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.

So midwife said LO's head is engaged now 3/5 which means most of it is in there and she felt there's no room around his head for him to pop back out. Heart beating 120bpm. She wouldn't do an internal look today but said all my signs last few days are promising. She's booked me in 10th May after my due date to have a sweep done if nothing has happened by then but she said it's highly likely he will be out before then and has advised me to get bouncing on the ball. X

@Kittycaz great news! I'm seeing mine Thursday how do they tell if you're engaged? I'm really not up for internal exams.
@EastMidsGem sorry to hear that, hopefully it goes better Thursday you must be really frustrated!

She felt my pelvis externally and squeezed a little which was very strange and said that was his head. No need for internal. She said 3/5 which means widest part of his head is in the pelvis. They should check if u ask I just asked her to check as I was curious x

@Bubbasmama2017 yes very frustrated. I've never known anyone else have that happen but I suppose it has to sometimes.

Just got to hope it'll be 2nd time lucky x

@Kittycaz thanks I'll ask her to check, sometimes I feel lik baby is very low and other times of the day I'm out of breath as if she's still high up! Been a bit crampy the last few days and a few "fanny daggers" lol so maybe she's making her way down

@Zibidee I just want to add my support to what everyone else has said. From what you've said that is specific to YOUR case (and not just them making sweeping generalisations)... you said they said he's on track in terms of size, and your GD is under control... everything looks good... it sounds like you're doing great, don't worry. Try not to let the opinion of one person undo your self belief ❤️

Have you looked into hypnobirthing at all? I did the Positive Birth Company online course and it really helped me with confidence around birth and your body being made to do this... just might be something to look into if you need some reassurance xx

@fejkalove just wanted to say if you are still having trouble with the app, I had to log out and log in again and that fixed it for me. I was having issues too, I think there was a system upgrade earlier in the week while the servers were down that caused issues for some people.

@EastMidsGem oh goodness, I'm sorry that must be so frustrating! Maybe you can delegate someone else to update all the family/friends so you don't have to deal with that yourself? Fingers crossed you are not waiting too much longer.

@morphe good luck tomorrow! I hope it goes ahead and goes smoothly for you.

@Kittycaz My midwife also said my baby's head was engaged "in the pelvis" when I asked... but she didn't give me a number out of 5! I was surprised actually as I haven't felt any lightning crotch or any cervix pressure down below! Just pressure in my lower bump area.

Has everyone that has been harvesting colostrum used syringes? I asked my midwife for syringes but she said to put the colostrum in a "sterile ice cube tray" (?!) and then one syringe would just be used for feeding them?! Sounds a palaver to me, I liked the idea of just using and freezing/defrosting multiple syringes and this is the method the NCT counsellor recommended. So I might just try and get some on Amazon.... anyone got any links???

@Sarah239 thanks for your msg. I did a little bit of hypnobirthing during my antenatal classes, I should probably do more. Coincidentally I've found colostrum harvesting really positive, that I can do something well that will really help my little one if his sugars are low at birth. I got two packs of 4 syringes from my midwife, with lids. I don't understand the ice cube idea, how on earth can that stay sterile when defrosted? Anyhow this is a link to something very similar from Amazon to what I was given

Colostrum syringes

Hello ladies! It's been a hell of a week. I haven't been able to follow any of your news because my internet signal in the hospital was terrible. I'll be trying to catch up over the coming days.

Baby boy was born 🥰 in the early hours of Sunday morning. I did not have a positive induction experience, but he is born and we are safe. He's amazing and doing so well. I'm totally smitten and just adore watching my husband with him. He is totally captivated by our little baby boy.

After we get through May and all our babies are born, I'll gladly tell my birth story. But for now let's celebrate each lovely baby as they come!

One thing I do recommend is, if delivering vaginally, to ask your midwife for really firm perineal pressure when baby comes out. I'm sure that was a big help to me. I had minimal internal tearing to my perineum, internal only, needing only two internal dissolvable stitches. I can't even feel any residual pain in that area specifically, just overall a bit sore and swollen.

