Due August 2021 - The Final Countdown continues...

[Daffodil21]

Continuing the previous thread!

I'll let @PurplePansy05 post the updated list

Oh congratulations @Jessicapebbles She's lovely!

All these babies arriving already! I've been googling dark pigmentation of skin all night as I've just noticed my skin down there and back there (!) has totally changed colour! Freaked me out but it's just like your nipples darkening. I just hadn't noticed it before. Pregnant bodies are so weird!

I'm risking a cinema visit and going out for lunch tomorrow... Figured I'll have OH close by and the car there so should be OK. I feel like we're just holding our breath and living in limbo waiting for me to get twinges so we should really continue doing things. Only my bag to go into car now as I'm still not sure if I've got all I need. I'll need to bring it tomorrow so I'll do a double (quadruple) check.

I was a bit peeved today at my mum as she wanted me to bake her some things for this pot luck bbq she's going to. I like baking and she's pretty crap. I agreed a few weeks ago to do it but said if I needed help on the day I'd ask. I asked her yesterday if she could come over and help but she just said I was the better baker so I should just do it! My back was killing by the end of it. I've not spoken a whole lot about my mum but our relationship isn't great and I fully expect her to be just a good granny 🙄

@lucyrp so sorry you’re stressing ☹️ I’m sure everything will work out just fine. What would you want to happen? Would you prefer a c-section or an earlier induction? The predictions can be completely wrong

@Jessicapebbles congratulations, what a little beauty

@lucyrp

Earlier on in the car I had shooting pains in my right hand side just under my rib only lasting for a few minutes and haven't had them since but read on google and it says could be preeclampsia symptoms but hoping it was just baby kicking. Since then I've just been thinking about how stressed I am about this birth. I'm so worried now as it's fast approaching the time I gave birth last time and what if no baby. Someone who was predicted the same weight baby as mine was at 36 weeks at 35+3 just gave birth 2 days over her due date to a 9lb 10oz via c section and I'm in tears 😫 talking to my mum about an induction but she was induced with me and doesn't recommend it whatsoever and hers ended in c section. Then goes on to say j could be waiting 4 weeks yet and I'm like yes mum and that could mean a 10 pound baby .... and my worst fear of tearing ... and I also really don't want a big baby 😭

@lucyrp you have all the same fears as I do but size isn’t always to do with tearing, my SIL has never torn despite the big babies and I tore all over with my little 5lb baby. I’m with you on the big baby thing, worried this one will be bigger and I really want her out this week as it’s around the same time dd1 was born. I was also induced and it really sped things up for me. Have you started trying any home remedies for labour?

@sarah13xx I'm not really sure, neither of those things fill me with joy and I know something like 1 in 4 inductions end in a c section. I managed a relatively easy birth with my first witb just had and air but I also know induction can be really painful 😣 I know the predictions can be wrong but the measurements are following the same trend as what DS would have been at the same stage but it was okay as he was born early I just can't bare to think of going further than that :(

@Aaaaa1519 I've put so much pressure on myself for them to be born this next week and now its actually next week I feel like its impossible 😭 been drinking raspberry tea for two weeks, on 3 cups a day now, been bouncing on my ball and we've had sex a couple of times the last few days all the same stuff I did with DS apart from the sex

Woken in the night after horrible dreams combined but no idea what they were about, I feel horribly tense and just upset 😖

Congrats @Jessicapebbles - she's absolutely gorgeous 💕 hope you're both doing well. Xx

I voiced my concern about induction with my consultant who was quick to dismiss the idea inductions are more painful and didn't go into the risks any further. Feel quite disappointed that I'm being pushed in that direction.

Have tried lots of things to help being labour but perhaps haven't done them early enough or consistently:- eating dates, raspberry tea leaf tablets, bouncing on ball, walking, sex (only managed once as was so uncomfortable) and nipple stimulation/breast massage.....and sweeps. And still NOTHING!

Next to try:- squats and reflexology appointment on Tuesday!

