Due February 2025 - Thread 4

[UrbanSquirrel]

Just creating this so that we have somewhere to continue when Thread 3 fills up. If you're due to have a baby in February 2025 (or late January or early March, as we have a wide spread!), come join us for support, advice and (at present) some really useful Black Friday recommendations! Big welcoming hugs to all the usual suspects coming over from Thread 3 🤗

@retrievermum I have a question for you !

I am having a C- Section ( medically indicated), I’m also a Dr very little obs experience! But…. I’m really keen for some sedation during the procedure. The reason being …. I know I will be a terrible patient, having been in theatre many times I’m aware of what all the sounds represent and will know if there any trouble brewing and to be perfectly honest it I would much prefer to be totally ignorant! In my mind a GA would be ideal, but I know that’s not the done thing for various reasons.

What are the chances they would agree to sedation?

I know, I can't believe how quick it's coming! My due date is the 20th and I'm working up until the 6th which felt like I was going off early and now I think...why did I do this 😂 about to get on with some serious nesting this morning!

So helpful to have some C section birth plan suggestions! Baby was breech at a scan last week and I'm pretty sure he's still very comfortable snuggled around my ribs so I've been looking into it more. Had a bit of an anxiety meltdown the other day after reading some horror stories on Mumsnet (there was no consensus, seemingly about every possible form of labour 😓 and freaked myself out) but DH talked me down. I think the ideal is feeling informed and in control and allowing as much time for recovery as needed, pushing to see a doctor if you think something might be wrong postpartum.

On that note - we're doing The Honest Midwife online classes and have found them fantastic! Really pleased she has classes for all kinds of birth eg 'natural labour', induction and instrumental birth, C section - they've really left me feeling a lot more informed and prepared. And the Hypnobirthing course from The Birth Uprising. Great discounts on both if you do their free taster class first. We also did an online first aid course from somewhere local (Midlands) and a free babycare online one, that might have been The Baby Academy. Spending this Sunday doing an in-person course here as well, slightly regretting it as I've been loving the online ones! The live ones are usually weekday evenings which suits great.

Is anyone else absolutely knackered or is it just the holidays? I'm back on Monday and have kept sleeping in and having naps! Making the most of it while it lasts 😂 but also stressing about my house not being ready yet.

@ThisLimeDeer sounds like your midwife is really proactive that's good! Good luck with the chat. 😊

@5431go we have an anaesthetist friend who's in doing sections a lot and he advised they can give midazolam during the section as he put it 'to smooth things over'. Only risk is that you can have some memory loss so there's a chance you might not remember the delivery. I'm in two minds about it as I'll be really anxious about the procedure also, but I already feel like a wimp getting a section😓 I'm also not sure if you have it can you still hold baby ASAP etc. I can ask him and find out though.
I had midazolam and fentanyl for a gastroscopy last year and it really did relax me, didn't last long and I did remember pretty much all of it (sadly haha).
I had a friend have an elective csection a couple of weeks ago, she was nervous but said they gave her morphine with the spinal and she felt relaxed and excited when time came. I also understand you can have gas and air, I've had that quite a few times and find it's good at distorting sounds so could be good to distract you. Maybe you should ask if you can speak to an anaesthetist ahead of it? Discuss your concerns, pretty sure I read you can do that.

@ridl14 jealous of you getting stuck into nesting! I had a little burst a few weeks ago but it's gone now! Now I'm just tired, sore and trying to fix my head space. Was leaking small amounts of colustrum at nights for weeks also and that's stopped, don't know if it's linked to the diabetes and or stress!

hopefully triage are reassuring when you go in? You’re definitely doing the right thing by checking if you feel something has changed, it’s not worth the risk x

if it helps though none of my three babies have had a pattern/routine at all but I just keep aware of when I last felt them move and if I realise I haven’t for a while make a conscious effort to monitor for a while until I’m satisfied. I went in for reduced movements in my last pregnancy and would definitely go straight in again if this baby felt too quiet xx

@sohomum18 thanks for your reply. I go to triage at least twice a week 😳 Quite embarrassing. People say to trust your gut but my gut is always 'i need to get checked'

