Due March/April 2022 Thread 3. Third trimester and babies!!

[Dyra]

Didn't quite realise we were so close to the end of the second one. So let's have another one! I'll post the due date list in a moment.

Oh no @MiracleBaby2022 I had no idea it meant admission. No one ever mentioned it with my son when he was transverse. It’s making me worry a bit about this baby. I had excess amniotic fluid last time so I was told there was an increased risk of prolapse . This time the fluid is looking more normal but obviously she’s transverse so I don’t know. I have my 36 week scan in a couple of weeks so hopefully by then she’s in a better position.

I really hope baby drops down for you. As I said my son did at the 36/37 week mark.

I found caring for baby ok after my section. I had no problem lifting him. I was actually surprised at what I could do. We’d set up the bedroom for me to be bedbound but I was up and about the next day. It felt uncomfortable but I wouldn’t say I was in pain. Definitely take the pain killers religiously if you do have one. Fingers crossed you don’t need to be admitted. Xx

@Catconfusion oh that's very odd that they never mentioned it. Especially considering how dangerous it can be! My amniotic fluid is within normal range, but it is 99th percentile however, so it's not far off being a bit too much.

Oh that's really encouraging how you felt your post c section. I have drug intolerance however, so that's another thing I worry about. I can take drugs intravenously but not via mouth, so I have no idea what they'll do, maybe suppositories once I get home. But if I give birth naturally I don't think suppositories will be an option, as midwife said I'll be a bit sore down there 😬

Let's hope our babies drop in time for the 36 week scan 🤞🏼🤞🏼

@Mon2468 keeping my fingers crossed for you!🤞🏼My pregnancy has been pretty easy really, if I only take the pregnancy into account. The rest of me is a mess, but that's another story 😆

Suppositories are absolutely an option! Diclofenac (ibuprofen) suppositories are an absolute godsend. I had one after I had my tear was stitched up with DD, and another for some minor gynae surgery. 10/10 do recommend. And I know from my DD refusing Calpol that paracetamol ones exist too. If you can't do oral painkillers, that will be the way to go

@Dyra I hope so, I really do - it's not something I've tried though so I don't actually know if I'll get ill or not. I used to get very ill from antihistamines for example, even if I tried to cut a tablet into tiny micro pieces it made no difference how small a piece I'd take. Then one day when I was totally desperate with allergies I decided to try nasal spray. Worked wonders and no side effect! So weird how the body works...

@MiracleBaby2022 yes it’s very odd. This time as well nothing has been said. I can clearly feel baby’s head in my side so definitely transverse. My fluid levels were just over the line with my son so I was diagnosed with polyhydramnios. To be honest it didn’t really make any difference to the pregnancy. It was probably because baby was big and weeing more. I can see why you’re worried though with baby being transverse too. Hopefully there will be some movement soon and you can avoid hospital.

If you can take medication by mouth they’ll probably leave you on the drip for longer while in hospital. Iv paracetamol seems a lot stronger so it’s probably more effective. Not sure about home. Maybe suppositories as you say. The drugs are really important after a c section so I’m sure they’ll sort something.

Yes fingers crossed for us. Xx

@Catconfusion hi sorry for jumping in, I've been diagnosed with polyhydramnios also, just borderline over the limit. Did you have a normal birth? They said I need to be careful as there's risk of cord prolapse if the baby isn't engaged and my waters break, and that I will flood the place not just trickle🙈

@Mon2468 no problem at all. Everything was absolutely fine and it made no difference to my pregnancy. My bump was very big but then baby was 99th centile. I had an elective due to big baby, my age and arthritis. The risk of prolapse is really small from what I gather. Most babies are fully engaged by the time the baby is at term so even if the waters go, the head is in the way of the cord popping out. They have to tell you about prolapse just to cover themselves and so you go to hospital straight away if labour starts. Try not to worry about it. I’ve heard if the waters need to be broken during labour they do a controlled break to prevent the cord coming out. I’m sure you’ll be fine. Xx

@Catconfusion thanks for the reassurance 😃 x

Hi Ladies.
Hope everyone is doing as well as they can be at this stage.
Just wondering if anyone has gad any experience with Low B12 in pregnancy?
After my 28week midwife appt i was prescribed iron tablets but then at my growth scan at 32 weeks they picked up that my iron levels have not increased that much so did more bloods to check them again. They came back that my iron levels have increased enough but my B12 levels are low and so i need to have a B12 injection on Tuesday and then they will test my blood again in a week.
Well stupidly i have googled in and got my head in a spin as the 1st thing that came up was serious birth defects.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated x

@MiracleBaby2022 I’ve just spoken to someone else on another group and her last baby was transverse until 38/39 weeks and she wasn’t admitted. They didn’t even mention it so she was surprised it was a recommendation. She just had an explanation about what to do if the cord prolapses. Was also told it’s still unlikely that’ll happen. I guess it could just be protocol in your area. To be honest I’d be surprised if it is in my area as no one has mentioned it. I’ll definitely bring it up at my 36 week appointment if she’s still transverse.

