Due July 2024 - part 4

[Oatmilktea]

The other thread was filling up so thought I would set up a new one!

@Sophie3003
@ceruleansky
@Amberellaella
@wannabe123
@glasshalffull0
@Morningcoffeeaddict
@missmoosh
@Jess725
@AnonymousXXIX
@Busyhedgehog
@Nocoffeenotalkie
@justanotherlaura
@Honeymint
@Savvy21
@hopingfor23
@chilliflakesmum
@ExpectantEs
@AimeeLou84
@Welshgal85
@TooHappyToday
@Bali200

I’ve tagged people from the last few pages of the previous thread, hopefully everyone makes there way over here when the other one fills up!

@Cherubs4 - I’ve got an appointment in 2 weeks to get my section booked in so I’ll ask her then and see what she says. I’ve done a lot of reading about massaging the scar (once it’s healed) and so on to break down scar tissue but I never know how helpful these things actually are. Feels like apart from “don’t lift anything or have a bath” you don’t get a lot of information about recovery.

How are all the Mamas in hospital doing?

I was a possessed woman today and had to clean our ground floor, we pice in a 3 story town house. Scrubbed and cleaned everything hall, utility, windows, bathroom. The blinds still need a wash and the but all cleaned and the washing machine needs some TLC. But going to get DH to do that.
This weekend sending him off to the launderette with all the bedding and duvets.
I made him order a new rug for the lounge so there is enough space for DS1 to play on and DS2 to have floor time. I am really on it with cleaning but with a tiddler in tow so hard to keep him engaged 😂 he loves the vacuum and mop so let him have some time

@Cherubs4 mine separated, had no idea that was a section thing, and it felt awful, couldn't have my daughter on my tummy ever and felt like my insides were falling out from between my rib cage at the front. Had to have a lot of private physio to nit together but you need to keep at it to keep them together!

@ceruleansky all very valid concerns! But yeah speak to someone about it to help you feel happy with whichever way you go and all the advantages and disadvantages. No mode of birth is going to be failsafe; and at the same time everything can turn out better than you fear. I had episiotomy, forceps, haemorrhage, damaged urethra and haemorrhoids 😀 couldn't walk properly for a month or sit properly for six months... BUT I am completely 100% fine now. Absolutely no lasting effects from anything, not even stretchmarks (until this new pregnancy ahahaha...). Can laugh, sneeze, hike, whatever! You just have to ride the waves. Remember you were strong enough to survive the treatments 💪 to be honest, I think you have already been through the hardest part.

@Morningcoffeeaddict I think a postpartum doula is an excellent idea if you can find/afford one! Go go go!

@MixedCouple2 yeah you're probably right on the calcium, I did contemplate a hot chocolate after dinner last night but never made it and regretted it!

@Cherubs4
Good point but I don't think ive worn anything that shows my tummy so it's okay!

@MixedCouple
Yup, this is what I was mainly trying to gauge and I'm going with a list of questions to make an informed decision!
Hmm I have heard of people asking for elcs, it's becoming rather common now.
How are you doing?

Off late, my tummy is getting so tight. It's almost as if there's no space left for the baby! Or my organs! Anyone else feel this? Also I feel like my baby is literally burrowing into my pelvis!

I think I missed a few posts before I posted!

@AnonymousXXIX
Wow, you're a super human 😭 for having gone through all that.. I hope you have it easier this time around..!
Thank you, I just brushed off that part once I got pregnant I think, but it's all coming back to me now. I'll try to keep that in mind!! Thank you! 💪

@ceruleansky I found watching YT videos on peoples experince helped me and was very beneficial. Also speaking to peoppe around me who had a variety of experincea.

I am doing ok, just freaking out. Less then 5 weeks left possibly.
Also yes no room, baby has dropped slightly so I am eating better. But his head is on my bladder and I need to pee so often and general pain discomfort and my toddler wants to be picked up 😔 he is measuring 10th centile around 4lbs11oz and I feel massive. I can't imagine Mamas who have babies above 50th centile!!!!
Lots of moving round and around, legs sticking out and his small butt 😂

Another July baby has made his appearance in June 🩵 Oliver was born today via c section at 35 weeks weighing 5lb15oz. Considering I had placenta previa and vasa previa the team of doctors and midwives said it went exceptionally well and baby was able to be removed in his amniotic sac. This meant I only lost 400mls of blood!

Despite being early baby Oliver was so lucky not to need any time in NICU or special care. I was up walking within 6 hours and had my catheter removed. Due to baby being early we will get kept in an extra couple days for monitoring.

I was honestly TERRIFIED going in to the c section and couldn’t stop crying. But I didn’t even realise they had started the surgery and he was out within 5-10 mins 🩵

Congratulations @Oatmilktea ! So glad he arrived safely and you are both doing so well 😊

Congratulations @Oatmilktea ❤️

@Oatmilktea massive congrats!!! So happy all is well with you both!

@Oatmilktea
Congratulations on the safe arrival of your little one!! 🩵

@MixedCouple
That's fair, I will try that as well!

Eek, so close!! Baby is kicking me in the ribs as I type this! Definitely been able to eat more too. In fact, I feel like I've just started eating for 2 now.
Aww can't wait for us to meet them!

