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!

Ah so many of us 40+'s...fabulous!
Yep apart from the asprin and a couple of additional check ups (which i felt made sense) I don't think I've been treated any differently by healthcare professionals which has been great.

I maybe the oldest at 42 👋. Now 36+2. C-section booked for 39 wks (don't want me going past that due to age) but I can have sweeps from next week to see if she will make an appearance on her own (VBAC). I chose not to have any other induction method if not.

Ah, @Nocoffeenotalkie it was you I was thinking of ☺️ I’m 42 as well, it’s the best age to be. How do you feel about going early? I was all for it but am starting to have some reservations now…

Saw mw today and booked in sweeps for tomorrow (38+1) and Monday (38+4). Will decide in the morning if I defo want to go ahead.

I'm happy to try the sweeps (had with DD1 and they weren't painful then) I chose C-section over other induction methods as I had EMCS with GA for DD1. I don't want there to be an increased likelihood of EMCS again. Don't mind early sweeps. 37+ is term and she is apparently already weighing in at 6lb14 so will be over 7lb by 37 weeks which is bigger than DD1 was at almost 2 weeks overdue!

@ceruleansky Hope you're feeling a bit better now. 💐 That sounds very uncomfortable.

@Yummum19 Aww, congratulations! 🥳

@Cattattack They are a risk of infection. I've said I don't want any intervention unless absolutely necessary. Baby will come when he's good and ready. 😊 I have been told baby knows best, so I'm trusting him and myself to deliver him safely. Last week the obstetrician I saw told me my placenta could fail if I go overdue. But I've looked into it and that's extremely rare!

@AnonymousXXIX I haven't packed my bag either! I've got a list of things I need to get, as it's payday tomorrow. 😁

I'm having my baby shower this evening, the ladies from church are organising it! 🥳

Also glad I'm not the oldest mum here, I'm 35 and apparently that's geriatric! Rude! 😑

Also I want to eat my placenta. Seems a shame to let it go to waste. My mum thinks it's a disgusting idea! 🤣

I'm 42 too! It's where it's at!

So, I decided to have the sweep today (38+1). It was totally fine - not even as uncomfortable as a smear test because the cervix is low and forward at this stage of pregnancy and not high and back like it is usually.

MW said I was 1cm dilated but cervix was 2cm in length, so some work to do to thin it probably before the action can start.

She recommended kerb walking so I’ve just been out round the block. We shall see…

Sounds really promising @Amberellaella !

Ooh @Amberellaella sounds optimistic! I have mine booked for next week. I will try kerb walking before hand. I'm using the ball a lot and am upping the raspberry leaf tea to 2x a day...time will tell!

@Amberellaella dilation sounds positive, keep us updated!

@Nocoffeenotalkie raspberry leaf tea and birth-balling here too, 39+1 today. Feeling extremely nauseous since dinner and google tells me that could mean labour within 48 hours... or that the chicken we had with dinner wasn't good 😅

@SapphireSeptember in what form are you thinking if eating the placenta in? A friend of mine had capsules made. I wouldn't be against it but fear it's too late for me to arrange now

@Cherubs4 I was thinking of just cooking it. Someone told me I should eat it raw which made me feel a bit sick, plus there's the risk of bacterial contamination (background in food hygiene, I am not eating raw meat!) I was thinking of using it like liver and having it as part of a meal.

@Amberellaella Good luck!

I've been MIA but hope you ladies are getting along well!
I have a growth scan scheduled for July 8th and my tentative section date is 15th July (37+6). Got all my questions answered regarding anaesthesia and I'll be able to have skin to skin + feed my baby. I'll be awake throughout I can even hear the baby cry once it's out. These were the things that mattered most even though I've decided on a planned section. I can finally let out a sigh of relief!

Congratulations @Yummum19 !!! 😄

@Amberellaella good luck to you! Hope you have a smooth labour after your sweep!

@SapphireSeptember
Thank you, I'm doing much better now!
Hypnobirthing sounds interesting, I hope you have a safe and comfortable experience with your natural birth. Is there any kind of medication involved?
Honestly I hate the idea of being induced too, so much so that it's driven me to the elective c section.

@ceruleansky Yay! You're welcome. 😊
None at at all. The idea is through relaxation techniques we can harness the parasympathetic nervous system and release oxytocin and endorphins, as well as avoid triggering the sympathetic nervous system which releases adrenaline and cortisol, which can slow down or stop labour. It's all very interesting! A lot of women who choose hypnobirthing also have home births because it's more private, and being watched can stress some women out. Cats know, they purr and knead when they're giving birth and like to go and hide.
I'm hopefully going to be in the birthing suite at the hospital, because if something does go wrong I want to be near the maternity ward, but want to be able to use the birthing pool. 🛁 If I absolutely need it I could have painkillers, and interventions, but I've said a few times I want to avoid that. 🤞🏻
Good luck with you C-section. 💐

@SapphireSeptember I'm hoping for a birth similar to yours. Although right now I just want the baby out! My first was born at 38+4 and I'm not impatiently at 38+5

@ceruleansky - that’s great you have your section booked and they’ve answered all your questions in a way that reassured you! I’m having mine just after you on the 17th! So exciting to write that date on the calendar!

