November 2023 babies - Thread 5

[Shaker21]

I couldn't find a new thread open as the old is now full.

Got a few of the usernames to tag, definitely missed people but hopefully they find the thread :)

@spareincoming @Pinkplantcase @leeanneD11 @LilmissCa @FlyingHighFlyingLow @Psqueak87 @spanglesj @BabyBabyBaby123 @Houseonthehills @GreenAventurine @reememberly @Cegbee @DollyGx @38andtrying @JD90 @travellingislife @mldn @sb86 @TMI2000

We're on the small baby journey! Saw consultant today.
If growth is tailing at the scan next week (36w) then they'll induce in the next day or so.
Unless there's a huge jump in size then I'll be induced at 37 weeks. We're under the third centile line so unlikely to rise that much! Less than two weeks to go, I am so not ready!

We’re also still plodding the small baby track; now somewhere between 7th and 8th percentile. But the lead consultant is keen to hold off on my c-section for as long as possible. He keeps suggesting the week before half term, but he works across the border to where he lives so half term isn’t the same
time! Anyhow, continuing with the weekly scans for now.

I had my flu and covid vaccines on Monday, and have struggled to sleep on my side since - both arms are still sore!

Had my midwife app, 32+3 , measuring 31 weeks , baby is head down , but my midwife think I won't make it 38 weeks for when section is happening due to my pressure , loose stools & Braxton hicks. Now I'm a nervous nelly lol 😂😂 xx

@Nov2023
Are they making you redo the diabetes test?

My babino was showing 5lb 9oz at 32w5d (last Friday) 😱 measuring 3 wks ahead
No concerns from consultant .. I've always had big babies but it sounds like this one's going to be a baby elephant!

@LilmissCa Yikes! That's even bigger than mine! I have to redo the diabetes test. Do you?

I know we are all different and it's my first but I don't feel like I am showing a big baby? I have a little bump but lots of people have commented that I don't look like I am this far along and I am nit particularly uncomfortable . Who knows where bubs is hiding!

Mine is 5lb 2oz at 32 weeks according to growth scan today 😅. I am pretty huge though, first baby.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Had a growth scan two weeks ago as baby measured big. They found little legs (both me and husband are quite small) and a big tummy. They tested for GD due to the big tummy but that came back all clear.

Had a follow up apt today and they are saying that although he has gained weight, he hasn't gained as much as what they would have expected. Another follow up booked for 2 weeks time and twice weekly CTG monitoring in the mean time

I’m on x3 weekly CTGs and x2 weekly dopplers due to recurrent reduced movements. A very frustrating situation as the CTGs and dopplers are coming back perfect (which I’m so grateful for), but we are still having repeated episodes of reduced movements. Went for a Doppler today and she wouldn’t even move on the scan so got sent up to triage for an unexpected CTG and she still didn’t move but luckily Doppler and trace were absolutely perfect again. It’s obvious she’s just a lazy baby when she wants to be, but it’s become so draining as I don’t want to take the risk and assume everything is ok and luckily the hospital are the same. I just feel like an hamster on an hamster wheel! I’m seeing consultant next Wednesday due to her measuring small, and to discuss next steps regarding monitoring. Midwife said today that the trusts policy for repeated reduced movements is to induce at 37 weeks so that’s 3 and a half weeks away. Will be interesting to see what the consultant says.

@WriMum22 that sounds so stressful but as you say best to me safe. Wishing you all the best. My baby is on the small side and head measured smaller than expected at the last scan, so I've got another scan next week (35 week scan) and if baby tails off then they want to do a c-section at 37 weeks. I really don't want that, want baby to cook in there for at least 39 weeks. Wish you all the baby's on here a healthy & smooth entry into the world! :)

Sorry to hear that. My American friends have told me that their midwife suggested to them to increase their calories (more heavy dairy, cream, doughnuts, croissants etc) and more bed rest to increase baby's weight. I know the NHS guidelines here are very different but the American baby books take a more eat for 2 approach. And it seems to have worked for them, so I'm trying that. Just thought I'd share incase helpful, obviously you can do your own research :)

Those with babies predicted around the 6lb mark, what size vests and babygrows are you getting?

I can't decide whether I need to get tiny baby vests and babygrows ...

I don't seem to be having a small one now 😅 but before it was looking like I'd be giving birth at 36 weeks by c section. We got 0-3 month clothes, and one pack of newborn clothes. Decided that if baby was early and small, a local family member was going to drive to local asda and pick up some tiny baby/newborn stuff and drop off.

As it is, baby is predicted to be about 10lb at 40 weeks, which is supposedly the upper weight limit for newborn clothes, and both myself and DH were long babies. Baby might bypass newborn altogether so who knows 🤷‍♀️

@FlyingHighFlyingLow that's lovely to hear! How do you know what the predicted weight is? In my last two scans the sonograoher didn't note down the weight, just plotted it on the graph, which feels difficult to read

@JoyApple thank you. Isn't it mad how different the advice is?! I'm 35+2 now, so maybe a little late to make enough difference.
34 week scan we were at 3lb12oz. They did struggle with measurements and from reading online experiences I expect baby to be bigger than measured (albeit still a small size!).

I've got some tiny baby and picked up some prem bits on vinted.
DC1 I just got newborn size. Under 6lb at birth and the clothes were loose but they were warm enough. I was very naive, but just to note that you'll have cuddles and blankets to help if you need to buy anything smaller last minute.

@JoyApple (sorry to tag twice, forgot who said what!)

My consultant explained that smaller babies are more prone to stillbirth, which is why they go for earlier.
It is totally up to you, hopefully they'll advise well and they'll keep you very well monitored!

