Babies Due April 2023 thread 5

[KennAdams]

Thought I'd make a new thread seen as last one is full already! 😊

Hi ladies. Well, that was a decent sleep (for me anyway) - about 8 hours and only woke once when DH woke me to take my meds. So it looks like the promethazine is the way forwards. It’s amazing to wake up without a stomach ache from the retching! Hopefully it will carry me through the next few weeks then I can wean off it.

Sling wise I really recommend the Ergobaby 360, it has a newborn insert but I carried DD in this until she was about 18 months plus it comes in loads of lovely patterns.

I’ve started tentatively writing my birth plan (not much to do lying down all day lol), I was never asked for one last time so I figured if I want anything this time I’m going to have to be proactive from the outset. Ideally I would like the obstetrician to sign it because I feel it would be adhered to then!

Do any other ‘high risk’ ladies feel a bit bummed that we get so little birthing choices? It might be me being hormonal but it feels like as soon as they see a medical condition on your notes they just write you off and assume you’ll take whatever is there on the day 😂

@ancienthouse ive never heard of this cervical check, are you aiming for VBAC do you think or an elective? Information is power so it sounds good that they’re being thorough and checking?

Right I’m going to try and nap for the next hour or two before DD gets up, really hoping I still feel well enough to get up with her and give DH a lie in as he’s knackered!

@Cuppasoupmonster so glad it worked for you. That is pretty sedating, so sounds like it was perfect for your situation. Hope you feel more human today!

@Cuppasoupmonster good news about the meds helping, I'm glad you had a better night and woke up feeling less acidic, I know that feeling and it's almost hangover like.

@Cuppasoupmonster glad you got some sleep!!

I've been sleeping OK recently but a restless DD meant I only got about 4 hours last night.

I'm planning/hoping for a VBAC. The midwives seem supportive so far although we'll see how my consultant appointment goes. I hate being high risk.

For anyone else interested in the cervical check because of an EMCS when fully dilated, there's a Tommy's link here. The guidelines and research are fairly recent. www.tommys.org/about-us/charity-news/late-c-sections-increase-risk-future-premature-births

@Cuppasoupmonster you can also check your hospitals preterm birth clinic to see if they mention it in their guidelines. Mine mentions it online as a reason to be referred to them.

Thanks for the info on toddler carries @PuddingBear @ancienthouse @Tubbytele ! I'll definitely look into one, makes sense. I like the look of the Tula toddler one. Not too pricey either! I think we do have a sling library but when DD was born it was covid times and not open so will be good to be able to check it out this time 🙂 🤞 hopefully haha you never know what new pandemic might come I guess.

@Cuppasoupmonster so glad you got a good sleep!! That's wonderful. Are you generally feeling a bit better in the day too?
Sounds good about the birth plan, did you end up getting the positive birth book? I definitely found that helpful. High risk pregnancies definitely don't mean you have no choices although I fully get it can feel like that. In fact even if you're high risk you could still call all the shots, it's all just a balancing of risk and what you want / need for you and baby. No one can tell you what you must do. And medical professionals should support you in your choices while giving all the facts in terms of risks and benefits of certain interventions. So hopefully this time round you feel more empowered 💪🙂

@chasingtherainbow1 wonderful news about the scan 🥰 very happy for you. Hope you overcome covid v soon!

Q: When does second tri technically start?? I am confused is it 13 or 14 weeks?

I'm just in bed doing my progesterone pessary right now (first time doing vaginally in a while as just can't lie down for half an hour at one time with a toddler around 😅😅) then we will go exploring or to beach. No covid so far for us 🤞🤞🤞 so hope we have escaped it.
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@ancienthouse I've requested a VBAC too, I explained to my midwife I completely understand if a section becomes medically necessary (like placenta previa, transverse baby, emergencies etc) but I don't want to opt for a section otherwise, I swear the blood drains from my face when I think about that first time you stand up after. My midwife was very supportive and has said the consultant she has put me forward to is also pro vbac. However I need to mentally prepare incase I end up in a section again. It's very hard I agree, being classed high risk and needing so many extra appointments and in my case (and maybe yours?) having a previous birth trauma that means you're always worried certain things will happen again. I feel like I can do everything I should and ask all the questions and there's still a possibility of it all going Pete Tong because pregnancy is so unpredictable. Are you a member of any VBAC groups? I've found their research and information really helpful.

