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!

Hello everyone! Hope all is going well and sending love and congratulations to all those who've already had their babies and good vibes to everyone who's still waiting.

We are two weeks and four days into parenthood and I'm learning that it is virtually impossible to complete any task before MiniSquirrel a) decides she has wind and squawks b) decides she wants to be fed and squawks c) asks to be picked up by squawking. Sleep has been scarce but not as scarce as I feared; MrSquirrel and I are sharing the feeding shifts. But it is getting to the point where it feels easier now.

I genuinely could not have had a smoother, happier and easier experience: the planned c section and formula feeding have been perfect for us, and MiniSquirrel is thriving and has rampaged happily past her birthweight and beyond. Fortunately I never felt judged for my birth choices but, had I done so, I would now feel entirely vindicated. Very happy to share the c section experience if it's of use to anyone but I know others have done so already. What I will say is that we're 18 days in and I have full mobility back, I've had no pain at all, and I feel pretty much back to normal.

So all well and good here, even if I hardly have time to have a wee any more... 😂 x

@Hopefully2ndtimemummy I had terrible cramps and diarrhea for maybe a week and a half after constipation. Luckily for me was mostly after dinner. I was advised to stop taking the strong ibruphen. I just took paracetamol.
But it still persisted and I'm on the blood thinning injections for 6 weeks. I read it can be a side effect of them and I took them shortly before dinner so was wondering..! I've just been drinking lots of water and eating smaller snacks when it was bad. It's pretty much subsided now. Good luck with it last thing you need. Once or twice I had to remove the baby from my breast to go run to toilet lol. Not ideal!!

Adding myself to the tally. 😊 Very long post ahead!!

I had a scan at 41+2 which showed tailing growth and on 41+3 protein was found in my urine. No one was hugely concerned, but given that my baby was already so well baked we decided to go ahead and induce on 41+4. In the end, we were actually called in on the evening of 41+3 (in hindsight should have declined this, as I'd slept terribly the night before and was exhausted, but 🤷 lessons learned!!), ARMed at 9pm or so and oxytocin drip started at 11pm.

Contractions started pretty rapidly after that and by 3am (? it all got pretty hazy tbh 😅) the drip was on full whack and I was in agony. Gas and air did not touch the sides, so accepted some pethidine and that made things so much more tolerable - I was able to microsleep between contractions. Not long after I had the strong urge to push, BUT!! the midwives seemed to think that there was to be no pushing until after I was checked, which wasn't due to happen until six hours post drip. I did some sneaky pushes anyway. (This was my second mistake. I should have announced to the room at large, "I am pushing now!!" But instead I just meekly OKed waiting.)

Six hour cervical check showed I was fully dilated and it was time to push. I did not expect pushing to be so hard, but it was honestly exhausting. I totally understand why they call it labour.

After an hour or so, baby had made it all the way down the birth canal, but my contractions had all but gone and the drip was empty. I was pushing without any urge to push and it wasn't happening - there was no way her head was coming out. I okayed an episiotomy (by this point I was actually relieved when the midwife suggested it) and after a couple of snips and a LOT of pushing and pulling by the midwives (no forceps or ventouse though - they were just pushing my labia over the baby's head, like someone pulling a turtleneck sweater over a child 😅). Head came out and baby's body followed a lot more easily. All told I pushed for about 90 minutes. My pelvic floor feels absolutely wrecked, as do my abdominal muscles. 😬

Mini-Quantum (Quark??) was born just before 7am on the 13th Feb, weighing 8lb 5ish ounces (or 3.7-kg in new money). 🥳 I was stitched up and we went up to the post-natal ward. Baby had all her checks and we were home less than 24hr after we'd gone in.

