Ovulation/TTC thread 4!

[hoola23]

@Aims1991 @CShandy01 @GemB03 @MrsRosaline @newtolineofduty @plantbasedlondoner

New thread as the other one is about to go!! Defo forgotten a few peeps! Please add ladies!

[hoola23]

@newtolineofduty oh wow!! Congratulations lovely! So happy he is with you safe and sound! And hopefully he continues to be a dream for
You! I can't remember your birth plan was it a c sec? Hope you're feeling ok x

We had our repeat growth scan yesterday and it wasn't great news so was rushed round to fetal medicine unit to see the consultant. Whilst he has gained a little weight, his AC has dropped further to the 2% percentile now so essentially he will be coming out at 37 weeks unless he drastically improves by our next scan in two weeks. Consultant said this was highly unlikely. Annoyingly for my anxiety there is no reason as to why he is small. All the blood flows etc all look normal and no signs of pre eclampsia either My brain needs an answer so these next 4 weeks are going to be so tough for me. They predict he will prob be born around 4.5-5.5 lb and will likely need to be in NICU for a little bit to fatten him up and monitor him. So stupid but I feel 100% responsible which I know is not the case but can't stop myself. Can't have a birth centre delivery and the induction will be non hormonal as small babies don't cope well with hormone inductions apparently so they stick a ballon into your cervix. Yikes! Or I can choose c section but I think I want to try as "natural" as possible. So Many questions and thoughts in my head now and panicking about practical stuff like what on earth do I pack in the hospital bag now, how will I feed him, do I need to pump etc etc I'm sure I'm just highly dramatic and he will just be a small but healthy kid. It's just such a shock when I'm such a lump 🤣🤣

[newtolineofduty]

@hoola23 sorry to hear you're feeling stressed lovely. I can't offer any words of wisdom in terms of the measurement stuff-only that if he has to come at 37 weeks he'll be absolutely fine, and I'm sure his NICU stay would be very short and that's even if he needs it. My niece and nephew were around the 5lb mark at 37 weeks and neither needed NICU.

What I will say is it is absolutely not your fault hun!

You can Google what to pack in hospital bags etc OR you can buy READY MADE hospital bags which are just amazing!! My friend bought me one and I just needed to add his clothes etc!

I'm a huge advocate of C-sections as I've had two wonderful experiences of them but you have to do what feels best for you hun!

Were you hoping to try breast feeding? There's no reason you can't and if you need to supplement him with a bit of formula to ensure he's gaining enough weight you can do that, and just keep pumping to ensure it doesn't affect your milk supply x

Sending love hun x

[LittleDoveLove]

@hoola23 big hugs, like @newtolineofduty said it is absolutely not your fault, please don't feel that way.
If he comes out at 37 he will be absolutely fine and I'm sure if he does need nicu it will be a short stay. I know it's hard not to stress but you're going to be amazing mummy. X

[hoola23]

@newtolineofduty thanks hun, I know you're right it's just so easy for your mind to go straight to blame isn't it!

I'm pretty comfortable with him coming out early and being little I think it's the not knowing why he is small that worries me and then I imagine he has some horrible condition or something.

I've been thinking long and hard about induction vs c sec and I'm actually swaying more to the c sec. Been reading nice guidelines and risk of emergency c section after failed inductions for small babies and opting for an elective c sec seems way safer to me. How do you find it? I'm just worried I won't be able to pick him up or basic things likes have a shower etc. my DH will only get a weeks paternity leave so I worry about those things!

Yes I plan to breastfeed - just wondering if I need to freeze some colostrum but will speak about this with the MW next week maybe

I got super organised this weekend, crib built, pram ordered and got some tiny baby clothes for him too so I feel loads better now I've got a bit of control back

Xx

[LittleDoveLove]

@hoola23 I froze mine when I was having a c section. All these little syringes in the freezer! You have to label and date them I think but your midwife will let you know what to do.x

[hoola23]

@LittleDoveLove sorry I totally missed your last message as well!! Thank you so much. I'm just trying to get through the weeks now and not obsess over everything

I have another MW appt tomo so I'll ask her about the freezing. I read you have to hand express and this can only be done from 36 weeks?

