Christmas and New Year's Babies - thread 2 (20w scans right around the corner)

[Gillster]

Enjoy the new thread ladies. Have put a link to the spreadsheet here so always easy to find. (Sorry can't get the linking to work automatically).

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OSdzg17qg9VY0CYhoGvKuTrF-GLnHCTFqc7NPUfAYVc/pubhtml

For all newbies, this is a thread for ladies expecting a baby around Christmas or New Year, feel free to join in.

cuppa I really wanted a water birth the first time around but when it came down to it there wasn't even time to run it! So also thinking the same - I discovered when we moved that I'm some sort of towel-hoarder - I have about 20 year's worth of towels and I clearly buy more than we'll ever use so a nice little toweling nest for me!

I'm due on the 30th and got MIL staying from the 23rd or so until whenever, and BIL over for xmas eve and day. The thought of getting all screamy and (sorry) potentially pooey with them in the house is not something I'm looking forward to, but needs-must, we haven't got anyone local who can take DS if we have to dash off to hospital.

Welcome back horsey - I reckon they'll try and get you in before xmas, my SIL was due in early Jan last year and needed an induction and they did her on the 19th. I suppose once you've got a deadline it'll give you the incentive to get organised (I've done nada!).

A FB group sounds lovely - if it is set-up please do let me know the details!

So this morning I somehow managed to fall over coming out of the front door! Luckily I was still holding onto the handle so managed to swish myself around to fall on my bum! Helpfully I work at a company that has a GP on staff and said I had nothing to worry about - even if you fall on your bump they are apparently sturdy things! Hopefully I'll never have to know again!

I'll get you on the Facebook group once I'm back from work cth. Glad you were able to get reassured, must have been scary! Hope your bum isn't sore too.

Horsey I'm sure it'll all come together. I mean new babies barely need anything in the first few weeks really so you have ages before you need to worry.

Tango that sounds a pain! Are your ils at least once and understanding? A towel nest sounds so snug!

The self acclaimed baby psychic at work says I will go 4 days overdue. Secretly hoping she's right, id like a January baby.

Oh cth - poor you! Glad you got checked out though. It's easily done though - I'm so off balance - I get the real fear on the station steps now.

cuppa My MIL is utterly lovely, she's the most undemonstrative, quiet, kind person in the world, I'm just not entirely comfortable with the potential of her seeing me in various states of undress and shoutiness. In fact, if I remember rightly, when I am in labour I am just WELL shouty and intolerant of loveliness & want to expose as few people to that as possible. But given the time of year and the fact that DS was under 4 hrs from first twinge to baby (and 1hr of that was confined to the loo with the shits - sorry first-timers!) - better to have someone immediately on hand, it could take 2hrs minimum to get anyone else to us.

BIL is a great guy, but oh so practical... I can't imagine he'll have any tolerance for the visceral, emotional, painful stuff. Hopefully DC2 will avoid his short visit, for his sake as much as anything! But he's single and FIL died this year so as MIL is with us it's not really fair to leave him to fend for himself at Christmas.

I need a baby psychic, would be much easier to make practical plans if I had a real date!

Haha, Tango I know what you mean. I don't know how I'm going to be in labour but my guess is, no matter how nice you are to me, you're going to irritate me to high heaven Unless you're the midwife and you have the drugs of course!

We had Little One's latest cardiac scan this morning and although the hole in their heart is still there, it looks like it's got a bit smaller! Yay! So fingers crossed, if the birth goes OK we won't need to see the specialist again until they are 2 months old. Just got to get this buba here nice and safe now

Glad to hear your good news sherbert.
How's everyone coping with being huge and uncomfortable? As excited as I am to meet this baby I definitely am not the type to enjoy being pregnant.
Had a midwife appointment today and babies no longer breach

Going on a hospital tour next week. I must say I think those of you doing home births are very brave x

Sherbert that's amazing! I'm so thrilled to hear it! Baby just doesn't want you to worry, what a sweet heart.

Hope I'm finding it way better than early pregnancy, but I'm so much smaller this time round and gained way less weight. My anterior placenta means the kicks are cushioned so he doesn't wake.me at night. Even my heartburn is less bad. I'm sure it'll go to shit pretty soon, so I'm making the most of it. I think I have the glow too!!

Baby keeps wobbling round, engaging and unengaging then going traverse then back to proper position. I keep nearly pissing myself when he engages its really funny(to.me) Any second timers have babies who are still enjoying lots of room? I was so massive with DD, this baby has a full penthouse apartment unlike the studio flat DD was stuck in.

