Aug 2021 - half way there!

[HopefulB]

@wimbler - EDD 29 July, surprise 💛
@Champson - EDD 22 August (but really June/July), TBC 💖💖💖
@coffeeandrainbows1- EDD 4 August (but most likely July), Boy 💙
@Jessicapebbles - EDD 5 August (but having C-section at 39 weeks, so really July), Girl 💖
@Smurf123 - EDD 5 August (but likely to be July) 💛
@WhatEvenIsSleep - EDD 2 August, Boy 💙
@Smushty14 - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Rattyclife - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Dia12 - EDD 8 August, Girl 💖
@Biscuitcat - EDD 10 August, surprise 💛
@ElonaWise - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@Runnergirl123 - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@PurplePansy05 - EDD 12 August, Boy 💙
@Srtdr - EDD 12 August, surprise 💛
@Daffodil21 - EDD 12 August, Boy 💙
@Inmypjsagain - EDD ???, Boy 💙
@BananaHammock23 - EDD 13 August, surprise 💛
@MrsB2019x - EDD 13 August, Girl 💖
@Magik01 - EDD 13 August, Boy 💙
@Carefree1 - EDD 15 August, Girl 💖
@DressyGerbera - EDD 15 August, surprise 💛
@lucyrp - EDD 16 August, undecided 💛
@BertieBotts - EDD 16 August, want to know! 💛
@WolfMother326 - EDD 17 August, surprise 💛
@Caz1226 - EDD 17 August, Boy 💙
@Lille4 - EDD 17 August, TBC 💛
@Redskinsucks - EDD 17 August, TBC 💛
@RockyRockyRoad - EDD 18 August, can't wait to find out 💛
@Smallbean27 - EDD 19 August, surprise 💛
@WatermelonKisses - EDD 20 August, surprise 💛
@Alittlexmasmagic - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@Millymay13 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Whatshouldbemyusername - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@LottSE20 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Notinthestarsigns - EDD 23 August, TBC 💛
@LaceyMermaid - EDD 24 August, TBC 💛
@Fran919 - EDD 25 August, surprise 💛
@northernsquirrel - EDD 26 August, surprise 💛
@LyraShaeLilly - EDD 27 August, can't wait to find out 💛
@ame88 - EDD 28 August, TBC 💛
@diamante11 - EDD 29 August, Girl 💖
@HopefulB - EDD 29 August, TBC 💛
@CountryGirl84 - EDD 29 August, TBC 💛

Thanks @HopefulB I have been on the iron for nearly 4 weeks already as was started on it on alternate days since 21 weeks as a precaution following last pregnancy on advice of consultant (who is now off long term due to illness)
I'll try taking it with orange juice. I haven't been able to stomach tea (never drank coffee) since the early weeks and am dairy intolerant so genuinely can't drink a glass of milk.
I'm starving but as soon as I start eating a real meal I'm quickly full... Which means I'm snacking far too much.

A lot of things have extreme lead times now, we found that too...don't even consider new windows, for example. Luckily baby items aren't affected xx

Tonight is the first time I've felt baby really kick right down at the bottom of the womb. Feels like she's trying to kick her way out! Not the nicest of kicks to feel.

I planned a home birth with my first baby but ended up transferring in as it was going on a long time and I got really tired. I was gutted! But had a nice birth in hospital with the pool. Hospitals weren't as nicely set up then because it wasn't as well known about the benefits of the woman being relaxed and comfortable. That definitely makes a huge difference and seems to be the main reason home birth is actually preferable in terms of risk as long as you don't need any specialised management they can only do in hospital.

If in doubt you can always start at home and go into hospital but it doesn't work the other way around.

I have not planned a home birth this time or last time. This is mainly because I was absolutely fine in hospital and it wasn't as bad as I was thinking it would be. But also we now live much further from the hospital and I wouldn't fancy the transfer in. I like the idea of being at home so my toddler doesn't have to be somewhere else but other than that it doesn't really appeal to me any more. Imagine having to keep your house visitor ready for weeks at a time :o

@Daffodil21, a bit of both from what I can tell, and massive demand for home improvement stuff as people are home more and have money from not going away. As @PurplePansy05 says good luck anyone wanting new windows! Which solved the debate with OH about our bedroom temp. He wanted to replace the bay window as it seems to be inefficient, our room temp the other week dropped to 13.5 overnight. I’m convinced it’ll all be fine - we were both brought up in houses without central heating & survived.

