Due Feb/Mar after MC 🌈 🙈 Thread 2

[MooBugz]

New thread following the almost full last one! Sorry if I missed the tag for anyone 😬

@Ally256 @madeinthe80z @Lmcc88 @OceanbreezeSun @doingitalllagain @RedElleJ @STom2 @WonderWoop @LittleLottle @Skylark1990 @Rubes1234 @Hagster @JoKB @Gamergirl84 @Franklin321

Snap @STom2 mine was a C-section and lockdown baby too and I found the midwives very helpful during my time there.

I've got a mw appointment tomorrow and I'll need to remember to ask where to go if I go into labour at night as last time was planned csection and prior to that my boy was born in working hours! Hoping this one will be similar but you never know haha.

I've got my date for csection for 15 feb but hoping to go natural before then. Pretty much ready after tomorrow once my last wax is over and done with haha xx

@MooBugz snap on section date! Baby is showing no signs of making their entrance though so I guess I've still got two weeks to go!

congratulations@doingitalllagain and @drV hopefullyou can both get back home soon with the babies 👶

**

Ah @STom2 I have this dilemma too, DH is very keen to go home but I've made it clear that it'll depend on how I'm coping which to be fair he's ok with. I think I'm just going to play it by ear.

How have things been today @doingitalllagain? Keep thinking about you and your little one.

Exciting to see lots of dates, the next month is going to be a big one for this group!

@doingitalllagain & @drV congratulations on your little ones coming into the world. @doingitalllagain so sorry to hear about your start and little one being transferred. So happy you’re able to be with them now and see what’s going on. I can’t even imagine how hard it must be watching them with all their wires and tubes. Sending lots of love!

@drV so happy little one is here also and fed and latching! Hopefully infection is sorted over the next few Days! How are you feeling in yourself? X

I’m having a week as always 🙄 never seems to be straightforward for me. Currently scrambling and calling different lines to get an answer. I had appointment on weds and growth scan. Baby was measuring way ahead and belly was at 40 weeks and weighing 7lb 12oz (37 week scan) sent me for GTT again due to rapid growth and this time it’s come back positive. Got the news on Friday but no one’s been in touch since and was told to expect a call Monday morning. Don’t have any appointments or news so currently on a wild goose chase to find out what is actually going on. Stress is through the roof but trying to keep calm.

hope the rest of you ladies are all gearing up to the last few weeks and feeling ok! We are nearly there! X

@Gamergirl84 that's cool! How do you feel about it and how your keeping well!

@Rubes1234 that's terrible your having to do the chasing around after been told that news! I feel everything is a bit all over the place at the end here too the appointments are on and off then cancelled and confusing and I've hated that this time it's been a different midwife each time despite being told it would be the same one.

Hope you managed to get some answers it's all a big run around when you need to get in touch with them isn't it X

@MooBugz I have managed to get somewhere. Ended up phoning the two community midwives hubs in my area and rang the main hospital but I’ve had no appointments there at all. I now have appointments Thursday. Quite a few. Midwife and consultant. Diabetic clinic. Diabetic consultant. Growth scan. Anaesthesia team. So I’m thinking they may be prepping for section now but it’s not been said. It was a nightmare though. Had a man tell me I didn’t need an appointment and he angrily put me through to maternity ward but they got me sorted thankfully 😓

Just making sure all the last things are done here now the next few days as the midwife said to bring bags just in case and they have cancelled my 38 and 39 week consultant appointments😬 It all feels like it’s getting real now and I’m still waiting on a carpet to be fitted 😂

Hope you’re feeling good! How many days left until yours? X

Oh @Rubes1234 that's both exciting and scary at the same time!! Telling you to to take your bags eeeeek I think it might be happening for you this week then wow amazing.

That's wild that you had to do the chasing when all them appointments are for Thursday, that's pretty poor management from them and short notice but so glad you got it sorted.

