Due August 2021 - the final countdown!

[Daffodil21]

Continuation of the previous thread.

All newcomers welcome!

Not long now!!!

@BertieBotts unfortunately due to COVID staff shortages I don't have a regular midwife either 😕 I saw the same one a few times under the previous consultant as she was assigned to her clinic but recently it's been a different one every time.

@PurplePansy05 thank you I'm not sure was I just being hormonal and unreasonable to get upset about it. The thing is the whole way through the pregnancy until they got hit with the staff shortages around 26 weeks it seemed like induction was just inevitable with them saying it would be at 38/9 weeks if baby hadn't already arrived. But then that consultant was big into feral medicine and research and said with my history the risks of going last 39 weeks far outweighed the benefits. Dh says I need to go over to admissions every time there's any change in movements from now rather than waiting a little bit to see do they pick up as he says at least then it will be on my notes and they can't argue. If the movements were still regular and strong I wouldn't be so worried it's just that they have changed so much and that's the same as it started with ds (albeit it was 3/4 weeks earlier than this)

@Smurf123 Always trust your instinct. Your DH is right. I don't know how they do things in NI but in Wales you have to be scanned the third time you go in for reduced movements, unless you've had a very recent scan and all was well. Obviously if you had no concerns it may have been a different conversation and maybe you'd feel comfortable waiting, but since you're concerned, I'd not hesitate and go in. You're not exagerrating. Better to go in, be checked and know the baby is fine than go in those few hours too late because you've not been taken seriously before xx

@lucyrp 10 mins! Wow. At least you’ll be efficient!

@Smurf123 ugh that’s so bad, is there anyone else you can speak to?

@BertieBotts you are so reasonable and calm! Wish I could be like that!

@biscuitcat just got to the breastfeeding bit with the bloke… I was a bit horrified 😂

@PurplePansy05 yeah so birth options midwife has approved the c section and that’s when she told me I’d need an obstetrician appointment to sort consents and that’s when they book the c section- so this was last Monday and the next appointment I could get was a week on Friday. Honestly the lady at the ante natal clinic knows me I call so often seeing if there’s been a cancellation to get one sooner 🤷🏼‍♀️ not sure what else I can do! Last call I made I spoke to head midwife as she has permission to “overbook” the clinic but she said they were really understaffed because of covid and self isolation, on top of running a reduced clinic. when I spoke to the community mid wife to get head Midwife’s details she said 3
Community midwives had to go on the birth wards because they’re so short staffed…anyway I’m going to stop calling for today because every conversation I’ve had stresses me out more! I sort of hope they refer me to another hospital that’s less busy but I’m also looking into booking a private c section at the Portland now, just in case. I don’t think I realised how desperate I was for a c section until it looked fairly possible I might not be able to book one in time! They’ve also known since the 8 weeks of my request but they don’t refer on til the 36 appointment!!! Sorry for the essay and rant!

Just got back from a leg and bikini wax and it didn’t hurt at all- beautician did say my legs are very swollen which might have helped with the pain. Got a pedicure and full body massage tomorrow…
It’s meant to be 30 degrees though so wondering if that was wise!

@wimbler Oooh yes I thought we were close together! I am so ready for her to be born, with the heat, swelling and lack of sleep I’m just so ready…as I’m sure we all are haha!

@WolfMother326 it’s scheduled for Friday 30th! Last growth scan on Tuesday & pre op! 😍

@Smurf123 just saw your latest message and agree with your husband and purplepansy. Go in each time. It really frustrates me when different doctors say different things and all contradict each other, how do you know who to listen to?! Sometimes I just wonder if we’re being robbed off if I’m honest…

Fobbed off*

@Jessicapebbles so happy you’ve got your date!!! How exciting. Can’t believe the babies will all be here soon 😱😱😱

I haven't been reasonable and calm at all, I've been a crying mess most of today/last night :o

But it was making me have contractions and totally not helpful or productive so I had to get to a point of feeling OK about it. I find I am quite good at working things through if I can identify the part that's bothering me.

Smurf I think your DH has a good point. I have also been scanned every time I presented for reduced movements and it's been really reassuring. I don't know if they have more up to date tech in Germany, or it's just because it's been 13 years since I was pregnant in the UK but the scan machines look at everything here, even blood flow to the placenta which comes up colour coded on the screen by some magic, they can see where the cord is and everything, which always worries me as DS2 had the cord absolutely everywhere wrapped around his whole body.

I will be exactly 37 weeks on Monday. I'm finding such conflicting views about ECV - some say it's uncomfortable but OK and short - I'm hoping for this as having a toddler clambering over me is sometimes quite painful, maybe it will be like that?? OTOH other people say it left them totally bruised! It sounds like I'll have loads and loads of monitoring to be safe so I think it's worth a go, but a bit concerning. I think if they hadn't emphasised so much that they really think it will work for me I wouldn't bother. It seems it normally has quite a low success rate. They will scan me on the day to check the position first.

