April 2021 - The Last Stretch

[drumst1ck]

Made a new thread for us as we were coming to the end of the previous one!

Haha @Handsoffstrikesagain it's the time to get grumpy stage in pregnancy I reckon!

Congratulations ladies ❤️ lovely baby news

Got my ELCS date for 26th...by which point I'll be 40 wks they're trying to slot me in earlier but apparently there are a lot of lockdown babies being born this month!

@TheViewOutsideMyWindow that's my due date too! I don't think I can last until then though. It's a shame there are so many babies this month that means the post natal ward will be extra busy!

Had a few texts here too but I don't mind really.

Ah @BaaHumbugg!

It'll be a shock to have to wait until 40 wks tbh as my first came at 39. Wish I had an earlier ELCS date!

Had a sweep today and was happy to be told I'm about 3cm dilated! However she did say my cervix is about 2cm thick. Thought things would start quite quickly after sweep but nothing yet, not even a show or slight spotting. Oh well. Btw my sweep didnt really hurt. Has anyone experienced this? Any idea why this might be?

@Mumto3andexpectingagain can I ask how far along you are to have a sweep? I'm 39 weeks today and my midwife said they can't offer me one till I'm 40 weeks. I'm so desperate to give birth now this spd is agonising! Not to mention I'm slowly becoming pregosaurusrex 😂

I hope things progress quickly for you!

@Cookie9093 I am 39+1 today. I think its because of my GDM that they offered me the sweep, that and the fact that they could actually do it as I know sometimes if the cervix isn't far down enough they cant physically sweep it but I think mine was fine, probably cos I've had kids before too

Our trust doesn't offer sweeps until 40 weeks @Cookie9093. Sorry to hear you're struggling. I'm only 37+4 and my PGP/SPD is awful too. God knows how I'll manage another 2.5 weeks!

*until 40 weeks,unless a medical reason,eg GD or blood pressure issues meaning it would be better to have baby earlier

@Mumto3andexpectingagain as I see! Makes sense. I'm just so desperate to have this baby now due next Friday but I know she's gonna go over 😂 how are you after your sweep?

@TheViewOutsideMyWindow luckily I'm booked in next Friday for a sweep (my due date). Just got my fingers crossed she comes before then though I think that's highly unlikely, she's too comfortable in there 😂

@Cookie9093 I'm ok, I've not had any labour stuff happening, apparently sweep works between 12-48hours which will be up about 11 am tmrw but actually I dont think baby's ready so I've resigned myself to the fact it's not gonna happen yet. I've got to have another sweep on Thursday at 39+6 and if not then induction on sun at 40+2. I feel past caring now if I'm honest
Baby will come in it's own time

I just ordered my food shop for tomorrow evening - my due date. Being realistic and knowing that it's highly unlikely that he will arrive but I am getting very impatient! Went on a walk today with a friend and had to have a break mid way through. Feeling fed up with heartburn and pregnancy insomnia every night!

I did buy a lot of easy meals though - so I'm trying to tempt fate he will arrive within the week.

Good luck with the sweeps ladies!

With my first I planned lots of lovely things to do on due date, and lo and behold DD arrived early and I couldn't do any of them. Obviously I was delighted and thoroughly fed up of being pregnant! I'd absolutely do the same again if I wasn't having an ELCS!

My ELCS has been booked in for 39+6. I've never heard of one so late! Has anyone else? Is this BC there are so many babies being born ATM?!

I'm 39+5 now and still no sign of baby 😐. Had quite strong period-like pains the past few days so I was hoping for contractions to start but cramps have gone this morning. Has anyone else had any cramps/possible early signs?

@rainbow95, I’m also at 39+5 and pretty much the same. Yesterday I saw my consultant and she said I shouldn’t have my baby in the next week as she’s going to be on holiday 🙄. (In this country it’s all consultant led and all babies are delivered by an obstetrician which to me is bizarre but there we go....). I’ve been having some cramps and apparently 1cm dilated but this can be the case for weeks before labour proper! I’d really hope to have the baby next week as it’s more convenient with the other children (school holidays), but I’m trying not to get my hopes up....

Those who have had babies already, how long have you ended up staying in hospital? I know every birth is different but, random I know, I'm trying to get a rough idea of how much frozen collostrum to take in as I'd rather it not be wasted.

I'm told after an ELCS it should be around 24h if no complications, but I've no idea how often complications arrise.

I've 50ml in the freezer and thinking of taking in maybe 20ml in case of trouble latching or if I or baby is too unwell to feed at first. DH isn't allowed to leave and then return so I doubt I could ask for anyone to drop anymore off at the hospital in case we needed it. How much would you take in? Once defrosted it needs to be used within 24h. They have freezers, so would only be out of the freezer for the fifteen min journey there, plus time to get to the freezer, but those 1ml syringes defrost so fast.

@TheViewOutsideMyWindow I had an ELCS this week and baby was born just after 11am and we were discharged the next day about 4.30pm and that was a bit later than usual I think as they were super busy and had a new team starting in another ward.

@TheViewOutsideMyWindow I gave birth Thursday night and I was out by Friday dinner. I had to stay in at least 12 hours for observations on baby.

After a c section at my trust they make you stay in for at least a day.

Thanks ladies, that's useful to know. And congratulations on your babies!

Have been having period like cramps all night, doubt they're the start of anything but time will tell. It's my first day of mat leave today, my 3yo has gone to preschool and im going through the list of jobs to do before baby arrives. Defrosting the freezer is at the top of my list... so glamorous!

Anyone else feeling terrible?
I've felt terrible all pregnancy tbh but it's ramped up this few days, I can hardly
Keep my eyes open and my body aches 😭 40w tomorrow.
I've emailed my midwife about a sweep,
Which I didn't really want but desperate times!

@bunhead34 yep! 40+1 here and feeling soo unwell. Pelvic pain and lightning crotch is through the roof. I can’t sleep due to pain and restless legs so constantly tired. I don’t know how I’ll ever have the energy to give birth. And I’m frustrated because I know I should be doing things to get the oxytocin flowing but I feel so miserable.
I’m having a sweep tomorrow. Also don’t want one but I’m sick of this

Congratulations to those with new arrivals!

Yes! Feel awful and so fed up and then feel guilty for moaning!
Also didn’t want a sweep but had one at 40 weeks but my midwife could only do the stretch as cervix wasn’t favourable. Started some period pains and a bit of increased discharge but nothing apart from that.
Now 40+5 and have another sweep today, hoping things have progressed so midwife can do it 🤞🏼
If not I’ll be waiting for an induction date from Wednesday, there’s a bit of a baby boom here apparently so waits for dates are a bit longer.

I'm tired too. I'm 39+3 today. Had a sweep on Friday but nothing came of it. Another one on Thursday at 39+6 but will.get her induced on sun if it doesn't work bit I'm praying it will. I dont want to be induced because of the added risk of complications and interventions but I'm so angry with myself for feeling glum. Last night I had some pains which didnt go away when I changed position but I just took 2 paracetamol and went to sleep like I knew it wouldnt lead to anything. And it didn't. Trying to get out for a walk but to no avail