Due July 2024 - part 3

[Oatmilktea]

I noticed the other thread was full and have started a new one.

Lovely to hear of everyone’s 20 week scans. Thanks to those of you who gave me a list of baby essentials, very helpful!

Hope you’re all doing well!

@BananaHammock23 I'm glad you found it so useful 😊 I had to have my C-section because little one was breech so thankfully it wasn't traumatic as it was planned (apart from the fact I actually went into labour so then it became unplanned!). My biggest worry is that this one won't get the message to go head down either!

I have also had my VBAC appointment with the consultant @wannabe123, the same as you I had a planned caesarean for a breech baby. Really helpful to go through it all, I am going back for a further appointment to decide at 32 weeks. They have allowed me to be swept from 37 weeks to encourage baby to arrive naturally before 40 weeks.

@wannabe123 I did ask about the chances of another breech and was told it could happen again as some women just have breech babies.....feel like that could be me as being 4ft 11 (albeit with a longer torso) I feel like my daughter just got stuck!

@Sophie3003 how long was your appointment? I had a cyst last time and my midwife at the time reckons baby didn't like being squashed next to it.

Glad everyone is doing okay! Had my 20 week scan this week and found out we’re having a girl 💕🥰 Feeling really excited! I’m under consultant care for an ongoing health condition so had an extra scan yesterday and got to hear her heartbeat for the first time 😊

@wannabe123 I cannot really remember it was at around 13 weeks, maybe 30 minutes or so, probably more so because they didn't rush me and allowed me to ask any questions and so I asked everything re induction, monitoring so I felt fully informed.

@wannabe123 @Sophie3003
It doesn't sound like either of you want to go down the c-section route again. I didn't have a great vaginal birth last time so was thinking c-section this time. Anecdotally most of my friends had to go emergency c-section anyway or they had elective and they said it was OK. I suppose I'm looking for more evidence as to which way to go as I don't really fancy either option!

@Savvy21 to be honest, it was a great experience and the pictures I have of birth are amazing. I felt nothing and didn't even realise they'd started until baby cried! I think I just want to have a chance at not having a C-section. Also, I can't imagine recovering and having another scar while also having a toddler running around. My milk didn't come in until day 5 and caused my son to lose nearly 12% of his birth weight and I wonder whether that was due to the C-section also.

@Savvy21 I had a traumatic first birth and have decided in a section this time.

It's such a hard decision, I really don't want a major operation and despite the trauma last time my physical recovery was amazing, I was taking the dog out for walks by day 2 but every time I imagine myself being back in that position I am in floods of tears so for my mental health a section is right for me this time.

@wannabe123 ah OK that makes sense. My DD also lost a lot of her birth weight too and we were put on an intense feeding plan so I'm not sure it makes a difference.
@justanotherlaura that sounds rough - sorry to hear that. I also have recovered quite well but I'm worried about my pelvic floor - it's struggling this time round.

@Savvy21 - I also had a section last time and will be again. Partly for mental health reasons because for me I’d rather know what’s coming so if it’s just decided now it’ll be a section then that’s decided and fine by me.

I had a good experience with my last section, healed well and no particular pain or anything. It took me a few days to be walking again properly but think it was more because I’d been stuck in bed for a week beforehand and my back was complaining than because of the section itself. I’ve been told I’ll need a couple of days stay so they can monitor baby because of some of my meds so I feel pretty confident I’ll be back on my feet by the time we head home.

Had my scan little girl is doing all good 😁 feel like I can breathe now

Hope all the 20 week scans are going well, lovely to read! Congrats!
Sorry for any scanxiety - I also had the same but hopefully some relief for you afterwards!

Interesting reading about c section recoveries, I need to learn more so thank you for sharing!
One of my close friends gave birth on Friday and was induced due to waters breaking 24hr prior, she opted for epidurial and experienced the migraines you can sometimes get. Both her and baby doing good now tho 👌

I'm just waiting for my next midwife appointment but in my area they don't do much so not getting hopes up to hear heartbeat 🙈

@Savvy21 I am hoping for a natural birth. The actual section was fine but the recovery was horrendous and would like to avoid that, also I would like to have more babies after this so I think it would be more sensible to have a VBAC if possible although I must admit I am getting a bit nervous about the birth.

