Pregnancies April 2018 - #3 the babies are nearly here !

[DaisyLand]

So we’ve nearly finished with thread 2! Just on time for the babies joining us !

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/3070393-Pregnancies-due-April-2018

@daisy congratulations on your new arrival!!

@madrainbow fingers are crossed for you and the MRI today. Hopefully a bed near home comes up for you!

Midwife appointment this morning was interesting, so after my CTG yesterday the midwife said that baby was 4/5 engaged so obviously still some way to go but heading the right way...today baby is free, due to excess fluid it's easy for baby to pop in and out of my pelvis!

If I'm induced it will need to be a managed induction as baby is not engaged, but she said I need to prepare for the idea that I may end up having a c-section, if baby doesn't engage and due to the polyhydramnios.

I've got another scan tomorrow to check fluid levels, I'm really hoping it's gone away on its own, as in my case it's quite mild so this is a possibility. I've also got a consultant appointment on Friday I'm hoping they make a decision what to do then, as I can't stand the not knowing, and the worry that I've got if my waters break at home before contractions start.

Hi everyone. I saw the doctor again today (40+1). She said my cervix is still completely closed and gave me a Bishop score of zero, meaning it is very likely that I'll need to be induced, which I really didn't want. The process will start on Monday at the earliest, though it depends on how busy the hospital is. (Considering how they treat foreigners like me here, I expect I will be their lowest priority).

I was really dreading going overdue as it means I'll have even less time with the baby than I thought before visitors from home, with all their criticising and interfering, start to arrive. (I quite clearly told them not to come but they went ahead and booked flights anyway). Now I feel under pressure to accept all these interventions that I don't want just to speed things up and give myself more time.

Nothing is turning out the way I wanted but I suppose I should have expected that.

Feeling very disappointed and frustrated - hope things are better for the rest of you. (Sorry for moaning).

@Harry I totally feel for you as I'm in a similar position, nothing has gone the way I wanted at all.

I wanted a natural water birth, in a birth centre close to home with no intervention or pain killers (except gas and air!) But I'm now staring down the barrel of either managed induction or c-section on a labour ward, which will bring catheters, canulars and an epidural.

The only thing that has stopped me breaking down crying is knowing that this course of action is what is best for my baby, and that's all that matters, but its still hard to accept that I'm not going to get the birth I wanted.

amysaurus87 Me too. I initially wanted a water birth but they don't have them at all here. (They'd never even heard of them). They don't do gas and air either. As far as pain relief goes, it's an epidural or nothing. It's probably going to end up being the complete opposite of the natural birth I said I wanted.

I'm sorry you're in the same situation, but as you say it's probably for the best. I'd hate to refuse an intervention and then have something go wrong. Fingers crossed for you.

Cracked open the Clary Sage for a bath earlier. At the very least it was a relaxing half hour. It does stink though! 40+1 tomorrow and like you other ladies, really hoping that things come on naturally! Hoping I can still give birth in the birthing centre as it looks SO lovely!

Just had a thought...today would have been my due date lol...can't imagine still being pregnant so I feel for all of that are still waiting. Stick in there...it's worth it ❤

Hi all! I'm new here :)

I'm 38+2 with my 2nd baby, been measuring 2-3 weeks ahead all the way along- fluid the upper end of normal and a big baby! (My DS was 8lbs 11oz) we are team yellow 💛

I'm hoping to go naturally and have another water birth like I had with my first- but like you @amysaurus87 if my fluid levels go above the "Normal" level I'll be looking @ induction too (sob!)

Congratulations to all those April babies whom have arrived already and good luck to those still to go!

X

Hi all, any post c section advice Please? My section wasn't planned and my baby was so huge that we had complications and ended up in HDU being pumped full of drugs the body isn't used to. Now 3 days post op I'm still really struggling with sleep. My empty stomach is particularly difficult to cope with. If I lie on my back the weight is too much on my chest and sides. If I lie on my side the sagging emptiness is quite painful and pulling me down. My legs feel full of fluid all over including hips and ankles so also incredibly difficult to get comfy. Hopefully we'll be discharged later today so at least then it'll be the bed at home I can adapt to rather than these awful hospital beds which are pretty impossible to get comfy on. Just wandering if anyone has used anything to promote quick shrinkage of the empty sag or any other ways to get sleep of any form. My milk hasn't started to produce yet so I can't sit and breastfeed hoping my stomach will quickly shrink!

