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

Ladies, when are you tested for Strep B? Or when is it discussed? My due date is the end of November so I am behind a lot of you but I haven't heard this mentioned at any of my appointments yet?

@Nov2023 i was tested at 35 weeks. After I was tested doc said “oops we should have waited another week” as he said test is only valid for 4 weeks. So if I haven’t given birth in the next week I will be re-tested. This is in Canada though, possibly different back home in UK

At my hospital, they check during labour and give antibiotics if positive. My MW also said that they check urine at each appointment.

@Nov2023
Most women in the UK are never tested.

They're only tested if they meet specific criteria (like a previous baby who had Strep).

The only reason they're testing me is because I went for private fertility tests last year and the doc did a swab which showed up strep B.

I was never swabbed when pregnant with DS1.

I was tested for strep at my 38 week appointment - but that’s cos certain hospitals are taking part in a trial. I’ve never had any risk factors & I’m low risk pregnancy.

https://gbss.org.uk/gbs3/
You can find out here if your hospital is taking part in the testing

You can also pay for private testing, I did in my first pregnancy due to a strep B related death of my cousin’s baby and found out that I was also +. I think it was about £30.
Not to scare anyone!
I was given antibiotics during labour but ended I’m EMCS anyway, so I’m not really sure whether they were necessary.
I will mention that I was strep b positive again at my pre-op, but not sure whether it makes any difference to a c section birth?

Thanks for the advice everyone!

@Mldn thanks for the link, I didn’t know much about Strep B until I saw on here and then had no idea if I would be tested, but I can see my hospital is listed within the 71 taking part so I guess I will get the test which is good as I will definitely be taking the antibiotics if needed.

@Alloveragain3 I'm in similar boat re allergies. I've been taking the biocare antenatal probiotics and ordered this for baby (it's half price): biocare.co.uk/baby-biotic

I'm super nervous about taking anti biotics too, as I feel that's what triggered the allergies when my DC1 was given it few days post birth as a precautionary measure :(

@JoyApple Thank you.

We've also been advised if the baby has eczema (our DS had it badly from 4 months of age), we should treat aggressively. Also, early introduction of foods.

All ahead of us!

Morning all! I’m due to start trying to harvest colostrum this week, never done it before even though I’ve had 2 kids! Any tips?
Also, is there a new thread? This one is going to stop soon I don’t want to miss the new one! 🥰

Hi, those booked in for elective C sections, which day are you having them?

Mine has just come through for 39+1 (I'm probably priority due to fibroid etc). I'm a bit nervous as baby is measuring small at 10th centile. Is it too early? I do have a scan a few days before that date but the projected birth weight is under 6lb.

I’ll be having mine at 38+4 (unless I get called before hand). Baby is between 10th and 20th centile.

@JoyApple I’m booked in for 38 weeks exactly.
DD2 was born at 38+3 and my consultant told me that due to extensive scarring in my uterus (rupture with DD1) and with there being less than 2 years between my last section and this one they picked 38 weeks on the nose.

@JoyApple my friends who had c-sections for breech babies had them in the 39th week x

How is everyone feeling about their sections and having a date? I don’t feel like I’m really nervous… and I’m worried it’ll hit me massively. Is there a chance I’ll be as cool as a cucumber this time? I hope so 🤣

@JoyApple Im booked for my section at 39 weeks to the day, baby also measuring on 10th centile so looking at being small. I’m not overly concerned as the growth scans are known for being notoriously wrong with weight and at 39 weeks, my consultant believes it’s a safe gestation for arrival. Try not to worry, I’m sure all will be ok ☺️

@GreenAventurine i too feel surprisingly calm and not nervous at all (yet) about having a section date. I do suspect it will hit me like a ton of bricks though either the night before or the day of, especially if I’m further down the list and waiting a while!! Maybe it’s because we have experience with sections??!.. I just really want it to be time now, I’m feeling huge, I’m in constant pain with my hips and back, I feel like baby is going to drop out with every step I take, I can’t sleep at all and everything feels such an effort to do. A family member who is due three weeks ahead of me, they are currently in the hospital having their baby so I’m feeling very envious, wishing it was a couple of weeks in the future and my time 🙈😂

@GreenAventurine good question! I have tbh, I think the idea of not labouring is making me feel calm 🙈😆 (even though I really wanted a vaginal home birth!)

