Anyone else on maternity leave and waiting for their baby to make an appearance?

[ShirleyPhallus]

I’ve batch cooked, nursery is sorted, I feel fairly relaxed. Just waiting for this little one to make an appearance

Anyone else waiting now?

Thank you everyone - it was unfortunately quite traumatic and I ended up in surgery as soon as she was born so I’m coming to terms with that and determined I won’t let it take the shine off my gorgeous girl!
Please remember however it goes for you it will all be ok and you really do get the best reward at the end!
Much love to you all x

Hey everyone, just dropping back in to say I had my little girl on the 26th (2 days old now) a week early too at exactly 39 weeks funnily enough after eating pizza.
I started getting contractions 5 minutes apart at home then lost mucus plug and had a show. Got to the hosp at 11 and she was born by emergency c section at 2.40 am as her heart rate was dropping with each contraction.
Feel like u cheated as I was put under, so wasn't awake for the section but by god does it hurt now... Good luck with everyone who's still waiting. Its just the most immense feeling xx

@Rhcat1 congratulations that's lovely news

Please can I ask what your experience was like regarding birth partner, did they allow anyone with you? And if so how long for? Xx

@crazybutkind...
So initially he wasn't allowed in to the bit where they were checking me over.. Was horrid as I had to lie there strapped up through contractions and was only 2cm dilated.. But because the babies heart rate was dropping they wanted me to get to the birthing suite and rang my partner and told him to come back.
He was allowed to be there in the birthing suite but not for the c section as it was u der general anastenic.. Then he was allowed to stay with me after overnight but i wasn't on an actual ward.. It was like a private room. I know they're 100% allowed to be with you through the whole birth though.. But if you go onto a ward with other women I think they'd have to go home then.
I don't know what I would have done without him being there as recovering from a c section is horrific enough without any help from your partner

@Rhcat1 Thankyou for replying, how long was it he had to go away for when you was being checked? X

Ah @WingingIt101 and @Rhcat1, really sorry to hear that you both had difficult experiences one way or another. Hope you heal well and enjoy time with your babies

@crazybutkind it’s worth checking directly with your trust as all the guidelines are very different at this point. I saw midwives yesterday and for my hospital we are still allowed one birthing partner and he is allowed with me on the pre and post natal wards and is still able to stay overnight.

Thanks @ShirleyPhallus. I'm coming to terms with what I didn't want and being grateful we are all here safe!
She's so brilliant and DH is being a trooper. I think after what he witnessed me go through I’ll be getting away with no tea making duties for quite some time!!

The RCOG have just released guidance for hospitals and midwives which states that not only should women be allowed birth partners for active labour, but they should be ENCOURAGED to have birth partners during the Coronavirus pandemic as having a birth partner leads to better outcomes (the exception is obviously that birth partners with symptoms should not be allowed). If I am told otherwise I will be quoting this and wanting to know why my hospital is not listening!

@brummiemumm have you got a link to these current guidelines please? So I can be armed also! The ones I can find are 3 days old

@brummiemumm I don’t think any hospitals at all have even suggested banning birth partners. There was an awful thread on here a few days ago which suggested that but the OP was a troll and completely discredited at every turn. Birth partners are very much allowed during active birth and in some trusts, also allowed for pre-and post natal care too

@ShirleyPhallus I've only been worried as some women in the USA have been denied birth partners and so I was panicking it might get to that here.

The link is www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/

@brummiemumm imo it’s best to steer away from what they are doing in other countries and just concentrate on what is happening in the UK. Otherwise you’ll get tied in knots on the “what ifs”. Best to speak with your midwife and check what your trust is doing and go from there

Yeah I agree, they'll have different things in place for different hospitals so just ring up and ask. They told me they weren't banning birthing partners and they were allowed to be there through the birth and afterwards so just double check. Good luck to everyone else who is waiting. I'm just smitten.

Congratulations to all that have now had their babies, and sorry to hear it's been tough going
Hope you are doing ok @ELW85
I've been off Mumsnet for a while just to have a break but looks like some of the hysteria has calmed down now thankfully.
I'm 40+4 today and just trying to be patient but I'm not getting any indication, due a sweep but have decided to say I'll hold off until I get to 42 weeks to have one for now and just see how things pan out, first birth was a bit well horrid so hoping this one might go more smoothly! 😬

Heya ladies, apologies I sorta jumped on thread then went awol, just been catching up on everyone's news!
Massive congratulations to those who've now had their babies!
& best of luck to those still waiting!

