AUGUST 2022 (Thread 4)

[Beth262]

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They did all the Doppler scans etc so the blood flow is good apparently. But if they let me home tomorrow I’ll have to get that redone weekly and twice weekly checkups. Thank god my work doesn’t mind!

As a wee update: finally saw my doctor, and she suspects a placental issue where it’s degrading much faster than it should in the third trimester, because the growth dropped so fast. She said to expect induction sometime between now and 36 weeks at the most and another nicu baby, which just feels awful, but she said she wants to set expectations of what’s likely going to happen. But at least there they can feed him and he’s getting really nothing now. I might get sent home in 2 days, but also they’re worried that the placenta really fails and the heartbeat stops which is just terrifying as large anterior placenta and I feel very little still and kick counts are out of the question. I’m guessing this will be a July baby never mind august 😬.

Crikey @madeleine85 that must be really stressful, but I’m so glad they’re being cautious and are going to look after him. A july baby- that’s so exciting! Of course appreciate for you right now it feels more scary than exciting, but soon you will have your baby boy out and safe and as you say, being fed! Thinking of you and sending good thoughts!

@squatternutbosh12 thanks ❤️. i thought my EDD would be early Sep based on conception date, so this is a little bonkers. I was also keeping all the price tags on my newborn clothes assuming he would be too big to use them and I’d get induced at 39 weeks. So very wrong 🤦‍♀️. It’s reassuring to hear the heartbeat though on the monitors now. It’s also so nice to see so many on this group coming to full term, and that vicarious living is making me happy. The fact that we almost all cleared the week 20s is kind of amazing instead, and even the one that did come early is probably home now! So well done mums and babies of this group ❤️.

I agree, we’re all doing fabulously!!
keep us posted @madeleine85 whenever you have more news.
I don’t know what time it is where you are in the states but it’s 5.40am here, I’m seeing a lot more of 3-6 each morning than I would like 😩 #insomniaaaaaa
Also struggling with PGP and crazy reflux so I guess that doesn’t help.
I’ve been having so many braxton hicks and low down cramps that I’ve been half wondering whether my one is gearing up to try and make some kind of appearance too. 35+1 so it wouldn’t be much of a problem, I’d just prefer him to stick to the plan! Nothing’s changed/happened that’s made me need to call triage yet though.

We have just bought the car seat and pram, and a car that these will actually fit into finally, which were the last ‘big bits’ that needed getting. This weekend/next week is putting a bit of woodland theme wallpaper up in the nursery and trying to cope with the heatwave. Ice lollies and fans
ready everyone?! Hope you’re all surviving! 💕

@madeleine85 glad you're being monitored. Keep us updated.

Not enjoying the heat here or how much more difficult it is to do things. I make what I think is a reasonable to-do list and end up getting through very little of it. He's also practicing his kicking skills on my ribs, so I expect him to have strong leg muscles by the time he comes out.

34 weeks today! Had another stint in triage last night with contractions. They were every five minutes and super strong - the toco thingy was topping out for a minute at a time so the trace looked like one huge plateau after another.

But foetal fibronectin still negative and cervix still closed and posterior, so hopefully no baby in the next few days at least, a d they've settled down now. I'd so dearly like to get to term 😭

@madeleine85 Glad you're being monitored closely, but you must be so worried. On the one hand, as mum to a NICU baby already, you know what to expect around that side of things but then sometimes knowledge isn't helpful. I know it's hard being in hospital away from your DD too, especially when you've just seemingly disappeared off the back of a routine check but she will be fine.

Here whenever you need to offload or feel like you need some reassurance 💕

@squatternutbosh12 sounds like you're there with all your prep (apart from the papering - if you're happy to, post a picture when it's done. I'd love to see what other's nurseries look like).

@ToCaden Also struggling to do things, heat or otherwise. Tried to paint my toes yesterday. I had no chance! 😆

@CoalCraft Hopefully just your body having a practice run, especially if your cervix is still closed. I've learnt to take absolutely nothing from the fetal fibronectin tests! 2 positive tests 6 weeks ago and still nothing! But even if it does change for you in the next few days, at 34 weeks you're further than DD1 and potentially even out of the SCBU woods. Everything crossed for you x

Can I just say I feel sorry for you ladies being pregnant in this heat, I'm sweating already and it's not even 9.30am. Also quick update they put Maddison coming home back a few days as she had low iron so needed a blood transfusion but fingers crossed it's only a few days x

@madeleine85 sorry to hear that but at least they seem to be on top of it. I also have a large front placenta so yep no kick counting and having to rely on hospital monitoring.

