Due February 2024 Thread 5!! 🤰🩷💙

[MummyTo4BoysXXXX]

last thread is nearly full so thought I would make a new one for us all 😊

Hi ladies,

A few weeks ago we were talking about pram/snow suits. And I remember some wasn't sure about them.

I've bought little man this from Asda/George online as another thing to wear out and about sometimes instead of his pram suit.
It isn't thick like 1 either.
I also seen a Peter rabbit one in Sainsbury's the other day.

I doubt he'd need it to sleep in at night cos his sleeping bags are 2.5 too 😊

@amyg1985 Midwife just called and blood levels are normal so no need for the gestational diabeties test 🎉

Pleased to hear it @babythreeincoming - good turnaround time from your midwife too!

Yes a lot of discharge but all watery/white. If there is a funny smell might be worth checking out?

Did anybody else's belly button get quite painful and sore before it popped out? I'm nearly 31 weeks, it hasn't popped yet but is definitely starting to bulge on the edges. It's quite sore now so I'm assuming this means it's ready to pop out any day now 🤣

Mine felt a bit sore last night now I think about it @msp2023 😄 it hasn't popped either but defo bulgy and odd looking 😄 I'm 29 weeks x

@msp2023 @CheeseAndCrackersx I don't think mines quiiiite popped yet.. It's kind of now neither an innie or an outie. More of a flatie 😂

In the UK does everyone not need to do a GD test??
My fasting levels were absolutely fine. it was the two next bloods after the drink being an issue with the second hour very much over.
I also passed at 18 weeks flying colours.

Just interested why they don't test everyone as I know a few people with no risk factors that have it ? :/

Ok so I gotta be honest…. I’m freaking out about the belly button thing 😳😳😳
does it literally just pop out one day???! Wtf?! My brain might implode at that 🫣🫣

Also…. Is anyone else snoring like some kind of demented beast?? I think OH is on the verge of setting up camp in the spare room bless him! I’ve tried breath right strips which he says takes it down a notch but I can tell by how sore my throat is every morning that it’s still pretty intense 🫣🫣🫣

They’ve never mentioned anything about GD or doing tests for me. I assume because of urine and blood results, and wonder if they take BMI into account?

I am freaking out about the belly button too @Kelb79 - I keep telling myself it's not a big deal but my brain doesn't seem to have got the message and the endless images of pregnant bellies they seem to show me on social media don't help. I'm at very shallow innie stage atm.

They don't test everyone for GD here @Mangotango39 - only if you have risk factors or if they spot any indicators from your urine tests/exams/blood pressure. Suspect there's been some sort of cost benefit analysis...

I asked mideife yesterday at 28week apt. She said unless you have risk factors such as family history, High BMI they dont test. Which is odd as they did with my first baby 6 years ago. Syppose if something comes up in urine they would test too.

My belly button has slowly became flat and obv stretched so it's disappearing.
It didn't pop out with my first either. Thankfully haha

Anyone else get occasional period like pains? I don't have them today, however, the past two days it was on and off. Maybe these are Braxton Hicks? I don't recall them with my first two boys so no idea what I'm looking out for 😅

Yes I am having period like pains. Sometimes these are accompanied by stiffening of the lower abdomen in a weird way I've never had before. I think this is BH?

Mine popped 3 weeks ago 😳 ( I am 29+3 today). It sometimes go back in depending on baby's position. It is still painful sometimes. 🥲

@BloodontheTracks Yes this is what I've been getting! I'm glad I'm not alone 😅

Has anyone else found out the measurements for the amniotic fluid, particularly if your having growth scans.
Had mine done today @ 29+4 and it was 7.8cm at the deepest pocket of fluid. Cut off for it being high is 8cm, so now I’m worried that it will end up being over 8cm when I go back in 2 weeks for my next scan.
My consultant said she wasn’t worried but obviously I’m now worrying myself as I believe they carry on increasing till around 36 weeks. I just can’t take anymore complications.
If anyone has any experience of this I’d be grateful to hear it.
Baby was measuring fine around 50th centile.
@DmcinT im booked in for 37+2 for section and removal of stitch if I get that far. Interesting you’re in just before 37 weeks.

