Due December 2023 Part 5

[Nclktnntt]

Starting Due December 2023 Part 5

@GingerJanee im in the same boat regarding BP, swelling and PGP. I ended up at triage yesterday, and felt like they just dismiss how you’re feeling when they ask! Have they put a plan in place for you or are they just playing it by ear at each appointment?

at my last appointment they said 40 weeks for induction but I honestly don’t feel like I’ve got it in me to be pregnant for another 3-4 weeks. So I’m going to ask if they’ll at least consider 39 weeks when I next see them🤞🏼

This reassured me a little @Srs12 its not just my area then because I was thinking I’d missed something not having an actual set plan.

@FirstMondayInMay It’s really disheartening I haven’t brought much up pain wise with the midwives or consultants because I always feel the appointments were very short but today I bit the bullet. The midwife was lovely and she was the one who encouraged me to tell the consultant in her own words “explain your worse day” so I just told her how I was feeling. I felt a little dismissed but at the same time she was like if you were telling me this at 37 weeks I’d tell you this is standard pregnancy feelings but because you’re a little before that I’d say just try to do what you can to cope with the pain. Doctor advised to come back to the assessment if I have reduced foetal movement, she sent me back to the midwife to get my BP rechecked and the midwife basically told me if I’m still in pain by the weekend to ring the assessment unit.

So no clear plan of anything just to come in 2 weeks otherwise. Said there would be a possible early induction if baby keeps measuring big and I’m in pain but she’d do a sweep (cervix obviously allowing for that) at my next appointment where I’d be 38+5. I got the impression she’d be more than willing to induce before 40 weeks though based on size and my current pain - I think I was more confused because I didn’t mention anything about looking to have the baby or giving birth I just mentioned I was very sore and swollen. I also should mention I’m not even due to finish work until 1st December so having the baby early hadn’t even entered my brain I was just looking some advice today 😂

On the topic of birth plans, I’ve download the NHS one, but it’s quite formulaic so might add a handwritten sheet on top.

It’s so tricky as a FTM because as much as I’d like a MLU waterbirth, when it actually happens I might just decide I want delivery suite asap and epidural!

I think key things for me are:

• Ideally no induction.
• Will have the pessary if recommended, but if no movement would prefer a c section. (I really hate the idea of being on an induction ward).
• Planning to use tens, gas and air, water birth, with option to ‘upgrade’ to epidural. No to pethidine I think.
• Ideally want to be able to move, and planning to use a birth hall.
• Episitomy / forceps only if needed (which I think they’re kind of a ‘last resort’ anyway so if they’re being suggested probably for a reason!)
• Skin to skin - if I can’t do it, DH to do it.
• Yes to vitamin K injection and placental injection.

I also like to know what is going on, so I’d like everything explained to me before it happens.

I need to look into foetal monitoring, does anyone know if you can even get continuous monitoring on the MLU?

@Mushroo sorry not sure if you can have continuous monitoring on MLU but just wanted to say your preferences look like you’ve read my mind! it’s actually really helpful to read it in points like that as I was struggling to put them into words so thank you 😊

@Srs12 ah good! Nice to know I’ve not gone too rogue with the decisions.

I think for me it boils down to Im ok with most things, other than being stuck on an induction ward for days! The rest very open to seeing what happens on the day.

Anyone know with a waterbirth how long you are actually in the pool? Is it just the pushing stage?
I'm wondering whether to rent a TENS machine but they can't be used in water so not sure whether it's worth it.

I had my 37 week midwife app today, she's booked me in for a growth scan as thinks I'm retaining a lot of water and couldn't get a body position for the baby. She said his head is pretty much fully engaged though which explains my pelvic discomfort the last few days

@Mushroo As someone who was stuck on an induction ward for days that’s a good decision. I wouldn’t do it again. Your plan seems sensible.

@ThomasinaLivesHere thank you, always good to hear first hand experiences.

@Mushroo your plans are pretty much what I've said.

You can have baby monitoring on MLU - I've put that I would prefer wireless monitoring so I can move and get about easier, if possible. It depends on if there's enough of these to go around at the time.

I don't want pethadine - I've not said no, but not ticked it as it would be my last resort - that or epidural. I'm put off an epidural due to my hips not being great and not feeling if I'm hurting them in whatever position I'm in too. But I also haven't said no to it.

In my hospital they have MLU and the birthing ward in the same building I think, just ones upstairs so if I changed my mind I don't think it's impossible, they also have a consultancy lead unit in the same building I found out yesterday as I asked if with going in with slower movements can alter you from low risk to high risk and what implications that can have.

I also I don't want induced unless necessary, so if 10 days over we'll go down that route.

So I'm 35 weeks today and I am so hungry and thirsty today! And my back started aching yesterday lower but to the sides, I put it down to going to the physio yesterday, and is aching again today. Is it something about hitting that 35 week mark ? 😂

Ordered a whole bunch of stuff for baby yesterday, adding bits into the baby wish list too and getting a gym ball today.

I've been looking into the owlet baby monitor and sock - has anyone else looked into this?

@Nclktnntt I’m 35 weeks on Saturday and similarly have been starving, exhausted and my back has started to hurt! Glad it’s not just me.

We’ve really umm’d and aah’d over the Owlet! We’ve eventually settled on not ordering it, but if we’re really worried when she’s here / we have a traumatic birth we might get it then. Spent hours reading reviews and I’m still not 100% sure with that plan.