Myself I had baby Freddie @ 8.04am on Friday 27th March weighing 6lbs 13oz by vaginal delivery assisted with kiwi vacuum & epidural. I also had an episiotomy - 2nd degree, so had stitches.
I had a pretty shit time of it tbh, was admitted at 6cm, struggling through the pain, had gas & air and diamorphine (didn't do much) was refused epidural to begin with due to white blood cells being present in my urine, was pushing for a while due to being found to be fully effaced & having urge to push just to have to stop after being checked again & found to be 8cm.
Had to wait to dilate so was popped on a drip to strengthen contractions - this intensified the pain so I had another diamorphine while waiting to see what would happen with my latest urine test & possible remifentanil or epidrlural.
I suffered for quite a while whilst waiting on the response and was surprised when they said I could have the epidural. I'm glad though I was struggling & baby was also by this point.
Pushed for 34 minutes (around 4 contractions) & baby Freddie was in the world 💙
Had the injection for the placenta to be birthed and vitamin k for little man also!

Currently on day 4 with him and I'm completely besotted 🥰 we are breastfeeding and I'm pretty sure my milk has come in now as breasts are super heavy atm. We're working our way through the sleep deprivation & I'm trying to keep on top of going to the loo & keeping everything down there nice and clean!
Taking every day as it comes! Little mans got an appointment at the hospital on Wednesday to follow up and do the heel prick test etc... looking forward to it as it will be a great opportunity to make sure he okay and I'm doing everything right!

Gonna do another post to reply to anything else I've seen you guys put while I've been awol ☺️
Hope everyone is well! Sending love! x

Hi all

Sorry for the absence but after a 41 hour (spontaneous) labour, Finlay Alexander was born at 11.47am on Saturday 28th March!
DH was allowed in but couldn’t go to the post natal ward and was only allowed to stay with me for a Max of 4 hours afterwards (even in our own room).
Mine is a pretty traumatic birth story and so I won’t openly post it as I don’t want to put anyone off, but if anyone is interested, I’m happy to share it privately!

@Rojelio - how are you doing my dear?

@ELW85 congratulations glad you are both safe
Wow 4 hours is good much better than I am expected to get my hospital basically said birth partners won't be stepping foot on maternity ward does they mean you were in labour room
For 4 hours or do you think it's because you had a traumatic time they let him stay longer ? X

Congratulations @lonelyonee sorry they made you wait on the epidural! It's horrible..
Congratulations to you @ELW85 glad to hear you've now had the baby but sorry it was hard going for both of you!
I was wondering about whether partners / DH would be sent home quicker with the Rona going on, our hospital allows men to stay overnight (not something I personally like though I do understand some women do) but I was wondering if this would be on hold now... from what you said it probably will be.
I'm good, ended up getting talked into my sweep after all today... I've got no chance of getting the drugs if I want them, I see a uniform and end up just bloody conforming!
But maybe it will get things moving, midwife said my cervix were favourable so hopefully it will happen naturally now... first birth ended in a section so we shall see!

I'm 39+5 today. Bored out my mind, don't even know what labour feels like. I just keep getting really long Braxton Hicks contractions/ period pains that last almost 5 minutes. Staring at the walls of the house is making me go crazy

@Leag1 I am 39+2 and similarly to you all I've had are random period type pains which last up to like 15 minutes but don't come and go regularly, just randomly a few times a day. It's so hard being stuck at home isn't it - my mind has too long to wander so my anxiety is through the roof! Hope it's not too long for you now x

I'm the same 39 + 5 days today! I've had Braxton Hicks but not really any period pains... trying long walks and lots of bouncing but not sure what to expect of labour as my first one too! X

Baby Shirley arrived last night after a loooong induction ending in c-section

All happy and healthy so far Wishing everyone else all the luck in the world

@ShirleyPhallus huge congrats ! How was it all? How long could your partner stay etc x

Congratulations @ShirleyPhallus wishing you a speedy recovery from the section
I've also delivered my little one in the early hours, needed forceps but was much less complicated than my first, just enjoying some cuddles now

Congratulations @Rojelio! Hope you and little one are well!