Due February 2024 Thread 6!!🤰🩷💙

[AllAboardTootToot]

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

I have other uterus and cervix anomalies that make it too risky for a vaginal birth. I have no more appointments booked - it feels like an absolute shit show.
I’ve been so positive and healthy the last 8 months but spent the last two hours just curled on my bed staring at phone waiting for hospital to call back.

Absolutely their mistake then @redxlondon - I will keep everything crossed that they fix it soon. Unfortunately forward planning does not seem a strength of the NHS and I find it very stressful too x

It’s such a difficult one with the NHS, on one hand you understand the failures are in the system, they’re shortstaffed underpaid etc etc, but at the same time this is you and your baby’s life, you don’t want mistakes. Imagine last week they booked me in to see the consultant before my 36-week scan, it was supposed to be after to discuss scan results, I even called and raised this with the booking team, they said come to the appointment. I got there the consultant basically said it was a wasted appointment, have to go back to see her again this week after the scan, the receptionist first tried to say they had no appointments!?! then they found a slot for me in the end but wow!!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 @Shrillwaffle im going to have another Jan baby!
my due date is 15th Feb but being induced this Thursday due to placenta reducing and little fluid left around baby.
all a bit of a shock as only told on Friday (though warned it may happen) and just started mat leave today as a result.
this is my first baby so getting scared for induction now but trying to remain as calm as I can! If anyone has any good advice for Labour to avoid c section or tearing I’m all ears!!
xxx

c section date is in & it’s 2 days later than the provisional date I was given so feeling a bit gutted about that

@redxlondon you should have more appointments booked in. I’ve a scan, a midwife and a consultants appointment at 38 weeks - one of which is my pre c section consultation/prep (but my actual date for section is not yet confirmed/is provisional as someone said above). It must feel horrid to be in limbo like you are - not knowing what happens next. I’m so sorry. I’d ring PALs in the AM and ask for clarification and better coordination of care. It does sound like an appointment somewhere has been missed (ie. I don’t and won’t have my date till v close to section, but I’ve been made aware of this the whole way though, and feel well monitored. I know the plan of my waters break or my scans show placenta functioning decreasing - something im at risk of!).

@Foreverhoping33 just wishing you the best of luck lovely. It’s always scary when plans change. Hope your induction goes well. I’ve had two (relatively pain free but unfortunately unsuccessful but that’s due to surgery I’ve had that interferes with the process!). I’ve no tips other than bring lots to distract yourself. Hopefully others will be more helpful 🤞

@redxlondon just read your post thats so f 💩!!!! Is this first baby? I’m also annoyed that you have had so little input considering you’re high risk!! You should have had more appts and also at least someone that you saw more than once! What hospital have they moved you to is it far away? I’d defo put in a complaint after baby is here. And have they rebooked you in and is it all sorted? I’m sorry you’ve experienced this :( I just think the maternity care in this country isn’t up to scratch, people are great service is questionable. Like they kept going on about building a bereavement suite at our hospital and when I went round the labour ward it’s just a more soundproofed room, still on the labour ward…. How they can expect women who’ve lost babies to give birth in the same place is mind blowing to me it’s torturous!! I personally feel it borders on human/women’s rights tbh! I honestly think if men had to give birth the politicians would change it all ASAP! It’s hard with the NHS like it’s ’free’ so that’s great but if we had a better private system I would probs pay tbh 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Foreverhoping33 eeeeek! You’re the day after me! How’re you feeling? I lost a baby last year unfortunately 😓 but this is my first full term baby so also not too sure what to expect I’m starting to feel pretty overwhelmed now

Good luck @Foreverhoping33 My friend was recently induced 3 weeks ago and everything went well. She had an epidural straight away with the drip and said it was amazing! No other intervention required. Baby was born vaginally about 3am and they were home later the same day. She did tear slightly, which required stitches but she was walking around ASDA after 2 days and said it really wasn’t that bad and is very neat/healing well down there.

What was the reason for your 38 week scan? I’ve never heard of this before if everything is okay at the 36 week scan. My baby is breech but otherwise all seemed well. I might request another m one though with a more senior sonographer they’ve made so many mistakes.
PALS haven’t been able to help so I went to the Heads of department and they responded straight away so expecting a call tomorrow.
I’ve had scans every two weeks and lots of consultant appointments - so I don’t think it’s a missed appointment, I feel it’s a lack of continuity as I always see different people, so no one has overseeen end to end and there’s been F ups.
I’m feeling so miserable now, just keep thinking either me or the baby could get into trouble.

