🍼👶🏼👣 MAMAS DUE OCTOBER 2021 👣👶🏼🍼

[MyGrassIsBrowner]

Hey ladies, thought I'd start a thread for all us mamas due October 2021! Whether you're on your first or your tenth child, let's share our journey together!

My due date is officially 8th October and this is my second baby girl 💜 My DD is 15 months old so I'm gonna have two under two.. god help me 🙉
I'm actually booked in for an elective section this time (reason being is that I have low grade rectocele prolapse and I'm petrified that another vaginal birth will make it worse) my first labour was 4.5 hours from start of initial contractions to birthing her - textbook waterbirth on paper pretty much. I am however starting to reconsider my decision and go for my original plan of a homebirth. DH has just landed a new job only 15 mins away so it changes a lot. Any other ladies looking to try for a homebirth? I know for me personally it takes a lot of the strain off finding childcare, given how quickly I laboured first time round!

Cant wait to hear your stories and share these last few months of our pregnancies with each other! ❤

Well they've got me booked into ADU this afternoon presumably for a scan as I am having reduced movements. Packing a small bag in case they want to admit me though. I am now frantically looking for a pair of shoes that will actually go on my feet they're huge!

Oh @MyGrassIsBrowner I hope you get some answers and real help today bless you! My friend was offered her ELCS for a breech baby at 38+4 (no concerns other than breech baby, she ended up putting it off to 39+2 to avoid a very late august birthday!) so I can't see why they wouldn't bring yours forward since it's so close now anyway. Sending you all the well wishes, keep us updated!

Wow @mooloop I always thought for breech babies and ELCS where there is no physical medical indication I thought they wouldn't do them much earlier than due dates tbh. Dunno why I just assumed!

@MyGrassIsBrowner oh I'm glad you're going in to get checked though, how worrying for you though. Could you just wear flip flops or even slippers if needed tbh it's only the hospital anyway?

I am stressing today, I've had two loose-ish bowel movements, awful nausea, awful twinging PGP pain around my hips and bum and vomited once and just generally don't feel myself. Could well be under the weather or could just be tolls of late pregnancy or could be...eek. I am desperately hoping it's nothing, am absolutely no way ready for the baby to arrive any time soon, not to mention I'm not even sure if anyone would have DD atm given she's got a temp and is awaiting a covid test result!

any news @MyGrassIsBrowner . Feel like you are going to reappear with a baby soon which i am almost hoping for your sake. The swollen feet sound painful and with the high BP i do see why they are checking. Sending hugs x

Thanks for your opinions on visitors! Obviously I can't wait to taste normality and freedom just within reason as you said lots of other bugs going. I saw of that one virus babies contract so think we will implement no kissing and good hand hygiene before a hold but worried it will offend people. I have a big family and lots of school age children in the family so that is my main concern - especially as I work as a teacher so I know they are rife at the moment and not just covid.

Keep us uodated @MeadowHay ! Hopefully just a fluke return of nausea due to hormones xx

Building a few more baby furniture bits and bobs today. House feels like a cardboard play house - maybe I should build a fort and release my inner child

@MyGrassIsBrowner thinking of you! Everything is moving at a million miles an hour for you - I feel for you. Hope you found some suitable shoes - bloody stressful ❤️

I think we're going to do two weeks baby bubble for just us, it's both our first baby. We need to learn to look after it and get feeding established, so having anyone else in our zone would be a distraction for us and the baby. Plus I kind of want to get my second vaccine. I think after that fam can come and will be hoping people wash hands etc, although I am not a clean freak as such, just so many bugs going around right now. All our family live 3-4 hours away so they will all want to stay over which means sorting out bedding, food etc so am going to ask them to step up a bit as usually it's me running around entertaining them all. I don't think MIL has ever cooked a meal or made me a cuppa so we'll see what happens when I've got a baby hanging off my boob!

We got our names sorted. Excited to see what we get!

Today I had my baby shower with 5 of my besties and our partners looked after the kids and had some pints together. Then we all met up on the beach for some more drinks, was lovely weather and beautiful sunset. Feel the oxytocin flowing! I am feeling a lot of pressure and twinges, and everything feels so low and has a bit of diarrhoea. Defo more discharge. It almost feels like it's super tight in there for the baby now. I am guessing at some point they decide they're not comfy anymore and they need to come out! Well anyway I feel we've reached this point lol xx

Glad to report that I am not in labour but it has given me and DH a kick up the arse to get the last few jobs sorted ASAP!! I had a lovely relaxing bubble bath which completely removed my PGP pain until about an hour or two ago and my tummy settled down. I still get some nausea but I do most days for weeks now, I had HG the first 24 weeks or so and still get nausea quite frequently thereafter but it's been worse the last few weeks, must be hormones.

Your baby shower day sounds lovely @summerhillgang. We were keen to show DD off and also our families were mostly good guests and very helpful so it was really helpful to have people around. Distracted me from the terrible pain I was in in various places and we got lots of tea made, cooked meals, shopping brought all kinds, people were generally ace. I wouldn't have wanted overnight house guests though, the nights were chaos, I really struggled with them and there were a lot of tears - from me!

