Due end of January 2022 - Thread 3

[spttc]

New thread before we run out!

@Crazydoglady123 we have been absolutely fine with it, thankfully! You are so right, it has been nice to have the time together as a wee family without lots of people calling in. It will be nice to finally get out and get some fresh air as of tomorrow though.

I also had my appointment to talk to the obstetrician about induction options (have diet controlled GDM) postponed due to staff sickness this week.
Am booked in for a growth scan next week but hearing stories in my area of ladies having to wait 4 or 5 days for a medically indicated induction due to shortage of labour ward staff, it's a real worry.
And the trust I am due to deliver in went into critical incident today.
All so people could have Christmas parties and go clubbing at new years? It makes me so mad.
All of us reliant on the NHS are left screwed.

And great news @Crazydoglady123 with your GBS swab!

@Alle1991 I'm hoping to use either the MLU attached to the hospital or home birth. Unfortunately a few of the standalone units have been closed for birth in my area and due to distance, the ones that are open don't offer us a benefit over being at home.

@sjxoxo I'm probably not going to be all that helpful with early labour signs. I literally just lost my plug and went into labour. I'd only seen the midwife a couple of days before and she'd written "no signs of labour" in the notes! I was glad of it really as I didn't have days of discomfort beforehand and when it did happen, I definitely knew!!

For those trying to harvest colostrum, I couldn't do it first time but managed to breastfeed. Not even attempting this time mostly because I really hated expressing. Obviously I know it's different advice for those with GD.

@Luckymamma glad your swab is clear and you can use the birth centre

@Scottishgal85 sorry you've had covid but glad it has allowed you some family time

Saw the obstetrician this morning, induction booked for Thursday next week 5pm kick off… nervous is an understatement! They are going to use a little inflatable ball thing if cervix is not open much. Are we all due towards middle/end of month- we are one week in to Jan now ladies come on chop chop 🤪 what are you all doing with your last few days/weeks of alone time?! xo

@sjxoxo I'm still working up until Friday next week. My induction is booked for Monday 17th when I'll be 38+4. I have a sweep booked for the Friday before but my midwife is sceptical about whether it will work and only booked me in because the obstetrician asked for it. It's worth a try I suppose. Like you I'm quite nervous but also feeling good about having a date in mind rather than being totally clueless about when things will kick off.

I thought a water birth was completely off the cards due to being on the labour ward, needing an induction, having GD and probably needing monitoring but my midwife told me that the pool on the labour ward is rarely used and that they have a waterproof monitor so I'm going to ask whether I can give it a go. Fingers crossed!

Well I just had my 36 weeks scan (37 weeks tomorrow) and babys abdomen is measuring big so now I have to go have a blood glucose test! Joy! I’m sure it’s fine as I’ve had no other indications on GD through pregnancy but we’ll see!

Other than that scan all good!

@sjxoxo that’s really exciting to have a date!!

@Scottishgal85 enjoy your family visits now!!

@thecapitalsunited thank you for the tip about a possible water birth and waterproof monitors. I had no idea the had those, but I'll ask at my obstet appointment next week. Was getting a bit worried in case all they had was the normal monitors and had to spend all my time on my back laying down.

For those having inductions, have you planned what pain relief you might have?

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 My midwife did say even if I had to be connected to monitors full time and I couldn’t go in the pool that the leads would be long enough for me to sit on a ball and move around. She was pretty happy with my plan to start with entonox and movement for pain relief and go upwards from there if necessary. I’ve asked for the midwife to guide me on pain relief in my birth plan rather than for me to ask for it. I’m happy to go with the flow and would rather the midwife suggested something to help me cope than let to struggle along. Because I might not ask for help!

@thecapitalsunited I put something similar in my birth plan, but have since read a lot of people say get an epidural before you even get the drip and was wondering about this. My midwife said see how you go. I'll ask my obstetrician next week. Good you have a date. I'm hoping to get one next week

Exciting news with all your inductions planned ladies! I was induced with DS albeit 10 years ago. Was induced with the pessary and I just had gas and air plus some oramorph and it was fine

An induction doesn't necessarily mean you always need a synto drip, can be just balloon or rod dilation, hormone pessary, and/or having your waters broken.
If I can keep my sugars well controlled I'll be offered the choice of waiting until 40w for induction so may not even end up needing it.
Think I will ask for a sweep around 39+4 and induction from 40, but will see how the growth scan goes.
I'm not going to shy away from epidural with or without induction as I don't have a great tolerance for pain.

