Due December 2023 Part 5

[Nclktnntt]

Starting Due December 2023 Part 5

I’m starting to feel unprepared and really should get everything sorted like hospital bag.

I’m trying to work out sleeping arrangements with side cot especially as I’ll have c section. I had planned to use bed which is currently in baby’s room but I’m now thinking the mattress is too soft and I sink down too much so it’ll be an effort to get up with my stitches. I’ll need to change where I sleep or do something like put a mat on mattress to make it easier.

C section a week tomorrow… i’m a bit embarrassed to say I’m starting to get scared. I wasn’t so scared or worried at my previous C section. I was “stiff upper lip, let’s crack on”

This time i’m a bit anxious. I struggled with a reaction to the anaesthesia last time- nothing major, just some slight breathing difficulties which the team were on straight away and sorted immediately, but I remember a sense of panic. Maybe that’s playing on my mind? I’m also having tubal litigation this time.

Reckon I can ask them to cut out the extra lower stomach fat whilst i’m open 🙈

Anyone else due their elective section in the next week?

@ThomasinaLivesHere I've started to collect all the bits for my bag now - also feeling way unprepared, especially for labouring and going into actually have baby.

You know what I'm stuck on the most - comfortable clothes to labour in and changes of comfortable clothes . I only have 1 lounge outfit that I can still wear just now! Need to buy a large nighty for when at the hospital I think. I think I have everything else now.

I've seen people advising witch hazel products like wipes to put inside our knickers (ontop of the pads) for after birth - anyone seen this? Done this with previous births? We don't have a bath only a shower so I'm thinking I might need to do this as I can't soak in a bathtub, but not sure if it'll help or make things worse down there dunno? 🤷‍♀️

@VillageFete yes! I'm booked for my section on the 7th! I can't believe it's so soon!

This is my first, so although done lots of reading not really sure what to expect! Any tips you can pass? I've had lots of people advise some arnica tablets, peppermint capsules, chewing gum etc. also heard so many positive birthing stories.

We got this!!

@Flowersandfloral So my first C section (14 years ago) Was an emergency. It wasn’t pleasant unfortunately.

My second C section was elective (4 years ago) And was the best day of my life. Honestly I can’t describe how I felt, but it was calm and lovely and magical. I did react to the anaesthesia or whatever else they pumped me with, no idea why, but this was after my son was delivered and I was in recovery. They were on it instantly and took excellent care of me, but I think it’s playing on my mind! I’ll bring it up at pre op next Tuesday.

Yes to Arnica! Yes to peppermint capsules as you can sometimes get trapped wind in your shoulders and it’s horrible. Take some peppermint tea bags in with you too.

Make sure you get up and move as soon as you can. It genuinely makes a difference to your recovery. As soon as you can feel your legs, try and have a little shuffle up and down.

I recovered really well, even from the scary emergency one.

How many weeks will you be? This is an IVF pregnancy and based on those dates i’ll be 38+6 at my section, but based on their dating scan dates I’ll be 39+2 - Thing is, the IVF date is 100% accurate so ideally i’d have liked to push it back a couple of days but it’s in the diary now and I’ll have to just go for it!

@VillageFete I'm heading to boots shortly and will stock up on everything! I had to have a hosp stay with high blood pressure so have met lots of the midwives etc so actually really glad I got that and feel like I know where to go etc better now.

We've done a play list although I found it very hard to decide what type of music I thought I might like to be listening too 😂 anything you would recommend discussing at pre-op or what is discussed there? My sister is going with me as DH needs to work.

I'll be 39 weeks on the scheduled date. My cycles were all over the place before I got pregnant though so I've never been convinced about them. Baby girl is measuring in the 92nd percent from a growth span a couple of weeks ago so I'm wondering if she will be a big baby! Least we know we are at full term definitely by now!

Exciting you ladies who have c-sections booked in next week so definitely know you will be meeting your babies next week!
I still have to finish work but do feel a little bit like it's just a waiting game at the moment.
I could have my baby any time from the next few hours or up to a month!!

How are all the moms with their babies of the group doing?

@Nclktnntt I never used the witch hazel wipes but what I did with DS3 is make these 'padsicles' that did have witch hazel in them. I put aloe vera (make sure it's pure) and alcohol free witch hazel. Then I just froze them and got them out when I needed them. Honestly such a life saver - they are so soothing and really helped with pain 'down there'. I think I used this 'recipe' you could say! https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/padsicles#takeaway

Good! I'm actually loving the newborn stage so far, although admittedly only 6 days into it so pretty sure we're being lulled into a false sense of security. She's back up to birth weight plus 0.01kg at her 5 day health check, and all looked good. Have had our first explosive poo on my husband, and many poos and wees mid change on the mat 😂 just had to order more newborn size sleepsuits as we're getting through them and she's too small for up to 1 month size. She'll probably only fit in them for like a week but still. Hope everyone else is getting on ok and good luck to all those still to come.

We've had a bit of stress with losing 10% of his body weight, needing jaundice checks and also going in for blood sugar checks and blood gases but we are getting there. Also had my eldest off school really poorly on antibiotics for tye first week of his life so it's not been calm but we're getting there. We registered him today so he's all official and its actually his due date today, though he is actually 12 days old!

