Due August 2021 - the final countdown!

[Daffodil21]

Continuation of the previous thread.

All newcomers welcome!

Not long now!!!

@livingwithbees I’ve been getting similar feelings this week. Definitely more aches and pains and lots of braxton hicks that have started coming all night. So much worse when chasing around after my toddler. Feeling very crampy too like period pains so I’m hopeful that my body is preparing and it won’t be too much longer. Intrigued to see what my midwife says at my sweep that’s booked for Wednesday!

@livingwithbees we had our car interior valeted the other day so installed the isofix base after that, also hoping it stops the seat from getting dirty and get DS used to not being able to climb over the seat to his seat 🙄 we had the pram cleaned ay the end of June aswell as was wary it might not get back in time 😂 I'm the opposite to you I think I should probably prepare myself for going overdue but because I was ewrly last time I don't seem to think I'm going to be late this time which may well be disappointing x

Thank you for all the advice ladies 😊 @PurplePansy05 you're just right, the heatwaves seems to have broken here so that could definitely contribute! My BH contractions seemed to ease overnight so I think it was probably a false alarm. I've been trying to check my cervix every couple of days and it's still really high so I wasn't expecting anything so soon.

@livingwithbees hope you're feeling a bit better now lovely - it's such a weird time isn't it? Have you read the Positive Birth Book? She calls this time Zwischen, which if I recall correctly is 'in between', and it really resonated with me, that sort of pause before everything changes xx

@livingwithbees The only thing I can go bybis comparing BH to the contractions I had during my medically managed MCs and it is a different thing intensity wise in my experience. BH feels to me like my tummy/pelvis tightening and loosening, it's not super pleasant but not too bad either. I also have this heavy feeling down there and occasional pulling sensations like pre-period if that makes sense. I don't know if anyone else is feeling similar with BH? I think you will recognise the difference in intensity, frequency and most likely pain level when the real contractions come on if that makes sense xx

@HopefulB I think you're spot on with applying relaxation techniques now, I definitely need this. I am surprised with how my body and mind feel anxious now, it's like they know something big is coming, I'm finding this hard to explain, but I feel very fight or flight right now and it's subconscious. Well fight more likely 😅 I don't walk around thinking I am so anxious about the next week and a half, labour and what next, but clearly I must be feeling it deep inside. xx

Ladies, I’m lying in bed as DH had gotten up with DS and not getting much movement. Usually there’s no stopping him. I also don’t recall any movement in the night when I’ve been awake which I normally feel. I’ve never been in for reduced movements before so don’t know whether I’m just going to be wasting time as he’s moving a tiny bit but not as much as normal?

@Magik01 there's no wasting time hun. My MW told me that if baby has had a pattern and you feel reduced movement and are worried just come in. It may not be anything but it's best to be safe and put your mind to ease.

If you're feeling uneasy babe, just go in. Best to get it checked x

@Magik01 - definitely get it checked, you’ll never waste the mw’s time and they would definitely prefer you to pop in and get checked than not!

@lucyrp I need to take a leaf out of your book and get cracking! I think what’s holding me back is that we are very hopefully buying a house in the next few weeks and moving from an annex to a full sized house with a rough moving date of mid august to early sept so I’m really feeling that ‘Zwischen’ feeling @biscuitcat mentioned - gosh that’s an accurate term, love it and never heard of it before!

@wimbler I bet you can’t wait until Wednesday! Please let us know how it goes?!

@PurplePansy05 that definitely sounds like what I’m thinking is BH, I occasionally get little prickles along the bottom and up the side of bump that doesn’t quite feel like skin stretching but probably is? And a lot of pressure downstairs, I’m very cautious of sneezing atm 😂

Thank you @Whatshouldbemyusername @livingwithbees I did go in, all okay with baby. My blood pressure was high when they first took it but I knew that was due to the anxiety of being there. Once off the machine they took it again and all was normal. Phew!

@Magik01 that’s great news, always trust yourself though and go in if you need!

I've just booked an air B and B a 7 min drive away from the far away hosp. Husband and mum think it's pointless but it's not really up to them. I'd likely be on my own during the day while he's at work - those of you who have given birth before - if needed would I likely be able to drive the 7 minutes myself in labour? I know no one can say for sure but is it realistic to think it's an option or should I assume not?

@Magik01 glad you went in and all ok!

@Daffodil21 I live a similar distance from the hospital and depending on how far along the labour is would be happy to drive (DH would disagree ) Having to find a parking space would probably send me over the edge though 😂 I’d probably order a taxi if things were really far along but I guess it just depends on how you’re coping at the time.

