Due Dec 2023 - part 6

[Nclktnntt]

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

From just my personal readings of successful inductions it seems more likely to be a success if there are already even small signs of Labour and if the baby is in the right position lower down.
In my case of a failed one every examination I had the midwife would screw her face up a little and comment that baby’s head was still quite high. It was likely high I’m thinking due to my pelvis as this baby is the same and also in back to back position. If the consultant had had his way I would be down for a vaginal birth so I’m glad this time I’ve been more assertive as conditions are like I thought they’d be for me. That’s not to say inductions don’t work for some as there are lots of examples on threads on MN.

Those of you still deciding between induction and elective section, remember to take into account that you could be stuck on the ward for days waiting for a bed on labour ward just to break your waters!

I was admitted at 6pm for induction and put on the list for ARM by 9am the following morning. It was then 36 hours from then to me actually going on to labour ward. I was absolutely shattered and of course, they came for me in the middle of the night!

obviously it completely depends on the day. My friend was admitted and on LW within hours where as when I was in, multiple emergencies and people in active labour kept arriving into triage so took priority, as they should.

it’s just another thing to consider, especially if you’ve got childcare to arrange or don’t like being in those ward type of environments

I’m 40+1 and they booked my induction yesterday for 41+0 which is Christmas Eve 😭😭 so unless she decides she does want to come out this week look like she’s getting an Xmas birthday. So they may well book you for Christmas Eve.

@HappyPie82 if you're not happy about being induced on Christmas Eve (it can take 3 days being in the hospital- my midwife explained they do the induction and if it doesn't work in 24 hours they'll repeat and can do it 3 times before they then decide on the next course of action. So maybe check what your trust does but if you're not happy to induce at 41+0 and would rather wait a little longer I'd express that and tell them. It's both often said in a way where we feel we have a right to refuse but we do if you want too of course!

I don’t really want to wait any longer, I was hoping for a date around 40+5 but they won’t induce until 41 at my hospital despite me being in consultant led pathway.
I had a deathly fear of stillbirth after 41w due a friends loss a few years ago so I want her out at the soonest opportunity so I will take the Christmas Eve date whilst still trying everything this week to bring on labour at home. I don’t however think it’ll be successful as I’ve been 1cm dilated at 39+3 and 40+0 so made no progress and my cervix is high and back currently

Listening to everyone’s reasons for opting for an elective c-section sounds a lot like my preferences, definitely going to discuss with my midwife on Wednesday if there’s still no sign of natural labour. However my hospital does have a private induction room on the midwife led unit so if the room was available it would at least eliminate being stuck on the ward for the whole time. 🤔

@HappyPie82 ah we have the same due date then😊Hoping our little ones arrive before then but as long as they are healthy and happy (and us!) that’s all that matters 😊. Apparently there is a back log of inductions due to no space on the wards currently at the hospital I plan to go to so maybe it will work in my favour and give little one a little extra time to come on his own 🤞

@HappyPie82 ahhhhh that's totally right for you then - fingers crossed baby decides to make an entrance before then for you 🤞my midwife told me figure 8s on the ball 😊

Hi ladies, Hope you are all well. It's officially my due today today but of course I had my elective 10 days ago on the 8th. Little bubs is 8 days old and doing great.
I was induced with my first, 8 days before due date and ended up having a c-section anyway. I had no control, I was in another country due to the pandemic and it wasn't a great experience. This time I wanted an elective and I was booked at 38+4. My recovery was 100 times better this time around and was up and about 3 days later (granted every woman and recovery is different). It was the best experience ever though for us. I hope you will find the best choice for you as well.

Induction differs by trust. I went in to be induced by balloon catheter - turns out I was too dilated so went straight to water breaking. Whether I had the balloon catheter or not I was allowed to go home to wait for a bed to be available to break my waters.

Others were kept in for specific reasons - induction for reduced movements, lived far from hospital etc. But I lived 5 mins away so I was free to wait at home.

