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

@Thack insomnia here too, very annoying!! If I’m not awake for hours in the middle of the night I’m awake very early. I need all the sleep I can get before the baby comes 😅
I found the sleep deprivation the worst with my DS and I’m dreading it now..

@Psqueak87 I got some syringes from my midwife in case I wanted to try and collect some colostrum. She said I don’t have to as it’s usually just given if the baby can’t feed for some reason. Then again it doesn’t hurt to have it as a back up.
https://www.tommeetippee.com/en-gb/parent-room/colostrum-harvesting

Morning all; the expected phone call with a date for my c-section didn’t come through yesterday.
I rang the consultants secretary at 4.30pm and she said there was no date on the notes. Definitely getting more anxious now but I’ll have to wait patiently until Monday.

In other news, today I am off to drive probably 150 plus miles around the area to find a Britax car seat that will allow DH to drive our car; we’d managed, after loads of research, to get all seats across the back but then discovered that the extended rear facing seat behind the drivers seat leaves DH unable to drive safely due to it limiting the distance the drivers seat can go back!

The best laid plans and all that!
I have a short list of 3 that are acceptable but no one place has all three in stock.

Feeling rather crap about it all as I’m giving up on my principles to have one child forward facing a year earlier than I’d have liked just so DH can drive “my car” which he doesn’t do that much but will do a lot in the first few weeks of new baby and until he gets his new car after the crash a few weeks ago.

Haven't been on for a while as things have been rather hectic lately. Looks like baby is going to be an October one!
I'm currently 35+1. Growth scan on Monday showed babies growth has dropped from just below 10th to below 3rd and dopler results came back on borderline so plan was made to put me on twice weekly doplers and deliver baby at 37weeks via cesarean as he/she is breech and I have a fibroid that they think may ge preventing baby from turning head down due to positioning.
However Thursdays dopler came back abnormal and baby has now started diverting blood from stomach to brain. I'm now on daily CTGs and back Monday for another dopler. Doctor yesterday has basically said, plan now is take each day as it comes in a bid to get me closer to 37 but is highly doubtful we'll get to that point. So baby could be delivered any day now, its all dependent on how he/she is over the weekend on the CTGs and pending Mondays dopler results.

DP has gone into panic mode that the babies room isn't ready, but I've said his/her room isn't important, we've got everything we need to take care of him/her and as long as the crib is set up in our room nothing else matters as the drawers already have the clothes and nappies in, so we're good to go when he/she comes home.
Just need to order some tiny sized sleeepsuits, but will wait until he/she is here to have better idea of size. I picked up a pack in Waitrose yesterday and they look HUGE! (bigger than the M&S newborn ones we have!) So will be researching where does the best size for small babies.

@WhyIsTheDogBlue I've got tiny baby stuff from Asda, Primark and Next. Most of which I got in a bundle from vinted. 🤞 it goes well on Monday!

@JD90 thank you I'll have a look at those places, someone else said that Asda was good size wise for small ones and Next usually have nice baby bits.

Anyone else just feel like the closer we get to the end, the further away it actually feels??

I am just on a rollercoaster of emotions to be honest, this is my final pregnancy and I can’t believe how eventful it’s been. From having HG and being hospitalised twice for dehydration, to then having SPD and going through physio, to baby then deciding to have repeated episodes of reduced movements, leading to almost daily monitoring, to then having antibodies picked up in my bloods leading to fortnightly blood tests. Wednesday during baby’s Doppler I was diagnosed with Polyhydramnios and worked myself up googling everything. The next day a Midwife at the antenatal clinic very kindly offered to do a TORCH test to rule out infections causing the poly (and because she couldn’t believe that not only had the consultant not told me about the poly but he’d offered to do no tests to rule out causes). I spent all Thursday worrying about CMV infection mainly, but my bloods came back clear and infection free. Went for another Doppler yesterday and still have Poly but the fluid levels did remain the same, albeit over normal. I’m now in for another diabetes test on Monday to rule out that being the cause. They said chances of abnormalities in baby causing it are slim due to how many scans I’ve actually had and them all coming back fine (still so hard not to worry).

Anyway, go back to my second home today for my CTG monitoring and after weeks of being head down, little girl has flipped to transverse 😭

Seeing a new consultant (I requested to move) and another Doppler on Monday so preying that 1. baby has moved back to head down and 2. Fluid levels haven’t gotten worse and 3. Doppler contours to be ok.

At this point I’ve been told section could be 37 weeks, then 39 weeks and today 36 weeks if baby doesn’t move…. Feel like the day will never come to be honest!