It depends on how your body reacts to being induced. As I was three weeks early I went through all the options before they were able to break my waters as I just wasn't ready.
I ended up asking for an epidural as my body was trying to push with the contractions before I was dilated enough, due to being on the drip. Every case will be different though.
It's so exciting that lots of you are getting to this stage now

@thecapitalsunited oh that might work well for you if you can have the monitor and the tub! Sounds like a spa trip 😁 I agree that having a date has made me feel a bit more relaxed. I mean he could still come before ha ha but I know in my head now that this will be my last weekend not being someone’s mum (well sort of- you know what I mean!). Feel under pressure now to do something great with the last few days of me-time but too fat and waddley to do much!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I’m having an epidural. To my horror they don’t offer has & air at my clinic, apparently in France it’s common to it offer gas and air.. don’t know why! Nearly cried when they said that!

I’ve also read and heard that you can have the epidural placed before anything really kicks off- I’m going to try for an early epidural or at least early placement as I feel this will give me the best chance at a ‘calm’ experience with not extreme discomfort before things get serious. With the balloon induction I have to stay in hospital, no coming home once I’m in- I go in Thursday at 5pm, have the balloon overnight, and then they hope Friday things will either have started naturally or they will break waters, possibly give the synotocin drip thing if needed. Hopefully it will just give my body a gentle push to get going! I know it’s not a given though. If nothing at all happens by Sunday, (they give 3 days) it will be a c sec. My absolute biggest fear is him getting stuck in my pelvis so this feels like a way to reduce that risk. If he was smaller I would wait another week until max term but he’s close to the upper limit of normal and so with the margin of error on the scan measurements this is a safer option I feel to prevent him getting stuck and risks associated with that. By Thursday I will be 39+5 (or 39+6) depending on what day it happens) so he’s had a good run in there!

@SouthwestSis yes absolutely hopefully we won’t have to do a full taster menu of every service offered at the maternity clinic & once my body gets the memo the eviction will be quite quick 😁 interestingly my obstetrician said she prefers the balloon induction method as this stimulates your natural prostaglandins and typically gives softer contractions.

On a side note now panicking about stuff I’ve not yet bought 😂 got some bottles tonight from Elhee - going to try and breastfeed but these apparently are good for combi feeding or if you breast feed but want to pump and give bottle too. Does anyone have a breast pump recommendation?? Still not got round to that either 😅

Happy weekend all xo

That's good some of you have induction dates. Due date is Wednesday for me but not expecting anything before then. Have been cooking up a storm in preparation - freezer is almost jam packed! Also just trying to keep the house sort of organised - much harder with a toddler!

I wasn't induced with DS but ended up with a medicalised labour due to complications. I would definitely ask about waterproof/wireless monitoring and pool use - I got none of these 3 years ago but times have changed and I think these would have improved my experience massively. I didn't have a good experience with an epidural but something I would consider in your decision making is the availability of an anaesthetist - they are often very stretched and may not be available at the time you want it.

@sjxoxo my advice with a breast pump is don't worry about it until you know it's something you'll use. If you have issues in the early days, you can hire a hospital grade pump. Lots of women can't express but can breastfeed fine. I could have expressed but truly hated doing it. I always felt like it was such a waste of time as I could have fed DS from source in a fraction of the time it would take to sort a bottle. Also it didn't help with night feeds as implied by antenatal classes as I'd have had to get up anyway to relieve engorgement. The only thing I'm going to try this time is a haakaa to catch let down. Only because it wouldn't add too much if I was feeding anyway and there may be more benefits this time to having DH able to feed with having a toddler. First time I found it easier just to do the feeding myself.

@BobbleWobble1 oh thanks that’s really helpful- I will ask at the hospital if I can rent a pump when we come home, that’s a good idea! I’ve heard the hospital ones are better generally than the ones you buy. I just want one so I can get DH involved in feeding a bit.

What goodies have you got stashed in your freezer? I am rubbish at cooking but have made a couple of bits- lasagne, shepherds pie, some veg soup but that’s it! xo

@sjxoxo I got the Spectra hospital grade pump, on recommendations from friends though as this is my first baby. It wasn't too expensive, and they sell the hands free cups also with it.

Just did my first colostrum harvesting, only got a couple ml so not enough to fill my container, but now have twinges in my uterus. From the breast pinching I guess 🤷‍♀️ Did anyone else get this?

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 ooh thanks I will check that out!

In other news my waters broke tonight and I’m currently at the maternity unit waiting for contractions to build up.. so baby boy is on his way! Was not expecting it to be tonight 😂😅 going to try and get a few hours sleep before it gets more intense. Cross all your fingers for me xo

Good luck @sjxoxo hope you come back with exciting news for us very soon!

@sjxoxo wow how exciting, hope you managed some rest and all going well!

@sjxoxo oh wow good luck! X

@sjxoxo how exciting, good luck x

Best of luck @sjxoxo x

Good luck @sjxoxo