April 2021 - The Last Stretch

[drumst1ck]

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

@LittleAppleFan2021 definitely ring them, best to go and get checked out...could well be normal but pre eclampsia is something you really need to know about if you have it. You’re not a nuisance, it’s what they are there for. I have been in so many times I am now past the stage of worrying about that and from what I have observed during the hours I have spent in triage they are very very used to the fact that some people end up needing regular and repeat checks or contact.

@Inkpaperstars thank you for that, that's worth knowing. I'll call them in the morning xx

Hope all is fine.

@JTB123 that sounds like the start of something indeed!!!! Keep us posted :)

@LuckygoLucy ah I feel your pain! More difficult with having children at home already too, can't exactly up sticks and rush to the hospital at every twinge. That said, I've decided I'll be getting a cab to the hospital if anything happens in the night; I don't want to get DH to drive me, I'd rather he stay behind with DD rather than wake her in the middle of the night. Easier for me as the hospital is only a £20 cab fare/15 min drive.

Definitely get checked for preeclampsia @LittleAppleFan2021, albeit feet swelling is common in the final days and weeks. My feet were enormous when pregnant with DD in the summer! I noticed some swelling yesterday too but put it down to the heat.

Hope everyone is okay today.

Well I checked my blood pressure twice on our home BP monitor (Lloyd's pharmacy brand) and both readings were good, first was 121/75 then the second 113//71...the monitor was bought in January so it should be reliable?
I've tried to ring them this morning but get a recorded message... I'm tempted to see how it goes today and only ring if the stars thing happens again? Maybe check my BP this afternoon? Xx

@LuckygoLucy I totally get where you are coming from! Today I am 39 weeks but 38+2 according to hospital dates as they said they couldn't alter them at 20weeks scan. I've got my final midwife appointment today..which is only the 2nd time I've seen her the whole pregnancy! I'm booked in for a c section next week but I'll obviously be 40 weeks then as they won't change my dates so I'm also worried about going into labour, which is the whole point of having the section-to avoid a repeat of my last labour! I also had a final consultant app over the phone 2 weeks ago. I said I was concerned about blood loss in the op as I lost more than average last time, she was so casual like "yeah just mention it and you'll get an injection to stop it..." Erm anyone want to record it somewhere now?! 🤦‍♀️

@BabyB22021 this sounds a lot like my experience too. They won't book me in for an ELCS date until I'm 37+3, and they've said that date is most likely to be towards the end of week 39, I don't know why. I went into labour spontaneously with my first at 39 wks so I'd really prefer an earlier date to avoid the anxiety of going into labour naturally and it be too late for an ELCS! It would also help to have an earlier date as I'm really struggling with PGP and by the evenings it's unbearable. I also haemorrhaged badly the first time and had injections for ten days afterwards and a stay in hospital, but again no one seems concerned about that. I couldn't get an appointment to see my consultant before 37+1, for ten minutes, and even that is a telephone appointment. My ideal would be to be booked in for 38+6 as it's close enough to the "gold standard" 39 wks and so risk to baby is considerable lower, but it'll alleviate some concern at going into labour naturally and give me an end in sight to this awful PGP. And we could sort childcare for the whole week incase of complications (less important for the hospital obviously, but quite important for my anxiety). But apparently they don't consider maternal requests in my hospital. Argh!

Little thing but if you suffer with PGP/SPD like I do you can try coming down the stairs backwards using your hands to steady yourself. My new mattress is still quite firm do in the mornings my pelvic hurts like crazy so I find it easier to come downstairs like this. Just take it slow and steady though

@Mumto3andexpectingagain & @TheViewOutsideMyWindow I had bad spd but I've found sleeping on the sofa since January has sorted it out weirdly! Our mattress was new about 2 yrs ago and even has memory foam topper on it but it was way too firm for me as myself bump got bigger and my pelvis started moving. I read on Google that pregnant women sleep anywhere to help me with pain so I tried the sofa and after a few nights the pain disappeared! I think the sofa is soft enough to let my big hips sink in. May be worth a try? xxx

Please ignore my phones crappy typo's xx

@LittleAppleFan2021 I was doing this before but worry my waters might break on the sofa so came back to my bed as I had left the plastic on! Might have to go back to the sofa though!

@Mumto3andexpectingagain I've bought an incontinence pad from amazon for that reason it's big enough to fit a cot and is actually also marketed as a cot protector, covers about 1.5 seats of the sofa xxx

@Mumto3andexpectingagain

Ladies, thank you so much for the support! I just needed to get it off my chest and dh is rubbish lol. Strangly feel alot better today started to do little cleaning jobs which of course turned into full blown house scrubbing and I feel great only issue is a near constant almost painful need to pee, but then barely any coming out!
However the best/weirdest news was today i got a phone call from the midwife at the hospital and apparently they are "having to make changes to schedules" and they want to make sure they make my Cs as safe as possible they are bringing it forward! I'm in shock I'm wondering if they actually reached out to RHCH to get info and realised I wasn't being over the top or whether I'm just super lucky!