@Smurf123 if iron was started preventatively alternate days, it would seem to make sense to increase to daily if your haemoglobin in now below normal pregnancy level - but defo check with your consultant if your’re seeing them today. Habas Fritas (broad/fava beans) are great to snack on if you want something worth protein, fibre & iron

@PurplePansy05 congrats on making it to the 24 week milestone!

Thank you @Daffodil21 and congrats to you too, my dear!

I am feeling emotional about this today. Didn't think I'd ever get here tbh. It's just an overall relief, his chances are better and better, he's doing fine, maternity leave eligibility kicks in and he'll now be officially recognised by law. It's hit me the same, if not more, as when I reached 12 weeks and the scan went well. xx

@PurplePansy05 thanks. I haven't had a scan in a month (I know that doesn't sound long but it's the longest I've gone in this pregnancy without one!). I still don't think I'm feeling any movements, it's hard to tell. I've got a scan tomorrow afternoon so I'm not cracking out the non-alcoholic fizz yet! Really hoping all is still ok...

Today is also my last day at work, it may possibly go into tomorrow morning depending on whether I get something finished and tied up today.

It hasn't been a month at all! Last one was 5th April. Been a long few weeks!!!

It will be fine @Daffodil21. I spoke to my consultant on Tuesday and she said not to worry about lack of strong movement or quieter times yet and to watch this around 26 weeks as they'll be bigger then. Apparently this is completely normal at our stage and it likely depends on the position of your placenta. Everyone is different as well, all our bumps are different shape and size so that's bound to feel different for every single one of us. xx

@Inmypjsagain I did hypnobirthing with my first and a big part of it teaches you that you are most likely to have a successful progressive labour in an environment where you are relaxed and happy. For some people that will be at home but for some that is in a hospital where they know they have everything they might want or need.

I would love love love to have a midwife led unit birth. my hospital has one attached to the maternity ward so you can easily transfer to the labour ward if you want an epidural need intervention. The birth centre has pool rooms with double beds where your partner can stay the night (not allowed on post natal ward). But as i'm hoping for a vbac I don't know if I would get signed off. Not sure when birth plans are discussed but I've got the midwife tomorrow so plan on bringing it up then to open the conversation.

@Smurf123 i was recommended spatone as an iron supplement as its supposed to be much more gentle on the stomach. you can get sachets with vitamin C too which really helps the absorption. If you are tired, have you also tried taking magnesium? I take it every night and it's really helped my sleep and energy levels.

I don't think partners staying overnight is allowed at the moment anyway because if covid rules. Once you're not in labour any more and you've got settled they have to go home whether you have a private room or are on the ward.

@BertieBotts it depends on the trust. my sister in law had her baby this week and my brother was allowed to stay the night on the ward. Once he left the next day though he's not allowed back in until he comes to pick her up to go home.

Ok abit of a rant!

I just found out my NHS Trust will not see me till week 28 even though the NHS website say first time mums need to be seen at 25 weeks. I had a 20 week scan and now will not be seen till end of May!

I emailed them and they are like decision was made at the start of pandemic to keep us all safe. Yes but now it's almost the end! Also the MW who emailed is like "you're low risk so we don't see the need to see you before the 28 week appointment!" If you're concerned there's a walk in clinic and/or you can see your GP 😡

I have my GD blood test on 7th May. Sure as hell going to see the MW that day even if I have to wait all day. This is ridiculous. Is anyone else being told that by their hospital?

Sorry it just really upset me 😔

@Whatshouldbemyusername I'm a STM and have been seen at 7 weeks, 16 weeks and I will he seen at my 25 week also 🧐

On the birth thing they're trying to get me to have home birth or midwife led unit but my local hospital is an hour away!