@Daffodil21 So glad you did that, I know you were concerned and tbh at this stage anything that helps with calming yourself down is a good thing 💐 You're absolutely right, it's your decision. I would take a taxi too btw, will work out cheaper than paying a fine if you need to leave the car at double yellows!

@Magik01 glad you went in and all is OK. There's no such thing as being a pain at the OAU, you know your body and baby best. I was thinking the same yesterday, am I imagining things, am I just anxious, maybe it's nothing and then when I heard actually we can admit you today if you want or otherwise come in for daily checks, I understood it was 100% the right thing to do. You just never, ever know. It shocked me a bit. Really glad your LO is OK ❤ Trust your judgement xx

@BertieBotts thank you Bertie, for the post, so helpful (sound like a broken record but you really must write a book!). Interesting about the ingredients and what breast milk comprises! Have screen shotted the whole post!

@Magik01 glad all okay, ctg is never fun!!

@livingwithbees it’s funny you say that about sneezing, I sneezed yesterday and it really like baby bounced with pressure, I thought please don’t make an appearance. I’m a bit scared to use the loo as well 🙈🙈🙈

I wonder how Smurf is getting on today?

@PurplePansy05 did you manage to finish up work and are you done for mat leave now?

@Daffodil21 no experience but I think I’d get a taxi in even if I felt I could drive. Mainly because I’ll be stressed trying to find a parking spot and probably too distracted to drive safely!

@Ready2020 hope you’re ok- haven’t seen you around for a while? (Sorry if I’ve missed a post!)

I am feeling really breathless today, unsure why but have retreated to bed.

Thanks for advice ladies. I'll see what the situation is like when I get there. Annoyingly just seen check out is 3am so may have to end up booking another night 😒 I get the feeling it may be a bit of a dodgy listing tbh but hopefully not! Not what I envisaged doing the week before CS or spending some of our savings on, but doesn't feel like there's another option really!

@Daffodil21 I may have missed a post but why are you booking an air b n b by the hospital ?

Turned out the 3am was a mistake and it's actually supposed to be 3pm 😂

@lucyrp because I'm really paranoid about having a quick labour - both my mum's were under an hour long (I was born at home without any midwives) and the hospital is over an hour away. There is a closer one (30 mins away) which has really reduced maternity services - there were only 8 births there in June and 6 of those got transferred to Aberdeen which is 1.5 hours from that hospital. I know I may not have a quick labour just because my mum did, but I would just feel so much more comfortable being closer to the hospital than at home, which is 1.25 hours away. I just keep thinking what happens if he's born on the side of the road and he's not breathing or something else goes wrong and there isn't time to save him. Just got to hope he doesn't make an appearance over the next week

@Daffodil21 are you having a c section and expecting to go into labour before hand then ?

@lucyrp yes, that's exactly what I'm expecting to happen. If I knew I would get to the CS date without going into labour I wouldn't have booked somewhere close by. But I'm just not convinced we'll make it that far so need to have a back up plan in place..😱

@Daffodil21 sounds like you’ve made the right decision for yourself to give you peace of mind.

I’ve asked about own mothers labour impacts on myself as my mum had me 7 weeks early and my sister 4 weeks, both labours fairly fast, under 2 hours from the first niggle and didn’t go through the whole dilation in stages, so I’m on edge even though I’m only 35w3d with every bit of pain I get. MW said there’s a possibility but further research is required to determine direct factors etc.

Sorry to hear all those who have had reduced movements and now being looked after / daily monitoring etc. Just goes to show it’s really important to trust instincts.

I’ve given in and now on crutches for the last few weeks due to SPD/PGP - I just hope they don’t let me go too much past due date because I can’t cope with the pain and I’m sure it’ll only get worse as I get bigger.

I can’t remember who mentioned about formula but thanks for the recommendation about Kendamil - if I need to FF I’ll certainly give that one a go first, like to support local where possible.

I’m glad the weather has cooled, the past week was horrendous!

@PurplePansy05 - I remember you saying something about MRSA not being tested for before your section at your hospital?!
I don’t know if this helps but I just had my pre-op today and they took MRSA swabs and gave me all of the relevant body wash/medications that I have to take prior to my c-section on Friday. I hope this helps put your mind at rest 💙💙

@Jessicapebbles No, it's not tested at my hospital before the section and my pre-op is over the phone. I will ask again at my daily monitoring at the OAU. Already been today and all was well thankfully xx

@Daffodil21 how many weeks will you be at your booked C section??