October 2017 #4!

[BrioLover]

Hello everyone - shiny new thread!

Here is the listing - please correct me and I'll update

Piraterach – EDD 27th September. Team yellow
NotMyPenguin – EDD 27th September. Team yellow
RubertRoo – EDD 29th September Team Yellow
Blu3sky – EDD 29th September Team Yellow
mandScookiesrule – EDD 29th September. Team yellow
jeneral – EDD 29TH September. Team yellow
MoominMama22 – EDD 29th September. Team yellow
Presh88 - EDD 30th September. Team yellow
Mulberry2627 – EDD 30th September. Team yellow
Dinosaurkisses – EDD 30th September. Team yellow
Supersmith – EDD 1st October Team yellow
Stickaforkinimdone EDD - 1st October. Team yellow
Emmaluggs – EDD 1st October. Team yellow
MrsMcKeon – EDD 1st October. Team yellow
Hannahjoshaw – EDD 2nd October. Team yellow
Sbs6jb1 – EDD 2nd October. Team yellow
Lottbarn – EDD 2nd October Team Yellow
Mellymoo – EDD 3rd October Team Yellow
Addtothechaos – EDD 3rd October. Team yellow
Sj3rram – EDD 3rd October. Team yellow
Mummabubs – EDD 3rd October. Team yellow
10storeyloveson – EDD 4th October. Team yellow
Cineraria – EDD 4th October. Team yellow
gimbleInTheWabe – EDD 5th October. Team yellow
NannyOggsKnickers – EDD 5th October. Team yellow
Emberblu – EDD 5th October. Team yellow
Wapsmahoney – EDD 6th October. Team yellow
Greentreeseverywhere – EDD 6th October. Team yellow
Ememem84 – EDD 6th October Team Yellow
Silkybear – EDD 7TH October. Team yellow
Firsttimemummy24 – EDD 8th October Team Yellow
Powerpuff – EDD 8th October. Team yellow
Rainingcats – EDD 8th October. Team yellow
BrioLover – EDD 8th October. Team yellow
Tammie49 – EDD 8th October. Team yellow
Conkerchops – EDD 8th October. Team yellow
Lizzynic – EDD 9th October Team Yellow
Krakentoast – EDD 9th October. Team yellow
Rosalyn44 – EDD 9th October. Team yellow
Trytowin – EDD 9th October. Team yellow
CarpeDiem83 – EDD 9th October. Team yellow
Whyarealltheusernamestaken – EDD 9th October. Team yellow
Skisunsnow – EDD 10th October Team Yellow
Beansprout79 – EDD 10th October Team yellow
Kirsty8333 – EDD 10th October. Team yellow
HollyMay84 – EDD 10th October. Team yellow
MerlinsBeard87 – EDD 11th October. Team yellow
EmmaGarrick – EDD 11th October. Team yellow
Cath1212 – EDD 11th October. Team yellow
Greentreeseverywhere – EDD 12th October. Team yellow
Wishmeluck16 – EDD 13th October. Team yellow
Starfish83 – EDD 14th October. Team yellow
Pollybythesea – EDD 14th October. Team yellow
MrsCharlieD – EDD 13th October. Team yellow
Loopyaboutmy2boys – ELCS 13th October. Team yellow
Corrinax – EDD 13th October Team yellow
Starfish83 – EDD 14th October. Team yellow
Babycarmen – EDD 14th October. Team yellow
Asilikeit – EDD 14th October. Team yellow
JackiePaper – EDD 15th October. Team yellow
TippetyTapWriter - EDD 15th October. Team yellow
ALRM – EDD 15th October. Team yellow
Fingerscrossed – EDD 15th October. Team yellow
Anotherminime – EDD 15th October. Team yellow
Gracey1 – EDD 15th October. Team yellow
Critterpants – EDD 15th October Team yellow
Kitkatsplat – EDD 15th October Team Yellow
DaisyFranceLynch – EDD 16th October. Team yellow
TequilaSetAWatchman – EDD 16th October. Team yellow
Doomkittycleo – EDD 16th October. Team yellow
Ifelola – EDD 16th October. Team yellow
