May Babies 2025 - Thread 2

[BrodieKD]

Continuing on from the first thread....For all those pregnant ladies due in May 2025

Will you be trying for a VBAC? I had the peppermint tea last time but it didn't do anything, to be honest I don't think there's a great evidence base for peppermint capsules but I'm prepared to try anything! I'll take the placebo effect

@BodeAkuna Currently have complete placenta previa, have an appointment next month at the fetal medicine unit. If it stays where it is and doesn't move, then will be a c section. I have discussed vbac and c section with a consultant midwife. Will have to see what happens. Apparently tonic water can help with trapped wind.

I found sparkling water really helpful. Any fizzy drink. Plus suppositories! 🫣.

@BodeAkuna satsumas helped a lot with bowel movement!

I'm having a planned section this time and I'm feeling better and worse about it!

Oh thanks to all three of you for the advice!! Will pack everything

@BodeAkuna I got myself a belly binder and it worked so well. Kept my stomach contained and secure. Plus meant I could feed and hold baby without it putting pressure on my scar

Yes I forgot about the trapped wind from section until I was looking at my tea selection reminding myself to put some in my hospital bag as my hospital didn’t stock it.

this is my third and I have nothing (I gave everything away last time) currently trying to find a reasonable pram that is light weight (doesn’t need to have a carrycot) but could do with being able to attach a car seat for the school run but most importantly east to get in and out the car… welcome to any suggestions.
I need all furniture bedside crib, possible Moses basket, bottles towels clothes baby monitor … 😂😂😂 I did get a prep machine as I had so many issues breast feeding last time I don’t know if it’s worth the potential heartache again.

Hi everyone. I hope all is going well for you all! I had a consultation and ultrasound scan today with a fetal medicine consultant at 26+3. My placenta has started to move away from my cervix, looking to be 6mm away now which is good sign as just two weeks ago it was covering my cervix. However upsettingly there is strong indication of accreta with bladder involvement. They've found large placenta lakes and a thinning of the uterus, so I've been referred to the RVI in Newcastle for further testing. I'm also currently in a labour and delivery room for monitoring because from the observations they took this afternoon my BP, pulse and temperature have caused concern. Baby has just traced ok, so hopefully the rest will normalise and I can go home soon!

@Zeeha that sounds a lot! 🤞🏻 For you. Plenty of bed rest on the horizon. Maternity leave might be starting earlier for you!

@Zeeha Hope you're OK ❤️ xx

Thank you both. I'm back home now. I think the harsh reality of how serious this accreta is looking to be sent my obs crazy. I guess just one step at a time now and we'll likely be seeing little one much earlier than expected.

I got a call from my OB yesterday to say my gestational diabetes test came back positive ☹️
Has anyone else been diagnosed with it?
I have an appointment on Thursday with an endocrinologist, so right now I'm in the dark about it, other than I'm back to fortnightly checkups with my OB.

Aw thinking of you both it’s such a stressful time.
hopefully they will monitor you more and keep a close eye on baby.

Yes I have GDM. I had it with my first pregnancy too. It's a dizzying amount of information to wrap your head around.

I was gutted but the thing to remember is that it is not a moral failing, it is a medical condition where your body cannot produce enough insulin for you AND your growing baby. It is also a progressive condition, which means that you will find that you can tolerate some foods at first that you won't be able to later on.

The hardest blood sugar to control is your morning ones because that's almost entirely hormonal, whereas the after meal ones can be affected by the food and exercise you do.

My tips are: eat your green veggies first. Meat with every meal. Full fat everything. Lower your carbs. Mash is evil, roast potatoes or chips are good but still don't have too much. Cheese or cream in abundance. Basically ignore all traditional diet advice that you grew up with 🤣

If you can afford the high protein pasta (de cecco) then eat that, otherwise basic wholemeal pasta is fine. White rice which has been frozen and then thawed for a meal is better than fresh rice so try to batch cook.

Try to go for a walk after every meal, exercise really helps with your blood sugar.

If you really really want chocolate, tag it on to the end of your meal so that you're not spiking your blood sugar levels with pure sugar as it will be diluted (for lack of a better word) by the meal.

I did quite well managing my levels with diet last time and towards the last few weeks basically every meal was chicken, broccoli and wholemeal pasta, I was sick to death of it.

I wasn't diagnosed until 30 weeks and my baby was m on the 97th centile but this time I've been eating a GDM friendly diet from the beginning and the baby was measuring 59th at the 20 week scan - which to me is proof that my choices are making a difference.

Oh, thank you so much @TheBeesKnee
I'm glad you've been able to control it 🙂
Any tips on what to drink? I love fizzy juice which will obviously be a no go.

@Zeeha that's what I try and do one day at a time. ❤️

@Beccaa123 have you thought about a soda stream you can have your fizzy juice but you can control the ratio more?

I had a call with a consultant midwife yesterday which has really irritated me.

This is my second baby, the first was born via EMCS due to footling presentation during induction. I've decided I want a planned section this time and I have no interest in a vbac.

I didn't like induction and I was exhausted from not sleeping on the ward for 2 days. I have GDM so would have to be induced around 39 weeks anyway, otherwise I'd have just left it to mother nature.

She basically said she couldn't book it in until I'd watched a video prepared by the Trust. There was a comment at the start that we will be asked questions based on the content to make sure we've watched it 🫠

I tried watching it last night and it was lagging.

I managed to get through it this morning and it's an hour of the dangers of cesareans and the perks of a vaginal delivery. They had the nerve to finish off the video by saying "it's your choice and we'll support you".

Some really aggravating turns of phrase such as "some women may experience intense contractions such may be quite painful" 🤯

They clearly have an agenda to push and even though we have choice in policy, in practice they're still trying to herd women down the vbac route.

I don't want to get into a debate with her so I've just emailed saying I've watched the stupid video and can we please proceed with booking my CS.

It feels very very odd to be in a position to choose your baby's birthday! It'll be the W/C 28th April for me and they do planned sections Monday-Thursday.

I don't know what's best. I'd like to keep the baby in for as long as possible, but worried about booking the Thursday and then getting delayed or ending up at home at the weekend with a wild toddler and newborn 😵‍💫

My eldest's birthday is 5th May so I am gutted that I won't be at my best for his second birthday and I'm wondering whether it's worth the agro to try and fight for a due date section (6th May).

@TheBeesKnee how strange! I just had my birth options appointment and just clearly stated my preference for C-section. No videos or stuff. I would have just lied and said I had seen the video not even attempted it!

I didn't want to get caught out lying when she inevitably asks me something about the content, as was made clear they would at the start of the video.

I have actually read the policy and guidelines that they referenced so feel like I was making an informed choice but that didn't seem to matter!

It seems like such a postcode lottery! Do you mind me asking where you are? I'm in South London but my friend in Kent had a smooth experience with asking for a second section.

What the hell?!? A test to check you've watched the video, how patronising!

@TheBeesKnee

Sorry typo! East Sussex. This will be my third, severe tokophobia and mental health anxiety for this one. My previous ones were due to reduced movements, pre exclampsia.

I had my appointment about gestational diabetes today, they took my blood sugar while I was there and it was within normal range.
I've to check it 3 times a day for a week and then go back.
On another point...is it normal/common to get twinges/aches in the tummy at this stage?

I’m getting braxton hicks constantly it’s so annoying but I had it last pregnancy so I’m not concerned