OCTOBER 2024 BABIES - Thread 5

[CluelessInLondon]

So I guess this is the one where all of our babies will be arriving, eek!

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@CluelessInLondon Oh really! That's quite a difference! Did you have to have stitches? I have a scan on Wednesday and really nervous about what they'll say about the baby's size and what that will mean for my birth plan!

@sorchanim my friend had a similar experience with midwife! There's clearly a knack to it which I'm just not getting! Will ask at next appointment.

@CluelessInLondon the 90th centile on your antenatal growth chart isn't the same as the 90th centile in the red book though, in case you were not aware. Antenatal growth charts are usually customised charts - so the 90th centile just means 90th centile for a woman of your age/parity/BMI at booking/ethnicity - whatever factors your Trust use in their growth charts. The red book centiles are the 'real world' averages for all babies in the UK (although not sure exactly what data they are based on) - they are the same centiles for everyone, in every red book. But the growth chart centiles mean different estimated weights for every woman. So your baby could be for example predicted 10lbs and be 90th centile on your antenaral chart. On a different woman their baby could be predicted 8lbs but still be 90th centile on their antenatal chart. Both those babies if born at those weights would not be the same centile on the red book charts as that's one standard centile for every weight, even though they were the same centile on customised antenatal charts. Does that make sense? Sorry for the essay!

@CluelessInLondon thank you!!! 🙏

@WeightoftheWorld Sorry, I probably wasn't very clear! It's not the growth charts that are actually part of the red book, it's a customised birth weight centile document that the hospital have put inside the cover of the red book - so it has all of my height, weight etc. details and the baby's birth weight centile. So she is 53rd centile for me compared with 90th on the customised growth chart that was in my maternity notes - hopefully that makes more sense!

@Sara1988 Yes, I did have to have stitches - I had a second degree tear and some labial tearing, so I am pretty swollen down there! The doctor was very reassuring about how well the tearing should heal up though. I would really recommend having a spray bottle of water to help keep any stitches that you end up having clean - I spray with water every time I pee to prevent stinging. I'm also using the My Expert Midwife spritz for bits on my maternity pads, which is really nice and cooling. I think that would be a good thing to have even if you don't end up needing stitches (fingers crossed!).

@CluelessInLondon I ordered some spritz for bits and my midwife told me not to use it, so I sent it back. So much conflicting info! Will definitely get a spray bottle though. Hope you heal quickly! Friends who have second degree have come through the otherside really well!

@Sara1988 I was told to avoid products with fragrances and stuff in them, so nothing like Femfresh and no shower gel or anything like that, but that the specialist postpartum sprays with essential oils in them would be fine. On the advice of a friend I also stocked up on a box of laxatives - definitely got conflicting views in the hospital on whether to take them pre-emptively or just wait to see how things go!

@Sara1988 I LOVED spritz for bitz with my first. It’s all natural and very soothing. I also love the smell

I'm feeling a bit emotional now it's hit me a bit more. Csection booked for this week and I'm feeling sad about leaving my 4yr old and coming home to him not being my baby anymore. I know it's so common for this to happen, I just feel like I'm counting the hours I have with it just being him. I hope I'm not in hospital for long. I'm also trying to block out how I feel about the experience and worry something bad will happen to me 😔 Just how my head works I suppose! Just need to try and block it out and know it's out of my control. I had a planned CS with my son. Sorry to be negative! Just feeling a bit wobbly.

Ah sorry @CluelessInLondon yes I misunderstood you! My birth weight predictions for my DC2 were completely off as well but I think the last growth scan I had was around the 32 week mark with them so possibly they just shot up after that point.

It won't let me tag anyone else on this bloody app, but Anxious sorry that you are feeling your namesake. Will you have some time to do some relaxing activities for yourself between now and the birth? Even if it's just half an hour here or there to have a bath or paint your nails or read a book or whatever. Deffo normal to think about the 'loss' of the old relationship though when a new baby is born. It does change all the family dynamics forever after all! The bond my two kids have is absolutely gorgeous though if that reassures you at all, it's honestly just magical watching it. (Of course there are many challenging times too though!)

You're not alone if that helps @AnxiousD I burst into tears yesterday whilst hanging my washing out I was literally just imagining saying bye to my little girls on the morning of my section. It's major surgery and there are risks it will be my third one. Hopefully we will both be just fine but I think these feelings as hard as they are, are normal x

Thank you. When is yours booked for? Did you have a CD with your girls?

@mrssunshinexxx I thought you were aiming for a VBAC? I might be confusing you with someone else though...

I'm in an all or nothing situation. I either go into labour naturally in the next two weeks or I'm being booked in for a C Section. My son was an emergency C Section so my dr won't induce me. It's either natural labour or the scalpel. I'm desperate for my VBAC. I felt so robbed last time around. 🥺

@AnxiousD 16th Oct you?
I've had 2 emergency sections now both cat2

@Oct24 I was initially but I had a consultant strongly advise against it so got a second opinion off another and they said the same she went though my surgical notes from my last birth and honestly it seems the safer option but I am
Definitely mourning the loss of experiencing a vaginal birth and dreading the recovery with 3 children 4 and under with no support but I will manage somehow I just want him here now

@mrssunshinexxx I'm so sorry. I remember how much you really wanted a VBAC. I understand your disappointment. You've got this though. If it's the safest option then you're making the right choice. Sending you a big hug and a cup of tea!

