Due end of January 2022 - Thread 3

[spttc]

New thread before we run out!

Catching up with the thread, haven't been on here in a while! So exciting that we are starting to get babies arriving!! Hope everyone is doing well.

I am 36+2 today. Found out at my 34 week appointment before Christmas that little one is breech, but then I went in for monitoring for reduced movements a couple days after this and the midwife there said she was almost certain she was head down - she feels like she is doing gymnastics in there 24/7, so god knows! Got my 36 week appointment this afternoon though, so should hopefully get a better idea of where she is at if still breeched then it will either be a ECV or booking in a C Section... not sure on how I feel about either at the moment to be honest in terms of what one I would rather try.

Has anyone had to have an ECV? If so, how was it and did it work??

@BobbleWobble1 I'm with you on the stress of not being able to plan labour with having a previous DC. My DS was at his dads Friday-Monday just gone so I was praying she'd come then but didn't 🙈

@Alle1991 I'm hoping to give birth at a small midwife unit near me but having a few problems so I'm not sure yet (will explain below)

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I've been expressing colostrum in hopes to trigger something! Actually managed to get a syringe full really easily last night.

@sjxoxo I was induced at 42 weeks with my DS but when I went in I was already having contractions apparently (on CTG monitor) although I couldn't feel them at all! I think as time went on though I'd say back ache and period type pains

@winterbabyrose good luck with your appointment today. Hope baby has turned 🤞

I'm 37+5 today and thought something was happening last night but nope, still pregnant! I had GBS in my DS pregnancy and had the IV antibiotics in labour. I've had two vaginal swabs this pregnancy (not for GBS) which have come back clear so my midwife and I decided not to do the GBS swab and go looking for it but when I admitted to DAU with the bleed the midwife on duty slapped the GBS sticker on my book 🤦🏽‍♀️ So basically the small birth unit I want to go to where I can have my midwife during labour has to write me out a birth plan for me to sign to accept the risks and also had to have the GBS swab which I had last Monday and the results are still not back. To add too I had a consultant appointment today and he wouldn't sign me off to be able to give birth there until I've had a third growth scan because apparently madam there was a slight drop on the AC measurements on the last one so I'm waiting for a call to book a scan in. The midwife in the room with the consultant today asked me if I had any questions when he left and I said I'm just gutted as I really want to birth there. My midwife has said she'll come in regardless for the labour and it's half a mile up the road from me and they're all so lovely there compared to the main hospital and she said that if I write a birth plan out myself agreeing I accept the risks explained to me that I can refuse the main hospital and go there if things start so I think I'm going to do that.

@LilmissCa it was requested by the obstetrician but I think it’s standard here- I’m in France. I asked the nurse at the swab if it had to be this late as it was so uncomfortable- she said normally 37 weeks onwards. I think it’s given to everyone here but you can refuse it. I can’t say for the Uk but if you want one deffo ask! Tbh after that swab I’m not sure I’d do it again.. I don’t know the risks of strep B so no idea what I’m talking about but I cried in my car after like a 2 year old!!! X

@Crazydoglady123 ooh interesting, I've been having birth prep acupuncture and for the last couple days I've had periody pains and back ache. And bizarrely shooting pains in the nipples here and there.

Sorry you're having such hassle getting the birth centre you want - not ideal

@sjxoxo thanks!! Totally forgot this morning, baby measuring 8lb 6 and I'm 38+5. Now obviously this can be wrong but it's the same marker as my 1st who was born 37+5 at 7lb15.5. Bit freaked out at the size it could be!

@Crazydoglady123
Any advice on colostrum harvesting? Tried unsuccessfully over the weekend, just gave myself sore nipples! Watched the videos etc but nothing coming!

@sjxoxo I think they only routinely swab here when you've had it previously or your baby has been previously affected. I remember when it was picked up with my previous pregnancy crying my eyes out thinking it was awful but honestly so many people give birth not knowing they have it, so no antibiotics and the babies are fine plus generally the onset of infection in the babies is within the first 12 hours which most women are in hospital then anyway so try not to worry. My DS was fine.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 ooo I'm really tempted at trying acupuncture! I had regular acupuncture during my IVF. They're really good signs to be having!

@LilmissCa I had my first go Saturday in the bath and it was a struggle and my right boob was juicier than my left haha but I managed to get 0.5ml. I tried again Sunday in the bath and my nipples were sore and nothing was coming out so gave up. Tried again last night in the bath again and had loads and even my non juicy boob had lots so managed to fill a 1ml syringe in no time. I'd say keep trying and see if it stimulates the flow maybe?

I tried colostrum harvesting today (36w1d) and no luck at all! Will just keep trying, I've read lots of people don't get any but still manage to feed once baby arrives!

@Crazydoglady123 thanks for the info- no results until Thurs so we’ll see; I’m more worried about the pain I had during the swab than the results! I looked afterwards online and I think she was a bit bullish and went a bit further than is really required tbh!

The colostrum harvesting is interesting- I haven’t tried but I might now you’ve all had a go 😁 for those of you that have had success, have you had to do it a few times or just once before any luck and how long is it taking you each go? I’m curious but don’t think I have the patience to sit there for hours 🤣 xo

@DoctorBambino this sounds weird but the sensation of my nipples being touched makes me feel queasy so I never got on breastfeeding my son and switched straight to formula on his first night but I do believe in the importance of colostrum hence deciding to freeze some for this baby.