Mrsbumblebees – EDD 17th October Team yellow
Walikingdeadfan – EDD 17th October. Team yellow
Ppleasebob – EDD 17th October. Team yellow
Boxesoffrogs – EDD 17th October. Team yellow
Yellowstarred – EDD 18th October. Team Yellow
DrunkenFlamingo – EDD 18th October. Team yellow
Lovechild2016 – EDD 19th October. Team yellow
Abcdemma – EDD 19th October. Team yellow
Emjmoore – EDD 19th October. Team yellow
Iemma321q – EDD 19th October. Team yellow
Luna4689 – EDD 19th October. Team yellow
Leafs123 – EDD 19th October Team yellow
Rachieg88 – EDD 20th October. Team yellow
SophieGiroux – EDD 20th October. Team yellow
Amyappletree – EDD 20th October. Team yellow
SeatOfMyPants – EDD 21st October. Team yellow
ThatGirl82 – EDD 21st October. Team yellow
Glitterbubble – EDD 22nd October. Team yellow
Charmanar – EDD 22nd October. Team yellow
Mishmishmish – EDD 22nd October. Team yellow
Otter16 – EDD 22nd October. Team yellow
DrMum83 – EDD 23rd October. Team yellow
Yellowfrontdoor- EDD 23rd October Team yellow
Colourmylife – EDD 23rd October Team yellow
JanuaryJuniper –EDD 25th October. Team yellow
Witsender – EDD 25th October Team Yellow
Shellbell – EDD 26th October Team Yellow
UndersecretaryofWhimsy – EDD 26th October Team yellow
Confusedat23 – EDD 26th October Team yellow
Vitalite – EDD 27th October. Team yellow
Sammyw1997 – EDD 28th October Team yellow
Soapycomb – EDD 28th October Team yellow
LadySchop – EDD 28th October. Team yellow
Shinysparklythings – EDD 28th October. Team yellow
DebsOctBaby – EDD 28th October. Team yellow
Plzbesticky23 – EDD 28th October Team yellow
Greedyduck – EDD 29th October Team yellow
Autumnheart – EDD 29th October Team Yellow
88claire – EDD 30th October. Team yellow
Yoyozozo – EDD 30th October Team yellow
MrsMonkeyBear – EDD 31st October. Team yellow
Tigger83 – EDD 31st October. Team yellow
Calmisthemantra – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Miwelaisjacydo – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Donkey86 - EDD TBC. Team yellow
Dinosaursparklepup – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Chlo22 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Thepotatoesofdefiance – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Han1984 –EDD TBC. Team yellow
Rosiehukk4 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Sapphire1983 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Peabody81 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Twinklelittlestar1 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Rayna – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Firsttimenearcarrier2015 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Allykatz – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Punkpuffin – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Reddy4no2 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Fairraid – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Missm0use – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Xxmissbrightsidexx –EDD TBC. Team yellow
Rufus200 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
FluttershyStare – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Daydreamer88 – EDD TBC Team yellow
Oddsocksforeveryone – EDD TBC Team yellow

