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!

@Oatmilktea im 25w as well. That’s sounds pretty much the movements I get as well😊
Spoke with my consultant about it last time and he mentioned that there is no normal kick count but the pattern that your babies have, but obv they don’t have a pattern yet so how would I know if something’s wrong? Advice was to trust mother’s instinct!
I think I’m just overthinking it, and bloody internet is not helping😅

@Amberellaella it can be so stressing to understand what’s happening at this point, I’ve been on the edge to go maternity triage several times for movements and the second I pick my phone to call they start to have a party😅 I think they’re messing with me🤭

Hi everyone,
Hope you're all doing well..!

I haven't been here for a bit but I'm 24w1d and things have been manageable the past few weeks. However, for the past few days, I've been feeling a heaviness or pressure on my hips. It's almost like someone attached a tense rubber band from my left hip to the right hip behind me. It's almost like I need to make an effort to move against a rubber band effect and my hips hurt. I do some household chores but i stopped going for walks as much, maybe that's why my hips are feeling this way. I'm trying to do hip rotations and will start walking from today. But has anyone felt this/ know what's up?

hope everyone is doing well as we approach the final hurdle!

I had a second appointment with a consultant today and signed the consent form for my ejective caesarean. They gave me the date there and then - 1st July. 😬 It was like booking an MOT - which date would you like?! I feel relieved there’s a plan, just got to get to that date now!

I signed the forms for my C-section but the Senior Registrar couldn't get on to the booking system. She handed the forms to reception to book and I expected to hear a date via the post but this was 5 weeks ago and nothing. I'm hoping it doesn't cause an issue because the consultant was a little more pushy re:VBAC (possible induction as can't go past 39 wks). Registrar just skipped right to trying to book C-section when I said I didn't want induction.

I am having my appointment to get all of this sorted at 32 weeks. I must admit the birth choices and the giving birth has also made me anxious even though I wasn't like this for my daughter and ended up with a section due to breech. Have a lot of you opted section not VBAC?

How exciting people are starting to get dates for sections. I haven’t been asked about dates or forms yet but was only 24weeks at the last appointment. I think with my son coming at 28weeks as well they’re still monitoring me for preeclampsia and not sure when we’ll be going this time (fingers firmly crossed for 39weeks!) which will make early booking for dates tricky.

Booked to go to a mum club brunch in the window where I’m reducing my hours before starting mat leave properly - starting to get quite excited about a non-covid baby and getting out and about!

@Sophie3003 - I think there’s a few of us going elective section but I’m sure there were a few planned VBACs too? In my case, with so much unknown about how the pregnancy will go with previous preeclampsia and preemie I like knowing for certain that (regardless of what gestation I make it to) the delivery will be a section. I think personally stressing about aiming for a VBAC and then it not working out would be a struggle for me - but it depends on personal circumstances, both health wise and mentally how you think you’d manage with the potential outcomes.

It is such a difficult one! I found the recovery from my previous section horrendous and now with a 3 year old as well. Plus with hopefully planning to have at least one more after this to keep having sections isn't ideal. And personally I felt I missed out by having section (which I know probably seems mad).

I've had initial discussions with my midwife and consultant about vbac vs scheduled c section, and so far I've said I'm tentatively open to both. With my DS they wanted him to be born sooner rather than later because of small growth, so tried induction at 37w + 2d. Ended up with emergency c section on 37w + 4d as his heart rate dropped with proper contractions. The c section and recovery was fine, but I think elective would be less stressful. This time if the baby looks to be small and they are wanting her out sooner, I will go straight for elective c section. But if growth looks normal and they let me go to 39 w I'll perhaps try a vbac (although I'm a bit nervous about trying vbac). I don't really want to try induction again, however...

I actually had a growth scan today at 28w + 1. (I'm getting extra growth scans every 3 weeks because of DS being small.) Baby looks right on target for now.

And welcome to 3rd trimester!

I'm only about to turn 25 weeks tomorrow, so not had any discussions yet about birth options! I am hoping for vaginal though, I am worried about recovery from surgery with my health conditions and so the fastest recovery time is important to me. Although I would have a c section in a heartbeat, if it was deemed necessary!

@Sophie3003 I have said if I go into labour on my own before section date, I will try for VBAC. I want to avoid EMCS under a general this time - that is my main priority.
However as they want me to give birth before 40 weeks, I have declined induction for a few reasons and said if I don't go into labour, I want a section.

Can I ask those who have had inductions, who would rather avoid them this time and go straight for c section, why? Just want to know as much as possible!

Interesting to hear what everyone's thinking about for their births. I had an 'elective' c section last time (baby had to be born at 35 weeks for various reasons and I refused induction) and I'm going for a VBAC. I like the idea of thinking 'ooh is this it?' And going into labour naturally but also know that the grass isn't always greener 😂

Yes i mirror what @missmoosh said. Can I ask for more info re avoiding inductions as I know nothing!

@missmoosh @MyNameIsBatty I've heard that inductions cause more painful contractions.
@BananaHammock23 I'm tempted by elective to see if the grass is greener. I was unlucky with a 3rd degree tear though and no follow up due to covid.

@missmoosh and @MyNameIsBatty I am refusing induction because I want to avoid the cascade of interventions that are likely to result in an EMCS. I laboured for 36 hours then had to have a general anaesthetic EMCS. I am super keen to avoid that again. That said, I have agreed to a sweep.
I will also be 42 at birth and have read that hormone drips etc can be a bit much for older uterus (especially after previous sections) and chances of successful VBACs at my age drop a bit.
My whole plan is to be awake when baby is born. I am hoping it helps me bond faster this time. I think I was in shock for quite a while after DD1's birth.

Is this inductions after a VBAC or general inductions? To be honest I did classes with my first (private ones) and basically the catalogue of stuff after an induction of what can happen it was then advised to us have a section and so that is what several did in our group when they were in the induction process.

There are more risks with a VBAC induction and to be honest two midwives have indicated we really want to avoid that and get me to labour naturally.

I went into labour spontaneously last time but then ended up with a drip because it wasn't progressing and that was noooooooot great. I'm keen to give it another go though this time, fingers crossed second baby comes faster..

I recently read a report though that over 40% of births in my local hospital are c sections .. and now I'm really nervous they go to that as an option more quickly than I want to.

My midwife said today you really need to advocate for yourself and what you want as hospitals will try to use emotive language to get you to do things/plan ahead.

I've had my elective c section date for a few weeks now. 12th July! I only had my first baby last year and it was an emergency so I'm very much looking forward to a calm planned birth if possible and not go through what we did last time. The recovery was fine and I'm hoping this will be even better 🙏🙏🙏 personally I would never have an induction now - do lots of research and if you can get on a Hypno birthing course then do as I found that so so helpful last time in empowering myself to make my own choices and not be pushed into what works best for the hospital!

@missmoosh @MyNameIsBatty I actually had a really good induction last time but I went into labour after the first pessary. They said usually the first pessary doesn't do much. I think if you get to the induction point where you need a drip to make you contract that's what is the painful part of induction. I'm hoping to go naturally this time but you never know what's round the corner for me induction was right at the time 39 weeks

@Sophie3003 I was told the same thing about induction for a VBAC and that they will leave you until at least 41 weeks and offer sweeps to try to let things happen naturally because artificial contractions can be a bit much for a C-section scar.

Yes I am able to be swept from 37 weeks. My midwife also wants to set me off with harvesting colostrum, raspberry leaf tea etc to get things as primed for a natural birth without induction if we can.