Due August 2021 - the final countdown!

[Daffodil21]

Continuation of the previous thread.

All newcomers welcome!

Not long now!!!

Good going @PurplePansy05 !

I think if I tried it looks like some soul come, but I really don't want to go into labour before a CS date so I think I'm going to leave alone 🙈

Congratulations @PurplePansy05! It's so strange and nice isn't it? I think I'm definitely feeling more ready for baby now, as a few weeks ago when I first noticed that a tiny bit came out of one of my boobs I had a full on freak out whereas now I'm feeling just as you describe.

@Smurf123 my midwife gave my syringes at the 34 week appointment - I have a combination of 1 and 3ml syringes (though didn't realise at first so I accidentally started off with a 3ml one!)

@PurplePansy05 I've had a look round different trusts' guidance about expressing into the same syringe - mine says continue using one and put into the freezer after 24hrs, others have said 48hrs, and I've seen somewhere that you can continue for a few days before freezing! I think I'll go for a mid-point of 24-48 hours, as surely once it's frozen the defrost date will matter more than the collection date?

Re how long breast milk lasts, I was advised a ‘666’ approach.
6hours at room temp, 6days in the fridge or
6 months in Freezer. Obvs you’re unlikely to want Colostrum at 6m!!

Seemed easy enough to remember, even with baby brain, so I’m sticking to that!

J need to start collecting colostrum too! Although last time I completely forgot about them in the freezer! i think I just used one per session and froze whatever I collected even if it wasn’t full as I had so many syringes. I found eBay cheaper but you can get them from your midwife. I don’t have another appointment until 40 weeks now 😱 so will have to buy them online.

A little measuring spoon I found most helpful for collecting and I did sterilise it before use.

The general rule for breast milk I was told was 6-6-6. 6 hours at room temp, 6 days in the fridge and 6 months in the freezer. Although in summer I wouldn’t leave it out for more than an hour!

I bought mine off Amazon and MW gave more syringes to me at my 36 weeks appointment xx

Hi ladies! Happy Saturday ☀️

Impressed you’re all getting colostrum, I’m holding off as I don’t have a date for my c section yet and want baby to stay in!

More babies being born from NCT and peanut, had no idea it was normal for babies to lose so much weight after birth. One on a feeding plan and May need to go formula- breast feeding is a lot more troublesome than I thought by sounds of it!

We are sweltering, husband cracked and is currently en route to go and collect an portable air conditioning unit. We figure we’ll use it in the future but this is just too warm (not that it’s not lovely to have a heatwave but 😥 not this pregnant!)

Hope you’re all having a good Saturday x

@Inmypjsagain, I feel your pain, sat in the shade in minimal clothing, French doors wide open, not moving other than for water & ice cream!

@HopefulB and peeing 😂😂

I'm so hot! Omg.

Trying to finish off the nursery, got some picture frames, has anyone used the Command strips before to hang them? I used to be a traditional nail in the wall person, but fed up with damage to the walls xx

I’m in a T-shirt and pants @Daffodil21 it’s an interesting look 😂 jealous you have some outdoor space though! I’ve just frozen some bananas to avoid eating yet another tub of Ben and Jerry’s!

@PurplePansy05 we’ve used command strips and they’ve been great but I’d be weary about using them in a nursery where baby may be playing- a blogger I follow had some pictures fall off the wall but she had the cot under the pictures, I’m too paranoid for that! Just feel nails would be sturdier but I could be being OTT

Oh sorry meant to tag @HopefulB heat has gone to my brain!

Be careful with command strips on painted walls. We find they just fall off. Sometimes it's immediate, sometimes it's after a few days but the longest they've ever lasted is a couple of weeks. I eventually found out that it happens if the paint isn't properly bonded to the wall, and apparently means we haven't painted the walls "correctly" (who knew there was a special way to paint walls?) They work absolutely fine on our outside walls (balcony) and in our tiled bathroom.

Picture hooks are safest and only leave a teeny tiny hole that can be painted over, no need for plaster. Unfortunately we have solid concrete walls so can't use them :(

Thanks girls, I'm not hanging the frames above the cot anyway. Commando strips come with a warning to never hang them above beds anyway so that blogger must not have read things properly! Silly idea.

Bertie, I would expect our walls would be the same tbh, we had to rush to get them painted.

Back to the drawing board it is!

