Trying anything (everything?) at this point!!!

[A1b2c3d4e5f6g7]

@Marvellouslymadmum @choccrumpet @Slk3558 tagging you here into a new thread as ours is getting full!

@Slk3558 we got a Stokke adjustable newborn to cotbed for the room, that wheels between our room and nursery. Then we got a travel cot as we're overlapping mat/pat leave and going travelling, but can use that in the lounge if needed - has a newborn insert.

Just because people who got the 0-6 month cots said their babies outgrew them by a month or two so it just seemed a waste. And they were expensive!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 Had a look at that stoke it’s really good the way it eventually changes to a full size toddler bed !

Re your GD, a few times I went for midwife check up and didn’t do urine tests (forgot and they never pushed me to one) and then 2 weeks ago at 32 week check up the MW said there was some sugar in my wee but had nothing to compare so would test again on next app. I’m not in high risk cat and baby is measuring 50th centile.

Since then I’ve been feeling thirsty all the time and I do feel the need to wee a lot but I put that down to position of baby. I’ve not had my 34 week check up because I got covid last week so it’s been postponed. Now the last two days I’ve had a horrible salty taste in my mouth permanently and thirsty.

Do you think I might have GD? I’m really panicking over eating anything sweet but now I feel like I’m depriving myself . 😩

@Slk3558 I really don't know, I didn't have a lot of symptoms, just thirsty and tired sometimes. I had a BMI of 19 at check in, and baby is only about 65th centile for weight, so no flags except my sister got GD. At the clinic I'd say about 1/3 were overweight or obese, 1/3 normal weight, 1/3 were thin. Would say don't let them fob you off and get them to give you a test for it. I've never had sugars in my urine though so I don't know how common they are.

Gosh Covid also, hope you feel better soon x

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 thanks I ordered some glucose urine strips and got attached result. Probably a bit inconclusive? I know I shouldn’t attempt to self diagnose 😂

I have my midwife app on Wednesday will ask her to do another test.

Yeh typical to get covid right near the last hurdle after going through whole pandemic without getting it. This omicron is everywhere though. I’m feeling fine it’s just congestion now lingering a bit. Baby has been active as well.

How are you getting on ?you’re getting induced v soon aren’t you? I’ve been offered an induction at 39 weeks not sure why think my consultant just wants to err on the side of caution given my history and everything. Haven’t decided yet, don’t want epidural and heard the drip induction can be a lot more intense.

Xx

@Slk3558 really sorry I don't know about sugar in urine at all, I've not had any in mine for the whole time I've had GD. Ask them if they can give you a blood monitor - you can take your blood every morning before food, and then every hour after a meal, and you'll see if you have any issues with blood sugar. Hope they're going to test you more though!

Do you have to take aspirin or any clexane jabs after the coronavirus? Two of my friends have just caught it in the third trimester also, luckily they haven't been too ill, but it's rife now.

Just had my 37 week midwife appointment and hopefully getting an induction date for next week. Waiting to hear. He was head down and partially engaged though, so I'm hoping to do all I can to beat the induction date! What're you thinking about the potential induction? I've been told by several people, including the midwife, that for pessary you prob won't need epidural, but the drip is very very painful and to def get one for that.

For those being induced I was induced with my first, I had the pessary and first day failed, then went in to labour on attempt two on the second day but was still only 1cm at the end of the day so they gave me a sleeping tablet and told me to rest, third day it had all stopped and failed induction on day 3 they wanted to wait and try again in two days which would've been xmas eve or gave me the option of c-section so I went for that, I was still only 1cm and no contractions was sore tired and fed up and didn't want to have him on xmas day, they never even offered me a drip but my mum had one with my brother and said it was very painful so avoid if you can!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I’ve got my midwife app tomorrow so will query it. Re blood thinners I’ve heard that too I guess I will see tomorrow.

I have read many stories of the pessary not working or not inducing labour on its own, so they then have to manually break your waters and then you go on drip to make contractions start. I think i will end up being induced at 39 weeks but I am going to try and hand express colostrum from 37 weeks as heard that can prepare the body for labour. I am scared at the thought of the drip as I do not want an epidural just because of the long terms risks which I know are low but I just don’t like the idea of it. I might discuss again with midwife tomorrow, I’ve also heard of the balloon induction as well have you heard of that? That seems to have more positive testimonials..

@Marvellouslymadmum the thought of a failed induction is awful..

@Marvellouslymadmum how are you? How is it going with the medicine?

Your induction experience sounds awful.

@Slk3558 yes I asked my midwife about the balloon today, she said it'll be very unlikely the consultant would agree to it for a first time birth as it's not likely to work. Mine will be a pessary followed by a drip. I've started expressing colostrum each night last three days and it does give twinges. His head is partly engaged apparently so maybe it's working who knows 🤷‍♀️ I have induction acupuncture at the end of the week also so will see if that helps.

