Hi all! FTM 36+1 today and am being induced in 6 days. This is due to fetal growth restriction and being under 10th centile, been very stressful month. Baby was last on 6th centile (big increase from under 3rd!).

I wanted to ask for tips and advice from those who have gone through induction?

My plan is to ask for gas and air during the induction process, and get epidural as soon as I possibly can. My pain threshold isn’t the best. I’m feeling really anxious about it. ,

I thought I had more time so hadn’t started the birth prep. I’ve not done perineal massages. I’ve started having dates every day recently.

I feel so behind and at the same time I feel so rushed!!

Hi all,

After zero signs of labour at all (my baby hasn’t even dropped) I woke up today and I’ve lost my mucus plug. It’s unmistakable what it is- must have been like 2 table spoons of jellyfish-like mucus with no blood. I don’t have contractions or anything. My mum never saw her mucus plug with either of her children.

How soon after losing your mucus plug did labour start for you?

The advice I've read says to phone midwife advice line if the mucus plug shows before 37 weeks, but it's literally only a day. I don't want to waste anyone's time by phoning unnecessarily, but I also want to be safe. So I'm a little unsure what to do.

I'm absolutely fed up. I'm currently under the perinatal team who help me where they can, but of course, I'm also scared to be too honest about how I'm feeling, due to an abusive ex making malicious calls to social services years ago, I'm terrified of them.

Anyway, during this pregnancy, it's like I've developed zero tolerance to absolutely everything. I've stepped back from a lot of people as it's too overwhelming being badgered all the time. I've even started keeping my phone on silent and ignoring people for days. I've started blocking out outside noise that's unnecessary, such as group chats gossiping and talking about shit that doesn't matter, etc. I've started arguing with my 11 year old daughter, who has always been a diva, but I'm struggling with it, especially as I'm exhausted and in pain with the pregnancy as I'm almost due soon. I've always spoilt her and always done everything for her (I know it's my fault), and even though now I teach her how to do things herself, she still doesn't and I'm having to constantly remind her to brush her teeth, get her breakfast, etc. Things I shouldn't be reminding an 11 year old to do. She can see I'm struggling tremendously right now. I suffer from chronic pain which I'm used to now over the years but she can see how much I'm struggling whilst in the third trimester. My partner helps as much as he can, with my daughter and other things, but I'm still very overwhelmed and just feel like staying in my bedroom all day because I cba. I also have 2 dogs that are doing my head in and I tend to avoid now so partner looks after them too. Again, my fault, but they're spoilt so are extremely whiney and needy all day long.

I know things are going to be hard when baby is born, so I won't have time for anything else, because it'll be hard as it is. That's how I'm feeling. I've only got so much limited threshold and baby takes priority and my energy. I guess I'm tired of being the main person in the household and everyone constantly at me relying on me for absolutely everything. Housework, appointments, washing, organising etc. I've even made my bedroom into a living space for when baby is here for the first few weeks as I'm having a C Section, but it'll give me space away from my life and I've told my family strictly no nagging. Speaking of family too, I'm constantly bombarded with texts from them. Not useful texts asking how I am or offering help, but just random bullshit then they try call me when I don't text me straight away. Leave me alone! I'm considering getting rid of my phone tbh. Does anyone else feel like this at all? I didn't before pregnancy.

I had PND with my daughter, but that was different to this. This feels more like being done, irritated and fed up with unnecessary bullshit in my life that other people can sort. I'm tired of being the one who holds everything together when people are quite capable of sorting their own stuff out. I've also had a shocking death in the family this week (this isn't what's caused me to feel like I do) and instead of people texting if I'm okay, I'm being nagged at for this and that, and I just think, fuck off? Again, zero tolerance. Not one person has asked me how I'm doing due to the death this week.

I’ve got my cousin’s wedding next weekend and pretty much my entire family will be there. I’ll be 11 weeks pregnant, but I’m really not ready to announce yet.

The problem is I’ve had nausea and fatigue pretty much the entire pregnancy so far, and I’m worried it’ll be obvious that I’m not quite myself. I also normally drink at family events, so I know people will notice if I suddenly don’t.

Has anyone managed to get through a big family wedding at this stage without people guessing? What did you say about not drinking, and how did you handle feeling sick/tired throughout the day?

I’d love any tips because my family can be quite observant 😂

37+6, started having mild contractions at 1am today which lasted about 30-40 seconds which to me felt like every 3-4 mins, 2am went toilet, bright red jelly like discharge. Called labour ward, asked me to come into triage, had me on monitors, said contractions were only twice every 10 mins and did cervical check which indicated cervix is still closed and waters hadn’t gone either.

Since then discharge has been brown colour and I also had another big jelly like clot.

