Dec19/Jan20 IVF Graduates - Thread 2

[Chooklass]

New thread for us all to keep in touch. Think we're all nearing the end of the first trimester or dipping our toes into the second ... how far we've come since the days of agonising over stims!

Link to old thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/birth_clubs/3812203-Dec19-Jan20-IVF-Graduates

Actually just noticed that the ones that I got are 0-3m rather than newborn.. wonder if they all come from China and there is indeed a stock issue 🤔

We bought a couple of newborn vests from sainsburys this weekend, mostly just to soothe my anxiety that this baby will have no clothes!! I'm just going to keep an eye on shops and buy when I see it as stocks do seem low. Although 0-3 and up is fine, just the newborn and up to 1month.

Hadn't even thought about nappies....! How is everyone choosing a brand? Do you just...pick one?

Oh and we are seeing people for picnics etc. I had already been at home since early March, my mental health was starting to suffer. We are being very careful.

@October2020 We are going for cloth nappies (not sure if that's a terrible idea! 🙈) but we're starting off with some bio-degradable disposable ones that a friend recommended for the early days but they are out of stock at the moment, I wouldn't have thought that normal nappies would be too difficult to get hold of though.
I am sure by autumn things will improve with stocks and people will stop panic buying.

@Viletta it's hard to know what is best to do. I have been seeing family and a few friends but I am meant to be seeing a friend who has been working as a vet in London and I feel slightly uneasy about it, wondering if I should be more careful. It's hard to know.

I have just noticed that you can see the baby through my bump! DH and I have been transfixed ever since 😂 so weird and amazing at the same time!

@Wimbledon1 I would take the class today rather than tomorrow as if your experience is similar to mine my arm became sore the next morning, I also got the vaccine at 5:30PM, but it's hard to tell as you can be different..? Mine got quite bad the next day, I couldn't sleep on that side for 2nights, then the pain went away completely.

@QuantumGirl the sonographer said while I had the scan "heart looks perfect, but we can't rule out all issues with scans unfortunately" that kind of freaked me out, worst possible moment to say something like that, kept thinking what if she saw something? But then I was told they have to cover themselves so really hoping that was all.... :(

@Viletta we are waiting for phase 2 here in Scotland, haven't seen anyone since mid-March and it's not easy, but as of this weekend we can have my sisters' over and I am super excited to finally be able to see them. Kids are coming so we decided to work out details like they will only be using the downstairs toilet and my sister will clean it before they leave, we will make 2 bbq-s, I am sure it will be a bit strange, but it's either this or to not see them until the baby comes.

@October2020 haven't thought about brands to be honest, but based on what you guys are saying we'll take whatever is available :)

Anyone noticed any difference in joints? When I get up and move my body around I noticed I am cracking and clicking a lot more than I used to. Was thinking maybe it's due to working from home, but more likely it's the pregnancy. I am taking calcium supplements and drinking lots of milk, but I know pregnancy can be tough on bones/teeth and joints.. :/

Thanks for the advice on the whooping cough everyone. I'm going to go for the fitness class tonight and hope for the best. Great thing about zoom ones is I can just turn the camera off and stop if it hurts 😂

As far as seeing people goes, from what I'm reading and speaking to people who work in health, seems pretty widely agreed that a - bad - second wave will hit in autumn/winter. The RCOG guidance and things also seems to think the only potential risk in pregnancy is in third trimester. So in summary, I see the next month or two as an opportunity to try and be a tiny bit normal and see people I trust in their gardens, the park etc. Because I'm expecting after that for it just to be me, DH and eventually baby for maybe half a year. So enjoy while you can is my thinking but totally appreciate others being more cautious as you have to feel comfortable.

@FlapJackered do you have a link or the name of the biodegradable disposable nappies? We'd like to start on disposable too but would prefer biodegradable. I promise not to order them for quite a while yet and take them off you!
Also, what do you mean about you can see baby? As in you can see the movement? Or can you actually see its shape?! 😮

@Wimbledon1 😂 of course! They said they would get more stock in July.
kitandkin.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuJz3BRDTARIsAMg-HxXZtCWdYuSnJVI2oRfWiJZ9nk9gnucuNhG5G9CZ-Roj4yyvGKIFcaAqRYEALw_wcB

We can just see my stomach moving when he kicks or moves. Very weird to watch!

@Lily999 my pelvis is definitely sore! Particularly after sleeping/sitting for a while. I have started doing some stretching though and that has helped. Bit worried I am getting pain so early doesn't bode well for when the babe is bigger!

@Wimbledon1 I forgot to mention, I did quite a bit of research on it and apparently the bio-degradable ones decompose in 50 years in landfill compared to normal nappies which are around 500 years. They say on the kit and kin website 6 years but that is not in landfill sadly.
My sister has been using muslins from birth as nappies and it sounds messy and hard work so not sure I am brave enough to embark on cloth from the start 😬.

@FlapJackered that's interesting, we are going for bio-degradable, now I am thinking I will write a card for his 50th birthday saying congrats, your nappies have decomposed by now, you can consider yourself a real grown up! :)

I heard decomposable nappies don't have the right condition to decompose in the landfill but it's good to know that they eventually will! I read on another thread that it's best to have a good variety of brands to start with as every baby is different and you'll find the brand that leaks the least for you.

I watched videos on cloth nappies, as much as I love the idea, it looks like a lot of work in terms of getting them prepped, undoing dirty ones, storing them before washing, drying. I think we'll be washing enough clothes and drying in winter will be at home. We'll start off with disposable decomposable nappies I think.

