Due March 2023 - Thread 8

[TeddyBeans]

Here we go again!

20/1 - botleybump 💓 (due 23/2)
10/2 - Amy1303 💙 (due 27/3)

26/2 - TeddyBeans 💓
27/2 - Ubbee 💙
28/2 - BabyNumber3OnTheWay 💙
1/3 - Clarps84 💙
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, havanamama 💓
10/3 - iratepirate 💛, PeonyPops 💓
11/3 - Chloe1896
12/3 - Katlouise24 💓
13/3 - ToffeeEl 💓, Franklin321 💓, paulinesmithson 💓
14/3 - beatingheartbaby 💓, rainbowbaby233 💙
15/3 - Hrf1503 💓, TTC24 💙
16/3 -
17/3 - Room4onemore 💓, Cuppasoupmonster 💙, broomfig 💙
18/3 - XjustagirlX 💛, CristinaNov182 💓, Shep21 💓
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 💙, Bobduncan 💛, OonMP 💛
28/3 -
29/3 - Perexi 💙, SenecaFalls1848 💛
30/3 - ChristmasJumpers 💓, Moonlighting 💙
31/3 - Baby2iscooking 💛
1/4 - diamondbutterfly 💓

@Cuppasoupmonster im just out from my scan 35+4 and 7lb 3 😳😳😳 just waiting for consultant now

Morning!

My bump seems even lower today, like how low can it go? Haha I can put a good 6 fingers below my boobs before the belly starts!

Carpal tunnel is getting worse, now spreading from my finger joints to the wrist. I'll order the hand supports, hopefully it will help alleviate the pain

I'm not yet on Mat leave but also have fillet every free minute with cinema with friends, family time, romantic restaurant dates, etc as this is the last few weeks before becoming parents for us 🫣🥰

@Splashh before getting the sweep you can ask for them to calculate your bishop score. Depending on it you’ll know if your sweep has any chance to succeed or not.

it basically looks at different factors re your body getting ready to go into labour.

there are some articles about it

they’ve offered me a sweep at 38 too and I’ll brush up on info by then. Need to look up what are the risks of doing it when bishop score is too low, like infection, bleeding, etc and decide / talk to the doctor if it’s worth it

@havanamama definitely get the wrist support, i've been suffering really badly in the night with my left hand and it 100% helps. I wear it in bed and take it off in the morning and once the initial stiffness has worn off i don't get much pain during the day, but once it gets to about 8pm at night it starts creeping back in.

Accidentally took mine off in the middle of the night last night as i was being sick and forgot to put it back on and there's such a difference in my hand this morning!

Had a midwife appointment which was really disappointing. Different midwife to whom I normally see.

She 'did' the birth plan like a checklist, no questions asked, no information and made funny faces all throughout. E.g. I asked if I should bring a breastpump or pre made formula or feeding pillow with me if I would like to breast feed and she gave odd face and said we have everything. I also have a scar from medical negligence and she asked if I had sued. I asked what snacks to bring in hospital bag and she said no need. I asked about epidural pros and cons (in her opinion) and she said not tl read up about it, you'll get a bad back from carrying baby and not epidural and its just pain relief. She didnt go through pro's and con's or the process at all.

I left feeling uneasy and a part of me wants to change trusts to one that is closer to my mums.

How did it go? Looks like we’re on a similar trajectory. It’s so frustrating as my blood sugars have been excellent, my HBA1C has come back at 39. With Dd it wasn’t quite that good and she just pootled along the 50th centile throughout, no big tummy or anything. Feel like my pregnancies have been night and day! I’m owed an easy birth and newborn now surely?!!

The last time I saw the community midwife was at 34 weeks, I've had a growth scan and consultant appointment at 36 weeks and then I've got another growth scan and consultant appointment on Monday when I'll be 38 weeks.

I can't remember at how many weeks you see the community midwife towards the end of pregnancy. It's my 3rd baby and no other appointment has been booked in😬

@JB2021 unless something happens to put me off the birth centre at the meeting or I’m not allowed because of any complications that haven’t appeared yet, I’m set on the birth centre.
I’m aiming for as little intervention as possible and feel like that would be accepted more there than in a hospital.
Which hospital I would be sent to is a question I’m going to ask, Leicester General is where I have had my scans and that is a 35 minute drive from St Mary’s.

@Choc2022 that doesn’t sound very reassuring! Can you book in to see a different midwife to go over the things you didn’t get to talk about?