@rosegarden45 the swelling in my legs and tummy took a good 2 weeks to settle which is perfectly normal after a c section. The quickest way to help it along is by keeping active. Walk around as much as possible as it encourages the body to reabsorb the fluid. Even when sitting or laying still make sure you regularly flex and rotate your feet. As for the empty tum...it takes some getting used to. The only way i could get comfy for the first couple of weeks was by propping myself up and almost sleep upright. Also...your milk may not have come in yet but you should still be feeding as often as you can. It'll get your supply in quicker, your baby will be taking in colostrum and your uterus will be contracting back down. Good luck...it does get easier promise!

Morning all!!

Ok so I am soo uncomfortable now! Have been having more sharp pains around the cervix and cramp/ leg pain periodish feeling... not for regular intervals or anything so think its baby moving down and getting bigger rather than labour.. which makes me worry if I'll know when I'm in early labour or not!??

@Bez9087 I'm having baby abroad where runny egg is a no no 😭 but had runny egg in the uk whn I was back. Its funny how food recommendations differ everywhere but I generally have followed (ish) whatever the local wisdom is, guessing imports/ local food safety might differ.. I think mostly its how cautious doctors are about certain foods that differ more tbh. They're stricter here annoyingly, but then they're super protective of the pregnancy process so my care has been really good- so pros and cons I guess.

Ergh, everything hurts! (Legs, tummy) struggling to get comfy!!

Wonder how many of us are still waddling?

Xx

@rosegarden like Anna said moving is key. I also found sleeping sort of propped up helped. I couldn’t sleep on my side for the first few days at least as it felt like it was pulling at the scar site. I’m 19 days in now and my belly is still like a jelly pouch. Midwife said yesterday it’s all still moving down which is why it’s still tender to touch. I’m still retaining fluid on my ankles but like Anna said constantly flexing them and rotation helps and also being up moving. It’s hard to find the right balance as some days if I move too much I feel the effects of it and rushing but then if I don’t move as much then I feel even more bogged down with water. Like the midwife told me we have had major abdominal surgery and if we didn’t have a baby to care for we would be fully resting for the six weeks recommended but because of having a newborn it delays the healing as such as you don’t get time to sit and rest as much as you would if you had just had a general surgery appointment. Also keep feet elevated helps with the water retention too. It does get better I promise.
@teee it’s crazy how it differs place to place but that’s fab they are providing amazing care that’s what you want
Good luck @Rae today bet you can’t wait to meet your gorgeous little one.

Morning ladies, we're still in Cambridge but it's only because we are a low priority to the transfer team now. Looking forward to going home.

I found with my own water retention (though I had vaginal delivery) that my husband massaging my feet while elevated has helped enormously with the swelling. It wasn't until he started doing that that I saw some real improvement

Have any of you given birth on your due dates? Mine is tomorrow and it's a running joke that I am so punctual, my little one is hanging on to arrive bang on time
🙈

Feeling really emotional today. My best friend lives on the other side of the world and I haven't seen her for three years. This afternoon a massive box arrived with presents for me and the baby. I haven't even opened any of them yet as as soon as I saw her handwriting on the box I started crying and have pretty much been non stop crying ever since. And my husband was only saying two days ago how surprised he is at how pregnancy hasn't really made me any more emotional.... Guess I've been storing it all up until the end!

We brought Lyra home today . I am currently sat on the sofa with my DP snoring next to me and the baby between us. It's been such a long week and I have been so looking forward to bringing her home, but now I'm totally nervous about our first night!!

We did spend the night alone with Lyra last night but that was on the intensive care ward... I know it's irrational but I'm convinced I'm going to break her!

Fieau I know exactly how you feel. I was ok emotionally until the last week or so. And now she's here, I still cry at least four times a day. Sometimes it's because I'm so happy, sometimes it's because I dropped my sock... I would definitely cry in your position too!

I would also recommend moving around a lot rosegarden45 and arnica, which I think has really helped. Also, stay on top of your pain medication.

Thanks for all of the advice regarding recovery. We were discharged home last night so just had first night away from the experts. Nearly ended up staying another night because the Dr decided I needed another blood transfusion. Luckily we managed to get it cross matched, ordered and hanging in time for dinner so I ate and had my blood before escaping the ward and home by about 9.30. Now I'm home I can walk around more and already feel like I've run a marathon from all the up and down stairs finding things I needed to get through the night. Hopefully all the movement will give me a kick start into healing.