My csection is scheduled for 15th but I'm hoping to go naturally before then so we'll see what happens. Hadn't final wax today so I'll start the extra walks and spicy foods from tomorrow to try bring it along haha. Midwife today said heads still down but not engaged but that isn't a worry as it happens right before or during labour anyway. I remember my first sons wasn't engaged until the last minute so we'll just need to see what happens! X

My section is the 8th and I'm the opposite to you @moobugz in that I'm going to try avoid the long walks and spicey foods 😄. Don't fancy LO coming any earlier as I've my DM flying in the day before so she can look after DS the day I go in. I think we'll be quite stuck if I go into spontaneous labour. Plus I'd a section with DS1 so not sure I'd even know what to do! Like you, LO head is down but not engaged. He's also still in a breach position as while his head is down it's more over toward my left hip while I'm being kicked right under right side of my ribs.

Haha @STom2 I've been waking in the night and re reading all about csection recovery just because I don't want to be caught off guard thinking I'll go natural and then not make it. I had csection last time in 2020 but I only have bad recovery memories, non infections or anything it was actually straight forward but the not being able to do anything for a long time really got me down and underestimated all the bits that are connected to your stomach muscles was another story! Saying that, I'm also very realistic in the possibility of it so being open minded as poss.

I'm feeling some rib pain more so in the evening it's defo getting all uncomfortable now isn't it! Times a coming for us all 🙈

@drV @doingitalllagain hope you guys are doing ok and good luck to the rest of the mamas. It was lovely to share this journey with people on the same path and history with miscarriages, would not have been the same without sharing the fears and stories and words of encouragement for one another. And @Skylark1990 my OG cycle buddy all the very best in your pregnancy too. I'm still here just a bit emosh haha so sending my love to all 🌈 X

@moobugz yesterday I was reading recommendations on what to eat for final meal the night before the section. Last time I'd Nandos and from what I read yesterday that might not have been best idea 😅!

We're trying to plan something to do with DS this weekend as it will be the last one with just the 3 of us. Toying with idea of going to London zoo (we live in London). Not sure though whether that's too much of an undertaking for me physically at this stage! I'm still pretty mobile thanks to LOs awkward position (ie he's not down in my pelvis so I can walk about fine). Just get a bit more tired/out of breath doing general housework.

We are finally home  thankfully it was the best case scenario and was just TTN, transient tachypnea of the newborn so all of his breathing difficulties peaked within 48 hours and disappeared by 72 hours. He's a tiny little thing, only 5lbs 6 now so he feels so fragile and he's so sleepy I'm having to wake him to feed but he is perfect and I'm just so happy it didn't turn out to be anything long lasting. Coming home was very overwhelming with my 3 year old aswell, he didn't quite know how to act and we had a difficult first few hours but looking forward to settling into the swing of things and know that I've given them such a gift in each other in the long term 
Lots more babies coming very soon, so excited for you all, hoping for lots of smooth starts.

@drV How are things? Sorry to hear you're having a rough start too. I felt a bit robbed of the first few days at first but now things are better I'm just happy that we are here. It'll get better xx

So glad to read the update that you’re both home and settling into life @doingitalllagain. Hopefully it’s the same for you now @drV.

so glad you’ve got plans @STom2 and @MooBugz.

@Rubes1234 Getting that diagnosis is awful but it can be managed and once the support is in place it gets easier. Shame you have to fight for it though. I’ve lost 10lb since being on the diabetes diet, so there is a silver lining for me! 😂

I had what I thought was my final consultant appointment yesterday but turns out I’m managing the gestational diabetes so well that they’re not inducing me early. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’d got my head into her being here at week 39 but nope, I’m not booked in for an induction until I’m full term. So I’m also now hoping to be able to bring on labour naturally….I’ll be kerb walking and trying to collect colostrum every day. 😂 I should not have watched the video on how they intend to induce me….the look of horror on my face made my husband laugh. 😂

@doingitalllagain that's great news to hear you are home I hope the new addition is settling in well to family life 🥳🥰

@ChangeHtotheP that's good you are managing the diabetes well! And your little one will be here before you know it. I'm going to be joining in the kerb walking 🤣 don't fancy making it to my
Csection two weeks today but good to know either way my baby will be here soon. I'm going to take it easy this week then up my game next week with everything I can to bring on labour lol.

Even though I know it's normal but I have this increasing fear I WILL shut myself during labour this time 🙈 the urgency is real especially now we are reaching the end X

Hi all.. sorry I have been Mia all these days!

