Due March 2023 - Thread 6

[TeddyBeans]

The one where we might start meeting babies!?

23/2 - botleybump 💓
24/2 -
25/2 -
26/2 - TeddyBeans 💓
27/2 - Ubbee 💙
28/2 - BabyNumber3OnTheWay 💙
1/3 -
2/3 - BethBeef 💙, Cams50 💙
3/3 - LittleAcorn20 💛, LaForza101 💙, SammyJay5 💓, pamplemousse19 💓, Lauren11x 💙, Whatsforpud 💛
4/3 - EastyBaby19 💙, Cdoc 💙, Katdemar 💙
5/3 - Babynum2 💙, hopingforarainbow27 💓
6/3 - allthingssparkly, Thirdtimesacharm3 💙
7/3 - GreenIsle 💓, Noodle20, Pickles23 💛
8/3 - Splashh, June628 💓, BabyLimey 💛
9/3 - Penelope_2023, 91mana
10/3 - iratepirate 💛, PeonyPops 💓
11/3 - Chloe1896
12/3 - Katlouise24 💓
13/3 - ToffeeEl 💓, Franklin321 💓
14/3 - beatingheartbaby 💓
15/3 - Hrf1503 💓, TTC24 💙
16/3 -
17/3 - Room4onemore 💓
18/3 - XjustagirlX 💛, CristinaNov182 💓
19/3 - Dreamingof3 💓, alotoftutus 💙, AK93 💙, hellosunshineagainxxx 💙, Allthegirls3 💓
20/3 -
21/3 - FirstTimeTryer93, LifeOfRiley1 💛, Rose429 💓
22/3 - mrshenny 💓
23/3 - Choc2022 💛
24/3 - whydotheyallhaverubbishwheels 💙, Charlothevet88 💛, Mrs2022 💛, Blocklynn 💛
25/3 - Whywhwhy 💙, Missy95 💛
26/3 - purplerain555
27/3 - Cats23 💓, firstlittleone 💓, dmb91 💛, AGirlsNameIsAryaStark 💛, hol92 💙, Amy1303 💛, Bobduncan 💛, OonMP 💛
28/3 -
29/3 - Perexi 💙, SenecaFalls1848 💛
30/3 - ChristmasJumpers 💓, Moonlighting 💙
31/3 - Baby2iscooking 💛
1/4 - diamondbutterfly 💓

I’ve accepted that the risk of not having staff or enough gas/air (was mentioned to me last week as apparently there have been supply issues in our trust!) means that I can’t reasonably choose to have a home birth as I’d hoped.

@Cuppasoupmonster and @iratepirate - Shocking care tbh.
Im classed as high risk ,so have beem seen a lot with all my pregnancies but Id still expect to be seen more than you both have.

@havanamama - Not done any stretching with any of mine - Last 3/4 were VB , #1 was a csect.
I thankfully have never torn but am actually more aware of the stretching exercises(?) this time round so I might do it..

I'm so shocked at the care you have received!!! 9 weeks that is ridiculous.

@havanamama

I have nevebabyr done it but I might try this time I tore with My first she was 7.11 and it was from front to back but in all fairness I was a child myself. Second I didn't tear he was only 5lb so thinking wouldn't be a bad idea to give it a try this time incase this baby is much bigger.

Haven't posted in a while, moved house last week, happy to be in with time to start baby prep! Though we still have more furniture to build so a little way off being ready to think about baby...

I've been having growth scans after baby's long bones (limbs) measured small at 20 weeks, I'm now 30 weeks and thankfully the percentiles have increased slightly and no signs of iugr currently.

I had an episiotomy last time due to baby distress so I will be focussing on optimising baby's position and will probably also try the perineal massage! But baby is currently breach so not a good start 😅😅

@TeddyBeans she's woken up a bit now...so I do think she'd just turned a bit funny for a while. I'm going to monitor overnight though (insomnia perks 😅) and will call tomorrow if I'm not happy

@muminlndn congratulations on your house move!

@Dreamingof3 glad she's perked up, keep an eye on her ❤️ they're tricky little things our babies!

Yep it’s only just struck me how bad that is! I knew there was supposed to be one at 16 weeks but basically just forgot amid all the consultants appointments. The hospital have been doing urine/blood and scans though so hopefully haven’t missed much but it doesn’t leave me with much faith that they totally forgot about me!