I had my 20 week scan yesterday and the baby has an ecogenic (bright) bowel. Everything else looks perfect, and it can be a consequence of having some bleeding in pregnancy and being in the amniotic fluid, which the baby has swallowed.

I’m going to scanned every 4 weeks now, and they’ve tested me for different viruses and if I’m a cystic fibrosis carrier as these can cause the bowel issue. It can also be a marker for Down’s syndrome but I had a private NIPT which was low risk.

Still so stressful even though the fetal medicine midwife and consultant were reassuring about it.

@TooHappyToday I hope you get some reassuring answers soon. Good to hear that you've already spoken to fetal medicine and that they were reassuring too x

I had an appointment with my consultant today. I refused induction at 39 weeks opting for ELC but if I go into labour on my own, I am willing to try for VBAC. However, I have agreed to a sweep at 38 weeks to see if that helps. Was surprised that despite the "not going past 39 weeks chats" she said my C-section will be scheduled anywhere from 39 weeks to 39+6 weeks! I assumed it meant 39+0 weeks at the latest. Obviously not!

@Nocoffeenotalkie I suppose the later the better.
I had my VBAC chat today and found it really interesting. Sounds like they will proactively try to get me into labour naturally (sweeps etc) because inductions can cause extra stress on the old C-section scar. I'm hoping this baby comes a little early like my son did! I think if it came to induction - which would be after 40+6 weeks - I would lean more to going for a C-section.

@wannabe123 yes, all natural induction methods are fine by me. No to hormone drips for me. My main issue is avoiding a GA. I really don't want a repeat birth situation.
My consultant told me that they very rarely use GA nowadays (my previous birth was 11 years ago) and if my birth doesn't go "like clockwork" then they would move to C-section much quicker than they did last time (I labour for 36 hours before fetal distress kicked in to EMCS)
I just want to be awake this time. This is my miracle, totally unexpected second after 11 years of infertility.

@Nocoffeenotalkie sounds like you had a traumatic time last time. Fingers crossed you are awake this time! Birth feels ages away still but I'm sure it will come round quickly!

@Nocoffeenotalkie as far as I'm aware the only reason you'd get GA rather than an epidural now would be if baby was really in distress and needed to come out quicker than they could put in an epidural. I think if you already have an epidural in then they would be able to just top it up quickly and negate that risk.

When I was talking about my fear of the birth being too quick for an epidural my midwife said they could take me in early and get one in quicker so might be worth a discussion?

I was told to research here www.rcog.org.uk before deciding if I was going to choose a section or not so there might be information here about GA in sections

Hope everyone’s doing well and babies are behaving themselves!

Just wondering if there’s anyone else who’s going to have around a 2.5 year age gap? If so what’s your plans regarding buggy? I can’t decide whether I’m going to need a double or if my daughter will be fine with just a buggy board. She’s definitely going to need something but not sure if it’s going to be worthwhile getting a double pram if she’s only going to use it for 6 months or whatever? Even secondhand doubles are quite expensive near me!

@Macccc I will have a 3 and a half year gap so not planning on getting a double buggy as we never really take the pram out now anyway. The new school (nursery) run will involve a walk up a hill though so planning to wear baby so I can take a bike thing we have for the older one while he builds up his stamina for the hill.

I'll have a 2.5 year age gap, I've got the new Egg pram and planning on getting the little board to attach for my toddler, you can add a bike style seat to it too if they want to sit down.
I can't bare the thought of a double pram haha feels like too much faff for a toddler who wants to be out of the pram anyway for me!

I will have about a 3.5 year gap and was going to get a buggy board as think on the whole by then we could do without it (currently use the stroller for going into town!). I am planning on getting a silver cross wave as it can be a single or a double but that's because I am hoping for more babies after this one (or I might just be mad!)!