IVF pregnancies - Spring 2024 (thread 2)

[thislittlebird]

New thread! Do tag everyone I've missed, I'm off out to see the new Hunger Games so can add more later but need to dash! @CazzyM1983 @KG1244 @countrypunk @Misty84 @ASGIRC @TheBirdintheCave @Summerishere83

@KG1244 I am unsure on whether I have hemorroids or not!
If I sit in the toilet for longer than 5 minutes everything swells up. But theres no pain, no blood, no itching. And once Im off the toilet, everything goes back to normal in about 10 minutes.
So I am on the fence! I just know I cant sit there for long!

I did the strep B test the other day and everything down there is so swollen the actual swab hurt! Like WTF?!?!?

In case anyone still needs a car seat, Halfords have got a sale online plus extra 10% this weekend. We ordered the maxi cosi cabriofix which has really good reviews and a bit more budget friendly although none of them are cheap!

@KG1244 glad you chose one! Ours is a little large compared to some of those I see women carrying when I go to the nursery where my midwife appointments are. Not sure how often I’ll be lugging ours around.

I had my birth options appointment yesterday. It was pretty good, the senior midwife we saw was very supportive and made it clear it’s entirely up to me but went through the risks. I need to email her with my decision soon, the planned c section dates for my due date are 3 or 4 days in late May with my birthday smack in the middle 🙃. I’m going to ask them to avoid that one. There’s also 3 private rooms we can request on the day we come in, and if they’re free we can pay for one. It’s a very popular birthday week (since my own is that week I know tons of people born the same week) so I would be shocked if they’re free.

We’re also doing the online (free) nhs antenatal tonight, for two hours. Will see how that goes.

@thislittlebird hope the course goes well! Looks like I might need a planned c section. Baby boy is currently breech although he does have a few weeks to turn! To be honest, I’m not too fussed about how he comes out. I just worry a little about the recovery with a c section.

@KG1244 turns out it wasn’t really a course, more a chance to hear about local services including antenatal and talk to the people offering them. I think DH is going to go to a new dads training day they offer, I’ll probably sign up to something, and we might look into the stem cell collection service for baby too. It’s not cheap but something we’re interested in.

How many weeks are you now and when do they turn? I’ve heard mixed things about c section recovery tbh. Most people I know say it hasn’t been too bad and they’ve been fairly mobile by a week or so. It seems very individual so I’m hoping I get lucky.

@KG1244 Most of my friends whove had one absolutely RAVE about their recovery from the C section.
The ones that tend to not have had such a good time had traumatic birth experiences, with days of natural labour, and then ended up having an emergency c section. I do think that might make a bit of difference.

But at the same time, normal labour recovery isnt all just roses...

One of the girls in my due date group had her baby naturally the Friday before last (1st of March), and ended up in A&E today, as she started bleeding even MORE, and is still in a lot of pain from all the stitches.
Whereas another friend who had her baby a week ago by c section, feels pretty well and mobile.

This is not to say things cant go wrong with a c section recovery or go well with a natural labour delivery. Both have risks and a level of recovery associated.

I will be having a planned c section in a week and I am optimistic about my recovery😅

@KG1244 if it helps to reassure a little, ours was breech the entire time - went to have our scan at 37 weeks prior to consultant appointment to book our C-section - and she was head down and engaged! I highly recommend looking at Spinning Babies if you haven’t already. I’m convinced that’s what did it!

@WholeZebra thank you! I will definitely look at that. How are you doing?

@ASGIRC OMG I can’t believe you’re one week away! Guessing you’re the first one in the group to have their baby ❤️

@thislittlebird Im 31 weeks and apparently they can still turn in the next few weeks so I have time. I’m also seeing my midwife on Friday for will ask her as well. I’m also mindful that you’re not meant to TTC for 18 months after a c section and it could take quite some time until I manage to get pregnant again so waiting 18 months wouldn’t be ideal

@KG1244 I’m okay thank you! Tired and ready for her to be here. I’m the size of a small whale haha.

@WholeZebra Yay! I'm so glad she turned for you :D

@KG1244 ah ok, yeah we’re planning 0 more lol, so it makes no difference to me if we can’t try again for ages. Although bear in mind you never know if you’ll need one anyway, so I guess just try not to plan too much.

