Birth Prep

cornichonmam

It's getting pretty close to baby month. Is there anything you are going to do prepare yourself and your body for the birth.

What are you currently doing for birth prep?

Is there anything you're planning on doing when you're closer to term?

Do you have any good resources to share?

cornichonmam

What are you currently doing for birth prep? - I've been drinking raspberry leaf tea since 32w. I also started perinatal massage a few times a week last week. I had a bad tear with my vbac so the midwives recommended that I do it. I'm not loving it, I got a wand to make it easier. I also looked at the research and there isn't great evidence if you've already had a vaginal delivery but at the very least it will help mobilise my scar tissue. 🤷‍♀️

The main thing I've been doing is focusing on baby positioning. Baby is now head down but I had a few weeks of her flipping back and forth between breech and head down. Currently she's often going from head down to diagonal transverse so not fully sideways. So I've been doing a lot of belly mapping and being somewhat conscious of how I'm resting. Not too much because I can tell you if you start only sting in 'propper' resting positions too early it's going to feel like a really long time until delivery. 

I had a very unstable lie with my last pregnancy and did a lot of spinning babies to get him in a good position and head engaged. I find the left side lying but with the top hip leaning forward thr most useful. You just lie on your left leaning slightly forward so the left side of your bump is touching the mattress. This allows gravity to pull the baby into a left OA position because that side becomes the lowest part of your uterus. When she was flipping breech she would usually go transverse usually the day before, so I've been using this position as a bit if a reset each day. Hence I'm not too worried about reclining on the sofa because if I sleep like that she'll be back in an left OA position in the morning. 

Is there anything you're planning on doing when you're closer to term?

Dates, curb walking, more baby engagement exercises, expressing colostrum, all of which I'll start at 37 weeks. I'm really hoping I can get baby's head engaged a bit earlier this time as my other two didn't engage until really late and I went very overdue each time. 

Do you have any good resources to share?

Spinning babies is the fountain of all baby positioning knowledge.

Mamastefit on Instagram also has a load of great birth prep exercises and information she just had a baby recently so there is a lot on there.

cornichonmam

If ayone has been looking at spinning babies their website is a great resource but organised it is not. I made this contents list in my last pregnancy for myself and my brith month group so I could easily find what I needed. Hopefully the links still work, I've tried a few and they were fine.

etnyah

What are you currently doing for birth prep? - Nothing 😬 baby will come when he’s ready.

Is there anything you're planning on doing when you're closer to term? - curb walk maybe? I’m not big on the dates and tea. I didn’t do any prep before my first two and ended up with very quick, easy labors so I’m hoping for the same this time. If anything I’m nervous about things going too quickly since I’m giving birth at a hospital further away. I should probably look into unmedicated birth resources just in case I don’t make it in time for an epidural.

Do you have any good resources to share? - not really. 

cornichonmam

@etnyah Get the Freya app and a tense machine.

The Freya app is a hypnobirthing app it's got a timer, soft music, affirmations and guides you though breathing during contractions. It's all in one you just time the contractions and it does the rest. 

I didn't do unmedicated with my last birth because gas (nitrus oxide) and air is standard here and I had a dose of pethidine so I could rest for a bit. But no epidural. The tense machine was good though it basically cut out all the pain in my back so about 1/4 of the contraction pain. There not that much, you might be able to get one second hand an just get some new pads.

MrsCaliRN

Wow! We’re getting close, y’all!

I’m doing nothing to prepare for birth, just trying to distract myself from the physical discomfort of being this far along and trying not to count the days ‘til my due date.

I’ll probably pack a bag of some sort for me and baby in a few weeks but that’s about it since my mom and sister will be here a little over a week before my due date until a week after. Just gonna let them know when it’s go-time so they can hang with my older 3 kids while hubby and I head to the hospital.  

mitchip

i have started pineapple juice with coconut water, raspberry leaf tea and got my exercise ball ready. 

I keep forgetting to buy dates at the store but plan to eat those. I live rural so no curb walking for me but next week I’m going to start lunges and stretches. 

I want to collect colostrum but I don’t even know how to get started. I’ve been watching videos on how to hand express but do I just keep doing that until something comes out? 

cornichonmam

@mitchip I expressed colostrum with my first two. You can start around 37 weeks, I looked the other day some places said 35 or 36. I started at 37. First week you won't get much just keep trying, you might only get a few drops at first. Then second week I sterilised some small baby food cups and used them to collect it. Then sucked it up into sterile syringes labeled them and froze them. Hopefully you'll slowly get more each week but it may just be a millilitre at a time. I ended up being a week and a half late so I did it for 4.5 weeks in the end. 

Both times I took some frozen in my little insulated bottle bag to the hospital. I didn't need it the first time but I did with my second because I had a hemorrhage and was too weak to hold him for the first 12h. 

Mainly it's great to learn how to hand express without having the stress of a screaming hungry baby. Then if you have latch issues you can cup/spoon/syringe feed or express while they're latched to help reduce the pressure on you both.