Also, Frida cold pads are worth every penny!

Oh, also, the Positive Birth Company's hypnobirthing really helps. Up breathing is amazing. Down breathing I think is more instinctive, but it's great to know. There were moments where all I could remember was that I had to had to had to breathe out longer and harder than I'd breathe in. It saved me.

Congratulations @aNewYorkerInLondon. I bought those frida cold pads other day ready for afterwards.

@Sarah239 I was given syringes to harvest and it does make it allot easier. I originally bought some off ebay though but realised its the exact same brand as the midwife one so prob someone nicking supplies and selling em on 🤬 if you've got a breastfeeding team at your local hospital u may be able to get some from them.

@EastMidsGem I'm sorry to hear this hopefully all goes to plan Thursday for you and your little one will be in your arms very soon.

I took some money out of bank today for hospital vending machines incase I'm on the ward a long time and DH gets told to leave. I got 20 pound in coins think that's enough but wondered how much change everyone else is packing?

@Sarah239 thank you - that worked!

@aNewYorkerInLondon congratulations - wonderful news

@aNewYorkerInLondon Congratulations! Xx

@Kittycaz thanks! In terms of the change, do you mean vending machine change for you for snacks? Hadn't even thought about that, I'm just taking in a snack bag and had assumed if I was kept on a ward I would be offered meals? Is that completely wrong...

@Zibidee thank you so much for the link, I was struggling to find sterile ones with caps. And I didn't understand the ice cube method either... how can it be sterile if it's an ice cube tray unless it's sealed or something? Not like you are going to fill all the cubes in one go... and how on earth would you transfer from boob to tray without a syringe in the first place 🤷‍♀️ so I choose to ignore that suggestion and get syringes!

@aNewYorkerInLondon I am so glad he is here and doing well! I understand you wanting to wait to share your full experience but would definitely be interested to hear when you feel ready/feel it is the right time. Thank you for the tips!

@EastMidsGem How frustrating, it hadn't occurred to me that that might happen! I would have definitely felt pretty hangry after fasting all morning in preparation! I hope it all goes smoothly on Thursday.

@aNewYorkerInLondon Congratulations on your little boy! I'm curious to hear your birth story when you're ready, but it's lovely that you're just able to enjoy him now.

@Kittycaz I'm sure that would be enough for a couple of days, I found the meals served on the ward to be enough and never used the vending machines. But your DH can bring more if it turns out you need to stay for longer.

@Zibidee FWIW I had an epidural with my first baby (vaginal birth), it was something I requested immediately and it didn't lead to any additional interventions like forceps or episiotomy (though I understand it's different in your case with your other complications). Pushing was fine, the baby was being monitored and the midwife told me when to push rather than me doing it by instinct but it worked. It means I've never experienced advanced contractions/labour pain but even just early contractions were bad enough so I'm just glad not to have gone through the pain. But then again, this is your birth so just be clear what you want and are willing to consent to. I'm a couple of years older than you and have GD too but I guess as a c-section has always been planned for me, they've not needed to consider other interventions.

Thanks all. I'm just trying not to do anything to induce labour today and keeping fingers crossed for tomorrow.

@Kittycaz and @Sarah239 I was offered food yesterday before we left just because we'd been there so long after I was fasting from midnight (only an apple, yoghurt, some orange juice and toast) but we just wanted to get home. You will get meals if you're staying in. Actually I was reading the menu yesterday because I was so bored which probably didn't help! I was surprised at how much food you get as it's 3 courses.