[LittleDoveLove]

@hoola23 yes there are tips you can do to help like I think warm flannel on boobs just ask her. I found it quite hard I didn't get that much really but I was glad I did it and anything is better than nothing! I wanted ti breast feed for first few days but he wouldn't take so I gave bottle. So I'm glad he had that hit of colostrum. I can't remember from what week. I think I did after 37 from memory though as that is what they class as full term I think? Check with your midwife I didn't want my DS coming early so I know I didn't start too early x

[LittleDoveLove]

But not hit! X

[LittleDoveLove]

Bit* sorry not with it today lol x

[MrsRosaline]

Have just seen all these updates.

Congratulations @newtolineofduty !!! So very happy for you.

@hoola23
my DD spent some time in NICU when she was born. Try not to worry. How did your most recent midwife appointment go?

@LittleDoveLove how are you getting on? X

[LittleDoveLove]

Hi @MrsRosaline AF has arrived. Bit gutted but atleast I know my cycle is back. I'm drinking lots of grapefruit juice as I read it helps with CM and the past couple of ovulations I haven't had any - did get pregnant in one of them but I would rather it was back to how it was before as important isn't it.
I've also booked myself in at fertility clinic to check me over and do egg count etc. with the two miscarriages and 39 just want to make sure I'm not wasting time with anything I might need some help with. How are you? X

[newtolineofduty]

@hoola23 I hand expressed some colostrum from 37 weeks but couldn't get much. I froze it and gave it to him when we got home, and then did some in hospital too. We went straight to formula though based on my experiences with my daughter last time and so that my partner can help with feeding overnight etc (I can't express enough to make up full bottles!)

I was really worried about how I'd be able to recover from a c-section but honestly it's fine! Especially the first one-second one is harder due to there being more scar tissue etc, but honestly my recovery was far more straight forward than my friends who had natural labours and tore etc!

The first couple of days it's tricky to move about but honestly by day 3/4 I was doing washing etc and it's really easy to lift the baby! Just take it steady and you'll be fine! Xxx

[MrsRosaline]

How is everyone doing? @hoola23 how are you getting on?

[hoola23]

Hey all! @MrsRosaline @newtolineofduty @LittleDoveLove
Hope everyone is doing ok and not melting in this heat!! Saw our consultant last week who diagnosed placenta dysfunction and small for gestational age baby. He is still on 3rd percentile for his weight and his femur length also dropped a bit on this scan too. She is re scanning again on 19th july where she will give us a date for delivery. Will depend on how he progresses but either next week or if we can, week 39. I've decided on planned c sec after doing a lot of research. Smalll babies don't cope well with induction and 1 in 2 end in emergency c sec which I want to avoid so to reduce my anxiety etc I'm going for planned c sec.

How is everyone doing? Xx

[newtolineofduty]

@hoola23 hey hun! I was just thinking of you yesterday and wondering if you've had baby yet! That sounds like a good plan. How are you feeling? Honestly you won't regret it-planned c-sections are the best! And the recovery is much more straight forward than if it were to end up in an emergency too. I have to say my recovery was much more straight forward than my friends who had 2nd/3rd degree tears too which was lots of them x

We're good thank you. Baby boy is 5 weeks old already! X

[hoola23]

@newtolineofduty yeah I feel ok about the c sec part now aside from actually thinking about the process which creeps me out a bit but I know I won't see it happening 🤣🤣 pretty sure I lost most of my mucus plug today (gross) and been having on/off mild period pain plus it really hurts when baby moves now but maybe he's just running out of space. IF I went into natural labour- can I still have a c sec do you know? I've really set my plan on that now so terrified it will randomly happen naturally!!

5 weeks!! Omg I bet he is absolutely beautiful. Hope you're being looked after too xx

[newtolineofduty]

@hoola23 yes sure hun you'd just ring your local unit and explain everything and they'd just do what they refer to as a 'planned emergency c/section' which just means it's planned but abit sooner than expected! It takes so long for Labour to progress so it's not like you'd need to be rushed in in an ambulance or anything! I had the same fears as you though especially when they leave it until week 39!