@havanamama I am the compete opposite lol my bump is so high right now it's ridiculous 😂

@Blocklynn sure you'll love the birth Centre. Think it's the hospital you're currently booked at but you'll be blue lighted but partner goes on ahead

That's rubbish! Sorry you had that experience.

If it helps at all, my midwife said that if you plan to breastfeed, but for some reason don't manage, the hospital will provide ready to drink formula.
I'm afraid I don't know about the pumps and feeding pillows.

Epidural - my midwife said that the cons are that there can be "blind spots" in the body where you could still feel panic or it may take several "top ups" to fully get the effect, but that differs from person to person.
Also it takes about 4h to wear off, so you will not be able to walk for that time.
But overall she said to just stay super still whilst it's being put in, and that it's very commonly used and low risk.
There is a risk of blood pressure dropping, but they monitor you and baby so closely, and would provide other meds to bring it up.

In terms of pain relief, she said I'm better off with epidural and gas and air rather than morphine or other drugs that may make myself and baby drowsy.

It's my first baby but I've had a 34 and 36 week community midwife appointment.
The remaining ones are :
38
40
41 weeks

Hi everyone, I had my 34 week appointment this morning (I'm 34+5) and mentioned I'd had a bit of pain when weeing this morning. Apparently sample showed slight traces of nitrates and something else. She's sending it off to check. She said if I had any more symptoms such as cramping/pains to contact delivery unit. Has anyone else been told this? I thought I'd contact the GP. I am now getting pains in my back so will see how the afternoon goes, feel pretty crappy today but also being woken up most nights multiple times by my son 😴.
@Choc2022 re the breast pump, a lot of hospitals have them there in case so you can borrow whilst in I believe. That's what I was told in last pregnancy.

Thanks @havanamama 😊 I know they aren't as frequent the more babies you have. May have to call and find out just to make sure x

@Choc2022 That doesn't sound helpful at all!

Hospitals are notoriously stingy with pillows, so I think some women do take their own with them. I didn't see any feeding pillows on the postnatal ward, but was only in overnight so just managed until I got home.

Snack-wise, pack them all! I can't say I had much other than sips of Lucozade through a straw when I was in active labour but the hunger immediately afterwards was insane! Also, snacks for your birth partner. My DH didn't get a chance to go get something to eat during my labour and he got a bit lightheaded and had to eat some of my snacks.

@Cuppasoupmonster how did it go with the consultant? I’m back in 2 weeks for a sweep (37+4) then back when I’m 38 to be induced.

Had my 36 week midwife app today, baby is fully engaged which explains the pain, pressure and attractive waddle 🙃

it’s my second baby so possible she’ll pop in and out but midwife said she may make an appearance before planned date!

so so over pregnancy now 😅

@Room4onemore sensible plan was your last baby bigger? I’m back for induction at 37+0 - not thrilled as I’d hoped for 38 weeks, but it is what it is. I’ve got one last scan at 36 weeks but that’s the plan unless his growth evens out, which I don’t think is going to happen!

@Choc2022 ugh sorry you got a bad midwife.
Some of them seem to delight in ridiculing people who have done their homework and have some more searching questions beyond just asking if everything is okay and accepting what they’re told. I’ve had a few like that 😕

Hey ladies, I've just read through this whole chat and sorry but I feel so much better now knowing that all these moans isn't just me 😂 I'm due on 15th March but have been struggling since about 30 weeks 😂 2nd baby but my 1st was 13 years ago so not sure my body even knows it's done this before 😂 hope yous don't mind me jumping in 😁 xx

Thanks everyone. As always very helful advice which has actually made me feel a bit better. I think I will look into changing hospitals for the birth (if its straightforward which im sure its not as parents live 2 hours away). Generally I think care is fine but its just such a busy hospital and everything seems rushed and trying to get things 'done and out'. Apppointments are always a minimim hour late. Maybe im being naive and all hospitals are like that.

@Choc2022 I was listening to this podcast earlier and it talks about pros and cons for epidurals with an anaesthetist

@Choc2022 it would help if I added the screenshot 🤦‍♀️

I have my 38 week midwife app on Monday (I'll be 38+5) I realllly want her to sweep me but they wouldn't last time until I was 40 at the earliest!

Is there a reason why they don't/won't sweep you if there is no 'medical' reason for it??
I'm not convinced that me 'being over it' will be the answer she needs 😆😆

Im SO over it and want baby out now (preferably after this wagamamas I'm about to eat tho)

@Choc2022 that's so shitty, I had a covering midwife last week and felt the level of what she knew or the info she gave me was different to my normal midwife. 😤 I had an epidural and it was bloody lovely, would recommend 👌🤣