I weighed myself this morning for the first time since bfp and have gained just over 10lbs so far 24 weeks and 2 days.

That's better than I expected because I've been eating like a piggy!

Breastfeeding question - has anyone/is anyone planning to tandem feed? Think someone else here mentioned it recently. Just curious about how it works in practise. DS2 has just turned 2 and is still feeding, up until 2 months ago I was working full time and he only fed once a day in the morning and I thought he was naturally phasing it out, then we made an international move so I'm now at home with the kids full time, he's now started asking for it 3 or 4 times a day and I'm starting to get worried that he'll be competing with the baby every time I bf. Having done the newborn intensive bf bit twice before I can't imagine trying to accommodate him at the same time for the many hours of feeding and wondering if I should try to encourage him to wean in advance (not sure I have the energy though, he is pretty determined!)

Oh and on weight I had put on 4.5kg from pre-preg weight at my last appointment when I was 24+3, however I lost weight up until about 16 weeks so actually put on more than that over the past couple of months. I think I gained about 2.5 stone in my first pregnancy (small baby!), it came off again pretty fast and I ended up lighter than before (bf helped I think!). I put on 3 and a bit with the second which didn't shift quite so easily and I settled at about half a stone heavier than pre-children weight, then again I didn't make a real effort to get rid of it. However it's not so much the weight as the change to my shape that I notice, my hips and rib cage are both permanently wider so none of my pre-children clothes ever fit me properly again even when I lost loads of weight and my stomach muscles didn't go back together properly after DS2 so don't think I'll ever have a flat stomach again. I think it all depends on your pre-pregnancy shape though, I was very slight so my body had to change to make room! It still amazes me what our bodies can do to make this all possible.

Just weighed myself and I think I've put on just over a stone, I'm 26 + 3 . I lost weight in the first few weeks as I was eating well and exercising more but now it seems to be totting up! I don't think I look any heavier around my face, legs etc and everyone keeps telling me that I look great and slimmer so who knows where it's gone!

I heard something about making sure that when you sit up you should push yourself up with your arms and not just using your stomach muscles so that they don't separate, is this true?

gracey yes I was really glad about the workshop as other than scar rupture it's the monitoring that has been really scaring me about trying for a vbac. I had nightmare visions of being forced to lay still on my back but the midwife I spoke to was very insistent that they'd want me moving around to help labour, which is exactly what I was wanting to do. They're going to show me how to be mobile while wearing the monitor. So a big relief! Still no idea about antenatal classes but apparently they do a labour recap at this workshop too so maybe that'll be enough. Maybe keep asking your midwife incase they have a cancellation etc? Now my main worry is actually getting to the hospital as we have no car and very limited options for someone to look after ds (basically only my mil who lives several hours away). So my new nightmare scenario is having to get a taxi all by myself while in labour!

potatoes I'm also wider in the hips and could never lose that last half stone. My mum was exactly the same. I guess it's just my new shape?! Wonder what I'll be like after this one!

Our scales record our weights (and also the weight of any guests, cleaners, builders etc who have a sneaky weigh in whilst visiting the bathroom!) so I have a chart of my weight gain in my last pregnancy but need to find new batteries for the scales, so don't have my weight this pregnancy.

Dates for last pregnancy are similar to this one:
LMP Dec 24
Ovulation Jan 7
Due date before scan Oct 1
Due date after scan Sept 27
Birth Sept 26

My weight was on a post Christmas indulgence high when I conceived and I put on 10.5 kg in total then was back 1kg below my conception weight five days after the birth. I think that happened because I had a lot of food aversions during the pregnancy.

Potatoes, I mentioned tandem feeding. DS will be two the week his brother arrives and I wanted to feed him until two following the WHO guidance as I think it helps them until their immune system matures around that age. DS is very keen too! From what I've heard, they typically gat very enthusiastic when the milk comes in, which is great for preventing blocked ducts/mastitis, though not so great for your time if you have a cluster feeding newborn too, and then it tails off a bit. There is a pregnant and breastfeeding thread in the same antenatal sectuon as this thread but it's gone a bit quiet recently.

Gimble yes, you should ideally roll on to your side and push up with your arms rather than sitting from a flat position (if that makes sense). So the midwife told me in my first pregnancy anyway. It all worked for me the first time around but in the second pregnancy I had a toddler to lift 50 times a day, push up the hill in buggy etc. and my core strength was obviously not up to it!

Tippety I have similar worries. We moved overseas 2 months ago and don't know anyone local, my MIL is in the same country but 7 + hours away! I was counting on a home birth like my last 2 but there are only a few midwives in the city who will do it and all are booked up for October births already, so now I'm stuck with no car, half an hour drive from hospital and no child care To make it worse I don't speak the language very well, thinking about it all makes me feel a bit sick at the moment but I'm sure we'll work something out over the next couple of months (just hoping it won't have to mean MIL coming to live with us for months on end...)

