Due June 2020 thread 8: The one where all the babies appear!

[Busylizzie85]

New thread I hope I have done it right!

Wow so many babies!! Havent managed to catch up on everyone as haven't been on since Sunday, but seen all the gorgeous photos 🥰

Joshua Arlo Nicholson was born Sunday 14th June at 12.25pm 9lb 7oz by emergency forceps. We had a bit of a rough

Induction was started the previous Wednesday evening however my waters and hormone drip not started until Saturday lunchtime. I got to 10cm dilated by 5am Sunday morning with gas and air and diamorphine and after 3 hrs of pushing it was decided Joshua was facing slightly the wrong way and was stuck in my pelvis. They discussed turn forceps and c section however I wanted to avoid c-section if at all possible. We had to wait due to emergencies but in the end I had a spinal block,they turning Joshua, his shoulders got stuck and he was born very shocked but thankfully ok.

We then had to have treatment for jaundice so stayed in until Wednesday but so glad to be home with Daddy now.

Hope everyone's enjoying newborn times and getting to grips with lack of sleep, breast feeding etc and those that are still waiting for their babies aren't waiting too long xx

Woke up to waters breaking this morning. Just managed to get out of bed as I felt a trickle and then the floodgates opened with me shouting "No Tink (the cat) get back! Stay away from the waters!!" Off to triage at the hospital for an assessment at 11 and if all good they'll leave send me home for up to 24 hours. Only concern is no movements yet... Although we normally have a slow start and get up later than today so it could just be asleep still. Also no contractions yet.

Just thought I'd share for any others going past due date who've had no signs/symptoms. Things can randomly, suddenly happen with your body!

@BabyBird20 glad you are feeling better now! That must of been horrible having to go back into hospital so soon after having baby.

@NakeliP good luck!! You will be meeting your baby so soon 😊 hopefully your contractions start naturally soon.

@sarahlounich congratulations on your gorgeous boy, he looks so content ☺️

Little Ivy is now 5 days old and I'm loving every minute of being her mummy! I've never known love like it.

@mrssunshinexxx I'm due tomorrow - absolutely no signs baby is on the way. I reckon I will end up going past 41 weeks and then anything earlier will be a bonus. I'm feeling quite well though, so that's makes it easier to take that approach.

@sarahlounich congratulations! Well done to you for getting through that long labour. Hope you are feeling OK. Was your other half allowed to stay with you throughout?

@NakeliP How exciting!! Hope things progress well for you today ☺️

@chocolate26 Ivy is so cute!

@Magpie21 me neither but I'm trying to be positive as people often say they had no signs then waters went etc when would you be open to induction? X

Baby Ivy is gorgeous 😍 @chocolate26

My baby Ivy is one week old today!

Baby Grace was born this morning at 1.07am weighing 9lbs 1oz
She was in a hurry in the end and came out so quick I’ve unfortunately got a third degree tear, so ended up with a spinal block and being stitched up in theatre.
She’s is so gorgeous though I can’t stop staring at her!

Would love to hear any survival/coping tips from anyone else in the group who may have had a third degree tear!

I went for a sweep today at midwife appointment, but baby is too high that she couldn't do it. Gutted as I wasn't wanting to be induced. See the consultant on Tuesday to discuss next plan.

38+2

congratulations @sarahlounich and @Gigitree sorry to hear about your 3rd degree

@Gigitree I have a third degree tear!
They say its very hard to tear them open again that's the main thing so don't worry to much about doing things normally. I found it hard first couple of days going to the loo and wiping as it's uncomfortable and I was nervous. I use a different flannel to wash the area gently on the outside and just use the spray head of the shower to wash everywhere else no soaps or anything else is the main thing and let air dry.
They normally give you latulose to help going easier along with regular paracetamol. I am on a anti inflammatory which also helps.

I hope that helps and congratulations 😊

Thank you @Busylizzie85 really appreciate it! Sounds like you’re coping really well with it which makes me feel lots better! Xx

Congratulations @gigitree sorry to hear about to tear hope you and little grace are doing well though.
I think my little miss is very comfortable 🤦‍♀️

@mrssunshinexxx if all progresses normally I would be offered an induction at 41+5 days and I would accept one at that time. I'm quite happy to have an induction if it comes to it.

@Busylizzie85 Your baby Ivy is also adorable!

@Gigitree Congratulations!! I love the name Grace :-) oh gosh, that doesn't sound fun but hopefully it will heal quickly down there. Maybe ask the midwife if a daily bath will help - I'm a FTM so not sure about this (....yet)

Congratulations to all the new mums!!

Guys I'm booked in Monday for my C Section. I'm bricking it!
Any positive experiences would be greatly received!!

@MsMiaWallace That's exciting news! Well I can only share second hand experience from my sister. She had a lovely calm experience and was out of the hospital the day after her procedure! I'm very sure the hospital staff will put your mind at ease throughout your experience. ☺️ Most importantly you will have your bubba in your arms on Monday!

