Aug 2021 - 2nd Trimester continues

[Alittlexmasmagic]

Hi everyone, another thread begins & things are getting real now 😄 x

Thank you @biscuitcat and @wimbler - as you know I haven't really thought about brith yet, but at £12 I think I might start!

Hi yes thank you everything was great at scan yesterday. Just needed a bit to get my head around the fact we're having a third boy! I'm happy but unexpectedly a bit emotional about the fact I'll never have a daughter. It's never been that final before because I always had the possibility to have another child. Also I seem to have hit the crying at everything stage

Will update more later!

@Daffodil21I started last time at about 25 weeks when I had no idea what birth I wanted! The first few videos go into the science behind labour and birth which is really interesting if anything else! I think buying the pack gives you access for a year so good to grab the bargain now and start when you feel ready.
I'd really recommend watching with your partner/birth partner though - my husband learnt so much from them and was a superstar at helping with my breathing when I was on the operating table.

@BertieBotts Glad scan went well but sorry you're feeling all the emotions - it's completely understandable to feel that way. I'm also very emotional at the moment. I broke a glass in the sink last night and burst into tears about it

I cried the other day because I was talking about DS not letting me change his nappy and being frustrated about it and it got into a whole thing :o

Then my friend's kids' kindergarten went into an emergency lockdown for a suspected intruder - turned out to be a false alarm thank god - and I cried reading about that too!

I'll be fine, this morning I was already starting to think about having another little boy and being so happy/excited about that - it's just a different thing to the loss of an opportunity if that makes sense? I am kind of hoping DH is right that the male genes in his family are so strong that they will be like little clones, that will be so cute :o

My doctor thought it was hilarious that I wanted to have the sex written down and she really played along, making me close my eyes while the relevant parts were on the screen and then telling me how she has to be really careful not to say he/she.

Birth wise - I'll be booked in with the consultant at the hospital at 34 weeks for a full in-depth look at my last birth, both for the pain relief/positioning issues I had and also the breathing issues with DS2 and we'll discuss what the options are. She said they might be able to get my notes from the last hospital too which will be brilliant as I'd been wanting someone to go through them. So I might see if I can make sure that happens. She said the reason I can feel movement really clearly/early is because the baby is back to back again I am undecided whether I will try and change that or just leave it to fate - I'm not really convinced all this stuff makes any difference. But! I have an anterior placenta again apparently!

@HopefulB I think practicing with a sling is a great idea - do you know which type you will have yet? You can practice with a stretchy wrap right up to birth as it will just go around you and you just stick a teddy or something in it, it gives you the idea. But if you want something more structured like a buckle carrier than it won't fit properly when you're bigger so defo worth trying it out now. If you have access to a sling library even better.

I used stretchy wraps with all my babies. I never really liked the buckle type ones for tiny babies although there are some really new/different ones on the market now. The Baby Bjorn ones get a bad rap but I think they are fine for the first few months, it's just they get heavy really quickly as they don't transfer any of the baby's weight to your hips, like wraps and ergonomic carriers do. I think they are more comfortable for men. I have also seen a ring sling used for newborn, I did a sling course once with a sling consultant/friend who makes slings as a home business (and they are utterly gorgeous, if anyone is in the market for a custom buckle/half buckle/mei tai/ring sling.) I could never get the hang of ring slings myself but after she showed us the technique, I got the weighted "test baby" into an ideal breastfeeding position and I think one of those would be perfect for the newborn period. But really hard to get the hang of on your own, even with videos etc.

You can use them from newborn if you have a type which supports the baby's head. Otherwise they'd need to be about 4 months+.

I had a cry yesterday listening to the news, they were talking about it being a year since covid was declared a pandemic and I thought gosh this time last year it was all doom and gloom and now with the vaccine everyone is so hopeful and there's a baby in my belly, it was a surreal moment, I can't quite explain it.

We delayed TTC because of Covid so was a lot to reflect on.

Just to jump in on the sling/carrier/wrap convo...we used a Close Caboo sling before and absolutely loved it! It was really good for when she was small. Also have a stretchy wrap but my wriggly 2 year old will no longer be restrained 😂

Can these stretchy wraps/slings be used from birth, even though babies that young can't hold their heads?

Yes, you can use a stretchy wrap from birth. It kind of wraps around their head so holds it up. It would be too stretchy for a 2yo though. You can comfortably use until about 9 months usually.

First pic is DS2 at about 2 weeks old - although the fabric is not really over his head?

Second pic DS1, not sure of age but it's in my 0-3 months folder. He was very little I think. I used that sling sooo much.

I think with DS2 in the hana wrap it's sort of supporting the base of his head instead. I was not overly keen on that one as it was too thin and stretchy. I have another by Boba which is thicker. The one I had for DS1 was home made.