Hi Nemo, my deepest pool is 8.6 and so i have mils polyhydramnios. They are really unworried and so I absolutely wouldn't worry with yours below the threshold. Many people have their highest number around now and it depends a lot on how much baby happens to be drinking/peeing on that very day. Sorry to hear you've been through complications already but in my opinion this really isn't something to worry about. Even if you were to develop polyhydramnios it would be mild by the sounds of things which is almost a completely different condition to the severe version. You're doing great, although I totally get why you're worried. Also you're booked in for a c-section anyway which would be the scenario if there was loads of fluid, so you're ahead of the game. best to you.

Has anyone started to think about their birth plan and in particular pain relief options?

It’s my first and I know it’s not a good idea to have a detailed plan because anything could happen but I have a few things I definitely want to discuss with my midwife. Unless something goes wrong I’ll be having a vaginal birth so my questions are mainly about that.

I have anxiety and have been trying hard throughout the pregnancy to manage it. I have been told that gas and air though pretty much harmless can make you confused and I’d like to be as aware and alert as possible for the birth.

Epidural scares me because it can make labour longer as you’re not sure when to push and also depending on how far along you are by the time you reach the hospital, it may not even be an option.

One thing I know for sure is that I will be asking to not have an assisted birth if it can be possible and to opt for a c-section in that scenario if it’s an option because both my sisters have had long-term complications with assisted births.

Oh and finally I’ll be asking for no students to be present, I know they need to learn on the job but I’d rather not have an audience for my first birth.

Probably too early to be planning I know but I’ve had a few dreams of me having the baby before the due date and so preparing helps me stay calm.

Those of you on your second or more babies… any advice?

@Ebonythoughts I would definitely say go with the flow as things can change very quickly. Have an open mind and you will be great 😊 I would also add that student midwives are so lovely and almost more caring/understanding than those qualified.

I wouldn't have had a scooby that I was losing so much blood with my second if it hadn't been for the student midwife who held my hand and comforted me. Everyone else was in the zone and not fully interacting.

Trust your body most of all!

@Ebonythoughts I had no plans with my first other than trying to get as far as I could with no pain relief.

Gas and air didn't touch the sides, I had an epidural. My MW told me when to push.

I had an assisted birth, and it was needed. His cord was wrapped round his neck with his heart rate dropping dangerously low, no time for theatre, he was out in a minute.

I didn't have a student in but would have been fine with it tbh. They are there for you as much as a graduated MW.

All I'd say is go with it, go with what is needed at the time because things can change in a second.

@Ebonythoughts I would also reconsider student midwife’s. My SIL requested no students but her birth went so quick that no one had time to look at her birth plan. She had a 1 hour 47 min labour with no tears which she puts done to midwife doing a hot compress at all the right times!

Also recommend just going with the flow :) with my first I also said I’d rather go without pain relief and that I didn’t want interventions, but 36 hours into labour I couldn’t take the pain anymore without an epidural. Then baby got stuck so forceps was the only option, my daughter was too far down the birth canal for a c section. Long story short, definitely good to know what you want, but I’d always prepare (mentally) for things going completely differently.

@Nemo145 oh it’s nice to have ur actual date, I’ve just been told I’ll be brought in between 36 and 37 weeks so no actual date just yet, I’ll ask for one at my next appt (Dec 20th) as it’s not long after that. week of Jan 22nd so I’ll need to have everything including mentally prepared for then😅 I think I’ll get hospital bag sorted now over the next few weeks thou and be good to go just incase by end of Dec.

I was just wondering… did they tell u what to do if u went into labour before the stitch is removed?