@ASGIRC is definitely the first? I’m sure. There were other March people but they seem to have dropped off the thread over time.

@WholeZebra I feel you! Also about to have a second lunch cause I’m starving hungry again 😂

when are you due?

@thislittlebird thank you! I know, I still have time and I also won’t forgot that there was a time when I genuinely thought this would never happen so if it’s just the one then so be it, I feel very lucky to be able to experience this when so many don’t.

@KG1244 I’m 38+6! Due on the 21st. Also can not stop eating 😂

@TheBirdintheCave thank you! I’m so pleased because it really threw me off my plans!

@KG1244 We had our midwife appointment this morning and my baby is still transverse. My son was head down and engaged at this point (31 weeks) so it will be interesting to see if this one makes a decision about which way up they want to be!

@ASGIRC Wow! One week! Best of luck. C-section or natural it’s all difficult & risky. To quote a fav TV show “We have choices, they are just both terrible choices”.

Though after antenatal classes I’m feeling like I can do this and cope.

@KG1244 in case it was unclear I meant you might need a c section rather than a second baby. But yeah, you never know what will happen in this game.

I have no idea how they tell if the baby has turned. By feeling the bump? Mine is sitting back to back with me, apparently, probably kicking into my anterior high placenta. I’ll see my midwife at 32 weeks, just over a couple of weeks away. Terrifying being nearly 30 weeks tbh.

@CollsR which antenatal did you do?

@ASGIRC @WholeZebra good luck to you both!

Hey everyone, it’s good to hear how everyone is doing.
@KG1244 and @TheBirdintheCave I am 31 weeks too, but it seems like such a long time to go! I am very uncomfortable, finding it hard to breathe and I look like I have a football stuffed up my jumper! DH and I have a rare day off together today so
I have just made him go in the loft and get all the newborn stuff down including the car seat as i’m worried we won’t have anything ready. I’m really wanting to clear out the whole loft but part of it is clear now and we can take a few bits to the tip so that satisfies my nesting for the moment.
I have ordered the new matresses for the snuz pods, the sheets and will get the car seat covers washed so we are a little more prepared and calm. I have a niggling feeling baby might come early (I have no idea why).
I have also had some very odd cravings for eating coal and chalk, which are taking over my life. I spoke to the midwife and blood tests showed no deficiencies so it’s just random pregnancy cravings. (Obvs I haven’t eaten any) Very bizarre!
I’m having an elective C section as I had an emergency one last time and the risks for me are higher with a natural birth. My consultant said that’s fine and I have a lot of appointments over the coming weeks to check baby’s growth and discuss dates and plan. I am happy with that.

@PollywithaP Haha we've been sorting out the loft too. I packaged up my son's old cot (as he has a single bed now) and sent that to my brother's house as they have a bigger loft hatch and we won't need it in cot form for another nine months or so. We've also washed and listed for sale the giant travel system we have x_x I can't wait for that to go as it took up so much space!

Coal and chalk are certainly odd ones in terms of cravings!

@thislittlebird I’ve done 3/5 of the classes with NCT. Helps as I was clearly in a bit of denial before. I hadn’t read or watched much on real birth. Feel more prepared for the (many) options.

I definitely feel this!! Both are terrible choices!
Even my OB was like "people are really scared of C sections, and thats fine... but natural labour isnt all sunshine and roses, and often things get a bit hairy"

Thanks everyone!!!
Its all getting very real!

And yes, I might be the first, if @WholeZebra doesnt beat me to the punch! Mine is scheduled, and a c section, but I am only 37 weeks now! She might have her baby any day as well!

@ASGIRC we’re racing! Haha. I’m hoping to have her ASAP now, I’m so fed up! What date is your section scheduled for?

@WholeZebra I think its the 20th, so in a week! (hte OB was supposed to have confirmed the date on Monday, but she forgot her diary at home, so couldnt tell me exactly, but thought it was the 20th! LOL I will find out for sure on Monday at the next appointment!)

@ASGIRC thats so exciting knowing exactly when your baby is coming!