Lucy talk to triage tomorrow. Just see what they say. They won't want you all stressed and anxious and you might get an appointment to speak to someone on Monday and make a plan.

Jessica congratulations! What a lovely little one.

I've been having BH tonight that scared me with their intensity and I've been writing another mental birth plan/guide for DH in my head for most of the night. I don't see why I'm not allowed to sleep

Then I finally got to sleep and dreamt that Dec from Ant and Dec was in my mum's house teaching my sister to play the guitar :o so weird! Then DS2 woke up and I've had to come get him back to sleep.

@lucyrp have you tried some guided meditation to help you release some of this worry? The tension and anxiety itself can itself get in the way of a spontaneous labour.
Here's a link to one but there are many on YouTube - hope it can help you.

@Dia12 yeah the sex wasn't the most comfortable for us, had to give it a good few minutes before it was bearable but it did end up in us laughing and falling in a pile together which was quite funny 🤣🙈 I haven't felt stressed or worried as such until last night and it all just came to a head which made me end up in tears, I'm so glad today is my last day of work so hoping that will help me relax once im out of this place. Was quite stressed last night about the fact my last day in work and someone's called in sick because they have to self isolate as a contact of someone with Covid so we will be short staffed and we have a huge event on so it will be very busy and not sure im able to cope on my feet with it all day 😓

@BertieBotts I have my next midwife appointment on Monday anyway which I'm glad about so will speak to her then about how I feel, it's my last day of work today too so hopefully that will ease up some of the stress. Probably doesn't help I've given myself the end date of next week to pop baby out by, although realistically baby will probbaly come by 40 weeks anyway which is only a week later

@Jessicapebbles Oh My God congratulations. Ebony is perfect! Thank you for sharing her pic. Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. Enjoy your cuddles with the princess x

@lucyrp last day in babe! You've got this x

@lucyrp Putting yourself under extra pressure now won't help, you’ll be on adrenaline whether you want it or not and that won't help your goal. I think stopping work next week will calm down your nerves a lot. You can't put a deadline on things though with vaginal birth, it's just unpredictable by nature. You're doing all you can and I am sure you will be fine regardless of the timing or method of arrival, honestly! But if it's now driving you to this level of anxiety then I think you need to put a plan in place with your midwife and yes, induction or section aren't your preferred options and travelling to hospital may not be convenient but ultimately driving yourself super anxious now and ending with zero plan past 40 weeks won't be better. It is just that, an alternative plan, you can think about the practical arrangements now you're off work and have a bit more time and who knows, it might not be needed as your LO might just make an appearance shortly. Perhaps try reading up on hypnobirthing and similar calming techniques which you could start using now so this period isn't so anxious for you?
When I get myself in a pickle and every way out seems bad, I sit down with a piece of paper and write down the options pros and cons and how I feel and why, and it soon becomes clear that maybe things aren't actually looking that bad once I mull over them calmly. It sounds like you have a thousand thoughts in your head right now and this never helps in stressful situations or with decision making xx

Oh I see @Dia2 beat me to it, guided meditations are also great. If you've never tried, you'll need some time to get into it, but don't dismiss them too quickly, meditations do work xx

Congratulations @Jessicapebbles!

@lucyrp just to each @Dia12 and @PurplePansy05, babies don’t generally like to arrive when we’re running on adrenaline - goes back to the old fight or flight response. They like us to be in a relaxed, cosy, calm, dark environment.

Your bodies done this before, you can trust it, just know that each pregnancy is different and baby will come when baby is ready.

Try and focus on what you can do to avoid the things you’d prefer not to happen…. Serenity Doula on FB has some great stories of women birthing huge babies naturally without tears. Lots of videos on positions to open the pelvis & get your OH doing perineal massage for you. Focus on being prepared to make any decisions needed as the time comes - perhaps write a list for your MW on Monday?

