Late December - Early January Thread 2!

[Bella1985]

Hi! We're on to our 2nd thread for babies due at the end of December/Early January. 3rd trimester is in sight...!

It must be so hard with DS. I've only got a whiney little cat to look after an tbh she just sleeps most of the day. Running around after children must be so difficult. Internet christmas shopping is the way to go!

It's not been too bad. We have a good routine during the week of classes, swimming lessons & nursery 2 mornings a week. It's been good up to now. It's just me stressing about slowing down! I don't want his routine to be too disrupted with the baby. Probably putting myself under loads of pressure.

The only reason I'd like to pack everything is because DH got kicked out of the ward at 9pm everyday. And I was needing something at 11pm tsk tsk. This time I'm going to try and book a private room upon arrival as that has a guest bed and DH can stay. Otherwise I'm going to put my foot down and discharge myself if there's nothing wrong.
bella I'm sorry you are feeling pants. But remember we have done 31wks - that's no small feat - that's 3/4 of the pregnancy! And I hear that mum's weight gain and growing starts to slow in the 3rd tri anyway. Apparently baby's weight at term would be ~2x baby's weight now, I'd be interested to see what baby's weight is in 2 weeks time.
emz i know what you mean - my mental goalpost seems to be 37w as DD came at 37w. I am not sure what I'll do with myself if go past 37w, let alone be overdue, it could be up to 42w, what am I going to do for 5w?? Are you getting any help in the first few weeks? I'd like to keep DD's routine as well (she goes to preschool 5 mornings a week) and my inlaws will be here from mid-Dec to end Jan to help out but what happens after that I am not sure yet. I think baby probably has to fit in.

God bella I hear you! I'm not even "big" but can really feel myself start to slow down. Can't believe I've got another 8 and a bit weeks of this to go. Although simultaneously I am panicking at 37w being "only" 5.5 weeks away so goodness knows what I'd like to be happening right now But am really at the point now where I am very obviously pregnant, none of my clothes can hide it but I'm not big enough to be all prego and glowing - I just look fat and tbh I hate it. Sick of not being able to use my body the way I want it, being out of breath and none of my clothes looking nice.

Anyway

Rant away stealth I feel better today after letting it all out yesterday! I'm off to do the weekly shopping without DH in a moment so could be back in rant avenue again pretty soon once I get all hot and bothered and achy! on the plus side, I get another peek at babyBella this afternoon

I had a private room when I had DS & they didn't allow DH to stay. He was kicked out at 10pm. It was better than the ward though. With DS coming at 35 weeks, I'm aiming for 37 too but haven't thought much passed that.

Anyone finding the kicks almost painful? They are really forceful & where my tummy feels so tight it's pretty uncomfortable.

I'm hoping DH will be around for the first few weeks. I have in laws & parents just down the road so the support is there if I need it but hoping I'll just be able to cope & stick to DSs routine. My only concern is weekly swimming lessons. We finish at 8th December & restart a few weeks into Jan. DH is on call to help out if baby is late but he's not keen. How did the scan go Bella?

Hope the scan went well bella

I had my first hospital/midwife appointment today. It was all very relaxed. They confirmed dh can stay overnight at any point which is nice. Had a long chat about reduced movements and when to come in, which was reassuring. Urine and BP etc all fine, and they took blood and swabbed me for MRSA. They also weighed me - I've put on 12kg which given I was 5kg lighter than my starting weight at 14weeks is pretty impressive . They said it was clearly all needed though so not to worry about it!

They also gave me my newest mental milestone - 34w. If baby comes before that I have to go to the NHS unit next door where the NICU is, if I make it past then I can luxuriate in the private wing. So 34w it is!

emz I'm having the opposite - worried that the kicks aren't strong enough. Anterior placenta! So annoying.

The scan went well, baby has grown as expected and the consultant has released me back to midwife led care Head is still engaged with the bum above my belly button and legs out to my right side. I don't feel very many kicks at all, mostly just turning movements and pressure on my bladder. The odd kick to the ribs happen when he/she stretches her legs out but I think they'll become more frequent as space gets tighter in there. They estimate the size to be 4lb now - so cute!