Hi ladies!! Happy New year!! Glad to read all of you are in good spirits in general. 😊

I watched some clips from 'One born each minute' and freak me out. As it has been said maybe the kind of characters and background stories were more the issue and at the end of the day is a TV show (based on real life... But you know what I mean)

Today I had my birth plan done (34+4) and tbh apart from an epidural (I'd like to have a C section but with an specific reason... I wasn't sure if I could push for it. My fibroid hasn't helped here. It has been good for nothing 😅 the entire pregnancy). And some Gas and air previously to the epidural I didn't ask for much more. They mention about the pregnancy ball and walk around, but also a C-section would allow to my In-laws to show up the due date and honestly, I'm not mentally prepared for them. Anyway, my midwife said that I could end up having a C section. We'll see.

Tbh, I'm already wishing to have the baby and all the labour done. I've been told the baby is already headed down on my pelvis and there's no chance she would be move out of it. I don't know how they can be upside-down for so long without problems while you stay upside-down 2 minutes on a sofa and have the feeling tour head is about to blow off. Hahahaha.

My baby pattern hasn't been very clear in general @Hhdxx and I tend to do as @sohomum18 said. It helped me to feel less anxious.

@ridl14 i feel like you about resting/napping and getting back to work next Monday. I don't wanna to. It's just for a couple of weeks as the 17th would be my last day, but I think they are going to be very tough. Specially now, I feel humongous an unable to bend properly. Even wearing boots (no laces involved) I feel I'm unable to do them without feeling I'm going to faint. When are you starting your ML?

@UrbanSquirrel nice to read you and happy to see you found the BBC website for recipes! That's brilliant.

Btw, I can't remember who said about the anti sickness meds during labour I'd like to say a big thank you. I didn't know. Can you ask them if you feel nauseous with Gas and air?

And for the mums who would use formula, would you get some kind of injection to prevent the milk? I've heard is very painful of you don't get certain drugs for it. Is something they'll give you anyway (as in your birth plan says about formula feeding) or you have to ask?

@Piluka you don’t need a reason for a c section, if you want one, that’s reason enough!

Gas and air did make me feel sick when I used it last time, but it doesn’t do that to everyone and also as soon as I stopped using it, I stopped feeling sick! It’s out of your system within about a minute of it going in so if it makes you nauseous, you can always just say no thanks :)

No if you choose not to breastfeed they won’t give you any medication to prevent your milk coming in, a good bra and avoiding stimulation will help and your body will soon remove the milk.

Just to echo @retrievermum you can ask for a section for non medical reasons, NHS website itself advises you can and if your speaking to a doctor who won't arrange it to ask for another.
It's absolutely your right if that's your preference, and plenty of people change their birth plan...so I'd not worry at all if you've already documented it 😊

No ones documented mine but last time I was there they put down induction at 38 weeks and I've decided since I want to go section at 39 and planning to discuss at my next apt on Monday. Going to put also on the plan if he comes early himself to try for vaginal birth with gas & air and epidural when needed.
All getting very real now! 😂

I've also been napping a lot over Christmas not sure how I'm going to cope being back to work next week. I've got scan on Tuesday to see if she's still breech (sure she is) then they'll book C Section, I'm hoping I'll get the date straight away and then I will decide when to finish work.

The reality is setting in now that I'll be having another child, feels kind of like I've been burying my head in the sand that it's actually happening! I'll soon be 37 weeks so full term and potentially only 2 weeks out from birth, starting to get scary!

Hi ladies lovely to catch up and see how everyone is getting on! I'm also very tired and am not sure how il cope going back to work for 2 weeks next week after the Xmas break. Will just see how it goes and if I want to finish a bit earlier then I will do.
I'm also at the stage of feeling very round and uncomfortable. Struggle to get comfy on the sofa in the evenings so I take myself to bed then get grumpy when I'm not that comfy there either, the joys!

@Piluka yes as others have said, you are allowed to ask for a c section without a medical reason, it is your right to ask.

