#TTC1 - Second Wave grads thread the Second!

[kavanaughkj]

Hello all! Welcome to the second thread for the 'new wave' of grads from #TTC1 - the first wave ladies seem to have decamped en masse to Facebook now (I heard weaning mentioned last time I ventured onto it) so this is now officially the place to be!

We're pretty spread out over the pregnancy journey so far with some newbies and some about to pop I'll try to maintain a list so if anybody wants to leave details of due dates and whether you're Team Blue, Pink or Vanilla (I think we're pretty heavily skewed towards Pink at the moment) then leave your details and I'll amalgamate them!

As Moose mentioned in our last thread, please do feel free to join in if this is your first time walking this weird and wonderful path - there is no such thing as TMI and we're all learning off each other!

Just seen something that made me laugh. Looking at breast pumps, in the description "target gender: unisex". Um, am I missing something?!

Popping in to see how you're getting on as I know it's nearly your due date marmite ! Hope you're feeling rested and relaxed! It really is the most mind bending amazing experience meeting this little being that's been living inside you for its whole life! Good luck and hoping for an uneventful, calm, positive birth experience for you and your dp. 🌷🌹🌷

Before you leave the hospital, ask for the feeding specialist /lactation consultant to come see you and check for tongue tie. It's much easier to have remedied when they're tiny and can make such a difference to ease of breastfeeding.

(Plus, best pump I've used has been the medela swing. Worth the £100. I also have some good lactation smoothie recipes for postpartum if you want them? If you gave breastfeeding groups in your area and are able, go to them, such a massive help)

(Sorry for butting in!) Xx

Hi @Audrey, I'd certainly welcome the recipes! Early days for me as only 23 weeks but can't be too prepared :) Thanks

Ah Stardrey great to hear from you and impressed you remembered my due date was this week! That's lovely, yes can't believe this little person who i'm so used to wriggling and squirming around inside me will soon be out and wriggling and squirming around in my arms instead!! How are you and little L getting on? Thinking of all you girls and your babies as things become increasingly real for me! Hope you're all doing well, the babies must have grown so much! The lactation smoothie recipes sound interesting, do share! Did you find them helpful? Thanks for the other tips too

It feels so surreal that baby is 'due' in 4 days, I have no idea where the last 9 months went!!? Although trying not to get too fixated on the date. It's a weird feeling to think it could be today, or it could be two weeks yet! I don't know what happened this weekend but suddenly my phone started going crazy with loads of messages wanting to know if any sign of the baby yet I had kind of expected that from next weekend, but not this weekend!

Glad to hear the hen do went well Moose and wasn't too painful! First sleep back in your own bed with preggo pillow must have been amazing though!

Ha Fishy how random! Have you bought a breast pump? SiL has lent me her Tommee Tippee one and I also have the Hakkaa (non-electric one). Keep hearing the Medela one can't be beaten though (from many others as well as Stardrey!)

Glad everything was ok and you got some reassurance Music, I couldn't believe how much the cm ramps up, especially from the start of the 3rd trimester for me - more pregnancy glamour!!

Hope you're feeling better today Seahawk?

DH and I had a lovely weekend enjoying the sunshine, including a long leisurely lunch at our favourite tapas bar - even discovered they do quite a good alcohol-free beer! Was strange to keep thinking this might be our last weekend just the to of us!

Got to dash now as meeting a friend, sorry to anyone I've missed! x

Thanks marmite - I'm super tired today as slept badly last night but not feeling emotional. Have my first growth scan tomorrow, am hoping I sleep better tonight, plus I'll get a lie in tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing the baby and hoping all is good. Can't believe you're due so soon. And can't believe you're already being asked if it's here!

I just ordered the Tommee Tippie one too Marmite as we've got the bottles from that set. I've also heard other people talk about the Hakka too though! Hopefully the one we've got will do a good enough job.

Hello again Starkey! Always good to hear from you again, can't believe how time's flown! How old is little L now?

Good luck for the scan Seahawk.

So I ended up in triage late last night with reduced movements. Everything looked ok on the monitor (and they actually picked up that I am having BHs, I'm just not feeling them at the moment) but they want me to go in for a scan today to check fluid levels, placenta etc given I'm now due. Hopefully will be ok, just waiting for them to call me with the time time so feeling a bit

I got the Hakkaa for a tenner at a baby show fishy so thought it was well worth it for an alternative pumping method! They're not particularly expensive anyway even when there isn't a deal on. Hopefully between the two covers both bases!