Really worried for my scan on Tuesday. This has been a hideous pregnancy compared to my last, if the scan goes well and the placenta has moved I feel it will ‘rebalance’ my luck as I’ve been quite down about everything so far if I’m honest. It would really help me to enjoy the last trimester to know I’m not counting down the days to an early/complex caesarean. Would also mean I can get back to yoga/swimming which helps my mindset a lot too.

Is anyone else being induced?

@Dreamingof3 I've felt the exact same over the last few days I could've wrote your post. I too have an anterior placenta. Was having what I would've considered regular movements and then sunday had a day of loads pressure in my bump which I thought was Braxton Hicks. Since then movements have completely changed, the location, the intensity etc. I can still feel baby moving regularly and have used the kick counter app just to reassure myself but feels so different to before.

I have been going back and forth on whether to call triage but I also have a midwife appointment on Friday.

About fundal heights, I would take it with a pinch of salt. I was measured 22cm at 24W and 30cm at 28W which I thought was a big jump. My midwife assured me that as long as the measurement is within the range of 5cm under and 5cm over compared to the week, she’s not worried.

@Newmumma516789 I’m 30W and definitely feel the movement pattern has changed in the last week or so. It’s less sudden, jerk kind of movement but more wiggle and rolling kind which is probably due to the lack of space. As long as you can feel regular movement, I think it would be fine. My midwife did say kick counter app is stress induced and not really necessary, but I guess you do whatever makes you feel the best.

I was told they would only induce me at 40+10 if the labour didn't start spontaneously

@Cuppasoupmonster sounds like the consultant has been doing everything the midwife would do so that's something! I hope you have good news at your scan - I feel you though. This pregnancy has definitely been worse than my first. More sickness and more worries. I'm not down for being induced yet and my BP was good this afternoon when I checked it but it's fluctuating quite a lot and if there's more protein at my next appointment I'm sure things could change. I'd love to have my longed for water birth but it's gone back to feeling like a bit of a pipe dream 😞

Oh teddybeans I know how you feel. YES the main thing is that the babies (and us!) are okay, but I just can’t help but feel a bit bitter about it all! When in labour with DD I was in a lot of pain and asked for a c-section, but they said there was no need - ended up with forceps which I was fine with, because I reassured myself ‘that means next time will be smoother’. I’ve also got a bit of damage down there which I was hoping could be fixed at the same time. If I end up with a CS it will just feel like what’s the point, I may as well have just asked for one before! With scars in 2 different areas! I’m type 1 diabetic so before I knew about the previa I was dusting off my boxing gloves to fight for a water birth, now I just feel like giving up on the whole thing.

Sorry to wade into your group with all my problems, you must think I’m a total drama llama… I just want that straightforward pregnancy experience that I know I can never have 😭 (tiny violin comes out! 🎻)

@Cuppasoupmonster it's an emotional rollercoaster that's for sure. Between the risk of preeclampsia and the potential for IUGR (depending what happens at my next scan) I don't know whether they'd recommend induction or c-section if they need to get her out quick. I tore last time so I'd be in the same position as you - scars in two places!

Still, if things progress well for you/us there's no reason to not fight for the water birth! And don't for a second worry about sharing what's worrying you. That's what this group is for and everyone just wants the best outcome for everyone else ❤️

Hi all,

I'm due 29 March. This sounds stupid but it was only yesterday that I realised full-term could be 37 weeks so baby could be due 2 weeks before that and its triggered an immense sense of panic in me at how little time I have.

I haven't brought anything. I'm not even sure where to begin. Should I have a hospital bag packed by now?

Wondering what were the first things you brought and did i.e. what should I prioritise?

I see in the thread lots of people talking about growth scans and knowing which percentile their baby is in. I had a 28 week appointment where they checked my fundal height (28cm at 28) but have had nothing else. Should I expect a more detailed growth scan at 32 weeks?

When did you start discussing birthing plans with your midwives? I haven't discussed anything yet. Is this to be expected at 32 weeks appt too?

I'm a low-risk pregnancy and so far everything has been extremely smooth except some elevated ALT levels. I feel like theres a lot of information I haven't had from the hospital but not sure if that's because I am low-risk?

@Raspberry28 hi! I didn't realise 37 weeks was classed as full term til about halfway through my first pregnancy - it's not that uncommon! There's not really any reason to know until you're pregnant.

