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 🤗

I took so long to write that that @HDT88 has already said exactly what I thought about the triage thing 😉

I hope your appointment went okay today @Piluka !
I’ve had a weird situation recently which ended up in me having to go to hospital again today and I want a rant.
I went into labour triage on 30th December as I’ve noticed some blood in the middle of the night and had kidney pain. Long story short there was blood in my wee and I was sent home with some antibiotics which I took for 7 days after that and symptoms cleared.

Anyways I was called by the hospital yesterday to tell me they sent a sample of my wee to the lab that night on the 30th and I actually had e.coli in my urine all this time (!!!) and to come back to pick up some antibiotics. Clearly someone missed this for 2 weeks.
It didn’t even occur to me that I’ve already been taking some antibiotics and to protest so my partner went and picked them up for me.

fast forward to today my diabetes midwife called me about something else and I mentioned this whole situation to her… she was concerned that they are giving me too many antibiotics that I don’t need so I should go back and do another wee sample to check I still have e.colo.
In the meantime I told her I’ve had reduced movements today and so of course she sent me to hospital anyway.

In the hospital I was told the first lot of antibiotics wouldn’t have treated e.coli hence they prescribed me something else now but I’m fuming that I was left with this infection for 2 weeks and not a word until this week!!!

Also as this was the third time I went in for reduced movements I will now require growth scans every 2 weeks and to be seen by fetal wellbeing twice a week until birth!

I’m glad I’m being monitored so heavily but also annoyed about the antibiotics.
In general I am worried about all these meds they ask me to take and hoping it won’t affect my baby.
I’ve counted 13 tablets a day I am taking currently for various reasons such as diabetes, hypertension, anaemia, infection, pre-eclampsia prevention and then supplements etc.
today I really have had enough and on top of it I have this giant haemorrhoid that hurts so much I can’t sit down!!! 😭

So, today I had my midwife appointment. She checked the usual suspects and everything seems fine. I mentioned about itching and she said it's due to the tummy stretching and nothing to get concerned (as it's just the tummy area) I also mentioned about the Growth scan results and the baby is around 54th percentil (marked as red) and she asked about my consultant appointment. I mentioned that even I asked at reception about it I didn't had any arranged (follow ups or anything of the sort) she checked on the system and she was quite puzzled to find out that I had none since my amniocentesis (week 16) and she insisted I should have had one after each scan. My midwife, she's a star, called the hospital and I have an appointment for next Thursday (either for a scan or for a follow up, she was not fully sure) still we don't know why I hadn't been offered/booked for a follow up appointment with consultant, specially after the Growth scans. Anyway, she was not super concerned about the baby being on the 54 centile but she wanted to find out why the baby is not growing as it should be. She weighted me and, honestly it's not my fault... Definitely, I have my 'Whale club card' so, where the food goes? To Richard my precious fibroid? I don't know.... Let's see next Thursday. Apart from that baby's heart as strong as usual and blood pressure and so good. She picked up some infection in my wee (of course..... My UTIs never deceive me). 🤣😂

I try to laugh at it and not to worry much because until Thursday I cannot do anything about it.

@elb1504 @retrievermum my cramps have settled today as I've literally just been on the sofa the entire day as my toddler was in nursery, so I think you're right in the sense of overdoing things and maybe my body was shouting at me to rest. So glad I'm on Mat leave now, 13 days to go until c section date so hoping I don't go into labour before this. I know people say they should still honour your C-section, but as mine is a request after a traumatic birth last time, with no other medical reasons, I do worry that they might just say they can't fit me in etc. Has anyone else asked about this?

In terms of visitors I'm definitely going to delay as many people as I can, as I felt rushed into having too many people round last time and it just adds stress and anxiety with germs as people have said and also just feeling like you can't sit in your pjs all day!

Hi everyone just a question for people collecting colostrum and planning to take it into hospital - if you cannot get hold of freezer blocks or a cooling bag in time, how long can you use colostrum for feeds or top up feeds when baby is home? as if I can't get any blocks in time, I don't want all my frozen syringes to go to waste :(

@Redapple21 glad you got a bit of a rest today!

In terms of your section, everyone I know personally who has been in the situation of going into labour before the date has had their request for a section honoured; if I remember correctly one of them had to labour for a full day before she got hers but they kept her in hospital and monitored her etc and she didn’t even make it to 2cm so they knew it didn’t have to be done too quickly! The other four or five (I’m in a huge pregnancy yoga group chat that I’ve been in since my last pregnancy, and people share all of the details, that’s why I “know” so many!) have rang and told the hospital they’re in labour, and then had a quick quiz on the phone (are you in pain/is it your first baby type questions) and then been given a time to go in that day, and been told to come straight in if anything changes or gets worse. One went straight in and went to the top of the list so it shows it can be done!

