Due June 2020: thread 6

[AndddddHerewegoagain]

Hi everyone. Hope you don't mind me setting up the new thread didn't want to run out of space on the other one!

For those who know they are having a C section or have had one before, what are you doing about pants post birth?! How many sizes up should I go? I am normally a size 12. Is anyone getting the specialist C section pants or just big ones?!

@pegase I bought 2 sizes bigger. They pull up over my bump and cover my belly button right now. In my past experience, the bigger the better!

Hey ladies! Something super random came into my mind today and I had a chat with my mum which scared me.
Has anyone here had a super quick delivery or have family members that have?
My mum says all her kids came really quickly (within 3 hours or thereabouts). Same for her mother. I know this is not an exact science, but I am now really worried about accidentally giving birth at home like some people I've heard of.
Anyone know anything about this???

@Missgemini the midwife that ran our NHS antenatal clinics with our first baby said that fast labours often run in families. I would ask your midwife about it. They may advise you to go into hospital sooner than they usually would just in case? There was one lady in the class whose mum had had fast labours and she did have a fairly quick labour but still made it to hospital etc!

I couldn’t get details about my mum’s labours, both her and my dad are sadly no longer with us. I know I was C section because the cord was tangled and my sister was a 5lb preemie, but other than that in the dark!

@pegase I've gone 2 sizes up on cotton high waist and full back. They look almost as big as DH's haha

I'm looking into c section recovery ones for the early days but haven't bought any yet. Thinking of the Cantaloop or JoJo Maman Bebe ones.

@Missgemini I'm not sure about my mums but my sister's second labour was so quick my nephew was out within 30 minutes of getting to the hospital and they didn't have time for any pain relief her first was about the same as mine about 24 hours.

@Missgemini I laboured for 4 1/2 hours with my first, active labour was just 2hr 23min according to my notes! My Mum was the same with me and DB so I'm hoping for a quick and easy one this time too! Fingers crossed. Back in the day the Dads got sent home till birth was imminent and when Mum went in to have my DB the MW had to run out to the car park to stop my Dad going home or he'd miss it!

My waters broke about 7hrs before baby was born but I had no pains so after being advised to come in as I was premature I had a shower, packed my hospital bag and drove myself to hospital (DH didn't have a licence). After being checked and told my cervix was still closed but I'd have to stay because of waters, DH and I went a walk along the high street while the MWs did morning handover and tried to arrange a bed in prenatal for me Came back with some twinges and went up to prenatal, 2 hours later I was fully dilated and pushing in labour ward. I've been advised to go straight to hospital (no showers or shopping!) if waters break or I start having pains. My problem is that it just felt like period pain until I was transitioning and turned into a banshee so I'm a bit nervous that I won't know it's the real deal unless my waters go again. We're about half an hour from hospital so hoping I'd have enough time! Not much I can really do except be ready to go asap so my bags packed already and my Mum is staying off the G&T's incase she gets the call to come and mind DS!

@newbyxx ah okay, sorry, I see! Yeah that sounds totally fine to request a c section after that long, especially to avoid assisted birth and things like that, hopefully they will honour that for you and hopefully you go into labour before hand, good luck xxx

@BabyBird20 yes, the head circumference is worrying me so much, I just have a feeling he would get stuck and it would end up being forceps or something, an episiotomy maybe, I'm really anxious and would just rather a c section at this point, especially now I know he's back to back as well but I'm not sure how to go about it, have you spoken or requested anything to your midwife? Or maybe we have to call delivery suite I have no clue but times getting on! Xxx

@AmyMaria2 that's my fear exactly! Baby's dad had a horrific birth due to his head, hours and hours labour, failed ventouse and failed forceps with an emergency c to get him unstuck!! Im a lot bigger than his mum so 'might be fine' but I've had a few comments on it from various midwives and specialists that I've seen saying ooh it might be an induction or possibly and elcs but I haven't had a chance to discuss with my own midwife or consultant yet so nothing is planned 😬 I have a 36 week growth scan and consultant appt next week so going to go armed with all the research and facts I can to try and be confident in whatever decision we end up making. It's just horrible not knowing when trying to prepare and do birth bags etc!

Thanks ladies re: fast labours. I will have to sit down and discuss it with my midwife at the next appt.
It's all becoming very real now, this whole baby thing!

@babybird20 I can see why you're nervous about the birth. Just make sure you get all your points across at the appt. Make sure you're happy with what they're offering. Ultimately, you need to be comfortable with the plan. You and you alone!
Although, I should add that ELCS is often not advised because it is a surgical operation and ultimately puts you at risk of things like infection in the short term and bowel obstruction in the long term. This is why they try and avoid it as much as possible. But if one is so anxious about a vaginal birth, then they really need to look into it for the mother's sanity.

@Missgemini my mum had me quite fast started contraction 4-5am and I was born 11:30am at home delivered my grandma! 😂 does that mean I'll have a fast one too? ..

