June 2023 Babies ☀️ (thread four)

[firsttimelondonmummy]

Hey all,
We are getting close to full so getting another thread ready 😊

I had my phonecall with the consultant on Monday and have a date for my elective c-section! Feels real now although 14 weeks away. I've also got my glucose tolerance test tomorrow, really not looking forward to the fasting 😔

@thedust if you don't mind, would you let me know how did you go about talking to consultant about elective C section. With the current anxiety( and low lying placenta), I want ELCS too so that I have control on some aspects of delivery. My next US scan is scheduled for 32 weeks.

My next midwife appointment is on 16th March, shall I mention to her in the appointment?

I had a very difficult first delivery with my first and a 3rd degree tear so I already had it on my notes as recommended by a consultant following our birth debrief 3 years ago. So I just told my midwife at my booking in appointment and she referred me straight away. Definitely talk to your midwife about it, the consultant was very straightforward and just told me about the risks involved so I could make an informed decision and said she'll book me in and is sending out a consent form in the post.

Thank you so much. Sorry about your first delivery, the recovery must have been difficult.

I will talk to the midwife in the next appointment.

@BathshebaEverdeen yes the recovery was hard as my stitches then got infected too. The biggest thing the consultant said was the recovery time from a csection can be up to 6 weeks and harder than a 'normal' vaginal birth, but for me I had a lot of the hard parts that come with a csection anyway like not being able to bend down, driving was hard for 2 weeks, I had to have the blood thinning injections and wear compression socks too!

I was also nearly 2 weeks overdue so having a planned csection will make me and my husband feel a lot more in control and hopefully I can have that skin to skin I missed with my daughter.

Good luck talking to your midwife, have a look up the NICE guidelines for csections as it's every women's right to request one for any reason, do a bit of research to show you know the risks but that for you the benefits will outweigh the risks. I don't think they can really deny you but depending on the bedside manner of the consultant some may seem harsher than others! They will want to inform you of the risks mainly.

Has anyone else been recommended to have an induction due to IVF pregnancy? I have an appointment with obstetrics soon as my midwife recommend it…I had an induction with my first baby because he was overdue and I did like the fact the doctors were in control and things were well monitored so I’m glad I’ve been referred for an induction, just not sure if I should give my body a chance to go into labour or if it’s safer with IVF conceptions to be induced?

I understand I am due to have an obstetrician appt about this too. My loose understanding is that some trusts don’t like IVF pregnancies to go over their due dates (as higher risk). I would like to have a chat about options with the consultant as on the one hand, I want to give my body a chance to labour spontaneously, but on the other, I’m scared of stillbirth and feel like I want baby born if risks post 40wks is higher. Keep us posted how you get on.

TMI question but does anyone else get damp knickers? I have noticed a lot of extra white discharge during the whole pregnancy so far but last couple of days I've noticed a patch of clear liquid.

It's only been a small patch, not soaking through the rest of clothes but I've been Googling (as you do) & google says it's either urine, watery discharge or amniotic fluid!!

I don't have any other symptoms of it being amniotic fluid but would I? If it's wee I've not even realised I've done it....

I have noticed my wee smells stronger than normal though. Is that normal?

I've got my 24 week midwife app this evening so I'm going to mention it.

@Belami me too 👋🏻
My wee smell changes dramatically based on what I’ve eaten and how much water I’ve drank.
I’m also getting significantly more discharge and have had damp knickers for weeks didn’t even think to worry (oops) but I just guessed it was normal as it says you get heaps more discharge during pregnancy and it can vary from watery to a bit thicker in consistency.

@Belami yup same here, I've been wearing panty liners daily since about 10 weeks!

With your wee smelling I'd be inclined to mention it to your midwife but as you're seeing her today she'll check that out for you anyway!

@summerpoolandsun I was told at my booking appointment that they don't like IVF pregnancies to go over 40 weeks so was assuming that would mean they'd induce me if I do go over. I've not heard anything about giving birth since though but don't have my first consultant appointment until 28 weeks so was thinking they'd discuss things then. My hospital trust don't allow elective c sections which makes me a bit nervous about not having a choice.

@Belami I've not really noticed any extra discharge on the whole but have had a couple of times where I've felt it come out a bit in a gush. Rushed to the loo worrying it was blood only to find it was clear fluid. I'm pretty sure I didn't wet myself! I've not mentioned it to anyone as I just assumed it was normal pregnancy stuff and both times its happened was before my 20 week scan which was all fine. I googled too and apparently amniotic fluid smells different? I would mention it though if you're worried and it's happening consistently.

I've been having trouble going to the loo lately. My midwife recommended fybogel which did nothing. I asked the pharmacy and they said they couldn't sell me anything without a doctors recommendation due to being pregnant. Tried to get a gp appointment today and there's never any appointments free despite phoning as soon as they opened. (We can't book in advance where I live.) Ended up in tears all morning after that as its the second time I've tried to see a gp about a pregnancy related issue and not been able to. I don't even remember the last time I needed a gp before this. Just feel like there's no one to help me. Ended up booking a private appointment as its getting uncomfortable, who prescribed me lactulose which I can buy over the counter anyway! Sorry just needed a rant, still feeling a bit upset about my non existent gp services. What's the point of having free prescriptions if you can't see a doctor.