@Whatshouldbemyusername thank god😅x

@HopefulB i worked right up until 2 days before I had my DS so it can't be anything to do with work although this job is a bit more on my feet, I worked the tuesdag and then Wednesday evening my waters broke and was due to work the thursday but didn't go in then was in hospital Friday/Saturday. I did look at perineal massage but the statistics of doing it after one vaginal birth with no tearing basically said it wasn't worth doing. I'll have a look thanks x

@PurplePansy05 me and OH have a date night tonight at one of our favourite restaurants so provided I finish work on time which might be difficult I'm coming home wnd getting ready then going out for the evening which will be nice, I do then have a friends christening tomorrow though. I plan to go swimming when I'm off next week on my own etc. Good idea, think I will just aim to get today out of the way and then relax. I will have plenty of time to sit and write stuff down then too xx

@lucyrp it’s your last day, you’re heavily pregnant, you have plans, this is the time to be selfish and think of you. You can finish work on time. If anyone thinks anything of it today they’ll have forgotten by the time you’re back!

(Can you tell I’m done with work demands?!)

On a separate note, can anyone recommend any particular meals to eat post partum? I will be pre-cooking this weekend and don't get me wrong, I have a LONG list of cravings after going through the GD stint However, just interested to know if there are any particular meals that might help with good recovery and/or BF? I am thinking something with decent iron content might perhaps help pp? xx

And also I read women need around extra 400-500 kcal daily whilst BF and around 3l of water??? That can't be right, I'll eat myself out of the house in 6 months at this rate?! In the third trimester I was eating an extra meal worth 200-300 kcal anyway, it's twice as much 🤯 plus will I still be peeing all the time? No idea how I'm going to squeeze in so much food prep either xx

I wouldn't take it too seriously, just eat to hunger/drink to thirst. I certainly don't drink 3l extra water while breastfeeding, that sounds excessive! It does make you incredibly hungry and thirsty though so just listen to your body. I find I need to eat about as much extra as during pregnancy for the first few months and then it evens out. No idea what is specifically nutritious, but foods/meals you can eat with one hand are always appreciated in case the baby won't be put down!

You won't need to pee as much as you won't have a small bowling ball on your bladder any more.

Please tell me the heartburn stops afterwards!

Sorry to hear you're stressed @lucyrp. On the hypnobirthing note, I wonder if some birth affirmations could help? One which I thought I found really irritating but actually does help is 'my baby will come when my baby is ready' - I think I found it annoying because I wanted baby to come out soon so I could be over and done with pregnancy, and it highlights that this isn't how it works, but I find taking the control away from myself to be quite relaxing.

@PurplePansy05 my to do list for the next few days is batch cooking! My list so far consists of lasagne, meatballs with tomato sauce, curry and brown fricassee of chicken (which I've had a google and I think is a bit different from the recipes online as there's no cream, my mum makes it a lot), plus I have frozen soup as I always make leftovers. Then I figured I'll make veg/carbs as needed. Hopefully that'll tide us over for a few days at least!

My batch cooking consisted of lasagnes, spag bol (add pasta later), chilli con carne (add rice later) so basically all just mince and tomato based sauces with veg 😂

@biscuitcat Lasagne topped my list too, how funny! I am also massively craving a chippy, I've not had a single takeaway for months!

Plus I'll definitely have some ice cream, I spent the entire heatwave not having it so I'll treat myself now

Batch cooking will be similar I think, bolognese, soups, maybe a pie or something along those lines. Meatballs sound good too I'm clearly craving beef and carbs big time xx

@BertieBotts Sorry I meant 3l daily in total, not extra 3l 🙈

@Jessicapebbles aww congratulations! She’s absolutely beautiful!! 🥰🥰

@lucyrp try not to worry, your body has done it before and your body will have muscle memory as well. I would speak to your midwife about your concerns though! They might have some helpful advise.

@PurplePansy05 it does make you super hungry! I 100% recommend having snacks in your bedside table, as I was always starving during nov feeds. The graze little protein snacks are a good shout for night snacks.