That's really scary, when you say the dopplers are borderline is that to do with the PI? I've had 11 weeks of fluctuating PI, some weeks being normal, mostly high but still positive blood flow through the cord. Is yours reversed or absent, or is it another issue? The stress of daily dopplers and ctg is a lot for you to bear 💞

@Bookworm12345 Yes its to do with the PI. Mondays were on the parameters of normal so they requested twice weekly dopler study scans to keep an eye on the levels. Thursdays scan showed they had reversed, so baby has started diverting some of the flow from stomach to brain, so they sent me for CTG then had me back yesterday for another dopler which was the same, so are keeping a close eye with daily CGT and regular repeat dopplers. They did say it could revert back yet, which im hoping will have happened by mondays one.
Its stressful and exhausting, but luckily we are only 15-20 mins away from the hospital, and the reassurance that baby appears happy for now outweighs the negatives... although the parking cost is mounting up! Today I was only in for just over an hour, but yesterday was almost 6!

I can sympathise totally! It's exhausting and very worrying too. Is baby still growing well? I think I've had at least 12 scans over the last 3 months and the parking charges do really mount up, as you're kept waiting around so long for follow up checks/appts/ctg. They were on about inducing me at 37 weeks a few weeks ago but last week's scan had gone back to normal levels. I'm fed up with it all now, baby's growth hasn't been affected and I'm 35 weeks tomorrow. It's certainly scarier for you with the blood flow being reversed. Any signs of pre-eclampsia? I've had the blood test a few times due to previous preterm PET.

@Bookworm12345 no signs of pre eclampsia which is good. They won't do another growth scan until 36 weeks as will only do them every two weeks, im hoping baby is still growing in there. I'm 35+1 at the moment so a couple of days ahead of you(DD 17th Nov). I was originally told I'd be induced at 39weeks due to being >40 and because baby was just bellow 10th centile on 26wk scan and sat there quite happily tracking that line until this weeks when he/shed dropped to <3rd. I'll now be scheduled in for a cesarean at 37 weeks if we make it that far, but if baby needs out before then it'll be a cesarean anyway, as they won't risk turning a breach baby with my fibroid and said delivery vaginally would be too risky, for both the baby and myself.

Its good that your fluctuating levels haven't affected babies growth, but it is scary when you don't know whats causing it or why its happening.
Yes the waiting around between procedures/doctors is really frustrating and adds some serious time on the parking clock.
I've just finished packing mine and babies bag for the hospital. Well repacking any way, I've taken out the stuff I had for labour as will wear one if their gowns and have swapped out some of the sleepsuits for baby for the smallest we currently have and will order some more appropriate ones once he/shes arrived.

@Travellingislife thanks for that link! I will give it a go in the bath, if anything comes out I’ll order some syringes!

Hi, anyone else feel like they are going to go into labour early?

I woke up at night and on my way to the loo felt that my waters had broken. Still not sure whether it was a wee or waters, but nothing on pad since then so I am hoping it was a wee.

I am internally panicking a bit. Due to various reasons our home is not ready and baby is small and really don't want baby coming early. My previous DC was full term and was only 5lb 13oz and had feeding issues, temp control and jaundice at birth, and we had to have a 5+ night stay in hospital which was a complete nightmare. So really want this baby to cook longer.

Any tips for how to slow things down? I have a planned c-section in week 39 so wondering whether I should go on a "bedrest"? ...

@WhyIsTheDogBlue Hi, I can't begin to imagine how difficult things must be for you. Can totally relate to the exhaustion of going into hospital every other day. It is very stressful too.

May I ask about your fibroid? I also have a posterior fibroid which I am told is around 7cm-10cm and is obstructing my birth canal, hence I have been strongly recommended to have a c-section. Just wondering what you have been told.

@JoyApple Hey, didn’t wanna read and run. I’ve seen this a lot this last week on the other November groups I’m in. I think it’s a difficult one to advise on because it’s most likely just urine due to pressure on bladder, but you obviously can’t rule out waters, especially closer you get to due date. I wouldn’t worry too much though because from what I’ve seen in the other groups and from my own experience recently, it’s just bladder pressure, but if your worried, maybe give triage a call and they can do the test to rule it out and then that will reduce your worry, I’d definitely recommend that.

With my son, I felt a little bit of water come away whilst laid in bed (I was 37 weeks) and i honestly just thought I’d wet myself, but my husband encouraged me to call triage even though I was adamant it was urine. I did and long story short they did the test and it was my waters (and nothing came away on a pad the hour I waited before going in) - I had him the next night. That being said, I’ve had something similar with this pregnancy, but test came back negative so was just bladder pressure.