@Belami I do but it’s definitely wee (knickers smell of ammonia, sorry for TMI). I have always had incontinence problems when hormonal but until my last pregnancy didn’t realise it wasn’t normal (I did try to have it investigated over a decade ago). Anyway, my specific issues relate to an over active pelvic floor and potentially an enlarged bladder so I was advised not to do pelvic floor exercises in my last pregnancy. I also have heavy discharge but it’s obviously discharge if that makes sense.

@Kelvie103 I've had same going to loo. I can't get GP app either and having IBS doesn't help. I've tried natural ways such as eating shreddies or drinking orange squash. It seems to help me get things moving more frequently. If not it's agony. Hope you find your solution.

@Belami I am getting loads of white discharge, and also frequent damp patches too. I just assumed it was because I was more 'moist' down there! I think it's more of a gush or constant trickle if it's amniotic fluid - I don't feel it coming out, my knickers just look wet! I'm hoping it's just a common pregnancy thing.

@Belami I had watery discharge yesterday and horrendous back pain, my mind went straight to the worst so called midwife just to get some advice on what I can do for my back and they told me to go in as worried about the discharge being amniotic fluid, it wasn't and didn't expect it to be but better safe than sorry :) so I'd definitely mention it to midwife if you're seeing her soon!

@summerpoolandsun mines an IVF pregnancy and from my first appointment they said they'll treat it as "normal" pregnancy as I have no other risk factors so haven't heard about this - would be very interested to know though!

Thanks @thedust . This is very helpful. I have started going through NICE guidelines, very empowering about the whole process. Thanks again.

Regarding the vowel movement, I have had gut issues before the pregnancy. A consultant had recommended Optibac Probiotic Bifio Fiber, which helped me with bowel movement (as medications were causing a lot of constipation).
Now bowel movement is becoming a bit difficult, so I have added Psyllium husk to diet. A table spoonful with warm water. It helps.
I checked with Midwife if this is something I can take regularly, she suggested to talk to pharmacy. So going to ask them to be sure.

I know how you feel @Belami I was same.today but didn't leak through to clothes and didn't notice until went to bathroom felt no gushing so presume it was leaking wee and discharge

I remember reading (either here or it was the whole other thread just about prams) someone was saying new bugaboo fox was coming out in 2023, hence why fox 3 became so heavily discounted. So that was true! Bugaboo fox 5 came out. Good time to get the older model!

Thanks everyone ❤️

So the midwife didn't seem concerned, she just said if it increases in consistency ring triage but what I'm describing sounds like normal watery discharge or a slight urine leakage issue. She recommended squeezy app to build pelvic floor regardless & that it's important to get doing them before childbirth too.

Im just going to monitor and see how I get on, all my obs were fine and she took sample & swab to check for infection due to the strong smelling wee. She checked babies heartbeat too and he was kicking her Doppler lots 😊

She didn't measure my tummy though and I thought they were meant to at 24/25 week app?

In other news over ordered one of those ridiculously expensive bbhugme pillows in desperate hope it helps me get comfortable to sleep better 🙏🏻 anyone got one?

@ImHopeful2023 that's what mines like, glad it probably is just a normal weird prego thing!

@C1umsyGiraffe so glad everything was ok! How did they test for that? What did they do?

@pippabg yeah same!!! So glamorous isn't it. Defo not a constant trickle or gush.

@PurBal see I can't smell the wee on my knicks which made me question it but I guess it could be that still. Midwife seemed to think that was likely. Do you just wear a pad most of the time?

@Kelvie103 you're lucky not getting any extra discharge generally! I remember having that same thing in the first trimester and constantly rushing to the loo to check. What's amniotic fluid meant to smell like? Sorry to hear about your tummy issues, I can completely understand why you'd be upset, it's a nightmare trying to get through to talk to anyone. I felt like I had 5000 questions today as I can never get through to midwife's to ask them simple questions. Hope the lactalose helps you.

@thedust I'm beginning to think I should do the same but do they make you a bit sore if you wear them everyday?

@firsttimelondonmummy you're right not to worry I think I just panicked a bit because it wasn't the normal white stuff I usually see.

@belami no, maybe tmi but I found I was more sore not wearing them! Cos being damp down there could be a bit irritating so having the panty liners to absorb excess has helped in that respect.

@Belami I think I remember reading that they don't measure your bump now as it's pretty inaccurate. Not sure if I'm making that up though.

@thedust that makes sense! I might start doing the same tbh.

@DrinkingAllTheGin ah really....I don't get the point of that Grow app they sign you up to if they're not going to measure anything though? Have you had your 25 week appointment ? Be interested to hear if others got measured or not

@Belami I've got an appointment tomorrow morning. Will let you know!

Hi all just wondering just noticed right side of face is red with bumps like a rash but its not itchy anyone else have this