Due May 2024? Part 3

[Sa11yCinnamon]

Just kicking off a new thread, hoping no one else does it at the same time!

@Athena1984 hope all is ok, keep us posted xx

@Sa11yCinnamon Ah that makes sense! I had an extra because she’s on the small side around 10th percentile but she’s been growing in line with just above 10th so they’re just leaving me. Hope your little boy isn’t too cramped!

Yeah they’ve asked me to go back in on Tuesday to discuss everything- and they’ve said I could have an induction or a section. Quite a scary choice to make! I’m actually quite tempted by an induction because the baby is so big already! 🤣

@LondonGirl1992 have they suggested testing you for Gestational diabetes? I had a growth scan 2 weeks ago, baby was at 90th centile, went back yesterday and baby is off the chart weighing around 8lbs.
I'm 37+5 and they've asked me to come back on Wednesday for a diabetes test and then to discuss options based on those results.
Not feeling great about being tested so late in the pregnancy for diabetes.

Yes they actually have tested me twice for it because I’ve been tracking above the 97% percentile for weeks now- both times it was negative. I think with my partner being 6”3- it’s just a big ol bebe!!

@LondonGirl1992 glad it was negative for you :) will be interesting to see what weight these babies actually come out. I don't think I'll have much need for any newborn/0-1 month clothes I've bought any way lol

Hi @SarahB88 , which symptoms did she find related to the favourable cervix?

I've also got this sore feeling in the inside of my vagina, especially after a long walk or something perineal massage... But not all the time...

I know! I’m actually really nervous now as to whether my body can birth such a big baby. They ran through the risks (which are white severe and unfortunately fairly common) when babies are 9lbs+ and this one is on track to be 10/11.

I feel really nervous about going to full term because it’s more time for it to keep growing- the then nervous about it getting stuck during delivery and me ending up with a section. Part of me wonders if I just have an elective section and take away the stress! So hard to know

I know a few people who were predicted really big babies and they came out pretty average, I think there’s a fair bit of guesswork involved. But obviously some are big!

This is not a helpful comment…

@Nina7 my baby is engaged and I’ve been having irregular contractions so she thinks I’m starting to dilate. Will get checked on Thursday, she didn’t see the need for a vaginal exam at the time. If it looks good on Thursday we’re going in for the sweep. I don’t know if I’ll make it to then though, my bump is somehow even lower now and I had a few quite painful contractions yesterday evening so think things are moving.

Hope everyone's doing well today, quickly wanted to ask if anyone's experiencing lightening crotch" i'm getting it quite a lot last few days when baby moves head. midwife wasn't too helpful just said the baby's head is low (couldn't tell me how low etc) i have a scan on Tuesday which should hopefully give some answers

i've read lightening crotch is when baby is pressing against the cervix or the cervix is dilating. apart from that i have low back aches and a pelvic pain. no contractions atm!
... just worried, i have 4 weeks left and nothing ready yet 🥲

Yes I get lightening crotch sometimes, think it’s all about baby’s position, don’t think it means anything regarding labour.

I spent most of the day up at the hospital yesterday as had reduced movements, was monitored and had a scan and all is well. Had a second sweep whilst I was there which was quite vigorous 😳 then had a few hours of irregular contractions so got excited that things were finally happening but it’s all settled down again. I’m so fed up and uncomfortable and just want baby here now

@nh93 I think lightening crotch is just part and parcel of third trimester, not sure it indicates labour is near. I’ve been having it for weeks.

My midwife said the only way to tell if baby is engaged is through palpitation so not sure the scan will help in that area. Just on that though, I had a scan after baby was 4/5th engaged and it was hard to get the head measurement and was actually really uncomfortable as she was pressing so close to my pelvic bone to try and get a view of the baby’s head. I asked her at that point has baby dropped down further and she again said I’d have to get my tummy palpitated to confirm. Couple of weeks later baby was confirmed as 3/5ths.

Baby is still very much in place so I’m looking forward to my sweep on Thursday! Wish I could get it sooner but I’ve no reason to ring triage so will just have to wait 😩

@Emmacb82 hope you get going again after your second sweep! Did they say if you were dilated?

@SarahB88 they said I’m 2-3 cm dilated but this baby is so stubborn and just does not want to come! Have lost loads of my plug and having the odd contraction here or there but nothing else. Back up to the hospital for sweep number 3 tomorrow, will it be third time lucky 🤔

I’ve been doing so much research the last few days into birthing a 10lb+ baby (which is what ours is) and I’ve come to the conclusion that I think I might have an elective section. I feel so weird about it all because I always envisaged a natural birth- but the stats of me ending up with an emergency section and complications is so high.

Ive read so many positive section experiences and I think whilst the recovery can be longer- often women with complications for big babies have even longer recoveries still. I wondered if anyone else had been through a section and had any advice? Any positive stories etc? Would be great to hear!

