Late July Due Date #2

[amysara24]

Hi everyone, I thought we were close to filling our first thread so have made another one for when we need it! 💗

@HairsprayBabe aww a wedding night baby - or at least close enough to make it a nice story!! I’m glad everything went well on Saturday, when will you know if it’s all gone to plan and brought your levels up enough?
@LucyLucyT you might be - that’ll be no time wearing round! Hopefully everything goes smoothly, fingers crossed if it isn’t a quick starting labour that your partner will be able to relax a bit on the drive - though saying that I don’t think it’ll be a relaxing trip for anyone no matter how experienced a driver!
How are the restrictions looking for everyone at the minute with partners being in? Last I heard DH is still only allowed in for “active labour” and then gets kicked out again. We’re only 5-10mins from the hospital so it isn’t too bad (as he can go home, let the dogs out, phone family etc and still come collect me when needed) but I imagine it would be more difficult being farther away?
Spent the weekend washing all the baby clothes / blankets / bedding and getting it sorted, still haven’t packed my bags but I’ll do it this week, promise! 😆

@HairsprayBabe wedding baby is certainly a lovely story 😍!
@LucyLucyT I think you are right and must be one of the furthest along, literally only a couple of weeks now then for you, how exciting! I was also worrying about hospital run and parking etc. But I have my 36 week growth scan later today so will a. Find out if baby is still breech (pretty certain she is) b. Work out a delivery plan with consultant.
I have heard horror stories regarding the ECV procedure so I think I am more inclined to book the c section. If that’s the case at least we can plan properly (assuming she doesn’t decide to come early) Does anyone have experience on breech babies?

I never felt mine turn, head up at 31 weeks and then head down at 34 so it could be possible she has turned?

ECV is painful and has a 58% chance if success - I don't know what the other risks are though. I think I would be willing to give it a go because I want to avoid a C-section recovery. It's so so personal though!

Yes wedding night babe - bit of a surprise too I blame too much wine, a forgetful nature and traveling - we were planning on starting to try about now anyway so we are just a bit ahead of schedule!

@missdrifter: my baby was breech at 32 weeks. I had a look at the spinningbabies website and did forward leaning inversions with the
help of my partner. A couple of days later it was head down.

Does anyone else have lots of tailbone pain?

Just had my scan and baby is still breech. They have booked me in for an ECV next week but I can change my mind if I want. They told me it has a 30% success rate so I am not optimistic.

@Fiona1987 I am pleased your baby has moved head down, I have been trying the techniques shown on spinning babies but nothing seems to be working for me unfortunately. Can’t say I have had any tailbone pain to be honest but I have heard it to be a thing during pregnancy. X

Can I please join?!

I’m experiencing joyous pregnancy insomnia and found y’all. 😄

Due date is the 19th July, no2, my other child is 3.5. I had my 36 week appointment on Monday, apparently head down but not engaged, I’ve been doing this inversion thingees off the couch to make some space!
I asked about sweeps but not allowed until 40 weeks!

@Fiona1987, yes I’ve got terrible pain in my coccyx, massage helps as does sitting in your side, not straight on your tail bone!

@Missdrifter my friend has just had one, which worked! You can have gas and air I think so ask for it, I’ve heard it can sometimes be unpleasant.

@Missdrifter
www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/gt20aexternalcephalicversion.pdf

I have done some research that no one asked me to do, but I have a sciencey brain and I cant help myself!

From what I have read the risks of an emergency C-section and other major complications are low 0.05% according to the Royal College of ObGyns. Also only 5% of women report high pain scores, so uncomfortable but not intolerable for most.

This is all caveated by having a "normal" pregnancy, risks are higher if you have had previous C-sections, recent bleeding, small gestational age baby, and unstable lie as well as some other issues.

Success rates vary across trusts from 30-80% with an average success rate of around 60% depending on expertise of practitioner and maternal physiology. The biggest factor in success rate seems to be level of amniotic fluid, higher levels of fluid means baby is easier to flip, but there is a higher likelihood of baby flipping back - so could be worth asking how high your liquor pool is.

@harryno Hello! Welcome! That's a lovely age gap - do you know what you are having?

When is everyone starting maternity leave? I have two weeks left, then two weeks of annual leave - then baby? hopefully on time as I will be annoyed at "wasting" maternity leave before they arrive.

Also my mother is holding a "stork party" - socially distanced of course - on the 11th. I figure once the pubs are open all bets are off really so I gave in! Will be very small, just some cakes and tea in her garden with both my grandmas, aunt, mum and sister.

Welcome @Harryno 😀.

Thanks so much @HairsprayBabe that’s really useful. I had a look at my fluid level and it says normal 50th-95th percentile. Not exactly sure what that means though. I am starting my maternity leave on the 17th although I am furloughed atm so won’t make much difference to me 🤷🏻‍♀️

My normal job couldn't be done so I got redeployed into another part of the organisation, I finished up all the work that I had been moved to earlier this week so rang my boss to see what she wants me to do and I have just been told to "keep busy" for the next fortnight 🤷

I think I will put together some handover docs for the previous project I was working on and then I don't know how I will fill my time!

