Due May 2022 thread 5

[Kittycaz]

@midnight90 @MrsMay19 @JMill13 @YfenniChristie @EastMidsGem @morphe @Sarah239 @fejkalove @Mummyingetc @Orangesunshin @aNewYorkerInLondon @Bubbasmama2017 @GinnyBee @Lavendersblue42 @Honeymint @YummyMummyXoX @K834baby3

Hey all if I missed anyone please add. Noticed last board is almost full.

@GinnyBee I hate the new way the website is I have to keep logging on and it keeps alerting me when people post on other threads but not on this one for some reason.
@YummyMummyXoX it's fine you need to vent its disgusting how they are treating you. Can u ring triage and just talk though what your feeling and that you don't think you are being listened to maybe they can help you. I've found the consultants have not been to bothered compared to the midwives. Consultant I saw yesterday just wanted me out of there as fast as possible.

Anyone gonna cook and freeze meals for easy dinners after there LO is born. My friend just suggested it as I'll be really tired for the week following labour, I was gonna be naughty and have takeaway or snack food all week. I'm gonna be taking pregnacare breastfeeding supplements so not to bothered bout healthy eating to much in that 1st week. But I might now make a lasagne and freeze it. Just no clue what else to cook and freeze. X

@Kittycaz When you log in there's a tiny tick box underneath that says 'keep me logged in' and if you tick that it won't keep asking you to log in all the time. Took me a while to find it and it was pissing me off too!

I've done some batch cooking for the first week or so as I'm not planning to even attempt any cooking. I have some chilli, bolognese, kedgeree, Finnish macaroni bake, bread rolls, and slices of cake in the freezer 😂 I started with the meals, then I read in the Positive Breastfeeding Book that things you can eat one handed are a good idea so then I made the bread rolls and the cake. I wish I had the energy to make flapjacks but will probably just buy some, even if just to have an option other than crisps and chocolate for a nice snack between meals, and they will probably be the last ones eaten after the other crap...!

@YummyMummyXoX Would you consider and be able to choose a c section at this point rather than waiting for your induction? Or will they induce you sooner? It seems like your baby has been doing well despite your atrocious care. I really hope that you can get some helpful answers and action ASAP and be sharing cuddles with your baby soon. Xx

@Kittycaz I'm cheating by using my new / expectant parent discount on the Cook website. I think it's amazingly organised to cook and freeze your own though! Very impressive preparation @GinnyBee Xx

@MissM94 That sounds really odd. When my blood pressure was high (and with no other symptoms), the community midwife sent me straight to Obstetrics for (several hours of) observation and I've had several blood pressure checks since. Can you speak to your midwife and arrange another appointment (or two) to have your blood pressure monitored?

@Kittycaz My DH does the cooking in this house so I've left it to him. He's gone on a bit of a batch cooking spree as of late. So far we have batches of curry, chili, and bolognese in the freezer.

Been feeling very uncomfortable with bump today. It feels like they're head down, but at an angle, so I'm getting elbows down low and a bum pushing outwards below my ribs. So much pressure, I've taken to patting their bum to make them move.

@MissM94 Had someone told you to stop taking aspirin? I was initially told to take two 75mg low dose aspirin daily until 36 weeks but my Midwife told me that the guidance had recently changed so to keep taking it. I have a friend who was told to keep taking it too and did throughout her pregnancy. Her baby girl is about 7 weeks old now and healthy. However, today an obsetric consultant told me that the guidance was going through a transition so it was up to me whether or not to continue taking it but that at 37 weeks I didn't need to worry about preventing pre-eclampsia so I was very confused by this! Maybe you should try to get a check up to get a better idea of what's happening? Xx

@morphe I've heard from other mums that said they think walking helped to bring on natural labour so I'll keep walking regularly and it makes sense for you to try to reduce the amount of walking you do. It is only my Midwife who told me that it doesn't help to induce labour. Is there any way you can bring your c section date forward? I hope you get the calm, planned c section you want. Xx

@YfenniChristie she just said it's not alarmingly high it's just high for me, but reading online high blood pressure is anything over 130 isn't it? She just said if I get any other to ring triage so probably doesn't see it as her problem 😂

@H0peing yeah, it was on the prescription boxes and was told by the doctor to take until 36 weeks and midwife asked if I had stopped the aspirin now & didn't tell me to carry on or anything about change of guidance, who do you reckon I should get a check up with? The GP? Xx

@Sarah239 Thank you very much for sharing this extremely positive birth story! Xx

@MissM94 It seems very confusing and unhelpful that people are being given different advice about the guidance for aspirin. I'm going to continue taking mine for now anyway. The consultant didn't seem to think I was risking anything by continuing to take it. Maybe you could see if you can get a check up with triage? If that's not possible then maybe your Midwife can offer you an urgent appointment to check you tomorrow? Xx

@H0peing I know yeah, it is very annoying haha I feel a bit dramatic ringing triage and the midwife 😅 because she told me not to worry and just keep an eye on my symptoms 😩 xx

@H0peing @MissM94 That's interesting about the aspirin as I was on 150mg until a week or so again. When I saw the consultant about my blood pressure, I asked her if they were ok to take with the aspirin and said that now I'm 36 weeks (at the time), there was no need to continue taking them!

