Due August 2021 - the final countdown!

[Daffodil21]

Continuation of the previous thread.

All newcomers welcome!

Not long now!!!

Ooh we're on the last page again! I wonder if any more babies will arrive before the next thread :o

@Daffodil21 these are the drinks, I’ve got two that I need to drink before 7am on the day. Apparently they are just for energy?

@sarah13xx it’s so odd the different rules that different hospitals have. I’m nervous but excited at the same time! As far as I’m aware once I’m in theatre and out he’s allowed to stay during normal visiting hours which is until 4pm I believe at the moment. Hopefully I’m one of the first to go down so he can stay longer.

@PurplePansy05 that’s good to know, I’m hoping once I’m in and the consultant comes around they will be able to say a rough time anyway. There’s a canteen and coffee shop in the hospital so DH will probably hang around there if it’s not too late. Also in my paperwork it says if you have diabetes you won’t be given the drinks, so that might be why you won’t have them? They are probably all sugar!

Many congratulations @wimbler! Glad you are both ok and that you’re feeling super! ❤️

@Magik01 ah ok thank you! Not had my pre-op chat yet so no idea what they give you!

And @Smurf123 Sophia is a gorgeous name ❤️

Can I ask a question about stretch marks? My stomach feels so tight and my (angry red) stretch marks feel quite itchy. Is it possible/common for stretch marks to rip? I’m oiling them every day!

@Magik01 Thanks, that might explain things. I was told to bring Lucozade and drink as much as I want after as my sugar will drop rapidly xx

I don't think it's possible for them to split open but I had the same worry!

@Daffodil21 aw amazing! Seems to be a popular day 😊 do you know what time yours is at, morning/afternoon or does everyone just arrive early morning at your hospital?

Just on the way home from hospital, was hooked up to the monitor for an hour in total, first half hour and it wasn't looking too good at all and then the midwives swapped over at shift change and the new one made me have a drink of water and then the baby started moving however I still hadn't met criteria so was told I'd have to come back in 2 hours for a repeat CTG but just before the hour was up I met the criteria and was allowed home, need to drink more water apparently ... even though I've been drinking enough to sink a ship 👀

@RandomCatGenerator in my last pregnancy at about 37 weeks, my stretch marks suddenly went bright red and INCREDIBLY itchy. A bit rough/Sandy to the touch, too. My midwife was dismissive until I showed her - she went to get a doctor straight away. He diagnosed polymorphic eruption of pregnancy, which sounds v dramatic but is harmless - just super uncomfortable. He prescribed a steroid cream to massage into the rash which really helped. Also sleeping with a wet flannel on my bump.

@lucyrp aaaw atleast you met the criteria and don't need to go back and baby is ok. I think that's what they say - increase water intake in the last few weeks even though it's so uncomfortable! X

@sarah13xx yeah I’ll check as well, I’ve been suffering with going to the loo anyway (and I’m scared these days to have to push incase it moves baby!!!) so I think I’m going to start with it laxatives and softeners now…!

@Jessicapebbles yeah so tough, genuinely hadnt appreciated it before because everyone just gets on with it! Hope the tightenings have left off?

@PurplePansy05 thanks, it is! I think we’re probably scheduled at a similar time- assuming there are no delays 😊

@HopefulB oh I see- yeah I think she said she’d
Stopped following thread etc which is totally fair enough, just hope she knows she’s still thought of often!

@lucyrp the hour is the limit but I’m sort of surprised they said drink more water 🤨 I’m sure you’ll keep an eye on it and make sure you go back in if you think movements are different.

Yes if the Dawes Redman criteria aren't met within the hour I don't think the only advice is to drink more water, I've been reading about this over the last few days. I'm sure you'll keep an eye regardless though @lucyrp, as much as it's inconvenient it's best to be checked over. You were clearly right to go in tonight. xx

@Whatshouldbemyusername I'm drinking so much already so was surprised! X

@Inmypjsagain yeah for the first half hour I had recorded 1 movement and it wasn't looking good, but then after I drank more fluid they moved a lot and I think I recorded one last movement in the last few mins so that's why I was allowed to go. I wouldn't have minded going back in 2 hours though

@RandomCatGenerator I was reading on the side of my Lansinoh box that apparently that can be helpful for itchy stretch marks if you have any of that?

