November babies - getting close now...

[KatieKat88]

Thought I'd post another November babies thread as I haven't seen one in ages. I'll be 31 weeks tomorrow and it's starting to feel very real now! Not that the crazy heartburn and ever expanding bump wasn't enough of a reminder... anyone else due in November and want to chat?

Hope you're doing ok @Weathergirl1! I'm 36 weeks today - I've washed all of the baby clothes (adorable) and got most of the stuff for my hospital bag (albeit none of it is currently in the bag...) feel like my bump may have dropped a bit and everything just feels heavier. Hoping that baby wants to arrive a bit early but still need a couple of weeks to get my head around the whole thing yet!

Thanks @KatieKat88 - I think I'm ok. Our doula has been great - she's clued up on how it all works here so has a plan of action for us 🙂

We have started packing a birth bag, but what I would really recommend to everyone given my experience this past week with having to come out to the hospital a couple of times unexpectedly, is to also pack a small grab bag with essentials in it for unexpected trips. Things like snacks, water bottle, phone charger/battery pack, cash, paracetamol (especially for OHs as if they aren't the patient they won't get it if they need it). After last week's DVT scare, it was actually a lot less stressful coming in this weekend knowing we had those things already to hand 👍

Hi everyone! I actually had what I think were some fairly strong Braxton Hicks this morning - was at work and for a little while got a bit worried but they did then pass. Also a huge amount of pressure in the pelvis!

I'm coming up 35 weeks too (in fact I'm scheduled for a c-section 5 weeks today) and finishing work next Thursday on the 31st, I absolutely cannot wait.

How are you going @smartcarnotsosmartdriver - just a few days work left for you now right?

@Weathergirl1 hope you are ok! The waters thing is something I find confusing (I have been leaking quite a bit throughout pregnancy) - sounds like you are in the best place under observation, hope they are looking after you well.

@leomama81 I'm ok. Still trickling and the midwife said that they're certain it is waters from looking at my last pad. Waiting to see a consultant this morning to talk about options. Baby is still moving as usual and my obs are all okay so i'm not expecting this to be an emergency. Our doula feels (from her experience of seeing this sort of thing before) that we're not currently showing any red flags for urgent delivery so I'm not too stressed about it. I know what you mean about the waters thing - The consultant yesterday said that the amniotic fluid is the baby's urine, so just gets replenished all the time (must have a bit of a thirsty bugger in there if they're weeing so much!) so I'm also now wondering what this all means especially with respect to some women having polyhydramnios - is trickling waters just a natural way of preventing that from happening? There doesn't seem to be much in the way of knowledge about it (I've been googling a bit to try and find out!).

Enough of me though - hope everyone else is being fairly uneventful!

I am 38 weeks since yesterday booked in for a c- section on Friday. I have to see my obs today she was talking about bringing the date forward but I am hoping to hold out until the 1st as I have other kids I have to think about that I have a plan in place for but the insomnia is driving me insane though now.

@Weathergirl1 fingers crossed it all goes well for you. You're definitely in the right place though which is a relief.

@leomama81 yes thank goodness. The pain is incredible but my last day is Friday. I just have to make it through until then.

how are you feeling @Weathergirl1?

@jpclarke Good luck for Friday - that will be the first baby on this thread won't it?

Had my midwife appointment this morning. Baby is still Frank breech :( I wasn't filled with confidence that she will move from this position either. Does anyone have any experience of a frank breech baby moving? I've got another check up in 2 weeks and if she's still not moved I'm off for a scan and then options will be discussed. Midwife didn't seem keen on ECV either as I have anterior placenta which can cause problems apparently. Anyone experienced this?

@Hayesdays I'm good thanks although still rather shell shocked. They let me home late morning - my DM . Need to get more antibiotics from the GP as the midwife suggested we'd be waiting 4 hours if we got them from the inpatient pharmacy before we left! Off back for an ultrasound tomorrow and probably a CTG trace.

No idea about Frank breech moving at that stage (I was a frank breech myself - don't think they tried to move me but breech birth was more commonly deliverered back then!). Have you tried the Spinning Babies website?