@Mushroo so glad I'm not the only one 😂

originally I wasn't going to get anything like that as we're all in the same room at night, but sometime when I sleep I sleep! So might be worth it - what got me thinking was one of my clients recommended a mat you put under them that an alarm goes off if they've stopped moving or breathing for 30 minutes (which seems like a long time for me tbh) and we're renovating so a camera to watch them and alert us if they've woke up when we're in another part of the house sounds ideal - you can't hear the main room from other areas of the house - so i was looking into cameras, then came across this make with the sock thing too. I wouldn't use it as a medical device or anything like that but I do like the idea that if their heart rate is high/low it'll alert you though, that's what's attracted more than anything else. We're currently uhhhhming and ahhhring over it lol

@Nclktnntt I’ve been looking into the Owlet too but I think I’m going to reassess when the baby is here, I’d be afraid I’d get a little obsessed with something like that but that could change when baby is here and I might need to know their every movement. My SIL had it for her little girl and she said for a movement monitor she didn’t love it but loved on the app she could track her sleep patterns, there’s also another little clip you can put on their nappy at night that rests on their belly called the Snuza Hero which several of my friends have recommended for piece of mind.

Has anybody got any bouncers/snuz pod pillow type things? I haven’t purchased either of these yet having heard mixed reviews some babies like them some don’t and I don’t want to spend money on something that will be wasted. I know the pods are also not recommended for overnight sleeping but I was moreso thinking for them to lie on the sofa beside me supervised during the day? It’s all very confusing! I’ve looked at the cucoonababy and purflo one but I’m nearly afraid to buy them with everyone talking about safe sleeping.

I used the visual birth plan on positive birth movement last time. Was really helpful to let me look through options. Although my birth was very different than planned (but very good). My biggest piece of advice is to not have too many expectations. I went in with a vague idea of what I expected it wasn’t what I had but I’d say I had a good experience anyway. If that makes sense.

weirdly even though I’ve done this before I’m starting to get very nervous this time. I’m 37+3. My husband works offshore and is away for another 6 days so I’m solo parenting a 2 year old at the moment and I’m tired. My bump has dropped and I’m getting braxton hicks. Didn’t have them first time and all of a sudden it’s starting to feel real that I’m having a baby. Although hopefully not before Saturday. Weathers so bad offshore don’t think husband could get home even if he needed to till then.

I've got the Snuza Hero instead of the Owlet as it's waaaay cheaper and should still be enough for the peace of mind that I'm after.

I've had some period like cramps today, I'm 36+6 so hoping this isn't the start of anything as I'm not quite ready and not on mat leave until w/c 4th December! I thin I'm going to be overanalysing every little twinge for the next few weeks.

Ahhh thanks I'd not come across that, I'll check it out thank you 😊

So today I've gone down the rabbit while of baby carriers - have you guys brought one? Which make did you go with in the end? Used one before?

@Nclktnntt Ive got the freerider sling for when she’s small, and the Nuna Cudl for more long term use.

Tbh I’m not wholly convinced with the Nuna, it’s really well made and high quality, but I’m really short and it’s quite bulky. DH loves it though.

Id maybe see if you can try some out? Because I’m not sure I’d have made the same choice if I didn’t just order online.

I used a fabric sling with my little one. I mainly used the one from the Scottish baby box I think they’re all fairly similar. Have bought a free rider one this time as didn’t have as much to buy so treated myself.

Carrier wise we used the ergo baby omni 360 from fairly soon after birth for walks etc as much comfier. May be worthwhile to see if you have a sling/carrier library nearby and try a few once baby is here as it’s quite individual on what’s comfy. Although I think the ergo baby omni is probably one of the more popular ones.

Thank you both @Mushroo & @Noname112 both of those came up on my list and I'm more sided towards the ergobaby just now, but will do more investigations and see what my husband thinks too. 😊

We're going for an Ergobaby Embrace - it's supposed to be more suited to newborns as it's softer and I think supposed to fit better. But will upgrade to the Omni 360 at a later point!

I ended up back down the monitor rabbit while after that and then my brain switched off 😂😂

We had our growth scan tonight due to the second episode of reduced movements on Monday - they've been fine since. They're currently measuring right down the middle as a whole and weighing in at 6lb so full term they're predicted to be around 8.5lbs. What I have noticed is their head is in the 91st centile 😳 I was expecting a big head though because mine was massive a baby - I grew into thankfully 😂

@Nclktnntt thats a good weight and glad movements have picked back up
I have a growth scan tomorrow - mine is measuring big and midwife was a little concerned about the amount of liquid. I hope it will all be fine, I’m very excited to see him again though

Glad everything is looking well @Nclktnntt

I have another growth scan next week too. Baby's tummy is measuring really big! Head and femur were very small but doctor didn't seem worried about that. Hoping everything has leveled out a bit. I didn't get to see much at my last growth scan - was hoping I might have gotten a glimpse of baby's face!

@Charlielechat our little one is measuring big head and tummy but small on their legs in the 20something percentile but they wernt concerned. Both me and my husband are tall (5ft8 for me and 5ft10 for him) and he has short ish legs really for his height, our hips are pretty much the same height. The lady today explained they like everything to be in between the 2 lines I think when babies out, they'll grow and change so much that they're not too concerned unless it's outside of the markers I guess.

I hope you scan goes well next week. And yours tomorrow @SMG1992