If concerned, push for the test.. hope your ok xx

@WriMum22 Thanks for replying and your reassuring message too 🙂

I know it may sound silly but I am scared to call triage (I have been in twice and staff have not been nice). I'm also not able to drive and DH has injured his back, and there's so much to do at home that I just can't face another day waiting in hospital and then any unnecessary interventions and hours of wait for the doctor. Thankfully I have a midwife appointment early next week so as long as no more accidents, I am going to wait it out till then, although I am not sure what she can do ...

It feels strange and not very nice wearing a pad though, can't wait to take it off 😄

@JoyApple yes, I completely understand that. It becomes such a drain mentally and physically going in to triage and waiting etc. Just another reassurance for you, when my waters did trickle with my son, about 10 hours later my full waters went and there was no mistaking what that was, mild contractions also started about 24 hours later, so I think if this is your waters, something will definitely follow soon that will make it clear what’s happening, if something is happening. Have a lovely day, keep us updated on how your get on xx

@JoyApple yes, I am a little concerned about it too. I'm 35 weeks today and have started to lose my mucus plug. I've also been having a lot of painful BH and pressure low down for the last few days. Baby is firmly head down according to the growth scan I had recently.

37 weeks today 😵 can't believe how quickly this has gone. Been getting quite a few episodes of cramping and lower back pain past few evenings and went for a 5 min walk yest and thought baby was gonna fall out! Needed a good rest after that! Think little one is planning an early arrival

@Bookworm12345 what does your mucus plug look like? Last time my waters didn't break till I was in labour in hospital so don't remember anything.

I've been getting alot of pain. Everytime baby moves it is very painful. Don't seem to be getting alot of Braxton Hicks but the ligament pain near my hips has definitely increased in intensity.

I've been up half the night and had a long morning nap, but really feel like a soak in the bath as my legs feel sore. Is this best to avoid at this stage?

@JoyApple I get a lot of pain when baby moves I'm currently 34 weeks , I've been loosing discharge like jelly with very faint streaks of blood in it but not had anything since , a nice soak in the bath should help you and ease the pain , can't beat a nice long nap and a bath too this one keeps me up most of the night constantly the movements causes me pain and i cant sleep cause if makes me cry , we are so. close to the end now, my partner thinks he will be in 2 weeks as ive been early with my others and midwife thinks i wont make it to 38wks due to showing all signs of labour . Hope you're ok 💙

@JoyApple my fibroid is similar size to yours and close to the cervix so I was advised to opt for a cesarean from the start. At my 32 week scan baby was still breach so the consultant said if baby didn't turn then he'd definitely advise going for cesarean as the combination of fibroid and breach would make vaginal delivery too risky. Now with the stuff happening in the last week its very much, you WILL be having a cesarean.
A friend of mine is a consultant in a different area of the hospital and knows my consultant very well and said right from the start he's the best one to get and really knows his stuff, and if he's advising cesarean then go for it as he's usually anti cesarean and tries to talk mothers out of them, so he'd only actually be advising one if absolutely necessary!

@LeeanneD11 I'm sorry to hear that, sounds so painful! It is true we are almost there :) I am trying to figure out how to slow things down, not even sure it is possible tbh, but mentally I really do not feel ready yet, so hoping baby stays in!

@WhyIsTheDogBlue Thanks for sharing that, this is actually really reassuring for me, as I don't know anyone else who has had a fibroid and given birth, and whilst the consultant was highly encouraging it, he also said like many things it is a grey area and he can't give a guarantee that I wont be able to deliver vaginally but the likelihood in his opinion is extremely low . I think given how much it is paining now too, I don't think I have the appetite to risk going into labour for a few days and then not progressing. I was really hoping for a natural delivery and had hyped myself up with hypnobirthing etc! Anyhow, it doesn't look like it was meant to be.

I forgot to ask him what I should be doing if I go into labour early ... and whether I should be contacting triage as soon as I see any signs? Have you been told anything?

@JoyApple I was told(even before this weeks turn of events) that if I thought I was in labour I should ring ASAP and let them know that I'd been advised cesarean by consultant due to fibroid. As they'd have me straight in. It would be classed as emergency rather than someone just opting for one via choice as there is a real risk of baby becoming stuck. They will want to make sure they have you under observation and down in theatre before it becomes a full blown emergency with baby getting stuck and distressed!
Hope it all goes well for you.

@Chellooo Is your baby head down already? Can you feel it? Mine is still moving around.