Due October 2025 - thread 2✨✨

[emmatcc1]

We finally filled up the 1st one🎉
Can’t believe we’re already half way, feels like just yesterday those two pink lines showed up.

Morning ladies! Happy Sunday. Hope all doing ok? 💐

@pumpkinpatches22 hello 🙂 yes monitoring feels stressful each time (well, waiting for the blood results)…. Had a call to say go back in again today for more, and then back in tomorrow too!!! 🥲🥲 Glad you’re feeling relieved there’s a plan. It helps to feel a bit more certain/in control, doesn’t it. Yes, the times I’ve had that, I’ve shown to my usual surgery and they send it to the pharmacy. Not sure what your area is like, but do it in lots of time before running out!

@Band3benefits eeeek so you have your eviction date!! Sorry everything is all over the place…. 😣 37 weeks is a good target though. I had my last baby via induction at 37 weeks. I promise you, your body has not let you down, but I do totally empathise with why you feel like this - I felt exactly the same (and now also think it this time round!). It’s so bloody hard when things like this “go wrong” when it should be the most natural thing in the world. Go gently on yourself, your body has grown an entire human, who will be in your arms by the end of next week ❤️

I’ve been feeling very tearful the last few days. Mix between hormones and uncertainty. Cried on the way to a comedy night the other day, which felt ironic, and then even more hilarious as the comedian started taking the piss out of his pregnant wife crying at everything 🤣🙃 hubs and I laughed very hard at that. The joys.

@CustardCream31 how are you getting on with the monitoring? Hope things are still going smoothly for you. I get what you mean about the emotions- mine are all over the place!

im back in hospital as of last night because routine monitoring of my BP showed it was out of control again. It’s now back in control with more labetalol so hopefully I’ll be allowed home soon so I can have this evening and tomorrow to relax before my induction

I’ve started with some irregular contractions/ tightenings so could be a sign things are moving of their own accord, so I’m hoping a bit of relaxation, cuddles with my little boy and warm baths might just get things going naturally. Any other tips welcome!

we are all nearly there ladies

Hi @Band3benefits and @CustardCream31 I was also going to check in on you guys. Sorry to hear you’ve been back in with more BP issues @Band3benefits - not long to go now and you’ll have your baby in your arms.

I was feeling quite positive with my BP results based on the last week since being on meds, then chased up my urine PCR results from last week to find out I am now past the threshold for pre-eclampsia as PCR came back at 35. Not horrifically bad but increased from 27 last Monday so definitely on the rise. The doctor said I had mild PE and seemed quite abrupt on the phone. I’m going in tomorrow for more monitoring and more bloods. And same again on Monday. Beyond that they seen quite non committal about any further plan of action which is making me stressed as the NHS website says that the course of action for any pre-E diagnosis is to deliver between 37-38 weeks. The doc mentioned waiting for my growth scan at 37+4 and even mentioned trying to get to 39 weeks but all research says waiting past 37/38 weeks increases the risk of complications. It feels like a constant battle to get anyone to take real ownership. I’m under the care of the perinatal mental health team for my anxiety and the MH midwife is coming to my appointment tomorrow to try and advocate for a more firm plan in terms of monitoring and delivery.
Just want my baby here safe and sound!

Sorry to hear that, that’s really tough!

I was in the same boat until my PCR came back at 129 and even then they wouldn’t commit to an induction date for me

the longer baby is in the better, is the way they see it, although my most recent scan showed a decease of 30 percentiles and they then decided to book one bang on 37. Even when I’ve been in so much last few days they are very reluctant to consider moving it even by a day- they’re quite rigid on after 37!

it’s hard with so much uncertainty but the good thing is you have monitoring in place now, and I can hand on heart say each time I’ve had an issue at the monitoring appointments they’ve acted on it. My NHS trust is significantly underperforming but I generally feel safe and I guess it’s a case of trust the process.

im pleased your midwife is going along with you to support- thats a really good midwife right there!

@Band3benefits thank you for the hand hold ❤️ I find it so hard to trust other people to take care of me and im so used to having to look out for myself it’s hard for me to even trust the medical professionals. Hopefully after tomorrow things will be clearer and they’ll have be able to explain everything more clearly. Are you home now or are you still in hospital? How are the tightenings? Xx

@pumpkinpatches22 hope today has gone well for you with the appointment and your MW advocated for you

I’m home today, back in for my induction tomorrow. I’ve stayed clear of my BP monitor and have done some household chores, and generally got things ready for when I’m home with the baby next week. Going to take my 4 year old out for tea as it was his birthday on Sunday and I was in hospital most of the day so missed it. He doesn’t know he’s getting a sister at some point over the weekend!

hope your BP is under control today and you’ve got a clearer idea of what’s going on

Hi @Band3benefits - glad to hear you're home and wonderful to hear you're able spend some quality time with your son. Best of luck for your induction tomorrow - I hope it all goes smoothly and baby girl arrives safe and sound. Well done for getting to this point!