Yes it’s my first. I’ve put too much trust in the system. But as you say, private isn’t able to handle emergencies, so just seem to be buggered no matter what. The other hospital isn’t too far away but doesn’t really have parking and I’ve never been so just feeling stressed. I’m going to visit later this week to see if that helps visualise it better and put my mind at ease. I’ve already put a complaint in and had an instant responses so expecting a call tomorrow and hoping someone more senior will step in.

@redxlondon its good you got quick responses to the complaint at least and going around and getting to grips with it will help a lot but it just isn’t good enough, did you have extra scans and monitoring and I’m assuming your consultant led too? X

Yes I’ve been having scans every two weeks, and consultant led, but not one person. I think that’s been part of the problem…but I’ll see what the heads of department say tomorrow.

@redxlondon I'm sorry you are going through all this stress, I'm sure it'll all be sorted but when so it's just not what you need at this stage of pregnancy.

I think the level of care must really vary by hospital/trust. I've been incredibly lucky where I am, I've had a good few bumps along the way (previous ectopic, threatened miscarriage/recurrent bleeding/previous cervical surgery/small baby at growth scans) but at each turn I've always received the appointments, scans, treatments etc I would expect without having to be pushy about it. I've not had much consistency in terms of the midwives I've seen at appointments but they've also been clued up on my situation. It's upsetting to hear not everyone's hospitals are following proper protocols.

It sounds rubbish, I’m not surprised you’re stressed! Glad you have received a prompt response though so at least it will be looked into asap. I’m midwife led and it’s not any better regarding continuity of care… I have seen 6 different midwives so far! I’ve not had the same midwife measure my bump so the fundal height measurements are less likely to be accurate and 3 out of 4 are plotted on different percentiles. No idea who my named midwife is supposed to be either… 🙃

@redxlondon thatll be good it sounds like they’re pulling their finger out a bit now even though it’s very late in the day! 😒😒 I’m also consultant led and had the same consultant throughout and my antenatal appts have always been out of two midwives depending on where my appt was so I feel as tho you should have had the same

I know it's normal for our joints to loosen at this point thanks to hormones but my thumb keeps dislocating during the night and several times I'm the mornings too, it's starting to hurt now, I really don't want to have to purchase a brace that I'll only need for a couple of weeks until baby comes. This combined with pregnancy induced carpal tunnel syndrome is a lot.

Now officially full term 😳🩵

Sorry for everyone going through stress or pain.

I wanted to ask has anyone had episodes of increased fetal movement, where baby is going crazy? I did call triage after 1.5 hrs last night and they said to monitor it. It's stopped now and she's being a bit lazy, but still moving lots. I also can't tell if I have cramping or if she's moving/twisting and it hurts.

I'm almost 38 weeks and I'd had my 1st baby already by now, so I've no clue what things are supposed to feel like now

Happy full term day @CheeseAndCrackersx - it's scary and exciting isn't it?

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 - baby seems to have been more active in the past few days. I wonder if they've shifted slightly so I feel them more.

It defo is @amyg1985 😀 our babies will soon be here with us.

& movement has definitely cranked up for me too the past few days @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7.

My baby sometimes has quite long quiet periods (so naturally I worry) then has a disco party. He had one at 5am and just had another one now after a hot cross bun. I’ve read if the movements feel very jerky that it’s a cause of concern, but lots of wriggling and turning seems to be a really positive sign.
Good to speak to triage like you say though if it’s not normal for you.

@amyg1985 @CheeseAndCrackersx and @redxlondon thanks so much, that's reassuring to know. Triage didn't seem concerned at all, so that's probably another comfort.

@redxlondon let us know how you go with your complaint, hopefully you get the right date booked in

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 same here, Im noticing a lot more movement for longer periods and then longer quiet periods this last week.

@CheeseAndCrackersx and @amyg1985 congrats on full term 🥳 it really could be any day/min now 🥰

@Cheetocat sorry ur having a tough time with ur thumb, it baffles me the random pregnancy symptoms that can appear even this late on. I find the carpel tunnel so frustrating, there’s prob more I could do to help it though.

@redxlondon i hope u get some answers today and they sort out ur date for u. When are u supposed to be taken in?

He's definitely dropped now. I hadn't really noticed before and wasn't 100% when the sonopgrapher said last week he was fully head down. But my god the pelvic pressure & lower back pain is something else today.
I can't tell by looking at my bump cos tbh it isn't all that big.

If he stayed in atleast another week I'll be happy, to arrive between 38-39 weeks will be better but I guess that's his choice 😄