in for 2 nights min @Stroan ? Ha ha, to be fair I think my little sis had middle child syndrome for a while... she was a week shy of 1 when little brother came along!!

If I've not had any leakage yet do you think that means I'll struggle to bf?

Cramping again!

My worst age gap is 5 years between dc1+3. They are awful together.

People who’ve already had a baby, if you want a chair for their room for feeding/whatever, have you got a specific nursery chair or is any kind of chair good enough?

@Stroan. Hope you’re ok!

Any armchair is fine. Tbh never fed my first in their room. Either in my bed or on the sofa...

@kyles101 no! It's absolutely no reflection at all. There's only a teeny tiny proportion of people who don't produce milk anyway, although there a million reasons why it's hard!

@karigan195 oh I'm not in just now, just meant I know I have to be in for 2 days after delivery. Mix of C-section recovery and GD I think.

@Florencenotflo I am starting tomorrow -
I'm 35 weeks with GD and have been advised to by midwife!

@Hsunshine we didn't have one for dd, her room was too small, but I was adamant I wanted one this time. But I've not bothered! We managed without for Dd and thought it's another expense and we'd need to find a home for it once we'd finished with night feeds. Fingers crossed I'll be breastfeeding this time and hopefully I can master feeding laying down!

Id say though from the looking I did do, that any chair would be fine, maybe get a foot stall or beanbag for your feet though. And something with padded arms?

@Hsunshine we splurged on an eye wateringly expensive rocking armchair from Olli Ella last time (Ro-ki rocker) and paired it with a chunky knit poof from loaf. I wanted something stylish that didn't look like a nursery chair, but the price tag is mad I appreciate. It is v comfy though and has been used every day for the last 2+ years -- it was great for breastfeeding and now DD clambers up into it each night for her story. Will happily stick it in a spare room when the kids are bigger. It's made of a faux suede that is pretty hardy to spillages/sick.

But I totally agree with others that any of armchair is fine - a rocking function is also nice