Due February 2025 - Thread 5: IT'S TIME

[UrbanSquirrel]

Creating this as a space to continue the Feb 2025 chat - quite frankly it's all starting to feel very, very real right now!

Thank you everyone. I can't seem to find anyone who has had it in their urine which is worrying me.

@TTCagain85 I am so sorry for your loss. It really is awful and makes pregnancy after loss so difficult. This is my 11th pregnancy, Ive had a lot of early miscarriages as well, which doesn't help with the anxiety. Sending a big hug.

I really want them to get baby out now but I guess they can't as I'm only 36+2.

xx

@Hhdxx I know it’s not quite the same, but when my SIL had her daughter, she went into hospital for a vaginal delivery etc no problem and it came out afterwards that she’d had a positive group b strep urine sample at a midwife appointment at about 32 weeks, but it hadn’t been flagged.

Her and baby were both TOTALLY fine, even though birth was obviously quite a bit riskier than they had thought. She didn’t talk much about it afterwards so I don’t have a lot of information, but I can ask her for a bit more if you’d like me to?

She’s a happy and healthy three year old now so there’s definitely a positive story there!

Hope you’re okay and looking after yourself xx

I can't even imagine how you feel but the midwife picked up that I had group b strep from my urine at my booking appointment. I was worried especially as I wasn't out of the first trimester yet but the midwife really assured me that as long as I took the full course of antibiotics they gave me and that I had iv antibiotics during the birth that the baby would be fine and that there was nothing to worry about. Me and baby have been absolutely fine the whole pregnancy and there's been no worries about it from the midwife or anyone

@Hhdxx I’m not due until April so excuse me jumping into this chat but wanted to offer you some moral support. I am currently 30 weeks and have consistently had strep B picked up in swabs. Last week I had it picked up in my urine too and am on antibiotics for a 7 day course (finishes tomorrow). I’ll then go back this week to check if it has gone. Just wanted to say that although they wanted to start the antibiotics asap my midwives were very reassuring and said it’s very common for strep to cause UTI during pregnancy etc. I’m not sure how much help that is but just wanted you to know you’re not alone! X

@Cheeseandcrackers123 about vaginal birth. I had my baby recently and it has been the worst experience of my life. If I go through that next time I'd ask for a C section. Never again vaginal birth, no thank you sir.

@SBelfast about feeling down after birth. May I join the club? In general I feel OK, specially now my mum came to stay with us for a while. She's giving me a hand at home, with the baby an as a former nurse she's checking the stitches' recovery. However, there are days or times that I start crying for a silly reason and feel overwhelmed with everything, after a while it passes though. But you're not alone. 😊 You'll see sooner or later it will fade away. 🤞😉🤞

Congratulations on all the new Jan mums!!! I was feeling super happy when I entered fb and saw the babies pictures!!! ❤️ they look babyborn dolls. So cuteeeee!!!

@Piluka sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. I am worried for other FTMs though who have not given birth yet and get very anxious by reading this.

Everyone’s experience will be different and I respect whatever type of choices people want to make. As a STM I can only say that I had a very positive first vaginal birth and am hoping this will be the same again this time, but know that every birth is different and may face its complications so remain apprehensive. Also as much as possible it is good to try and stay as happy and relaxed as possible in birth as this increases oxytocin which contributes to happier / easier labours. Definitely easier said than done, but for those who are interested I definitely found that hypnobirthing breathing allowed me to feel more in control and in the zone during my last labour so hope to use that again too.

As for the emotions, your hormones are wild post birth so definitely completely understandable and to be expected to be extra emotional with that on top of what you’ve just been through and lack of sleep. Hopefully it improves soon but keep an eye, accept all the support, be kind to yourself and do speak to midwives etc if you continue to feel really down.

@Cheeseandcrackers123 of course every birth is different but also we shouldn't romanticised vaginal birth or C sections. Prior to my labour day I'd heard very amazing experiences on both sides (C's ands vaginas) and horrible experiences on both of course. However, is up to your own circumstances, midwives and the actual labour itself. The good part is the "fast" recovery compared to a C.