@jpclarke good luck for Friday if it's still going to be then. I totally sympathise on the insomnia. I really do feel like I will be able to sleep better with a small person around than I am at the moment feeling so uncomfortable.

@smartcarnotsosmartdriver just three days to go for you - hope it's not too bad 🤞

@Hayesdays with my Dc2 I refused an ECV on the basis of anterior placenta, from memory there's a lower success rate and a higher chance of the placenta detaching resulting in a EMCS. Did you ask whether anyone in the hospital will deliver a breech?

@Weathergirl1 that's nice you've been able to come home! So what are they saying, are they just going to keep watching for the moment? When are you due? I had no idea about the baby's urine - I'll have to get googling now myself!

@jpclarke that's exciting your date is coming up so soon!

@smartcarnotsosmartdriver fantastic, bet you are absolutely counting down the minutes. I finish next Thursday but I'm not working every day at the moment so I only have four working days left. I cannot wait!

Is anyone else finding themselves analysing every little symptom? I was half convinced I was in the early stages of labour earlier on (and I'm only 34+5) - I've been having these tightenings and waves of back pain and also leaking quite a bit (though that has been a feature of my pregnancy tbh 🤦‍♀️). But I've been laying down this evening and things seem to have eased off so I'm thinking BH and baby bouncing on bladder! I just worry that I won't really know though, and I'm having an ELCS so I need to get in to the hospital as soon as things start rather than wait and see...

@leomama81 35+0 here EDD is 26th! Just for the time being monitoring it...

Baby brain this morning in my post, I am booked for Friday week the 1st and thankfully she is still letting me go with that date unless baby dictates otherwise between now and then. It's still hard to picture a baby in my arms despite felling it!! Baby is measuring 8lb already 🙈

Hi everyone, dropping back in to the thread.
Feeling so huge now! 38w yesterday and feeling very uncomfortable and unsteady. Also feeling like a pretty rubbish mum to DS who is 2yo. I have to say no to him so much atm when he wants me to get down on the floor to play or climb all over me etc. I look after him full time so it's pretty exhausting! Thank god he naps is all I can say.
Also busy trying to pack our flat up as we (fx hopefully please!) complete on our purchase and move next Thursday but trying my best to not move too many heavy boxes and stuff.

Weird 'symptom' if I could call it that... my skin went haywire in the 1st T, and since then has been like miracle amazing prepubescent skin, but the last few days I've noticed one or two spots coming up on my chin where. My skin isn't bad usually but I usually get a few spots before my period is due. I guess what I'm guessing at is maybe this is showing a sort of hormonal chance and baby is getting ready? He's not allowed out until after we move!!
Has anyone else noticed something similar on themselves?

So insightful reading everyone's different experiences and pregnancy journeys. You're all doing amazingly!!

@ruralcat @Weathergirl1 thanks for commenting.

Yes had a look at Spinning babies, I'm going to give some of the moves a try!

Yes I think they will deliver a breech baby at my trust and Frank breech is their preferred breech position but my midwife (and pretty much everyone I've spoken to about it) has recommended not to as it is my first. My midwife said she's all for alternative therapies and homebirths too and would only recommend C-section if she thought it was the best option, so I'm inclined to take her advice. But I'll defo be giving all the funny positions/ice packs etc a go first! Wish me luck!

Glad you're home @Weathergirl1 hope you're getting plenty of rest.

Welcome back @MrBobLobLaw - Gosh moving house at nearly full term! You need a medal super mum!

38 + 2 today. Just had a midwife appointment today and my measurement hadn't changed since last week so I'm being sent for a growth scan, which isn't until Friday. Trying to remain calm but am worrying now. Our bathroom flooring and final bit of sealing is being done today and tomorrow so I don't even have a usable bathroom currently!! I only finished work on Friday and I feel I need time to just calm down and chill out but I get this feeling I'm not going to get it!

@BeckyHS oh blimey, I didn't realise I was the only one with unfinished bathroom renovations! It's really hard to stay calm I know, but if they were really concerned then I'm sure they would have wanted to get the scan done sooner than Friday. Fingers crossed!