He's 19 weeks lovely and the light of my life! Absolute pride and joy! I am smitten, don't think I've stopped smiling since he's been born! It does seem to fly by though, he keeps surprising me by doing new things when I'm least expecting them! Will be doing a blog post on what I found most useful etc for the first few weeks/months as soon as I can. (We have as little nap refuser unless he's being cwtched up!)

Hope the scan went well seahawk

Glad all is well marmite I had BH in the last few days which I could see, my stomach was moving and tensing, but couldn't really feel. I was 4 days overdue when I went I to labour, 5 days OD when he was born and I swear the last week or so was worse for knicker checking than the first few! Hope the scan goes well today.

Glad everything looked ok on the scan Marmite. Waiting is the worst, but it'll be pretty cool to see the baby again! Hope they call you with a time soon. Maybe indulge in some medicinal chocolate? The sugar should keep baby kicking away nicely!

Good luck marmite

All was fine today. I'm a bit annoyed as I asked for some pics as DH couldn't come. They said yes and then when I asked again at the end they said oh you should have taken them with your phone. I didn't have my phone in my hand when I asked so don't know how they expected me to take them! I'm always in a bad mood after scans as they always moan that the baby is in a bad position like it's my fault. Anyway the main thing is that the baby is all good 😊

marmite that must have been scary. Glad all was okay. How was the scan? Good that you are getting the extra reassurance now. One of my (many) worries is not being in touch enough to pick up if baby is moving less. Is it really obvious to you once baby establishes it's patterns? I'm only 22 weeks so movement definitely seems very random at the moment, although always most strong at bed time.

seahawk I'm glad your first growth scan was okay. Did they tell you your percentiles? That's so annoying about the photo! I guessed that at the later scans they wouldn't be as eager to pick out a nice photo to take away but I would definitely pay for one every time!

audrey it's so lovely to read your experience of having a new born. Your happiness shines through so much! When you were knicker checking at the end was that to see if your waters had broken? Also, thanks for all the tips!

moose great work on the hen do! Lasting until 12 for two nights running is impressive and I would be proud of that before I was pregnant haha.

Had scan just before lunchtime, all was fine thank goodness! They were happy with the fluid, placenta and cord flow and the growth scan was normal. Current estimated weight was exactly 7lb but that can be up to a pound out either way so doesn't really say much! Had another delightful antiD injection while I was there too as I'd knocked my bump last night too. Anyway relieved all was fine and no sudden induction!! Spent the afternoon having baby cuddles with some girls from NCT which was lovely! Thanks for the well wishes

Glad your scan went well too seahawk, I do find the midwives and sonographers I've come across in pregnancy a very mixed bunch - some are great and some are awful!

music patterns of movement definitely get more set and obvious as pregnancy progresses, you just sort of become aware if that makes sense. Off the top of my head I'm thinking maybe from around 25ish weeks but can't really remember. I'm sure you'll soon pick up on more established patterns over the next month or so, don't worry! (That's all we ever do in pregnancy!!) sounds like you already have some idea with them being active at bed time (mine too! And always at lunch time as well!) you just get to know what's normal for your baby.

Yup I am back to the obsessive knicker checking the last few days Stardrey it's a bit like revisiting an old friend!! would love to read about your top baby essential purchases

Thanks music and marmite.

music the percentiles were literally right in the middle - baby is mr/miss average!

marmite apparently newborn cuddles can help to bring on labour!

I've decided to finish work 9th June 3 weeks before I'm due. I have loads of holiday and have already added 3 weeks to the end of my mat leave. The weather should be nice and it's the last time I'll have some time to myself!

Quick one if you're still here stardrey - do you (or any of the other ladies here) have any tips for gifts for new mums and babies? I have three friends due in the next couple of weeks (I know!) and I wanted to wait until the babies were here before I got something for them. I have no idea what makes a good, nice but useful gift. I can imagine that people get given stuff that they already have loads of or don't need. Thoughts from anyone?!

Seahawk that's a bit rubbish about the pictures! We don't have any from our 20 week scan as they were such awful quality! However we just keep thinking that soon enough we'll have the real thing to look at. I'm leaving work 5 weeks before my due date, I just can't imagine carrying on any longer. Hats off to those who manage it!

Marmite good to hear all' looking good, the countdown continues!

Music you defiantly notice it the further along you get, whether you want to or not! I can tell when it'll 11pm just by baby as that's rhythmic kicking time. I don't think I properly noticed until around 28 weeks.

