MSE Pregnancy Club 25

KatyLiz

Morning everyone,

I think the monitoring when overdue is dependant on area. It's something they've done in 2 of the 3 places I've lived in. Knowing how time consuming monitoring is, I don't think I'd want to be stuck with it every day, 2 to 3 times a week is more then enough lol! I was there 5 hours again yesterday with my sleepy little one, although most women seem to breeze through in 30-40 minutes.

Hopefully baby will come before you have to start accepting or refusing anything sexymouse. I think it's important that everyone gets to choose what is right for them, if you don't want a sweep you shouldn't be forced. At least when you have all the information specific to your area you will know more.

Congrats on the scan and passing your test morocha

MummyofTwo - hope baby arrives soon for you, hugs and huge labour vibes to you.

snowbean I think most of us are starting to get fed up. There seems to be a few of us 38 weeks+ at the moment and it is hard waiting.

olgadapolga

Re: sweeps/induction/refusal of "treatment"

They cannot "make" or "force" anyone to do anything that they don't want to happen - to do so would be assault. You can refuse any and all treatment, including sweeps and induction - it's YOUR body, YOUR baby, YOUR choice. They might try to persuade you with tales of woe - what they should do is give you the facts (and ask them for the research which they are quoting at you!) so that you can make an informed choice but at the end of the day it's up to you and if you say "no" then they have to accept that. They might not like it but they will have to accept it.

If you refuse induction, they usually offer monitoring two or three times a week (they don't usually monitor on a daily basis unless there are concerns) and maybe scans, depends on the area you are in. None of this would start until you were at or past the usual induction date (this date again depends on the area you are in).

Re: Fundal height measurement: this is very subjective, and I wouldn't hold too much store in the "bump" measurements. It's really an indicator of whether baby is growing. Baby's position/how you are lying during the measurement, who is measuring (especially if it is a different midwife) can all affect this. They don't worry about a 3cm difference. And at the end of pregnancy, what are they going to do about it anyway?

Mucus plug: this can come away at any point towards the end of pregnancy (or not until labour for some women) and is not usually seen as a sign of labour.

You best bet is to actually discuss your worries with your midwife, rather than take advice from an internet forum as at least then you get it from the horse's mouth - and don't forget that different areas work to different guidelines.

sexymouse

Thanks olga - the main thing that I won't know until Monday (as you say) is what the procedures are in my area, as they seem to vary depending on where you live. The main things I'm looking up is the actual medical research (and NICE guidelines) rather than seeking advice on forums. A friend from my NCT class didn't even see her mucous plug - it must have gone during labour or gradually over time so she didn't notice.

ikkle87

See I'm a bit different in that I was originally told that it would be difficult for me to get pregnant without assistance but we tried anyway and proved the doctors wrong. Then they said they didn't think I would make it past 12 weeks and I did and have and proved them wrong then they said through a combination of my health and baby that I should aim for 30 weeks gestation and if I go over that I would be induced early. So to now find myself past the 38 weeks point and not being induced it's thrown me. I've done everything they asked, proved them all wrong and am left in the unknown kind of thing. I want him here just so I know that he's ok because with all the RFM even though I am close to my due date I know things can still go wrong. Added to that the fact I've had split lips and ulcers in my mouth since I was 5 weeks, around 6 abscesses under my arms, on my stomach and on my legs since getting pregnant and have had diarrhea at least one day a week since getting pregnant as well as my arthritis and spd and continuing morning sickness I've had enough, I want my little boy and I want my immune system back.

I agree with KatyLiz though monitoring is boring and I think I might go a bit stir crazy if I had to have it every day but I would if it meant bubs was ok.

I can completely understand why you would want to decline induction/sweeps though SM as you've had a relatively straightforward pregnancy with no issues so there is no real reason to rush him out.

jules68

Sorry not been posting. Finding it difficult to catch up with all you ladies

For me, am having a bad time with my eczema, on antibiotics and yet more creams to try, really getting me down now as am having broken sleep every night.

had a course yesterday all day and as I was sat down for most of it, baby was having a disco dance, I cant believe it goes from 2 days no movement felt to non stop!!

