Due January 2024 - Part 8

[PartRadish]

Couldn't see a new one yet :)

Ah yes was meant to comment on 3/5 engages means. Depends how they’ve written it, 3/5 engages or 3/5 palpable. It’s just how far in the pelvis the presenting part is. But means nothing for when birth will happen

Morning! Getting close now, isn’t it. I’m all prepped in terms of gear and clothes. I just need to pack my hospital bag. Hoping for a water birth and using hypnobirthing techniques…

it’s starting to feel very real. I’m 34w 3d today.

I think I will have vitamin k and the injection for the placenta if it comes to it and it’s not come out itself.

@Mummyme87 ah amazing thank you! The birthing ball must be doing its job 🤣

@lucya66 very close, I'm just behind you at 34+1 and keep having little panics that it's only 6 or so weeks left.

Still need to get some bits for my hospital bag, like PJ's/nightie, but otherwise mostly there with that. Then there's the birth plan, have most people written theirs yet? Really need to make time for it this week 😬

Hopefully if I can have natural birth I think I’m going to refuse the injection for the placenta as the last two times the cord has snapped when they’ve pulled on it which wasn’t pleasant 😩

@Bims2019 only little notes, because I labor fast (well did with ds) I'm just going with the flow.

I had the injection last time, but only because when they mentioned it both dh and I were wrapped up in new baby shock. I'd like to go without this time, literally one of the only notes I've got, that and i want dh to get skin to skin time while we're in the labor suite.

With bags, I've still only got my list 🤣 considering I'm pretty sure he'll be in less than 3 weeks, I might need to sort myself out 🤣🤣🤣

@Bims2019 I know what you mean I keep having panics it’s getting so close now. It doesn’t feel real! How can that baby be in me haha. This is my first so a bit nervous on birth and then her just being here but couldn’t have done more prep really.

I'd love to go for a physiological third stage but DS3 was born in his waters and everything came out at once. Amniotic sac with baby inside and placenta all just landed on the bed in one go. I had some heavy bleeding afterwards, and tbh it scared the crap out of me, so I'd like a nice controlled active management third stage this time please.

Hoping DH can cut the cord too. Four babies in and DH has never cut a cord yet! He missed DS1s birth so my sister did it and the next two were both prem and needed resuscitation so they were whisked off instantly.

He's also never ever been able to hold any of our babies in the delivery room or even the same day they were born. We were only able to hold DS3 three times during his first 2.5 months because he was just too unwell to be handled. I'm really, really hoping he can finally get to experience these things this time round. Actually makes me really emotional imagining it. Thanks hormones 😂

I hear you @PartRadish I’m praying to have the time in our room on our own afterwards, chilled skin to skin time, with tea and toast, and DH cutting the cord. I had skin to skin and breastfed immediately post birth last time but was hosing out blood and rushed to theatre so totally out of it and didn’t get that initial rush. I really hope this time my experience will be kind to us, and show DH how beautiful it can really be and usually is. I’m obviously very hormonal as I’m now crying my eyes out 😣

@PartRadish wow that sounds intense! I seen a birth online where the placenta came out with the baby and they said it was quite rare!

I had the midwife this morning which I was a bit worried about regarding the fundal measurement and being told he was too big again, but the measurement is fine, it's
gone down the chart slightly so I'm super happy with that! No more growth scans for now and next appointment not until 36 weeks so I'm on track for everything being as planned now 🤞 hopefully that'll continue! The whole end part not knowing when or how etc is very uncertain!

Got a baby bouncer in the Black Friday sale and my baby box (Scotland) is arriving tonight so that's kinda exciting!

I'd also been reading up on the third stage and thinking about whether active or not - feels like there's so many decisions!

Does anyone have a good birth plan template? I have one I'm supposed to do on badger notes but I think I'd like something actually physical and printed out for different scenarios!

@suz2285 placenta coming out with baby is usually associated with a placenta abruption, more commonly seen in preterm babies.

I haven’t written anything down yet, I think it’s because alongside just being busy, in my head it’s going to go a certain way this time. And obvs
im not naive as very aware of every eventuality. I had a melt down at 26wks last time thinking about birth plans, feel like it’s coming soon again

@tinyracoon I printed out one from the nhs website that was just a generic plan, it has options you can cross out or tick, I just deleted the bits that weren't relevant and wrote in notes, it's similar to the one on badger notes but a paper version

I've also seen people making ones on canva which is a free app for making posters and things and I've made a kinda visual one on my iPad that I then printed out but depends what you fancy!

@Mushroo I was tested again for GD in this pregnancy, and I passed it again. So from being on insulin last pregnancy, to no GD this pregnancy, seems very strange.

Just letting you know as for the next one it doesn't mean you'll get it

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 thats brilliant thank you! You must be so happy.

Here’s hoping I’ll be the same if I have another one..!

I know, so surprised! The midwives were treating it like a given I'd get it again, and said they'd be happy for an early induction. Sadly they've removed the early induction now, and I'll have to wait til she decides to come !

Fantastic @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 !!

@Bims2019 we sat down and wrote ours last night at the back of my notes. Only thing I couldn’t decide on was the placenta so reading everyone’s messages have been useful. If they give you the injection, do they take baby away from you for that part? Or are you more likely to have to put baby down and get up etc if you choose to birth the placenta without injection? I just want whatever disrupts skin to skin the least

I'm back at the hospital for another growth scan, they said measurements, heartbeat, cord flow, movements all look fine but apparently they can't see any big pockets of amniotic fluid. Asked if I'd noticed any leaking, but don't think I have... Now I'm second guessing myself. Just waiting to see Dr and discuss next steps, but the midwife who scanned said it would probably mean extra monitoring and another scan in 2/3 weeks. And at my midwife appt this morning she said baby's head was fully engaged, now worried that baby will come early. I'm not ready yet! 😅

@sashastuck that's a good plan, should just do it in my notes then maybe write up in a nice template later on.

@lucya66 my first too so it's all new and exciting while being scary. Sounds like you're very prepared though, maybe waiting now is the worst bit!

@sashastuck if having a physiological 3rd stage (no injection) the cord shouldn’t be cut until after placenta is out, baby should be encouraged to breastfeed as helps separate placenta from the uterus and come out. You will need to potentially move a little, but not gymnastics

Just had my growth scan, he seems to be growing along the 60th percentile at the moment, so they're happy with that, currently 4lbs. Ds was 5lb 10 at 37 weeks, so this one looks like he's going to be bigger, unless growth slows? Be interesting to see where ds growth slowed down before birth, but don't have a time machine for that...

Just waiting to see my consultant now.

Oh this is a really nice idea! I'm definitely a visual person rather than loads of writing so think something like that on canva could work - I'll experiment 😊

Off topic slightly. But how long are people's full names?

We are decided of first name which is 2 syllables. Ourr Surname however is 3 syllables. Both me and DH like alexander as middle name. Worried its excessively long!

....Without being to outing its the exquivalent to being called along the lines of

Barry Alexander Dickinson

First name not actually Barry 🤣

@Luhou we're going quite long now I think about it!

Would be four names and 2 syllables - 2 syllables- 1 syllable - 2 syllables!

I have a similar length name though and have always quite liked it, has a rhythm to it.

Is anyone else not sharing names with anyone? We're pretty set on what we want to call him but don't want to risk anyone giving us their opinion before he's born so keeping quiet! My mum and sister are taking it as a personal slight though!!