Due May 2022 (thread 3)

[GinnyBee]

Hiyaaaa! I didn't see a new one yet and thread 2 has 1000 posts now and has closed. Tagging everyone from the last page of previous thread. Sorry if any regulars were missed out!

@fattycatty82 @KMHH @cloudpopbump @TashieWoo @Bubbasmama2017 @Sarah239 @robyna @YummyMummyXoX @morphe @acupofteamakeseverythingbetter

I'm going to have a private gender scan at 17ish weeks to find out the gender with my sister (as she's only 3 weeks ahead of me) safe to say we're so excited for Christmas Day 🎄 to find out what each of us are having 🥰

Hi all hope everyone is doing well had my 12 week scan on Friday edd 25th may but won’t go until full term after speaking with consultant scan was so lovely and clear and right little wriggler, has anyone else had to take low dose aspirin through out pregnancy ive never done this in my previous 4 but consultant said I should be on this and has prescribed it ?

@Jowd92 I am on low dose aspirin from 12 weeks until birth. It’s to do with my high BMI in my case.

I haven’t felt any movements yet although really want to so it finally feels real.

May I ask why people don’t want to be induced? One of my co-workers was induced for both of hers and had no major issues except that she had to be induced twice for the 2nd as it didn’t do anything.

I have a probate scan booked for this Friday for the gender (but it’s more for me to check that everything is still ok with baby)

That was meant to say private scan not probate scan 😆

@acupofteamakeseverythingbetter my sister is pregnant too and she's around 3 weeks ahead of me! (My scan is on Wednesday so will have more of an idea of dates then!)

My scan is on Wednesday too! @autumn321

Hi @EastMidsGem! My hesitation toward induction is because induced labors, whether manually induced via methods such as membrane "sweeping" or more intensive measures like pitocin drips, can then require additional interventions and even unplanned c-sections more often than spontaneous labors. The thinking on that is that the body wasn't quite ready and there are complex chemical/hormonal processes involved (and which we barely begin to understand) that may not happen (or happen in the usual order) as they would in a spontaneous labor. Many women have inductions without problems, but it is my preference to wait for a spontaneous start to labor if at all possible, before considering any interventions.

Up late reading about hypnobirthing! Pretty sure this wasn't a thing when I had my daughter back in 1999!! Anyone else planning on doing antenatal classes on this?

@acupofteamakeseverythingbetter ahh so exciting! I'll be 13 weeks exactly then. I feel like time has gone slowly since I got the date through for the scan but now I can't believe it's only in a few days time.

I feel exactly the same @autumn321 time has gone so slowly but the scan date is almost here 😊 I should be 12+5

@jowd92 I've been prescribed aspirin too because I had high blood pressure at the end of my pregnancy last time.

@EastMidsGem I was induced in my last pregnancy this is my 2nd so would like the opportunity to give birth without being induced but definitely happy to go with whatever midwives/doctors feel is right at the time. I know a few people who have said the contractions may be more intense when you're induced but this could be coincidence in those people! I've got a low pain threshold anyway lol I'll be having all the drugs for sure

@fattycatty82, re: hypnobirthing

Ooo! Me! Me! 🙋🏻‍♀️

I'm looking to take some classes on it in the new year. Did you find any good resources in your late-night research?

@aNewYorkerInLondon I've ordered the Marie Mongan book which looks good and I watched a YouTube video of her talking which was really inspiring. I might do a course but I'll probably do the NCT one instead and do some reading on Hypnobirthing. I definitely want to learn the breathing and relaxation techniques.

I am realistic about birth (I was very lucky the first time around but then I was much much younger and may not be this time!!) but I do love Mongan's philosophy and what I've read already has made me feel more positive and self confident

Still having an epidural though if it all gets too much 🤣

@Jowd92 I've been taking low dose aspirin since I tested positive due to previous miscarriages. It's completely safe and can prevent potentially devastating complications.

@fattycatty82, thanks so much!