I am just so excited to meet this little bebe now! It feels so surreal it could be within a week! 🥰

@SarahB88 Oh wow, when was your due date?

@LondonGirl1992 My baby was predicted to be a 10lb too & i was having all the same concerns about you. I was also told that there was a high chance we'd end up with an emergency C section (Not sure if that was due to babies size or the complications)

We ended up with her coming 3 weeks early at 37 weeks and she was only 6lb 13oz in the end.

I was booked for an induction, but ended up with an emergency C section on the day, as baby wasn't happy when on the monitoring machine, as soon as we'd arrived at the hospital.

My emergency C section, wasn't as scary as I had imagined. I'm recovering well, the hardest bit I'm finding is looking after me, (I don't do this very well)

Worth noting take all the pain relief they offer after c section.

@LondonGirl1992 i absolutely loved my section after being dead set on a natural birth. I’m two weeks pp and am physically going about life as normal (just not being stupid about twisting, heavy lifting etc)

I think when I had to be admitted to hospital anyway, in my situation I quickly realised that I would struggle to stay as calm as necessary for a successful vaginal birth with no pain relief etc. I found the environment really friendly but I didn’t feel “relaxed” and knew a section was the right choice for me over induction (my baby really needed to come out so these were the two options I was faced with)

We had a beautiful playlist on and everyone in the room was so encouraging, friendly and respectful. It’s not as I imagined with a bunch of people standing over you staring etc, everyone is going about their day doing their own little job keeping you and baby safe. Hypnobirthing breathing kept me and my husband calm and we genuinely both said to each other during the section “this is amazing isn’t it” 💕

Painkillers really took the edge off especially during the first week, I stopped taking them completely a few days ago now. The incision hasn’t been any trouble at all and has healed really well so far. The first three days were sore but manageable and you have your lovely baby to see to.

Hope this is encouraging for anyone else faced with a section. :)

PS, our little one is still in neo natal. We’re doing ok, just can’t wait to finally bust out of hospital and get her home where she belongs. Hopefully things are on the up for us soon. x

Ooo just had a big chunk of mucus plug come away 🤞 not seen that since it came away a few weeks ago, I suspect it regrew after that.

@SarahB88 that’s exciting! My latent labour symptoms have died down a bit over the course of the week.

Like some other people I’m a bit nervous about baby’s weight. My son was over 4kg (think that’s equivalent to around 9lb) and the obstetrician told my second babies tend to be heavier.

Does anyone know if you can ask your midwife for an early sweep? I’ll be 38+2 when I go this week and given I’ve had some early labour signs thought maybe I would be ready for one.

@PeppedUp I’m getting a sweep on Thursday, I’ll be 38+4. I saw the doctor last week to get booked in for a section if I go overdue and she’s popped it on my notes for the midwife to do a sweep for me whilst I’m there. That is if I make it to that appointment! I’m assuming I will at the moment though. Can’t see why you can’t ask for one with your symptoms but you may well just be offered one anyway ☺️

How’s everyone holding up?

I’m in two minds about phoning triage and need some advice. I’ve had a small amount of spotting today, nothing to be seen when I wipe and not enough to need a pad on. I had quite strong pains yesterday evening that seemed to be coming from my cervix rather than contractions over my bump (still getting braxton hicks often). Baby is moving loads so no concerns in that area. I don’t feel 100% but I haven’t done for a few days now.

I just don’t know if it warrants a check as it seems some spotting can be normal at this time. The last time I had bleeding they told me to put a pad on for 2 hours and check again, I’ve done that but the spotting is so intermittent the pads not catching anything. Should I ring triage or just see how I go?

@SarahB88 I would call them, better safe and all that! They would rather you called for nothing than not call for something x

I’m still hanging on 🤣 had my third, yes, third sweep yesterday and absolutely nothing has happened. Feeling very frustrated and emotional as was hoping to avoid induction but that’s tomorrow so looking more likely. Have got to wait to see if they’ve got a bed which is annoying as husband has got to go to work just in case they haven’t but then come home again if they have - what a faff. Am hoping it will be just a matter of breaking my waters and everything else will happen naturally.

@SarahB88 i would give triage a call, I would say if it’s only spotting then they will probably say just keep an eye but if you’re not feeling right then it’s best to make sure.
@junebuglb hope your little one is out of nicu soon and you can go home into your baby bubble altogether, must have been a very difficult time x

@Sa11yCinnamon @Emmacb82 gave them a quick call and they think it’s just the really early stages of labour so here’s hoping 🤞

@Emmacb82 good luck for tomorrow if you don’t go into labour beforehand!

Does anyone else with other children find they’re acting up at the moment? My son has started throwing more tantrums than normal, which I suspect are linked to the changes happening already (ie me not being able to move and interact with him as much) and apprehension about the new baby, plus us leaving him for the birth.

I also found out our hospital doesn’t let any children visit, which I was a bit surprised and upset about. I’d been imagining him coming in to meet his brother but now I guess that will just happen at home.