@Hhdxx I am similar to others where I wouldn't say I have a particular pattern. If I think baby has been quiet I focus on movement until I'm satisfied and so far I've not felt a need to go into triage, but always trust your instincts and if in doubt just go in, as you have been. Hopefully they are all understanding and reassuring when you are there.

I can't believe I have less than 4 weeks until c section day and I must say I'm feeling nervous now and underprepared! Do any other second time mums feel like you've hardly bought anything this time around? Feels very different to first baby.

@SBelfast ah that's frustrating if you're thinking now it could have actually been a false positive! With my last baby I lost some waters at 40 weeks so went in and they checked and said yes it was. Didn't go into labour so was induced 24 hours later and really struggled. Looking back my body just wasn't ready and probably needed another week or so, and I do wonder whether it was actually amniotic fluid or not, as when the doctor broke the 'rest' of my waters during the induction process it was like bursting a water balloon 😂 so much of it !! But obviously your situation is very different as it happened so early on.

Morning girls,

Lovely catching up with everyone.

I returned to work yesterday after the Christmas break, wasn't as bad as I thought but was very tired last night. Was asleep by 8.30 but then wide awake at 4am this morning, so the gym was easier to get up for today as was already awake 😂

@Hhdxx with everything you have been through I would be the same. And I'm sure triage understand. So dont worry.

I am finishing work on the 7th of feb also and cannot wait. Not that I'm struggling at work but I'm a beauty therapist and just fed up of having the same conversations all day everyday!

Had a scan this week and baby is head down so feels a bit more like I'm
Closer to the end now

Evening all, coming to you from the antenatal ward 😭 been admitted for 24h of blood pressure monitoring. Baby girl is not growing well, I feel sick with worry. Looking at induction in 2w

@OrangeSlices998 ahhhh I hope you’re okay! Try not to panic too much, you’re in the best place! Remember, you’ve both made it this far and chances are you’ll both be right as rain even if she comes a little bit early.

Induction doesn’t have to mean your birth plan goes out the window either, there’s a lot you can still do/ask for!

Sending so much love!

Ahh bless you @OrangeSlices998 you're definitely in the best safest place and I'm sure all will be well. Sending love x

Think my home waterbirth is out of the picture! 😂

Maybe print some large photos of your living room to recreate the experience 😂

@OrangeSlices998 sending lots of love! How many weeks are you? Xxx

35 today. It’s lovely to think I’ll be holding my baby soon but it’s incredibly worrying that she is very small and isn’t getting what she needs from the placenta. So worried, she’s currently having a good old wriggle which is nice!

@OrangeSlices998 I can completely understand your worry. 35 weeks is amazing and your baby will be really strong already. I'm glad she's giving you a wriggle. Your in the best place for you and your baby 💕 Sending you lots of love xxx

Sending you luck and love @OrangeSlices998 . Echoing everyone in saying that you are in the best place and that I'm sure everything will be ok. The stats for babies born at 35 weeks+ are excellent.

As everyone said @OrangeSlices998 you're in the best place possible and monitored that's important. Think that 35 weeks is quite good (almost 37) and if they see something strange they'll rush to have her early. So, you're in good hands.

No meds/injection for the milk if you bottle feed!!!! 🤯 OMG! OK... I've heard is quite painful without meds. Alright.... I need to mentally prepare for it.

Thanks @SBelfast @retrievermum and @Redapple21 i didn't know about the C section without medical reasons. Up to when you can change your birth plan?

@Piluka you can change it during labour if you want to! If you’d like an elective section, mention it to your midwife at your next appointment to get the ball rolling, but I’ve had a friend who went in to be induced and was in there for four days while they kept giving her pessaries (which did nothing!) and she eventually asked (and got) a category 3 EMCS (which was basically “this isn’t urgent at all but we’ve started the birth process so we need to finish it”).

@Piluka yes I would just tell your midwife at your next appointment so she can get you booked in with a consultant. I know everywhere is different but that's what they do in my area. My consultant did try to persuade me not to have the c section but I just insisted it was what I wanted and she booked me in.

Thanks all. They suspect I’m developing pre eclampsia now, I’m on medication and planning to deliver baby next week at 36w. Bloody terrified