Hope you're ok @MyGrassIsBrowner

Evening lovelies! Sorry to report no baby yet 🙈 (secretly dissapointed lol) the midwife who seen to me was just lovely though, had me on the CTG monitor (baby was going mad) so all good on that front. It was quiet in the ADU so she said would I like an ultrasound doing on their portable ultrasound machine so of course I said yes lol! She's head down! But boy do I know it now, I've got a really heavy and sore fanjo so hoping that she's going to stay put until next Monday as I do fear if I go into spontaneous labour she's gonna come quick 🙈
There was a small trace of Protein in my wee but not enough to concern them. As for the swelling of my poor trotters they just said elevate as much as I can!
My hospital bag and babies bag are pretty much done now and DP has been running around like a loon today getting the house in order, he's been blood fabulous I must say. I'm back at the midwives tomorrow for another blood pressure check and urine dip but tbh my blood pressure had come down dramatically thanks to the labetalol (even though they make me feel fecking weird and spaced out lol)

@MeadowHay hope you're okay love, I too have been having nausea, and at this gestation it's horrific so I feel you! Hope that baba stays put for now!

Hope the rest of you lovely ladies are okay and getting chance to start nesting 😍 (something I've not had chance to do this time)
I honestly cannot wait to start seeing these bubs soon!

@MeadowHay your family sound amaze! I think I'd be more up for it early on if they didn't have to stay over / didn't live so far away. I am dreading their visits tbh, I wait on DH's family hand and foot when they come over, so I have no idea how it will go when I have a baby taking priority. And yes nights should be private time. Even getting my tits out in front of his family and mine is daunting to me, but maybe I'll care less when it comes down to it. Glad the bath has helped and also that you're not in labour!

@MyGrassIsBrowner glad you're ok and have had some reassurance today at hospital and had what sounds like a more positive experience. Also great DP is taking care of you and working through the jobs.

Xx

Hope you ladies are all having a nice weekend. Saw midwife this morning for BP check and it was the lowest it's been in ages... 113/73! So no concerns there so the Labetalol must be working now, yay!
She did try talking me around to considering a homebirth but I was like.. dont you think it's a bit late in the day to be changing my mind now 😑 think they're concerned at how quickly I laboured with my DD lol.
Baby is low now and I'm getting lots of pressure and extra discharge so it will be interesting to see how this next week goes! I'm petrified my waters are gonna go haha! X

That's a great reading @MyGrassIsBrowner - glad to hear the meds are doing their thing!

I can't believe they're suggesting home birth! As if after everything you have been through you'd be up for prepping a home birth this late in the day, not to mention your medical history from last birth.

I had the worst night's sleep, been up since 5am and my whole left side is completely fucked. I'm in agony. DH has massaged and I've rubbed CBD cream all over it. I think it's just over use. Added to that I have pretty bad constipation, dodgy stomach and heart burn... way too much rich food this weekend. Whoops. On the bright side, baby is nice and active, which I am enjoying tuning into during my darkest hour 😩 hope you're all have better Sunday's than me xx

@summerhillgang Honestly, the midwives are batshit lol. They all just wanna do a homebirth cause I'm guessing for them it's much better than being at the hospital 😆 well they can screw off considering I've been mentally prepping for this section for months now!

Oh you poor thing, I feel you. If you can manage it a nice hot bath with a shit tonne of Epsom salts in it. It's been my saving grace. But I can only bathe when DP is around as I can't get myself out now 😆 how far along are you now?
I am with you on the constipation front.. somehow haven't had a poo for three days now and I've been eating tonnes.. weirdly no urge yet though 😳 god help me!
Hope you dont suffer too much hun! X

Yes I'll get on the Epsom salts, been super lazy today, in bed watching The Notebook.

38+5 today, been smashing the Laxido and Gavischon. Just need to get some more sleep, so bloody tired 🥱

Just hope the baby doesn't come for at least a few days so I can recover a bit.

Ah the joys of the last few weeks of pregnancy eh?? It's awful here atm tbh, I'm suffering with the exhaustion and PGP and DH and DD both have a horrible cold virus. We all had a 40 min nap earlier in the day!

Glad your BP is down @MyGrassIsBrowner that's really reassuring. I don't blame you for not being down for a home birth now after the time you've had.

Oh no @summerhillgang hope you are soon feeling better baths deffo a good idea, I'm finding they make my PGP pain virtually disappear for a good few hrs after, it's great. Will deffo have a long one on Tuesday when DD is back in nursery, can't wait .

I am hoping to dear god the PGP and swelling stays away which at this late in the day, hopefully will. I am 35 and a half weeks so to be still carrying all bump is amazing! I struggle with our longer dog walks but am persevering to stay active
Honestly at the moment my only issue is her not turning but have mentally prepared for that and joining @mygrassisbrowner with a ELCS if she persists. Being the end of october, I can wait and get all the tips and advice from you as well if it comes down to it lol!

