Due November 2022 Thread 3

[NotAdultingToday]

Hi everyone! I looked but couldn't see a thread, if there is one ill ask to get this one deleted. I hope everyone is ok!

I was predicted a 10lber at 39 weeks and was getting pushed for induction or elective. I refused it all on the grounds of unreliability and had a 7.01lb baby at 40 weeks.

Wow really!

I’m suffering really bad tonight with rib pain, really bad heartburn but in my back, and braxton hicks which I have had all day.

Feeling pretty sorry for myself today and even had a little cry. It’s so bloody hard being pregnant.

Sorry you're having a rough day @CurlyNo2 have you got a big sausage pillow to rest across/over? My friend had really bad heartburn and managed to get omeprozle (not sure on spelling!) prescribed by the docs to help.

I've had the realisation today that I have to get the birthing ball out now instead of sitting on the sofa. More than a few mins and it's really difficult to get back up and is so uncomfortable

Still not able to rest tonight as it feels so bad. I do have a long pillow but i tend to use it against my back instead of my front as I can’t seem to get on board with it. I’m propped up with lots of pillows, so hoping that helps.

@Kaykiscout im the same on my sofa, I’ve found sitting on a dining chair helps me more. Hope you’re ok.

I had a growth scan too about 28 weeks, apparently they just like to do it for older mums. I'm supposed to have another one around 34 weeks. Bubs was measuring 90%+, I'm not worried, my other babies weren't small either 😄
Had an appointment this morning and it appears he's not breech anymore either so 🥳

@Kaykiscout that's reassuring to know thank you 😊 I'm not going to worry too much about the percentile charts, as its my first everything seems so scary! @CurlyNo2 sorry to hear your struggling with symptoms. I'm also feeling rough, really struggling to sleep now as I get hip pain from lying on my side and I've been getting a lot of lower back pain. I'm not sure what braxton hicks feel like so don't know if its that. Also still suffering with nausea! Pregnancy is definitely a very tough journey.

@greenerfingers wow that's a big difference in predictions! I was 9,5 when I was born and my partner 10 pounds so we were both big babies lol, i don't know if that makes a difference @ALittleBitofVitriol some of my measurements were also on the 90%+ line! Great news about the baby not being breech anymore 👍

I know! And we were big babies too so I thought it must be correct. My tiny mum kept producing 9lb babies (including myself), she had us all naturally too so I told myself If she did it id be fine and if not they always have theatre etc. but there was no need for any of that worrying.

@greenerfingers I've been trying to commit more to hypnobirthing this time and a few of the affirmations are around the theme of "my body will grow babies it can birth" which sounds like the confidence your mum had! No idea when they started messing about measuring everyone although it did apparently pick up my friends GD.

I do wonder how true that the body/baby size is, my tiny friend was told her pelvis was too narrow and she should have a section so she did and was fine with that. The downside to the affirmations is how they makes people feel when it doesn't go to plan so I'm also having to find a plan changing list too to accept those 😅

@Elle1709 I've been using wireless headphones and a random hypnobirthing night time meditation from YouTube and it's helping me sleep quite well considering a 2 year old climbs into the middle of our bed about 2am every morning for cuddles. I definitely feel better the mornings I've had it on the night before and distracts me from discomfort to get to sleep.

I think the affirmations are very helpful @Kaykiscout. Not sure if this baby no.1 for you but my first I felt they helped keep me grounded and not lose control (home birth). Even when things weren't going to plan I still felt in control(ish). But like you said it's about being real and knowing there are a small possibility where things physically can't work but you have options (eg should dystocia from a large baby was such a tiny percentage that I discussed this my with consultant before she signed me for a home birth begrudgingly. And midwives are trained to cope with this too, even at home. It's other things that would have made me take pause and really evaluate like a breech baby or transverse or placental issues). And in any case the affirmations can be used to just remind the mother at the end of the day it's still phenomenal to bring a life into this world no matter which path delivery takes.

@greenerfingers it's my second but I'm aiming for home water birth this time.

I was open to whatever I felt I needed last time but only really committed to the breathing techniques after my partner was incredibly unhelpful in saying "why would you be in pain if you don't have to be" forgetting each relief comes with cons and mocking the hypnobirthing... As soon as I requested an (2x failed) epidural it felt like it was a race to get baby out and get the room back for the next delivery, everything was suddenly out of my control and my blood pressure sky rocketed.
Shocker.

Hopefully a relaxed home birth will be better, just need to get him to be more actively supportive (he keeps talking about my blood pressure instead of doing any prep to support my plan)

Blimey how thoroughly unhelpful of your partner 😳😳. I hope he's learnt since then! Or call in your mum or a good friend perhaps? A doula if you can afford one?

My blood pressure would do the same in that circumstance. I found having a playlist and my partner just SILENTLY pressing pressure points on my back really helped. And when it got crazy (back to back), I simply withdrew within myself and drank gas and air. I wish I'd got a pool as I heard after they're amazing for pain relief on the back but wasn't feasible (or so I thought but could have made it work).

It's a conversation we need to have. I might buy him a book but feel like we are running out of time to prep and life is constant chaos 😅

I'm calling in my mum and sister but they've got a 4-5hr drive so depends how fast I progress!

Urgh, count me in, I’ve gotta have that glucose tolerance test because bump is measuring too big.

