Due June 2020: thread 7. The one where babies appear

[AndddddHerewegoagain]

Hi everyone. Starting another thread!! Hoping we start having babies appear very soon!!

Question for anyone who has been induced before, what am I packing to wear when I'm
In there as I've got to go and stay in hospital during the whole induction? I've heard women are in there for days before birth. Thinking I don't actually have enough I don't think, I've just packed two 'labour' nighties and a coming home outfit x

@newbyxx I was induced and 6 hours later he was here, do you know how they're inducing you? Comfy pjs and a nighty/big t shirt for birth xxx

@AmyMaria2 I woke and was thinking about you and baby. I see baby is keeping someone up! Hows the last few days been?

I've been awake since 430 with ligament pain so the tele has gone straight on for the toddler this morning. I try and not have tv on first thing as the toddler was becoming a bit addicted and asking for it all day but needs must!!

Hope you're enjoying all the baby snuggles @AmyMaria2 can't wait to for my one to be here xx

@APD1981 also planning to try and harvest some from 37 weeks but my midwife told me not to take any into hospital as midwives will basically milk you in there if you need help and it's really good to have some syringes in freezer at home so dad can feed baby x

Also once harvested or defrosted it only lasts 24 hours and we could all be in labour for plenty longer than that xx

@newbyxxx they had me on the drip after the gel only got me to 3/4 cm overnight - at that point I switched to a hospital gown to get the epidural. I was in hospital gowns until my first shower after the epidural wore off and they took out the catheter.

Lovely to hear from you @AmyMaria2! How long was your hospital stay? Hope you are comfortable and home with baby snuggles now.

@AndddddHerewegoagain yikes to the ligament pain and sleeplessness! Hopefully things get going for you this week without an induction. Did you hear from PALS at all about your ELCS request?

Woke this AM with numbness in both hands (carpal tunnel I guess) and a bloody cramp on my left calf!!! Not a nice way to get woken up!! the cramp hasn't completely gone - it's fine when I stay still but agony when I try to stretch it out or put any weight on it. Now I'm limping on top of waddling

Totally TV time for the toddler we do what we have to do! We're right at the end now - and mummy guilt keeps rearing it's ugly head but we have to put ourselves first now. I'm only 37 weeks so 2 weeks behind you and about ready to throw in the towel with doing anything at all now haha - giving DD a bath and dressed feels like an hour workout and I've had to say no when she asks to play with her on the floor - "no ask daddy or you bring it to me here up on the couch. If I get down there I'm going to get stuck (again)"

Anyone else feel like baby is going to fall out and pelvic floor going to give way if they try to squat? I was grabbing something from the washer and just absent mindedly squatted down to do it and seriously felt like things were falling out lol! I don't remember it with my first - but I was younger, more active and hadn't had my pelvic floor battered by childbirth yet.

@AmyMaria2 that's amazing it sounded like you had a really positive birth experience I hope mine is the same! I'm being induced with the pessary and then I think they put you on a drip is that right? Oh ok so pjs are ok as in the bottoms? So il take some comfy pjs/tracksuit, x2 nighties then coming home outfit. Hope you and your little man are doing well xxx

I wore a nightie for my induction - easier access for examinations and all that! I got the pessary in early afternoon, waters broken the following morning and the drip up shortly after that.

Another one with a square-eyed toddler ATM. Very fortunate that DH is home, so he's been mostly hanging out with him. DShas been a bit weird with me recently though - kicking and hitting me a lot. I think he realises something is "up" with Mummy but doesn't really understand.

I started raspberry leaf tea this week and I've read about eating dates from 36 weeks. Everyone on my last bus was sticking evening primrose oil capsules up their vaginas at this stage too!

@LillianFullStop the consultant apologised for what he said and for not taking my past experience into account. We seem to have hit a wall in regards to moving forward. I have a scan Thursday and then an appointment with him so will see how that goes.