Overall it was a pretty positive experience. Obviously would have loved to have not had an episiotomy, but I walked out of the hospital under my own steam and it's not bothering me too much. I am mostly happy that it was over so quickly and that the baby is perfectly happy and healthy. 🥰

@UrbanSquirrel but aren't the squawks just the cutest thing?? So glad that you're recovering so brilliantly and that mini-squirrel is loving life!! 💕

@QuantumPanic Oh good lord your description of the birth 'like pulling a turtleneck over a child' just had me snorting with laughter in the middle of the street. But your poor undercarriage! My eyes are watering in sympathy - but very, very many congratulations on MiniQuantum-Quark's epic entry into the world! x

Wow @QuantumPanic amazing congratulations to you and your birth story. Do love to hear them. Just reminds me no matter what happens we get through it.

I am very fed up now and only 39 weeks. Sweep didn't work and nothing else has. But why would it I'm not even due yet 😂

@bumpkin34 I've had two sweeps now (at 38+1 and 39+3) and neither have worked for me.

Resigning myself to the fact that my section will go ahead this week (at 40+4). A bit disappointed not to have a VBAC, but also framing it that a planned section will be so much nicer than the emergency one I had the last time!

So happy for you all who have had such positive birth experiences!

I am 39+3 and absolutely no signs of anything happening, have a growth scan on my due date (19th) then midwife appt on 20th and I’m seriously considering asking for a c-section as I have frightened myself that an induction will be horrific 🫣 of course I’d rather go naturally between now and then but will I be too late to request this when I speak to the consultant after my scan on Wednesday?

I am 39+4 and no real signs of things getting going yet. I have a midwife appointment where I think I will ask for a sweep presuming things looking good for it next Thursday at 40+2 and then have induction provisionally booked in on Sunday 23rd, but will assess whether to go for that based on how the sweep goes / things are looking on Thursday I think. I’m keen to get going but not tooo impatient at this point - think having a 3 year old is keeping me busy!

Thanks a mil for your reply! Glad you’re over it now! Yes last night every time I thought I could try get some sleep I had to run to the loo. At one point I seriously considered just staying there all night! Today I’ve been ok but we’ll see how tonight and tomorrow goes. Im
hoping I don’t need to take anymore lactulose anyway!

@Hopefully2ndtimemummy oh I feel your pain!! There was one night the baby finally was asleep and as soon as I put my head down had to run to the bathroom with the worst cramps, was there for half an hour and when I got back to bed he woke up....😥lol. I'm praying sleep improves soon...3 weeks and 3 days today and maybe seeing a bit of an improvement!

@QuantumPanic well done you!!! Sounds like you were an absolute champ and congratulations on a gorgeous healthy bubba!

I've just had 40w appnt and a sweep but midwife said it was unlikely to work as the babies head isnt engaged and my cervix is closed. HOW his head isnt engaged is beyond me because there is so much pressure on my bladder and pelvis, but apparently hes not. I am very fortunate that the hosp has booked me in for a c-section on 23rd if I dont give birth before, but that just feels like forever away!! I have said I wouldnt have an induction due to oxytocin drip being hellish in my last labour.

@Pepsix @Cheeseandcrackers123 hope you are both getting on okay, feel like we are in similar boats! @Pepsix I asked for a c-section two weeks ago, if I didnt go into natural labour by 41 weeks, but it wasnt confirmed until yesterday and even then they can still cancel/change it in emergencies. I think you can ask at any time, I dont think they can say outright 'no'.

Reflexology appnt also didnt do anything in terms of labour but would recommend anyway as it was lovely to have an hour to myself and get some feet loving.

I requested a c section instead of an induction late on (initially at 36 weeks but the request wasn’t actioned until 40 weeks 🤦🏻‍♀️). There was definite stress around scheduling, with a risk that no ‘slots’ would be free in the 40 week-42 week window. But they found me one in the end, and I have absolutely zero regrets so far. Would recommend pushing for the c section if you think it’s the right choice, and nagging them if you have to!

@Pepsix I opted for c section instead of induction if I went overdue and due to scheduling and availability ended up being booked for my due date as they had no further availability but I had discussed with my consultant all along and booked about 38 weeks. You can ask at any point but as others have said availability and scheduling can make it more difficult for them to book last minute.

I also got bumped off my original date due to others being more of a priority/emergencies happening so just one to bare in mind if you do get a date.

