ERA EMMA ALICE infertility graduates/pregnancies thread 2

[Gardenlady543]

New thread @seven201 @Janefx40 @AM08 @thislittlebird @Spin101 @CB2805 @Dochas12111

@Janefx40 I'm 36+2 today, the professor decided not to examine the cervix as he said they will be doing it regularly on the ward and he didn't think one then would add anything. They'll do another CTG later this afternoon, not sure if the pain is even still there in the same way it was before but the last CTG showed strong contractions. I'm on the ward now, they may well keep me over night and send me home but I think I'd rather be here where people are telling me what they think is going on so I don't need to decide myself. I wasn't even sure if I should call up this morning, it's hard to know what's normal and what isn't. They have both antenatal and postnatal on this ward, in a bay with one couple and a baby, their baby is silent so far but the male partner is an incredibly loud snorer who has been loudly snoring ever since I got here.

@Gardenlady543 well it's good to know you are under observation. I guess only time will tell whether the baby is coming now or not.

Annoying about the husband. Most hospitals don't let men stay since Covid. Could you ask for a private room? I had one both times and you're meant to pay but I didn't get charged either time so you could get lucky!

@Janefx40 I think they are going home today and they are the only people in my bay at the moment. The midwife on the assessment unit said she tried to get me a side room. But there aren't any so she asked for a quieter bay. There are two wards and she said they tend to use the other one for post birth but there are a good few babies on here. They let partners stay here 24 hours a day, mine is here now but will probably come and go as he has to look after our dogs.

@Gardenlady543 hope you get a quieter night then. It's good really that men can stay as I was alone over night with a newborn which wasn't much fun. How was the second CTG? Do they still think you are in labour?

@Janefx40 they did another CTG and there were only two contractions while I was on it, it was constant on Thursday and this morning and the pain has eased. So I'm keen to go home tonight, they said they bleeped the doctor but they haven't come and it's been 1.5 hours. Close to just leaving as I'm only 10-15 mins away if I need to come back and would be better off at home in my own bed.

That sounds very stressful @Gardenlady543. Glad your husband is able to be with you but sounds like you're coming home. Have they given you an update on whether they'd do the c-section early?

@Janefx40 my local hospitals allow partners 24/7 which i'm relieved about. Very anxious about being left alone with a baby, likely post c-section. It sounds like it might be really stressful staying alone with a new baby.

@thislittlebird the doctor came to see me and I had to have another speculum, this is what makes me avoid going in if I can. But, because of my open fibroid surgery they are worried in case I labour at home and my uterus perforates. Anyway the cervix was closed. No plans to move the c section at the moment. Got some sleep over night, have lower abdo pain today, will keep an eye and call up if things worsens otherwise I'm going to be in and out all the time I think.

@Gardenlady543 at least they’re monitoring you if you’re in and out, I assume you’ve finished work now?

@thislittlebird last work day is Friday. But I'm a bit worried about not being distracted by work. On Friday it will be 2 weeks until the c section date.

Went for my scan and consultant appointment today, looks like the poor growth on the private scan was an anomaly as I'm still on the same trajectory and the baby remains on the big side. I also have too much amniotic fluid, and now I'm worried about that, when I saw the consultant for the first time today, I was in the obs room and said how we were checking my sats because I'm struggling with shortness of breath which is one of the symptoms, so are contractions which have been picked up the two times I've been in hospital in the last week. At my last scan 4 weeks ago the abdominal circumference was 96th centile and I did question about a glucose tolerance test then but the specialist said they aren't that accurate in the third trimester so left it but multiple midwives and doctors have told me they think I should have had/should have one. They have done a random glucose and HbA1c today. So now I'm worried as this could be an issue with me or the baby and has a risks.

@Gardenlady543 oh gosh! You've had it all going on you poor thing. With my first child I had the GTT at 37 weeks, so it definitely is a thing. Hang on in there, not long now until you get to hold your baby.

@seven201 I'm at a similar gestation now, did they do anything? The consultant said if my result is abnormal they wouldn't start meds just give me diet advice. Which considering I eat only what I can manage with the acid reflux and vomiting is unlikely to be helpful.

@Gardenlady543 I went to a group training session at 38 weeks, they gave me a finger prick monitor. It takes a while to get to understand what your body tolerates well. I remember being completely thrown that I couldn't eat bran flakes anymore. I remember eating cheese and nuts with everything! I guess it would mean baby having their sugar levels checked but I know you've been trying to collect colostrum so that will help.

@seven201 I haven't started the colostrum yet, the midwife said don't start until 37 weeks (I'm 37 weeks on Saturday). I was just having a nice glass of apple and mango juice when you sent that! And I asked my husband for freeze dried candy for Xmas! I guess I need to wait for the results of the blood tests, as they may be fine. I looked back at the private scan I had 10 days ago and there was no polyhydramnios then, but then they also got the sizes of the baby wrong.

So I just called up for the results, HbA1c is 30 and random glucose 5.1. So it looks like they don't think I'm at risk of gestational diabetes. No idea why the baby has such a big abdominal circumference and too much amniotic fluid.