I just got a box of syringes from amazon, the colostrum harvesting kits charge you through the nose for like 5 syringes. You'll also need some syringe caps or all your hard work will leak out as it expands during freezing. 

mitchip

I started the other day just to see, (I'm 36 weeks tomorrow) and nothing is happening. I think I'm doing it like the videos show, and I guess I just have to keep trying. It's very frustrating!  
I have the syringes ready to go when it does come in. That's exactly why I want to collect, just in case something happens and I can't feed him right away.
"it expands during freezing" - good to know. My baby brain wouldn't have thought of this even though it's such common sense. lol. 

cornichonmam

I only found out about it leaking out of the syringes after I lost my first batch.

I think I followed the instructions from the la leche league, plus they have lots of great breastfeeding information. 

knottie6ca0ba397b99cf6e

Start with getting your boobs prepared in the shower! I’ve been trying to express but nothing has come yet, but I’ve been doing the “c” motion with my hands in the shower every night to get the systems up and running lol my doctor said just do a little bit each day and you’ll be good 

etnyah

I assumed baby was head down and I’ve been patting his butt just underneath my ribs for a while… turns out I’ve been patting his head, he’s breech at 36 weeks 😬 definitely going to check out your spinning babies guide, @cornichonmam! And now I’m nervous about a possible c section too. 

The midwife did say she thinks a version next week will work, since it’s baby 3 and my uterus has lots of space for him to turn around still, so we are going to schedule that for next week. But if I can get him head down before that, obviously even better.

mamahen521

I guess I’m more in the not doing much prep club. My bags and the house and everything are ready to go. I enjoy dates and frequently snack on Lara bars anyhow, so I’ll keep eating those and walking like I have been, but nothing special. Baby has been head down for quite a while now, so I feel good about that. At 36w6d I’m more excited than nervous and I’m ready to meet this little guy! 

etnyah

Alright! Version scheduled for Thursday. I'm doing all the spinning babies exercises whenever I can, but I'm not hopeful they'll work because this little guy has been in the exact same position for weeks and his butt is pretty well lodged in my pelvis. Best case scenario: the version works and I'm able to have a vaginal delivery closer to my due date. Worst case, something goes wrong and we have a Halloween baby. Wish me luck!

mitchip

Good luck!!!

mitchip

Had my us yesterday and this boy is measuring 7lbs 7 oz already. I know these are basically estimates but I went to the store and got dates and pineapple juice and coconut water. I do not want to push it a 10lbs that’s a week early!  I’m ramping all the things up. 

My doc said acupuncture MAY help so I’ll be booking an appointment next week. 

cornichonmam

@etnyah Oh no! There is still time though. With my 2nd I had excess fluid and he turned breech at 39 weeks. I got admitted because of having an unstable lie. They did a version a few days in, it wasn't uncomfortable at all and I had no medications before hand. Unfortunately it didn't work because he kicked himself back breech almost immediately. 

So I spent the next several days doing all the spinning babies stuff. The hospital did nothing they just fed me and I had to stay there 'just in case', I was just having bedside scans and monitoring everyday. At one point he was engaded breech but the doctor just popped him out by pushing down gently with the ultasound wand. He eventually flipped oblique but head down, so his head was towards 8 o'clock. I was actually laid on my back because I'd realised because of gravity it gave him more room left to right and the only time he'd done a big move was when I was on my back. He did a big move and I felt that his head had moved down, so pressed my hand in above my bump, over his back and under my ribs to stop him from being able to turn back, and rolled myself upright. He settled into a more head down position. Over the next few days I did all the engaging baby exercises and so much walking and curb walking round the car park. Slowly he went from having his head a 8 o'clock to 7 to 6 and engaged. Then I finally got discharged.

I got this baby to turn a few weeks ago because she was flipping between head down and breech. And more recently she's been going between cephalic and oblique/transverse. My midwife discussed a version with me if she didn't turn and she also said because it's my third it's usually successful.

Both babies seem to move in increments so if you can get your baby to move even just a bit into an oblique breech lie or transverse before your version it will likely make it easier for them to get him the rest of the way.

Good luck, keep us posed. X

etnyah

@cornichonmam argh that’s so frustrating with baby turning breech at the last minute! And how you had to figure it out on your own after that… so glad it worked out for you in the end last time, fingers crossed this baby is more cooperative!

My fluid levels are normal, and so far this baby has one thing in common with his siblings: he found a position he likes and will. not. budge. That makes me think if the version is successful he’ll actually stay that way, but it also makes me nervous about it maybe not working in the first place. My last baby especially was engaged and so deep into my pelvis for weeks, you can really tell how visibly lower I was carrying her (left) compared to this baby (right). 

