April 2023 - We’re nearly half way! ✨ 🍼

[Cuppasoupmonster]

New thread! Hopefully this one will see us through 20 week scans and crossing the halfway point! 💕

As ever if you’re missing from the list give me a shout and I will add you:

Cuppasoupmonster second baby 7th (induction 37w) 💖
Milkandfenty third baby 1st 💛
Searchingtheskies second baby 2nd 💛
Biscuitsplease first baby 2nd 💖
Chocolat first baby 3rd 💛
Bluebubbles12 second baby 4th 💛
Erber third baby 4th 💛
CariadBB first baby 5th 💛
Skylark1990 second baby 7th 💛
Melissa2023 first baby 8th 💙
Tubbytele second baby 14th (CS 39w) 💛
Alwaysseeingstars first baby 9th 💛
Lj2022 first baby 10th 💖
Emeal123 second baby 11th 💙
DBS94 first baby 11th 💙
tattlytote second baby 12th 💛
Bernesemum first baby 12th 💛
Lid88 second baby 13th 💛
Ncbn first baby 14th 💙
Kennadams fourth baby 16th 💛
Margo34 second baby 16th💛
Aliceinslumberland first baby 16th (CS 39w) 💙
Appleandcheese first baby 18th 💛
Xalexandra first baby 20th 💛
Piggybean first baby 20th 💛
Tropicana1 second baby 20th 💛
Puddingbear 27th (CS 39w) 💛
Springblooms08 first baby 21st 💛
Hannah223344 first baby 21st 💙
Gilm0reGirl second baby 21st 💛
Pommy1 first baby 22nd 💖
Deek88 second baby 24th 💛
Marshmallowmountain first baby 25th 💖
LauraA31 first baby 26th 💛
Peachesthecat third baby 26th 💛
Allfurcoatnoknickers second baby 28th 💖
Limoncelloo 29th March second baby 💖
MamaMenna second baby 30th 💖

@Hannah223344 I'm the exact same as you re bowel movements! I have IBS but falling pregnant pushed it the opposite way and I was sooooo constipated. I found a glass of kombucha in the morning helps but I still get constipated but still also get IBS flare ups. I don't think the beige food during morning sickness was helping tbh 🤣

Anyone else not had their 20 week scan yet and feeling super nervous for it? Mine is Monday and I'm just full of anxiety!

Me! Mine is Tuesday, I don’t have a sense of foreboding or anything just aware it’s the ‘big one’ and that a healthy scan will mean I can relax. fingers crossed 🤞🏻

@Deek88 will your company pay you maternity or will you be relying on stat mat pay?

Would you consider talking to your GP to get a couple of weeks off sick with stress? It won't totally solve the problem but would give you some breathing space.

I really feel for you, I have found work such a huge drain.

@IvyAurora
its just stat pay sadly.

I’ve thought about going to the go but living on sick pay this close to Xmas seems
so selfish of me and would be a massive struggle.

thank you so much for taking the time to reply and I’m sorry you’re telling the strain too x

@Deek88 do not allow them to make you feel this way! They legally have to offer you a role to return to and it sounds like they’re massively pushing HR boundaries. Are you in the UK? If you have Instagram take a look at the page ‘pregnant then screwed’ she campaigns for womens rights and you can ask them for advice. Do not allow them to push you out mid pregnancy! Stand your ground x

@DBS94 @Cuppasoupmonster yes! I'm next Thursday for the 20wk scan, anxiety set in last week and tonight I'm just on a downer cos of my bowel movements changing too! Just wish I could feel him move, but nothing yet! ..... going to eat some chocolate and give Google a rest for the night. Sending positive vibes your way too x

@DBS94 my scan is Monday too! Definitely feeling a bit nervous but also looking forward to it.