@Cuppasoupmonster i agree! No birthing options for us. I won’t be allowed the birthing centre or a water birth or a home birth. It’s basically rock up at your local hospital and hope for the best! I haven’t seen my consultant yet but with my last baby I wasn’t allowed anything because my first was prem, but my second was term. They’ve still put me as high risk for pre term birth this time too.

@Gilm0reGirl it is really hard isn't it. I did have some trauma from my previous birth but I think I'm OK with it now. Maybe it'll all come back in the third trimester though. The epidural didn't work properly and I could feel them cutting into me on one side so I just had gas to help.
I also hated that loss of control, people throwing forms at me to sign about the risks of surgery while I was knackered and vulnerable, that I didn't get to hold my baby after she came out as she was taken away to have fluid drained from her lungs. I felt like it was someone else's baby that they just handed to me.

I was lucky and recovery went pretty well so I was pleased about that and if I need another section then hopefully it'll be the same again. But oh my god the first poo post-section was horrific. I'll never forget that! I thought my scar was going to rip apart.

I think whatever happens this time I'll be more prepared and hopefully more relaxed about an EMCS as I know what to expect. But really hoping for a VBAC. I think it would be healing in a way. I'm in a VBAC Facebook group yeah, it's so helpful! I'm also going to try to find a realistic but positive VBAC online course or something as well.

Morning ladies, i have had the worst night sleep yet! Cannot get comfy at all anymore and my boobs are killing me through the night 🤦🏼‍♀️

Has anybody started having serious food dislikes? I have noticed the last couple of days that i hate most food i used to love! Not down to sickness as i seem to have avoided that so far (touch wood!!!!) but just because i don’t want it!
I was never a massive meat eater and only ever had gammon and chicken, ive had loads of things in recently with chicken in and found myself picking the chicken out as it makes me feel strange eating it.. same as gammon, went for a carvery and only wanted the veggies and didn’t touch the meat..

Then at home all i want is bland boring pasta or veggie pizza!🤦🏼‍♀️
I cannot stand pancakes but this morning i woke up and only wanted pancakes for breakfast, also have a small obsession with orange juice but my main love at the minute is a jam donut! I have started paying attention more to what im eating but im shocked with how much my taste in food has changed!

Also, when does the midwife usually talk through your birthing plans or wants? I was told by a friend it would be at the booking appointment but all we spoke about was my medical history and nothing else.. im assuming it’ll come soon 🙂

@Skylark1990 the NHS website says the 13th week is the start of the second trimester. If it was divided equally by 3 then it would be week 14 so I think there must be some other reason for it being split that way but I don't know what!

@ancienthouse i think it’s just rounding as 40/3 is 13.3 so technically second trimester starts at 13 weeks and 2 days so easier to say 13 weeks!

It sounds like there’s a group of us on here with less-than-straightforward previous deliveries which means we can support each other, which is nice. It feels like all my pregnant friends have these smooth pregnancies and sneeze births while I’m left flailing around with drips in 😂

@Skylark1990 i did download it!! Thanks for the recommendation - I read the first few pages the other night then breaked to vomit, but I will be reading it over the next couple of months. You’re right, we can’t be made to do anything - it’s just finding that willpower when the medics are there!

I suppose at least second time round we all know how our body ‘does’ labour whereas with the first baby it’s a total unknown. In some ways I’m finding it easier to write my preferences down because I know what to expect.

@LauraA31 I'm sounding very similar to you!! At night my boobs are soooo sore (and whenever I have no bra on) and disliking a lot of foods I used to love.

Olives were an all time fave and the thought of them turns my stomach now. Same with tea, I used to drink 4 cups a day and now I couldn't think of anything worse! I went off meat for a while too (around 6-10 weeks) but managing to introduce it a bit more now x

@LauraA31 yesssss re food! I’ve not really had nausea (and I appreciate how lucky that makes me, I really do) but I’ve got a huge aversion to like bacon and cheese. I love those foods 😭 I was so excited for a bacon barm a couple of days ago, took one bite and almost vomited, couldn’t east anything for hours and then it ended up being jam on toast!! Hardly healthy!