@Wimbledon1 interesting idea about the second wave hitting later on, in my mind the longer we wait the more immunity society will get. We'll see. I was hoping my parents would be able to come visit for Christmas, they are not in the UK. Time will show.

Reading about raising bilingual children, it's not easy but I'll go for it!

Downloaded an app to track pelvic floor kegel exercises!

I'm going to start with normal nappies and switch to reusable when we are a bit more confident. All of my friends who are now cloth nappy experts did the first 6 weeks or so with normal nappies and don't regret it!

I'm worried too about a second peak just as we have our babies. I'm hoping that won't be the case and a lot of science seems to suggest it won't be. But basically nobody really knows....

We are planning on using biodegradable disposables for first couple of weeks then cloth too @FlapJackered ! Also failed with Kit and Kin but will probably get a couple of packs of Eco Naty ones. I joined a local facebook group for cloth nappying and it's like a different language!! Doesn't sound easy at all but we're getting a load of hand me down cloth nappies so may as well try. Night times sound tricker so might just do cloth during the day until the baby poos less regularly!

Also found a full cheeky wipes kit on eBay 👍. I think eBay browsing counts as a hobby just now 😂.

Oooohhh cloth nappies! I love the idea. Must check it out too. I'm also looking into potty training early (thinking waaaaay ahead).

It feels like the idea of distancing and meeting up other people is an individual one and each person makes their own rules at the moment. I don't even go to supermarkets these days but DH says the rules are queuing with 2 meters distancing outside and a 'brace yourself' once you're in 🙈. Ive decided to still self isolate but that's my individual decision, each to their own 😉😊.

I'm the same @QuantumGirl - basically still self isolating and haven't been to a shop for 3 months! Easier in Scotland for now as there seems to be a more cautious approach. I don't judge anyone for meeting friends etc, it's an individual decision based on circumstances. I also think mental health is really important in pregnancy and it really helps some people to see friends and family. I'm not hugely sociable so have been quite happy in lockdown!

For people interested in cloth nappies it's worth checking if your area has a nappy library or similar. Ours has lending kits for people to try and people are always selling and swapping - seems a good way to try it out and try different brands without spending lots! X

Thank you for the link to Kit and Kin nappies, they look a good compromise for now and agree with what everyone has said about it being ambitious to try for fabric to start with but longer term that's definitely my aim. DH works in green energy so it's basically non negotiable!

Also on the point about supermarkets - oh no I'm not doing that either. I've been once since March when he couldn't. Basically I have selective Covid filter. I can walk in the wood with a friend but not go to Sainsbury's. Convenient for me eh? 😉 (I do also genuinely think that is the safer way round)

@Viletta is it the Squeezy NHS app you are getting? That was recommended on my class last night so was considering also we are all coming up to 24 weeks and nearly kick count time, has anyone explored an app for that yet?

I'm using the count the kicks app which is.. okay. I'm not sure I'm using it right, as I'm just tapping at the beginning of a time of movement, whereas maybe I'm meant to be recording every kick? The instructions really aren't very clear but for the moment it is helpful just to see that we've had bursts of movement throughout the day.

Definitely would be interested in other apps though!

@October2020 and @Wimbledon1 I was wondering about an app for that too but didn't want to start too soon and freak myself out because movements weren't regular! The ovia app has a movement counting function on it but I've not checked it out yet.

@QuantumGirl we have the very same plan about potty training as my MIL keeps telling us proudly how she potty trained DH when he was 1 so I told her we will follow all her instructions no questions asked hoping it'll do the trick. :)

I am 22weeks tomorrow, can't count kicks yet, but I do feel them every day so that's good. DH has been unlucky as he couldn't catch any of them, but we are not giving up, he runs over every time I alert him haha!

We started planning the nursery yesterday (taking measurements and discussing themes etc.) and finding furniture was easy, but we are struggling to find a set when it comes to textiles, anyone has got any tips? I imagined having matching lamp shade, carpet and curtains, but even if 2of these I could find from the same fabric I would be happy, so far no joy. :( Checked out all of we known places though.

@Chooklass I am the same, hasn't been inside of a shop in 3months!

@Viletta raising a kid to be bilingual is so interesting, I remember Bambi also was planning on doing that as her partner is Italian, I think it helps their brain development so much and gives them a huge advantage in life. :)

@Wimbledon1 squeezy nhs is about £2.50, I opted for a free one called Kegel Trainer App
iOS: itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=578148339&mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Android: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jsdev.pfei

I don't know how to count kicks, just happy that they seem to be more frequent every week.

Went on the scales this morning and I'm 2kg heavier than I should be. I've gained them so quickly! Probably all the ice cream ...

@Viletta I feel like I've gained loads in the last week too but midwife seemed happy! In my 23 week baby app update today it said baby will double in weight in next 4 weeks, so this is a time of major growth! (For it and us!!). 😳. I've got a serious sweet tooth just now so I'm really hoping all my tests come back ok and I'm not showing any signs of GD.

@Viletta I also started gaining weight a bit more than expected, on my Ovia app I am just at the top line of the range that bothers me a bit, but I am eating healthy so trying not to worry too much about it.

Did your partners manage to feel the movements yet? I am 22weeks and somehow we didn't, every time I tell him to put his hand on my belly the movements stop or become too weak so he can't feel them :( I am a bit concerned baby is not developing as he should be.

@Lily999 My DH just felt a kick for the first time a few days ago and nothing since! We were doing the same but every time he put his hands on the baby stopped ... like a stealth game 😂.

@Lily999 DH felt movement around week 23. Baby kicks a lot at night. Weirdly sometimes DH doesn't feel what I feel like a big kick but would feel little bubbles. As far as you can feel them it's fine.