There are plenty of lists online that tell you the absolute basics you need for baby - somewhere to sleep, something to push them about in, carseat, clothes, feeding equipment etc. There's no need to panic 😊 one big thing a week and pick up other essentials when you do your usual shopping.

The thing about low risk pregnancies is you don't get the growth scans as standard. With your bump measuring perfectly for your dates you won't be offered one. I didn't have one in my first pregnancy. The only reason I'm having them this time is because I developed preeclampsia right at the end of my last pregnancy which entitles me to them this time.

It should say in your notes which week your midwife will discuss your birth plan with you. There's nothing stopping you from getting started on it though if there's things you absolutely know you want to include. My midwife said we'd go through mine at my 34 week appointment.

If there's anything else you're worried about please do ask! The group tends to be a bit more active in the morning so you may get more responses tomorrow ❤️

@Rose429 thank you for posting that, that has reassured me a little bit. I was measuring close to the top line on my chart with 28cm at 28 weeks. On Monday I measured 33cm at 32+2 and I’m way above the lines on the chart so being sent for a growth scan. Terrified I’ll now have a huge baby and be induced! It sounds like the fundal height really isn’t an accurate measurement for size of the baby?

@Cdoc I don’t believe it’s the most accurate way to tell the size of the baby. From my research, there’re a lot of factors that play into this - the shape of your uterus, placenta placement, baby’s changing position etc. My midwife is older and seems to be highly experienced as in I have had other midwifes interrupted our appointment to ask for her opinion, so I trust her completely.

Try not to worry to much as your measurements seem normal to me. Think of it as a bonus scan 😄 and the scan is definitely the more accurate way to predict the size of your baby.

I’m not allowed to go over 40 weeks due to my age and risk factors, my past 2 have been induced bang on 40 weeks. This time I’ll be induced from 39 weeks unless anything changes. With my 5th baby I was induced at 36+3 due to 3 episodes of reduced movements, she was born on my eldest daughters birthday! So I’m fully aware things can change and will have my bag ready by the end of the week so I’m prepared incase I’m induced early for any reason

@Rose429 ah you sound like you are in very safe hands with your midwife! It does seem a bit odd that the size of your belly automatically means a big baby when there’s a few other things going on in there too. Such a good way to look at it, any reason to see baby again 😊

@Cuppasoupmonster , They wont let me go over 40weeks, Babies 3 &4, Ive been induced on 40weeks and had both babies at 40+1
Baby #2 was born at 38weeks.( No induction)
Baby#1 was prem and csect.

@Raspberry28 don't panic, there really isn't much that's needed immediately- it's not like you can't get someone to pick stuff up or Amazon prime it when the baby arrives.

I would start with the very basics

Pack of vests
Pack of sleepsuits
pack of nappies
A hat
A cardi
Muslins
A blanket

Bigger basic items - car seat & somewhere for baby to sleep , Moses basket or next to me crib plus sheets. You won't need a cot for a while.

Stuff you'l need early on but not day 1 - a pram or sling.

@broomfig where are you based? Id be interested as recently moved to new area and don't know anyone and heard how lonely PP can be.

@Choc2022 I was like you with my 1st, new area, knew no one.
What I would highly recommend to anyone is attending parent and toddler groups- I literally lived for Tuesdays and Thursdays, between 1-3pm. Baby group days!!
That is how I made friends and 19yrs on, most are still good friends!
Some groups are 'Clicky' but after a while its fine, I did set up my own group in the village we moved to with Dc#2 and made sure I befriended new comers as soon as they entered though.
Moving back to my home town 10yrs later, with dc 3 & dc 4, I knew some people I went to school with but they became firm friends when we all started baby groups together too aswell as meeting new people and new fruends too

Bit worried that I have a flashing sensation in my eye this morning.
Also have a bit of a headache but I’ve had a cold for the past week or so, so that’s been fairly normal for me.
I’ve got an apt this afternoon for a scan anyway, so will mention it then. My blood pressure is always on the higher end of the “ok” figures, so they keep reiterating about eyes and stuff. Anyone else had similar? I’ve not had anything like this before, but it feels like a sort of jazzy line of flashing in front of my right eye, making it hard to concentrate on my screen at work.

Anyone suffering from sciatica? Honestly don’t think I can pull myself out of bed with it this morning