Due May 2023 - Thread Three

[AlwaysTryingToHelp]

New thread as the other one was full!

I will try and tag everyone from the previous thread, sorry if I forget anyone 😊

Congratulations @raffika I think we originally had the same due date 12th? I'm still hanging in there no signs of anything happening for me. I'm back with the midwife on Thursday. Hope you're enjoying all the cuddles and looking after yourself x

Our mystery baby is a boy, born 5th May at 3:30am weighing 8lbs 11.

Bit of a dramatic and unexpected timeline:

I was induced at 39 weeks on Wednesday 3rd May via Foley balloon. After 24 hours of walking around, on Thursday night, my midwife took it out and examined me to find that I was still only 1cm dialated but with a very soft cervix. We discussed breaking my waters vs a pessary over night to shorten and further soften my cervix. As I'd been having contractions since 5am she agreed to let me sleep as I'd only had 2 hours the night before and she had felt a hand at my cervix during the examination and the hope was that the baby would move it by the following day.

I sent my parter home and bedded down, excited to sleep. My eyes were barely closed when a doctor decided to come and examine me. Looking at the ultrasound he started asking me when I had last eaten. I was so tired that alarm bells did not ring.

The long and short of it is that our baby was not cephalic after all but a footling and it was too late and too dangerous to try an ECV, so I had the calmest emergency CS ever.

His birth was described as akin to being dragged through a hedge backwards by the registra and so he needed some help with breathing in the NNU after but he's absolutely fine now.

I have had maybe 3 hours of sleep in the form of naps since our son was born so I'm exhausted and regretting telling 3 people that they could visit me today 😅 but I am so happy and honestly still in shock.

@TheBeesKnee congratulations 🎉 I'm sorry to hear what a stressful time you've had but happy baby is with you safe and sound

Congratulations @TheBeesKnee Sounds like you have been through it but still
on cloud 9. Hope you continue to recover well & catch some sleep!!

Thank you for your well-wishes. He's perfect and we're besotted.

Unfortunately I'm still here because I can't effectively and consistently breastfeed. Consequently, I still have not slept. My partner is currently trying to manually express my milk while I'm on Mumsnet. I feel really down about it.

I think we're on the verge of just giving him formula and getting signed off to go home because this place is hell.

@TheBeesKnee how are you doing now? Don't be too hard on yourself, it's ok to do what you need to do to feel better. Your little one won't mind where their milk comes from. Sending you love x

@TheBeesKnee congratulations on your new arrival, and I hope you’re feeling okay after your c section.

Please try not to feel down about the feeding - I can offer limited practical advice as I’m formula feeding but from friends’ experiences I gather you can establish breastfeeding once you get home, it doesn’t have to be right away in the hospital or you miss the boat. Be kind to yourself.

@lmw88 thank you! yes I was originally the 12th when counting from last period, then the 8th from my dating scan and brought forward to the 3rd cos I was having a section. I hope everything goes well for you, and baby doesn’t keep you waiting too long!

Hey all, we welcomed our little boy on 30 April! The birth was quite long and dramatic, started with an induction that my body didn't react well to, several failed pain relief attempts, and ended up with the forceps. Not trying to scare anyone, in fact I wanted to say that even with all that I'd go through it again to get our wee man at the end of it. You're tougher than you think and you'll cope with whatever comes your way in labour (even if you do need to cry about some of it later). ❤️

@raffika thank-you. No sign as of yet but then I've been wishing all along to go over to give us time to move house which we finally did on Wednesday. Hope you're recovering well and enjoying all the little cuddles

Hi all! Amazing to hear your news and the safe arrivals of the babies. The twins graduated NICU last week at 7 weeks of age (just after they would have been delivered at 37 weeks) and we've been at home getting used to "normal". Thinking of you all!

Lurking for a while - I was meant to be in this bump group but ended up having an April baby by accident!

It's been quite a wild ride and I still can't really process it sometimes, lol

I went into labour at 35+6 on the 17th of April about 5am, but was sent home from hospital as was told I definitely wasn't in labour and probably had a UTI instead. Being a FTM I didn't know any better so just took their word for it, until my contractions started to ramp up significantly about 9pm the same night. Went back into hospital, examined again around midnight 18/4/23 and told I was 5cm dilated with a breech baby 😵‍💫 whisked off quickly to delivery suite. Decided on a c section due to presentation, but needed to wait for theatre space. Waited until about 02:30 for a theatre to be free, in which I continued to labour until 8cm. Midwife seemed a bit panicky we might end up with an unintentional vaginal breech birth but managed to get to theatre in time. Everything looked fine then, got spinal in no problems but my BP then crashed few minutes after spinal was in. DD heart rate dropped and upgraded to a cat 1 emergency although I don't really remember much as I was too busy being sick everywhere (not a fun experience!) DD was delivered unresponsive but cried after some encouragement/rubbing/etc. Weighed in at a huge 7lbs considering she was 4 weeks early! Thought ok now everything will be fine right??

