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.

Had my check this morning.
36+5 and she's weighing in at 7lb3.
Feel like she's going to be right chunk at 39 weeks when she'll be born.
Have to go back again next week as going by the growth chart it looks like she's dropped a bit from 2 weeks ago so they need to check to make sure that isn't the case.

Anyone else measuring big at this point?

@JMill13 I'm going for a scan on Thursday so will see if I am, my fundal height is large but they weren't too concerned about that. I'll be 38+1 weeks on Thursday but I don't feel like baby is coming any time soon!
My DD was always measuring big and she was a normal size so I'm not too worried

@Bubbasmama2017 oh that's not too bad then. They've not said they're worried at least. They've asked at the last 3 appointments if I've had a diabetes check this pregnancy but when I say no, they don't say anything.

It's just so different this time, she's measuring big and my son was born at 38 weeks weighing 4lb 15. So it's hard to know if it's normal to be this big at 36 almost 36 weeks or not.

@JMill13 same, I get asked about diabetes too but never had any other signs of it other than "large baby"!

@Bubbasmama2017 glad I'm not the only one then. That def helps ease the brain overdrive a bit. You'd think if they thought it they'd just do the test.

Congratulations @YummyMummyXoX she's just beautiful! It sounds like a worrying time but I glad she's back with you now.

@EastMidsGem Hope your c-section goes well!

I had my pre-op appointment today and I'm booked in for my c-section on Wednesday. I was given some antacid tablets to take the night before and in the morning, plus anti-sickness meds in the morning as well. I've got a morning slot so I need to leave the house before 5.30am to get to hospital (and I have to go on my own as DH will be dropping DD off at nursery). My hospital bag is all packed up. My consultant checked the baby's heartbeat but didn't really look at growth much because he said it's not accurate at this stage. I had to have a PCR test as well, I did my own LFT this morning which was negative so hopefully that's all clear (there are Covid cases going around my DD's nursery right now).

@JMill13 The last weight estimate for my baby was at 37+1 weeks, which was 7lb. I've been diagnosed with GD based on my blood sugars, which I'm managing with diet and medication. I'll be 39 weeks at c-section, so I guess she can't put on that much more weight in a couple of weeks?! Although I weighed quite a bit more at my weigh-in today, but I think that was partly due to an after-lunch appointment instead of my usual morning appointments.

@JMill13 at 37+3 scan lo was measuring 7lb 2oz. But my fundal height has always measured ahead by 5 weeks (polyhydramnios and being tall) was given GD test only after polyhydramnios diagnosis but it was negative.

Morning ladies I'm feeling very uncomfortable today. Had cramping on and off all day yesterday. Since 8pm last night everytime I go to the bathroom I'm loosing chunks of plug (every 2 hours bout size of 10p) I've just given up on sleep and went to get a drink and noticed front of pelvis is swollen got midwife in few hours so gonna ask her bout it. Hopefully sign things are happening 😍

@Kittycaz sounds promising! Hopefully things are starting for you and won't be long til you meet baby. What has the cramping been like? I've basically forgotten my whole labour with DD and don't know what to look out for!

@Bubbasmama2017 it's like period type cramps but bit stronger and my tummy from beneath my ribs to uterus goes hard and tight. It feels like someone's punched me in the vagina. I've not taken any pain killers as I just think it's nothing compared to what actual labour feels like lol.
But I might just be over thinking on any new feelings and getting excited 😂

Thanks ladies. That makes me feel like all is normal. Just they way doctors act around a bigger than normal baby makes you think it's wrong.

Ooh @Kittycaz good luck. Hopefully all signs things will happen soon for you and you get some rest.

I've been up from 3 with the toddler, sleeping in the sofa with him from half 4....not the greatest sleeping position at 8 months pregnant really 🙈

For some reason I haven't been able to reply or access any threads that 'I'm on' on the app for days!!

Congratulations @YummyMummyXoX - she's gorgeous!