Re birth choices I’m not sure, I requested an elective section at my checking in appointment which the midwife was totally fine with but it was me that brought it up.

Thanks for the ergo baby recommendation too, I’ll definitely have a look at that. My husband independently brought up getting a baby carrier for him to carry baby yesterday which melted my heart a bit.

@Marshmallowmountain makes sense! I think it just doesn't seem right because the first two weeks of the first trimester you're not actually pregnant at all.

@DBS94 im the same! So frustrating, it hurts to wear any form of bra and hurts to not wear one 😂
I started this week reallly wanting a decaf vanilla latte, so ive been in starbucks every day which i never did before haha, think it’s the sweetness of the vanilla which im wanting ha!
its good to know you’re starting to re-introduce foods you loved again though, i really love the thought of gammon just hate the taste suddenly!

@AliceinSlumberland yeah healthy isnt working for me either, i gave the pancakes a miss because i never make them so wasn’t sure it they were cooked and thought id best be safe, ended up with coco pops which is super healthy 🤦🏼‍♀️
I also think im soooo lucky that ive avoided any form of sickness, hoping that it doesn’t develop in the coming weeks!

Ooo i see, i wonder if it might be different in different areas..
Im splitting my care between two districts, i live in the middle of two hospitals, one of them has only just built a theatre and before they would transfer to another hospital in a medical emergency so i picked to go with the second hospital where the theatre is the floor above the labour ward, just in case.
Only issue is im registered in the same district as the hospital which transfers so im doing my ante-natal care with the hospital in the same district and the scans/bloods/birthing stuff with the other hospital.. Apparently it’s common and loads of ladies opt for the second hospital, so it might be slower to get my plans in place if that’s the case 🙂 I feel ive really messed my own mind up with that explanation haha!

Hi everyone, I'm somewhere between 10 and 12 weeks (irregular periods lol). I already have a kid who has just started walking, so all being well these two will be just under two years apart.

Anyone else have on days and off days with sickness? Yesterday I felt fine and today I feel awful. And my boobs HURT SO BAD.

Huge liking for apricots here at the moment and was devastated when the supermarket didn't have any earlier, I need my fix!! Otherwise I'm mostly into all things beige at the moment.
With birth I'm going to be asking for an elective c, I'm not interested in anything else and I hope it won't be difficult to get it. I had an 'emergency ' section last time and I prefer the known over the unknown.

@MamaMenna if it helps, I’ve asked for an ELCS and I’m on paper, first time low risk so should be the type of person they’d be pushing for a vaginal birth, but the midwife was absolutely fine with it and said it’s totally up to me. Hopefully you’ll have the same experience.

@AliceinSlumberland I hope so, that's really great the midwife was so understanding and listened to what you want. I liked my midwife last time, but when she visited me at home 3 days after I got back from the hospital and wanted to tell me that next time I'd be fine to try for a vbac I laughed at her 😅 I was not thinking about next time less than a week afterwards

@MamaMenna I'm confident you'll have no resistance, they love a planned section as the default when you've had one previously. Consultants especially seem to like it from what I've seen and are keen to book you in, should be smooth sailing.

Ladies that are taking progesterone pessaries (@Skylark1990 I know you are but I'm sorry I can't remember who else is 🙈 I know there are a few of us) - how long are you going to take them for? My prescription is only up to 12 weeks (which is next week for me). I've got enough left for 2 more weeks but, do I just stop taking them cold turkey at the end of 12w? Or should I drop down to 1 a day to ease off them gradually? What have you all been advised to do?

(I will ask MW and/or GP but to suddenly stop seems a bit, well sudden!)

@ancienthouse the online course sounds good, anything that helps us get mentally ready is a plus in my book. DH and I are doing a VBAC workshop but that's mainly so he understands it all, I forget I've done the reading and I'm in the groups and he's not, so it'll be good for him to just do it all in an evening and just know. I'll do all this work and end up in a bloody ELCS now 😆 I was ok with my first poo but I know most women it's awful for, mine was definitely the standing up that first time, it was such a shock.