@Inmypjsagain - I know I’m so lucky to know my date 🤭 although I wouldn’t be surprised if things kick off before then! Her head is in the right place apparently and her legs were measuring at 39 weeks when I was 35 weeks so I’m not sure there is a lot of wriggle room left! Love to see your bump updates ladies, I feel like we haven’t seen them for ages?! I’ll start us off!

Taken at 37 weeks! X

Bertie Scans in the UK identify the blood flow too, indeed colour coded etc. All of mine from 12 or 20 weeks onwards (I can't remember) showed it.

@Inmypjsagain That is pretty poor, it's effectively disregarding your preferred choice because it's so late...it shouldn't be this way. I see you're well on the case, fingers crossed you get some news sooner, I really don't know what else can be done now. Could you ask for a referral elsewhere yourself? xx

Hello from us at 36+5 💙👋 xx

@BertieBotts the worst part about my ecv was the friction pain. They use ultrasound jelly but obviously have to get some grip
So that was the most painful part. They did three attempts on me and it was over in less than 10 mins. They gave me a muscle relaxant injection which obviously helps too. I felt a little sore afterwards but nothing compared to after a good gym workout would feel.

I had a proper scan to check fluid levels and then ctg monitoring for 30 mins before and after. They scanned the baby throughout so knew baby was never in danger and of course I could have asked them to stop at any time. They also offered me gas and air but I didn’t need it.

I think the success rate is higher for second and subsequent pregnancies as your muscles are likely to be a bit more loose too my friend had one for her second baby and it was over and done in a few minutes because the baby was so easy to turn.

Yeah that's exactly what they said.

Lovely bumps @Jessicapebbles and @PurplePansy05 !

I'm wearing hideous but comfy clothes right now but may be brave enough to upload one when I'm dressed properly tomorrow 😂

@BertieBotts sorry it stressed you out but I’m jealous of your ability to work it out!!

@PurplePansy05 yes I agree, apparently it’s normal practice but I think covid has scuppered things working at their usual timescale. I tried to call St Mary’s which is under imperial as well but I can’t refer to them myself at this stage- so I’ll see how it goes. Looks like you can do everything quite short notice at the Portland (but it’s not cheap!) but thank you for the support, it’s helpful to rant xx

And lovely bumps!!!! I’d love to post but I’m not brave enough incase someone I know sees 👀 all I can say is my bump must be 3/4 of the size of the pics posted :( I don’t know why I’m carrying so small (and why my back and pelvis is in so much pain, dont know how you ladies are doing it!) but last fundal measurement was 29cm, so I guess some of you can compare to your own measurements 😊

@Inmypjsagain I got DH to measure my bump and it's 37cm so bang on at 37 weeks. I think it looks bigger now cause I have been losing weight from elsewhere on the meds and I've noticed the bump looking more pronounced in the last month or so. Shame the same meds don't help my currently massive, swollen feet!

I would bet your current measurement is similar to mine. FWIW my pelvis and hip aren't coping well at all haha xx

This is my 36 week bump pic 🤪👋🏼

@PurplePansy05 mines exactly 37cm aswell! And my feet are so swollen tonight I'm currently sat with them in a washing up bowl of cold water with ice cubes 👀xx

Hello girl(s)? & boy(s)? @Jessicapebbles @lucyrp 🤗💐

This looks like such a comfy set, lucy, where is it from? xx

@PurplePansy05 it's actually just some waffle shorts from primark £3 a pair and a nursing top from a set in H&M ! I found them really good to sleep in when I had DS for breastfeeding xx

I was 29cm at 36 weeks, so a week ago today. Don’t have the energy to go hunting for my tape measure to see how much (if at all!) it’s grown. Fully expecting another growth scan next week after my midwife appointment!

@lucyrp another lovely bump!!!

Sorry for tmi but my underboob sweat has reached new levels today 😓

I have those £3 Primark shorts as well! Absolute lifesaver.

This is a ridiculous angle/perspective :o I swear it's not actually bigger than me IRL.

Such beautiful bumps ladies 🥰🥰

Had a photoshoot last Friday. This is my 34+5 days bump pic from the shoot :)

Awwww I’m loving the bump photos!! It’s all so real and exciting now! Xx

Oh everyone looks amazing 🥰 I'm also in very slobby clothes today so might be brave enough tomorrow! I was 36cm at 36 weeks too - yesterday I was in a school for work and had a teacher tell me I was small, and a TA tell me I was enormous for a first and it must be a very big boy 🙄 assuming that means I'm about average overall!

Thinking of sleeping when breastfeeding - I usually sleep naked, is that still doable when breastfeeding or will I leak all over the bed?

I had such a (ridiculous) panic today. Bought some sandals for a wedding, they arrived and just would not go on my feet. I was so worried as I didn't think my feet had swollen loads and loads - later finally thought to compare them to other shoes of mine as they did look really small and they've managed to send a pair which must be at least 2 sizes too small (nothing on the shoes to say what size they are) - so annoying!