Due in June - Thread 11!

[PlodandPod]

@Brightsmoke
@EarlGreywithLemon
@fpeg
@PeeAche2
@pregnancydiaries
@Rolledthedice
@Vimto1991
@Annabell1
@Prema112
@Lostintranslatio
@Roxystar23
@PleaseSendNoodles
@imhereforthecake
@RoseValleyRambles
@t0nim92
@Yecats22
@AlbatrossSociety
@unknownscot
@beansprout55
@MrsNT
@Letsbekindplease
@GrowBabyGrow
@MrsTwentyNine
@Flowerbug1994
@DaimDillyDoo
@MsBubbles85
@Octoblockisadick
@C1ueless22
@CurryandSnuggle
@rathernotshare
@InvisibleDragon
@4thtimethecharm
@ALHCTPS
@RooSut25

@Vimto1991 hope your knees are OK! The lack of balance when pregnant can be a nightmare can't it. I can barely balance at the best of times tbh. Are we eligible for the 4th dose? Whenever I've asked I've been told they don't know if pregnancy counts as a reason or not. I had my last booster in October so could have now if I'm eligible.

@Brightsmoke has anyone said anything about giving birth yet to you? My consultant is very pro vaginal birth, but other than that hasn't really said anything. Just said that after my next scan at 36+3 we can discuss my thoughts and options. Can't believe you are working til 39+2, I think I would struggle so bad.

@Flowerbug1994 I'm struggling a bit too, can't seem to concentrate at all. I'm off sick for the rest of this week now (yay to the vomiting bug), then I've got 2 weeks in work so hopefully not too bad.

@AlbatrossSociety the hospital where I work has horrific parking. I start at 9, if I arrive after 8.30 I'll be driving round for ages looking for a space. If I've had an appointment and not started until late I've been driving round for over 45 minutes before now.

@CurryandSnuggle oh no, I hope you escape! Most people I know who have had covid recently have only felt rough for a couple days, so hopefully even if you do catch it you'll be well clear before baby arrives 🤞

@Vimto1991
I've been reading lots regarding movement the past day or so.
Any movement no matter how strong/weak it feels is classed as movement.
You want 10 movements within 2 hours ideally, if you don't have this you are recommended to have a CTG.

You should lay and relax on your left side and focus on the movements to gauge any, according to the RCOG

X

Crossed with a few posts there!
@fpeg I've been eating dates for a while, I quite like them tbh. Either have them chopped in museli in the morning, or just snack on them throughout the day. I'm having about 70-80g worth (I think that's what Google suggested unless I've got muddled up somewhere)

@mrkb congrats on getting a date! How many weeks will you be then? Have you made a plan for if you go into labour before that date, will you go straight for a section or trial vaginal delivery?

@Vimto1991 yeah I'm surprisingly excited! (I don't know why I'm surprised haha). I'm not really opposed to labour if it starts happening before then but I'm just so terrified of something going wrong/cascaded interventions that I feel very relieved to have a date in the diary and a plan in place.

I totally understand how you feel on the exhaustion of going into triage! I've been 3 times and was about to go in yesterday when suddenly she woke up and I changed my mind. It's just such a draining process isn't it - not only are you worried but it takes forever and I get worried I'm being a nuisance which I know they don't care about but still!

@unknownscot thank you! yeah I’ve had movements doing this, just not as strong (they’re actually a bit stronger right as I’m typing this), and the first thing suggested by a community midwife is triage for Ctg - no advice given!! Cannot believe it. 🤯 I’m going with my gut instinct that baby is fine - my consultant last night gave me the same advice you just said so I’ll take their word!!

@Octoblockisadick haha yeah it’s fine just stings, gonna have to get some tights out for my baby shower on Saturday lol!! I thought we’d be eligible due to being immune suppressed but they never seem to know what to do with us!! I think I wouldn’t be eligible until late June and I hope baby would be out by then. 😂😂

Also eating dates but I just like them anyway haha.

@Octoblockisadick will be 39+1 when it's booked. If I go into labour before then I think I will give vaginal birth a try as the midwife was saying that one of the risks of caesarean pre-39 weeks is fluid in baby's lungs and potentially needing a short stay in NICU. Nothing catastrophic or debilitating but vaginal birth can help push some of that fluid out so I'm happy to try if it comes to it but with a very low-threshold for caesarean eg if there's even the slightest hint of things complicating (particularly if baby is back to back) then to try to get me in asap - though obviously more urgent cases can arise meaning you're not a priority which I totally understand!

Yes, the nausea has been back for a few weeks, although I’ve had a break the last couple of days. Exactly the same as the first trimester, minus the food aversions. And at least water doesn’t make me feel nauseous this time! I’m not being sick though, so I feel so much sympathy for those of you who are also dealing with that.

@CurryandSnuggle oh no, I’m so sorry! Fingers crossed that you stay negative.

@mrkb great news, congratulations! So glad it went smoothly.