It’s so tough isn’t it! Glad you’re seeing a bit of improvement on the sleep front! How are you feeling yourself physically?
i thought id never get out of the car on the way home from the hospital on Fri! It’s about 35min no traffic but took almost an hour! We’ve to go back in today for the heel prick test so dreading that journey again!

I was also advised to take the blood-thinning injections for 6 weeks, but after bruising myself really badly with one recently, I've stopped already (roughly around day 7). Do you think it'll be okay? Does anybody have experience with this? I was told some women only have to take them for 10 days (age and other factors are reasons to take them for 6 weeks) so hoping it'll be okay. I'm going to ask the midwife this week.

@Hopefully2ndtimemummy oh what a pain! Pre-pregnancy I'd have used immodium for a bad stomach especially if I had a journey like that to do, hope it goes ok for you!
My recovery seemed good physically bar stomach but my bleeding has started again (small amount) and I've had some cramping and generally feel tired (no surprise) and midwives seem worried slightly I could have retained products in my uterus. 😳 so will see what happens there!
@Lunalovegod oh gosh yeh the injections aren't the most pleasant. My legs are covered with little bruises from them. I'd imagine though the midwife will advise you continue. My risk factors are my age, fact I used to smoke and a family history of blood clots and strokes and that tipped me from 10 days to 6 weeks. I hate injections but I'm persevering with them because it's not worth the risk. What about them is really off putting is it the pain? I've found thighs easiest place to get them and they say not to rub injection site after as that can make it worse xo

@jaybeez yea I'm not holding out much hope for my next sweep on Friday helping either tbh.

Will get an induction date on Friday though so at least I know the latest I could have this baby.

2 weeks maximum I have left now which seems sooo long away.

Have had a bit of bloody discharge and was 2cm dilated at my last sweep but I know that could also mean nothing 🥲

Hello all

I am 40 w + 3 today FTM and getting tired of waking up every morning thinking baby will make an appearance :( I really don’t want to go past 41 weeks as I’m dreading about induction. Any positive stories or anyone on the same boat as me?

how do you keep sane? I’ve gone for massages, taking warm baths, raspberry leaf tea, walking 3 kms a day everyday since 38 weeks. The little one surely likes the warm cosy feeling and doesn’t want to come out!!

Just a long rant!! Sorry!!

Being induced isnt always bad. I was induced with my first and it was a lot quicker and better birth than my second. He just needed a little push.

I just don't want to be induced as it means I'll be over 41weeks and this is hell enough at 39 weeks 😂

Has anybody's baby lost too much weight? Had my baby measured today and he's lost 10.5%

@JayJay92 I'm a FTM and 40 + 2 today, I have lost my bloody show this morning but other than that no signs that anything is happening anytime soon despite the long walks, bouncing on my ball, having sex etc. I know they say lots of FTMs go overdue but when everyday is a waiting game it's hard! I just wish I had a crystal ball to know when she's going to turn up!

@Hhdxx mine only lost 3% this time, but my eldest lost 15% at day 5. I was breastfeeding and my milk hadn’t come in yet. I was pressured to top up with formula (which I refused) and instead asked the midwife to return the next day to weigh her again, and fed her almost constantly overnight to ensure she gained. She gained about 50g (ironically my milk came in overnight from day 5 to 6!) so the midwife was happy to declare us okay.

Are you okay? I was so stressed and upset about it at the time but DD1 has continued to grow really well ever since that first hiccup!

Hi @Hhdxx yes ours lost 10.9% after being in neonatal for two days with feeding tube. Ended up being in hospital for 5 days while they helped us get into feeding routine (breastfeeding). He's since put it all back on. Are you trying for breastfeeding? Think it's fairly common the weight loss, especially at the start when milks coming in still xo

@bumpkin34 @JayJay92 @BusyTiger solidarity with you all! I forgot how mentally draining this point in pregnancy is where you're constantly questioning everything and wondering when you're going to go into labour! I know they say to try not to think about it too much and baby will come when ready but it's so hard!