35+0 today

@ umabb my obgyn friend says it can run in families, but there is no guarantee.
I'm just going to have my hospital bag by the door from now on and just be ready to dash out of the door for whenever it happens.
Thankfully, my hospital is only a 7 minute uber ride away, so should get there quite quickly.

36+5

@BabyBird20 I understand you 100%. I have a recurrent nightmare of baby getting stuck and distressed. they’ve advised me they would support choice for a section due to babies HC & measurements so I would see what they say . (I did end up in theatre being stitched up with dc1 though )My consultants words were nobody is going to make you push this baby out or tell you that it’s impossible to do so at the same time. I’ve decided to ask to book my section for as close to 40+weeks instead of 39 , if I go into labour before then I’m going to try to labour naturally .its took us 2 years ttc& we had 2 miscarriages last year so I just want baby here safely at the end of the day. Then again I know it’s terrible but part of me may be relieved if baby is still breech as it pretty much takes away the choice 😬

35weeks today!

I'm 36 weeks today and all morning I've felt sharp twinges deep down below that come and go. I've felt some lower back ache and pressure in my bum too but I think baby was pushing on my bowel and I needed to go to the loo. I've been to the loo twice but now I have quite strong period like pain that are more constant than a contraction (I think!) but they are quite painful for a few mins, deep down in my pelvis. I still have lower back ache and a general period pain type ache when the stronger pains aren't there. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm not really sure what it is or why it's happening.

@APD1981 I'm also having period-type pain today, although only 34+3. No cramping/tightening though, but I had lots of Braxton Hicks last night. I'm guessing it's baby's head engaging more, but I don't really know! I didn't get as far as this with DS, so feel like a first-timer with all this stuff.

@APD1981 I had something similar a week ago at just before 36 weeks. Felt all day like I was going to go into labour as lots of pressure, period like pains, back ache and random twinges. I havent had anything since and I think mine were Braxton hicks - they were irregular and did not strengthen in intensity. The sensation was quite mild though - I think if I was getting strong pains like you I would probably call the midwife just to be sure.

@APD1981 i had this just before 36 weeks as well was convinced i was going into labour! My midwife friend told me to take paracetamol as if it was braxton hicks paracetamol will stop them and if its the real deal paracetamol wouldn't do much!!

Well at 38+4 i am definitely still pregnant and desperately trying to get this baby out before 40+2 when the consultant wants to induce

I'm so relieved so many of you have had this around the same time! It's eased off a bit now just sharp twinges low down when baby moves and full back ache and period type ache. Not had a really bad pain again since I posted. I did wonder if it might be baby getting lower and engaging. I'm not sure I've knowingly had Braxton Hicks at all. I find it difficult to tell what things are. Baby is still moving lots (albeit uncomfortably) and I have no blood or strange discharge or anything so I guess it's normal. If the strong pains come back in going to phone triage. Thanks for putting my mind at rest x

@APD1981 probably best to call the midwife triage service.
They are quite experienced and will tell you one way or the other. That way, you're not at home panicking.
Fingers crossed everything settles x

Ahh glad it's settling! Gosh, being preggers is so stressful!

@APD1981 I've been like this the last week. Lots of downward pressure and I constantly feel like I need to do #2! Lots of tightening and period type cramps but it comes and goes so not labour for me as sometimes I go a few hours without any twinges. DH is starting to watch me warily though haha I'm meant to have an ELCS so if it is labour we are meant to go straight in... bag is pretty much all packed!

Oh I'm 36+2.

Wow @AndddddHerewegoagain you are close! I hope things get going for you before your induction date. Did you have another scan at 38w or 36w was the last one?

@lillianfullstop yes it sounds similar to what I'm experiencing and my hubby is panicking at every twinge! We're practically the same gestation so it's probably all part of the same thing but I'll monitor it in case I feel anything is happening too frequently. I've not even discussed a birth plan with my midwife yet, that happens on Tuesday! Until then I'm winging it!

@Missgemini yes best to get prepared. Mine is 20mins drive away so will stay alert ! 😬

Baby super active today - almost non stop since 8am. Looked up online and a lot of researches say there's no evidence to show increased movements mean baby in distress. Note 3 days ago I was worried about reduced movements 🤪 come on love give me a break.

@LillianFullStop i have a scan booked for when im 40+1 and the agreement is if the baby looks fine and is measuring ok he will give me another week to go into spontaneous labour .

I will be taking all my bags to the hospital just incase! And my mum will be coming up the day before. They've been isolating for weeks so hoping it will be ok!!

Surprised so many of you are open to a c section! I'm definitely trying to avoid that for a number of reasons - my friend almost died from sepsis after one, you can't lift baby properly after, I heard you have to self inject every day, the baby doesn't get the benefits of the microbiome from your vagina. I'm really trying to sit up and lean forward a lot to try and get baby in right position for a natural birth. My doctor friend also said a good plan is if overdue, ask for a scan to determine if the placenta is still functioning as before and if it is, wait rather than induction as that's the main reason to induce.