My dh was meant to get up with him this morning but as I was already awake and he didn't get in from work until 330 it felt mean making him get up! My general routine seems to be waking up early and crashing at lunch so we can swap over then.

I totally got stuck on the floor the other day. Have to sit with straight legs.
My sister has plans today to finally get her car fixed she's begged me to not go into labour so no raspberry leaf tea for me today!

I know a few people have mentioned raspberry leaf tea but I hate hot drinks so I have been taking the tablet form, mine are 750mg and I'm taking two a day does that sound right or does any one know if I should take more?

When are we supposed to start raspberry leaf tea? And how many cups a day?

Well I finally had a great nights sleep last night, first one in months! I started antibiotics for throat infection/tonsillitis yesterday and have been wiped out. I slept in DS room and he slept in with DH as I'm also nervously waiting the results of a COVID test as I have a dry cough. I don't think I have it but keep everything crossed for me!

Re colostrum, I got advice from an IBCLC because my last baby had blood sugar and feeding issues so it can be recommended in that case. She said it's not necessary under normal circs but obviously an option if you fancy. I've been leaking since around 24 weeks (woke up very wet today) but not sure I'll bother. If anyone has a link to the syringes they've used can you please share just incase I decide to try it?

I've heard about some of these old wives tales (raspberry tea, dates, curry etc) but primrose oil up the vag is a new one for me! Made me laugh! 😂 They're not for me but if you're giving it a bash I'd stick to the recommended dose on the box @Busylizzie85 and let the MW/Doc know.

Still laughing at the thought of putting primrose oil up my love tunnel 😂

@Gigitree There's no evidence that RL tea lives up to the claims, but if you want to give it a try then you can start taking it after 32 weeks. No idea how much to take though, I'd be guided by what it says on the box and would recommend speaking to MW/Doc x

Yes from what I understand Raspberry leaf tea is supposed to be good for the muscles of / connected to the uterus so can help make contractions more productive... something like that... but yes you need to have it regularly and up the amount after a while. I think with DD1 I started one cup a day from 34 weeks and then upped it to two cups from 36 weeks, 3 cups from 38 weeks. No idea if it did anything at all! Don’t think I’ll bother this time.

Those wanting to give labour a helping hand what DID work for me was:
Cervical sweeps
A long brisk walk
Scrubbing all the floors
Sex

This was when things were ready to happen anyway, started having crampy feelings after the sweep and did the other things to try and get labour going, which it did. I think sex if you can stand it is one of the only proven things to help start labour!

@LillianFullStop yes I've been feeling like baby is going to fall out any minute since about 34 weeks - I know to read nothing into it now! I've put it down to being second child in 2 years, thankfully not had any ahem pelvic floor issues.

Had a lifting and rowing session in the gym yesterday to celebrate hitting 37 weeks and actually felt better for it than it has done for a couple of weeks. Baby definitely way too comfy...

I've been on the capsules of raspberry leaf since 34 weeks, upping to 3 tablets a day. I think 6 is the recommended dose for full term but I haven't got enough for that, and I get plenty of Braxton Hicks to warm up those muscles too. Don't know whether it will help but I had the most ridiculous and dangerous long labour last time and I'll do anything to knock so much as 5 minutes off this one!

Anyone trying Clary sage? I've not heard of evening primrose up the hoo-hoo either!

I actually packed my hospital bag yesterday, only partially filled a backpack so I'm pleased with that. Built changing table today (but did resort to using a hammer...).

In regards to sweeps, I'm having a three before my induction date. I have my first next Sunday 24th then I have wed and Friday. Do you think chances are il go into labour before my induction date on Saturday 30th? Also can I have a bit of info on a sweep as this is my first baby, thank you x

@newbyxx the best thing about having a sweep in my opinion is that you get a bit more info from your midwife. She will tell you if your cervix feels “favourable” (as in feels like it’s getting ready for labour). If it’s soft and starting to open. At my first sweep I remember my midwife saying my cervix was still closed but soft, then at the next one a few days later I was “a fingertip dilated”. Then I did go into labour after that (after the long walk and the scrubbing the floors and the sex).