I'm really wanting to avoid an epidural. I don't think there's anything at all wrong with having one, but I'm pretty confident that alternative positions will be better for me than laying down. This is silly but just the difference in using the toilet between the standard sitting (anatomically incorrect) and squatting has taught me the power of movement and positioning. Also, I was (once upon a time) a dancer and my reflex answer to pain is often movement or a position change. Thankfully, I also have a fairly high pain tolerance, so I'm hoping that helps me. I am all in favor of gas and air though if I need to take the edge off!!! 🤣

Thanks all the consultant said to me it’s because my babies have got smaller each time and also possibly because I have a high bmi also, regarding inducement I’ve been induced the last 3 times my last being the worse with the hormone drip again I ended up in emergency theatre with emergency spinal block and forceps delivery so not looking forward to this time at all :(

@fattycatty82 I am planning to look into hypnobirthing. My sister highly HIGHLY recommended it (especially for people anxious about childbirth or lacking in confidence) and I think she's right, it would be good for me. She didn't use it for her first birth but did for her second. I think the name of it ("hypno") is misleading, it's more about methods to remain as calm as poss in labour and managing/rewiring your brain in how your frame your thoughts about labour/pain/body confidence etc. That's my understanding anyway, admittedly I haven't looked too much into it yet as it's been one of my "can't look into X yet as don't want to tempt fate before scan" things...!

I also looked at NCT antenatal classes last night, which I'm told are really good for info and also for meeting local people at the same stage as you for that invaluable support network after baby is born. NCT costs about £200 but I think there are free alternatives too (my midwife mentioned NHS Baby Steps to me)

So I've had my 20 week scan appointment letter through for just after Christmas, but I've also had another letter saying "I'm pleased to invite you to attend the hospital on 21st Feb 2022 where you'll be seen by a phlebotomist. On arrival please report to maternity."

It doesn't say what it's for though, anyone got anything similar? I'll be about 26 weeks then.

@robyna it might be for Rhesus factor? If your blood is rhesus negative you might need injections at 28 weeks, so the timing would make sense.

www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/screening/pregnancy/your-blood-count-blood-group-and-rhesus-status

I will need to have a c-section for medical reasons, so I haven't looked really looked at pain relief or NCT. I think NCT could have been useful for making a local support network with my previous baby (I never really had many mum friends) but with this baby I'll be moving to a new area within a year, so not much point.

@morphe it's not for that as I'm O+ but I'm now wondering if it's the gestational diabetes test? But then surely it'd say on the letter to fast before the test? Who knows! I'll ask my midwife at my next appointment

@Sarah239 it definitely sounds worth trying! Even though I had a positive birth experience before I am very apprehensive about it this time around so if it will make me feel more at ease then that's good. I haven't been told anything about the NHS antenatal classes so assumed I'd just have to pay for them, but then I haven't heard anything about my 16 week midwife appointment either and that should be in two weeks...

@robyna I have a glucose tolerance test at 28 weeks and my letter clearly states that that's what the appointment is and instructions to fast for 12 hours.

But I also have an appointment on Badger Notes for 21 weeks that just says 'initial consultant review' and I haven't had a letter for it, it's just on the app. No other info, so I have no idea what it is. I'm A+ so can't be rhesus.

@Jowd92 I've been on 150mg baby aspirin since BFP & I will be on that plus a blood thinning injection until 6 weeks after birth. Having had 2 miscarriages before and also I have sticky blood (antiphospholipid syndrome)

I also gave various other things wrong with me including my body not producing cortisol (Addison's disease) and had a lot of bowel surgery so it's likely to mean a c section for me do it can all be managed 😬

I will take the aspirin once I finally get the prescription from the doctors I have been offered a elcs this time due to complications in my last birth and also have had stitches everytime being 4th degree a 3rd degree and 2 2nd degrees also but the thought of one petrifies me so I’m going to try for a vaginal delivery again but I will more than likely be induced 2 or 1 week early again but will be asking to try the gel this time instead of pessaries but got plenty of time to think about things