We were transferred to postnatal ward, but DD began showing signs of sepsis/hypoglycemia so was transferred to NICU. Needed a feeding tube, antibiotics, IV glucose. Less than a day later NICU matron asked us if we would mind being transferred to another local trust as this ones NICU was at capacity already. We agreed and were sent via ambulance on 19/4/23 to the other trust, where DD stayed for another week as she then developed jaundice and needed phototherapy, plus ongoing glucose/feeding issues. All in all, I'm glad we accepted the transfer. The second trust was fab (first one wasn't horrible by any means though), great clinical team and as we were out of area, we were allowed to stay in the parents accommodation on site for the duration of DDs stay. Breastfeeding support was excellent and although DD required tube feeding with colostrum/formula for a few days, she was EBF from about day 4 of life 😀 she has continued to pile on weight since.

We have had her home now for 2 weeks and it's still a bit of a whirlwind, but so grateful to have her. Kind of wish I'd got to enjoy enjoy bit of maternity leave before she was born as I was still working up until the day she was born, but oh well - more time to enjoy with her now before I go back to work!

Good luck everyone still waiting to deliver & congrats to everyone who has already xx 😇

So I think something is happening. Have had a little brown / pink tinged discharge last night and this morning. Odd period type cramp here and there. FTM here so not sure where to go from here but take it my body is starting to prep for labour?

@lmw88 think I'm on the way too - both me and maternity assessment reckon my waters have gone! On my way in for 9am for them to check for sure but I'm pretty sure I'm also now getting mucus plug going. Feel somewhere between 😳😬 and 😁🥳

@IWillBeWaxingAnOwl how exciting. I haven't phoned into my unit yet. With it being my first I imagine things will be slow but will give them a ring just to let them know. I'm sure they'll just tell me to stay out

@IWillBeWaxingAnOwl meant 'stay put'. I don't really know how to feel. We just moved into new house on Wednesday which was my main priority up until now. Have loved being pregnant and had no issues all along. Attached to my bump and will definitely miss it but baby has to come out at some stage! A little apprehensive about labour but will just go with it. Time to do a final bag check 🙈

How exciting for those who are getting started!! I am so stressed waiting for my overdue induction in a few days still hoping she would come naturally before induction, anyone else overdue as well??

How long do people think they’d go before accepting an induction for being overdue?
I’m not overdue yet but had no signs at all so I predict I will end up going over! I really want to avoid induction but I’m also tired of being pregnant already… any advice?

I've been booked for an induction for my due date of the 26th. If my fluid is still on the lower side on the 15th my consultant has told me ill be started then. With how fed up and sore I'm feeling right now I'd take the 15th in a heartbeat

I’m due on Sunday so not overdue yet but seeing the midwife for a sweep on the 18th and then being booked in for induction, she didn’t say how many days later that would be though. It’s my first so I’m too anxious to put off induction if that’s what they suggest, I really don’t want it either though.

Had pressure all round my bum the other day but think baby was just on a nerve. Due date is Monday and I'll prob have a sweep then. Sweep helped last time with my son (sweep on Thursday, waters broke on sat and he was born on Sunday).

In no rush to get baby out as I'm enjoying these last few weeks with my son before his world turns upside down

I phoned Mat unit, I said about fluid leaking she was going to bring me in then because there was mucous she's happy enough for me to monitor and phone back if any concerns. Have some mild on / off cramping. As a FTM I'm just clueless. Baby is moving as normal (after a nice scone with jam) and I'm otherwise feeling fine. I've double checked my bags and have them sitting ready to go when needed. Just in that unknown territory atm.....

Congrats to the new babies :)
Feeling so deflated. 39 weeks today and in for induction, they can not reach my cervix and even with gas and air it was so bloody painful. This is my fourth baby so I should be in and out but for some reason my babies never want to exit even overdue! They are waiting for the doctor to try and use something else to get the balloon in but if not then we'll try pessaries first. Anyone had any good endings to what seems so crap right now?

@Mummybearto3bg sending hugs, sounds horrendous. I don't have any experience to share, but didn't want to leave you hanging. How's it going now?

Thank you @Nell80 appreciate it! After 6 attempts, they can't get the balloon in so we went for the pessary at 5pm, no twinges yet but there's time I guess. Just overall frustrating but trying to be optimistic and not a downer. I already feel like I'm weeing put razor blades and I've not even had baby 🙈