Good luck for all the boldies, and SM hope you find out the info you need.

got-it-spend-it

sexymouse wrote: »

Thanks olga - the main thing that I won't know until Monday (as you say) is what the procedures are in my area, as they seem to vary depending on where you live. The main things I'm looking up is the actual medical research (and NICE guidelines) rather than seeking advice on forums. A friend from my NCT class didn't even see her mucous plug - it must have gone during labour or gradually over time so she didn't notice.

I had my son in Southampton which I think may be the same area as you? If so they like to book you in for induction at 40+12, but if you decline that, that is when they start wanting to monitor you daily/every other day. If you have reduced movements at any time before that they may ask you to go in for daily monitoring (as happened to me). Monitoring as a trace for an hour or so where there they check movement/heart rate and you can see whether you are contracting at all as well.

I know quite a few people who had a water birth after induction (with their first baby, too). I think if you go beyond 40+12 you automatically become 'high risk' so may not be allowed a water birth as they like to keep a closer eye on baby during labour, in case hey go into distress. Obviously you can decline/refuse any monitoring or intervention but I don't think you can make them let you have a water birth.

I totally agree with you that often EDD's are way out though and they put too much importance on them in the UK.

KatyLiz

You've certainly overcome a lot ikkle. The abscesses etc sound awful, hope it all clears up for you as soon as you've given birth. Have you had any more pains/signs today?

I guess the lead up to labour and making birth plans must feel very different if you are in a position of choice. I've always known that whatever happens I have to have an epidural and antibiotics through an IV drip due to my heart. I know I can't have many options, so to have the induction is easier as it means I don't have to worry about getting to the hospital in time for everything.

snowbean

ikkle87 wrote: »

snowbean thats exactly what is happening with me, will next see a consultant at 40weeks for a sweep. I haven't seen my mw since 31 weeks, even though I've had hospital appointments in between they've been with a consultant so more technical like scans etc and less support like the mw would give.

It's so weird that they keep changing their minds about you. I feel frustrated enough just at basically feeling like no-one really wants to discuss anything with me. I don't think I've seen the same midwife twice in a row the whole way through, they always seem too busy to want to talk about any of my concerns. Can't imagine how much more frustrated you must feel given all the extra complications you've had.

Katyliz, I know what you mean, seems as if we're all a bit fed up! It's weird though, I'm still not finished all the jobs I wanted to do, so I don't feel ready in that sense, but I've started now to be thinking well if I'm not gonna be ready, you might just as well be born now, so could you get a move on please

What I'm finding the most difficult thing to get my head around, is that I'm the sort of person who tends to leave everything until the last possible minute, I never mean to but it always happens that way, and although it makes me stressed, I work well at getting things done under pressure. But with this, I can't even do that, cos I don't know when the 'last minute' is going to be :eek: It's throwing me all out of whack and I don't know what to do with myself. Of course I could just get on and get things done and be prepared in advance, but then that just wouldn't be me...I feel all discombobulated...

ikkle87

KatyLiz wrote: »

Have you had any more pains/signs today?

I'm just a general walking ache/twinge at the minute. No regularity though but they are the stop you in your tracks pains so lord knows whether it is anything.

snowbean wrote: »

It's so weird that they keep changing their minds about you. I feel frustrated enough just at basically feeling like no-one really wants to discuss anything with me. I don't think I've seen the same midwife twice in a row the whole way through, they always seem too busy to want to talk about any of my concerns.

I think this is the main problem, lack of seeing the same person consecutively has led to a lack of consistency and a lack of support. I'm sure it will be all worth it in the end when I've got my baby in my arms though.

SamW

Hey ladies!

After an awful nights sleep, culminating in me getting up at 2:30 to make OHs lunch for today/clean cooker hob/ clean living room, and then me thinking that things might be starting to happen.... I can safely conclude that this was wishful thinking! Eventually got back to sleep at 4:30! Since I've been up this morning - nothing! A big, fat NOTHING. I have, however, been highly productive and cleaned the sink, put on a load of washing and I'm about to bake some cakes I think!

I want to meet bump now...!!!!

S x