@Gigitree I was going to post the same as you; I've got a borderline 2/3 tear (not sure how they decided to classify it in the end). They didn't do a spinal to patch me up as they thought they could get away without but I ended up having the local repeated every few minutes as local anaesthesia doesn't work well with me and I needed a lot of stitching inside and out. I used more gas and air being stitched than I did in labour! 😳

The recovery needed has kinda caught me by surprise a bit to be honest. Yesterday I took to bed and admitted that ultimately I need to stay in bed for a few days, lying on my side only, to let it all rest. It bloody hurts. And having a bowel movement opens the stitches back up again 🤢 told midwife this morning and she said sadly it's normal. It's also scary and painful! First midwife recommended Spritz for Bitz which is very expensive but given it's very painful I bought some. Is kinda soothing I must admit. We're on day 5 now and midwife said today it shouldn't get any worse than it is now, it should have peaked. I've got everything crossed 🤞🏼

I can't remember which Magpie said it (sorry!) about not being engaged or in position either. Neither was I until established labour with DD, who is second child 🙂 she was popping up and down until the bitter end. By the time I went to MLU with contractions every 3 minutes she was 1/5 and totally posterior. Think it's normal for subsequent babies, and aside from an evening of practice contractions I do feel that my labour came out of nowhere. I would've been surprised were I not 41 weeks pregnant!

Has anyone had low down painful cramps mainly to one side?

Congratulations @sarahlounich and @Gigitree !! So glad you both now have your babies safely with you. Hope your recoveries go well. Sorry to hear about the tear, but fingers crossed it heals well.

@NakeliP How are you getting on? So exciting that your baby will be here soon!

Ah thanks @BirdGarden that was me with not being engaged or facing the right way! That’s great to know that your dd got herself sorted and you still had a spontaneous labour. Yes this is my second too so expecting he will get himself organised when it’s time

I had a third degree tear with first child @birdgarden @Gigitree @Busylizzie85. It was a 3a so “only just” a third degree, it took them a while to decide with me too whether it was a 2 or a 3. Sent me to theatre for a spinal and stitches as midwife declared I wouldn’t be able to cope with the amount of stitches they’d need to do otherwise. I just want to reassure you that my tear has healed really really well, it did take a while though to properly recover. Things I found that helped:

• religiously doing pelvic floor exercises (and not stopping them when I thought I was better! It’s for life unfortunately but they do work!)
• trying not to sit for too long in the early days
• I did the same and showered myself clean after doing a poo, patting dry for the first few weeks.
• Keep taking lactulose, ibuprofen and paracetamol for at least the first few weeks
• May be personal to me but don’t look!!!! I braved a look with a mirror at 3 months post partum and was horrified. It took a good 9 months before things were back to normal so don’t worry if it’s still swollen and not quite the same as before in the next few months
• Ask the midwives who come to do home visits after the birth to check your stitches for you. Also you can ask the gp at your 6 week check if you’d like reassurance that they’re healing ok
• Don’t be afraid to ask to be referred to a women’s physio if you have issues. I did and it helped enormously - turns out I wasn’t doing pelvic floor exercises quite right and was having some issues with leaking a bit of wee. They sorted me out in two appointments!
• I also had a few urgency issues with a number2 for over a year after... it would hurt if I needed the loo so I had to go straight away. I’m not sure what happened but it just got better on its own. I did go back to docs to get that looked at but they decided they didn’t need to take any action, it was just scar tissue. ultimately I am 100% fine again now - no issues whatsoever and it just all sorted itself out but it did take a lot longer than what I expected.
• Sex felt very weird at first but after a while it was better than even before the tear so don’t worry (like I did) that it will ruin you forever! I did wait 3 months before I was brave enough to have sex and certain positions were a no go for a while. But again back to normal in the end no problems.

This was all 3 years ago and obviously I have gone back for another round at baby-having, and I’m not afraid of the vaginal birth bit. I mean, I haven’t given birth yet so who knows what’s going to happen, but just wondered if sharing my experience of healing from the tear last time round would help reassure you! I know everyone’s recovery will be different of course. Look after yourselves and hope you’re all feeling better soon.

Wow sorry for the wall of text above. It did have paragraphs when I wrote it!

Very much appreciated @magpiefeather - thank you. I haven't dared look at my notes as to whether I ended up a 2 or a 3a and told midwife I don't want to know! It was too many stitches for a local in hindsight but at the time I was just glad to avoid the "surgery". I have ordered myself chocolate and a big bottle of alcohol as recompense for the stitches 😂 I have dared to look with a mirror, partly because I wanted to check that yes it is all coming apart after a bowel movement; I guess it'll be a while before it heals enough between "use" not to do that. The internal stitches are driving me crazy! I'm not lifting anything heavier than new DD as it feels like they're going to pop open, started back up with pelvic floor exercises after 48 hours even though it hurts. I lift weights and have had two kids in two years - I have no margin for error in that regard! 🙈

@SearchingTheSkies I'm on my way to hospital to start induction as not much progress made towards labour in the 24hrs since my waters broke, unfortunately. So weird - I have contractions (mild ones) every 8-12 mins for nearly a minute, but only when I'm laying down (ie. Trying to sleep!!). When sitting up or standing they're even milder and less frequent! So now I'm already shattered. Oh well fingers crossed baby appears tonight or early tomorrow. If they need to put the drip in I'm going to demand an epidural first. I can't go from 0-60 and I know I have a really low pain threshold even with relaxation and breathing techniques!

@NakeliP that is my exact labour story from my last baby! had the epidural before the drip went up. didnt work completely so had gas and air - best of both worlds had an amazing experience hoping for similar this time. best of luck to you

oh and @millettmum me!! I get cramps on the inside of my right hip, sometimes feels like it goes in to my thigh a bit. not sure if it's bad Braxtons (never had them in my other 2 pregnancies) or round ligament pain

@NakeliP good luck for today - you should be fine getting an epidural before drip, it's recommended so please don't worry about that (and I ignored that recommendation with DD1 and regretted that!)