I've put on 5.2kg at 24weeks, small bump don't know where it's all gone! but feel "denser" and more solid if that makes sense

potatoes that sounds tough, especially with language barrier etc. I've heard people say to find a childminder or babysitter who would be willing to come out even at night. But I've never left ds with anyone but family before (and only ever for a few hours) and the thought makes me uncomfortable. I'm probably weird but I'd almost rather labour by myself than leave ds with someone I hardly know, especially at such a confusing time in his life! What are the taxis like round there? Were your previous labours fairly slow? I'm just hoping mine gets off to a slow start so we can give mil plenty of time to get over here (she works so might not just be able to drop everything and come). Need to find a taxi company that takes women in labour as some don't due to insurance reasons.

Im a bit worried about getting to hospital too as at the mo it's a 40 min bus journey through London traffic to Kings College. Either that or I take a really long and slow walk there! Can you get the bus whilst in labour?! Obviously I'll probs get an uber but is that allowed?! My sister was under the impression that every woman in labour gets picked up by an ambulance and whizzed there first class ha! She seemed actually disappointed when I told her that that mostly only happens in the movies..

Off to swim for the first time in a while this morn, can't quite do back stroke anymore! Anyone else been doing prenatal yoga?

I'd love to be whisked off in an ambulance but I guess it makes sense they're for emergencies only.... Though I suppose if labour was progressing really fast or anything worrying was happening it'd be fine to call one! I've no idea about the bus as never been in labour but I don't think I'd consider it! I've just been googling about this problem and taxis seem to be the only suggested option. I'm going to ask my midwife if she knows of any firms that are labour-friendly. Otherwise I'll just start calling some up to check. Need to remember to have cash for the fare ready as well! Maybe you'll be traveling at night and the traffic will be better? That's my hope because my hospital is normally 40 mins drive too. Why oh why did they close the local one that was ten minutes away :(

Hello, all!

So I've been lurking for quite a while, but am only just now picking up the courage to join in - it's felt like I was jinxing it if I talked too much about it.

But my EDD is October 10, and we've had two good scans, so I guess it's happening - we're expecting a little girl, btw, though I hate the colour pink, so I'm really hoping my MIL won't buy too much crap that'll just be passed on to charity (she's been told not to, and the word I used for what would happen to pink things was 'bonfire', but I doubt she'll listen).

Out of interest, do those of you who are planning to BF, and have maybe even done so before, have any idea what you can find beyond health visitors for support?

I have pretty useless boobs (inverted nipples), so I'm worried that I'll struggle and be faced with a judgy health visitor invading my personal space (my aspergers is in my notes, but I don't know whether they'll appreciate what that means for how I react to people at times of stress) and just come out of it feeling like a massive failure - and I do so want to do it (or, if it doesn't work out, feel okay about that). I'm even thinking of hiring a postnatal doula to help me!

Hey threefour welcome! Try googling lactation consultants in your area or latch on groups. You can meet both before you have your baby to learn more & get advice as well as after x

In our area the support for breastfeeding was mostly run as drop in cafe sessions by the NCT. They were called Baby Cafes. I liked them as they had a friendly relaxed atmosphere a bit like a playgroup with lots of playmats and toys and people chatting over a drink and cake and if you added your name to the list at the start, the adviser would get round to you and chat one-to-one with you about any difficulties you have.

I found it really useful as DS had silent reflux and has several feeding difficulties. They gave me advice on positioning, encouraging longer feeds and other aspects too.

Hey threefour, my EDD is also 10th October! Expecting a little boy here though!

Thanks, guys! I'll certainly look into lactation consultants, as that sounds like just the thing I'm looking for. Ideally, I'd like guidance beforehand and at the hospital (my mum has inverted nipples as well, and she never achieved any latch at all with me or my sister so her milk never came in - so I want to plan for early intervention!), though I'm sure I'll be keen to join NCT groups once I'm past those first crazy days (at least I'm not counting on being able to leave the house. Or shower. Or sleep.).

Welcome @ThreeFour! Congrats on team pink! I don't know if you've heard of La Leche League, they're a breastfeeding helpline (I think?!) I have no experience with them but I'm sure they would certainly be able to advise you about inverted nipples as I'm pretty sure they're all about breastfeeding. It's also maybe worth searching it in the topics here on MN to see if anyone else has discussed it and had some good advice to share.

