July - we’re half way (thread 3)

[PeanutButterFalcon]

Spotted the last thread was almost full so started this one.

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE I didn’t even think about what you drink after - would the advice be stick to water then maybe? To help reduce the stinging?

I found water, squash or tea all fine

I'm so jealous of all you ladies that haven't needed stitches! I needed so many after my last birth they were down there for over an hour pricing it all back together. I'm genuinely quite scared about having another vaginal birth because of this.

I've never used to spritz stuff before but I will be buying some this time round, like a PP said, it's only £20 so no big loss if you don't use it or it doesn't do anything but if it does work and you need it I expect it's be worth the money.

I did keep a sports bottle of water next to the toilets in my house after birth to squirt on my stitches while weeing- proper lifesaver! I never drank enough so it was so painful on my stitches without it.

I’ve bought boots own version of it. Happy to give anything a try to be less painful. Going to make a start on getting everything out and putting things away today! Feels so real now

@Warrickdaviesasplates bless you that sounds traumatic! Have you spoken to your mw about chance of it happening again / what you can do to prevent?

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE I don't really feel like my midwife listens to me. I did mention that I found my last birth traumatic as DS was really big and back to back so I struggled getting him round my pelvis, then obviously all the tearing and when he was born he wasn't breathing and had to be resuscitated.

She just said that he wasn't that big so I shouldn't worry about it. Very dismissive.

Luckily when I had a consultation appointment (about retained placenta in my first birth) I mentioned my worries about babies size and having a difficult birth again and was told that the consultant would request that baby's size was taken into account when planning this birth and that if I'm measuring large I get induced early. Which made me feel a bit better. I do have another scan and consultation at 32 weeks so I'll really go on about it then if I need to and see what can be done.

Luckily I'm measuring exactly right at the moment so hopefully it won't come to that again.

@Warrickdaviesasplates i am sorry your mw was dismissive, i do find its more consultants that are concerned about size etc than mw. I am seeing the consultant in 3ish weeks and hope they send me for a growth scan. The bump measure chart has baby at 4.5lb at 31 weeks.

@Warrickdaviesasplates are you due to see a consultant? If so I’d mention it to them, if not then you could ask to see one if you’re worried about it?

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE mine the same, I’m not worried though as that would make it around 9lb at due date and I’ve had 9 pounders before. Have any of your others been big?

Oh sorry just re read and see you have a consultant appointment at 32 weeks! I have a growth scan then too, fingers crossed it goes well. Remember you have the right to have the birth you want.

Theyve each been bigger than the last, last was over 9lb. Continuing at same pattern takes me to about 9lb7 for this one by due date.

Oh well fingers crossed you don’t go over then! Maybe they’ll induce you? Try not to worry too much, chances are if you can have a 9lb one with no issues then another half pound might not be much different? ( sorry, I have no idea if that’s true but that would be my first thought?)

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE have you asked if there's a plan for if you're having a bigger baby? 4.5lb at 31 weeks does sound quite big (although I'm obviously not an expert so maybe I'm underestimating how big they can be)

@Foxglovesandlilacs thank you for your replies. Yeah I have a 32 week scan for low lying placenta (so I suppose the big baby issue may sort itself out if I need a c-section anyway) and the consultant is meant to be calling me the next week to discuss it all so if the placenta has moved I'll make sure to push my point across.

I was quite annoyed at the midwifes "he wasn't that big" comment! I felt like saying "tell that to my Picasso painting of a vagina!" He was almost 10lbs for goodness sake, the midwives at the birth told me they wouldn't want me having another baby that big as the birth was such an ordeal for both me and DS.

Think I'll just have to get more assertive.

No plan as of yet, the 36 week app is too discuss this i think

I’ve not been told roughly how much my baby will weigh or does weigh. Does this only happen if you’re sent for growth checks? I’m only 31 weeks have my second measurement of my belly next week tho so maybe that’s why they’ve not told me anything yet.

I only found out roughly what my baby weighs as I went for a 4d scan. At my midwife appointment she said it was a guess where he was on the growth chart as he was measured across the way and not top to bottom 🤷🏻‍♀️ So it was based on the size of my bump. Can I ask have most weight predictions for babies been right or wrong?

@TiredAlreadyOhDear I think they only tell you if you have growth scans as that's when I was told about the estimate weight of DS last time. This time nobody has mentioned it at all and I don't remember anything being said with my 1st either.

Ive just pulled the info from my bump measurement chart tbh but it does fit well with the weight of my previous dc

I’ve had growth scans with all of mine (due to bmi of 30) and they were absolutely spot on with all except for the last one! They said he was going to be around 9lb and he was 7lb 11. It was a suprise when he came out, he looked tiny!

@Mrslouu - how is baby Erik doing?

What are everyone's views on covid and how careful are you? I don't go into anyone's houses, even my parents', but I have been in shops occasionally and we have had people in the house doing work. DH is a lot less cautious and thinks there is very little risk so we are a bit at odds as he doesn't see an issue with going into friends' and family houses... I just wondered if anyone else had such different views as it's difficult when we both seem to feel strongly about it.

@ElderMillennial I honestly don't know how cautious to be any more. I have been into shops since they opened and I'm happy to visit my parents house and a few friends once we can as I know they've been very careful as have I. I don't think I'll be going to any busy pubs or restaurants though.

I'm trying to stick to outdoor meetups where I can - its a tricky balance between mental health and COVID risk and I don't want to be a complete hermit. Thankfully my husband doesn't completely disagree with that and is happy to push back on any indoor meetups for now. Definitely getting nervous about cases increasing and also generally about people relaxing as they have the vaccine (think they forget that doesn't mean they definitely can't transmit it!). Most of my friends and family teach or nurse ie are definitely interacting with others. If I were offered the vaccine today I'd take it but have a feeling that the timings won't line up for a lot of us to even need to make a choice! Also nervous about how I'll feel after birth in terms of visitors and them holding baby but will have to cross that bridge later!

Id also take the vaccine now but with 7 weeks until due date it doesnt feel likely, one of my main worries is family who are going abroad on holiday

I wont be going in any pubs etc but do go in shops

I think i have now either got or got on order everything we need for baby!

33 weeks today!

It is difficult isn't it. I think I feel more nervous because things are opening up more and people are relaxing because they've had their vaccine... Then there are always new variants that cause worry.

I'm 37 so may be offered the vaccine soon.

I'm a bit anxious about my pregnancy generally and covid just doesn't help.

I am going to ask about the vaccine at my mw app next week see what she says. The area my hospital (and mw) are in are actually already dping over 30s but the area i live in are not!