Today went really well thank you - BP looked good, confirmed (mild) preeclampsia diagnosis and now have a plan in place of regular monitoring up until 38 weeks. My mental health midwife was absolutely amazing and managed to get me in with my consultant today to discuss birth options and my anxieties etc. He explained I will be delivering early but that because the monitoring will build a picture as time goes on, they don't usually want to commit to a date for delivery because they want to be led by the results and if they can get past 37 weeks safely then they will. I explained I don't want an induction at all, so if the plan is to deliver the baby before my due date then I want a date for a c-section booked so I know there is a plan to deliver baby and its not rushed. If they monitor me and things stay ok up until that date then great and if it needs to come forward based on results thats also fine. He agreed with that plan so booked me in for an "elective" c-section at 39+1. He actually said he would prefer to do it closer to 38 weeks but when he tried to on the system the dates were full and currently he can't bump other people because they need more clinical results to authorise moving other people. But good news is, he is seeing me again next week and said he'll be able to review the results from my monitoring appointments and hopefully get things moved around. But if not, at least I know that 39+1 is the absolute final date! He also very kindly scanned the baby to check placenta blood flow and fluids and all looked good there as well.
So overall really positive experience today and feeling much relieved to have a plan in place. Fingers crossed my bloods don't throw up anything scary and I can just keep on going!

@CustardCream31 how are you getting on?
xxx

I had an appointment yesterday and my baby is measuring pretty big at estimated weight of 3kg at 35w4d and his head circumference is already 33cm.
A bit nervous to push this baby out now. He’s also super low which causes me a lot of pain in my pelvis.

I left scbu after 18 days. She is perfectly healthy, breast feeding and content she is just tiny still. Weigh day tomorrow but last week she was 4lb 10oz. Do in love with her and my toddler is absolutely obsessed with her there is no jealousy whatsoever it just makes me love him even more. I wish everyone the best of luck with their births however they arrive in the world. Its such a special time. Enjoy 💕

Gosh sounds like a few people have had a rough time! Hope everyones ok ❤️ I was booked in for an induction yesterday but there were no beds! Same again today, I had a sweep yesterday and was 2.5cm not quite 3cm dialated already, so I don't really need to be induced now they will just break my waters, when I can actually get in there 😵 hopefully it's our turn tomorrow! X

Fingers crossed for you!!

Im in the same boat, came in today for induction and I’m already 2cm so just waiting on an ante natal ward for a delivery suite bed - not allowed home due to pre eclampsia so I’m pretty bored!

they were also late ringing me to go in today so we had a cheeky Miller and Carter lunch with all the trimmings to relax a bit haha. I highly recommend if you have time for something similar tomorrow

Good luck!!

Happy last few weeks everyone! I wish you all the best for any inductions or planned c sections. You may not have the birth you planned but your baby will be in your arms before you know it ❤️

Update from me: still waiting! Was asked to come in Friday lunchtime and knew there would be a wait but it’s now Monday and I’m no further forward. My meds have had to be increased again due to my blood pressure and I’m just so fed up. Im 2cm so literally just waiting for a delivery suite bed so they can break my waters and get cracking. Nobody has moved from the ante natal ward to delivery since yesterday so it’s still going to be a while.

because of the meds increase it’s also likely we will be in for a few days post birth- at least 24-48 hours to monitor babies blood sugars. I had this in my last pregnancy and feeding was a nightmare at first due to the low sugars and sleepiness.

CTGs are showing she is sleepy, then they get me to turn on my side which gets some accelerations going so they “pass”.

really suffering today tbh. I know there will have been spontaneous labours and higher clinical need going to delivery before me and that’s fine but I’ve spent 7 out of the last 11 nights in hospital and it’s taking its toll on me mentally. I’ve had one visit from my husband since Friday as we are trying to keep things normal for our 4 year old :/

sorry to whinge, I’m just not feeling very excited about having a baby at all now and I miss my 4 year old (he thinks I’m working away).

survival tips welcome!

