June 2021 - Part 5 (nearly there)

[BlondePotter]

This is the continued thread for June mums to be!

Feel free to drop your due dates in for a reminder 💛

I'm due 7th June with my first baby 💛💛💛

Sounds like a good plan is in place for you @Fishingforhappiness. How do you feel about induction?

I hope your scan today goes well.

@PinkPlantCase Mine came today and V thin straps, not support as such like a usual bra! Seems like a really lightweight crop top, seems to feel good so far!

hi, Morning all, good luck @Fishingforhappiness , keep us updated 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻.

I seem to have hit a wall of extreme tiredness the past few days where even walking up and down stairs is a task, legs actually ache 🙄🙄🙄🙄. Feels really pathethic 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Anyone else feeling that level of exhaustion? I’m 34 + 5 days ❤️

@PinkPlantCase I also have something similar from ASOS, it's been a godsend as normal bras just squishes everything, Inc the contents of my stomach.

@Fishingforhappiness yes please keep us updated with progress!

@airrrr yes mainly hip joints actually that ache when going up and down stairs... I haven't been walking every day like I used to either because I just can't muster up the will-power/energy to do it!

Good luck today @Fishingforhappiness, I hope your scan goes well!
@Airrrr I’ve been feeling like that for weeks too! I’ve put it down to the massive amount of extra weight I’m carrying and also my iron levels were a bit low at 28 weeks so I think that didn’t help. They do feel a little better since being on iron tablets though.
I found this really helpful website (it’s Australian but the content is still relevant) regarding expressing colostrum pre birth and how it’s not a problem if you can’t do it but that you can also use a Hakka pump to try if you can’t get any hand expressing. In case anyone wants to read it for themselves: milkbarbreastpumps.com.au/blogs/news/how-to-express-colostrum-during-pregnancy-and-why-you-should-do-it

@Humpty11 What were your iron levels?

Mine were tested at 28 weeks too, and were 10.5 so borderline of when they would prescribe Iron tablets. Mine haven't been tested since.
I have been taking a supplement and also having lots of Green veg with Vit C for example. I'm a vegetarian and don't eat fish either. I also don't eat dairy milk or yoghurt but do have cheese once a week or every 2 weeks, so could very well be low Iron ?

@airrrr
My tiredness is up and down. Some days I worry that's it and I'm going to be stuck feeling so tired throughout the rest of pregnancy. Other days I'm lucky and feel quite productive.

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For those drinking rasberry leaf tea, how much are you drinking?

Also, anyone eating dates? I read about studies (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21280989/) where those can maybe help.

Had a really frank honest conversation with a lovely consultant this morning. She agreed to let me home today as my blood pressure is now stable, no longer have protein in my urine, ctg was good and my growth scan shows that she is roughly 6lb 2! As all is well I've pushed and opted for extra monitoring, continuing medications, blood pressure and urine monitoring twice a week via midwife. I have a BP monitor for work anyway, so I'll check. The most stressful part is that I was planning on working for another 2 weeks and had to have over all my work this morning which was difficult. If all continues to remain well I've pushed back induction to 39 weeks as it's something I really don't want, knowing they are usually longer, more painful labour's requiring intervention and at the moment we are both well. With the hope she comes before 39 weeks. If i do spontaneously go into labour or that the pessary alone works, they have wireless ctg monitors and I can still try a water birth. If my blood pressure goes up, birth will be bought forwards and my plans will go out of the window. I feel like I've asked and they have agreed a goof compromise and I've tried my hardest and that's all I can do.

@MimiDaisy11 my antenatal class instructor told me to start eating them at 36 weeks, Luckily it was Ramadan so plenty for sale! 3 medjool dates per day.

I eat dates as my usual diet anyway, so I've been eaten 2 a day since the beginning of pregnancy :D

@MimiDaisy11 I bought some raspberry leaf tea last week and I'm having 1-3 cups a day, depending on when/if I remember. Also trying to eat 4 dates a day, but been pretty inconsistent with that too!

I'm 37+6 today.

@Fishingforhappiness Sounds like a very sensible plan. Hopefully the extra monitoring will keep a good, close eye on everything. Fingers crossed baby stays put for a bit longer and comes on its own accord!

Nesski its a bit daunting as so different to my other 2 births already- 1st on due date, 2nd 2 weeks early but lead entirely by baby etc while this seems so formulated in comparison if you get me...booked in for sweep...then 4 days later induction.
Not sure how I feel about being on a shared ward overnight right now really either- but just following whatever the medical advice is and will comply! Hope induction is smooth and don't have to resort to drip etc. How are you doing?

