Due February 2024 Thread 6!!🤰🩷💙

[AllAboardTootToot]

Last thread just got full so starting a new one for us to keep chatting :)

I’ve written a birth plan for my planned section. I’ve said students are welcome to observe but specified they aren’t to do any form of procedures. It’s good for their learning experience (especially as I have some anomalies) and it’s a free extra set of hands to assist the main team.

Here’s a useful link about what should happen at each appointment. I get the sense many of us aren’t experiencing what we should…please do report it, I intend to just to help make future patient experience better
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/your-antenatal-appointments/

@Meeting it's not you I don't think. I've had my 36 week appointment, and said to my midwife this is where we discuss a birth plan. And she said 'no, we don't need to do one'. Because I am having growth scans, she's also signed me off now and said I won't see her until I have the baby. So there's no other opportunity.

Two years ago with my son I did my birth plan on Badger notes, and at 36 weeks, my midwife discussed it with me. However I'm at a different trust and there's no Badger.

Thanks @Shrillwaffle I think I will just write my own and take it to the hospital. I felt a bit silly, but I think it's probably the way to go.

@Meeting i felt like this too I was like we haven’t spoken about forceps, vacuum delivery, being cut in the nether regions or students being present! The midwives are great and very caring but I feel as though there needs to be a lot of improvement in maternity services tbh. Hope the template helped my midwife did tell me about it x

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 no worries :) just left it there incase anyone was feeling abit lost x

@Shrillwaffle sorry I meant I'd use the template you sent to make my own one! And print off and take with me

I'll see what happens Wednesday and if no mention I'll write my own out and put it in my notes.

Not to slate my midwife but I don't like her really, I've always felt very rushed in appointments. & my consultant has sort of let me go unless something drastically changes with the baby so I only have my midwife left to discuss stuff with.

All I'll say is thank god for this forum cos you ladies have been such a big help through it all x

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 oh okay glad it could be of some help :) I don’t know why midwives haven’t mentioned it to people! I wouldn’t have had a clue either!

@CheeseAndCrackersx sorry you feel unlistened to and rushed :( it’s not on. Like I know we’re very lucky in this country but midwifery really needs more attention. I have a friend and our due dates are a week apart and our experiences are so different. I’m consultant led and seeing complex teams because of my previous still birth whilst she’s the low risk route and I don’t think it should take a medical issue or a traumatic experience to be seen just a little bit more you know? I’ve been showing her my scans so she can see how big her baby might be or giving her any extra advice I’ve picked up

Hi all, we finished our NCT classes today. It was really good, we booked it ages ago. I thought it was brilliant for all the men to talk to other dads to be. I was also offered classes with my midwife but chose not to take them.
Ive been advised to be induced at 39 weeks but don’t want it. It’s because I’m 42 and my baby is measuring small, but I’m only 5 foot tall so think it’s daft! I’m hoping I’ll go into labour before so it doesn’t come to that. We’ll be having a week of curries and pineapple!

Has anyone got any tips for dealing with restless legs? They are so bad today it's driving me insane!

For those of you that saw a consultant at 36
weeks…I’ve had this appointment booked in since early on in second trimester. I always assumed it would be to discuss my section date. But…I’m now worried that it’s not that at all…what happened at your 36 week appointment? Was it to go through your birth plan and options?

@Hotpolarbear i find drinking lots of water is the only thing that helps me

Looks like it depends on area!
My 36 week app with a consultant with my first which was just a couple year ago, I was booked in for my induction.
Friends also have been booked in for section date/pre op etc

Lots of exercise and minimum sugar and caffeine! Swimming relaxes everything too(I recommend swimming for every ailment though 😂). Foot massage(self or
tell your SO the midwife ordered it!).

I have my GD test in the morning.. I’m dreading it! Any tips from those that have also done it?

What we need to buy to fit inside pram for daytime sleeps(and generally) and where can you buy it? I have been told and completely forgotten. I think the midwife said to buy a pram?
Bought a 2nd hand i-candy peach (old model) so want to find generic products.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 sorry you're not getting properly looked after either!

@Shrillwaffle mine didn't mention any of that either. I feel the same, she's a lovely lady but really the service has been non-existent especially given that this is my first.

@CharXo Definitely bring an activity to distract yourself, try to be really hydrated and a packed lunch or get lunch straight after. I found the 3 hour test absolutely fine but obviously I was starving which made me feel slightly weak but not worse than when I've been quite hungry on other days. The finger poke was painless, I barely felt it. The blood tests were fine too, that's where hydration really helps, makes your veins nice and plump!

I wasn't allowed to drink a lot for mine! Was told to drink the minimum to not skew the results.

@CharXo I had read lots of things and was expecting the drink to be disgusting. I think because I expected it to be so awful I actually found it wasn't that bad. I started to feel faint about forty minutes in and went to find the nurses - apparently it's quite common to feel unwell around that point, so maybe good to be aware! It passed after ten minutes or so.

Thank you all! It says on my letter about not drinking anything from midnight tonight and I will have bloods 2 hours after the drink. I’m dreading the drink to be honest and sitting around for 2 hours! I’ll be 35 + 4 so no idea what the plan will be if it comes back positive!

What do you mean?
Blankets?

@CharXo have you got any SPD/pelvic pain issues? Can't remember if you've mentioned previously on here. I took a big puffy cushion to sit on and would defo recommend similar. Got some raised eyebrows to start when I got it out but was so worth it - 2 hours is a long time on typical hospital waiting room chairs, especially when you're meant to minimise movement! Otherwise a phone or kindle with a book on is good too 😊

Does anyone know anything about the vitamin K injection?

Seen it on a few things linked to birth plans, and in the link someone has shared that it should have been discussed with me at an earlier appointment and it of course hasn't..

@redxlondon thanks for the link. Reading through that I didn’t get most of what was supposed to be discussed between weeks 28 and 37. I have a suspicion that the hospital assumed the community midwives were doing it and the community midwives assumed the hospital were (I’ve been getting growth scans). I think they’ve realised I got missed now because I got rushed through a lot of the information this week.

At least I’ve been able to fill in the gaps through videos, online courses and information.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I’m feeling thankful that I at least had options discussed with me. Not good that you aren’t getting the option.

@CharXo my advice for GTT is to make sure you take some food with you for afterwards. I felt really really rough after it and needed non sugary food. Sat in my car munching before driving back to work. The drink wasn’t that bad just very sugary and I was allowed to drink water. Take a book with you or something to keep busy. Hopefully it comes back all clear 🤞