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.

Thank you so much @Catconfusion and @Dyra. I'm sorry you're still waiting @dyra and hope you're not waiting for much longer!

@MiracleBaby2022 I'm sorry to hear you've had such a rough time. Hope you and baby girl are able to be in the same place very soon!

I've been readmitted overnight as waters have broken (36+5 now). In for at least 48 hours. Just hoping this triggers things to properly get going!I've been having intermittent contractions for 3 days now but cervix wasn't any more dilated when they examined me overnight, which feels disappointing!

My goodness @bubblepond! Well I guess with your waters gone, the countdown has truly begun for you. Will they induce once you hit 37 weeks, if baby hasn't made an appearance by then? Hoping things get going for you really soon now.

Still waiting. It could be today. The tidal wave seems to be receding, so inductions can continue. Last I heard, I was 5th to go down, with 1 going down over night. So probably not before the 72 hours waiting mark, but hopefully not too long after it.

@MiracleBaby2022 how scary for you. I’m so relieved to hear you’re ok. Good advise about the prince juice. I found a bit of lactolose worked for me but definitely something to consider.

@bubblepond hopefully now your waters have gone it won’t be long for you. Fingers crossed! Xx

@Dyra I cannot believed you’re still waiting. Today surely must be the day. Hoping it is for you. Xx

I had my penultimate midwife appointment yesterday. It was my midwife and a new midwife who’s joined the team. It turns out my little monkey has gone from transverse to 2/5th engaged in 48 hours. This led to the new midwife starting to push for me trying a VBAC. I forgot how aggressively some midwives push for a natural birth. She hasn’t looked at my notes or my reasons behind a second section. I’m having my second extra large baby predicted to be over 10 lbs, I can barely walk with arthritis pain (she didn’t think the fact I can’t part my legs would be a problem in childbirth 😮), I’m nearly 43 years old so could be issues with not contracting well, my sons head was 40cm and we were told unlikely I would have passed it naturally, I’ve had a previous section so risk of scar rupture. All things considered I think it’s likely if I tried it would be an emergency section situation or significant birth trauma. Guess I’m not a midwife though. When I said I didn’t think I’d go into labour naturally before my section date anyway and definitely didn’t want an induction she said to try and harvest colostrum to bring it on. I said no because it brought on Braxton hicks with my son. She told me it would be fine if I went into labour expressing colostrum because they could just do an emergency section 😮. I had to very politely remind her I had booked an elective because I’m trying to avoid an emergency section and a natural birth due to additional risk factors. Also that I was concerned I’d get past 8cm and be forced into a natural birth and possible complications. My consultant said they would expect me to push the baby out at that point. The midwife said that’s rubbish, they can do sections at 10cm. They are tricky but possible 😮. I’m sorry but I wouldn’t want to put myself and my baby through all the additional risks of letting it get to that situation just to express some colostrum.

Sorry for the rant ladies but it really upset me. She spoke to me like I knew nothing about the process when I’ve thoroughly researched vaginal birth and c section. Had chats with numerous doctors. It’s not something I decided on likely. I honestly believe they should be respecting birth choices more and showing more consideration for the risk factors of individual patients rather than just pushing for natural births. Sorry ladies, rant over now. Just was very taken aback by this conversation. Xx

Holy cow..... That midwife was way out of line. I'm angry with her too.

I forget how many weeks you are now, but you're way past the point where an elective has been agreed upon and settled. And she wants to change your mind without any prior encounter or knowledge of you other than what's gleaned from the few minutes she might have spent going through your notes.... About the only thing she said that I can agree with is that 10cm caesareans can and do happen. But what she seems to have conveniently forgotten is that they're done as an absolute last resort.

Hopefully you won't have to see her again.

@Catconfusion sorry you’ve had to experience such a horrible midwife, maybe she needs to go back to training and learn some people skills whilst she’s at it.
If you’ve got a section date surely the decision has been made by you and doctors so why she’s trying to push for a VBAC is a mystery. If you happened to go into labour then they should respect your birth plan. It’s so frustrating that women are still expected to give birth “naturally” women should have a choice even without a medical or emotional reason. As long as you know the risks behind your chosen birth it should never be for someone else to question it or try to change your mind😤the fact she’s trying to push you to go that route and even to trying to induce labour before that date is so wrong. I hope you don’t have to see her again, you should be looking forward to your birth!xx

@Dyra Thanks for the tips. Hope you have a more productive day today 🤞
@miracleBaby2022 So sorry youve had such a rough time, hipe your little one is back with you asap 🤞 thanks for the tips.
@bubblepond i hope your little one makes a safe arrival for you soon.
@Catconfusion that midwife sounds awful... hopefully you wont see her again.
At the end of the day, its your body, your baby and your choice. X

Hi all, not sure how to start a new topic, so hoping this question gets out there!