@PurplePansy05

Thanks girls, I'm not hanging the frames above the cot anyway. Commando strips come with a warning to never hang them above beds anyway so that blogger must not have read things properly! Silly idea.

Bertie, I would expect our walls would be the same tbh, we had to rush to get them painted.

Back to the drawing board it is!

We use command hooks for anything light! Love them! Have also used in the nursery (not above crib) just follow instructions!

So so hot! I'm sat in the shadiest bit of my garden and letting DH bring me cold drinks 😂 and sadly working so I can get everything all finished before mat leave.

I started packing my hospital bag today but realised there's loads of stuff I'll still need until the time and I don't really want to buy duplicates, so will also make a list to have on top for the inevitable last minute dash to get everything packed 😬 I'm also using my changing bag as my work bag at the moment as I like it as a general rucksack, so baby will need to wait until my mat leave starts to have their stuff packed!

YY I made a spreadsheet last time and had a "last minute list".

I would advise to keep the last minute list as short as possible, so take things like a new toothbrush/travel tube of toothpaste/new roll on deodorant rather than your normal ones. (Roll on is a bit nicer than spray for anyone sharing the ward/bathroom with you as well!) And pack a set of pyjamas or change of clothes even if it does leave you a bit short or scrabbling around in the wash day to day. There would be nothing worse than getting ready to go and realising you're down to your last pair and you can only bring the ones you wore last night.

Last minute list can then contain stuff that really doesn't need duplicating like phone/charger/maternity notes etc.

I went for duplicates in bigger sizes to pre pregnancy as I figured I won't necessarily want maternity, but pre pregnancy will be definitely be too small! Only went to primark and it's things I'll def use afterwards (mostly buttoned up nighties) and then just put some maternity t shirts and leggings that are too small for me now. But I am assuming a very quick labour like my mum's so didn't want to be dashing around for anything as hosp is over an hour away!! Had my bags fully packed and ready for a few weeks but I'm hoping not to need them until a 'leisurely' trip to the hospital, not in labour, for a planned section rather than a mad dash and side of the road birth I am envisioning 😂🙈

I'm having quite a heavy feeling low down and possibly slight cramping, a bit similar to an upcoming period. All started after I expressed more colostrum tonight. Is this normal? xx

@PurplePansy05 not sure what’s normal tbh, maybe braxton hicks? Re command strips, I literally use them for everything! Would 100% recommend. Like others have said obviously don’t put them anywhere where IF they do fall, they won’t fall on anything breakable/a baby 😅

Hope I can sleep tonight with the heat!

@PurplePansy05 I think I've had some of those feelings after expressing - last night in particular I had a genuine wonder if I might be in early labour as I kept waking up with quite uncomfortable cramps all over my bump. I think if you're getting Braxton Hicks then that's OK, but if it's proper contractions I believe it's best to hold off? Xx

That expressing video that someone linked was very useful, midwife gave me a couple of syringes and said just start collecting colostrum from 36 weeks. Despite it being baby number 2 I had no idea you could start building supply early been wondering what to do with those syringes as well, really should have asked more questions

Growth scan went well baby is almost 6lbs already which means I can step up the effort to get it out because OMG the heatwave, a sinus infection and this never ending pregnancy have driven me insane

I think if it's causing you to contract and you're not yet 37 weeks then probably best to reduce the amount of time you spend doing it or the frequency. That's what it says about drinking raspberry leaf tea anyway!

Obviously if over 37 weeks, then it doesn't really matter even if it does start off labour. Even if you're booked for a c-section, if labour starts they'd just take you in as an emergency.

Thanks all! I think it's probably Braxton Hicks, they've gone now. I'll hold off few more days with expressing till I hit 37 weeks just in case, my body seems very reactive to it and so does my son, he's having a right party after extracting! xx

This is fun if anyone likes playing with these kinds of things. Labour probability calculator on, before, after or between a set of dates!

datayze.com/labor-probability-calculator

I’ve also been playing the game of “is this braxton hicks or labour” but I’m putting it down to the hot weather. They are getting more painful though but still only getting them every so often so definitely not labour! Trying to get as much water in me as possible.

@BertieBotts that calculator made me depressed! Only a 20% chance of a baby by this time next week 😂

Hope you’re all staying cool. I must say I’d rather not be in a hot sticky hospital right now!!