Don't know what to expect re rooms at my hospital. I'm hoping to go for a tour soon. I have 36 weeks in my head as my first goalpost.

That's an impressive weight gain since 14 weeks stealth but glad that it was required and they're not bothered by it. All of my weight has gone on since 14 weeks too, but I didn't need much more of it hopefully it will slow down now...!

Oh private wing, very nice Stealth. I'm very jealous. I'm hoping to make the birth centre, which my consultant says I can use as long as I'm passed 37w. We could be having our babies next month! I had anterior last time so that may be why I'm finding it so different this time. It was low as well last time. It does make a big difference. Glad your DH can stay, it's so lonely otherwise. The weeks go passed so quickly, just trying to right a to do list so I can get it all ready in time. I need to get the car seat out & washed. Iv also ordered a big blanket that'll wrap round the baby with the straps coming through it. I remember from last time that the advice is not to put babies in thick coats or snow suits & then the straps over the top. I had a spring baby last time so it wasn't a worry. Need them to be all snuggly warm.

Glad the scan went well. All sounds very good news.

bella great news that everything is going well and you can go back to midwife led care.

lucy can I ask why you had to stay for 5 days? Is it usual to stay that long? I have totally not mentally prepared for that possibility!

We had our health visitor visit last night. It was fine except that she told us that they are expecting a baby boom in December - apparently there are loads of babies due then and that we should be prepared to be turned away from the hospital.

That's news to make you worry Col. Where abouts in the country are you? Do you have an alternative hospital? Traditionally December & especially Christmas time are quieter for the maternity wards. Really hoping I don't have another experience of an unprepared & understaffed mat ward! It's not a nice environment & just make me panic.

I stayed 1 night which I hadn't prepared for. I think sometimes they keep you in if you have had any help eg. Forceps or if its classed as traumatic for you or baby. If they want baby kept in then you stay in too. Unless baby is in NICU (like mine), then you can discharge yourself as your baby isn't even with you.

emz yes I'm very lucky that I can go private as my work health insurance covers it.

And I know what you mean about time passing - I need to make a big list too!

col I must say that looking at the December antenatal thread I am not surprised - there seems to be masses of people on it! hopefully it's all ok & most of them are done by the time you're ready to give birth.

I'm in Leicestershire, there are two hospitals in Leicester, so hopefully they won't both be full and we won't have to go to a different county! I wonder if it's like this in the whole of the UK or if it's just December here that will be busy? Did anyone else get contacted by a health visitor yet?

From the sounds of it then there's a reasonable chance of spending more than 1 night isn't there. I can imagine it would be quite a lonely experience if DH can't stay as well.

You are right Stealth, the December thread is crazy busy. We are on the border with 2 other counties so although our nearest hospital is 30-40mins away we do also have 2 others that are 45-50mins away. We are going with a different hospital this time as I really didn't like the experience at the other one. We will see if it's any better.

I have days where I get excited & other days where I feel overwhelmed with how much there is to do. Today I'm feeling so tired, overwhelmed & scared. It's probably just because today is the one day of the week that DS doesn't have a class or anything so we tend to see friends or family. Haven't really got going as we don't have to.

Watched Anne Robinson documentary on BBc I player lastnight about different parenting techniques. Did make me think (and worry). DS seems happy & confident so hopefully I'm getting something right.

Perhaps we'll all be ok since we're late December!

bella good to hear everything's well. 4lb is a good weight, if what I read is true (that baby's weight doubles from 30 to 40wks), then your baby is expected to be 8lb at term..

col yes 5 days from admissions to discharge. But probably not normal. My waters broke and I was measuring small. They didn't induce me until 36h post-PROM. Because I was induced I had an epidural (which increases your chances of having to stay overnight) and an instrumental birth. There was nothing wrong with me post birth but DD was borderline small so they wanted to do extra checks on her. Based on the guidance PROM doesn't mean you get admitted as a rule - only if you present with other risk factors (for me - small baby), they usually send you home for 24-36h on "expectant management".

emz which blanket did you get? I had a summer baby the last time and didn't need to think about it either. I am looking for one that could possibly double as a wrap when I sling baby as well.