@YfenniChristie it's so strange isn't it, I just double checked my aspirin box to make sure I wasn't talking out my arse 😂😂

@MissM94 I personally wouldn't be concerned about seeming dramatic. It depends how you feel but I don't think it's fair for you to just try to keep an eye on your symptoms yourself. It seems like you need someone to monitor your blood pressure at the very least. You could try ringing triage anyway and see what they say. It's up to you. Do what you think is best for you. Xx

@H0peing yeah I was thinking that, it's a pretty big ask for me to watch out for the symptoms aswell as telling me not to worry or "overthink" wtf else am I supposed to do 😂😂 xx

Thanks for giving me the space to vent ladies. I have been in a very vulnerable state this evening. I'm still experiencing sporadic contraction type pain, I know they aren't Braxton Hicks this is how it felt the day before my son was born but more regularity.
If I'm honest I think they would allow a planned section from Monday if I pushed. I see the consultant again then not sure why they rarely have anything new or beneficial to say.
I really don't want to plan a section the idea fills me with even more anxiety. Ideally I need to be able to get home Asap, look after the kids, drive about school runs I can't be laid up for weeks again I wouldn't cope mentally. People have offered to be here for my recovery if sectioned but it's not the same as grateful as I am. Failed induction to me is different, and least I know I tried and wasn't meant to be.
Consultants sticking to the earlier they induce the less my bodies going to be ready and the more likely to result in section.

Managed to fall asleep the contractions woke me up and my sons like mum are you ok in there cos of the noise 😂

I’m on a major batch cook @Kittycaz have made a littler freezer iterary and up to about 16 frozen meals now. Pretty much just cooking for 4 each night and freezing half. DH doesn’t cook do this is just the easiest option. We are used to doing it anyway because I work oncall normally so always have a few stocked up for quick meals. Will also save us money when DH isn’t being paid.

@YummyMummyXoX I know it's not ideal, but generally people recover very well after a planned c-section compared to emergency. If all goes well, mum and baby are well and you're passing urine normally you can be home in 24 hours. They want you up and walking as soon as you're able, but shouldn't lift anything heavier than the baby for a few days. Driving depends on your insurance (but also if you feel fine to drive and it's necessary how likely are you actually to be in an accident that would alert your insurance). I know someone who went to do their weekly shop on day 4 after a planned caesarean, so it's completely possible to carry on with life fairly quickly afterwards, being careful of course.

@MrsMay19 I'm doing the same, cooking a large batch for dinner then freezing leftovers instead of eating them the next day.

I'm also planning to put in an order with a Scandinavian bakery for cinnamon rolls, May Day donuts, sweet bun loaves etc. nice and comforting snacks to have with coffee or hot choc, can be grabbed individually out the freezer and chucked in the oven to defrost and warm up. I'm not too worried about trying to eat super healthily at first, as long as I get some calories in me I'm going to allow all sorts of bad behaviour 😂

Oooo the Finnish macaroni bake sounds nice like mac n cheese? I might batch cook lasagne and mac n cheese and then buy things like frozen pizza. DH has offered to cook for the week but when I met him 12 years ago he told me he set fire to chips in the oven and fire brigade had to come out so it doesnt fill me with to much confidence 😂. I'm officially 38 weeks so time to do natural inducing methods I've got dates, drinking pineapple juice and bouncing on ball.
On aspirin I was told to stop at 36 weeks something to do with it thins blood so when you lose blood during labour it can clot correctly.

@Kittycaz I asked my midwife about this as I had a lot of blood loss with my first baby and she said keep taking it as doctors recommended and make sure they're aware when I go into labour so I'm not really convinced! My blood pressure has been fine the whole pregnancy it was just a preventative measure as I had post eclampsia after my daughter was born. Everything is so confusing with different rules for different departments!

@H0peing No, my consultant was pretty insistent on not scheduling the c-section before 39 weeks as the baby's lungs aren't fully developed. My DD's c-section was booked at 38+4 (3 years ago) so I don't know if it's down to the consultant or if guidelines have changed. Interesting that the NHS website states that 'full term' is 37 weeks but US websites call 37-39 weeks 'early term' and only 39 weeks 'full term'. They say the baby's lungs, liver, and brain go through a crucial period of growth between 37 weeks and 39 weeks of pregnancy. Although I went into labour naturally between 37-39 weeks with my DS and DD.

I wish I could do batch cooking! But we have a small under-fridge freezer, and it's full of random stuff like frozen peas/fishfingers/ice cream. We are just going to have to stick with 'ready to cook' things from the supermarket.

@YummyMummyXoX I had a quick recovery from a c-section, although I don't drive so no experience there. I think I couldn't be as active as I normally am with my DD (walking miles for nursery runs and climbing up soft play!) but I was home the next day and taking walks within a week. I had a natural birth with my DS though and that was a quicker recovery, I was completely back to normal by the next week.

@GinnyBee you make valid points which I'm aware of it's just not for me to go straight to major surgery I respect everyone's choices as we all have different medical histories, lifestyles, cultures etc. If it ends in an emergency that was my fait. Literally been contracting ALLLL night had about 2 hours sleep been in the bath hours for the pain now on codeine. I'm absolutely knackered lol x

Thank you for sharing your experience @morphe really helpful and kind to reassure me x

It's like Ground Hog Day all over again, I'm back in Obstetrics 😩

Came to the hospital for a blood pressure check, which was fine, and then I agreed to be hooked up to my nemesis, the CTG machine.

Again, I'm not hitting the criteria. According the midwife, they can see lots of lovely movement, but the baby's heartbeat is relatively steady/not undergoing episodes of acceleration or deacceleration like they'd expect.

She's not happy and thinks there should be a plan of attack. The consultant IS happy, but either way I'm back in Obstetrics to spend more time on the CTG machine.