@sjxoxo I kept panicking I was bleeding after mine. Hope the discomfort eases! On colostrum I've done 3 goes max half hour each time. Make sure you're relaxed and if you don't get any I'd prob just try and massage your boob for 5-10 mins instead and try again the next day

@Crazydoglady123 oh thanks I’ll give it a go. Half an hour is doable! 😁 i get what you mean about being a bit nauseous! x

Another here who has tried colostrum harvesting. The first few times I set myself a timer and only harvested what I could get in 5 mins per boob. This stopped me feeling like I was wasting my time. Now I can sit for a while going back and forward between each nipple. Probably getting 1ml a time now but at first it was 0.1ml a session.

I would say that your nipples shouldn’t hurt - you shouldn’t be squeezing or touching your nipple, just the area surrounding the nipple. And don’t forget that loads of women can’t get a single drop out so don’t be hard on yourself if nothing comes out.

I find it quite bizarre how some ducts produce totally different colostrum to others. Some of what comes out is very liquidy and almost clear while some is very thick and almost white.

Thanks for the tips, I'll be trying colostrum harvesting this w/e once I pick up my kit. I think I've had fluid leaking a bit when I've had the really sore nipples, I'm guessing this is what I have to try to collect

I've tried colostrum harvesting for about 5 days, in the bath, after the bath, with a hot water bottle over my boob before hand, massaging and still no look, I get tiny drops but only fills the tip of the syringe and I only get those drops if I squeeze my nipple after a pumping a bit. Think I may give up. Ppl say they're nipples were leaking so I might try if that happens. I'm 38+4 weeks at mo.

On another note I'm currently sitting on my birth ball with a bad back and a serious craving for chocolate. The hub is going to pop out for the latter but I wondered if I could use my tens machine to ease the pain or is it only in labour? X

@thecapitalsunited I get some bright yellow stuff come out of weird places 😂🙈

@BassetHoun I can't see why not? I suffered with a bad back years ago and I used to go to see a back lady who after had done some exercises rigged me up to a tens machine and it helped

@BassetHoun Don’t worry about not being able to harvest any colostrum, I doesn’t mean that baby won’t be able to get any. Baby is much better at extracting it than your hand is. I’m only really doing it because I have gestational diabetes and my baby might end up with low blood sugars due to overproduction of insulin while inside my sugar laden body. Colostrum asap after birth, in a syringe as a back up, is the best thing for stabilising baby’s blood sugars so it’s really encouraged for us GD mums.

Thanks for the colostrum tips!! I will try again tonight!!

Had midwife today all good, 36 wk scan Friday! Doing ok so far, feel tired and heavy and sometimes still a little sick. Worst new symptom is piles (sorry tmi!) have asked the gp for something. I got them last 2 pregs too. So much fun!

Anyone else got anything unpleasant going on?!! Come on don’t leave me hanging!

Well @Luckymamma I have feet like Cornish pasties they are that puffy 🤣 one of my friends had such swollen feet she had to have surgery on her toe nails after! No joke. That got me wearing my compression socks 24/7!!

Was meant to see my consultant this morning to decide on plan of action and whether they are suggesting an induction but was cancelled as her son is ill so moved to Friday morning now 😕 I’m 38+4; hopefully if they do suggest induction they won’t leave it ten days as I’ll be at the end anyway by then! Has anyone had an induction before & did it take a long time to get booked in? The reasoning behind it is because baby boy is looking big and it’s standard to offer induction if predicted weight is over 4.5kgs (like 9-10lbs) so if that’s the case I don’t really want him hanging around 🤪🤣 my dh’s sister had a huge baby boy, refused induction and he came at 42 weeks but unfortunately got stuck & she had to have an emergency c sec so her story has put the fear of god in me! Xo

@sjxoxo oh bless you and your pasty feet the toe nail story is pretty grim, I think I’d be in the socks too!!!

Hopefully your induction will be processed quickly! And if not hopefully your baby’s size prediction is wrong!! Xx

@sjxoxo when I was booked in for my induction I was literally booked in on the Monday afternoon for the following morning. If they are concerned they should be able to book it in straight away. It might depend on how busy or understaffed the labour ward is though, I know at mine, they had real issues with lack of staffing due to covid 😣

@Scottishgal85 oh wow that is quick- I’m expecting them to give me a few days at least but maybe they won’t?! My neighbour said to me ‘take your bags with you’ as if it would be immediate but I’m not doing that so it can’t be literally there & then 😂 a days notice or so would be nice to get myself prepped. Agree totally on the covid thing.. I had so hoped this would be almost over by now and we’d be able to have babies in peace.. I thought after the jabs we would all be sort of normal by now. Seems by the numbers of people off work to be the opposite! Although glad it’s less serious the staffing is an issue clearly. Hope the poster who had covid last week here is feeling better - i can’t find her post! xo

@sjxoxo my consultant was concerned with how my placenta was functioning, that's why I was admitted the next day, but it might be worth being prepared, just in case!
I honestly thought the same re:covid too, that we would be over the worst of it now, but it seems that things are just as bad, hopefully the new changes will alleviate some of the staffing issues though.
I have to say, despite the labour ward being short staffed, I honestly cannot complain about the care I received. Everyone was amazing and I felt so looked after every step of the way

Should have said, my husband and I also got covid right after coming out of the hospital and we have both been fine, the little one has been fine too, which is the main thing. Our freedom day is tomorrow

@Scottishgal85 how are you and baby doing? As much as having covid must have been rubbish, has it been nice having some alone time rather than being bombarded with visitors?

@sjxoxo I'm pretty sure too inductions are always roughly estimated. More a case of call up on the day and see how busy they are/what time they want you in.

@Luckymamma I've got swollen ankles for the first time tonight 🙄

My GBS swabs were clear 🥳 Can go the midwife unit at the little hospital by me. Thought labour was actually happening today as woke up with period pain but it's come and gone throughout the day and now gone gone annoyingly 😑 My midwife is on annual leave but on standby to come in for my labour. This baby does nothing but keep us on our toes!