Due August 2021 - Welcome to the World!

[PurplePansy05]

Welcome to the chattiest birth club on MN! Newcomers always welcome 💐

14 gorgeous new babies have joined us already, welcome to the world 💖💙🥳

@Smurf123 - Welcome to the world, baby Sophia 💖
@wimbler - Welcome to the world, baby boy 💙
@Jessicapebbles - Welcome to the world, baby Ebony💖
@Inmypjsagain - Welcome to the world, baby boy💙
@PurplePansy05 - Welcome to the world, baby Leo Alexander 💙
@WinterBabyof89 - Welcome to the world, baby Rosie 💖
@Winecoffeeteamum - Welcome to the world, baby Emily 💖
@Ready2020 - Welcome to the world, baby Rowan 💖
@Magik01 - Welcome to the world, baby Isaac 💙
@Hoares3 - Welcome to the world, baby Ellis 💙
@Daffodil21 - Welcome to the world, baby Elliot James 💙
@sarah13xx - Welcome to the world, baby Freddie 💙
@Biscuitcat - Welcome to the world, baby Rowan 💙
@Whatshouldbemyusername - Welcome to the world, baby Arya-Nyah 💖

Counting down until we welcome 20+ new arrivals:

@MrsB2019x - Induction w/c 9 August, Girl 💖
@Dia12 - EDD 8 August, Girl 💖
@Aaaaa1519 - EDD 13 August, Girl 💖
@Angelesque - C-section 16 August, surprise 💛
@lucyrp - EDD 16 August, surprise 💛
@livingwithbees - EDD 16 August, surprise 💛
@BertieBotts - EDD 16 August, Boy 💙
@WolfMother - EDD 17 August, Boy 💙
@Caz1226 - EDD 17 August, Boy 💙
@Millymay13 - C-section 17 August, surprise 💛
@RandomCatGenerator - C-section 19 August, surprise 💛
@Smallbean27 - EDD 19 August, surprise 💛
@Sheisfee - EDD 19 August, Girl 💖
@Alittlexmasmagic - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@LottSE20 - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛 @notinthestarsigns - EDD 23 August (but likely to be brought forward induction/C-section), surprise 💛
@Fran919 - EDD 25 August, surprise💛
@Ava50x - EDD 25 August, Boy 💙
@ame88 - EDD 28 August, Girl 💖
@HopefulB - EDD 29 August, surprise 💛

It's officially THE month! Watch this space! xx

@sarah13xx we have met people outdoors expect my parents and brothers who we have bubbled with - my mum works from home, brothers both off school and dad only goes into office a couple of days a week. My mum and brothers have held Sophia but that's it, dads choice not to he says she's still too small for him lol
Anyone other extended family and friends we have seen have looked at her in the pram but all have said they wouldn't hold her due to covid situation yet and most have taken a lateral flow test before they meet us, they are all double vaccinated too. We bought foam sanitiser and have it by our front door and anyone passing through automatically uses it when they come so I haven't had to mention any of it tbh. I'm more worried about Dhs family as I don't think they will be so cautious and I will be insisting they take a lateral flow test and wash hands/use sanitiser before visiting us and holding her but they will have travelled here by plane too.

@Ready2020 we use a sleeping bag mostly and have done since birth - we have used a muslin to swaddle occasionally when she has wet the sleeping bag 🙈
@MrsB2019x could she be trying to pass wind/poop? Though as @PurplePansy05 she could just be cluster feeding we've had a few nights like that too!

@Smurf123 did you get one of the special new born under 9lbs kinda bag or just go by size? I got 2 today from the in laws but they say its for babies of 8lbs 13 and over and Rowan is 8lbs. But she's very long.

@Ready2020 I have a newborn one from ds that is suitable from 5lb - it's the grosnug
I think you just have to check the arm / head holds aren't too big that she could slip down into it

@Ready2020 I'm using it, it's the only thing DS accepts atm with his wriggling. I have one from John Lewis atm. It's good but a bit of a PITA with newborns spitting out milk, I don't use it daily cause it wouldn't leave the washing machine xx

Just been for another sweep…
Cervix is now fully open and I’m 1cm- come on baby boy I’m desperate to meet you!
Fingers crossed for this weekend xx

@Ready2020

Is anyone putting their new born in a sleep bag? Or still using blanket or just dressing warmly at night? I was thinking of getting a bag.

Re visitors, we've only had a few dvd been fairly relaxed. Rowan has been asleep through the visits so not had a chance to be passed around as when she wakes I whisk her away for a feed.

We’re swaddling - same effect i think. He seems to like it and can easily punch out with his little hands if he wants to

I've bought a mamas and papas dream pod but couldn't find any on next day delivery so will need to wait until next week. I am so impatient so always look for next day lol.

I'm sure someone said before about 7pm being a time of day that's the hardest? I find as the evening draws in I find myself getting a bit sad. Not sure where it comes from. As it's also when we get cosy.