I'm not feeling nervous but I'm feeling a bit anxious about baby's weight (is it too early?) and also about who is leading the op. I ideally want my consultant to do it, and he said he will try his best and we can discuss further at the next appointment, but that appointment isn't until 3 days before the section is due!

I've tried to ask my midwife to see if she can check who the consultant is but haven't heard back, and on the general line they said they can't tell me (!). I might try again tomorrow. I think I'd feel much more reassured once I know who is leading (as there's one or two I definitely want to avoid).

I do feel happy though that I have a date and now I can arrange childcare too and as it falls in our half term, it will make everything alot easier and smoother too hopefully :) - as long as baby doesn't make an earlier appearance lol.

Checking in, we're 4 days post elective section and it's been such a better experience than my emergency section last time. Still slow mobilising, but feeling so much more comfortable today.

I would say to all with planned sections, stock up on ibuprofen and paracetamol at home, I'm alternating between both to keep comfortable and it's helped massively. And fibre! Last time I had terrible digestive pain, this time I've been on top of fibre, adding chia seeds to green smoothies, Prunes, lactulose etc and have had no issues at all. It was one thing I was dreading after last time!

Unfortunately we're back in hospital with Thorne as he's dropped weight and was struggling to keep temperature, so he's in an incubator and has been popped on antibiotics in case he has an infection. Hopeful it'll all be nothing and we'll be back home in a day or two when his test results come back 🤞

@WriMum22 thanks for the reassurance :)

I've never had a C-section before so I am nervous about the recovery (especially getting up the stairs etc). Despite being in alot of pain, I'm not in any rush for baby to come though as feel like this is my final chance of rest and peace and quiet. I had a horrendous time with colic etc with my last baby, so I'm happy for it to drag out 🙈. Feel like doing something nice and memorable next weekend with DH and DC - any ideas?

Hi @GemmaJen thanks for the update and great to hear you are recovering well. As you say I'm sure it's just a precaution (we had that too with my previous DC) and she recovered in no time. Wishing you all the best!

What's your routine with paracetamol and ibuprofen? How are you rotating them?

@JoyApplehoping to have a successful VBAC but Ive been given a date for 41 weeks. They won’t let me go past this date for fear of previous section scar rupturing. I’m really hoping I go on my own before then 🤞🏼🤞🏼
I’m 36+3 now and have started using my gym ball and taking raspberry leaf tea.
If anyone has other tips on what I could be doing 😅 I’ll gladly try anything to help speed it up 😅

I’m glad some of you with sections are feeling calm too. I can’t believe how close we all are now! I still think mine will be earlier than the 8th though.

@GemmaJen Hope you’re back home soon and glad your recovery is going well.

@JoyApple love the idea of having a nice weekend next weekend. It’s my oh 38th birthday a week today and we’ve planned to go out for food somewhere nice. Does anyone have any ideas of how I can make it more special for him? I’m not struggling at all (size or tired wise really) and I’m now on maternity. I just can’t think of anything!

@JoyApple My last section the recovery went well, I was up the stairs the day after, had to take it slow but it was doable. The first week is the hardest and then it gets better and better and before you know it, you’re recovered. You’ll be that focused on baby, anything you’re feeling in regard to the section, this will be an afterthought. My Midwife told me off when she came out for checks a few days after birth, she told me I was doing too much and needed to slow down, but in all honesty I was just going with the flow in my little newborn bubble.

Next weekend myself, hubby and the kids are going to a local pumpkin patch/farm, going to have a nice little Halloween themed day, so will have some Halloween snacks when we get home and maybe watch a Halloween film (family themed).

@Katiec1
I'm also hoping for a vbac - have section booked for 40 weeks but hopeful for a natural birth this time

@JoyApple my last csec recovery wasn't that bad at all. The one thing that helped was sitting on a plastic carrier bag on the way home from the hospital so it's easy to manoeuvre in and out of the car