Due December 2023 part 4

[wannabemum38]

Part 4 thread ladies

@Kat2022 that's awful to hear, I hope you have a better experience this time. I agree, I was up and about in less than 3 weeks. My c-section went really well in terms of the operation and recovery. So I also hope this time around it is a smooth process.

@Poppymm I am going to say girl as per the numb theory. Looking at the little thing, it is pointing straight and not up. My guess anyway. Good luck tomorrow :)

@RG84 thank you!! I think girl too with nub theory but trying not to get my hopes up too high! I'll update tomorrow

@Poppymm we might be right! let us know and good luck!

@Poppymm good luck for your scan tomorrow! How exciting to find out if you're having a little girl or boy - I'm on a two week countdown until my 20 week scan. I'm convinced I'm having a boy since the very beginning (just a gut feeling) so I'm interested to find out if my gut is right 😆

@Kat2022 So sorry for what you went through with your first baby's delivery. You've put my mind more at ease with the thought of a C-section, this is my first pregnancy so I'm clueless about the best birth option and was kind of put off by everything I'd read about a C-section.

@RG84 I'm starting to think of names, it's a lot more difficult than I expected. Trying to find names that combine both my husband's culture and my own (Russian and Welsh) so if anyone knows of any good sites or books to look at, please do let me know 😊

Ahhh @Beans1982 we have a similar scenario - my husbands Italian and with an Italian surname I thought an Italian first name best and an English second name - we haven't discussed second names yet but it's hard to find a comprehensive Italian names book or site. I find the top 100 but don't like most or because the way the uk shortens a name I don't like the shortened version 😂🙈 it's a fun game and we really need to start thinking seriously about it soon as we don't plan on finding out the gender so I need both names lol.

Anyone any idea when we get our mat b1 forms?

@GingerJanee I was told the mat b 1 form will be issued at the 28 week appointment.

@GingerJanee it is possible to get it once you are 20 weeks and have had your scan as far as I am aware. I need mine before 25 weeks and next midwife appt not until 28 weeks so I rang my community midwife team explaining and they are posting it out to me. Dependent on work policy etc if you need it sooner then might be worth contacting your midwife.

@Vsah22 I was met with a rather neutral response to raising a c section request, but like others this is my 2nd baby and the first ended in an emergency c section (under GA). Have several hoops to jump through to keep discussing it so it's a way off agreed but I don't see a realistic alternative option for me due to the reasons it ended that way, and to try and avoid the complications that resulted for me as a result. I'm very clear in my mind though, and that it is my right to have one, so I am going to be firm but polite if met with any resistance.

If this is your first, I imagine they will do a bit more to lay out all the risks, as unless any medical factors then 'on paper' you should have a straightforward vaginal delivery, which I'm told is easier to recover from than a c section - although of course a complicated vaginally delivery might be another matter. At the end of the day only you can make the decision for you, and it is your right to request and have one. If a consultant won't sign off they have to refer you to another consultant. I'd suggest doing your research and listening to both sides, then making your decision, being clear what that is and knowing your rights. Good luck with the next conversations.

@Undercoverunicorn that's good to know. I wasn't aware you can request it earlier. I have a 21 week midwife appointment so I will request it then.

I still haven't received my maternity exemption certificate. I've asked for it so many times from my GP as I kept forgetting to ask the midwife. What are the benefits of this certificate?

@GingerJanee my midwife issued mine at 19 weeks but said she couldnt technically give it to me until 20 weeks plus 5 (weird I know) so just put a date in the future!

@Undercoverunicorn Thank you! I hope you get to have your c section as you have requested. We went away and did more research and spoke to family too and we are still sure it’s right for us so I’m going to email our midwife to get the ball rolling so we can discuss it further. I can definitely understand them being more cautious with first children but she didn’t really give us any information, it was very much there is nothing to worry about with a vaginal birth and the low risk birthing area is like a spa. I find that very hard to believe but she was also talking about home births, essentially anything other than a c section.