Updates till now - we stayed in hospital for 48 hours after the delivery as they were suspecting mild-moderate infection in both me and my girl. We both were given IV antibiotics and bloods sent for culture, which came back negative fortunately and hence discharged!

My girl still has difficulty in latching on without the shields. On Wednesday we noticed she was looking yellow and by evening we were sent to hospital for assessment of neonatal jaundice. We had to stay in for 24 hours and her bilirubin levels started dropping and hence sent home without phototherapy. We came back only yesterday evening and are settling in. Baby girl is working hard to get rid of her jaundice🥺 we will get there slowly, one day at a time!

@doingitalllagain glad you and the baby are back home too! Time to enjoy all those precious cuddles🥰

Glad to know the rest of you are doing ok! Babies will be here in no time now that it's February😍

Hi guys … wee bit of an update from me and a potentially long post.

About a month ago I was at the midwife and I was measuring slightly smaller that they thought. Nothing to worry about but they sent me for a growth scan and baby boy came back at 5lb9 they said they’d ask me back in 2 weeks just to make sure he’d grown in that time.

2 weeks later I went for my scan and they estimated bb was now 6lb15 and considered on the larger side 😮 I was sent for a GD test and all came back clear.

Yesterday I had a call with consultant who has recommended I get induced this time next week so I’d be 39+3 at that point. They’ve said to think about it and speak to midwife at my next appointment (this Weds).

Induction was something I wasn’t keen to do. I’ve heard it’s more painful, more stressful for baby and the estimation for weight is so inaccurate that he might not even be that big! For reference I’m 5ft5 my husband isn’t much taller and my bump seems relatively neat…

Has any if you guys any experience around this at all? Or any advice appreciated.

@Lmcc88 This is the problem with late growth scans, they often cause lots of panic unnecessarily. Sorry your going through this stress! How many weeks are you?

I had similar with my DD, they estimated she was over 8lbs5oz when I was 38 weeks -95th centile- and recommended induction at 40 weeks. I did lots of research and decided against it. I also had a GD test and it came back clear. When DD arrived at 41+6, nearly 4 weeks after the scan, she was 8lbs 8oz, and 59th centile. So it was very much wrong.

The risks associated with a bigger baby are generally if you have GD as well. And any other potential risks eg shoulder dystocia, a bad tear, etc are all also more likely if induced. Generally, our body will not grow a baby that is too big for us to birth. Baby's position is much more important than their size.

Just the fact they estimated small then big shows you how innacurate these scans can be ... They can be up to 20% off. Especially when done as one off, or only a couple, or with different sonographers. I have heard of SO many women being told similar and baby came out completely average. A friend recently got told her baby was 3rd centile and decided to have a c section, but he came out 30th centile.

The NICE guidelines do not recommend an induction for a big baby, if this is the only factor eg in absence of diabetes. Hospitals offer it to cover themselves but there is little evidence that it's a good idea. I'd recommend looking up Dr Sara Wickham's website she writes a lot about induction including for an estimated big baby and points to lots of research against it.

Ultimately you need to do what feels right - but as this basically happened to me, felt I'd share and try to reassure you too. If the placenta flow is all good, that's the key thing as baby's size can only be a guess xx

Hi @Skylark1990

thank you for this I’ll be 39 weeks on Tuesday so they’ve asked me to go in when I’m 39+3

That all really helps I’ve seen that it shouldn’t really be recommended solely for the reason that the baby is big! I also have a gut feeling that he won’t be big… so don’t want to go through all of that if he comes out average sized.

its reassuring that your DD was smaller than they estimated! They’ve told me that if I go 2 weeks late he could be 8lb13.

They told me if I wasn’t induced my chances of a tear or shoulder dystocia were higher but still pretty low …

i’ll have a look at that website!

Everything with placenta and flow is
perfect! Yeah I feel like I’m going to try and avoid induction and hope he comes himself. Going to continue walking and using my yoga ball and hoping for the best!

thanks again!

@lmcc88 I'm sorry to hear about that rollercoaster. Agree with pp about this being the drawback to growth scans, they're very random.