So this was husband's first night with baby. I think we survived pretty well but he is very unhappy. He has very little patience and really struggled with every little noise coming from the crib. He tried to help me but his frustrations got worse over night. Being day 3 my milk was starting to come through and baby was showing clear signs of wanting the milk but I couldn't get him to latch at all. I tried for a lot of the night on and off. Husband wants to instantly reach for the formula but I know the milk is coming through so I want to give it if I can. The biggest problem is baby gets really frustrated with the latching so he starts kicking and kneeing me in the stomach and scratching at my nipples with his nails. I was so uncomfortable every time we tried to feed because everywhere is so sore. Midwife on the ward yesterday said it will take longer for milk to come through because I've been so poorly and iron levels are still so low. I just don't know whether to keep trying with latching over night which causes stress to baby and to husband or just reach for the formula as this make them both happy. Last night I ended up perched on the side of the bed expressing with the pump so that baby could at least have a little breast milk. Apparently a midwife will visit today as we are first day home so I can ask for further support with feeding. I feel there is a lot of pressure to breastfeed so it must be worth all of the stress but then I don't want to cause further stress just for the sake of breast milk if formula could be the answer.

@rosegarden45 it's worth it in the long run so do persevere if you can but ultimately it's important that baby is fed. Baby will pick up on your stress and tension though so do try to relax when trying to latch...easier said than done I know...especially if your hubbie is stressing too. Pop a pair of mits on baby at night so no scratching and try the rugby hold. This will take all the pressure off your tummy area and also allows for a deeper latch. Google the flipple technique too as this helped me immensely with getting little one on the breast. Perhaps feed in another room until you've mastered it to reduce stress on you and hubbie? My milk didn't come through until day 5 due to c section and iron issues but just keep boobing as this will encourage it through and give baby all she needs! Good luck...it's tough but worth every minute of your efforts x

We are back in our local hospital! Been here since yesterday afternoon and we've already been feeding well and have the monitors off! Really hoping they're gonna let us go home today...

Hi everyone, will catch up properly later, I’m aware I’ve been awol for a few days and the thread has moved so fast! Hoping this means lots of good news and a few more arrivals!

It looks like those 2 days of on/off contractions were the real thing! Waters went at 4am Sunday morning. Was told to go in but they wouldn’t examine me due to waters going and risk of infection. Laboured in the Bath and they finally examined me at about 10am and I was 8cm! Cue some much needed gas and air and we were moved to the pool room. Albie was born at 12pm that afternoon. Absolutely perfect 💙

Will catch up with all your posts later ladies. Best wishes to all x

I think I’m getting days muddled it might’ve been Monday... he was born on 10.4.18 and weighed 6lb 10oz 😂👍🏻

That's great news MadRainbow. I hope you are able to go home to enjoy cuddles.

Congratulations emvy . He's gorgeous, and a lovely name. I too have no idea of date or day... I expect things will become clearer in a few months!

Huge congratulations on everyone's arrivals. I am a little jealous as I'm not due until 24th which feels forever away. My little one has definitely
dropped a lot now though and I'm very uncomfortable in my foof along with period type dull aching nearly all of the time. Hopefully this means things are getting ready to proceed.

Well done all of you lovely mummies who have had their little bundles, you are all amazing and the fact that you are trailblazing is really helping me and getting me ready! Whilst I know you have struggled with some aspects I am finding all of your insights so useful! :)

@emvy congratulations what a lovely name! The 10th was Tuesday lol...but yes everything blends into one and you lose all concept of time! Enjoy your little one and well done on what sounds like an epic birth!

Ahh @emvy congratulations! I knew you wouldn’t be long the other day with how you was describing your pains. Welcome to the world little Albie 💙
@madrainbow fingers crossed you get home today that’s amazing little one is doing so well.
@rosegarden ultimately it is your choice but like Anna said fed is best. Whether it’s bottle or boob. Your sanity and peace of mind is important so which ever you feel comfortable with. When I had my dd I really struggled to get her to latch etc and in the end gave in to formula and wish I hadn’t. Then when I had my ds I breastfed him and he was a natural breast feeder. But I stopped after a few days as had so much going on with my body and recovering I felt I couldn’t cope with it aswel. Where as with the twinnies one breast fed so well and one better with bottles but when we got home we moved to formula for both as that was always our plan. It’s hard when your both tired and need to sleep to not take out frustration on each other but the same time don’t make a hasty choice if it’s not what you want. Either way baby will be fed and content which ever way you choose 😊breastfeeding is difficult the first few weeks from what I have been told but then it gets so much easier. My best friend is currently breastfeeding her baby and breastfed her now 2 year old exclusively until she was 6 months. Hang in there your doing amazing the first few weeks with newborn and tiredness etc are a killer but it’s so worth it 💜

Congratulations everyone who’s babies are here already. Love looking at all the beautiful baby pictures.
I’m due on the 26th which feels like forever away and I’m completely paranoid about every little pain and sign.
Not posted before but I’m suddenly feeling in need of some hand holding from people in the same position, had a rubbish year so far and I’m so ready for this little girl to be here