Due December 2022 - the home stretch! (thread 5)

[Mommabear20]

Thought we were getting close to filling the last one!

@MsCactus braxton hicks typically are painless, more uncomfortable than anything, but mine this time were very painful because I was basically all baby, with what waters I did have at the back, so when my bump went tight, there was no cushioning from my waters.

@JC84 @HayleyBean congratulations to you both also 😊

@MsCactus I have always found braxton hicks painful! I had them occasionally with my daughter and quite regularly this pregnancy. I find them to be like the beginning pain of contractions but not lasting quite as long.

So at today's 37w growth scan, the baby is back down to 4th centile. (From 31w was 3rd, then every 2 weeks: 6th, 11th, now 4th). So the dr and I decided to move up the induction date to this Friday, 37w +2. They are estimating he is 5lbs (2.29kg). The idea is he will likely be better off in the outside world drinking milk than still inside with a potentially crap placenta as life support, even though the blood flow seems ok on the scan/doppler. DH and I had discussed the possibility earlier, and we decided we would rather take our chances with him out/early if the growth rate stayed small/slow. I want to try for induction first (sucker for punishment here?) and if we need to change to a c section, then that's what we'll do.

I've been teaching myself to knit and I've almost finished my first project, which is a little pastel stripy baby blanket. It's nearly complete. I just have to 'cast off' (get the knitting off the needles) and then 'weave in' the loose ends of all the multi-coloured yarns, and I should be able to finish that tomorrow. Working on that has been like a physical countdown of sorts. Maybe it's helping me mentally prepare, and when the blanket's ready, I'll be ready (as I'm going to be) to meet our little man! I like to think so, at least!

Good luck with your induction @Bluebonnet3 - I'm going in at 10am today and awake in the night worrying! I'm 39+1 with GD but no early signs of baby on the way so could be a long one!

Your baby blanket sounds amazing. Hope you finish it.

I've been admitted to a hospital over an hour away from home. There was no space at the NICU at my local or any other local which I'm gutted about as I want to be close to my biggest baby.

Induction was originally booked for Tuesday but BA's have come back 122 this week so they want to get them out. I'm actually in cry early labour. Probably from the stress of today 😅.

I didn't mean cry lol

Hope all goes ok with everyone’s inductions! Sorry you’re far away from home @PinkButtercups…I can’t sleep either, last day at work tomorrow and csection booked for next Wednesday feel like my mind won’t switch off! X

Wide awake at 5:30

Can't wait for baby boy to be here. 37w today.

Hope everyone is keeping well and best of luck for all the inductions

Good luck @PinkButtercups I was induced due to my BAs too.
I was also unable to have my eldest child visit so understand how hard that is going to be for you.
Hoping you have a smooth induction and delivery.
Good luck to everyone being induced today/this week!

Finished work today, all very overwhelming as it feels more real now like I hadn’t quite got my head round it before today and it’s all hit me at once how close it all is x

Baby boy is here! Born 3.5 years to the day after his brother.

Came in for induction to find waters could be broken straight away. No need for gel or balloon. Had the drip and got to 6cm with no pain relief then found it way too intense and asked for epidural. Got that done with help of gas and air and then basically ready to push.

He arrived in three contractions 30 minutes after epidural sited which was great as it made it easily bearable but could still feel it all. Second degree tear which is all stitched up. 10 am arrival at hospital. 7.30pm birth! Feeding like a champ.

So in love. Good luck to everyone else - you've got this.

Fantastic news @lifechanginglemoncake !!!

Congratulations @lifechanginglemoncake glad all went well! Enjoy your little boy xxx

I've been induced finally. Balloon went in at 2:30am some pains here and there. Was already 1-2cam dilated.

Cm*

@HayleyBean Congratulations! And thank you so much for sharing your story! I honestly love birthing stories and your story has put me more at ease.

Would anyone be interested in doing a WhatsApp group going forward? Would be lovely to keep up with y'all and all the new arrivals as we navigate the same stages 🥰

Congrats to all of you who've had their babies!! For the rest of us, hopefully the wait isn't too agonizing. I'm 38w3d today and have been off work for almost two weeks and I'm boooooored! Haha! It's nice to sleep in, but I need some projects.

I think I'm finally getting eager for baby to come, but I've found myself also feeling quite sad about not having him in my belly anymore. It's like I miss him inside me already. I know I'll be ecstatic one he arrives, but I've really enjoyed this pregnancy and feel like I've bonded a lot with him. He's been my little buddy the last few months. 💙

@Mommabear20 there’s a WhatsApp going already, I think if you are on/join the Facebook group someone can add you? (Not sure how to do it myself)

Hi all, thanks for sharing your birth stories, and congratulations again, it's very reassuring :)

I have officially reached due date today! I really thought it was starting last night, but I went to bed and it has disappeared, so we'll see! I have a midwife appointment on Monday to discuss sweeps and induction, which makes me slightly nervous, but hopefully baby is making moves by then!

Yesterday morning's (37+2) scheduled induction ended up being delayed because the labour ward was busy. But in the night (2:30am) they put in the dilapan rods for opening the cervix, and they said they will check in 12-16 hrs to see if they can break my waters.

They gave me a choice of the hormone pessary or the rods and suggested that as baby is quite small (estimated 5 lbs) he might do better without the extra contractions that often accompany the pessary. But that the rods can be more uncomfortable to put in place. I had some gas & air to help make the procedure more bearable. It's making me wonder if I can't handle a bit of extra pressure on a non-dilated cervix, maybe I should go straight for the epidural, when the time comes for pain relief.

Anyway, more waiting around for me today until this afternoon to see if they can break my waters. Maybe baby tonight or very late? Or tomorrow?

@Bluebonnet3 hopefully baby makes an appearance soon!!

Personally, I'd go for the epidural. They're recommended quite early on usually with induction.

Hello all and sorry for being totally MIA... On 14 Nov, at 36w+0 baby boy decided it was time! My water broke and I realised that my 'period pains' were actually contractions. We went to the hospital and he was born fairly soon after, through C section (we had booked in for a planned C for second week of Dec). Since then, it's been a crazy ride haha 😅
He was absolutely fine but small so we stayed in the hospital for a week. And been home for almost two weeks now. Absolutely lovely time 🤗🤗🤗 And my parents have come to help and I have never been more grateful 💗

Congratulations @Slisha !!!