I’m technically not taking any mat leave.. I’m a teacher so term finishes on Friday, and I’ve agreed to work from home in August to help with blended learning! See how it goes I guess. DH has 3 weeks left until his I think, he’s taking some AL before paternity.
I’ve not had pain in my tailbone, but do find that at night my hips get achey- I’m not used to sleeping on my side I’m normally a tummy sleeper!
@Missdrifter I hope it all goes ok next week - I don’t have any experience to share re breach babies except that I was born breach and my cousins little one was breach and turned to be head down when she was in theatre about to have a section!
I’ve got my scan on Monday, and have been trying to remember any questions I think of between now and then. I have a terrible habit of wanting to ask for weeks, then when I get there I completely forget what I wanted to know!

Hi, can I join please?

I'm due number 2 on 18th July and already getting really impatient wanting to meet them. DS is 20 months and I was induced with him at 38+3 due to GDM and his growth starting to dip centiles. No GDM this pregnancy so hoping to go naturally this time (all being well).

Had a MW appointment this week and it's still partners for established labour only here, which is understandable but makes things a bit awkward as my husband doesn't drive. I actually drove myself to the hospital for induction last time and us home from the hospital (ridiculously painful and will NOT be repeating that). My dad was our plan for getting to/from hospital this time as he only lives 5 minutes away but has now taken an eye problem and can't drive so have no idea how that's going to work! I don't even know if taxi services are running as normal at the minute, does anyone know?

Hi @joannew4 welcome! Sorry to hear about your dads eye! Depending where you are, some hospitals will help organise transport home - where I’m at they have a contact number for if you need help getting to / from hospital. Failing that I think some taxis are running too (and you’d just need to follow rules re masks etc).
I think it’s the same here at the minute, partner in for established labour only! Can I be nosey and ask about your first - I’ve got another scan on Monday for that reason, baby dropped from 95th to 50th centile in a few weeks and they’ve not said much about it except I may be induced early. Was everything ok with your DS / is it fairly common? Sorry to be a pest!

@amysara24 Of course, he'd dipped from 50th to 25th centile on the scan but was then born a respectable 8lb, which coincidentally was bang on 50th centile for his gestation and had no problems after delivery so his last scan wasn't the mist accurate for his weight, they weren't terribly excited about the drop at the time but they'd already said they'd induce me before 40 weeks because of the GDM anyway so it just gave another reason to do it then. Was your drop from fundal height or on a growth scan? They usually watch and see what it does at the next appointment before deciding a plan because there is that element of user error in measuring.

@joannew4 thank you for that! It was between 2 growth scans (fundal height was 95th centile on the Friday then scan showed 50th on the Monday so I’m not sure how much to trust FH!). They’ve said if it’s dipped any more on Monday they’ll look into inducing but they didn’t really give me any more info, so I googled and of course you get all the worst case scenarios!
At my last MW appointment she discussed inducing me early because it looked like baby was big, then the script changed to possibly inducing me early as growth had slowed / stopped (between Friday and Monday...) and I’ve just been so confused since not really knowing what’s what 😂
How’s everyone managing in the heat at the minute? We got a tower fan a while back and I’m basically moving it from room to room with me all day, and have it blasting all night!

@amysara24 honestly I think they just love inducing! It makes their workforce planning easier so unless they can convince me there is a pressing medical need I won't be accepting one. They have already mentioned it twice with me as well for similar reasons but every time baby goes on the trace monitor they have a perfect read so they can get knotted as far as I am concerned induction carries more risks than waiting it out as long as babe is monitoring fine.

I am boiling to death I had DH run an ice cube over my back last night and it was pure bliss then he put it down the back of my knickers as a joke that I didn't enjoy as much! haha

Neither of us drive, so we were asking my dad to drive us as well, problem is my family are super intense and so keen and excited about the whole baby situation that I don't really want to tell them until they have arrived. So we may end up getting an Uber there and then a lift from my dad home...

@HairsprayBabe that’s actually very reassuring and it makes sense! There haven’t been any concerns with traces here either, so you could well have hit the nail on the head! If I can remember to ask, hopefully they’ll clarify more on Monday, but you’ve settled my head a bit with that explanation.
I’m considering running a cold bath just now but I’m not sure if that’s too dramatic! Haha. Maybe a cool foot bath would be enough..
I’m fairly confident most taxis are still running some sort of service, so hopefully you’ll be able to get there that way! One of the few benefits to having no family in the country, even if they wanted to be intense or overbearing they can’t be 😂

How is everyone doing?
I'm just trying to sort some music ready for labour, but realising a lot of my music is not all that relaxing, I'm just adding a Grime album to my iPod!
To be honest I tend to use YouTube to listen to music a lot of the time so the iPod is more of a backup if the hospital WiFi is not working well.

Has anyone found the visiting restrictions have changed at their hospital yet? A trust nearby has changed to allow one visitor to wards (including postnatal) a day which is booked in. No changes at my Trust as yet, I'm just worrying about having to be induced and go through early labour without my partner there. Really hoping sweeps next week get things going before induction is booked for two weeks today.

