Due May 2020 (thread 6)

[sao81]

6th thread already 😬😬😬 not long now

I had two friends drop off a baby bouncer and a Moses basket today (at the door). I got other half to antibacterial down what he could on them and they have now been put in the spare room for a few days before I touch them. Am I being too over the top?

@Raindancer411 you can never be too safe! I'd do the same ☺️
@Lifesforlivingandloving thanks for asking - please let me know. I haven't decided yet - no ones asked me about a birth plan but I think I'd prefer a birth centre.
What have you opted for?

@Layladylay234 I’m having a c-section. Not sure if it’s classed as elective though as I’ve been told by my consultant that I have to have the section. Find out more info on my appointment next week so fingers crossed they don’t try and bring it forward! Are you concerned that yours might be cancelled?

@Raindancer411 I'd of probably done that even before the corona 😂😂 you can never be too safe.

@layladylay234 baby is currently transverse so if he doesnt shuffle himself around I may have no choice!

@123Pandy I'm under the birth centre - it's wonderful there
But unsure if I'll be able to stay under them as baby is measuring small so it there is potential for issues I won't be able to have baby there and will have to give birth on labour ward if he/ she doesn't catch up on growth
It is what it is I guess...., just want baby to be safe and healthy
But I did have my heart set on birth centre x

@sao81 how old are your kids?

@Layladylay234 i'm having an elective c section- already booked a date. what did you want to know? i think it's the best option so i'm just praying that baby won't be naughty and decide to come early- with all the current stress i'm not sure it will listen to me 🤨

Is anyone opting for a home birth if possible?

I have been advised one anyway as my first baby came out very quick (2 and a half hours from waking up her being out). At first I said I would rather go to the midwife led centre but with this outbreak everything just points to having the baby at home.

I am very worried about the state of the hospital in May. If were two weeks behind Italy...they haven't peaked yet. It definitely won't be quiet by then.

I also don't have anyone who isn't elderly or vulnerable to watch my three year old if I wanted to try and get to hospital so I would have to go alone and husband stays at home which sucks a lot as well. Is anyone in the same boat? Any creative solutions to this? What if we're in a more serious lockdown by then where it isn't just the elderly and vulnerable 😫

@facevalue my little girl is 2, so she has no idea at all shes in her own little bubble! And then the baby won't have a clue when he is here which I'm glad about too

happy mother's days mummies and mummies to be

take the day off stress and worry

i am going to watch a movie and eat chocolates

love

me x

So I've managed to get some size 1 nappies and some premade formula ready for my hospital bag. I've in no way bulk bought, just for what I need! I don't plan on formula feeding but with my first the hospital provided formula to top up breast feeding whilst your milk came but apparently they don't do this anymore!
There's a case of covid 19 in the village we live in and it's a parent of a child who goes to the local school. I'm starting to really worry about it all now. I feel like lock down will probably come in around our due dates 😩 my little boy coughs all the time anyway, but every time he coughs I now freak out!

But on a more positive note happy Mother's Day to all! I know it's a strange one this year but hopefully this time next year all of this will be over and we'll be celebrating it with our babies!

Btw my midwife told me to refer myself to minds matters to discuss the anxiety my ex has caused me and they called me today and they were amazing! I'm being referred to a therapist to get some help with coping strategies and I'm so excited! I feel my mental health is quite good and I'm really aware of anxiety when it slips on and out of my life.... but I'm so excited to get some advice on how to improve it and be happier :)

Hi facevalue and Rebecca612 thanks for your replies. I'm 30 weeks and had asked to have an elective after a traumatic birth 10 years ago. To make matters more complicated,I had planned to have it at a trust 30 miles from mine as they did something called a gentle c section. I had an appointment there at 24 weeks and they gave me the chance of go away and think about whether I wanted a VBAC or C section.
Obviously things have progressed since then quite rapidly and my next appt which is meant to be my booking in date is not for another 4 weeks.

I'm really concerned that as I don't have a date and they mentioned last time that I could have a vaginal birth,they're going to refuse me or tell me it's just not possible for staffing reasons. The trust (Nottingham University) already put up new guidance on how the dates for C sections may move or we may have to give birth at either of their 2 hospitals. So I'm wondering if the announcement might come that electives are cancelled unless for medical reasons.

I'll be honest,I'm absolutely terrified. My last labour was mentally scarring,part of the reason why I waited 10 years to have another. And then even when we found out,it wasn't planned and I seriously considered not continuing with the pregnancy because I'm so terrified of giving birth.

To top of off,last Monday I was told I had gestational diabetes by my midwife,then sent on my merry way without any further info. Luckily I have a group session about this on Tuesday so will find out more. But we went for a private scan that evening and at 29 weeks,she was measuring 3lbs 10....which seems massive after googling it!

I'm trying to stay calm but the thought of having a vaginal birth is really pushing me over the edge. And I just don't know who to turn to.