Good luck today @EastMidsGem

Fingers crossed things are progressing for you @Kittycaz

I've not had the best few weeks, have my 36 week growth scan tomorrow followed by consultant appointment. I'm unsure if this will be a discussion or just them telling me induction will be booked. (I've been in and out for reduced movements/low fluid on Doppler scan and baby dropping centiles) But I'm very fearful of labouring for days whilst trying to keep my blood sugars stable then ending in an emergency c section anyway so I would like to ask if an ELCS is an option for me and if it's safe due to my BMI but I don't know how to get my question out and across

@yummymummyxox congratulations, hope all is going well, and you might be home by now?
I have GD too, at 37wks now and had a horrible conversation with consultant again yesterday on the phone. They are recommending an epidural earlier rather than later, I didn't want one at all, but she said due to being age 40 and BMI of 37 and GD that I'm probably gonna need help getting him out, either forceps or ending up in cesarean so they want to be prepared with epidural. That made me feel like body is incapable of doing this itself and like I shouldn't have bothered getting pregnant in the first place, like I'm a nuisance to the NHS.
I feel like I should spend the next two weeks preparing for forceps, cos they didn't recommend elective C-section either!
It's such a shock to hear all that when the last few weeks all I've heard is the GD is brilliantly controlled, he's on track for around 7-8lb, no high blood pressure and no one has even mentioned my age or BMI the entire pregnancy!
If anyone else is in the same boat but with different approach from the doctors I'd love to hear it, feeling so down this morning 😥

@Zibidee Sorry to hear you’ve had a tough time with the consultant, can I ask why they didn’t recommend an elective c section?

@fejkalove just because of my age and BMI I don't think they want to do ops on any old fatties if they don't have to!

@Zibidee I’m 34 with the same BMI and want to ask for an ELCS tomorrow at my consultant appointment. I’ve read so many birth stories on the GD Facebook page where labour has ended in EMCS and I don’t want that to happen. I assume I’ll also be told no too though. 😥

@Zibidee that’s absolute bull because epidurals are so frequently linked to birth interventions because they slow everything down and stop your pushing correctly. So it’s almost a self for filling prophecy! Your consultant sounds horrible. My baby has always been on the 40th %, she was at her scan 3 weeks ago. Midwife measured fundal height on Friday and reckons she is
off the scale somewhere around 120/130 % so got to have another scan although haven’t heard anything yet. Not worried as I don’t believe she can grow that much in 3 weeks and haven’t had much faith in the midwife the whole pregnancy. Think she needs to learn to use a tape measure or I need to eat less ice cream 🤣

@Zibidee that's absolutely rubbish! I'm having an ELCS and had no trouble at all getting approved for it. But I'm low risk pregnancy in almost every possible way though. You can absolutely refuse the epidural, they can only recommend it but can't force you to have it. Same with forceps I think, put it in your birth plan that other options to be tried first. I struggle to understand why they even use them here anymore and so routinely, most US hospitals don't use them almost ever and I've never seen them even referenced in any Finnish sources when I've been reading about birth and delivery. They come with so many increased risks.

@Zibidee that's absolutely rubbish! I'm having an ELCS and had no trouble at all getting approved for it. But I'm low risk pregnancy in almost every possible way though. You can absolutely refuse the epidural, they can only recommend it but can't force you to have it. Same with forceps I think, put it in your birth plan that other options to be tried first. I struggle to understand why they even use them here anymore and so routinely, most US hospitals don't use them almost ever and I've never seen them even referenced in any Finnish sources when I've been reading about birth and delivery. They come with so many increased risks.

Thank you for all the messages of support. It's so hard knowing what I should and should refuse when they bang on about the danger of stillbirth at my age and BMI. I just feel like I should surrender my bits to their salad tongs and episiotomy scissors and pray for no complications afterwards. I feel I've lost all the empowerment I worked so hard to feel after the GD diagnosis.
At the end of the day my age and weight are big factors and I can't ignore it, I just wish they'd said all of this earlier, no at 37wks when I feel I have no time to prepare myself for a horrendous birth.