Movements are very important. Any reduction then don't hesitate to get checked- that's what they stressed the most to me.

@JoyApple this has probably been the most stressful pregnancy I’ve had for lots of different reasons but I must say my maternity unit have been amazing and I couldn’t have asked for better. I do feel lucky on that front. My consultant has been a little different, distant I would say, so not sure on what his advice will be next week, but we shall see.

My son was born spontaneously at just over 37 weeks and he weighed 6.10lb, and all I took to hospital was 0-3 month clothes as my elder son was two weeks late weighing 8.8lb so I really wasn’t expecting it. My Mum went to Morrisons and bought newborn and tiny baby clothes and we found the tiny baby clothes were a better fit for him. This time, especially as she’s measuring small, I’ve just packed newborn and no 0-3 at all. If she needs tiny baby, my mum will pop out again. Think my son was in tiny baby clothes for about a week or so and then moved to newborn for another 2-3 weeks before finally fitting 0-3, we just judged it as we went along in those first weeks and bought what we needed when we needed it, until he was able to fit all the 0-3 clothes we had bought during pregnancy, which he got a good few months out of.

Remember they loose a bit of weight when they’re first born. I don’t remember what size DS was in but he was 7lb13 and after about 2 weeks I remember going and buying some smaller clothes because I was fed of everything looking baggy. He grew out of them in about a week 😂 I’m not sure what the point of that story is! All of our newborn/0-3 clothes were unisex anyway so I’ll just use the same.

I came across this a few weeks ago, it’s the guidance the NHS follows in relation to babies growth and movements etc. it includes the guidance and also rationale/some data behind some of the guidance. From page 26 is the stuff about smaller babies if anyone would find it useful. It’s also discusses the risk/benefit of inducing at different gestations, eg. The increased likelihood of baby needing neonatal care vs preventing still birth.

I went looking for information because I had 1 fundal height measurement a few mm above the 50th percentile and the next one was a few mm below the 50th and they wanted to send me for extra scans and monitoring because I had technically crossed a line. I wanted to understand more about the rationale behind it and whether it actually applied to me. Anyway In my instance I declined as it all seemed very within the margin of error of the paper tape measure and quite unnecessary. We’ll see what the next fundal height is next week.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/saving-babies-lives-care-bundle-version-two-v5.pdf#page26

It is crazy reading posts and realising that our thread may start having baby announcements in the next few weeks!! 😬😀

I have been struggling with working full time and long hours with having PGP and just in general getting further along now being 33 weeks today so yesterday I decided to move my maternity leave start date forward so with along with some annual leave to use I now have just over 2 weeks to go at work which is such a nice feeling!

@Shaker21 i was thinking this, it could be a matter of weeks and the announcements will be coming in, so exciting.

i had to start leave unexpectedly this week due to the daily monitoring, I’d have been spending more time out of work than in. I’m almost 34 weeks and luckily work have been amazing so even though I’m off 5 weeks earlier than planned, my official leave only starts two weeks earlier. I must say, as bored as I am, it was absolutely the right thing to do to move it, not just for the appointments but for me. Although I’m still shattered, I do have slightly more energy being able to rest more, it feels lovely.

@WriMum22 Yeah I am a bit unsure how I will be with being off longer before he arrives and being bored but just going to try and make the most of the rest and I agree that I think it is definitely the best thing for me to have moved it forward by a week

Can't wait to start seeing some announcements 😀

I feel like I’m the only one that knows nothing about their baby/delivery 😆
I’m 34 weeks now, don’t know the gender, haven’t had any scans since 20 week one. Midwife appts all been good so no extra tests/scans/monitoring. If it wasn’t for my at home Doppler I wouldn’t have heard the heartbeat 😂 no idea about labour, I’m thankful there’s no issues I guess as it’s my third they are happy to leave me be.
I don’t know any measurements or EFW but my other 2 were 6lb 15 and 7lbs 4 and both went into tiny baby/first size. I’ve only packed 1 vest and sleepsuit in 0-3 and I’ve got size 0 nappies for hospital as that’s all I’m used to! X

@Mrsrobinsonx I'm so glad you've said this! I was reading posts thinking 'I have no idea about my baby' as like you haven't had growth scans or any other scan since 20 weeks!
I have one set of newborn clothes to take and all the rest are 0-3m - when my midwife measures my bump at routine appointments, I've been bang on as expected but no clue other than that!

On a downside - I've just tested positive for covid so a slightly worrying time! Just hoping little bean keeps regularly moving so I don't start to panic too much!

I was the same until 32 weeks when my midwife asked if I wanted to be referred for a scan just for reassurance, as everything had been going so smoothly so far. They then picked up things with his tummy being too big and then too small, part of me wishes I had never been referred for the scan in the first place as I wouldn't be stressing about it now

Hi Ladies,

Does anyone else feel like their bump has suddenly just gone boom?!
I’m 33+3, it’s my baby shower tomorrow and the dress I planned on wearing suddenly feels very snug! 🫣

Finally saw the physio about my PGP and it was enlightening. Gave me some techniques and advice which I wouldn’t have thought to do so for anyone struggling with it, please do go and see someone. They might be able to help.
I was meant to go on mat leave from the week before my due date but I don’t know if I’ll make it another 6weeks. Everything is just so exhausting now and moving around with PGP is doubly difficult.

So excited for everyone’s announcements! Hope you’re all doing ok! 😊

Thanks everyone! :)

Has anyone started nesting? I think its hit me - and I feel sorry for poor DH as I wanted to be up early and get stuff done.