As it was I went into labour naturally that night, and when they called the next morning to tell me a bed was available I told them I was in triage in labour 😅

Just home from pre-op and I’m in at 11am Wednesday, fourth on the list so pending any emergencies I should be brought in around 2pm to theatres but if I go myself before then I’m to ring the assessment unit and they’ll take me in and discuss then if I want to choose an “emergency” c-section (emergency being used because it’s before the planned date rather than actual emergency) or try myself. Also, I was worried I’d have the same discussion why I want a caesarean and a battle on my hands but the doctor couldn’t of been nicer and basically said your body your decision there’s a risk involved in getting out of bed in the morning never-mind what way to have a baby as long as I’m comfortable with my decision she was happy to sign me off!

I was convinced I was going into labour last night as I couldn’t get comfortable at all and roamed the house from 2am couldn’t sleep but I think it was just nerves over today because no pains as yet/no show/waters breaking. I’m exhausted today now so think I’m going to go back to bed for an hour or two and then try and get the washing cleared up and relax. The closer it’s getting to Wednesday the more excited I’m getting!

Congratulations to everyone whose baby has arrived. My baby is 11 days old now
I was induced and it took 3 days from the pessary until i gave birth via EMCS
It was long and lots of waiting as of course people who are in active labour or waters break are prioritised for delivery before people who need their waters breaking,
Luckily (!) my waters broke spontaneously 43 hours after the process started but I still waited 12 hours to be taken to delivery ward due to capacity.
I wouldn't change anything, yes it was long and boring but I had a really good calm c section

@GingerJanee hope all goes well for Wednesday!

I had CTG monitoring today in the Midwife-Led Assessment Unit following my consultant suggesting I should be induced due to tailing off of growth.

Glad to say that baby was very active and everything looked good, so I've decided to stick with my plan of waiting for natural labour. If baby doesn't arrive by 40 weeks I'll then be induced/C-section.

I really hope it doesn't get to that point as I've been experiencing mild cramping and back pain for almost a week now, plus the midwife who monitored my CTG print out today could tell that I was experiencing some mild contractions (even though I couldn't feel them!). Also baby is so low down now, she couldn't feel the head properly, only the base.
So hopefully this could be a sign that early labour isn't too far away!?

We're all so close to the end now and to meeting our little ones 😊

@RG84 & @Itonlytakesaminute glad you and your little ones are both doing well.

Has anyone who was formula feeding tried the newer method of having the bottle almost horizontal so baby has to work to get the milk (like they would with a breast) and I'm wondering how you're finding that approach - if you're feeding that way of course

Also have any moms that chose kendamil had their little ones yet? Just wondering if you went for classic, organic or goats and how your little one has taken to it?

@Nclktnntt I've got baby on the classic Kendamil and he’s doing really well on it! Waking every 3.5-4hrs at night and not struggling to bring his wind up like he was when on the aptamil pre mades in the hospital

he also managed to pass his birth weight even whilst under the lights for jaundice, I’m really impressed with it so far!

@Nclktnntt baby is also in normal kendamil and drinks well on it, now on 4oz and over his birth weight at 11 days old.
he is a windy baby however , HV said the type of formula may not make a difference , but we may look at the Comfort range to see if that helps
Anyone else used kendamil comfort and it helped their babies wind?

Hi all,
I have been watching this thread for a while now but not posted anything. It's so nice to read everyone's story's of their babies coming along, congratulations everyone.
I am really feeling the frustrations a few have mentioned. I'm now 40w + 2 and would really like her here before Christmas day, although I know from my last, it never works out the way you expect (DD was 2 weeks over). There have been no signs as yet but the first induction date they could book me in for is the 31st.. seems a little late so I have everything crossed she has other ideas!

Thank you @Itonlytakesaminute & @FirstMondayInMay it's good to hear both are doing well on their formulas.