I’ve been doing a million spinning babies and miles circuit exercises over the weekend and nada. I can feel his head moving up and down a little occasionally, but I’m pretty sure he won’t flip no matter what I do, so it all hinges on the version. I guess we’ll see what happens!

etnyah

Welp, the version was unsuccessful so we’re doing a c section, likely in two weeks (unless labor starts before that). It was really painful and uncomfortable, and extremely frustrating because the baby moved super easily but just flipped right back. The doctor was like “this is the most easily moved baby I’ve ever seen where it didn’t work”. He tried five times. I feel like I’ve been wrung like a dish cloth. 

Oh well, we tried! It’s just so frustrating because I’ve had two easy, straightforward labors so I know my body can do it. But it’s not an option to even try this time. 

mitchip

I'm sorry to hear that @etnyah

MrsCaliRN

Oh gosh. That sounds like a nightmare @etnyah Is this going to be your first C-section? 

Adding that I know everyone’s experiences are different, but when I worked antepartum, I saw a few versions and they all looked painful. The amount of force the OB has to use and the fact that it isn’t always successful (in the long or short-term) is so frustrating! 

My baby was head up at my 32-wk appt so praying hard for a good scan at my 36-wk appt on Tuesday! If not, I’m prob just going to try home remedies and have a C-section as a backup. Trying to avoid a version altogether. All previous 3 babies were vaginal so the fact that I’d elect for a C-section this time around instead of attempting a version is saying something! 

etnyah

Thanks guys! @MrsCaliRN, yep first C section for me. It kind of stings because my two other births were so easy, of course nr 3 had to go and complicate things! I'm really nervous about it, but trying to see some positives: more predictable, I can ask them to tie my tubes during, I'll get two more weeks of paid state leave. 

And yeah the version was definitely not something I want to do again. But I think pain level varies a lot from person to person, I have one friend who said it was the single most painful experience of her life (and she's had four unmedicated vaginal births). For me, labor contractions were definitely more painful than the version! I'm really sore today though. 

I hope your baby has turned the right way with their head engaged at this point! With the 50/50 success rate of versions, plus how painful it is, I definitely understand not doing it and opting for the c section. Crossing my fingers for a good scan for you Tuesday!

etnyah

I’m so frustrated at my clinic/hospital. No one has called me about my C-section, I found out it’s been scheduled for the 15th because I randomly checked my online portal, but no one have actually called to talk to me about it. It’s been five days (I know there was a weekend in between but still). The online portal has zero info, not about the procedure, how to prep or even a time (only the date). I messaged my midwife and they said I needed to call and schedule an appt with OB. How was I supposed to know that? My instructions from the hospital was to wait for someone to call me. 

So, I scheduled the OB appt for Monday and I’ll just cross my fingers I don’t go into labor before that. One of the things I wanted to talk to them about is that I think my due date is wrong, which is ironic since they’re dragging ass. If my estimate is correct I will be 39+6 on my scheduled C-section date, I’ve never made it that far before. I have so many questions and requests and my anxiety is killing me not being able to talk to anyone in a timely manner. Grrrr!

MrsCaliRN

I wonder if they were planning to call you later this week @etnyah ? Like a week out before the actual C-section? Either way, the earlier the heads-up the better because we’ve got plans! 

Coming in with good news on my end: Baby boy is heads-down. Woot woot! Now just get to hang out until labor starts. 

etnyah

@MrsCaliRN yesss! So happy for you, hopefully it’s all smooth sailing from here!!

And yeah, maybe they did mean to call me later this week but the OB who did the version said “tomorrow (Friday) or early next week). Usually if they want to schedule an appt, they’ll call sooner I think, to make sure they can actually fit me in. Either way I also have a regular midwife appt tomorrow so I’ll just bombard them with all my questions then.

cornichonmam

@MrsCaliRN Well done baby! 

@etnyah Hopefully they get an appointment sorted soon. It does sound sound like they are dragging their feet. Here you usually have a meeting with the anaesthetist and do quite a bit of paperwork so I'm surprised they don't want to get that out the way. 

etnyah

I saw my midwife office yesterday and they seemed puzzled I didn't have any info, apparently I was supposed to have received a big instruction packet. But their office doesn't provide that, that's the hospital, so I still don't have anything! What I do have is a c-section date and time, a pre-op appt with OB on Monday (that's where I'm hoping to get all the info I need), and some vague instructions on what to do if I go into labor before my scheduled date. So, fingers crossed baby stays put until Monday at least! No labor signs at all yet. With my daughter I had false labor contractions for like a week before labor started, so I'm hoping that's a good sign we're not that close.

mamahen521

@etnyah I am glad there is finally more of a plan for you. The lack of communication must be so frustrating. Here’s hoping baby stays in until Monday so you get all the info you need. 

mamahen521

I had my final sizing ultrasound yesterday and even with the GD baby is measuring very average at a healthy 7 1/2 lbs at 39 weeks. He is head down and ready to go, so I have the all clear for a vaginal delivery whenever he decides to show up or at my induction the 20th. Now it’s just the waiting game for whichever comes first. I’m working from home next week while on baby watch, so that will be much more comfortable and less stressful. I just have to make sure I still get work done vs. giving into the nesting instincts and cleaning the house again.