I don't have experience of this specifically but I do have experience of induction at 39 weeks (for obstetric cholestasis) and I didn't have a very painful labour, I think it was normal really. It was quite long, but not very painful. I was advised that once I started to feel slight contractions I should walk up and down stairs to get them really going (which worked) and I didn't end up needing additional intervention. And my baby was back-to-back which might've been why it was long anyway. So I just wanted to reassure you that if you do decide to continue with the induction that it absolutely doesn't have to be more painful than 'normal' labour.

Hope you're ok xx

Hi all, more baby news here!

Our little girl arrived safely yesterday morning, weighing 6lb4.

@lmcc88 I was induced on Friday evening, which involved 2 pessaries, 24 hours apart, 30 odd hours of manageable contractions, a few hours of intense ones, waters broke and then there was a big rush to delivery suite and 25 minutes of let's just say 'ouch!' and she was out very very quickly (more than likely because she is not my first)
Induction wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Obviously not ideal though.

Just having snuggles in hospital waiting for baby checks so we can be discharged.

@Hagster @madeinthe80z

Thank you guys that does make me feel a bit better that if I do go down that route it doesn’t sound as bad as the stories I’ve read!

congratulations on your baby girl @madeinthe80z amazing news!

Congratulations @madeinthe80z!!! Enjoy all of the snuggles.

@Lmcc88 I have an induction booked for later this month and was also worried about all the horror stories. It’s worth speaking to someone in your trust if you can to find out what their policy is. I was really pleased to hear that my trust try to do it as naturally as possible. I’m booked in for a sweep a few days before in the hope that will start it naturally. Then if that doesn’t work I’ll have a balloon catheter fitter, which is non chemical and tries to make the cervix favourable. If after 24 hours that still hasn’t worked I’ll be admitted and have a pessary inserted. Then after another 24 hours another one. The last resort is the drip. They build in rest days for me and seem to be focused on replicating natural labour as much as they can before using the chemicals, which really calmed me about it. I’m still trying everything to bring on natural labour but was definitely reassured after speaking to the consultant about it all. 😄

@Lmcc88 glad it helped! They told me this about SD and tears too, but induction makes these more likely, I think even more so than a big baby (provided you are able to move during labour - being on your back / immobile is also a risk factor for these things. There are definitely risks to an induction, so imo I actually think it's irresponsible for hospitals to recommend when it's only a big baby, no other risk factors. Will also increase change of a c section.

But as others have said, inductions aren't necessarily traumatic - and can b positive - but I think for me the question would be is it truly necessary? Sometimes they are absolutely needed and it's lucky we have the option, but 70% of ftms are being induced in the UK now which is WILD. There is a bit of a problem with it being offered too much I think!

Check out Kemi Birthjoy Johnson on Instagram too, she's great for info on birth choices and shedding light on stuff like this x

@madeinthe80z congratulations on your little girl! I'm glad the labour sounds like it was pretty good and she's here safe and sound!! Enjoy the snuggles xx

@Lmcc88 I also wouldn't take estimates for weight too seriously. Plus, it may be that you don't even go 2 weeks over! Why scare you with an estimate for when you're 42 weeks but then want to induce you at 39 weeks - there is loads of time before 42 weeks for baby to come.

Even if they hold off till 41 until the induction, this gives you a better chance of going into labour naturally first. I'd personally decided I would only consider induction from 42 weeks at least, because we are not "overdue" til 42 weeks. Unless of course there was a problem eg signs of placenta failing beforehand. Or blood flow issues.

If it's any consolation I don't think an 8lb baby is too big either, although I know it depends on your frame. But the pelvis is amazing and as long as it's able to move, it generally moves to accomodate baby through - and baby's head moulds too.

Sweeps are a form of induction, but a less invasive kind. From 41 weeks they tend to work better if you do decide to go for a sweep.

Anyway, sounds like you have a good approach and maybe speaking to your midwife will help too (if she's supportive and good!) Xx and great that the blood flow is all tip top, sounds like baby is doing well and so is your body! X

@madeinthe80z huge congratulations on your baby girl, that's wonderful news! How are you feeling so far?