I had another growth scan (Friday, 37w +1) and the growth rate has dropped again. Each time it seems they are up/down/up/down, all over the place. I think we've had 40, 50, 30, 60, 20th centile (or something like that). Anyway they sent me to maternity triage for monitoring. The dr decided I can keep the scheduled next Tuesday c-section date provided I come in each day for more monitoring. Not the way I hoped to spend the weekend, but I suppose it could be worse! If I can get it over with in the mornings hopefully we can salvage the afternoons for some family time! I was already scheduled to come in on Monday for blood tests and to collect some medicine to take before the surgery.

Our 18 month old son has started to act up and be alternately clingy/fussy with me. Behaves a little better for DH. I think he can sense something's going on, or about to happen, or our anxiety about the new baby. I'm excited but also worried about how to manage a toddler with a new baby and c-section recovery.

DH is a workaholic, so I've been the primary carer of DS, so I'm also a bit worried about whether DH will actually help out enough in the first weeks. Particularly while I can't pick up DS. DH's current plan is to split his paternity leave and do one week leave, then one week back (but doing the nursery run, which I usually do), then another week leave. I have a good friend coming from abroad to stay and help for 2 weeks when the baby's one month old. No family nearby who are in a position to help. But at least DS is at nursery full-time for now!

@Oatmilktea Congratulations on the safe arrival of your little one.
@Bluebonnet3 oh no that sounds stressful. Can your DH not take any annual leave? Does he know what the recovery is like for a c-section?

@Oatmilktea congratulations on the safe arrival of baby Oliver! Really pleased that it went so well after all of the complications.

@Bluebonnet3 my DH is a workaholic as well so I understand! It is very frustrating. We’re theoretically taking SPL, but we shall see if he actually manages not to work while he’s off…

Congratulations @Oatmilktea !

@Oatmilktea congratulations 🎉

@Bluebonnet3 yeah my DH is also a workaholic. As am I! How is it that men get the space to be like that but we don't... He does get 4 weeks paternity though and has saved up some leave so that should see us through till mid September... And I have my mum flying in to help too. (No other family nearby.)

Neither DH or mum cook though (genuinely, they can boil potatoes, that's it... it's tragic) and I remember last time that despite everything else they both did I was just struggling all the time between breastfeeding and contact naps and not being able to stand very well to get everyone food. No meal boxes in my area and don't want to fill my freezer with batch cooking because A) storing breast milk for when I travel for work B) I really prefer fresh food especially when recovering C) I have a toddler to feed healthy things as well now. Luckily the little gen alpha hipster likes hummus and olives though so maybe we'll go on a Mediterranean diet this summer....

I visited my octor about my concerns and she definitely said my anxiety is getting the better of me and that i need to give the baby time to grow, she said we will wait until week 37 and check the baby's weight before we decide anything.
She also said she will do an internal examination and assess my pain tolerance to see if I really cannot go through labour.
I'm just going to put this out of my mind until week 37 and go about my day!

She did say that my HB is low and it needs to go up or she has to give me transfusions? Or some kind of injections. My level is 10.8 and the normal range is 12-15. Anyone have any suggestion to improve haemoglobin levels? I already take iron supplements twice a day.

Another thing she noticed was that my amniotic fluid level is higher than usual. But my sugars are normal. Whatever that means...

I hope everyone is doing well and that I get to hear more news about your little arrivals!

@ceruleansky have they not given you any mental health support for your anxiety? I am able to speak to a perinatal team for CBT and around birth. I would recommend having someone to speak to about it.

@Sophie3003
I'm not sure! I definitely feel better after talking to her. I'm a planner so I really wanted to decide everything before hand and she said things don't always go according to plan. I think I just worked myself up because it's my first time and I don't know about certain things, I'm okay now..

@ceruleansky I think that's half of the battle, as things don't go to plan!

@ceruleansky - my HB is about the same and the tablets making no difference. The doctor here said to “give it a bit longer with the tablets and see” rather than go straight for infusion which is annoying as I’ve been on them since about 12 weeks.

i was complaining to a midwife about it and she said there’s a liquid iron made from blueberries or something called “blue iron” that some people absorb better than the tablets. It’s not on the NHS, you just get it in boots, but may be worth asking about and trying that?

@Sophie3003
True that!

@Morningcoffeeaddict
Agreed, I'm hoping it improves before the next test.
I was taking one dose earlier and the level was 9.5, with 2 tablets it's gone up a bit but not enough. I've been taking these supplements since the first trimester.
I'll see if there are alternatives that I can have!

@ceruleansky it’s a pain isn’t it! Going to get my bloods done again this week to check but I was 11.2 at booking then down to 10.6 at 28w and then 10.9 at 32w taking the tablets the whole time so I feel like I’ve done enough waiting to see if they’ll work at this point. Little bit frustrating- at least your doctor sounds like they’ll do something about yours

Morning everyone,

I've been lurking but not posted for a long time!

Congratulations to everyone that has had their little babies already ❤️

I literally cannot believe how fast the pregnancy has gone. I feel like I've blinked and I'm almost 35 weeks (on Monday)

I'm starting to get really nervous about their arrival, but I'm sure everything will be fine.

They thought I was developing Pre eclampsia but so far my BP and bloods have been fine, just have really bad swelling in my feet and legs, and the occasional urine sample is showing +1 of protein then returns to normal - hoping it stays that way.

Due to the increased risk, I'm booked in for a planned section for the twins at 37+1 on 2nd July.

I did hope to try naturally if they decided to come earlier, I have thought about pushing my date back to 38 if I don't get PE and they will let me, but then I'm just really starting to get very uncomfortable and I'm thinking by then I may just want them out 😂

Hope you are all doing well ❤️