@Itonlytakesaminute my little sister switched to comfort (kendamil wasn't about then, but comfort on the brand she was using) as my nephew had colic and silent reflux and it worked wonders. There is drops you can give them before you feed them too for gas, have you been told about those? I don't know what they're called but they're in boots, I was gonna get some just in case we needed them as they're only a few quid.

I used Comfort Aptimil and found it helped with reflux so hopefully it’s the same for other brands.

I think a few people are having sections or inductions today. Good luck, hope things go well and you see baby soon!

I’ve got the house to myself today so have been trying to do some relaxing. Also baked some muffins 😋. It’ll be a while before I get so much time to myself again so should try to appreciate it.

@GingerJanee hope all has gone well/ is going well for you today!

I had my sweep at 1:30 today and midwife said i an 1cm dilated and she did a successful sweep but cervix is still quite far back. Sweep was fine but since then I’ve been really uncomfortable with back pain and period like pains which I assume is just the aftermath of the sweep but optimistically thinking it could be signs of things moving along 🤞Has anyone had any success with sweeps?

My induction has been booked for Christmas Eve (41w) as apparently they don’t like first time mums going over 41 weeks but may change if they are busy, I’m hoping I’m going to have had him by then but also strongly considering declining the induction anyway if he isn’t as he appears to be happy and healthy at the moment.

I was with the midwife today and she asked about sweeps and if I'd thought about having one. I said from next week (full term next week) I'd consider having sweeps but I'm torn on the induction side of things and strongly considering not having an induction and going straight to C-section.

My husband was surprised at the resistance that was met with - I saw it more as she was taken off track and was sharing the risks with a C-section but reiterated it's my choice and I don't have to have an induction but I would need to be checked up on each day etc etc, but she didn't mention getting me booked in for a section if we get close to the induction date.

So I left feeling unsure as to what will happen if I go over now. I should be seeing her next Friday so hopefully things have started by then as I'll be 40+2 then.

@Nclktnntt if it’s the Infacol drops you’re talking about they’re definitely worth having imo. I give them to baby just before I change his nappy so they’ve got a few mins to get working before his feed. Not sure if it’s a combination of the infacol and Kendamil but he’s definitely settling a lot easier!

Just a little update our beautiful baby girl arrived this afternoon 6 days overdue at 3.35pm weighing 8lb 10oz! Completely shocked us both as everyone (and I genuinely mean everyone) believed she was going to be a boy, we hadn’t even discussed girl names before today! However, we’re both doing really well she’s a little stuffed up with mucus which is common in c-sections delivery as the mucus doesn’t get squeezed out like with a vaginal labour but she’s doing really well at coughing and getting it up as much as possible.

The actual caesarean process I have to say I found very calm and professional and I felt like we were both taken care of every step of the way. My catheter is still in to the morning (massive relief as I don’t have to get up and also after 9 months of pregnancy pees I’m very glad to get a full night of lying in bed) but I’ve already been out of bed and sitting on a chair for 45 mins. I’m keeping well on top of my pain relief as we had a little delay earlier and ouch if wasn’t ideal but that’s a lesson learned. I’m only a few hours in but the baby bubble is amazing, I’ve zero regrets about choosing an elective and I’m very happy we’re both safe and happy!

Congratulations @GingerJanee My section was planned for 20th too but then my waters broke early on Monday morning! Contractions started pretty much immediately after. Took several hours to get seen by a doctor but eventually got taken to theatre and baby boy was born around midday. He's just gorgeous. I'm a little more mobile each day but getting out of bed is definitely the most difficult! Especially trying to feed - little rascal just wants held or fed throughout the night so it's been tough!

Congratulations @GingerJanee and @Charlielechat 🎉

Congratulations @Charlielechat & @GingerJanee more babies in the group 🥰 I hope you're all recovering and settling in well.

Yes, that's what's it's called @FirstMondayInMay I still need to grab some just in case we need it save having to run out and grab it last minute.