I will also say I am absolutely rubbish with any kind of internal examination - I cry every smear test! - but I didn’t find the sweeps painful at all. Everyone’s experience is different of course but I found the midwives were so experienced and put me so much at ease that I was absolutely fine with it. The second one the midwife was a bit more vigorous and it was a bit uncomfortable but fine.

Another packing question - how many bodysuits and sleepsuits?!?? I'm trying to pack to cover bases for a 24hr period in case I do end up having a planned c section. I want enough to last overnight until I can get replenishment from husband (assuming he can visit for an hour?!). My 24 HR assumption is based on that being what a lot of trusts are saying is the target kick out time if you have an uncomplicated section.

I've seen hospital bag threads and blogs and even unhelpful NHS website posts saying anything from 4 to 15 (!!) vests and sleepsuits. I mean really!? Some say you don't need many and some say c section babies are likely to sick up everywhere after every feed.

Anyone been through a c section and recall how many clothes changes they got through in 24hrs? Thanks!

@NakeliP I'm a FTM so others may know better than me but going off what my maternity hospital have advised (not just for C sections but all births) I have packed 4 ziplock bags each with the following in: babygro, 2 vests, hat. I've got 2 lots in newborn and 2 lots in up to one month. I've also sorted out more stuff at home and if necessary my sister will collect from my house and drop it off at hospital for us.

@newbyxx my trust are currently refusing sweeps which is infuriating as i cannot understand the infection risk, im not shooting covid 19 from my foofy. However its perfectly safe for them to insert a pessary to induce me? Makes no sense. Will beg my midwife for one on Wednesday.

@Magpiefeather a long walk, sex and a sweep got my ds out. The first 2 sweeps were a complete fail as my cervix was too high and closed, but i was 40+9 by that point which probably helped.

Just cleaned both bathrooms. Haven't been for a walk today as my ligaments hurt too much. Will up my raspberry leaf tea intake tomorrow!!

@APD1981 thanks!

I had begun to sort out something similar. When you say vests do you mean 'bodysuits' and when you say babygros do you mean 'sleepsuits'. So many different words for things! I've seen a lot saying pack a few more vests/bodysuits than sleepsuits... Is that in case the vests get ruined from nappy explosions or would there be another reason not to pack the same amounts of both? I'd originally set aside 4x newborn vests and 4x newborn sleepsuits, and then the same for size up to 1 month (or 'first size' depending on shop). So that's double your sleepsuits but half your vests? I'm really struggling with baby brain today!

I've packed two sleepsuits and two vests, both newborn but one is about 4" longer than the other! Baby is measuring long and skinny so covering both bases as I think baby will be small.

With DD I had a sweep on my due date, was found 2cm dilated and very much effaced. Midwife was very surprised. I did find it painful (but I am someone who needs peeling off the ceiling at every smear test!!!). Unfortunately all that happened was my waters broke 3 days later, waited another three days whilst labour stalled, had induction, got my painful cervix fiddled with by the world and his wife and you can see where this is all heading... So, not for me I'm afraid - I don't want anyone touching my cervix unless life or death. I've never come across anyone else who found it a bad thing though - just me not even ever come across anyone else who found it painful, starting to wonder if there's something wrong with me!!!

Oh I also tried long walks, curry, sex (before waters broke), dates, cleaning the floors etc after the sweep to no avail. I think if you can tolerate a smear you'll be fine with a sweep

thanks thats good to know, I'm not the greatest at internal examinations but can deal with a smear. Boyfriend eyes have lit up seeing all the 'sex' to bring it on haha don't get to excited mate 😂. Im having to be induced at 39 weeks because of low papp a so my first sweep is at 38 weeks, not expecting to be ready at that point but we will see x