@Gardenlady543 I was told Izzy’s (born last week!) tummy was 94th percentile. I did the GD test which was negative and her tummy size was totally normal at birth.

@InvisibleDreamer congratulations!!! How are you feeling? And thanks for that because I've been googling newborns with big abdomens today! we've had a 96th centile 4 weeks ago and then 94th this time and thigh is on the lower end so I'm picturing me having a round baby with short legs!

@Gardenlady543 Yes the measurements are so funny! They can’t be that accurate. All her other measurements were an average or below average size so according to hospital we were expecting a baby with a small head and a big belly! Things are a bit rough right now due to infection of my c-section but luckily had lots of family on hand to help.

@InvisibleDreamer oh no sorry to hear about the infection, that's not what you need :(

Hi ladies, sorry for being MIA, but had a a bit of a shocker, sensitive content so please only read if your ok hearing not so positive birth experiences

Baby turned up on the 15th at exactly 37 weeks - I had to go for an emergency c section due to contractions and waters breaking and breach position of the baby. I ended up being operated on for 4.5 hours due to uncontrollable bleeding (they think maybe due to early onset preeclampsia or aspirin I was taking until week 36 that might’ve still been in my system - I lost half of my bodies blood and had to have multiple blood transfusions, a balloon inserted into my womb to mirror contractions and 20 vaginal packs to stop the bleeding

The baby arrived safely if on the small side and we spent 5 days and 4 nights on the ward (we really pushed for release as it was so horrendous)

We’re now all doing well and are at home and our only problem is baby hasn’t now had a poo for 2 days and we’re trying all the massaging and boiled water tricks but nothing is working.

Sending you all lots of love and sorry I haven’t had chance to read the thread fully to see everyone’s updates xx

@AM08 Im sorry your birth experience was so traumatic. That sounds terrifying. Our little one also arrived via emergency c-section on the 15th but luckily I was just able to avoid the need for a blood transfusion. I had also been taking aspirin. Fingers crossed on the pooping situation. I hope you are getting good support from your midwife. x

Oh my god @AM08 what an awful experience, how are you feeling now? I'm
so sorry this happened :( I am glad your baby is ok, this sounds really traumatic.

No real new updates from me, had my last scan on Thursday and have a lot of amniotic fluid but they aren't doing anything. Started collecting colostrum and managed to get 1ml yesterday and 1ml today, but my dog then decided to grab the unused colostrum syringes and chew them up! Have done an Amazon order for more.

Hope everyone is having a nice Xmas break, for those who have welcomed babies, it's everyone's first Xmas with them isn't it? @Janefx40 I think you were the earliest, how old is the little one now? And I hope those expecting are feeling well enough for some nice Xmas food and getting some nice bump pictures in front of the Xmas tree. We did Xmas with the family today and I wore a "my little Christmas pudding" jumper.

@InvisibleDreamer congratulations on having Izzy! Such good news. Sorry about your infected c section. Hope things improve soon for you and that Izzy is doing well.

@AM08 congrats on having your baby too! It sounds like a bit of a nightmare but so pleased you are both safe and sound now. The poo thing happens. Leo has often had periods of 3 days without a poo tho I appreciate you will be more worried about this at 10 days. It will all come out soon tho and cover everything in sight!

It's wonderful to have all these babies arriving despite the tough circumstances.

@Gardenlady543 both of mine have had massive abdominal circumferences on scans and normal measurements elsewhere and both born normal!! I wouldn't pay too much attention to it tbh. I've not had GD but I do wonder if I was close as both babies born at 75th centile and then dropped right down after - DD to 25th and DS to 9th. But basically both healthy.

@InvisibleDreamer congratulations on Izzy!! I hope the infection clears asap. I hope you're doing ok - it's hard life with a newborn without any kind of extra issue.

@AM08 congratulations also. Gosh that sounds very traumatic. Thanks goodness you're home now. Hope little one poos soon. How are you doing now? Are you managing to fully enjoy the baby or just too ill still? Maybe in the future a de-brief would help to process it all.

@Gardenlady543 my baby had a large tummy on scans but I don't think she did at birth.

My dd is 8 weeks and still struggling with trapped wind pains but hasn't been for a poo for 7 days (6 days before for previous) so today I inserted a windi tube thing and that did bring on a poo but just the one not very big one. Tried a cranial osteopath yesterday but hasn't magically worked yet as I couldn't get her to sleep until 1.30 am yesterday and she's still up and angry now!

Merry Christmas everyone!

@seven201 it's lovely to hear from you. 8 weeks already. You're still very much in the trenches at 8 weeks but getting closer to being out the other side! What did the osteopath say? Did they think the wind might be relieved by the treatment? Mine said (about reflux) that it can help depending on the cause of the reflux but she didn't think it would in our case as he didn't have much tension.

Leo is awake - hence the 5:30 post!! Maybe he's excited about Santa 😂 🎅🏽

Hope everyone has a good day wherever you are up to..,baby on the way or maybe here...

Xxx