Is it absolutely necessary to wash all the vests, baby grows, blankets, mattress sheets etc. if they’re brand new as gifts before putting them on baby? Thanks, Sandip

@Sandip01 I have washed everything. I don’t like the thought of chemicals from factories/shops etc on the things that will be near my baby’s skin. Also, if everything is washed with your own (non bio) detergent, it’ll be easier to keep track of anything that is irritating their skin, rather than having lots of unwashed items from various places.

@Sandip01 Its a good idea to wash everything first - I used a "refresh" cycle which is just a 30 minutes gentle wash to get rid of all the loose fibres and other toxic residues from manufacture. You'll only need a few drops of detergent for a cycle like that, but it's really all you need.

@Catconfusion sorry you've had such a rough time with midwife! Just stick to your guns its your body and your baby she is there to help you through with your decisions.

Don't know about anyone else but I'm so ready for this baby to come out now. Had intense muscular pain in my left side for 2 days now. Feels like I'm being stabbed when I breath in. Felt way better this morning but by the time I got to work it was bad. Got better in waves through out the day but sometimes it's unbearable. Saturday was supposed to be my last day before mat leave but we've now decided to give up our cafe so I've agreed to do 3 days next week to finish up and right now I'm not sure I'll even make it through to the end of this week.

@MiracleBaby2022. Congratulations on your little girl. I’m sorry that you’ve been so poorly but glad to hear that you are both doing well now!

@Catconfusion. Your midwife sounds absolutely awful. She’s adding stress when it is not required given an elective section has already been agreed. Im sorry that you have been made to feel that way. Hopefully it gets better from here.

I had another scan today. No issues with the umbilical cord as measurement taken is now back within the normal range. Last weeks scan appeared to have just been a blip and could have been due to the way the baby is lying….thankfully as means no need for concern or induction.

So it seems it’s just now a waiting game for me. Im 37 weeks so hoping baby isn’t overdue. Cannot wait for her to be born as hate the final stages of pregnancy.

Manage to work all through the pandemic to catch covid 3 weeks before due date😩been quite poorly and baby didn’t seem to be moving much so currently sitting in labour ward for monitoring. Midwives seem happy with baby but my heart rate is quite high😢

Hope everyone is doing well x

Baby decided to come at 38 weeks yesterday! I feel broken from the fast birth but so pleased she's here safe.

Aww @countingchicks massive congratulations!! I'm 38 weeks on Monday and booked in for a sweep so hoping she will arrive soon after that! Hope you're ok and resting up with your precious daughter 💕

@cxjai792 hope you're doing OK! You're in the best place anyway!

@Cxjai792 oh no. Wishing you a speedy recovery. I had it at 32 weeks and my heart rate was crazy the first 2 days but then calmed down. But your in the best place.
@countingchicks huge congratulations. Hope you are both doing well.

@Twinkles18 @Scoaf thank you! Feeling a tiny bit better.
I’m home now pulse went down to 102. I have to go back over weekend for monitoring again.

@Cxjai792 So sorry you got Covid! How utterly rubbish. Glad you're at home, and that your pulse continues to drop towards normal levels.
@Countingchicks Congratulations!

As for me, the wait finally finished Friday. Induction started well, but after 12 hours, baby was still high and I'd only progressed from 2cm to 4cm. Got an epidural in the hope we could get some passive descent going, but from 8pm - midnight baby didn't descend at all and I only gained an extra cm. The doctors and I mutually agreed to call time, and I had an emergency C-section this morning at 2. Baby was back to back with head flexed backwards. They were never coming out vaginally.

As for said baby, I had a boy! My wee Max. 🥰37+6. Born at 2.13 weighing in at a fairly chunky 8lb 1. We're both doing very well. I'm slightly achey, but I'm already out of bed.

@Dyra oh wow, you poor thing,You must be exhausted.
Huge congratulations on the birth of Little Max 💙 glad you are both doing well. X

@Countingchicks congratulations!!
@Dyra congratulations, glad to hear baby boy finally arrived and your both doing ok! What a sweet name too💕xx

Aww congratulations @dyra I hope you get home quickly and can get some rest now. What a week it’s been for you! Sorry it’s taken so long but so glad to hear baby boy has arrived! 🥰 xx

Huge congratulations @Countingchicks I hope you’re getting some well deserved rest. Xx

@Cxjai792 I’m so sorry to hear you have Covid. How annoying since you’re so close to the end. I hope baby comes soon and you recover well. Xx

Thanks all regarding comments about my difficult midwife appointment. I really hope I don’t see her again. Just 12 days until my section so I’m keeping my legs together.

Has any one else experienced tummy tightenings in the night? Every time I wake up my tummy has gone rock hard. It doesn’t happen during the day. Hopefully just Braxton hicks and not a sign this little one is going to try and come early. Xx

@Catconfusion thank you☺️
I’ve had the tummy tightness at night too, it feels like you wake up with a stone strapped to your body😫it may be BH. I’ve had it a few times during the day too, but I always thought maybe baby was just changing position