Due Dec 2023 - part 6

[Nclktnntt]

Follow-on from part 5 heading into delivery and motherhood.

Congratulations on all the babies.
I was booked.for induction Monday, now been booked for a c section next friday. Baby has to stay in for 48 hrs.monitoring so we are currenrlt trying to decide what to do about xmas if im not discharged on xmas eve. Currently stuck between my husband doing the day alone with 3 year old or telling her xmas is a couple of days later and doing something once im home!

Congratulations to everyone who has had their babies, I hope everything is going well!
I’m 39+5 today and still no signs, I was doing everything I could to try and hurry things along (raspberry tea, using exercise ball, dates, pineapple etc) but tbh I think it’s starting to have an opposite effect mentally with getting fed up and I need to keep reminding myself that it’s not even my due date yet. Other than feeling slightly uncomfortable as expected I think I’m very lucky to actually feel quite well in myself so now I’m just relaxing and accepting baby will make his entrance when he’s ready.
I also understand now what people say about pressure from other people asking (with good intentions) if there is any signs yet and when I will be induced (which hasn’t been discussed yet and hoping to avoid if possible).
The only thing that’s getting to me is knowing that baby boy is going to have a birthday very close to Christmas but I know it’s unavoidable at this stage so not worth worrying about.
Anyone else in the same position?

@Srs12 I feel the same way completely! I’ve drank the tea, ate the dates and bounced on the ball for the last few weeks continually and I feel like it’s worked me up more than anything! I’m 40+1 today and I’ve spent the last 2 days doing some light housework but mainly watching Christmas movies and relaxing between the bed/sofa and I feel that I’m truly starting to relax now.

I know everybody around me seems more anxious for baby to arrive than me at this stage, I know everyone is coming from a really good place and they’re excited for a new arrival but it’s tiring the texts/phone calls and doesn’t help the trying to relax process much 😂 I’m letting it go over my head at this stage I’m not planning on telling anyone if I’m going into labour anyway so I’ll still be denying any pains even if I was in labour.

Congratulations to all who have had the babies this week! I’m so sorry for those who have had a rough time in one way or another.

I’ve been up since 3am with my little lady! She’s 9 days old now and my goodness can she eat. She’s on the breast and topped up with formula. She went 5 hours without a feed last night and slept solidly. I was shocked!!

So even though i’ve been up since 3am, i’ve had 5 hours beforehand.

How’s sleep for everyone else?

All of a sudden it doesn’t feel like Christmas! I’m usually so busy in December at all kinds of festive events but we’ve mainly been in since my C section. I’m just glad we did lots of Christmassy things in the lead up to having her.

I’m going to our Church Nativity on Sunday, so looking forward to that. My son has his Nativity on Tuesday and i’m so excited for that. It’ll be nice to get out!

@GingerJanee @Srs12 I relate a lot. I’ve spent weeks hoping she’ll be here before Xmas, but given I’m not even due until 30th I now just accepted being pregnant over Xmas and trying to relax and make the most of it.

Been for a pregnancy massage today which was lovely, still going to colostrum harvest and bounce on my ball when I can but other than that just try and enjoy Xmas!

Finishing work has been a big help.

@Mushroo i was thinking of you! Glad you’re finished work and have time now to relax. I’m booked on Wednesday for elective section so I know baby boy/girl will be here for Christmas but it’s a waiting game to Wednesday now to see if I go into labour myself. I haven’t even thought of the Christmas plans where we’re eating/getting groceries in or anything else practical feels like the longest wait to Wednesday and that’s my only focus!

@GingerJanee ah it’s so nice you have a date. I bet it’s quite nerve wracking but it will be some worth it when baby is here.

I’ll be thinking of you on weds - I’m sure it’ll go brilliantly and you’ll have baby cuddles very soon!

@Srs12 I was similar, baby turned up at 41+2. I went in to be induced at 41+1 but I was already a little dilated so sent home to wait for space to have my waters broken. I turned up to triage in labour next day and while there got the call from labour ward to come in to be induced by having my waters broken and had to inform them they'd gone themselves about 2 hours prior 😂 I was 9cm dilated 2 hours later without any need for drip or anything. They operate on their own schedules!

That's it - I'm all broke up from work. Shut the salon down and only need to go in to check on plants (it's a botanical salon).

This week really has taken it out of me though. I'm currently trying not to fall asleep sitting up. The Run up to Christmas as a hairdresser is hard enough let alone when you're almost 39 weeks pregnant doing the Christmas rush plus everyone who would wanna come in jan or feb time.

Anyone else still gotta finish or have the last of us finished this week?

Baby can come now, anytime the beginning of this week or I would like them to hold off until after Christmas. We're usually away over my husbands families for Christmas and it's been a few years since I've had a traditional Christmas dinner, so selfishly I want my moms Christmas dinner 😂 so baby need to come early or wait till after lol.