@Kat2022 Thank you for sharing that and I’m sorry you’ve had such a rough time. Hopefully this one will be a much more enjoyable experience and more importantly you’ll be feeling a lot better in yourself and have a better recovery. I’m glad you mentioned about Easter and staffing as that’s one of the things I was worried about especially given I have family members in the NHS so staffing isn’t at its best over that time and also more demand on them. My mum wished she had had stuck to her guns with my brother after being told she could only birth a small baby, I was 8lbs and overdue and the doctor convinced my mum to try, the same problem happened again and after 15 hours it had to be an emergency, he was 9lbs so quite clearly he was never going to come out any other way as she was tiny. I did ask the midwife if they do any checks on your size and she said no you will only grow a baby you can birth but my mum had the opposite with both my brother and I so that just added to my concerns.

@RG84 Good luck with your appointment at the end of August! Hope it all goes okay and that you get to have your c section.

I asked about the matb1 certificate at our appointment this week, I was 18 (+3), the midwife said they only issued them at 20 weeks so I could have it at my next appointment in early September when I’ll be 25 weeks.

Thank you to those who mentioned about the placenta btw. I asked about mine at our appointment because I saw it mentioned it here. Is there anything in particular that we are meant to ask about at 20 week scans? We have ours 10th August. Can’t wait to find out the gender.

@RG84 I think the benefits are free nhs dental, prescriptions and I think some employers ask for it.

@RG84 your maternity exemption certificate will give you free prescriptions and dental treatment, whilst you are pregnant and for a year after your due date. Def worth getting! Your midwife should do it - mine was electronic and took about 30 secs to complete at my booking in appt so ask at your next one!

Had our scan today! All went well, couldn't believe the detail that they can look at everything in. Feel like I can relax a little now. I'd been really panicking as hadn't felt so much movement over last few days, but my placenta also at the front so that explains it!

We're having a girl!

Congrats @Flowersandfloral Lovely news for you!

I'm looking forward to hearing more detail at mine but also nervous in case something is wrong!

@Flowersandfloral congratulations on your scan results and your future little girl! @Charlielechat good luck for your scan, when is it? It’s certainly an anxious time, I hope it goes quickly for you and you can get the reassurance you need.

@Flowersandfloral congratulations on baby girl and glad everything went well at the scan :)

Roll on Monday already 🤦🏾‍♀️

Thanks @Flowersandfloral it's not until 8th August so have another little while to wait! Our private 16 week scan was all good, so I'm trying to focus on that!

Almost there @RG84! I'm going to be wishing away the weekend for a change.

It’s already listed on NHS food to avoid but I see a few papers are warning against smoked salmon as there was a renewed warning from food safety chiefs about listeria dangers. I ate some at the start of my pregnancy forgetting about it, so just thought I’d post a reminder. It’s annoying as it’s so tasty.

@SMG1992 I know right, I've never wanted to weekend to go past so quickly! Still feels like forever away but just a couple of days. Ekkkk excited but equally nervous. Hope you are doing okay

@Flowersandfloral Glad your scan went well and congratulations on your little girl!! What sort of detail did they go into at the scan?

Hi sorry I’ve never posted here before but just looking some advice, all I’ve done is cry and stress the past few weeks!

basically I’ve had around 5 scans and all the dates have giving me the 23/24 of December for due date. I had my first positive on the 23rd of April I done a clear blue it said 2-3, so I had slept with my ex on the 2nd of March and took plan b on the 6th and I’m sure my period was due around then, it came late on the 15th until the 21st of March just quite late ( I assumed this was a period) I started seeing someone new and we slept together 30th & 31st of March, and continued since then through to finding out. I went for my first scan on the 2nd of may and I was 6 weeks and 2 days, so was adding to 18/03/23 had alot of scans in between and my 12 week dating scan only took me back one day 17/03/23 I had the bleed on the 15/03/23 assumed it was my period but now I’m just really worrying because my period was late in March, I think as time goes on the worse my anxiety gets I think at the start I automatically assumed it was the new guy but now my minds doing overtime. What do you guys think? Please no judgement I’m really really struggling 🙏❤️Xx

So they literally have a list of anatomy that they check through, it sounds like it's all dependent on what position baby is! We started with the heart, they can check all chambers are there etc, then they looked at lungs, kidneys, brain, nose and mouth and hands and feet!

Our radiologist was really lovely and explained everything she was looking at and then confirmed everything was ok with each part as we went through.

It's funny our scan picture makes it look likes we're expecting a boy because it's a forward facing pic and you can see the cord 😂