Bodum travel mug (literally the only way I got a hot drink for ages plus you're so paranoid about spilling on the baby with a normal mug.
Tuppence and crumble starsnug. Just gorgeous. And so much easier than trying to fold newborn into a pram suit! (Excellent for us with slings also.)
Hand cream from lush or similar. I was paranoid about everything being sterile for the first few months weeks, washed my hands with antibacterial wash, hands go dry as a loss bone!

Going to a losing to get Stardrey newborn essentials up over the course of today! Plus lactation smoothie recipe.

You definitely recognise their patterns the further on you get. L used to have hiccups most afternoons and if watch and feel my belly twitch, he still gets hiccups most afternoons!

Eeek waiting on some baby news then marmite I hope you don't have to suffer too much longer, must be awful being overdue.

Music I get lots of movement every day now but there's no real pattern to it. I feel something every 3-4 hours and that keeps me happy, plus her kicks are strong enough for DH to feel now so he gets to feel some every evening now.

I'm pretty sure I've started getting Braxton Hicks, I'm only 23 weeks but the uncomfortable tightening sensation and bump going hard is pretty unmistakeable. I've read that they can be caused or happen more often when you're dehydrated and I really don't drink enough water so I'm going to try to fix that!

Heya ladies! Sorry I've been so quiet in the last week - it was the busiest week we get at work each year and I was doing up to 14 hour days for the full week. Back to something resembling normalcy now so I figured I'd update the stat lists ... I can't believe it's your due date in 2 days Marmite!!

A very belated welcome to the thread from me to Tonks, Poppet and MrsBluebell too - and heya Audrey! any tips on purchases gratefully received, I've put the Medela Swing on my baby wishlist now thanks to you (and sounds like a good call on the Bodum travel mug too).

My little hatchling has properly woken up these days and I'm at last feeling regular movements - such a relief, though they're not strong enough for DH to feel yet. Seems to be very active as others have said around mealtimes and bedtimes - both DH and I like our food so we're hoping for a similar foodie baby!

Am off to Portugal for a week on Saturday but wanted to post this update up before I went - this is with extended family. Have booked in a trip to Cornwall for a week in June just with DH so we have a couple of things to look forward to.

STILL not a single Team Blue! where are all the boys hiding out?

14 April
Marmite – Team Vanilla

19 May
LovelyFishy - Team Pink

3 June
Mooseville - Team Vanilla

2 July
Seahawk – Team Vanilla

6 August
Kav - Team Vanilla
MrsG - Team Pink

9 August
Wanting – Team Pink

14 August
Musicgrrl - Team Pink

28 August
Starmist - currently Team Vanilla but intending to find out

30 August
FXSkip - Team Vanilla

3 September
Dixiechick - Team Vanilla

16 October
Poppet – Team Vanilla

9 November
Tonks – Team Vanilla

DD tbc
MrsBluebell

Let me know if anything needs changing!

Thanks for the welcome Kav. My EDD is 14th December. Seems like forever away!

Looks like we're expecting one a month then a rush in August!

I had a consultant appt today to discuss my low Papp a. She said I should have been told to take aspirin back in December at 12
Weeks but there's no point now! Good news is that the aspirin can help prevent pre eclampsia which is why they recommend it but my blood pressure is fine and they are not too worried. They also said that they won't let me go more that a day or 2 overdue which is what I wanted as the placenta can deteriorate towards the end with low Papp a.

I had to wait an hour past my appointment time but it was worth it to hear a woman telling her daughter that she ate a full Sunday roast while in labour

wordpress.com/post/starkydirewoolf.wordpress.com/57

Newborn to month favourites blog. 💙🌷🎁🎉

• 3 month

Ooh audrey how do we access? Do we have to set up an account? (Sorry, probably being dense here...)

Morning all! stardrey good to see you back on the blogging - will have a read when I can remember my login! I'm checking in from the Algarve, me and DH having a well earned break in the sun ☀️ we had our 20 week scan on Monday, all seemed well and appears to be a little girl wriggling around, but I have a low lying anterior placenta. Most of the info I've read has said this means I'll feel less movements, but I've been feeling movement since 15weeks! I wonder if it just feels muffled until later on, will try not to worry about it! DH got a bit emotional after scan, I guess because it's not been long since his DMs funeral. marmite I cannot believe you are due already - good luck for the birth xxx