AUGUST 2022 (Thread 4)

[Beth262]

New thread

So I feel I might be about to hit my limit for the day 😑.

I went in for my 2nd sweep today and to be honest it went well, we made a plan that I'm back in on Sunday...with a baby being here by Monday either way. Since coming home I've been having contractions, pretty frequent and sore (yey).

However...was putting my 4year old in the shower and pretty sure he has the start of chicken pox. Great. I might burst into tears at any moment 🤦🏻‍♀️. Feel as though I've gone from feeling pretty in control to out of it very quickly.

He's here! Induction wasn't the most pleasant but all ok in the end AND I got a window spot in the postnatal ward 🙌

@Isonthecase Whayy! 🎉 congrats on your little one, hope you are both doing well!

Gosh that sounds so disempowering and frustrating! I went to an antenatal check up and after the testing said I didn't want more appointments. I felt really nervous because it's not the norm, but I assured them I would call if I had an suspicions anything was wrong. The midwife I saw that day was the nicest I've seen so far which made it easier, she said to me that it was my choice. I felt reassured by that. She also said 'we're not a prison!' And that we (the patient) are welcome to choose whatever kind of care we desire and there are no laws around what we have to accept/do/participate in.

I am so grateful for the NHS but I feel I don't need or want as much intervention as they offer. I haven't had our baby yet so I may change my ideas as we go along but for now I'd rather not have anything in the diary so I can stay present with the pregnancy and tune into the birth.

I ordered a blood group testing kit to test baby's blood from umbilical cord, a liver function test kit (just have to work out how to catch a sample of his pee!) - then we can test for jaundice, luggage scales - to hang him wrapped in a sling to check is weight/growth... I can't think what else right now but those are the basics. I'd like to take him to the hospital to get other checks done but most don't need to be done immediately, which leaves us time to nurture our bubble. Unless he has a positive blood type like my partner and then I'll be going for an anti-D injection within 72 hours after birth - so may as well have his checks done then!

I've been referred to the consultant midwife who wants to check I'm making an informed decision, which I said is totally fine to have a chat about. An ex-midwife friend of mine said with her last son she discharged herself mid pregnancy, then after birth had a lot of bleeding and needed help, and went to the hospital and they sorted her out. I don't want to sign myself off properly right now to make myself feel better if I need to go in for anything, but it's been so helpful and empowering hearing these stories.

Decide what is best for you and your family... you dictate the boundaries - especially in your own home!!

@ToCaden I forgot to tag you in above message!

Congrats @Isonthecase glad all is good and a window spot! Hope you aren't looking out of it for too long and get home fairly soon

So frustrated!!! Booked in for an induction today, and told to ring the hospital at 8am and they’d tell me what time to come up. Rang as instructed, and they’ve taken my number and ‘will ring me back when they know more’. If I’ve not heard from them by 1, I’m to ring again. I just want to cry. I know they have to take each day as it comes, but having waited nearly 2 weeks for this day to get here, and still be waiting around is so frustrating. Plus I’d sorted childcare and pet sitters for today, and now it may only be tomorrow! Sorry, just needed a moan

@Isonthecase congratulations!

@Unsure1010 oh no how frustrating. I hope they get you in soon.

@PopGoesBang what's annoying is this HV is even my 'assigned' HV. Hopefully when I meet my real one when she returns from leave in September she's going to be better.

@Isonthecase Congratulations 🥳 so glad to hear it all went smoothly and hope you're home soon. Good job on bagging a window bed on post natal 👏

@RP90 Hope the second sweep came to fruition and that its not turned out to be chicken pox with your 4yo (it seems to be rife at the moment). Try not to worry although you may feel everything is out of control right now. You're almost there.

@Unsure1010 Moan away, it's what we're here for! Hope you get a positive response before 1pm.

Quick question did anyone feel really sick before Labour? Woke in middle off night really needing the toilet nothing since but when I woke this morning I had to be sick but not bring much up as stomach obv empty but all morning just had a really sicky feeling in my stomach? X

@mamaof2girls I had awful acid reflux all night that made me feel sick and spent the morning feeling like I'd got morning sickness again. Woke up with bloody show and irregular tightenings so although I can't confirm for definite (as it was last night and this morning), it does sound promising for you!