@Jessicapebbles I had a wonder about the Close Caboo - it looks good and glad to hear good feedback! Did you ever use the ones you tie yourself? I'm wondering how they compare

@biscuitcat The one I had was a ring sling so you put the first part on like a t-shirt and tighten the material and secure around baby and then a second part goes around that gives them more support under their bum and behind their head. I might be able to find a photo....

@biscuitcat I do like the stretchy wraps because you can use so many different methods and as they get a bit bigger too. But I had to watch a lot of YouTube videos and practise a lot before I felt confident to give it a go. I liked the security of the caboo although it only carries in one or two ways x

@BertieBotts @Jessicapebbles your adorable photos with your babies are making me panic a bit that I'm actually growing one of those inside me rn 😂

I think I'm feeling a bit of movement today! Not 100% sure but confident than I have been at least!

@Daffodil21 Mines not quite so tiny and quiet now 😂🤭 She was the easiest baby back then...she’s now 2 and a half and a total wild child!

Awww Jessica the second one is such an adorable photo!

Yes they do defo turn into whirlwinds, they are still cute though :o

@BertieBotts Thank you! Your little ones photos are so sweet!

I’m 20 weeks now but I’ve got to wait until next Thursday for my scan 😭 it’s going to go sooo slowly!

@Jessicapebbles what a cutie!

Lovely pics of your little ones.

So I have a dilemma, my sister has changed her wedding to the 5th Aug, 3 weeks before due date, is it ok to travel 2 hours away from local hospital that close?

I feel really annoyed she has done this but it's her day so won't say be anything!! AIBU?

@Jessicapebbles oh amazing thank you! And what gorgeous photos 🥰 (yours too @BertieBotts!)

@LyraShaeLilly I'm being a grooms woman at a wedding about 2 1/2 weeks before my due date. It's in London, and would probably take me a similar time to get to hospital at top speed (and if trains run well!!), and so long as baby hasn't arrived and the doctor hasn't said anything about avoiding I'm fully planning to go, but will definitely bring the hospital bag with me just in case!

Thanks for the tip off on positive birthing co @biscuitcat

And for the thoughts on slings, @BertieBotts and @Jessicapebbles, love the pics of your little one’s too! I’ve looked at a few videos of the just stretchy fabric type - they are the one’s I think would need practice. At the moment I think I’m leaning more towards
a semi structured meh dai type like the caboo, hoppediz hop tie, and trying to stop looking at the Wompat wrap tie in rainbow colours....

The local sling library have a virtual session advertised on their web page, so will probably book that before I do much more research.

Loving the pics....the little ones look so cute x

Thank you for the heads up on the hypno birthing offer @biscuitcat - I've booked it too. Looking forward to it.

Oh 3 weeks before your due date....I'd be a little worried too @LyraShaeLilly. Will it just be for the day or are there arrangements to stay overnight? If it's just for the day I think you'll be ok to attend. This is my first pregnancy but I can imagine by then it's not very comfortable.

@BertieBotts congratulations on a healthy, good scan 💙 I'm sure your little boy will bring so much joy to you all and complete your lovely family 😊

On the topic of slings, is it right they're not that great if you have a bad back? I read that a lot and my friend told me the same, I can quite imagine this being true. I'm seriously thinking about a more stable baby carrier instead. Good/bad idea???

You will laugh when I tell you I've turned all into my seriously-practical-parenting mode now...I rang John Lewis to ask them to open up bookings for nursery appointments asap. It makes no sense they're opening on 12 April but take no bookings yet, what a waste. I'm frustrated someone had to point out the obvious to them! Well, I didn't expect that someone to be me, but here we are 🤣 Let's see if they do anything about this or if their CS isn't actually as perfect ad they like to advertise...

Have a lovely weekend all xx

Re travel close to due date, I personally cancelled our trip booked pre-pregnancy which would be at 36-37 weeks. 37 weeks is classed as full term and I've concluded I just don't know yet how I'm going to be feeling then. He might come early (hopefully not), but primarily I don't know if I might have any issues and doctors may advise against travel, might feel really uncomfortable in the summer etc. I just find it so hard to predict or even imagine as an FTM tbh. But then our trip was 3.5 hrs away and 4 hrs away from my hospital. I think distance is key here, if it's not that much of a difference to where you live then I'd totally go. As it stands, we are going 2 hrs away from home when I'm going to be 31-32 weeks instead (subject to any restrictions). We also have a separate trip planned for May, but I don't know if I can face it, so much to do with the renovation and so much money needed, and I don't know if I can face packing for it and going there when hospitality is still likely to be very limited, it's just not that exciting really...xx

@Dia12

Yes I'm so anxious everyone has told me I'm being ridiculous. We were planing on staying 2 nights!! Also worried about mixing with 100 ppl whilst heavily pregnant?

At the same time I would hate to miss the wedding and nothing happen ie baby not arrive early!!

I will ask for my Dr/midwife advice nearer the time as there may be other medical reasons that make me not able to travel. Currently I'm low risk, (which also makes me nervous as I'm only low risk because most of the risk is based on previous pregnancy and this is my first!!)