Huge congratulations @aNewYorkerInLondon xx

@EastMidsGem wow 3 courses. Do u get a choice? I'm a picky eater thus the reason I thought change for vending machine also for drinks wise as I don't drink hot drinks. I've got a mini snack bag 2 boxes of protein bars and isotonic lucozade sports for the actual labour as knowing my luck it will be a long labour 😂 but no room for afterwards snacks. X

@Kittycaz I presume every hospital will be slightly different but yes there was lots of choice - that's why o was so interested! Starters was only fruit juice or soup of the day with a buttered roll. But mains and desserts were plentiful. There were things like cottage pie, sausage and mash, all day breakfast, chicken tikka masala and rice, jacket potatoes with a few different fillings, a few choices of salads. Plus there were vegetarian or halal meal choices and cold choices like sandwiches. Then desserts had both hot and cold choices. I was quite impressed! It also said separately on the menu that there are snack boxes available 24 hours a day if you happen to miss the meal time through have treatment or procedures so you can just ask the staff and that has a piece of fruit, cake, crisps and a sandwich. Thought that was really good. Don't get me wrong... I have snacks packed but nice to know we certainly won't go hungry x

@Kittycaz your snack bag sounds smaller than mine, I've packed the kitchen cupboard 😅 Loads of multipack snack bars etc. Food is very important to me 😂 @EastMidsGem ooh that menu sounds great, I'm crossing my fingers I get offered something like that!!

@aNewYorkerInLondon Congratulations on your little one! I'm glad to hear you're both doing well.

@Kittycaz @EastMidsGem When I stayed on the Obstetrics ward, a woman came round to offer us two choices of main and two choices of dessert (usually I've cream or yoghurt). The main thing I struggled with was how early dinner was served - between 4pm and 5pm (I usually have dinner around 7pm) - and nothing on offer after that unless you wandered to the canteen on the other side of the hospital, which is awkward when you're meant to be under observation.

I've woken up feeling grumpy and uncomfortable today. DH is able to come with me to see the consultant this afternoon and he wants to know what questions we're going to ask. The thing is, I don't know what exactly is going to discussed in this meeting, so I don't know what I'm meant to be asking.

Hospital food last time I was in was absolutely woeful. Plenty of choice every lunch/dinner but it was all gross. I ended up living on jelly pots, the tea & toast at breakfast and bedtime and my other half had to bring me actual food every night when he came to visit. I'm not overly fussy but honestly it was minging.

Hopefully you all have a better food experience than that. Plus it was 2020 so no vending machine or cafe access.

@aNewYorkerInLondon congratulations! 💙

@EastMidsGem I hope I get something like that but am assuming all hospitals are different @yfenniChristie this would be my nightmare scenario and why I've got change for machine that I'd be in labour during dinner time and then when I'm finished with zero energy to be told I missed dinner time as its at certain times. But if I can get the snack boxes from them that sounds good.

My husband had an operation last year and was in hospital over night and they left him to go hungry as he'd had a spinal he couldn't walk to get himself food pressed his button to ask as he was in his operation 3-6pm he missed dinner time and after fasting for the op he was really hungry and they wouldn't let me onto his ward to help. I think that experience stuck with me. I know the most important thing will be having my little boy but I still worry about other things. These are my hospital bags Mine, LO's and DH/snacks.

I remember missing meal times a lot when I had my daughter and sometimes wasn't physically able to get to a canteen/vending machine and they didn't seem to be offering it at the bedside maybe it will be different this time but I'm over packing snacks like Pringles and cereal bars just in case and will get my partner to bring in a sandwich etc. Well done @Kittycaz I'm doing mine today as have the day to myself I'm sure there is something I've forgotten off the list although it seems like such a lot of stuff doesn't it!
Has anyone tried reflexology to induce labour? I'm trying to be relaxed and think baby will arrive when they're ready but also don't want to be very over due in case they're huge!

@aNewYorkerInLondon congratulations hope you're both feeling well, look forward to hearing your story when you're up to telling us

@Bubbasmama2017 I enquired about reflexology after a midwife recommended it to I duce labour, but the lady who responded to me said she doesn't think reflexology can "induce" labour, it's more about having several sessions over several weeks that encourage calm and the labour hormones, but not to expect to go to a session and start contractions a few hrs later.
I was very disappointed to hear this! But gonna give it a go anyway, I figure it's a chance to lie down and relax and get a foot massage and if things happen it's a bonus!