@Ready2020 we use either the love to dream
Swaddle or the tommee tippee one. I really
Like both and he sleeps well with both on but I’d probably say the love to dream was better. He’s in a small and was 4kg at birth so will probably need the next size up soon

Has anyone here who's been induced just had gas and air and no tearing cutting or other complications ?🥺

@lucyrp I was induced with the balloon catheter (so no hormone drip or pessary etc) and did it on gas and air. You could ask if that method is available as it’s supposed to naturally dilate your cervix. If you are low risk I think you should be able to have it put in and then go home as mine needed to be in for 24 hours

@wimbler il have a look into that thank you, I just had a mini breakdown when I woke up this morning. I did everything possible yesterday to get the oxytocin flowing and nothing happened. The tightenings didn't start up again and I realised I only have 6 days left for baby to decide to come on their own. I know I can give birth because I've done it before but that was when baby came on their own and I managed really well with just gas and air and nothing else but I know I won't cope with induction pain aswell and there's so much more possibility for things to go wrong 🥺

There was a thread in childbirth yesterday about induction I think, but if it was me I've always had this idea if I was going to be induced with the drip to ask for an epidural first! Apparently they will do it, so might be worth thinking about.

@lucyrp, no personal experience, but I did a lot of reading around inductions when that was on the cards for me (ironic given that’s now completely off the table).

I think it’s a bit odd that people talk about ‘induction’ as one thing, when there are 3 methods that have different risks/benefits.
So check what method anyone is talking to you about/you are reading about.

The MLU where I am would birth those who have had mechanical or local hormones. The hormone drip appears to be the one that more commonly starts the intervention cascade, you will be on a labour ward with continuous monitoring recommended. The contractions become very powerful, so people have an epidural, and then that reduces ability to remain upright/know when to push so more likely to go to CS.

Good luck 🤞

Also, when I checked I think they said you could start with the mechanical method & if that didn’t work move to hormone peasant/gel then if no movement the drip…. But probably worth asking that too?

@HopefulB yeah that's why I want to look into the different methods and my options etc because I don't want to be going in and out on the drip if I could try other things first if they'll be better for me. It won't be until next Saturday but I realise 6 days isn't a lot of time and it's probably going to end up that way so I need to know what's going to happen. It's eithrt MLU for me for the next 6 days or if I'm induced it'll be the hospital an hour away so 🥺

@lucyrp I was induced with the gel... contractions started straight away, Ellis was born 8 minutes later no tears and he came out with a hand on his head!

@lucyrp I was induced last time and did it on gas and air while on the hormone drip. Having now had a spontaneous labour to compare it to I found the strength of the contractions pretty similar. I did have an episiotomy with my induction but only because I was being induced due to IUGR and the baby got distressed and needed to be whipped out quickly right at the end. I hope your birth goes well, hopefully no induction necessary!

Is anyone else who already has a child/children feeling a bit sad at the change in family dynamic? I'm kind of missing the time together with my 2 year old at the moment, especially as he's a bit upset with all the changes.

@Hoares3 8 minutes!! 😮 Was it your first baby as well?!

@afictionado yes I struggle with the guilt and not being able to dedicate as much time to my 2year old. She often asks me to put the baby down when I’m feeding him so she can have attention which is really hard. I’ve heard it gets easier and I’m sure it does but it is really tough.

Also panicking slightly as I've started noticing my bump changing shape... the last few days I've had a flat front of the bump when leaving backwards and sometimes it's squishy when all through pregnancy its been hard and baby has been in the same place with their back against my belly .. wondering if this means they've flipped 😭

@Hoares3 omg wow!

@afictionado thank you for sharing that reassures me a little !

Maybe baby has engaged Lucy!

Afictionado I was reading Sarah Ockwell Smith's Second Baby Book and she talks a lot about these feelings. Defo worth a read, it's not very long :) Lots of useful tips in there.

I was induced and had the balloon - it fell out itself but didn't really do anything . I was 1-2cm before it was inserted and 2-3cm two days later when finally got a delivery suite bed.
I had an epidural started before the drip. They tell you it doesn't increase the possibility of cs. I couldn't lift my right leg at all by the time I was pushing it was just too heavy from the epidural I made dh move it to what I wanted but dd was born with a very small episiotomy needed - 1stitch and otherwise no intervention.
I had the pessary and drip with ds a few years ago and needed episiotomy and the suction to help get him out but his heart rate had dropped so it was a case of needing to get him out asap at that point
I've no comparison to a spontaneous labour though as was induced both times!

@afictionado I miss spending time with DS1 but he’s having a whale of a time having so much time with daddy at the moment. Half the time he doesn’t even want to know me which hurts a little!

Not looking forward to when DH goes back to work and DS1 will be asking for him.

@lucyrp, fingers crossed they’ve engaged! Are you worried that baby may have gone back to back? @BertieBotts posted lots of useful stuff about labouring with a back to back baby in earlier thread.

Seriously impressed with those of you managing a baby and a toddler!

Last big clean through the house for me, then it’s PCR test tomorrow and isolate until the CS.