3rd Oct 😱

@CluelessInLondon @WeightoftheWorld so the personalised element of the growth chart scares me more! I'm tall, white, high BMI and 92nd percentile.. my baby must me massive.

@CluelessInLondon @mylittleitalianhome my midwife told me specifically not to put witch hazle on an open wound but sooo many people rave about spritz for bits!

@Oct24 I'm also all or nothing. Asking for a section for two weeks after my due date if I don't go into spontaneous labour.

@AnxiousD @mrssunshinexxx I've basically cried non stop all day today, so you're definitely not alone. I've literally cried because I feel fed up. That's it. Apparently could be a sign labour is imminent.

@Sara1988 Crying is a sign that labour can be imminent? Good to know... I'm currently sobbing into my raspberry leaf tea because my iPad ran out of battery, my charger is downstairs and I can't face getting out of bed to go get it.

@Sara1988 I'm spraying the spritz onto my maternity pads rather than directly onto the skin - although I'm sure it is safe to use directly on the skin. It's nice on the pads though and I definitely think it's helping to calm the swelling. I've just bought another bottle so I can have in the downstairs loo and one in the main bathroom!

@AnxiousD Wishing you lots of luck for your section this week, I hope it goes smoothly and you are back home with your son and your new arrival as quickly as possible. ❤️

Re: random crying, prepare to do lots more of that after baby has arrived too - I keep bursting into tears for pretty much no reason! Think the hormones are just crazy right now, my husband found me holding the baby and having a sob on the sofa last night and when he asked me what was wrong all I could say was that she's just so wonderful!

Thanks so much @Oct24

@AnxiousD ahhh I'm jealous, so soon! You'll be home with your bundle in a few days keep us updated

@Sara1988 being totally fed up was definitely a sign for me (although my pre-labour was so long that it just made me even more fed up!)

A little concerned that my due date is tomorrow but I’m completely chill. I really don’t want to get to 42 weeks!!

Can I jump on board the wobbly crying train? I had an argument with my mum earlier which made me teary but I've been blubbering on and off all day even though I've really not been like that during this pregnancy.

I'm really on a countdown now of 7 sleeps to being induced. It's weird having people tell you "Any day now!" at 37 weeks and then still going for another 4 and a bit.... I've been very patient up to now but would really like baby to come out this week! I'm having no signs of any interest from baby at the moment, apart from the tears today - would love if that really was a sign!

@AnxiousD This is my first pregnancy but I feel a bit that way about going from two of us in the house to three of us and worried about how our relationship will change. Your DS is lucky to have such a thoughtful mum who cares so much about him and this transition! 💙

I'm also really tearful atm but it's more than just wobbles tbh, my mood seems to be deteriorating pretty quickly. I will tell the midwife when she comes next week if it's still the case then.

That being said, this is finally day one of my mat leave and I am definitely having a better day just getting stuck into lots of extremely overdue cleaning and tidying! Also got my hair cut into a bob as I always do before any of my kids arrive

My pelvis hurts so badly I can barely move. I have a scan tomorrow. I'm hoping they'll tell me it's because the baby is fully engaged...

I'm worried about how sore and fed up I am. I was prepared for a 24 hour labour but had forgotten it might be proceeded by weeks of this!

@mrssunshinexxx

I had an emcs the first time . This time, after discussion with the consultant, I was advised to go for the c section.

I am so glad I did. I am now 5 days post surgery. For pain relief today, I have had 2 paracetamol and 2 Ibuprofen. That is it.

I have done 2 loads of washing, putting clothes away. Done the dishes, etc. general housework. I am not couch bound.

Don't get me wrong, the first few days in hospital were tough. But I am amazed by how quickly I am recovering this time round.

Yes part of me regrets not going for a vbac but baby is here and we'll and that's the aim in the end.

Happy 1 October everybody!!!

I'm 41 weeks today.. yawn!

Went for CTG monitoring at the hospital this afternoon and baby was SUPER active which kept setting off alarms on the machine. They said it's normal and it's good to see accelerations and an active baby, but I could definitely have done without the beeping!!!! Back into hospital on Friday and Sunday for monitoring.

This afternoon I had my last appointment with my midwife team. Baby is fine and is engaged. I asked for a sweep but she could just barely reach my cervix as it was "very far back". She could feel a bit and said I'm like 1-1.5cm so even if I am induced next Monday, we're not starting from 0. Not sure how much good it did, I might ask the hospital team on Friday for another one. She did poke the baby's head which resulted in the cutest little jump in my belly - the poor baby!
She also gave me a 12-step plan which includes lots of 'woo' but of course I'm going to try anything! Went for acupuncture yesterday and have another appointment Thursday.

@WeightoftheWorld I'm in week 4 of mat leave now! I could have started later but I'm a teacher and Christmas holidays got in the way so I started earlier and LOVED a chance to get the house ready. I'm starting to run out of jobs I want to do now though! I also got my haircut, but haven't embraced the mum-bob yet!

@Sara1988 Good luck with the scan, I'm sure baby is down low which explains the pain. I'm definitely feeling less comfortable since baby moved down but managing ok. I also am prepared for labour to take over my life for 2 days, but the waiting before it (with or without pain) is taking forever!