@Band3benefits you have my sympathy. I spent the last few weeks of my pregnancy in our of hospital. I only had one visit from my partner/daughter in that time too as we were trying to keep consistency too. I missed the last week of summer holidays with my daughter. There was one annoying day where I had been admitted for a scan on the Monday night and was told I'd be discharged at lunchtime the next day as soon as they got the results back. I self discharged after promising to follow up with my community team at 11 pm when I still hadn't seen a doctor. I felt awful as not only had I missed the day with my daughter as we were constantly waiting for discharge and me being picked up my partner couldn't do much with our daughter either.

I was called to say I needed to be induced on that Saturday because my Friday blood tests showed my icp bloods were worse and bloods were also starting to show markers for hellp. There were no beds but when they repeated bloods they were no worse than the day before so I was sent home after a sweep. They said they would get me in for an induction the next morning so we shipped our daughter off to grandparents. When they did call they said there wasn't an induction bed for me until 3. It was 8 before they could start the process, my partner did have the chance to pop home to do bed time. My active labour with my daughter was just over 2h so they didn't want to do anything until there was likely to be a bed in the birthing centre. After 4h they had to take the pessetry out as I was on the verge of hyper stimulating. I didn't make it to the birthing centre until the early hours. I had quite a stop start labour as I needed to sleep every 2h because of my physical health and whenever I lay down to sleep it slowed down. By lunchtime I didn't have the energy to do anything other than lie down half asleep so they had to break my waters and that massively accelerated my labour and baby went into distress and was born an hour later.

That day dad stayed with me until our daughters bedtime, we were in for 2 days and on the other days he was only with me during school hours. We had blood sugar and feeding issues too. My medication put him at risk for this so we knew ahead of delivery that he'd need this monitoring. He managed to have a feed a birth but then he slept for 11h so we had to syringe in the tiny amount of colostrum I managed to express and had 2 formula top ups. He then had a 5 massive poos in quick succession which gave him enough energy to latch for a few minutes so that feed was half formula half breastmilk. The next day we just about got him to latch and feed off the breast and by 24h old he had passed two glucose tests. He had a 100% tongue tie that was cut on day 8 so that wouldn't have been helping. We were able to be discharged at 48h exactly

Those days felt so long and so much guilt that I couldn't seem to give anyone quite what they needed. My partner was split in two wanting to be with us in the hospital but also at home with our daughter. He is now 2 weeks old now and it's fading into a blur. My 5yo has adjusted to being a big sister really well and it's more me than her that feels the impact of not being with her during those last weeks of the summer. I'm trying to do bed time every other night but I don't always manage it.

It's hard you just have to try to do the best in the moment. I hope you get your space for induction soon and you get to meet your little person safely. The watching and waiting when you have another at home is so difficult sorry no advice but I definitely feel your pain you are definitely not alone in how you are feeling x

@Superscientist you have basically just summed up exactly how I feel.

im so sorry you had a rough time of it and im really pleased your little boy is safe and in your arms- i hope your recovery is going well!

it’s just crap isn’t it. I feel for the midwives because they are over worked and can’t get round everybody. But equally I don’t feel very safe just being left in there with late medication etc- the only time stuff runs to time is overnight when they’re waking me every couple of hours for checks etc!

my mental health has taken such a battering and I can’t see it getting any better until I’m back home.

fingers crossed today is a blip, I’ve moved onto delivery by tomorrow and I can get things moving again to be home for the weekend. Because of when this all happened I wasn’t supposed to be finishing work until this Friday so I’ve abandoned that too! Argh.

@Band3benefits I am so sorry you’re going through this. Is there anyone you can speak to to try and push to be prioritised. It seems like with your rising BP and the CTGs flagging a sleepy baby you’re a higher risk and should be prioritised, and the stress won’t be helping your BP or the toll on your mental health. It’s almost Tuesday! I was in triage today for a routine monitoring appointment and it was heaving - I do feel sorry for the midwives as they just didnt have enough space/hands and the Labour ward was apparently super busy all weekend which meant the post natal ward was also really busy and they had women like me in for routine assessments, women being sent over from antenatal clinic, women in labour and women who had been asked to
come in from home. I’d never seen it so busy. September seems to be a crazy time for births! Keep us updated and hope you have your precious baby in your arms soon, you’ll be back at home and can make happier memories.

@Band3benefits for me the hold ups were mostly from the drs. It didn't help that the new drs had only been in the ward a few weeks and still finding their feet a little. I went in for bloods on their second week, which was also the day before they did elective c sections so they had all of them in for preop assessments and i had a 2h wait for a room to come available as triage was so busy. I was being seen by the acute day unit which usually ran close to time but they share the space with triage and it was chaos!