Baby boom is not good news(!) I am in the midst of primary school applications - so lots of open days and lots of stress due to ever shrinking catchment areas due to baby boom over the last few years.

I ordered my blanket from a woman who makes them, company is the purple cabbage company & I did it through FB. A friend had used them & recommended them. A little pricey but I figured I can also use it in the buggy too.

No baby booms make pre-school & nursery & school applications so much harder! Oh well, we will just have to wait & see. My DS was born in March but the baby boom happened in July/August. So he'll be affected with school but pre-school was ok - guessing because parents are holding off until Jan. Plus the funding for 3yr olds in July/August doesn't kick in until september. Excited to see my little one tomorrow morning.

Stealth, why is it 34w? Is that because they can look after the later premmies? I only ask as DS needed breathing help at 35w. I couldn't hold him until day 3 once he was breathing by himself. Just wondered how they decide 34 is cut off. Not that far away now.

Not sure emz - I think yes they can look after the later premmies. The nhs nicu I think is one of the best in the country so maybe they restrict their focus to the earlier ones? Anyway, the bus & private buildings are right next to each other so it's not a big deal either way.

Ah schools! Don't get me started. We live in a part of west london where all the state catchment areas seem to be 100m only, so have to do the whole private school thing too. Have to put the baby down at birth for all of those - !!!

*nhs not bus - am not planning on catching the bus to the birth!

London certainly certainly doesn't make it easy for families. Will you stay in London for the foreseeable future? We are in a village with 2 primary schools & a secondary school so there's not a huge choice but all the schools are good. Will have to start thinking schools once DS is 3.

That did make me chuckle, could just imagine you being shuffled out of a private ward & onto a bus! I'd love to go privately for the birth but no insurance & no way we could justify the money. Plus it's one of those things that you just can't budget for. The NHS NICU did an amazing job for DS, they just let me down. I'd rather it was that way round but does make it hard mentally when you are thinking about 2nd baby. I am getting excited though, more excited than scared which is good. My bump feels so heavy. I know baby is still breech as well. If offered, I won't be accepting to have them turned. I'd rather wait & let it happen naturally than force something like that.

Yes we have just bought (or are about to buy - 10 days from exchange) a house in london, so we're stuck here now. DH grew up in london and I am used to living in cities too so it felt right for us. But yes the schools thing is a bit of a problem.

The insurance has been a real godsend for this pregnancy - both in terms of the delivery as everything is 100% covered so I don't have to worry about costs depending on type of delivery, but also just he antenatal - have been able to pick my appointment times and go to my doctor's clinic close to work rather than being at the mercy of the nhs. But there's absolutely no way I would have paid to go private - it is ridiculously, insanely expensive. And as you say, at the end of the day it's the nhs who provide that critical care if there's a problem with the baby.

Am really hoping you have a better experience this time round though

The ECV for breech sounds really grim. I agree with you - I'd rather nature take its course. You've still got time for your little
one to turn naturally, so don't give up hope yet!

emz good luck for your scan tomorrow a.m. How many extra scans are you getting? I am getting only one more growth scan at 34wk and if all looks good there i'll be transferred back to midwife care I reckon. Yeah you have time, one of my NCT friend's baby turned naturally 2 days before she was due her C-sec - apparently you'll know when it happens because it was uncomfortable and mildly painful for her? I can imagine the ECV would be worse.

stealth I am in London too and yes very tiny catchment areas. This morning DD and I were at a private school assessment, seems crazy that they are being "tested" at only 3y+, false precision I say. Good luck on the exchange. When do you intend to move? We put the offer on our house when DD was 2 weeks old and moved when she was 3m. Not to scare you - but it's not something I'll do again (!!).

Emz I've only just realised that all our babies should be turning or turned now, I'm glad to hear you're not having it turned because that would be my instinct too, but I always wonder if my instincts err too much on the side of 'no medical intervention'. I don't think mine has turned, I think I can still feel his head at the top, although I have been feeling pressing against my ribs which I guess could be feet, and perhaps what I think is his head is actually his derrière?! Can the midwife tell just by feeling? I have an appointment tomorrow so I'll definitely ask.