I've been trying to practice some hypnobirthing techniques, bought some second hand CDs for Natal hypnotherapy by Maggie Howell but not sure I'm really getting on with them, I'm not the best at relaxing and switching off I have to admit! Plus it suggests you listen to it every day at this point and it's nearly an hour long each time and I don't have the patience!

Perineal massage has gone out the window, I can't reach, feel it's probably a bit late in the day now.

One thing I am doing fairly well is pelvic floor exercises at least!

Wow LucyLucy, you sound super organised!
I didn’t have music in my first labour, in fact I think I told everyone to be quiet so I could concentrate on my contractions! :)

I never did/have done anything formally like a hypobirth course etc, I too would struggle with a whole hour!

I’m just rereading a few books one is called ‘birth with confidence’. Which I think I recall (3 years ago when I did this) being good. I had a great birth last time, fingers crossed for another - although with my 3 year old I don’t feel I’ve had the time or headspace to think about it!

Re changes, nothing has changed at my hospital, no visitors. I had to stay in for a week last time (in 2017) on the postnatal ward and it was HELL with ladies with large families there all the time, & men who seemed to peer into my cubicle as I tried to learn to breastfeed (and had shredded nips that bleed like a stigmata 😂) So I don’t mind the non visitor thing.

• As long as I don’t end up having a c section, I can see how that would be incredibly tough on your own.

Count down is on, I’m not allowed a sweep till 40 weeks so roll on 21 June!

Had my 36 week appointment yesterday - mad considering I'm 37 weeks now.

It was crap, and I am really annoyed - I always check the NHS website before my appts. so I know what to expect and what if any questions to be thinking about.

36weeks midwife is supposed to talk to you about PND, breastfeeding, C-section risks, instrumental delivery risks, birth plan etc. As well as baby care advice, SIDS info, vaccine info, vit K injection.

She measured my bump, took my BP, tested my wee and sent me on my way. She booked me in for my 39 week appointment and joked that I might not even attend it if I have already had my baby by then.

I feel like I am reasonably informed person I do my own research etc. but I wanted to go through things with a professional. There wasn't even a chance to ask questions.

I cried when I got home, I feel like I have missed out on so much with this pregnancy and the NHS has not done any work in supporting me other than the bare minimum. I don't know how to do anything I don't know who to contact if I need help, I am just really disappointed and fed up.

Oh I’m so sorry @HairsprayBabe, I do wonder if they have a checklist? Surely they need to discuss Vitamin K and there is another one I think, prior to birth, as your not exactly all there during/shortly after labour.

I felt the same at my appointment, but this is my second... so somewhat aware.

I asked what about my birth plan at my last appt, (as our hospital is totally digital now - you don’t have any physical notes), she just told me to print one off the NHS website and bring it in.

If I hadn’t asked I do wonder if she would have told me...

If you can find your midwife number can I suggest you give them a call (write your own list to to knows prior to calling!) and maybe ask to speak with someone and go through everything. - they are not just there for problems they are there to inform you too.

• or ask any Qs here too, love to help. 💐

• if you google your hospital there will be a midwife dedicated line through there!

@hairspraybabe I'm sorry you had such a disappointing appointment. Mine have been similar so spending my time researching as much as I can.

I'm also unsure if/when we get checked to see if we're dilating. I have some friends in the US who were asking how dilated I was as it's normal over there to check at appointments in the 3rd trimester.

I'd agree with the other replies, give your midwife a call or go into your next appointment with a checklist so you can get what you need from it. I know you shouldn't have to but right now you're the only one missing out!

I kicked up a bit of a fuss and emailed the hospital outlining my concerns and things that have been missed at my appointments etc. I was really polite I know it's a pressured time for them at the moment, but I think they could tell how stressed I was so the head consultant midwife has booked me in for an appointment on Monday to go over everything I want to talk about.

I feel like a bit of a brat really but I have read loads about the stats on our local hospital and I have some real concerns - in the last six months most women gave birth there flat on their back in styrups and the MLU is pretty big with an average of 80% room occupancy but only accounts for 40 out of every 450 births 🤷 the other option is a much smaller hospital a bit further away BUT they have less facilities and a really high CV19 rate at the moment so I don't want to go there if possible!

My worry is women are being pushed into birth options that haven't been fully explained to them and that consent and decision making is being taken out of the hands of the women in labour by HCP who just want to get on with things, and are focused on positive birth outcomes rather than a positive birth experience for the mother.

Anyway consultant midwife seemed lovely on the phone so I am looking forwards to the meeting.

@HairsprayBabe how did your appt with th consultant midwife go today? Hope you are feeling more reassured now.
I haven't done a birth plan with my community midwife but discussed it with him last week, as I had already done one from the online antenatal classes I have been doing.

I'm head to see mine tmrw afternoon hoping that he is able to do a sweep but have a feeling the shop is still shut! If so, I'll be seen again on Friday. Getting a bit real now!