Also,and please don't let this panic you like it did me,yesterday a woman on a gestational diabetes Facebook group said she had been told by her midwife that her trust in Essex had told her electives were not being booked anymore. And today,another woman from the Republic of Ireland said the same thing. My partner has tried to calm me down saying it's not MY trust and that I don't even know whether they're telling the truth,but things are so up on the air and changing daily,I think anything is possible.

@Layladylay234 I'm having a c section and I posed this very question to the midwife at the hospital on Friday, I was told (and I have read) there has been no change to the treatment of c sections as a result of the virus.

I requested a c section at my booking appointment due to several reasons. However, I have since been diagnosed with gd (at 18 weeks) and my baby is measuring off the scale >99th% for head, tummy and leg. I have severe anxiety regarding the birth so my consultant has said that a c section 'seems to be a sensible option' given the circumstances.

I am aware that things might be a little different now and I'm preparing myself for the day to change at short notice (although not that much as they've said I should have it at 37/38 weeks) and to just be more flexible about it. Every trust is different so I'd say get on the phone to your midwife and discuss it directly with them.

It's such a worry at the moment as things are changing daily, I've seen some posts on here that worry me but you just need to talk directly with your midwife/consultant to get your answer x

Hi all,

Just wondering if your partners are still working? I’m self isolating as much as possible and only going out to walk the dog (with no one around) but just curious if any of your partners are still going to work? My husband is self employed so can’t work from home but is taking all of the necessary precautions - such a strange and worrying time at the moment :( can’t wait for normality again xx

@Reds2007 yes I'm exactly the same as you. My husband is a self employed builder and we need his income. So until lock down, he is getting in as much work as he possibly can to help us stay afloat. Taking all the precautions obviously.

If they were doing more for the self employed he wouldn't be forced to go out!

ffs i absolutely shat myself now !

i'm not gonna be having a vaginal birth - we will remortgage the bloody house and have it privately or something.

😭😭😭😭

now i'm stressed @Layladylay234 @mintbear

@mrsf1204 it’s such a tough time! Someone suggested my husband moved out until the peak is over and the thought Of it just brings me to tears (hormones are very high this weekend). Fingers crossed they bring something out for self employed soon! X

www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/2020-03-21-covid19-pregnancy-guidance-2118.pdf

Read 4.7.5 regarding elective c sections,
I don't think there is any need to be worried. @facevalue @Layladylay234

@Layladylay234 @facevalue My local maternity service has posted an update online tonight specifically about c-section rumours circulating. They said that there aren’t any staffing issues for planned c-sections and all sections are going ahead as planned. They said if anything changes that we’ll be contacted individually but that the likelihood of that happening is very small and to please not read what people are posting on FB. I know this is specifically my local hospital but I’d like to think that it applies to maternity units across the UK. I’m nearly 31 weeks and have to have my section before 37 weeks so not long for me and I completely understand the anxiety.

I thought that I’d be contacted if anything is cancelled and the post has confirmed it so I’m hoping that’s the same for you as well.

It’s such an anxious time for us all but try to take any reassurance where you can - my friend had her baby this week and said although visiting hours are stricter and all NHS staff are on high alert looking out for symptoms of the dreaded covid everything was fine and went to plan (as much as any birth can go to plan!)

@facevalue I'm so sorry,this was not my intention. Rest assured you are not alone in your fears,I had a full on breakdown yesterday when I got it in my head that I would have to have a vaginal birth. Took me ages to calm down.

I fully intend on calling my hospital tomorrow to let them know about my GD diagnosis and will be asking them straight whether they are still doing electives. I then have an appt at my LOCAL trust with a consultant (not the one I'm due to give birth at) and fully intend on asking them as well. So hopefully by Tues,I'll have answers from two different trusts which I can share with you that will hopefully reassure me. Just remember to breathe xx

Thanks Rebecca612 would you mind sharing which trust this is.

It doesn't help me that my trust haven't answered my specific question about C sections after they posted their updated policies yesterday!

Good to know that c-sections haven't been affected and will still go ahead...I don't think any of us need any more stress right now!

On a separate note...has anyone noticed the return of nausea symptoms?

Mine is in South Wales and they’ve had one corona death in my local hospital so they’re taking things very seriously. I’ve got the benefit that my midwives seems to be communicating a lot with us whereas it sounds like you’ve been left in the dark a lot. Especially with the GD diagnosis, I would have thought they would have given you tonnes of advice and dietary guidelines etc.

You’re doing the right thing by calling them in the morning, make sure you tell them how much this is affecting you mentally as well as the midwives and maternity teams will want to make sure you’re well physically and mentally xxx

@123Pandy yes but literally only in the last hour! Got out of the shower and kept gagging ergh! I’ve been hit by the tired stick again as well, after a broken 9 hour sleep last night I had to have a nap today at 2!

@Rebecca612 snap!! I've been napping like a cat for past week. Glad I'm not alone ☺️