100% agree with that and the recovery from either can be really variable too. Really hope that as many of us as possible get birth experiences we are happy with and those that don’t are able to take the time they need physically and mentally to recover. Next it will be on to the very variable experiences people have in the first few days, weeks and months post partum too! Bringing life into and up in this world is no mean feat 😊 xx

As someone who is also a FTM and hasn’t yet given birth (37 weeks today :)) all I can say is that it’s useful to read both positive and negative stories about vaginal births, inductions, assisted births and sections, recovery, the post partum period, everything!
It helps to imagine various scenarios and be prepared for different potential outcomes so thank you to everyone who has shared recent and historic experiences, it helps.

I’ve had my last growth scan today. Baby measured 8 lbs 3 oz so still on the larger side :)
Other than that everything seems to be okay, we have the anaesthetist on Friday who will apparently give us the date of the actual c-section. That leaves me in limbo for the next three days and therefore I decided to keep myself busy with nesting 🤣. All being well we should meet our baby boy next week. I cannot wait at this point 🥰

How do you tell when it's no longer braxton hicks but real contractions....

I've been having pms symptoms for a few hours morning and night last days. But tonight they seem more forceful, lower and travelling down into my cervix?

@retrievermum thank you! I'd really appreciate that. It's all so scary. I'm hoping the antibiotics are going to clear it but every time I've been checked since testing positive for it in urine, I have leukocytes in my urine.

Also, random question, do you have a golden retriever by any chance. Just wondering from your name 😂 I have two!

Just keep an eye on them, if they become more regular and you can't shift them, say in the bath or sleep through them then I would ring up xx

Officially overdue here. Checked my cervix last night, or tried to - it's somewhere in the upper atmosphere, far too high to reach. So that was a bit disheartening.

Hopefully it'll come down and open far enough for a stretch and sweep later in the week. 🫤

Has anybody had a c section at 37 weeks? I've been offered one slightly earlier and wondered if anyone has had one around that time. Xx

I’m having one next week and I’ll be 38 weeks so close enough. They told me yesterday that if I notice any reduced movements this week they will bring it forward so it is possible to have at 37 x

@ThisLimeDeer thanks for messaging. Mine is planned for 37+6 but they're thinking of bringing it forward x

The obstetrician discussed the risks of 37 v 38 in terms of resp distress, steroids, feeding, blood sugars, pros/cons to me and baby.
However those risks have to be individualised to each scenario. I’d ask the obstetrician if they think it’s in babies interest to be out rather than in, or maybe in your case it’s more for your benefit? There’s no easy answer!

@UncharteredWaters thank you. We're rescheduled to 37+3. Xx

@Hhdxx is that soon for you? How are you feeling about it?

Next week! Next Tuesday so just another 6 days to go through. X

Been 8yrs since my last section, although myomectomy in 2019 very similar. But I've found this page on Instagram and it is just fantastic: www.instagram.com/csectionuk?igsh=bW14eWRyZ3ZxYzMz

If this link doesn't show properly just look for csectionuk on Instagram, it is honestly so informative. They have a q&a for people to ask questions and members who have had c sections can answer with their experience!

@TTCagain85 this looks brilliant. Thank you for sharing! Xx

Mine is also next week but I won’t find out the date until Friday 😭. My guess is that mine will be more towards the end of the week but I could be wrong and we could have our babies on the same day even!

@ThisLimeDeer I'm sorry you won't find out until Friday. I'm only finding out so early because I'm under specialist care due to what has happened in the past. Otherwise, I wouldn't find out too.
Yes, let me know if yours is Tuesday too! Xx

Hi All, also scheduled for CS on Tue 11th. I’ll be 39+1 according to hospital but I’m pretty sure by my dates that it’s 39+4. Im
hoping I make it to that date as waters went at 38+5 last time. Really struggling with pelvic, back and rib pain. Midwife and Dr have both said that there’s not much room left !