Feb 2019 babies thread 7! Growing bumps and gender reveals!

[maxiflump1]

Thread 7 ladies......!!

What an afternoon!

Has my 16w appt but she couldn't find the hb. So was sent to hospital for a scan - all ok. I've got an anterior placenta so makes it more difficult to feel kicks and hear hb on a Doppler.

She sonographer said it looks like a boy!

@DragonFlew how scary for you! So glad all is well with your little boy.

@MrsY87 sorry to hear you've had some scares, and also sorry you are still sick - must be terribly hard looking after two little ones in that state! i was nauseous almost constantly between weeks 8-14 but it magically disappeared at 14 weeks and has not yet returned - fingers crossed it stays away! Good luck for next Fri - agree knowing gender could at least allow us to be a bit more prepared for the arrival of two! My DP was in shock for a week or two but has really come around to the idea of twins. We were lucky we had an early scan at 8 weeks so we have had a bit more time to absorb the info. To be honest I'm not sure what it more terrifying - going from zero to 2 bubbas, or the leap from 2 to 4!

Smoked salmon is fine too! My fav sandwich at the moment.

I second the be prepared advice, the money I spent on a lactation consultant (c£90) was without question THE best money I spent on anything baby related. I’d looked her up in advance so I wasn’t trying to research in a panic and it was invaluable the time she came and spent with us.

@Notquiteagandt She wouldn't say what made her think it, just said she had a feeling, but heartbeat was 144bpm so kinda blows that theory out of the water if she's right, haha! It's such fun to guess, and everyone around me seems to love guessing too 😊

Baby kicking?

I keep feeling like I can feel the baby like flutters but always this time of night.
I don't know whether it's because I'm busy at work and don't notice it because it's faint (I have a anterior placenta) or if it isn't the baby and gas? 🙈
It's always at the sides of my tummy.
Currently in the bath and I can feel it.
Not often but a few times in the evening.
I've read up and apparently it can be because you're busy all day it rocks baby to sleep so when I'm home and chilling it's just my heart beat or mine and OH voices it hears?

Anyone else?

I'm rambling on 😂

@MakeLemonade what did you find the benefits to be of a lactation consultant? It's number one for me so I have no clue!

@Baby160P - I'm feeling baby now. Kicks and general movement (I'm 19+2). It's fab isn't it. I agree it's more noticeable at night when I'm just relaxing on the couch or in bed x

@Yakadee first baby and I'm uncertain if that's what it is 🤷🏽‍♀️ but it is lovely if it isn't gas

Does anyone have any knowledge of iron levels?

Mine are 132 - is that good? What's the normal range? I'm sure last time it was a number like 11.3

Congrats @fizzledays we're having a little girl too 😍

@Baby160P yes that sounds like baby kicking, I can feel her now, was over on the right hand side a few days ago but seems to be down in the middle now, so cute xx

@Fiep it was a few things, she diagnosed tongue tie that none of the midwives/hospital BF counsellor who saw DD noticed, she spent a whole afternoon at the house and the 1:1 time was what was really effective. She showed me lots of different feeding positions, help me perfect my latch and also giving me confidence. She was also then available by phone or text, which was helpful although I didn’t really use this as sorting the tongue tie, latch and positioning was what we needed.

I’m sure you could get lucky and get a great NHS practitioner but IME they just don’t have the time and if your baby is asleep at the same time as they visit or the clinic is running, then you’ve missed the opportunity for support.

I think, medical issues aside, with one on one support that most people could get breastfeeding established. The system just lets lots of people down.

Iron levels often recorded in two ways, so your 11.3 would be 113. Pretty normal 👍🏻

@DragonFlew don’t quote me but I think 132 is good, it’s the same as 13.2, just some test measure mg and some measure mcg (or whatever the blood equivalent is) so just moves the decimal point.

@Baby160P I've been wondering whether I'm feeling gas or baby for the past few days! I think some of the things are the baby, yesterday it felt like I had a trout flopping around for a few seconds!
I'm 16 and 5.

I’d second the 1:1 support - I got fantastic support from the NICU nurses esp a trainee MW doing her rotation in NICU - because of the staff ratios they have lots of capacity to help and she was fab, she had children so was able to guide me and make bf a success even though I was borderline hysterical at times as it was so tough with all the wires etc

@MakeLemonade How did you find your lactation consultant and how long did she spend with you? I found the NHS ones hit and miss. They also only see you for such a short time usually that it's great for quick fix things but they don't always appreciate the full picture as they've only got your word for it otherwise. If you get a good one they're fab though!

I don’t think an anterior placenta really changes much... most pregnancies have anterior placentas. I know mine is and I’ve felt movements for weeks now. I think body fat means more than placenta positioning tbh.

Sounds like baby movement though 😊

@Baby160P - sounds like it very well could be! It is going to be soon if not, very exciting. Xx

@MakeLemonade thank you that's useful! Did you decide to book one before you gave birth or only once you'd found yourself struggling?

Exciting! I'm 16+6. Starting to not feel so anxious these days but cry ALOT!!!

Is it normal to feel movement once and then not feel anything for days? I first felt movement (I think) 2-3 week’s ago and have felt it maybe 4 times since then but feels like ages since I felt anything...

Heard HB on Thursday last week’s so should be ok 🤔

@lanalawr I found one through the IBCLC which is the professional membership body for lactation consultants www.lcgb.org/Find-An-IBCLC

@Fiep I only booked one after I was struggling and DD had lost just over 10% body weight (which incidentally my Lac Con said is quite common for breasted babies) but I’d researched and drawn up a list before birth so I had it ready to go for my husband to call!

Like @Since2016 I had NICU breastfeeding support first time around and I remembered establishing bf made me a bit crazy for a week or so and so wanted the option of that 1:1 support as a release valve as much as anything!

I also found the NCT bf session invaluable - we didn’t have our nct classes until 4 weeks before DD was due so it was all v fresh!

Baby bean is perfect. Measuring 16+6 so a day ahead of what I thought :)

We had our private gender scan tonight to find out the gender but we're having a reveal done by our families so we won't know for a few more weeks yet 😬

But here is my babe all baby looking and a chunky tummy 😍😍😍

@Alicejj8x I'm 16+6 now too! They wouldn't do a full body picture as it would be obvious to see the gender they said.
To me that was it has a massive willy!!!
To OH or there's nothing there?!
I think boy and he thinks girl.
How exciting for a reveal for you!