@choccrumpet how're you getting on?

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 it was a nightmare but I got my son via c-section on 22nd and home 24th so it was all good!
I'm doing ok, last month was 60 day cycle then af was very light and weird so don't think I ovulated at all or very slightly on the clomid first time, this time it's cd23 and i ovulated yesterday or today which is better! How are you feeling?

Ahh yay so it's worked a lot better this month @Marvellouslymadmum that's brilliant!

Yes all okay here thanks, my last day at work on Friday, and hopefully induction next week

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 yes definitely a lot better! Still not as it should but better, I'm ringing for my progesterone result today but I'm expecting it to be very low still as I didn't ovulate until after day21. Can't believe you're ready to have baby, it's gone so quickly!

@Marvellouslymadmum sounds like they might be recalibrating the drug dosage better though so it's now working? That's amazing if so

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I definitely had a really strong ovulation this time so hopefully it's doing its job!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 have you been induced yet? Xx

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 good luck, hope all goes well x

Thank you, I had him this morning. It was honestly fine @Slk3558 just a lot of tedious waiting around.

The pessary and gel were okay, and dilated my cervix. I didn't find them painful. They got me to the point my waters could be broken manually (that was okay also, not painful) and then I went on the drip. Drip was painful but after four hours I got an epidural and just topped it up the tiniest amount. Took away 60% of the pain and I could still birth in lots of positions and walk and move around. And feel when to push etc. I had a back to back birth with no interventions or injuries etc.

What're you thinking about yours?

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 aww yay congratulations lovely so pleased everything went ok for you! X

Thanks @Marvellouslymadmum!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 oh fantastic news big congratulations and so glad it was without complications! I bet you are over the moon.

I’m booked for an induction at 40+2 but hoping to go spontaneously before then. I have heard the drip is painful due to it being very intense and most woman opt for epidural. I personally don’t like the idea of the epidural even though I know the risks are low - so that’s why I’m hoping to go spontaneously.

I had a growth scan on Wednesday at 36+1 and she was estimated to be 6 pound 3 ounces so she’s gained good bit since last scan at 32 weeks. She’s head down with back facing my stomach so hope she stays that way.

How long was it from when they gave you the drip to when you pushed him out? Also What did he weigh in the end? Xx

@Slk3558 I hope you do go spontaneously 🤞 it would be much nicer to get to do the beginning labour at home! And not to have the faffing around waiting and lack of sleep on the induction ward.

He was meant to be large from the growth scans (97th centile abdomen), but he actually only weighed just under 7lb at 38 weeks. I had seven hours on the drip, before pushing started. Pushing was 1.5 hours but had it been straightforward this would have been quicker I think. If you do have the drip, be aware it can be turned up and down or paused. So you're not stuck on it if it gets painful - they can scale it back (and they did for me when it got too intense). My sister did both of hers with diamorphine or gas and air only, so you don't have to have the epidural. I just didn't like gas and air and didn't want diamorphine.

Keep us posted on how you go!

Thanks @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I will do. I know your probs really busy with baby but was wondering if I could pick your brain re this gestational diabetes stuff. I’ve been so thirsty and dry mouth last few weeks and even though midwife found glucose traces in my urine she said she wasn’t overly concerned and too late to refer for GTT now anyways. But due to my symptoms I decided to buy a home glucose test. My fasting level this morning was 5.2nmol and at 11am I had a few slices of toast with beans then went outside and came back and had 3 dates about 2pm, my reading at 3pm was 8.2nmol. That’s coincided with a lot of thirst.

Do you have any experience with glucose levels ? Does 8.2 nmol sound like GD to you?

Advice much appreciated x

@Slk3558 so your levels do seem a little high to me. 5.2 for fasting is borderline, and anything 7.8 or above is high for after eating.

You'll want to test exactly one hour after finishing a meal, and if it's over 7.8 then it's a high reading. If you get a few of these I'd be inclined to contact the midwife. Because I can't see that it's too late. It's super important to keep the levels stable during labour (they tested my bloods every hour) so the baby comes out not too badly affected from blood sugars.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 thanks for your help. It was 6.8 an hour after dinner today and that was with omelette and salad so virtually no carbs. I don’t know how I meant to get a realistic reading though , like should I just have something which is not carb restricted like chips for example , and see what the reading goes to after an hour? X

@Slk3558 I'd test it out by eating a normal meal with carbs and seeing what the reading is. When is your DD? If it's high and they won't test you, you can still follow the GD diet yourself - there's so much info on the diet on the gestational diabetes webpage. Basically though, it's a lot of veg, nuts, seeds, good fats and small portions of whole grains

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 DD 15 feb! Yeh it’s a bit like keto isn’t it? Oh god I had some Greek yogurt with a tangerine and some blueberries and the tiniest bit of honey and 1 hr post reading was 9.4 🥺🥺🥺 not looking good this !