Hopefully little apple stays in there until their eviction date!

@retrievermum ah thanks so much that's really reassuring! I don't know anyone who it's happened to personally so had no idea what the situation would be. Thanks for replying 😊

@Piluka and @ThisLimeDeer sorry to hear about your bad hospital experiences, hope they improve😥
@Redapple21 I've also heard they should do everything they can to enable your birth choice. I'd a friend who was really scared of going into labour before her section and she had her section a month ago all was grand. Her sister had three sections and went into labour before all 3 (first was twins and probably that kicked off subsequent early labours in later pregnancy) and they just took her in got her all the gas and air she wanted and did the section. So try not to worry - I know easier said than done! Also wanting a section after a traumatic birth - to me that is a medical reason, mental health. I'm having one as I'm too scared of cervical exams and it's that or be induced - my worst nightmare lol. Was being hard on myself about it and my husband keeps reminding me mental health reasons are medical.
I got a section date on Wednesday for next Wed - scary. They suggested Monday but got a dentist apt on Tuesday lol. I'll only be 37 weeks and 3 days. It's the recommendation for PPROM. For a while I thought false diagnosis and that was stressing me out about birth options and unnecessarily delivering early but I'm leaking again and my last scan showed an abnormally low amount of fluid around baby. In a wierd way it's comforting about having to go early and been really lucky so far not to have developed infection or went into premature labour!

I've also just had to start injecting insulin- ouch! Back of arm was sore, upper butt today not so bad haha. Anyone tried the thigh? I hate needles so my husband is my injector :)

If it’s the same as pumped milk, I was told by the midwife last time: six hours at room temp! Definitely still ask your midwife as things might have changed but six hours seems fairly reasonable

Gosh @SBelfast that seems very soon doesn't it? But congratulations on having a date! It sounds like it is absolutely the best thing, considering the fluid levels, and you'll be over 37 weeks, so full term. Ugh, poor you about the insulin, but I'm very glad that MrBelfast is stepping up and doing the injections for you. It's good for him to get practice because he may or may not have to do blood thinners after the c section as well 😉 Sending you lots of love and good vibes - and enjoy the last week of (comparative) freedom! 🤗 x

@ThisLimeDeer What an absolute SNAFU! So sorry to hear about all the mess, and you are quite right to be annoyed - although mainly at the sheer lack of communication rather than any danger to the baby, let's hope. As you say, the increased monitoring is a really good thing, and means that they'll have eagle eyes on anything out of the ordinary now. Your list of tablets sounds rather epic - but hopefully they're keeping everything in check as they should be. Very best of luck and hope the increased scans and wellbeing checks bring you some peace of mind (even though it's a total faff having to go in for them!). Big hugs and hope the haemorrhoid clears up soon, because that just sounds horrible at a time when you should be able to sit around just as much as you like x

@Piluka I had totally forgotten that you'd named your fibroid Richard, and that made me giggle. I'm so, so pleased to hear that the midwife didn't note anything of concern, and even more pleased that she has taken steps to get your meetings with the consultant sorted out. That's really good news, and I hope you'll have some more info and clarity next Thursday. In the meantime, it sounds as though you're doing exactly the right thing keeping up your spirits (Whale Club is here for you 🤗 🤣). Keep us up to date with how it goes next week x

I was also wondering about collected colostrum. So thanks for that.

Is anyone still going to the gym?
I'm in the waiting for labour club and all of a sudden having a panic of my waters going in the gym and one of the staff members having to clean it up 😂 very unlikely I know....but can you imagine. I would die. Especially as one of the staff members is an ex boyfriend 😂🙈

Thank you @SBelfast you're right, I guess it is still a medical reason. Thanks for the further reassurance that they will honour my choice for a C-section.

Ah yes I remember you saying you thought it could be a false diagnosis, so I'm glad in a way that you now know it's not, as it justifies your earlier delivery date! Wow it's so soon! Exciting times xx

@MyHappyNewt sorry may have been worded wrong! i mean in terms of baby's age. So if colostrum doesn't end up getting used at the hospital, can I use when baby is brought home and how long for?x

@apple67cherry about colostrum, as I understand it, the key is not to take too much into the hospital - just take a few syringes, definitely not your whole collection as it will likely go to waste. This might depend on your hospital policy but in my case, if I have do to stay on the antenatal ward then my partner will have to go home so he can pick more up if needed.

Even if you have the freezer packs, the syringes are so small they will likely defrost on your way to the hospital. It shouldn't be refrozen. But your hospital should have a fridge you can put them in on arrival (check w your midwife), and in the back of a fridge it can keep for up to 5 days.