I have some ante-natal class progress to share!! I got a call from Kings saying to ignore a letter I'm going to receive about my classes starting this coming Tuesday evening (!!) as the lady isn't available but that they'll be in touch again soon with the actual dates. So the confusion continues! Anyway she said there will either be 4 2 hour classes or 3 3 hour classes over the same amount of weeks so we shall see. It's all getting quite real now!

@ThreeFour and @TheLionQueen1 I'm also due on October 10th! But just to complete the set here we don't know whether we're having a girl or boy! 😊

Ha oh my gosh I'm not, I'm due on the 7th! I knew as soon as I pushed "post" that didn't feel right, but in my defence by my original dates I was due on the 10th but 12 week scan brought it forward a tad. I'm going to lie down now!! 🙈

@GimbleInTheWade LLL was actually the one thing (other than doulas) that I had considered, but their local meetings are really inconvenient for me to get to - but their website did give me hope that, yes, it can be done if you have the right guidance and support.

And I'm with King's as well, so I'll look forwards to hearing what their courses are like! When did you send in your form, btw? I was a bit late doing it, as I had my booking appt at 14 weeks as I had mistaken an early bleed for a period and got my dates wrong - so I think I only sent it off about eight or nine weeks ago.

@mummabubs that sounds familiar! The little one is getting her middle name from a great grandmother whose birthday was on October 4th, so now I keep getting the two mixed up. But it's nice to have an EDD buddy, @TheLionQueen1 !

Hey all, checking in. 25 weeks now! Had pretty painful lower back problems at 23 weeks but thankfully was just a blip. Still done almost zero prep but bought a stroller and was trying to go through the instructions last night - got half way and then gave up in frustration. I am doomed! :D midwife appointment on Monday where I need to tell her my preferred hospital and birth plan. Ideally don't want epidural but as someone else on here said I am keeping an open mind! Off to the gym later. Found running much more uncomfortable over the last week so shall be interesting to see how it goes.

So I managed to really scare myself last night. I've felt movement from about 17weeks and as of 4 weeks ago he has always been very active pretty much as soon as I take a seat/lie down so I felt like I knew his pattern of movement. I had my friend round for dinner last night and when I was sitting down after the meal I noticed he wasn't moving. Fast forward 2 hrs & I still hadn't felt anything, I was really worried and on the edge of calling the midwife and he did the biggest kick. I've been pretty chilled the whole of my pregnancy but this made me feel so scared. Think it must have been pasta overload..

I then had a really scary dream about the baby being born prematurely and not being able to look after him the anxiety is real!

Aww gimble, I've done that as well, then full on panicked, cried, grabbed my tummy and tried to rock it side to side, drank loads of fizzy drinks etc (dp thinks I am quite the nutter), only for her to then drop kick me in the stomach or something, as if to say 'oi, I am here you loon'.
Anyone else completely lost the plot? I can't remember words, and my memory has literally gone. Memorable moment (touché) was on Friday when I tried to unlock my office door using my phone charger and couldn't understand why it wasn't working
Also, just tried on several different outfits in preparation to take my dog for a walk to the park, apparently now I can't wear clothes that make me look 'too' pregnant. I look quite young for my age (30-bloody-3), and don't want people to judge me.

To summarise: I have lost my memory, dp thinks I am bonkers, I can't wear clothes that make me look pregnant, I felt so annoyed last night at a BBQ because everyone else was getting pleasantly pissed and was planning to go out after, while I sat there with my lemonade and got picked up at 10.30 (although was smug when they were all hungover this morning), cried when mothercare told me that the pram I ordered last Sunday (five days delivery - lies!) won't be ready til next weekend to pick up. And now I have decided that for my Saturday evening's entertainment, we shall be going to IKEA to buy a wardrobe for the (non-existent because we still need to find somewhere to live in September, long story) nursery. ARGHHHH!!!! Now the dog has also decided I am bonkers and is lying on the floor with her paws over her eyes.

Is this normal??? Or shall I just stay in bed for the next three and a half months?

Oh and now the dog has been sick all over the floor. I was sick picking it up and flushing it down the toilet. All in all, I am a fat, red faced, covered in dog sick mess. And I want gin, lots of gin.
Apologies for my insanity.