Do make sure you badger them as much as possible, do they have any mental health midwives you could speak too? It might be another angle to push that your induction isn't delay further. It's a difficult one as whilst you are on the ward and being monitored your needs almost are classed being taken care of so if someone else comes in needing the induction or birthing rooms you get pushed down. Hopefully as soon as you get down to the labour ward it will go quickly. It's just a bit of a bottle neck in getting moved from antenatal, it was why I was partly glad I got sent home on the Saturday night even though I was fully ready for baby to appear. Try to get plenty of rest and food so you aren't too depleted of reserves by the time you do get to the labour ward!

It doesn't take much to overwhelm the system either. Similar to @pumpkinpatches22 experience the main reason I wasn't discharged at lunchtime/early afternoon the day I was waiting 8h to be signed fit for discharge by the drs they had 4 emergency c sections in quick succession and it took all the drs off the wards and then the transfer of them to the maternity ward took up the midwives who were sorting paperwork and chasing the drs. I first threatened to self discharge at 5 pm in the hope of get home to see my daughter before she went to bed. From then until 11pm the midwives were calling the Drs every 20 minutes or so. About 4 times they said I'll be with her next but got called away. Once it rolled to the night shift there was no chance of being seen as it could only be registrar or higher that could discharge me.

I'm doing ok now, I'm down to one nap a day and starting to be able to leave the house and do normal things. They have said it might take 6 weeks for my body to adjust back to normal. They are doing repeat bloods this week and then again at 6 weeks hopefully it's all going in the right direction.

@Superscientist im so glad to hear you and your baby are home safely and you’re on the mend. It sounds so emotionally and physically difficult. Was it high blood pressure for you or something else? Hopefully you can continue to recover and then enjoy your beautiful family.

@Band3benefits how have you got on today? Hopefully you’re on your way to meeting your baby now! Xxx

@pumpkinpatches22 it was mostly my liver. I had obstetric Cholestasis which gave me raised bile acids and made me insanely itchy but there were issues with my liver function too as my LFTs were 700, normal is under 30. I also developed low platelets and hemolysis where the body breaks down your red blood cells. These were the markers for HELLP I had in addition to the liver function although both weren't out of normal range enough for HELLP with everything they decided not to wait to see what would happen and got me in for an induction. I also had extreme fatigue. I couldn't stay awake for more than an hour or two and was sleeping 18h a day and still woke feeling knackered. I had poor appetite and was struggling with weight gain. I didn't really gain any weight from 29 to 35 weeks and I was starting to lose weight as I just wasn't awake enough to eat sufficiently to maintain my weight which probably contribute towards the fatigue too
I slept on and off through out labour with just a couple of paracetamol and gas and air for pain relief!

@Band3benefits how are you doing? I hope you are making progress with the induction and have a baby safely in your arms soon.

Hi ladies, so sorry for my radio silence. It’s been a whirlwind of emotions and hospital trips the last couple of weeks.

ended up being admitted over the weekend due to painful bump/tightenings. 2cm dilated and was looking like she may come on her own, but it all settled so I’m home and seeing how it goes. Booked for induction next Tuesday at 36+3 due to the unstable bile acids. Got to 95 last week which is just too close to the danger zone of over 100. They were 59 this week when checking.

feeling incredibly emotional today, but just need to process this and then get in a positive mindset to move forward. Fingers crossed for a much better induction than with my first!!!!

sorry I feel like I’ve missed a lot of chat and updates. Have been thinking of you all though. We’re so close now.

@Superscientist hello again on here too 😁😁 how annoying that you had a lot of waiting around for discharge though. Nothing worse when you’re desperate to get home and out of hosp environment!! Glad all ok now though and you’re home and settled. Hope your repeat bloods come back ok too. Go gently on yourself emotionally and physically - you’ve been through a heck of a lot!!!

@Band3benefits I’m totally with you in feeling empathy towards busy midwives, but scared I’ll be left in pain/danger/uncertainty. This is what happened to me before and partly why my induction went so wrong. I’m terrified it will happen again… but every birth is different. I’m sure it will be fine for us both, but it’s completely justified to have those feelings of apprehension. Sorry just reading your posts as I go, and I see you were admitted and waiting for space on delivery suite. Very much hoping you’re home, happy and safe with your baby now. Keep us posted when you have the energy.

@JMassey how are you getting on?? Same thoughts to you - that you’re home, happy and healthy with baby.