Thanks everyone. Actually glad to be in, as they’re seeing contractions again. Did anyone have a premie first and had had contractions already second time? I swear pre DD I had a high pain threshold, pushed her out with no pain meds, and pre term contractions barely hurt to the point I wondered if they were real, but this time I can feel them all over my stomach and in my back and bum, and it’s sore! The doctor did say that now things aren’t good with the placenta my body will likely try to start prepping for labour with contractions, and I know I’m probably being a massive wimp. But these frigging hurt 😂. I should just pound water to help, but I need unhooked from all the machines to go pee, which is so often it’s getting ridiculous! Also thanks ladies for listening to my 2AM pregnancy musings. You are a really great bunch to go through this with ❤️

@CoalCraft sorry to hear you were back in, but glad you got monitored. Interesting (and great) it’s all still closed. Fingers crossed stays that way too!

@Delight12 sorry that Maddison isn’t home yet, but crossing everything for a speedy release to you ❤️

@CoalCraft sorry to hear another stint with contractions :( must be scary but glad they are monitoring things and got fingers crossed baby stays put til term for you x

@Beth262 yeah am happy to post a pic! Can’t put any of the furniture in til 20th when carpet goes down but will do after that ☺️

I’m in a new WhatsApp group with people from antenatal class and this morning I managed to fall asleep with my phone under my face, and somehow sent them all an 8 minute voice note of me snoring. 😂😂 mortifying…

@squatternutbosh12 thank you, you made me chuckle (a lot). As parents to be, they’ll get it 😂

@madeleine85 glad it raised a smile 😆 ❤️ and sorry you’re having a rough time with the pain, you are definitely NOT a wimp though!!

Thanks @squatternutbosh12 with my DD the night nurse offered me an alternative to an epidural which was less intense supposedly, I would have gladly taken it, but she didn’t think I was really going in labour, meanwhile i was rapidly going 2-10. But then I had a teeny premie and was told thank god you didn’t get it (by the dr) as it can cause sleepy infants when they already can’t breathe well. So this time I want to go without. But my pain receptors think otherwise. He’s also breach as of this morning so when time comes around hopefully weeks from now who the hell knows 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️.

@madeleine85 like you, with my preemie, barley felt much. Was 7cm before it was realised anything was happening and that was only because of a massive bleed and subsequent examination. Not even a paracetamol to push him out. I've had a few BH but they've not really felt painful, just 'wooo ok, take a moment'. Maybe they feel more intense for you this time around because of the placenta issue. Like your body knows something is wrong and has lowered your pain threshold to make you take notice? Sorry... im rambling!

@squatternutbosh12 that's made me proper laugh 😆

@squatternutbosh12 your voicemail story made me laugh so much I had to pee!

Hahaha sorry @Unknown6’s bladder, I know the feeling 😂 x

@Beth262 i asked my nurse and she was like yup it all stretched out last time. This time will hurt more. Great! Then said we should wait for #3 😂. There will be no third! I’m retiring my old battered uterus after this haha

I'm with you @madeleine85 there will be no number 3! Feels like my body has found it ten times harder this time around just 2.5 years after DS!

Wait WHAT don't say that @madeleine85 😅
To be fair, I found Braxton Hicks much worse with number 2 than number one but then actual labour was a breeze, comparatively. I think a lot of the warming up does genuinely do something useful, even if it's not exactly fun.

On the up side I’ll be able to time early contractions this time if I’m actually feeling them 🤷‍♀️. The last time was a complete disaster, I couldn’t feel a thing till I was in the real depths of labour!

I think everyone experiences contractions differently and no doubt they also differ between pregnancies. With DD1 I had Braxton Hicks throughout and they were uncomfortable but not really painful, and then in labour contractions weren't painful at all until about half an hour before she actually emerged (the first time anyone examined me I was already fully dilated and feeling the urge to push). She was born at 33 weeks weighing 4 lbs 2 oz though, so pretty tiny

This time Braxton Hicks are so far still more uncomfy than painful, but they're definitely getting closer to that border. Whether that's because baby's getting bigger or they just are stronger I'm not really sure.

Had our baby shower this weekend and now I feel like it's time to start getting organised for baby coming I honestly haven't packed anything or sorted anything into any wardrobes or anything I feel so behind at 33 weeks anyone else like this? I still need to get the next to me etc out off storage and cleaned and stuff X