Hi All, thanks so much for the advice yest. It was a super busy day with work and parenting so I decided I’d get through that and see how I felt. Around 7pm the pain started on the other side so decided the best thing to do was go to the hospital to get checked out. In summary, baby seems fine and is indeed almost the weight my little one was when she was born (explains the heavy feeling and everything generally being more painful. Baby had been breech and is now head down so I think the turning is what caused the pain. Honestly it was so painful!! @SBelfast that’s so exciting you’re so close now!
@Piluka richard makes me laugh every time!
@ThisLimeDeer sorry to hear what you’ve been going through. Hopefully the medication is all doing exactly what it should.
I’ve got a MW appt on mon and apparently I’m meant to get my CS date then too. I really am struggling with PGP and rib and back pain so hoping I can get them to agree to CS for w/c 3rd Feb

I asked my Obstetrician about this and he said if you go into labour before your planned C-section it's essentially treated as an emergency C-section so you're given high priority and are effectively bumped up the list.

I don't know about anyone else but my God my emotions are all over the place. I'm crying because I'm tired, fed up, because I have to do the school run, also cried because we didn't have anything in for lunch but didn't want to go to the shop to get anything. Everything feels like it's too much and I just want to hibernate and not have to do anything!

Also i think baby may have moved back to being breech, not sure if that's even possible this late on!

Thank you ladies for validating me and my shitty hospital experience yesterday, I appreciate you ♥️.
@elb1504 I’m with you on this, everything is a bit much right now and I feel sorry for my partner having to deal with my moods, bless him. I cried the other night because of the painful haemorrhoid saying ‘I can’t do this anymore’ and he just held me asking how he can help me 😭.
Just a side reflection but I’ve honestly relied so much on him this entire pregnancy and he’s been amazing. In general men in my life including my boss even were so understanding and caring throughout I’m actually shooketh 🤣.

@elb1504 I hope you’re okay, I cried when I had to get up this morning because I was too tired, so I can relate!

How many weeks are you now? I heard a rumour that if you’re over 37 and think baby might have flipped, you can ask for a presentation scan in case you go into labour (although I must stress this was just a rumour!)

@ThisLimeDeer I've suffered with haemorrhoids this pregnancy and my last one so I feel you on that, I have managed to get them slightly under control last few weeks so not as bad but definitely a reason to feel crappy. I feel sorry for DH having to deal with my moods too but he's at work at lot so I'm sure he enjoys a break, even DS has been super nice to me helping me out with stuff so he knows somethings up too.

@retrievermum I'm 38 weeks now, I've got a scan on Tuesday anyway so I'll find out and if I go into labour I'll be insisting on them checking position, DS was unknown back to back which ended up with very long labour and EMCS so I'm so cautious of position this time!

@Mamma3456 ahh great thank you. You ladies have helped me feel more relaxed now that if I do go into labour before my section date it should still go ahead as planned.

@elb1504 yes allll the emotions here. DH got up with DS this morning to try and give me a lie in, and all he was saying was 'I want mummy' and crying. So I then I cried and just got out of bed anyway. Other times he's done that it hasn't bothered me but my emotions are so heightened at the moment!

They say when you give birth it's the biggest hormonal drop anyone will ever experience, so I guess we are bound to feel the effects. It's draining though!

If it helps you in your own mind then PPROM is the reason and that’s likely to be on your discharge.

Insulin wise, arm is a pain. Upper outer thigh is grand or edge of abdomen. Also what length of needles? Don’t rub it before or after. Lift a bit of skin/fat. Don’t inject the same area twice. The beginning of the cartridge is worse than the end.
Also it’s much less sore if I do it, than anyone else x

I've had a comfortable pregnancy so far, but yesterday was the first I've really felt I've had enough. I just feel huge, out of breath, and I think what must be Braxton Hicks contractions because of a crampy tight feeling low down, that is random and not regular. C-section planned so not really welcoming the feeling either!

It's my second baby and I really don't remember feeling as fed up as this the first time, though it doesn't help having an older child to still have to run around after.

Definitely leave them at home especially if you’re nearby to the hospital because once you take it out of the freezer unless you have the cool blocks it is only useable for 24h. A lactation consultant I follow shared a post about this yesterday, and it would be such a shame for such precious milk to go to waste! The rule of thumb is 6h at room temp once freshly expressed so when Norah and I were in the hospital I just had a couple of syringes at the bedside ready to go for the next feed as it was never more than 6h before she ate again! I’ll see if I can find the post.

Found it! It was on TikTok, she is also on Instagram & worth a follow if you’re breastfeeding

vm.tiktok.com/ZGdSK5svf/