@BabyB22021 sounds like you could literally be at Mkuh as well its uncanny lol but also worrying how many mums to be encounter issues!
@TheViewOutsideMyWindow I've clocked another volunteer just in case for being 'on call just in case but think will look into how much a taxi would cost, however not sure I'd want to go without hubby as rubbish as he is every now and then he has my back lol.
@LittleAppleFan2021 I really hope you called about the pre eclampsia, I'm a huge hypocrite won't call for any reason myself but highly recommend for everyone else lol. Well tbh I'd call to talk but I don't want to be told to come in and get childcare at 1 am for no reason day time however I'm all over that. 🤪 mental I know.

Fingers crossed to those ladies due very soon who have started getting some signs
Xx

@MsHedgehog

And my baby has been born!!

I was due to have an elective c section this week but after a couple of weeks of going in and out of hospital for various reasons, hence my silence on the previous thread, my waters broke on Wednesday last week and they took him out that day, at 38 weeks! Luckily I didn’t experience any contractions but it was nice to have somewhat of a more normal birth experience than the strictly clinical pre planned op - I woke up in a pool of water and rushed to the hospital, and then was leaking all morning until they took him out!

Reluctant to post a picture online but he is absolutely gorgeous. He is healthy, almost 9 pounds and I feel extremely blessed!

They kept me in for several nights as there were issues with feeding him and then I developed an infection but we’re now home where breastfeeding is certainly proving to be a challenge. Sore nipples are truly a thing!

Congratulations! X

It's due date month! Last night I got a bit panicky about birth - I had a midwife appointment yday and she booked me in AFTER my due date for a sweep. It has now suddenly dawned on me that childbirth is around the corner.

I couldn't be more excited for the little man to arrive. But I am now getting scared about labour (not so much when in hospital as all the medical professionals will be there, it's more early labour/when should I go in/just not being able to appreciate what pains I will feel etc). Could any non first time mums please talk some sense into me!?

@1sttimemumtobe2021 even subsequent pregnancies are hit and miss. Im preggers with 4th baby. 3 weeks ago I went in to hospital convinced I was in pre-term labour but it was not. Yesterday I had actual labour pains which over the course of the day got worse but really gradually. I made plans for the kids and re-checked my hospital bag and put it by the door. But again it fizzled out.

I hate hearing this but it's true, labour is unmistakable BUT after its happened, then you'll think back to all your false alarms and laugh at yourself!!!!

I will say if you're in doubt, just ring the hospital, 1 to put your mind at ease that they are aware of what's happening and 2 so they can advise you and prepare for your arrival. Keep reading up on articles with signs of labour. A good way to think about it is as every hour passes has the pain got more intense, is it getting less bearable and do you feel like you need to poo. A lot of ppl will say as it's your first baby it might take long but I'm sure the other ladies on the thread will agree that this is not always the case as we all know someone who has had a super quick first labour.

Bottom line, dont stress, keep calm, call ahead and if it's a false alarm you are not alone.

Hope this helps

@firsttimemumtobe2021 I agree with Mumto3 you will just know!

I am still nervous even though I've done it before, I think it's because I don't know when she will come so I feel like I'm in limbo, although I have a way to go yet!

@1sttimemumtobe2021 This made me laugh... Only because I am still sitting here at 37+3 in denial and its my last day at work which is just such a weird feeling and this is my second child.

I actually didn't really prepare myself for the birth of my first (again denial played a large part despite my large belly) and my waters broke at home one evening whilst I was watching TV and even then I went to the toilet to check I just hadn't had a huge wee. I went into the unit to get checked over and sent home and asked to return 24 hours later if nothing had progressed. I returned 24 hours later for an induction and things progressed from there (didn't need a drip in the end just a pessary(sp?!)) all be it incredibly slowly. Waters broke Tuesday evening, baby born Friday morning.... safe so say i'm hoping this one is evacuated slightly quicker this time round.

Thanks all. All really helpful tips. It also makes me feel less alone! None of us know what to expect I suppose and if labour is unmistakable then at least I'll do something about it, even if it's a call to the hospital. Haha, glad to hear I'm not the only one in denial!!

Crappy day here, spent most of it in bed. My mum took DD for the morning and now she's busy watching Peppa pig next to me. Feeling sick, hot and cold, VERY weepy, pelvis feels like I've been kicked by a horse down there and I've got mild back ache. So fed up and so ready for this baby now. Only 38+4 so it's so depressing knowing it could still be weeks 😭

@drumst1ck yes but it could also be hours or days! Chin up kiddo, just remember to get all the rest you can before d day xx

Hang in there @drumst1ck

I am totally in denial too and given I am scheduled for admission tomorrow I think I will be remaining in denial for the rest of the pregnancy.

See you all on the other side x

Good luck @Inkpaperstars how exciting!