Thanks for everyone who has spoken on this thread already about the growth chart etc because I was not as worried as I would have been at my appointment today when they told me. Hoping for the growth scans so I can see them again!

@smiles39 you don't have to have the test if you don't want it. It's within our rights to refuse any "offers" of care you don't want, no matter how much they pressure you x

@Kaykiscout good point!

Does anyone else’s baby move, like, ALL the time? It’s like my belly is doing a constant Mexican wave. People can see it jiggling about through my clothes. They do have their 30 mins or so of sleep, but then it’s like full on ‘scene from alien’ about to break out until they sleep again.

This is my first so I didn’t think anything of it until people started commenting on how much they move and how visible it is.

@smiles39 YES! I’ve noticed in the last week or so he is moving a LOT more. Can see my belly moving too. It’s so weird isn’t it?! 😂 I love it though.

Hi all, been feeling very emotional about my DD starting school next week and not being an only child and generally feeling hormonal. But more tearful and anxious and convcidering whether I should contact the antenatal mental health team, I was given contact details of, and reminded of at appointments due to previous bad mental health in pregnancy.

Since Wednesday I have been getting different abdominal pains. I am not convinced they are Braxton Hicks as they are one sided. I think baby has moved from a more transverse to up down. I'm less big on the sided but potrudi out the front. LotS of movement, but not noticeable outside my clothes.

@Bramblecrumble22 I got referred to the Perinatal mental health team today due to a previous traumatic birth with my son which resulted in a birth injury for him and also I had to have a termination for medical reasons 12 months ago which I don’t think I have processed yet. I’m terrified for this pregnancy, both of the birth and whether I will go through all of it again, and also I’ve been getting triggers due to the trauma we went through with the TFMR both physically and mentally. I’m hoping it will give me some closure and also to retrain my mind to a more positive outlook.

For your circumstances, I think identifying that there may be a problem is the first step, you know what you need to ensure the best possible care in your pregnancy. Let us know how you get on.

My baby seems to have moved position today, it’s movements are quite painful like they’ve moved from head down to breech as it feels like they could actually pop out my skin.

I got a phone call from the hospital yesterday to say despite giving me iron and b12 pills, they've reviewed my levels and have decided to give me the jabs, starting Tuesday and organise an iron infusion. I'm terrified of needles 😩
Also going to be awkward telling my boss as I've already had to book time off for midwife, extra scan and bloods appointments. I know I'm allowed the time, but it doesn't stop people making it awkward if they want to..

Thank you @CurlyNo2, best of luck with your appointment. Hope they can help.

Is everyone set with car seats? For our first baby, I didn't really think about it. DH sortied it. It's an oyster brand one, seat belt (my car has isofix, DH doesn't) newborn looked tiny in it and it was quite upright I got our car seat out, but it's been in the eves of the attic for 3 years with temp fluctuations. I did like how lightweight it was, and it has the orange e44/04 sticker on.Took off the covers and Checked the plastic, all looks good but I feel uncomfortable. DH said, we're not getting a new car seat, unless it's been in a crash. He was also keen on me using the second hand isofix silvercoss one that came with the travelsystem. Am I being irrational, wanting to buy a new one? I think the maxi Cosi Citi. Or should we use the one we used with our first? If we do Thinking of getting a new newborn insert as we needed to buy one separately for DD, and I found a more supportive one.

@Bramblecrumble22 I don't think its unreasonable at all, whatever makes you feel more comfortable and happy for the new arrival. I got a new one from silver cross in the clearance sale, I think it was last years special edition design so it was a good discount. But this is my first baby so I didn't have one I could have reused. Some things I am reusing from my sister and other things I felt I needed to get new. Its such a big moment in life and I think you need to feel safe and content with your choices 🙂 I wouldnt even let me partner open the loft hatch as I was worried about dust floating down and settling on the baby room items 😅 on reflection i was probably being slightly dramatic! lol. If it hasn't been in a crash, could it be cleaned and an insert put in, or do you feel you need a new one due to the temp fluctuations? Organising everything can be so stressful x

@Bramblecrumble22 could you get it steam cleaned? I was also worried when I got my travel system out the loft but have found a professional company to clean my bedside crib and pram and I’m happy I’ve saved some money this way. I needed a new car seat due to someone crashing into the back of us. We got the car seat replaced but since DS was about to move up to the next stage anyway, we did that and binned the first stage seat. We’ve gone for Britax ones, mainly because we got an amazing bargain on them in the sale.

Thanks. So, while not irrational, a 4 year old infant car seat is safe? May also ask midwife. It was bin bagged in the loft so I'm not concerned about dust. More about crash safety and comfort. Although generally my DH is generally more blase about dust. My sister has asthma so dust busting was the main cleaning my mum did. DH doesn't agree with washing teddies. One time he am my dd as a baby, maybe a year old or less went to his parents without and she played with and came home with his teddy rattle from the attic, for 30 years years ago. That one smelt and went in the wash! @sarahj878 I have actually seen that Aldi have a steam cleaner and yesterday, only really felt relaxed when cleaning so will give cleaning my baby stuff a go. I bought a new shark vacume about this time in my first pregnancy. I think a steam cleaner is a good nesting purchase.

Also, will get a more supportive insert