@SapphireSeptember I did a hypnobirthing course with my last baby and that was really helpful to reassure me going into the birth ( I had some previous birth related traumas).
Haven't gone over the material again this time but my mum is a certified hypnotherapist and has looked out some hypnosis scripts to go over with me which I'm looking forward to.

Has anyone else had any nausea? I had it badly last night coupled with a lot of downward pressure

@Cherubs4 no nausea here but I have heard it can be an early sign of labour!

@SapphireSeptember
Ahh okay! I've seen some celebs do this in their homes. Very private and they have one or 2 midwives or doulas to assist.
We don't really have such options here. Although I see it becoming a birthing option some time in the coming years
As I mentioned, nobody at my hospital even gets epidurals.. I didn't want to be the first one to try!
I understand it's a free birth. I'm very interested to know your experience. You really have to trust your body to get through it. Yup, I see what you mean with the cat comparison..

@Morningcoffeeaddict
Indeed, it is very exciting!! Have you been prescribed a growth scan too? How are you feeling?

@Cherubs4
Yes, nausea from the first trimester is back. Last week I threw up while I was fully asleep. That's never happened before! Downward pressure is expectedly as the baby tries to move into the pelvis, and the pelvis expands. This is what my gynaec told me today..

She said the main signs of actual labour are

1. Pain that's prolonging and doesn't let up even though the intensity of it goes up and down
2. Any kind of bloody discharge
3. Waters leaking, breaking/getting soaked in them
4. I'm definitely forgetting the 4th one but I think it was lower back pain and pressure where you feel like you need to use the loo, again, prolonged.

@ceruleansky - I just had my last growth scan at 36 weeks and baby boy is still tracking just above the 50th centile so I don’t think they’re planning another one. 2 more midwife appointments this week and next to check my BP stays steady and then I’m scheduled in for my pre-op ready to go

I was nauseous and dizzy a few times last week but I think in my case maybe low blood pressure or iron or something and needed to hydrate better. Def not a labour sign.

Thanks for that list @ceruleansky - I feel it never gets easier to predict!
@wannabe123 I really hope it's a sign of early labour, I'd love to do it myself this time, without an induction.

@Morningcoffeeaddict
Oh, nice! Great then! Looks like you're all set to go! Glad to see things have been smooth sailing for you so far.
Hope we're cuddling our babies soon!

@Cherubs4
Yes, I have heard some people don't know they're in labour at all. It can be unpredictable. But I hope everyone here has a good experience.

Ah, she also said reduced baby movements can be a sign of labour and even if it isn't, it should always be checked out.

@wannabe123 Good luck! I don't want baby out yet, I'm supposed to be going to my friend's wedding on the 20th! Also my mum says he has to wait till school has broken up, as she works at one. 😁

@Cherubs4 Birth trauma is a huge worry of mine, which is why I wanted to try hypnobirthing. I have a feeling baby is going to be an only (and that I'm going to be a single mum if my boyfriend doesn't get his act together) so I need to be in one piece for him, even with a good support network. Hope you have a nice time with your mum going over the scripts. 😊
Also yes, I've been feeling a bit sick at night. I just assume it's because baby is pushing on everything!

@ceruleansky Whereabouts are you? I know in the UK you can request a home birth (with birthing pool) on the NHS. They send out one or two midwives and they bring a lot of equipment with them. (Gas and air, they can stitch you up, they monitor baby's heartbeat, etc.) My midwife helped her friend with her first pregnancy when she was a student midwife, and that was a home birth. Said friend now lives in Belgium and if she wants a home birth there it's extortionately expensive. Ridiculous!
Funnily enough I was shown a video of a woman who'd done a hypnobirthing course and gave birth at home in a birthing pool, just a normal person. It was very calm and relaxed.
Yup, I suppose it is. Trusting my body and my instincts, and my baby! I think people hear 'hypno' and think it's silly. But there's an awful lot of research that's gone into it. I'll let you know how I get on. 😊

Anyone else getting swollen feet and ankles?

It feels crazy that in a few weeks time I'm going to have my little boy with me! 😲🥰
I'm staying with one of my friends for the first week, her husband didn't get much say in it I don't think. 🤣

I don't know if my nesting has kicked in or I've just come to the realisation that multiple members of my family will be in every nook and cranny of my house looking after no.1 from Friday, panic haha!

Section has been moved up to Friday as they are super busy the week after, it's getting real now!

@justanotherlaura my family is arriving next week and it just dawned on me this is my last chance to do anything alone before like 2025 🫠