Tango I'm sure your lovely mil would be over the moon to be there when you have baby! So don't worry about her seeing you, she'll be telling all her friends how lucky she was to be subjected to it.

Aw sherbert - that's very encouraging. Hopefully it'll go from being something scary, to something to keep an eye on once bump arrives. Well done you and baby!

sherbert I think everyone is different. My friend went all quiet and withdrawn and hung on to her DH for dear life. I could have taken-or-left DP's hand-holding at the time. Rationally I wanted him there, but in the moment I just wanted to be on my own - I did fall short of telling him to piss off though, so I like to think I kept some control.
I've got some hypnobirthing CDs this time, I tried one yesterday - it's all a bit 'woo' for me, but if it helps me tone down the language for MIL's sake then it's worth it!

hope - I came this close to giving birth in the car/in the hospital car park last time, bravery has nothing to do with it.

cuppa - i think my bump is bigger this time, I've put on less weight but started heavier so am about the same now as I was with DS but I feel HUGE I can't believe there's still 2 months left. Was looking at the 'bump' thread and think I'm on the large side. Still plenty of room for squirming baby, I fancy s/he is a bit more chilled out than DS was, but it's hard to remember.

I do feel better this week than I have for a few weeks, but the end being in sight at work (3.5 weeks!!) is keeping me going.

Feeling fed up today, midwife thinks I'm measuring small, got to have a growth scan tomorrow :(

NoArmarni I'm sorry you're not feeling too chipper. Let us know how the scan goes, I'm sure it will be fine. But you only need to be uncertain till tomorrow, its not too long.

Tango hopefully you won't get too much bigger then!!! I remember last time at the end I couldn't reach the sink to wash up!

I finish work Friday! I'm feeling a little sad about saying goodbye to my work van. She's been so good to me. But i cannot wait to get some rest and time with dd.

Yeah at least I don't have to wait until after the weekend like I did last time they thought there was a problem. This will be scan number 7. It does seem crazy that there is so little variation permitted in bump size. I'm really tall so wonder if that is why my bump measures small.

Nice one on finishing work, the end is almost in sight for us all.

It almost certainly isnthe reason why, so much more torso for baby to hide in if you're tall. Fundal.height is utterly useless and can be so varied depending who measures it, I'm.apparently slightly ahead which has me worrying needlessly about a giant baby.

You've really had an unfair time of it, I think once the veil of innocence is gone with pregnancy it's very hard to relax and enjoy it. After being told there could have been problems it's no wonder you're feeling a bit low. In my previous pregnancy I got hit with a football in the stomach at 19 weeks. DD was fine, but after that pregnancy stopped being a time of awe and beauty, it was just a scary anxiety filled time in which I was very vulnerable and helpless. It's not a good feeling at all.

I am much more anxious this time. Measuring the same as last pregnancy but carrying much higher. Dreadful heartburn too. Woke up at 130 to vomit so took some gaviscon. It's so painful.

Called my midwife yesterday as the baby seemed much quieter than usual. She didn't call me back. Thankfully the baby woke up but all my usual tricks didn't work. I'm still annoyed that they didn't call me back though.

Poor you horsey - really awful they didn't get back to you, but a relief that the baby woke up, probably starting to get short on space now (you've got a v neat bump!).

armani how was your scan? hope all is back on track.

I was ruined with anxiety in the 2nd trimester (for no good reason unlike the rest of you, just sheer volume of hormones), and the moment i decided to finish work at 35 weeks instead of 38 weeks it was like a weight was lifted. The end is in sight!

DP took the car to MIL's overnight so I had to walk the mile to the station this morning. I am RUINED. I don't know how you guys with on-your-feet-jobs do it. I stopped short of lying down on the tube platform, but came close.

Glad baby woke up Horsey, but not good about the midwife. Heartburn is horrible, do see the gp for something stronger if you need to. You can permanently damage stuff if you leave it really bad and get stuck with heartburn after pregnancy.

Tango anxiety is an absolute bitch, doesn't matter if you 'don't have as good of a reason' to feel that way. We don't chose our feelings after all. I'm glad its gotten better, commuting in winter is awful I'm glad you'll be missing it now. How's your SPD?

NoArmarni I'm hoping your scan went well.

The health visitor is coming to visit us sometime in the next few weeks, can't be bothered at all. But DD has a horrible sickness bug so the house has gone to pot. DD would only sleep attached to my face like something from a SciFi film, which meant sleeping together dodging vomit all night! I can laugh now though. Although feel guilty using the loud communal bath throughout the night. Hopefully didn't wake anyone.