@lucyrp see this is what I'm talking about. Even 16 weeks I didn't get to see them but had a telephone consultation! I'm so emotional about this! I can go for a private one but that's not the point. 💔

On the birth side of things - I haven't really thought about this much but if all goes well till That time I would like a water birth. I got my hypnobirthing book delivered on Monday and will make a start on it this weekend too.

@Whatshouldbemyusername that's really annoying and stupid that are all trusts are different. OH was allowed to come to both scans too. I wanted a water birth with my first but my waters broke and nothing happened for 24 hours so I wasn't allowed incase of infection. Hopefully maybe this time !

Word of caution - do not order from Natural Baby Shower! I just received a mattress cover from the baby which arrived in a disgusting condition. It's clearly used, bobbled up, damaged and in a dirty packaging with foundation smudged all over it. Honestly disgusting! I have just complained. My second run in with this company as they previously refused to price match the carrycot stand even though it met the criteria set out on their website. Apparently it wasn't viable to them, but they offered a lesser discount As if I was going to buy it. The next I found it even cheaper elsewhere and saved myself £45. Absolute joke of a business! xx

@Whatshouldbemyusername oh what a pain, that's so frustrating for you. While I've actually been very lucky overall with my care, maternity in general seems to have been such an afterthought this whole pandemic (or actually, getting my feminist hat on, women have just really not been considered in the way we should have been throughout with care, schooling, employment, everything). It seems so unfair that there's such inconsistency between trusts as well - I've had all the normal appointments, in person, and DH can come to any (though he's only actually come to the scans as I didn't see the point in him coming for others), whereas another very close by hospital he could only come to scans and nothing else at all, even for high risk mothers - and even that's better than some!! Makes me want to shout at someone and give the government a good shake.

I saw a midwife for the first time last week at 21 weeks, booking bloods were not done by a midwife, all other appointments were on the phone. No 16 week appointment on the phone or in person. Next appointment 25 weeks on the phone and next in person at 28 weeks as I need my Anti-D. Absolute joke

This is what annoys me also about risk, "your low risk so can wait for a 28 week appt" well how do they know its still a low risk appt as the 25 week one was missed!!!

I feel quite lucky as I was booked at 25 week appt really early on as I needed the GTT for GD then!!!

Sorry I’m behind on the posts and tags, I’ll catch up up properly after work but @Whatshouldbemyusername are you queen charlottes too? (Sorry I know someone was but I can’t remember anything these days!) This is what I was told too but my midwife said they amalgamate the 28 and 31 weeks appointment so I’ll be seen at 30 weeks, I last saw her at 8 weeks! I do have a 25 week call though but I’m not sure what we’ll talk about?

@biscuitcat @MM1993 @LyraShaeLilly @Inmypjsagain it's really annoying and yes it's like you're low risk so tough is not good enough for me! It's baby 1 I'm 35 years old and it's my right to see a MW at 25 weeks! This is such a joke.

@MM1993 I'm sorry darling yours sounds even worse xx

@Inmypjsagain it's st Thomas hospital. It is really annoying - there should be standard procedures with ALL NHS trusts.

I'm so gonna wait all day if I have to - just to see a MW on 7th!

@Whatshouldbemyusername - it's so annoying, especially as I'm a FTM so it's difficult to know what should and shouldn't be happening - I've never even been offered scan pictures. Had to have a private scan just to get some physical pictures. 12 week scan I was told to take pictures of the screen and at 20 weeks nothing was mentioned at all.

This is Kings College I'm talking about btw which is local to St Thomas' - the place where scans are done is a research place that literally looks like a university 😂 and is full of women in tight dresses and stilettos instead of doctors and nurses - bizarre!!!

@Whatshouldbemyusername My understanding of the RCOG guidance is that in low risk pregnancy the 25 week appt can be virtual, however the guidance also states that this applies at the height of the pandemic and that as soon as it's safe to do so, an increase in face to face appointments should take place and antenatal care should return to standard NICE guidelines. I suggest you have a look at the RCOG website and guidelines and call them again after that. I cannot see how anyone can reasonably argue that we are at the height of the pandemic when people can get pissed in pubs. Antenatal care is bound to be a higher priority than this. xx