Fingers crossed at his reweigh tomorrow he'll be back up to birth weight or there abouts. Now only if he would sleep at night without bring held. His next2me is currently an expensive storage unit lol

Our growth scan today showed baby is still measuring on the 95th centile on my growth chart. Consultant wasn't concerned about baby's proportions like I've been, but she advised booking either induction or C-section at 39 weeks due to the shoulder dystocia risks...so I have to go back next week with my decision and get it booked in. I think I've decided on C-section - it's the option that makes me feel calmest! Can't believe that I now know baby will be here before Christmas ❤️

@afternoontea86 oh awesome, I'll look into making some of those I think in preparation.

@stardust25609 I'm so happy to hear it's all going really well and you and baby are doing well! How are you finding the nights and night feeds?

@17caterpillars1mouse oh what a stressful start, sorry to hear about your other little one being ill - when my little sister was born I had really bad tonsillitis and moms always said she felt so guilty as she struggled to separate her time between us. That must have been so difficult for you. Glad little ones getting there and putting his weight back on now. Exciting that he's official now too and the poetry of being in his due date is just lovely 😊

@Charlielechat how exciting! I have my growth scan tomorrow and if I get told the same I’ll also be requesting a c section over an induction i think :).

I sway a bit because of the longer recovery, but the induction ward sounds awful, and likely could end up with a c section anyway!

What led you to decide on c section?

@Charlielechat If you don't mind sharing are there any other risks other than the size of the baby?
I'm only asking as I had a growth scan at the weekend as have been over 97th percentile and am still showing that and no one has seemed to be worried about a vaginal birth even though I mentioned it a few times. I'm 38 weeks tomorrow so he's not going to be getting any smaller so it is playing on my mind a little bit.

@Mushroo has your baby been measuring big too?
I don't like the uncertainty with induction - consultant said it lowers the risk of tearing etc as the baby will be smaller if induced earlier, but doesn't necessarily lower the risk of shoulder dystocia, and can still end in an emergency C-section. Plus, you just don't know how long it could take! I've been really stressing about the birth and all its possibilities, whereas I feel that a C-section is maybe the most (hopefully) straightforward option! The recovery doesn't sound ideal, but have heard lots of positive stories from others!

@Charlielechat shes been fine so far, but I have gestational diabetes so preparing for the fact I might get told she’s big tomorrow! They also won’t let me go past 40+6 so if I get to that point I think I’ll have to have either induction
or c section anyway.

Your reasons all sound similar to mine if I get pushed to an induction vs c section route. I’ve also heard generally good things, particularly for electives. It’s just such a big decision isn’t it.

@SMG1992 No the only risk so far has been the centile, baby has measured 95th centile on two separate growth scans now so it just seems to be a risk based on my personalised growth chart. It might just depend on the trust? I have a friend in a different trust who was only offered an induction and she had to really fight for a C-section! I would definitely mention it your midwife again if you're worried.

@Mushroo good luck with the scan! Hopefully everything is still on track. Would you prefer to go naturally yourself if all is well? Yeah it really is, not an easy decision to make at all! But I definitely feel good about it now

I am currently 35 + 4. My baby is also measuring bigger on the tummy area so I was offered three options. C section, induction or do nothing and see how things go.

I initially thought about c section but after thinking about it I have now decided on an induction. Purely because it could turn out that I have the most straightforward birth and would be annoyed at myself if I didn't at least try things that way. In the end, I may have to get a c section which I am fine with.

Going to be doing lots of things from 37 weeks onwards to try and get baby to come on her own terms at an earlier date so I don't need to get the whole induction process lol! I see my midwife on Monday and have to book in with her from 14th onwards for a sweep. Again - not going to say I am looking forward to that!

@Charlielechat thank you! Yes I think natural would be my preferred but tbh I’m at the point where as long is she gets here safely I’ll take whatever. So over being pregnant now and still a few weeks of it!

Thanks @Charlielechat it must be a different trust thing. Very exciting you have a date in the diary!
I guess I’ll be trying natural and see how it pans out, it’s a bit of a scary time!
I can’t wait for the whole birth part to be over with!!

Can't believe how close we all are now to meeting our little ones! I turn 36 weeks on Friday and today went through my birth plan with the midwife.
She didn't measure me today because I had a growth scan just under 2 weeks ago, but I'm not seeing the midwife again for another 2 weeks so it feels like a long time before I find out how baby's growth is progressing - at the moment he's tracking just below the 90th centile line. Midwife also wrote that baby is engaged at 2/5 so he's aiming for the exit 😅

I'm going down the natural delivery route and considering a water birth (unless something changes last minute) - is anyone else looking at a water birth at all?
Also going to attempt harvesting colostrum from now on, for others collecting colostrum did it take a while for you to get results?

@Beans1982 i started harvesting colostrum at 36 weeks and felt really defeated as couldnt get much. I’m now almost 38 weeks and have managed to figure it out. Just don’t stress about it and also I found a hot water bottle helps the flow

I'm 40+1 so mainly been on the November thread but baby seems to be showing no signs of movement so looking like I'll be having a December baby 😂 Trying a stretch and sweep tomorrow (if my cervix is cooperative) anyone had one before?

Im doing a water birth too @Beans1982

How big was baby measuring @chloesl1808 ?