They want to scan me again in 2 weeks! He's moving around lots and has a nice strong heartbeat so I'm trying to stay chilled about it. He had good femur length but abdomen is measuring small. I'm tall and slim though so he probably just takes after me.

Terrible that the midwife didn't call you back horsey. I've found mine very attentive, almost to the point that I think they are being over cautious.

armani glad you're remaining chilled and everything looks ok, better to know they're keeping an eye on things I suppose.

My SPD is just lurking cuppa , I'm pretty good at not overdoing it and it's been loads better since the chiropractor on hols (or since I got back to my own bed..?). Was pretty bad yesterday after my walk, but I was ready for it. What I wasn't ready for was feeling sick and woozy all day, my bump has shrunk a bit, I think the baby has started to scooch down already.
Am sure it's just because it's got room to, but had to have a good lie down when I got home.

Poor you with sickness in the house cuppa - are you done with work now? Hopefully that'll make everything easy to manage. I wouldn't worry about being noisy, needs must. Hope you don't catch the lurgy!

I was right. My bump has halved in size and the downward pressure has escalated. Nearly crashed the car earlier thanks to pelvic rummaging.

I'm going to say baby is engaged today. I'm only 31+3!! I guess they pop in and out the 2nd time around, it's freaked me out a bit. DS never engaged until he was on his way out!

How's everyone else doing today? Sweets give me heartburn, I'm munching through the trick or treat stash, alternating with rennie.

Oooo that sounds amazing tango, you were just saying how big your bump is this time! Although baby needs to let you drive!

I think my bump has dropped too, its suddenly way lower and my pelvic bone kills. Babies movements feel very different now too. Like he's doing the same stuff at the same times, but it feels different to me. If I'm honest I was so envious at the bump having comment I got the gym ball out and started cleaning the floor obsessively. It worked though! My preggo ragebis very effective. Last time I went into labour bexuase I was so furious that the McDonald's people gave the customer they served before me their food first.

My cough is finally pouring out which is gross. DD has stopped being sick but has a loose bottom and I've started with diarrhoea too now. Two washing machines between 22 flats is not fun when you are out of bedding and the flat stinks of poo. I am so happy to be past the vomiting now.

Please excuse the poor typing. We've all gone a bit feral here.

Oh Cuppa, you poor thing! That sounds awful. I hope you all start to feel a bit brighter sooner rather than later

Oh wow Tango! So exciting! Not the pelvic crushing pain, but that baby is engaged already. Naughty baby needs to let you drive though... Also loving the alternate sweet/ Rennie swapping. Definitely got your priorities right

Glad things are looking positive Armani, as you say, baby probably just takes after you. And at least they are keeping an eye on things.

Had lots of baby related things this week. Midwife said baby's head isn't engaged, but is sitting in my pelvis which is good news. Cardiac scan went as well as it could of and saw the normal consultant too who won't see me again until due date now. Everything's go for a normal delivery! Yay!

I can't believe that most of us can say that we are having our babies next month!!!

Oh also, forgot to ask. The midwife mentioned looking in to hypnobirthing. Can anyone recommend any good YouTube links, books etc?

We are doing a hypnobirthing course. It's very good. We were given the Katherine Graves book and CD. I'm not keen on the CD but the book is good. I've been using an app instead of the CD

sherbert a friend gave me some audio files from the Maggie Howells CD. It gets pretty good reviews on Amazon, my friend swears by it (she had a VERY long labour), I've had a listen and am going to need a bit more convincing to get my sceptical head around it, but think that's me rather than the CD!

Bump still low and walking like a cowboy - 2 more months of this (I hope!).

Have a good week one and all!

I have some book on hypnobirthing that cane with CDs. I did the CDs in my antenatal group last time, they were OK. I haven't truthfully had the time to properly get stuck in though.

DD has kept food down ALL DAY! and only had one poo all day!!! My cold is slowly retreating. Dh looks a bit peaky though, so not out of the woods yet.

In even better news, the heater in the bathroom is fixed!!! Thrilled to bits as I plan to use it in labour and the room was so cold before. Plus snuggly warm baths are my favourite treat. Although today's bath time was accompanied by the sounds of preteen boys and their social drama. Better than any soap I can tell you!

You know things are actually looking OK right now, I think we're going to be alright. My optimism is starting to feel natural again, pregnancy hormones are still dicks though!