Well done @Nclktnntt for making it this far being a hairdresser pregnant! 39 weeks is so far on to go off nevermind a job that requires social and standing skills. Get the feet up and box of sweets opened! Hopefully a few days relaxing they’ll either make an early appearance or be a good baby and hold off so you get the Christmas you want either way it’s your time to relax now :)

@Nclktnntt You did well working on your feet this long. I just finished on Friday but I have an easy office job that allowed me to work from home for the last month. Hope you get to have a nice Christmas dinner.

Thank you ladies @GingerJanee @ThomasinaLivesHere I honestly don't know how I feel about it, I'm not good at 'relaxing' so I have Christmas films in my list to watch, but usually I get about 2 hours into a relaxing day and get bored and start doing something 😂 I need to update my emails and online store so I'll no doubt mix working from home bits with relaxing and just be calm.

We're all set for baby to arrive now though. We haven't put our Christmas tree up yet though, so that's this weekends task. I can't not have it Christmassy when I live Christmas and we have a Christmas time baby on the way!

How is everyone doing? I'm getting lots of pressure in my head when lying down now (like I'm lying upside down but I'm not) and feel like I can't breathe all that well - baby seems to be massive and takes up all the room in there now.

@GingerJanee @Mushroo Glad to know I’m not the only one! It’s my due date today and still no signs, can’t help but feel a little down about it, I always thought he’d be here by now. Determined to not dwell on it though and try to have a nice relaxing day.

@Nclktnntt I feel the same with baby feeling massive, even the midwife said ‘oh goodness he’s run out of room in there’ 😅 It mostly gets to me when I’m trying to sit up and my bump doesn’t physically allow me to sit up straight lol.

If I still don’t go into labour by Wednesday I’ve got another midwife appointment to do a sweep and book induction but since I’m 41 weeks Christmas Eve do you think they will wait until after Christmas? Not sure on how it all works but I’d heard they don’t book anyone in over Christmas and think I would decline an induction before 41 weeks unless there is a medical reason for it.

@Srs12 I'm the same! We don't have a dining table yet so when I eat I have to sit cross legged on the sofa with pillows and blankets piled up so I can get my tray above bump 😂 sitting up straight I can do (mostly) if I've moved my legs out the way 😂 so I have to sit feet together and knees wide apart. I sit in the chase part of our sofa, I tried sitting on a normal seat and I was so uncomfortable I switched back and prop myself up with pillows and my pregnancy pillow. Getting off is fun lol.

I'm having a very tired day today, I've been awake 3 hours but feel I could easily just go back to bed right now lol.

@Srs12 I’ve felt the same the last few days I’m stuck between wanting baby to come and hoping they hold off for my elective on Wednesday! I can’t imagine they’ll offer you an induction on Christmas Eve but then that would also include the following 2/3 days and you would be 41+2/3 then, maybe they’ll offer at 40+6? I know the nhs doesn’t shut down because of Christmas but my consultant did say to me based on staffing the schedule is a lot harder to fit people in for inductions/planned caesareans. All the positive thoughts that baby decides to come on their own before then!!

@Nclktnntt Go back to bed if you’re tired you’ll be glad of it when baby comes that you’re well rested and don’t feel guilty this is part of the relaxing bit!

Thanks @GingerJanee hope everything goes well for you however baby decides to arrive 😊. Mad to think that our babies could be here anytime now and the anxious thoughts over waiting for labour will be all forgotten about. Thinking about I think I would decline any induction before Christmas (or 41 weeks) anyway and give him chance to come naturally unless it’s strongly advised. Also not sure if you have mentioned before but is there a reason you have opted for an elective section if you don’t mind me asking? Just wondering what your experience has been with asking for it if not for a medical reason as I have been considering this myself.

@Nclktnntt I have been struggling at the dining table but your way sounds so much better I might have to try for dinner tonight! 🤣 Also absolutely no judgement if you need a few naps to get you through the day, growing these babies is exhausting! I must admit I panic every time I’m not asleep before 10pm at the moment in case tonight is the night and I need the energy 🤣

@Srs12 I know very hopeful both our babies will decide to arrive in their own time! To be completely honest I never thought I’d choose it as an option but the doctors kept bringing up induction and when going through the pros/cons of it the one thing I was really against was assisted measures e.g. forceps/ventuose mainly because I’ve seen first hand the bad impact of these on a vaginal birth within my own family (not going to go into detail I’m aware there’s great stories and how these have saved several babies lives unfortunately it’s just something that was a non-negotiable for me) and the facts the consultant was giving me with induction and assistive measures in my trust was quite high. I really stressed over the decision for a few appointments but my babies head is measuring bigger and they seemed to think there would be a high chance of needing an additional measure and at that stage I’d be personally choosing an emergency caesarean anyway so this lead to the decision being made for an elective. I’ve always wanted to wait until 41 weeks to give my body the chance to go itself, a vaginal birth was always my preferred option it’s just the induction process and further measures were giving me so much anxiety. I flip flop a lot over whether I’ve made the right decision and I know there’s no ‘right’ answer and definitely no decision where the need for forceps won’t be brought up again, might possibly be brought up again during a vaginal birth or even a caesarean but it was the increased chance during the induction process that tipped me over the edge in choosing an elective caesarean. I also was hoping I’d be able to hold out until the end of the week for it but 20th was the only day the hospital had slots for electives so my hands were tied on the date. It’s been a whirlwind basically 😂