@mrkb yeah exactly this, I’d go in every day if I was concerned - I mean that’s what I have been doing. I’ve been in Friday, Monday and yesterday and a trip two weeks ago, plus a monitoring session tomorrow. If I am concerned it’s worth it - but it’s a 45 minute drive and always around a 3 hour session. I do feel like I waste everyone’s time, too. Today I was concerned but I’ve had movement, and want to trust instincts and go off that today. I suffer with anxiety and think just going straight in and not waiting for baby to react is doing me and baby more harm than good! Just had a painful rib kick so even though it’s been a quieter day - I know they’re doing good, cause they have enough power to hurt me. 😆

I love dates, are they like the raspberry tea? I tried one cup of that and hated it 😂😂 also can I ask you guys, at 37 we are classed as full term - do you start trying to bring on labour then or at 40? I bought conditioner from lush with clary sage in by accident but kept it for bringing on labour, not sure when to bring it out and use it. 😂

@Vimto1991 same, I've been giving myself 45 mins now to wait and see if I have a movement as that's how long it takes me to get to the hospital via public transport anyway so I figure I can do that waiting at home where I'm in a relaxed environment and more likely to feel the movements. So far, that's actually always worked and I have felt movements in that time period. It's just so hard with us having anterior placentas! I have had pretty active movements since being back at work so I also wonder if when I'm having lazier days (I probably did about 150 steps over the whole bank holiday weekend 😅) she's being lazy too?? Who knows!

Managed to miss your original post on this @CurryandSnuggle - crossing everything that you manage to avoid it, or at least if you do get it I hope it's not that crap! I felt really rubbish for one day when I had it but in hindsight it actually really wasn't that bad - just a horrible cold really - and most of it was more me worrying that it was going to get worse (which it didn't) than anything else!

@vimto1991 agree on the triage front. It takes me 30 mins to get to the hospital, an hour by public transport, and means my husband has to drop work to drive me or I have to get a cab. By contrast, our local midwife is 10 mins away. It'd be great if at least some checks were available there.

@Vimto1991 dates are supposed to help soften the cervix and shorten labour - didn’t do much for me on the first count, but worth trying! Especially if you like them 😀

I think if you’re looking forward to the lush conditioner you might as well start using it at 37 weeks. It’s not unsafe from that point, and I don’t think there’s such strong evidence that it can induce labour l. But then I may be a bit cynical because none of the “traditional” remedies worked for me, or for my friends who went overdue - pineapple, curry, walking, dates, raspberry leaf tea, I tried them all! Admittedly didn’t try sex or scrubbing floors. Maybe that’s where I went wrong! 😂

So after my swollen foot/ankle issue over the weekend i called the midwife yesterday and ended having to go in and get checked out after work yesterday. CTG all okay, but slightly high blood pressure and protein in urine, took bloods to check for pre-eclampsia, finally got let out late last night as long as i promised to come back in today for more monitoring. Went back in today, more CTG, all okay, blood pressure more towards normal again. Bloods showed that i was at risk so they took another urine sample and tested more thoroughly at lab, luckily came back as a good result ending in me now having to see the midwife twice weekly from now on to keep an extra close eye on blood pressure etc.
I swear no-one warned me pregnancy would be this hard! Am now 35+5, finishing work next Thursday and i cannot wait!

@Vimto1991 the dates show evidence of reducing length of labour and also interventions. They don't induce labour. The study that was done advises 6x dates per day from 36 weeks.
They do say to be careful with the clary sage and all the things I've read say tell your midwife if you plan to use it. Again from what I've read it increases strength of contraction and if overdone can cause baby distress. Given my recent events I've decided to give the clary sage a miss.

@mrkb haha maybe!! Mine took the opposite approach of being super active whilst I was lazy. I mean I did work from home and not really move anyway, but I probably did under 150 steps 😂😂

@EarlGreywithLemon yeah I do wonder how much of these are old wives tales and actually work. My best friend said twisting and rubbing her nipples worked for her 😂😂 I’m not so excited to use the conditioner, I was super annoyed at myself for buying it without checking the ingredients, and at how expensive it was I didn’t want to give it away. 😂😂 all the dates for me then!

@RoseValleyRambles exactly this! Community midwives run from a clinic five minutes from my house, I wish these could be used for checks like you said, rather than hauling us in to hospital each time. It was manic there yesterday as well, I got stuffed into the waiting room with four other ladies, I felt sorry for the staff running around manic!!

@NorthDevonBeachLover good to hear all went well (in the end) for you!! Sounds like you had a mare! Atleast they will be keeping an eye just in case for you, a bit of peace of mind. Yeah I never knew pregnancy could be so hard. Everyone I know seemed to blitz through it with ease. 🤦‍♀️

@fpeg I’ll stock up on dates, May give the conditioner more time to hide in the cupboard as I don’t fancy stronger contractions! After having a cervix exam and knowing how painful that was, I’m getting super nervous for the pain I’m about to be in soon. 😂

@Octoblockisadick nope not yet. I've got a consultant app on 12th, where I'm sure they'll try and convince me that baby need to be out before due date. But I'm happy to birth a 10-11lb baby if there's no issues, a big baby isn't enough reason to not be able to have an unassisted vaginal birth, so I'm prepared to argue it and say no.