Do feel dor you all. Mostly I am just so emotional. Feel like crying most nights and often do. Yesterday it was because I feel the overwhelming weight of this responsibility. I wish someone would make the decisions for me about what to do but preparing to face decisioms about this birth if she stays breech is a big choice i feel, and obviously has to be mine. But also I cry if there isnt any cream for my choccy pud so clearly I am irrational haha

@summerhillgang Ahhh you're a few days ahead of me lovely! It's uncomfortable now though isn't it. I can definitely feel lots of pressure on my cervix now. DP is back at work for his last 5 days before his paternity starts and I'm going to be on edge!

@MeadowHay Oh you poor sods, I hope they're not suffering too much and you don't end up catching anything yourself.
I truly dont understand why the midwife would have even suggested a homebirth to me now the mad woman 😆

@Juicytoot287 baby can definitely still turn at this point, but if I was in your shoes I would definitely get in the mindset for a possible ELCS. I'm assuming they're getting you in for regular scans atm with her being breech? Honestly, ELCS was a big decision for me and not an easy one, but I am quite looking forward to it now (mainly cause I want her evicted and to be rid of this horrific pain I'm enduring)
Which ever way baby needs to come, you'll be well looked after! X

@MyGrassIsBrowner Yeah, I have to go for a scan to confirm her position this week (not booked yet) and then I assume with meet with someone a discuss what happens next. They will likely offer to turn her but I hear mixed reviews. I do agree it is best to mentally prepare for that possibility. For me, I don't want to prlong it and have the worst of both and end up in an EMCS. If it is going to happen, I would prefer to plan it considering how far in advance I know. But she may turn and this all be irrelevant so its hard to say

@Juicytoot287 absolutely ELCS would be much better of course and as for the manual turning there are certainly mixed reviews for it, I personally couldn't go through with it myself but it depends how badly you'd want to try for a natural birth - they can also spin back around as well.
Is your placenta above baby? Sometimes they can be breech if the cord is too short and they just physically cannot turn.
Definitely a lot for you to think about hunnie!

My placenta is behind, at my back I believe. Not sure if they makes any difference.

I need more info on the turnjng to be honest, only know word of mouth atm which isn't medical lol

Ah it is a difficult decision for breech babies isn't it. Personally I would never have ECV, the success rate is about 50 per cent and I've heard from many people that it can be really horrendously painful, there are risks and ultimately the baby could turn round again even if successful. I also wouldn't risk breech birth personally and ELCS would definitely be my preferred option but I know the absolute risks of breech birth are probably very small with experienced caregivers so I do understand why other people prefer to go down that route.

Ahh so it's posterior which is generally a good position for placenta tbh.

Definitely speak to your midwives about ECV and get some proper advice. Some women have it done successfully without pain relief but I think after 36 weeks the success rate can be fairly low, just purely due to their size at that point. Have you looked at the spinning babies website? There's some fantastic advice on there!

Yeah I have checked out everything and I constantly bounce on the ball and so my stretches but she seems very contented. Its not knowing and the worry of going into labour breech becahse as you say, that is scary and not what I want!

My midwife did try push back my appt. as she is on leave but I said no, if she is breech I want a plan in place asap. whatever that plan may be.

I don't like the sound of ECV but feel I will be judged or pushed towards it by the look of NHS website. Also I can't imagine mentally prepping for CS to turn up and be told, nope she turned last minute 🙈😂 It is all such a nightmare scenario, I can only assume she hasn't turned anyhow as she feels the same as always movement wise and I havent felt a turn.

@Juicytoot287 we're properly in the same boat here love! I too have a breech baby due end of October and a posterior placenta

My next MW appointment is at 36+5 (7th October) to see if they still think he's breech, then I'll be referred for a scan to confirm, which to me feels very late on. If I going down the CS route I just want to know so I can mentally prepare.

I've already decided to decline ECV and go straight to booking an ELCS if he doesn't turn himself. It's such a personal choice though, my friend had ECV and although it wasn't successful, she didn't find it painful, just uncomfortable. And she had a very positive ELCS experience and recovery which makes me feel better!

oh @mooloop They tried to make me go similar dates. I said no booked me 35+6 so we can get the ball rolling. They did agree so maybe try and rebook and explain the anxiety it causes? I definitely did because once they have a feel at 35+6 and book me in, the scan will be gone 36 anyway but I didn't want to be past 37 and risk labour.

That is reassuring! Just want to have these meetings so I have a plan. My midwife never really explains anything so I am always left to google which isn't ideal. I am a planner and control freak so this is my worst nightmare lol

I had a dream last night baby girl turned - maybe a sign lol!

Morning lovely ladies. Just checking in, how are you all feeling this morning? A new week for us to get through! I’ve tried to shift my thinking this weekend, I hit 38 weeks on Saturday, I know I’ll have another 2 weeks to go and instead of wishing her out I’m trying to embrace every day and enjoy this time. I’m trying to keep busy (wig shopping today with my little sis who’s nearly finished 6 rounds of chemo) making plans for everyday….PGP allowing, though the codeine helps with that.
I can’t believe it’s October soon, the month are babies are due! Maybe we could share some chilled out, self care ideas and commit to doing one thing for ourselves every day….just little things?? Anyway, hope you all have a lovely day and no new challenges arise x