We just turned 39 weeks this weekend and have our elective booked for Wednesday. Quite nervous but similar to you @GingerJanee i did not like the sound of an instrumental delivery. Our baby is currently back to back and someone we knew from one of our classes was in the same position and had a vaginal birth that was really traumatic using forceps so I feel like we’ve made the right decision for us. You never know but you just have to go with your gut I think based on the information you have and how you feel.

The lovely wake ups in the night have started again over the last week where I have to go to the bathroom in order to get back to sleep and indigestion has really kicked in so I’m on the gaviscon. Totally feel for everyone who is feeling tired, these last few weeks are hard and everything just feels heavy.

Im really close to actually saying I don't want an induction and if it comes to it I want a c section. I don't want a C-section either but inductions often end in a C-section from what I've read. So really torn.

@Nclktnntt I’ve basically decided the same. I’m trying to go as late as they’ll let me, and then I’ll take a judgment call but leaning towards a c section.

Really really torn if it’s the right decision, but induction seems like all the risks of a vaginal birth but increased, and when writing a pros and cons list I was really struggling to come up
with any probs.

I hate being not in control, and I’m really noise sensitive so an induction ward is my idea of hell - not conducive to a good labour.

@Vsah22 this actually made me feel a little better that this wasn’t in my own head, I feel like everyone around me is either total pro caesarean or completely anti and very little understand my reasoning behind it.

@Nclktnntt Yes I was conscious of this too anything to prevent an emergency type situation, I did get a bit of push back from my doctor and they took the head of obstetrics into the last appointment also so I really had to stand my ground but ultimately the head consultant agreed it’s my body and I’m entitled to make my own decisions. I did however feel that this was only agreed because I was happy to wait to 40+6 for a date, I don’t think if I wanted to go before this they would of even entertained it.

Induction has now been suggested to me by my consultant...latest ultrasound scan was on Friday when I turned 38 weeks, and it showed tapering off of growth vs the previous scan (baby is still tracking on or near the 50th centile line, heartbeat and movements are normal, my BP has been consistent throughout pregnancy and there's no evidence of an infection).

The sonographer seemed happy with the scan and estimated baby's weight to be around 6lbs 11oz and gave us a thumbs up. My midwife also didn't raise any concerns, just the consultant.
My husband and I have spent the weekend anxious about making the right decision for our little one - I would have thought someone would check my cervix or mention doing a sweep before jumping into inducing? and there's been no mention of a C-section as an option.

I've now got a monitoring appt at the Midwife Led Assessment Unit
tomorrow and been told I need to tell them my decision about whether to
go ahead with induction or wait for natural labour but with extra
monitoring.
@Nclktnntt I feel the same as you about induction and C-sections, I really want to go into labour naturally. Think I'm going to go to my appointment tomorrow armed with a long list of questions as I'd really prefer for our little one to make an appearance when he's ready instead of evicting him unless there's a risk to his health.

We too have decided on an elective c section because of the risk of assisted delivery with induction. Our baby is on the 97th centile and has had irregular heart rhythms. We were worried about the risk to myself and baby and the likleyhood of it becoming an emergency anyway. I wasn't offered a section until last week and have had to accept the 22nd as its the only avaliable date.

Today is my due date (@Srs12 snap!). Feeling sad that there is no baby as yet and no signs of labour - but i have begun to lose the mucus plug. I lost it at 40 weeks last time, and baby came at 41+2 - so hoping it will be a bit faster this time. Hoping that a long walk tomorrow will help move things along. I have a sweep booked in on Wednesday if not.

We're booked in for a section on Wednesday too. Baby was measuring 7lb6oz at 38 weeks which is around 95th centile on my own growth chart, but tummy alone is about 97th centile for the average person! I too wanted to go naturally but shoulder dystocia sounded very scary, and I was told that induction doesn't actually prevent it - it just prevents the risk of tearing/trauma! I felt like with induction there were still too many unknowns and I didn't want an emergency section as the recovery is supposed to be much more difficult, and I didn't want the panic of being rushed to theatre. I felt that a planned section would be the calmest option for both of us! I feel excited now but obviously a bit nervous too as it's still major surgery!