Just come out of my ultrasound appointment and fluid levels look normal Sonu. Wondering if the leaking has been due to a bit of excess fluid 🤔 I'm now sat waiting to be seen in maternity assessment because baby is Frank breech... (Despite me thinking questioning it might be for weeks and multiple midwifes being certain it was definitely a bum under my left ribs over the past few days...). Good job I had a scan booked in, eh?

@Hayesdays I had the opposite problem in that it was my second time after a really good first labour but no one in the hospital felt comfortable to deliver a breech. I did have a section in the end because I felt like it was the best choice. It was actually a really lovely experience in the end though I was very scared beforehand.

@jpclarke that is my due date. As much as I am ready to meet baby I feel like I need this weekend to get everything in order!

Being 38 weeks is hard going I am glad I am not the only one feeling heavy and uncomfortable now. Even my feet are sore standing any length now. Finally packed my bag though today although I do still need to get a few bits tomorrow. I am tired and cranky with the kids though now, which is upsetting me as it's not their fault.

Well we had a rather traumatic discussion with a midwife in the clinic who didn't introduce herself and asked if I was 'surname' (no title!!) before proceeding to ask clinical questions in the middle of a public waiting room without checking whether DH and DM were actually with me or not (someone else's partner did try and walk in too!) 🙄 Anyway, thankfully DH did his gatekeeper job like a star and got her to reset and start again after finding us a consultation room! Crux is that I am pencilled in for ELCS on 7th November which is two weeks' today (Thursday). They can't induce breech (I would have refused induction anyway) and can't offer ECV in the case of PPROM (don't think I would have taken that either though). So only way to get it to turn now would be spinning babies sort of thing which we aren't sure is contraindicated for PPROM - our doula is investigating but we think that anything that makes it move and removes the 'plug' is probably not a good idea. Our doula did check whether I wanted to push to try and have a breech birth in the birth centre (apparently this still could be an option) but the scan measurements showed that the baby has a mahoosive head just like DH and I am not keen to get that stuck halfway out and end up with intervention, which she thought was fair enough.

The sonographer did give us an estimated weight of 6lb 8oz but heavily caveated it as not being that accurate - which was refreshing given all the comments you hear on these boards!

Blimey @Weathergirl1 good on your DH for advocating for you!
It all sounds really frustrating, let's just cross our fingers that baby moves. What would be your preferred outcome now you know your situation?

I'm feeling paranoid that baby is making moves to come early as my fanjo is soooooooo swollen, is this normal?! Anyone else have this?
It feels v sensitive, a bit sore tbh but mostly just really swollen. I had a look and was don't remember this happening with DS but I suppose that doesn't account for much. We're supposed to be completing and moving flats in a week so I need baby to stay in until at least then! I feel like I wanna sit on a bag of peas but dunno if I should just let it be ha.

Oh gosh @Weathergirl1 sounds like it’s been all go for you. How are you feeling about potentially meeting your baby in 2 weeks?!
I think this is the only tempting factor with a C-section for me, knowing that you’re definitely going to meet your baby! It’s what I’m trying to keep focused on if she doesn’t turn.

@MrBobLobLaw you’re not the only one 🙈 I’ve been ermmm puffy down there for the past few weeks! Alls a bit sensitive too. I imagine hormones and growing heavy babies are the cause!

I'm 39 weeks tomorrow, going to do the first of the baby washing today eek.
@BeckyHS at my 38 week appointment I was measuring 4 weeks behind putting me below the 10th centile. I only know this because I read my notes last night looking for something else. Wonder whether I should mention it to the midwife.

@Weathergirl1 I think I'm going to opt for a cesarian based on the giant nature of him and my anxiety around him getting injured. Spoke to the consultant today who was very supportive of whatever decision I make so that's something. For me it's the control and I think outcomes for babies are slightly better from a csection. Obviously it's major surgery for mum.

I also was told that he's potentially transverse after spending goodness knows how many weeks the correct way up he seems to have wandered off but I have another growth scan on the 8th of Nov so they can check then. I'll need to make my decision for delivery the week after on the 14th and possibly schedule my section for around my due date (27th).