Thank you for all the messages of support. It's so hard knowing what I should and should refuse when they bang on about the danger of stillbirth at my age and BMI. I just feel like I should surrender my bits to their salad tongs and episiotomy scissors and pray for no complications afterwards. I feel I've lost all the empowerment I worked so hard to feel after the GD diagnosis.
At the end of the day my age and weight are big factors and I can't ignore it, I just wish they'd said all of this earlier, no at 37wks when I feel I have no time to prepare myself for a horrendous birth.

Thank you for all the messages of support. It's so hard knowing what I should and should refuse when they bang on about the danger of stillbirth at my age and BMI. I just feel like I should surrender my bits to their salad tongs and episiotomy scissors and pray for no complications afterwards. I feel I've lost all the empowerment I worked so hard to feel after the GD diagnosis.
At the end of the day my age and weight are big factors and I can't ignore it, I just wish they'd said all of this earlier, no at 37wks when I feel I have no time to prepare myself for a horrendous birth.
Also, I thought BMI was based on booking weight not at 36wks when they last weighed me. My booking BMI was 37 but they keep saying it's 40 now. Despite me actually losing weight in reality over the last two months because of the GD diet. They really don't make you feel good about yourself!

Thank you for all the messages of support. It's so hard knowing what I should and should refuse when they bang on about the danger of stillbirth at my age and BMI. I just feel like I should surrender my bits to their salad tongs and episiotomy scissors and pray for no complications afterwards. I feel I've lost all the empowerment I worked so hard to feel after the GD diagnosis.
At the end of the day my age and weight are big factors and I can't ignore it, I just wish they'd said all of this earlier, no at 37wks when I feel I have no time to prepare myself for a horrendous birth.
Also, I thought BMI was based on booking weight not at 36wks when they last weighed me. My booking BMI was 37 but they keep saying it's 40 now. Despite me actually losing weight in reality over the last two months because of the GD diet. They really don't make you feel good about yourself!

Thank you so much everyone just getting used to having 2 children with such a large age gap hehe it's lovely but a transition I'm sure you none first time mums will agree and reassure me lol.

I'm home yayyy so happy to be getting back to a new normal now.

@Zibidee I just wanted to say you should give yourself a break! Your doing great! The medics air on the side of caution and like to have the 'safest' plan in all eventualities.
It was none negotiable for me from my haematology and obstetric consultants that I MUST be induced or ELCS. After all the appointments, discussions, plans and dates etc etc it ends up just happening randomly, safely, no interventions, just gas and air and diamorphine. Dispite being so high risk with multiple pregnancy issues. I was planning on an epidural from arriving at the hospital grounds lol. I got to 4cm by myself at home. My point is I think we sometimes forget what our amazing bodies are capable of. I believe in you try to be kind to yourself ♥️
I know this may seem hypocritical the amount of time I've been on here so demotivated lol.
But thank you for giving me a safe space x

@YummyMummyXoX thank you that's helpful to read. I know you are right and after a big cry and getting back on track with my colostrum harvesting and perineal massage routine I feel a bit better. I guess I am a planner at heart and this is the one thing I just can't plan. Focusing on planning other things like baby swim classes!

Can anyone tell me, when you self administrator the epidural with the pump bottom, how long does it take to start to work and then how long until it wears off? I'm determined even if they stick an epidural in me that I have a chance to be upright on hands and knees to actually push rather than succomb to their instrumental delivery on my back.

Thank you for all the messages of support and well wishes but am now being sent home with no c-section as they had too many emergencies come in. I now have to go through all the waiting again on Thursday!! Really quite upset and frustrated, not to mention pretty darn hungry and thirsty. Also wish less people knew it was meant to be today, as so many people to update x