@BeSunnyPinkBiscuit so glad everything is ok for you now after what was such a stressful time for you.

@emmatcc1 how are you getting on? Hope the pelvis pain isn’t too unmanageable.

Hi Ladies,
I have a question… anyone had an elective c section and can help?

I am currently 37 weeks and hope to have a section, due to a few reasons (one being a big baby). I was meant to have an appointment today with the consultant but she wasn’t able to attend so I had an apt with the Dr instead who went through the consent form, we completed that and I was advised I might have to have a telephone apt with the consultant and then I’ll get my date.

Has anyone had this? I’m getting anxious now because I’m technically full term and still have no birth plan.
Any advice welcome…

@EEB1989 I haven’t had one before but I’m booked in for one at 39+1. I’m 37 weeks tomorrow. I told my consultant last week I wanted one booked in after they advised I would likely need to deliver before my due date so he booked it in there and then on the computer. To be fair though, my mental health midwife was in the room with me and basically told him to give me a date to help ease my anxiety and worries so I knew there was a safe plan for delivering the baby. Before that he wasn’t keen to commit in case he needed to adjust the plan based on any results I have. I checked with the midwives at my routine BP assessment on Monday and they confirmed I was on the system and booked in for 39+1. I got given lots of leaflets - but I haven’t done any consent forms or anything yet although I do have them. I guess I’ll ask my consultant tomorrow who I complete those with and see if I can get those done. So seems like mine has been done the opposite way to yours but mine is sort of semi “elective” as they want to deliver the baby earlier due to my BP and I don’t want induction so opted for C section. They’ve booked it in for 39 weeks which is when they tend to do electives because I insisted on having a date for my anxiety and they have no clinical reason yet to bring it forward to 38 weeks currently so they’re monitoring me just in case.

But my friend recently had a c section and that was always her plan due to a hip issue so I believe hers was always on the radar right from the get go. She didn’t get given her date until the week before. I think they then tell you date/time and then you go in the day before for a pre-op, to have bloods done and take certain meds they need to you take. And they tell you what time to arrive at the hospital and when to stop eating/drinking. My midwife said I won’t be told a time until closer to the date.

I’ll let you know if I get any more info tomorrow
xx

@CustardCream31 thank you for checking in on me!

I officially have a September Baby ❤️ Tobias John ❤️

I had a sweep last Thursday and was over 2cm dilated, managed to get into the hospital Sunday Evening about 8pm, waters broken just before midnight, gas & air got me through and he was born at 5:20am, weighing 7lbs 14oz, no stitches, it was amazing. We were home by 9pm and in our own bed. Feeling so good such a different experience to my first.

Good luck everyone waiting ❤️❤️

@CustardCream31 I'm sorry you ended up in hospital with threatened preterm labour. It's stressful when they try to arrive early. I'm glad she stayed put but hopefully it will make the induction more straightforward if your body is already gearing up for labour. I'm glad the bile acids have calmed down.

Sorry you are feeling emotional, I'm here if you want to talk x

I'm still itchy occasionally, I did too much on Monday and ended up exhausted Tuesday. My mood is falling too so my psychiatrist has brought my next review forward to Friday rather than the 3rd to discuss going on antidepressants. I developed severe treatment resistant depression with my daughter so they are trying to avoid that happening this time.

I hope you don't mind me posting. I was originally on the thread as I wasn't sure on my due date but the dating scan moved me to 28th September but then had to induced early. I have followed the thread but held off posting until I had something to contribute

Congratulations @JMassey he's a beauty. I'm glad it was a better experience than your first.

@JMassey oh my goshhhhh he is soooo adorable!! Those cheeks 😍 huge congratulations to you, and well done on bossing the birth!! Hope mine is just like yours!! Thanks so much for letting us know he arrived. Enjoy those newborn cuddles and rest up.

@Superscientist yes it felt a bit stressful for sure, but in a way it was like “oh, maybe she’s ready early”, which may help with me being unable to process the induction guilt at times (as silly as that sounds - feels like my body has failed again and I’m “forcing” her out, like with my son). But yes fingers crossed induction will be straightforward if my body is prepping already. Got the raspberry leaf tea on order (finally) and will start colostrum harvesting at the weekend to try and help boost that natural oxytocin and the likes.

sorry to hear the itching and moods are being a PITA… not what you want in these early days. Bloody well done for getting help early, and I really hope it makes things feel a bit more gentle with that specialist support. There’s absolutely no shame whatsoever in needing pills to manage that!

Sending hugs and sunshine your way.