@lucyrp glad to hear baby is OK - and definitely worth still keeping an eye on things to make sure they stay fine for you and bub xx

Does anyone know, my Braxton Hicks (those again!!) have really ramped up the past few days - could that be a sign that things might get going sooner rather than later? I've also had some pain in my bump which feels a bit like what I imagine a contraction could be like, but it's only been the odd one off, no pattern at all. I'm 38 weeks today and really hoping that baby makes an appearance soon!

@PurplePansy05 well they didn't really say to drink more water just that that was why they hadn't been moving, and they didn't tell me anything to do when I left just said I had met the criteria and I was allowed to go x

@biscuitcat oh h yes definitely, I can also go to DAU at my midwife unit but it's only open until 5pm and then after hours I have to go to the hospital an hour away which is where I've been tonight so that was worth knowing x

@sarah13xx absolutely no idea! I just know the date and have been warned it could be pushed back as there has been a back log 🙄 I'll be so pissed off if it does as I've booked somewhere to stay close to the hospital in case I go into labour early, so I'll be really annoyed if I end up having to come home before! I don't really know much at all about the prep tbh!

@lucyrp glad you're home!

@Daffodil21 good thinking 😊 you’re more prepared than me I think 😂 luckily I don’t stay far at all from our hospital but I will be there at the first sign of anything happening! I’m actually worrying with how much he’s moving just now and how much it can hurt at times that I might end up having a contraction and not realising it’s actually something starting! I didn’t know a thing until this week where I’ve been able to speak to someone and ask questions about it all. Mine was originally the morning but I’ve now to go in at 10am and it won’t be until about 1pm I think

@sarah13xx do you know what happens between 10-1?

@Daffodil21 well I’ve not to get a pre-op appointment, apparently they only do them for the first person of the day. Not sure what’s happening about my covid test but the community midwife might do that before it. At 10 they give me the omeprazole to take, I get my blood and checks done on me and baby I presume. They ‘prep’ your bikini line 😳 aka shave me I think! I’ve not to shave for at least a week before it. Everyone comes to meet you then they have lunch whenever they finish their second person (about 12) then she said it’s generally about 1 by the time the afternoon person goes in. Sometimes there’s two afternoon people so I think the next slot would be half 2ish, really hope I’m not hanging about til then. I’ll just want to get the bad bit over with!

@lucyrp good to hear baby’s ok,

I’ve been having reduced movements for the last 2 days, the last good kicking was at 3/4am Sunday, nothing yesterday but I was so busy I may not have noticed
She moved this afternoon after some ice cream but another busy day on my feet, maybe thats keeping her asleep. Doesn’t help that I’m terrible with water 2/3 glasses in 2 days.

@sarah13xx no one's told me I shouldn't shave... it doesn't sound like I'll get a call very far ahead of it either..!

@Aaaaa1519 any doubt or change and you should call. You won't be wasting anyone's time at all!

@Daffodil21 every hospital seems to have different rules on it! Some say you can, some tell you to do it before you go, some say not to 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m kind of scared to shave and then something happens early and it’s not been a week 🙈 I think it just increases the chance of an infection if there’s tiny cuts on the skin. They do plenty of emergencies though so the shaving thing can’t be that big of a deal

@Daffodil21 You shouldn't shave down below for at least a week before. I had a leaflet explaining this, that's why I had my last shave few days ago instead.

My leaflet also says no jewellery, no make up and no nail polish/gel/acrylics etc. so thus answered some of my earlier questions.

Regarding the order on the day, patients with complications such as GD go in first - I only know this because I have it. The reason being is that the section will inevitably put a strain on the mum's body and GD mums who don't eat anything before are at higher risk of hypoglycaemia following the surgery since glucose levels will nosedive. This is also because they naturally start returning to pre-pregnancy levels very quickly post partum. So basically we go in first thing in the morning so that we can eat sooner and be able to look after our babies like everyone else. xx