@Beth262 fingers crossed your actual HV is much better!!
I never met my assigned midwife 🤣 the last one that signed me off said she things that might be a record 🤣

@Unsure1010 hope you've heard something positive and are in getting things under way!
On the bright side - better waiting at home and being frustrated than being in a stuffy ante natal ward and waiting. But that is no help when you've sorted other things for the day.

@Unsure1010 moan away. I'm finding one of most frustrating things is waiting around, so totally with you on that. Hope they got back to you and you see baby soon.

Update from me. Weight check went well today and finally finally off the midwives coming every 24 to 48 hours to weigh him over a non issue. He's nearly three weeks old and for first time since his birth I get to go a whole week without seeing a midwife!

Will gear myself up for asking to opt out of further visits if things get bad again, but right now just over the moon at having a week without waiting all day for whenever the midwife turns up. They show up any time between 9:30am and 4:30pm here and has been difficult to relax into anything while waiting.

Nice seeing so many babies arrive. I remember waiting to see who would be next end of july, and now they all seem to be coming fast.

Thanks everyone! After my little whinge, they did actually ring me back and we were admitted by 12. However baby is definitely too comfy in there, and other than a few tightenings has not responded to the pessary at all. Oh well - today just isn’t the day, lol.

glad to hear you e got a week of freedom @ToCaden . That really must be such a relief.

hope everyone waiting on babies, or feeling early signs get to meet their little ones very soon

Great news @Unsure1010 hope it all goes well!

@Unsure1010 hope your little one gets safely evicted soon!

Good luck everyone still to meet their little ones :) Hopefully there are a lot of new babies for this group over the weekend.

Congratulations @Isonthecase !

My little one (well, not so little, he was 9lbs 3!) got out of NICU last night, and we've been enjoying cuddles all night on the ward. It was totally empty and absolute bliss, not like my previous experiences of the post natal wards. We'll be in at least one more night, fingers crossed for another quiet one.

I'm so glad he's out, it was so unexpected with a big full term baby and a lovely birth, and I hadn't experienced anything like that with my other two. Apparently it's not rare even in full term babies. It will take some time to process, but for now I'm happy he's out and just hoping he stays well.

Yes. I was sick Weds morning. Contractions started Thurs 2am. Stopped and started. Baby born Saturday 10pm 🤞

Thanks everyone for replying back. Yeah was in a lot off pain on off yesterday and then went to bed last night and everything just seem to stop so woke up pretty gutted this morning 6 days till due date hopefully they decide to come soon. Feel abit silly as I started crying this morning over it worrying about if I have to be induced and awY from my other kids for awhile as I don't leave them with anyone as it is! X

So pleased for you @Gettissuesgotissues and empty ward sounds ideal! Almost the same size as mine, they said bigger babies can have more issues as it's harder getting them out.

@mamaof2girls sounds like things are moving! Midwife said to me that all the contractions that start and stop are helping, even if they're bloody frustrating at the time. Definitely true with my second so 🤞 for you!

This is exactly what happened to me! I was 3cm dilated when they checked. Get out for lots of walks and try and relax, eat well.

@Sunandsea77 @Isonthecase aww hopefully like had a few painful like period type pains this afternoon etc been keeping myself busy with house work and catching up on washing and been on the ball for a little today when the kids have let me. This one is defo more stubborn other 2 I knew for defo it was Labour this was makes me question and doubt everything haha! X

Random question for all those breastfeeding/expressing... when you start to feed off one boob, do you get a sharp pain in the one not being used? I've noticed recently then when I start to pump or baby starts feeding it feels like someone is sticking needles in my opposite boob! Anyone else or am I an oddball?

@Beth262 not quite needles being stuck in but I definitely get a intense tingle in the other one. I don't rennet that last time. But I also seem to be more leaky this time. I feel this time round I have far more 'odd' feelings with my boobs.
Can't rule out you still being an oddball but you aren't alone in that either 🤣

@Beth262 yes. Like sharp tingles. For me it just seems to signal the other breast amping up to provide milk too and is often followed by some leaking.