Fishingforhappiness thanks- hope you can manage to get home. A private bay sounds much better than shared ward- did you manage to get much sleep?

Dates- Im eating 5/6 a day haha is that a lot? I haven't been on the raspberry leaf tea this time as ive heard you should be careful if youve had a c section or if youve had high BP (im on beta blockers from last preg). And I'm pretty much addicted to pineapple 😂

@Fishingforhappiness sounds like a really thorough & sensible plan, hope you are doing well 😊

@MimiDaisy11 yep I've been putting dates in my breakfast ☺️ I do actually like them though so not a chore.
Won't bother with raspberry tea as I'm not a tea person.
I have a meeting with a hypnobirthing practitioner tomorrow whi is starting a new birth preferences workshop so I'm looking forward to that ☺️
And 37 weeks today - off for my 36 week appt in a bit. They were fully booked for last week... You'd think they'd leave space for routine appts or just book them all in at once 🤷🏼‍♀️

@AIRRRR mine weren’t as low as yours, they were 110 (so 11.0 in old measurements) and had dropped from 132 at booking appointment. But because I said to the doctor that it would explain my exhaustion and restless legs he prescribed me ferrous fumerate to take because I was symptomatic with the drop and I definitely felt better for them. I had bloods done again at 34 weeks because I had to have a manual removal of my placenta last time but haven’t heard anything so I’m assuming that they’re better. And I’ll have to have them checked again tomorrow at my 37 week midwife appointment. It might be worth giving the GP or midwife a call if you’re feeling it more now though because I think it’s more common the closer you get to due date.

@Fishingforhappiness that sounds positive and a good plan to keep being monitored too. Hopefully she comes by herself before 39 weeks. If not then not all inductions are horrendous, I think you only hear about the awful ones. I was induced at 38 weeks with my son for pre eclampsia and I had the first pessary and my waters broke about 13 hours later. When they examined me I was 2cm dilated and the next time they examined me (about 6 hours later because I asked for an epidural) I was fully dilated. I did end up having to have a forcep delivery but because of his positioning (& big head) rather than anything else. Fingers crossed it doesn’t come to that but honestly there are some positive induction stories out there.

@Fishingforhappiness I might be induced too. I really wouldn't stress about it to much, you'll be in good hands. I was going to try and bring as much comfort from home as possible to relax me.

Remember the Internet will probably only have horror stories as this is the place people will come to complain about stuff. Positive stories don't sell. And given that apparently 1 in 5 women end up being induced they can't all be bad, it's statistically impossible.

Thanks for the advice re breastfeeding 😊😊

Officially 36 weeks tomorrow, can't believe it 😱 have an appointment tomorrow but not sure if I'll have a scan as the health derive here in Ireland has been hacked and a lot of appointments are being cancelled and machinery out of order. Just want to know if baby is still in correct position and if she's dropped down any bit.

Woke up this morning to an explosion of stretch marks on my tummy , like literally over night !! I don't mind but it's just mad how they appeared overnight 🤣 I had been using bio oil and sudocrem and e45 but I think they just happen anyway so no point fighting it.

@TerryRose I feel ya, although I've had three pop up at the underside of my belly, fully prepared for the rest to follow suit, they are more brown in colour than red so more subtle.

@sundowners hoping the sweep does the job for you! But regarding induction just take the drugs if you need them!

Ahhhhh ladies all so exciting, a few of us are going to have babies in the next week or so!

Has anyone’s else’s MW told them
about engagement? Mine didn’t on Sat at the 34 wk appointment but just checked my online notes and it says 4/5 for engagement, I have been feeling pressure and period pains more so, so it could explain those feelings

@AlRRRR mine hasn’t mentioned it but my notes say 3/5 from my last appointment. I had to Google which way round it was though, I assumed 5/5 was fully engaged but it’s not!

@swiftt yea that confuses me, some sites say 5/5 is fully and some 1/5 / 0 is 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@AlRRRR I know! The UK sites I checked are 5/5 is free/not engaged and the lower is engaged as it’s only one fifth or whatever fifth of the head that’s above the pelvis.

My midwife and student midwife were pressing and poking around to find the head/how far engaged with SUCH force I had a severe tummy ache afterwards! If it happens again I think I'd actually ask them not to, I was actually worried for the baby too- I know its still in water sac etc but can't be nice?!

@AIRRRR yes I had my 36 wk appt today (I'm 37 wks) and she's written down 2/5 engaged, whereas it was 3/5 at 34 weeks so the aim of the game is to get to 0/5!

I feel very reassured now as baby is in great position, apparently my BP is excellent for this stage of pregnancy and she said I'm very laid back which will make early labour easier. Now to stay this relaxed 🤣🙏🙏