Due January 2024 - Part 10!

[Lilothblos]

Starting a new thread. Hopefully this will be one with lots of baby arrivals!

Tagging using the list from last time:

@Kalodin
@buckingmad
@FirstT1meMum
@Vikki7
@sashastuck
@xLJ1990x
@suz2285
@TunnocksTCake
@Mummyme87
@Redpanda21
@Luhou
@RootsHere
@Matildahoney
@flowerpot258
@Ttcdcno1
@Onedayatatime24
@PartRadish
@youaremysunshine03
@Dannic2018

@Lululumpkin @Gremlin84 I honestly thought I'd feel the same as I love nothing more than a lazy weekend in the house! But now I've done all my jobs that I never got round to and am just sat on the sofa like... What now 😅 do I clean more, do I rest, everything hurts either way 😂

Sorry everything hurts, that's no fun. I can highly recommend watching The Traitors or Love is Blind to whittle away the hours 😂😂

I debated going to the cinema alone this afternoon. My DH thought I was joking! Nothing worth watching though so didn't bother.

@Lululumpkin ooh I do need to watch The Traitors, heard good things!

@Luhou we did the exact same, miiight go and see Poor Things tomorrow but really only for something to do haha I never realised I was this boring

Went to boots this afternoon, they've got all their baby clothes 70% off, stocked up on baby cardigans and bits in bigger sizes. Made something to do @Onedayatatime24 if you fancied an outing 🙈

@Inmydreams88 I found it really hard, could move really and in a lot of pain, was in the hospital for 4 days and overnights were the worst, left to fend for myself carrying about a bag of my urine as I still had the catheter in for days, couldn't really pick up baby get out of bed without pain

Almost 2 weeks now and it's a lot lot easier! Xx

Couldn't move *

Sorry to hear about the rough recoveries from c sections, that sounds really hard.

I've just finished work and am joining the waiting game now as well.

Please don't judge me, I've not smoked pregnant at all. I stopped when I found out I was expecting. So why is my resolve weakening now in the last couple of weeks? I'm desperate for a cigarette, suddenly for no reason.

Hello fellow Januarians :D

@Inmydreams88 it’s hard! I was in hospital for nearly 4 days and I’d say it was towards the end of the first week I started feeling more like myself. I did have my first bowl movement on day 4 in the hospital and it thankfully has been fine since apart from the odd pain up my bum. Did you have peppermint tea? Just remember everyone heals at different rates and don’t try and push yourself too much, we’ve gone through major surgery

I'm officially 40 weeks today!

What's everyone's opinion on sweeps? I have one potentially on Tuesday and not sure whether to go for it. I'll only be 40+2 so not massively overdue. I'd like to avoid induction if I can and see pros/cons for a sweep to help. From what I've read/heard sweeps can be quite uncomfortable and only really work if your body is kind of on its way anyway. So half of me is tempted just to wait it out and not risk waters being accidentally broken/infection. The other half of me sees the pros if it gets me into natural labour and helps me avoid induction that way. And so ready for baby to be out now too. So really unsure atm! I've not really had any signs of labour other than 95% sure I lost my mucus plug a week ago and had some very very mild cramping (but could be absolutely nothing).

Any experiences? Trying to weigh up the risk of it causing induction vs helping me avoid induction...

@Onedayatatime24 no personal experience. But from discussions with my midwife she said the same regarding being most effective if you're in that kind of early labour phase but not quite there.

I keep getting braxton hicks of an evening and really bad back ache throughout The day, bit of sickness but all seemingly false alarms.

I'm personally choosing to avoid one. My doctor said she would let me go to 41+5 without induction provided all was well. I'll have a scan at 41 weeks this Friday. Don't forget that 42 weeks is full term. I don't see why you should be rushed unless there's a good medical reason. But just my opinion! ☺️

@Luhou I keep finding myself reading into every tiny twinge 😅 I tend to get more cramping at night but I don't think I've even had any Braxton Hicks really!

@Lululumpkin mine said the same about 41+5 until they'll start pushing for induction.. and I do feel the same about not rushing things if it's not needed too. In truth, I think getting a sweep would more be for me mentally as the anticipation of waiting for something to happen is starting to stress me out which I know in turn will have negative effects on getting me into labour spontaneously. Finding it super hard to just go with the flow when the end is so close in sight.. ridiculous I know but I've always been the same! The amount of times I've changed my mind on this is crazy, think DH is ready to do the sweep himself tbh 😂

@Onedayatatime24 I'm 41 weeks and now waiting for an outpatient induction. I've had multiple sweeps and none of them have worked so though mentally it made me feel like I was doing something I didn't find them useful.