That's exactly the same as my hospital. I don't work there so don't have the challenge daily thankfully, but it's annoying enough for scans or appointments!

I know, I think I might be mad! Im only taking 9 months mat leave, so want to spend it with the baby. Took 14 months in total with my son and went slowly mad after all the time off 😂. And my son starts half term on my first day of leave, yay for no break 😒

Exciting to have a date @mrkb!

@EarlGreywithLemon im totally with you! Nothing worked for me. This time I'm definitely resigned to the fact 'baby will come when baby is ready'.

I am so so over having a baby digging it's limbs into my hips and ribs. I've got my next scan and midwife app on Friday, and 9 days until 'term'. Not that I'm counting down the days 🙃

a girl here too.

@Vimto1991 glad all is well
today!

I started drinking raspberry leaf tea in the hope it helps me. It says you can use the bag twice so having 2 a day. I’m 35 weeks today. Only started yesterday.

anyone else in nesting mode ? I came in tonight and I’ve dusted, hoovered, washed all floors. All windows open and spraying the shit out of everything with fabric spray. I could sit all day and do zero but tonight something just clicked and now I want to start upstairs. If only I was like this most days
if only I could do the same when it comes to my hospital bag. Still haven’t packed it. I overthink every aspect in life so this is a real challenge for me.

getting some really strong and uncomfortable movements but I’m enjoying them. When she doesn’t kick, I worry, so embracing all the pains.

@Brightsmoke stick to your guns when talking to those consultants! I was advised to have mine at MLU because I likely have a varicose vein in vulva area. But that’s their own bias coming through. I asked for data to back up the reasoning and she days there is none as varicose veins aren’t part of most maternity studies. So follow your instincts, that’s my motto!

When is best to start the raspberry leaf tea? Google seems to give conflicting opinions?

Am getting ready to leave to go back in for reduced movements ive only had about 6 movements in since 4 o’clock today and in that same time frame yesterday I had around 30. He’s been quite today and I’ve had to lie down to get movement out of him so I’ve decided to stop worrying and just go in. Hope am not in for a long wait xxx

Good luck @Flowerbug1994 hope you don't have a long wait 🤍 let us know how you get on xx

@Brightsmoke I'm happy to trial a vaginal delivery too. I said to the consultant he will come out when he is ready and he will be as big as he will be 🤷‍♀️. The scans are pretty inaccurate too so I'm not concerned. I'm having 9 months too, then all my accrued annual leave. My first week off is the week before half term so I've got a week to get things sorted and have a bit of a rest. I've timed the leave so I will go back to work after easter half term next year, so should be OK hopefully.

@Rolledthedice I started raspberry tea a couple days before 32 weeks. I really like it though, so just drinking it whenever I fancy it rather than slowly increasing the numbers. Think I had about 5 cups yesterday oops!

Good luck @Flowerbug1994 , hope everything OK and you aren't waiting too long.

@pregnancydiaries @Octoblockisadick thanks its quite busy here. I’ve had a couple movements since I got here but I feel like I need some support and answers as am getting these reduced movement phases so often and I have no pattern and whenever I come in and tell them I have no pattern they just shrug it off and then tell me if something doesn’t seem right again come back in. They say him being breech shouldn’t cause reduction in movement and stuff so I just don’t know what to do it’s making me so so anxious am constantly kick counting the second he’s quite for an hour am having a breakdown. I’m just really not coping well at the minute xxxx

Thanks for the advice about getting my bloods checked about the itching, I have my midwife appointment tomorrow for her to do them. When is the final midwife appointment before we graduate and have our babies? 😂

I'm also in nesting mode - I couldn't sleep last night and all I could think about was cleaning, tidying and smelling cleaning products! I got out of bed at 11pm because I couldn't sleep and deep cleaned the whole kitchen and organised my utility room.

@Flowerbug1994 I am the exact same, my heart goes out to you. Hope CTG goes well but I hope you get some answers. I’ve had a very quiet day like you, I was having movements every two minutes yesterday, and today I’ve had to have fizzy drinks and a lie down to get anything once an hour. I’m so tired of not getting answers like you, had a breakdown to my husband as mentally not sure I can do this for five more weeks. Really hope all goes well, let us know how you get on.

Thank you for the support guys @Vimto1991 @pregnancydiaries @fpeg @Octoblockisadick @EarlGreywithLemon @mrkb

You’ve helped put my mind at ease. Baby seems absolutely fine, moving as normal. I haven’t done another lateral flow yet as I don’t want to run out but DH is sleeping in different room tonight and we’ve been wearing masks young the house. However I do have a mild sore throat coming on so it’s not looking good. Fingers crossed it just remains as bad as a cold rather than anything worse. Plus, on the bright side I will be extra immune for when bubba is born and hopefully she’ll be even more protected ❤️