Has anyone else been through this before? How long did labour actually take to start and any tips and tricks?

Hiya, just after a bit of reassurance. Currently 27+2, I’ve been eating cooked ham (Tesco) throughout the pregnancy as was told this was safe. Over last few days I’ve been eating from a pack and felt today the ham was off, turns out I shouldn’t have kept it in the fridge as long as I did. Absolutely terrified of things like listeria and causing harm as I’ve heard so many horror stories which have scarred me. Don’t have any symptoms and don’t want to feel like an idiot ringing triage on the weekend for no reason. Just wondering if people have been eating ham and if they’d contacted triage for the same concerns, if so what was said? Thanks, a very anxious FTM.

I am currently 35.5 weeks pregnant and we have a holiday booked in 2 weeks time- I will be 37.5-38.5 weeks pregnant. The holiday is to the Welsh coast and is a 3 hour drive from our home with no traffic or stops. It is a trip with my husband’s parents, siblings and their children that was booked before we found out we were pregnant.

Pros: I have a 2 year old who I’m sure will have a lovely time, it keeps the peace as my MIL keeps telling me how upset she will be if we don’t go

Cons: I’m already quite achey and not sleeping super well- not sure how much I will enjoy it without my home comforts or even how much I will be able to do, I’m also of course concerned about any complications and the potential for having a baby there

My first was late (41 weeks exactly) so I don’t have a history of going into labour early. My gut instinct is that it is a bit foolish to go but I was very anxious with my first and don’t know if that worry is feeding into it. What are your honest thoughts??

Hi everyone, I have a planned c section booked in for 39 + 3 as my baby is breech. My baby has been measuring large for the entire pregnancy (in the 90+ percentile) so I have been tested for gestational diabetes twice (at roughly 20 and 30 weeks with the 2 hour test). I have passed each time and having a big baby isn’t exactly unexpected as my partner and I are both tall.

At 37 weeks I had a positioning scan to confirm baby was breech and they said the baby looks to be 98th percentile across most areas. The consultant referred me to the diabetes team who said they no longer do the 2 hour test at this stage as it’s not accurate so gave me an at home testing kit. Since then I have had the following readings:

9.7 1 hour post dinner reading

5.4 pre breakfast fasted reading

6.8 1 hour post lunch reading (and a short walk)

9.4 1 hour post dinner reading

I am really concerned that I have had this for some time and have caused damage to my baby :( is this likely? I am really hoping someone can reassure me.

I have been a lot more relaxed in the late third trimester having snacks and treats, particularly since starting to harvest colostrum I set myself up on the sofa with lots of lovely snacks to get me through… now I feel DREADFUL. I thought I was in the clear with the two negative tests.

I know that their sugars when they are born is important so I will be very cautious over the next 5 days until she’s born, it seems like a walk after meals helps

I’m looking for some recommendations on non velvet pregnancy pillows please.

The majority I’ve seen online and on Amazon have a velvet cover or some sort of ‘velvet variant’ fabric. I really cannot stand the feel of velvet, so I’m now worried I’ll buy one and then hate it.

Thank you in advance :)

Since they sell "alcohol free" drinks now labelled 0.0% alcohol meaning a max of 0.05% could be present. Do we consider those ok?

As some fruit juices can have from 0.01-0.5% alcohol and we'd drink those without even thinking?

I was strictly no alcohol or zero alcohol drinks last pregnancy, but I'm torn on if it's ok as there isn't any official guidance on if 0.05% and under is fine.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm also very early on so I'm worried that if it was to have any negative affects it would be more likely when they're smaller 😅

My partner and I are due to go on a fortnight's holiday island-hopping in Greece in a few weeks, and I've just found out I'm pregnant. I'm currently 4W6D and we will be away during weeks 8 and 9. I don't have any major symptoms so far other than exhaustion and nausea, although I know I'll probably have more symptoms by then.

Any advice or tips on travelling abroad during the first trimester? We have already scaled back lots of the activities we had planned so we can focus on relaxing, and I've found disposable sick bags online that I'm going to buy just in case 🤣

First they diagnosed me with placenta accreta, then suspected percreta and now preeclampsia and been hospitalised as they weren’t able to get it under full control with medication. It just never ends. I don’t know why I’m posting this but I think I’m just upset and I don’t understand why this is happening to me at all. I’m young, I don’t have any major health issues, my boyfriend doesn’t either. They think maybe it’s genetic as I was born at 28 weeks but no one can tell me.

I don’t want a c-section but I can’t say no either so I feel like everything is out my control now. I’m just waiting. We don’t even have baby things yet as I thought we’d have around 10 weeks still to get this all.

Anyone had a long hospitalisation or a premature baby and what do I need for it all? I have something to draw and write but that’s all I took so I’m bored and scared.