I probably would have been okay waiting a few more days but as I'm attempting a vbac the probability of success is marginally better (I'm told) with induction vs going to 42 weeks in the hope of spontaneous labour especially if it ended in a CS. So difficult to decide. In the end my DH and I agree 41 weeks as the compromise to ensure me and baby are home safely .

@Luhou I've only in the past few days started havingBH and total (I think) started to lose my mucas plug) which suggests this baby would happily stay in to 43 weeks if given the chance 🤣

Oh no @TrudyProud I'm sorry! I thought (hoped) with 2nd babies it was likely they'd come before due date. Hopefully yours comes before induction

@Onedayatatime24 I’m not a massive advocate for sweeps as a midwife unless you are time limited, as in having induction in 48hrs and want to try everything to avoid. But I’m not a huge advocate for the repeated ones from 38weeks just because. They have risks, and can often cause uterine irritation and that long latent phase.

I think if you have an IOL booked for whatever reason like high BP, diabetes etc for a specific date and you’re keen for spontaneous labour then try the sweep 48hrs before. If it doesn’t work well you are being induced anyway. I had a sweep on the Thursday (3rd baby, prev CS followed by a VBAC, always been induced) started contracting immediately for 3-4hrs then settled but felt uncomfortable for the next two days and had an IOL on the Saturday as plan for maternal request/?diabetes/big baby. The sweep did help get my cervix to shorten slightly and open a bit more which meant we could break my waters instead of using prostaglandin pessary which was more preferable in my situation

@TrudyProud ah that's interesting, I guess I haven't thought too much about it not working which I know there is a very high chance of! My next opportunity for a sweep will be 41+1 or 2, I had the same thoughts about 41 weeks being my 'cut off' until I'm just like please get this baby out.

Hope you have some movement soon!! How are you feeling about the potential induction?

@Mummyme87 that makes a lot of sense too, there's nothing at the moment to indicate I can't labour spontaneously, my only reason for a sweep at this point would just be impatience on my part I guess. Which you're right, isn't a necessary reason to be in discomfort or pose risk to myself/baby. Think I will wait until after the 41 week mark...

Hope you're doing well! How are you feeling?

@Onedayatatime24 broken by breastfeeding! And super tired. But physically otherwise okay. Lost my pelvic floor, who knows where that has gone but sure hope it turns up again!!!

Hi everyone, just to update you all - baby was born at 5:39 on Wednesday morning after an incredibly quick delivery following a long induced labour! All happy and healthy back at home now ☺️ good luck to all other Mumma's expecting this month x

Thank you @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 . So did I! I never thought I'd be this pregnant- honestly thought she'd arrive by due date. Aaah well, babies come when they are ready I guess . I'm still waiting though at this point I'd be happy if they said I was dilated even to 2cm because maybe then the induction won't be necessary.

@Onedayatatime24 I'm just resided to it I think. Honestly, I'm just focusing on having my baby girl at home. Still sat here having twinges hoping they are doing something to my cervix but as I'm not in pain I doubt it.

Congratulations @ndavies22 !! What induction method did you have? What made you opt for it? Enjoy your baby cuddles

@Onedayatatime24 I had a sweep at 39+2 which kickstarted my labour but I was already 1cm dilated and the midwife could feel the baby’s head. I did have a long latent phase (four days) so not sure if that was the sweep or just bad luck but did mean I avoided induction which was booked for 40+1

@Mummyme87 fingers crossed for your pelvic floor 🤞 and that breastfeeding gets easier for you soon!

@TrudyProud hope you do get the birth you want, and if it is via induction then it's quick and calm and lovely either way! All be worth it when you have baby girl in your arms. 💕

@ndavies22 congrats!!

@Booklover88 there's hardly any research (that I've found) on sweeps and their effect in labour so who knows! I think if I had an induction booked then I would try a sweep first but as I don't atm, I'll probably wait. Hope the rest of the labour went quick for you!

How are peoples older children adapting to new babies? My 3yo is being quite challenging this weekend and babies not even here yet.