Baby boy is just perfect thank you. He's so patient and chilled and just adorable!

How are the teens about everything!? X

[hoola23]

@newtolineofduty oh good! I like to make a plan and stick to it!! 🤣

Oh I'm so glad he is doing well! ❤️

Teens are SO excited now! I haven't told them about the issues as I don't want them to worry too as they're on holiday with their mum for the first part of summer hols and I don't want them to not go if baby is early. I do wonder if the novelty will wear off once he's screaming at 4-am though 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[newtolineofduty]

@hoola23 aww that's kind of you to think of them x

You'll have to get them ear plugs! Baby boy hasn't woken up any of the other kids yet as they're all such deep sleepers luckily, although DP and I are sleeping in shifts in our bedroom and keeping baby boy downstairs in the lounge and sleeping on the sofa with baby boy in his moses in there! X

[hoola23]

@newtolineofduty oh that's good! These girls like to be night owls so I'm sure they will be woken up! Sleep shifts sound like a good idea but my DH has assured me he won't be impacted we shall see!!
Had final scan yday- still tiny but still growing so c sec is booked for the 3rd which makes me 39 weeks on the dot so 2 weeks today!! Terrified about the c sec but I know it's better than induction. My anxious mind can't help it!

[CShandy01]

Hi all!! So sorry for the lack of replying here. I never get any bloody notifications anymore 😩😩

@hoola23 if it’s any consolation my
little one has just dipped under the 10th centile and DD was on the 3rd centile. Apparently I should have been under consultant care from the beginning, but I got lost on the system 😂 DD was only 6lbs 8oz at 40+5. Little nugget is only estimated 5.1lbs and that was at 35 weeks, so they’re concerned he’ll also be small. To which my reply was - maybe I just have small children??!!

Got a scan booked next week and basically as long as he’s growing my 20g a day minimum then they won’t have to induce. So next week I could be fine or arranging an induction. My midwife came round today and asked if I had any ideas about birthing plan - my response was “get the little nugget out safe and sound”. I’ve learnt from last time to just go with my gut and go with the flow. It’s so easy to assume you don’t know anything when you haven’t had a kid, but actually your own intuition is brilliant. Don’t be scared to go with your gut 🙂🙂 I’m going to ask if I can have a sweep if they give me an early induction, as that did the trick for me last time. Xxx

[hoola23]

Hey @CShandy01 good to hear from you hun! Glad all is well! Were your babies under on just weight or all there charts?

Mine is asymmetrical growth restriction so started with AC and weight and now his femur length has plummeted too. He's only just 5lb now at 37 weeks they said placenta issue but to be honest I don't think they know the reason! Apparently though all the vital organs get prioritised which is why it doesn't usually show up until 25 ish weeks. I'm much less worried than I was when they first said and only two more weeks to go!!

Keep us updated on the scan! Hopefully baby behaves!

[newtolineofduty]

@CShandy01 good to hear from you! It's funny as I had a growth scan at 35 weeks and he was estimated to be 5lb and they didn't say anything about that being small? He was born 7'10 at 39 weeks x

@hoola23 how exciting! Honestly try not to worry. Elective c-sections are the best. I practiced soothing rhythm breathing (just Google!) during my section which helped me to stay really calm which helped x

[hoola23]

@newtolineofduty I swear they make it up as they go along half the time 🤣🤣🤣 pretty sure they expected my baby to be born weighing like 2 stone and that's why they're shocked 🤣
Will look into the breathing stuff for sure, I'm sure my excitement will kick in half way through!

[newtolineofduty]

@hoola23 I think for me the most overwhelming thing about a section is how 'quick' it is and the fact there's no 'build up' to the birth like there is with Labour. You've spent 9 months growing this baby and then you go in to the section knowing that in ten short minutes you'll meet them and then all of a sudden they're there! It's very surreal but it really is the most amazing feeling and I'm sure you'll look back on the c-section really positively! I'd recommend buying yourself some post c-section/maternity knickers that pull up way over your wound/scar X