I was just reading that changing sleeping position can help the head go down. Apparently if you sleep on the opposite side to where the head is it frees up the pelvis so the baby can move more freely. My baby’s head is left so I’m going to try sleeping on my right side. I do tend to swap between the two but mainly sleep on my left.

Fingers crossed those babies get down soon. Xx

@Scoaf I’m sorry to hear you’ve got low b12. I hope the injection works. I don’t know anything about it unfortunately but hoping it’ll be ok for you. Xx

Have any you ladies tried a birthing ball? I've read good things about them getting the baby in proper position, best to use from 32 weeks. @Scoaf I've had b12 injections every 8 weeks through pregnancy as I have a b12 & folate deficiency and nothing has been said,
Also know a few people who have had the same and baby is ok.

Thanks @Mon2468 yes I have a birthing ball. I’m going to be a bit more regimented at using it though.

@Catconfusion it is the same in most trusts I believe, @Dyra mentioned it is the same in hers too. In any case it would be very difficult to get me out of where I live on a stretcher with my bum in the air!

My baby actually moves around all the time but always just swapping left side with right side etc. Will try to swap sides more at night though just in case, thanks! 🤞🏼x

@MiracleBaby2022 three other people on my other group have transverse babies and are not being admitted. There are also a few who are being admitted so it seems very inconsistent. I’m convinced it isn’t procedure where I am as I think it would have been mentioned. In your case it’s good you will be taken in if it would be difficult to get you to hospital. Xx

@Catconfusion strange really that it's so inconsistent, maybe in some trusts they assess each individual case, like in my case it's already a high risk pregnancy. Anyway I'll find out on the 4th🤞🏼xx

@MiracleBaby2022 yes maybe it is to do with other risk factors. I’m technically high risk due to age but nothing else going on apart from baby being huge. I wonder if polyhydramnios and transverse baby makes it more risky. I know I’m top end of normal and the sonographer said he wouldn’t be surprised if it’s over the line at the next scan. With me it seems to be down to big babies. I tried sleeping on the opposite side to the head last night. I think she’s still laying across. Obviously I’m expecting a lot for her to move overnight. Will try rotating hips on birthing ball today as well.

Keep us posted and let us know what they say at your next appointment. I really hope there is movement. Xx

@Catconfusion have you tried swimming? The only time my baby moved into perfect position was after my last swim, I swam in the pool for an hour, didn't really notice her turn at the time but a couple of days later I had a scan which showed her in prime position! Sadly it only lasted 5 days and then she was back into her usual position. Xx

@MiracleBaby2022 it’s a good idea but I think I’d struggle to get in the pool. I’m huge as baby is 99.9 centile. Due to my arthritis my mobility isn’t great. We also have a toddler so would need to take him so even if my partner came it’d be difficult to help me and look after him.

It sounds like you are having some success with the swimming. Do you feel you could get in the pool and give it another go. Xx

@Catconfusion oh that's a shame but completely understandable. My pool has some very gentle steps with a handrail for getting in it, so it's not an issue but if your pool doesn't have that then it's a pain. I'll go every week now until birth, even if it's just to splash around a bit on my stomach and hope that the baby turns. 🤞🏼 X

@MiracleBaby2022 our local pool is more of a sports pool so quite difficult to get in. We could travel to another one but I just can’t imagine being able to get a swimming costume on. My arthritis coupled with the pregnancy makes it really hard.

It’s so good you feel you can keep swimming. I’m sure it will help loads. Xx

Hello soon to be new mamas

Now 36+6 and I've started with strong period type pains this evening. Anyone else had this now or with previous pregnancies?

Sure it's something of nothing but I think I'll finish the hospital bag just in case!

Oh wow! Truthfully I wouldn't know. Didn't labour naturally with DD, and only had occasional BH with this one so far. Sounds like it could be the start of something though! Hopefully you managed to get some sleep overnight, and that bag is fully packed!

Hi ladies!

So exciting that some of us now are showing signs of either early stages of labour or Braxton hicks etc, we're nearing the end!

I've just had a couple of days on antenatal ward, too long a story to explain it all - BUT I thought I'd share at least a couple of bits of information about what to pack in your hospital bag if you're a first timer (or even if you're not!).

Firstly, oh my god those horrid bright strip lights!!! They don't turn them off until 11pm so I'd really really recommend brining a cap 🧢 to shield your eyes - I'm definitely putting one into my bag after this experience. They're absolutely blinding and painful to have in your eyes all day and evening, I ended up trying to arrange a towel on my head that would sort of stick out a bit to shield my eyes, but it wasn't too successful so a cap would be perfect!

Secondly, the beds in this hospital seems very close to the sockets so a super long lead isn't as essential as I thought BUT there's only TWO sockets, both of which were used. One for the bed and one for the big fan that you literally can't live without in a room that's permanently 25 degrees +. So I'm going to get a double socket to bring with me so that I can charge my phone. No use having a long lead and nowhere to plug it in!

Hope that information is of use to some of you!