@IvyAurora exercise in pregnancy is definitely good if you have the energy. I definitely maintained muscle through DD pregnancy through yoga and walking and the yoga also helped my hips and back and ensured I didn't get too tight! Plus keeping up some cardio even if light (which is probably best in pregnancy) is good for labour. Women who keep active in pregnancy tend to have shorter labours (or so I have heard!) Plus it'll help you recover more quickly if you have maintained some strength and mobility and fitness, and will help your pelvic floor. Plenty of reasons to exercise but I'm saying that, don't feel you need to do loads or any at all if you're knackered, we first and foremost need to listen to what our body is saying. Rest is just as important.

I'm struggling this time with pgp and I think it's partly because working and having a toddler means I have waayyyy less time to do any exercise and so my body is just falling apart or so it seems! I felt pretty good all through DDs pregnancy!

I use the Weleda stretch mark oil it smells amazing.

@Deek88 sorry to hear you are struggling with work! I have days where I just can't hack it either. it's hard. But definitely stand your ground and stick up for your rights. Equally if they aren't even going to pay you on top of stat pay and you're keen for a new role when you have finished mat leave I guess you could quit / go off on mat leave early? But only if that's what you want and feel is best, weighing it all up. They can't push you out 💪💛

@Cuppasoupmonster I love essential oils etc. The Neal's yard women's balance blend us lovely! Not sure if it has Clary sage so haven't been using since pregnant, but Clary sage is good for labour so will deffo use it then, plus I should just look on the website really to check 😂 I used a diffuser during the home birth part of my labour, was v nice.

🙋 me! Got to wait until Monday week for mine, 28th. And in the late afternoon too so I'll have that whole day to stew as well 😔

I caved today and ordered some Maternity wear basic tops and camis from New Look. And then felt so 'in the online shopping groove' that I splurged on a Jojomaman jumper. So unlike me! 🙈 I'm still watching some items on eBay for balance though (and for when I inevitably return everything to the shops).

My toddler 2yo didn't nap today or yesterday, it's becoming an increasingly common occurrence and it's exhausting. I really hope it's not the end of nap times! 😩

@Skylark1990 Where did you hear about exercise vs labour duration? I wish it were true, perhaps I'm an anomaly or didn't exercise enough! I kept active throughout my last pregnancy with DC1, and have a family history of short/speedy labours too - sub 6hrs the lot of them, but I was still in labour for 30hrs+ and had a prolonged active pushing stage too 😭

Hi all,

Sorry I've not replied properly to those that replied to me not feeling amazing. I really appreciated your comments and words of support. I had a pretty teary week at feeling generally uncomfortable (PGP, tailbone pain, sore boobs, heartburn, new stretch marks, peeing when I coughed, hairy belly..) and then feeling guilty about feeling so bad and hoping the baby can't feel my unhappiness. And then I felt even worse because DH's colleague (who is 10 weeks ahead of me in her pregnancy) gave a colour coded spreadsheet of her nursery list and I just felt like a total disorganised, underprepared failure. Anyway, I am finally feeling A TONNE better after a good old chat with my mum who reassured me I'm doing everything OK. Sorry again for such a massive moan, everyone 🤕

I have my 20 week scan tomorrow and feeling nervous as I'm not sure I've felt the baby move yet.

@Deek88 my GP gave me note saying work should allow me to work from home and that's helped me massively as I was feeling so drained from work. Not having to commute has made all the difference for me. I know it's not quite the same as your situation but thought I'd share.

And also big congrats to all the new boy mummas and girl mummas!

Hope everyone is doing well xx

Me too! Mines not until the 7th December so 3 weeks away yet!

My 20 week scan not until 5th December and I'm getting more and more nervous and worried. I feel like I can't enjoy the pregnancy in case I jinx it.

@BeingHappy sorry you're having a tough time.

Everyone has a different approach to manage their lives. If a colour coded spreadsheet works, that's lovely. Couldn't be me. I sort of feel like starting a family is best left a little more relaxed as the whole thing is so unpredictable.

I do admire the super organised super mums but I also do a little eye roll at some of the performative preparation

Not trying to dump on your friend just don't want you to feel bad

@Margo34 It wasn't true for me either - my last labour was 88 hours 😅 and I kept active. But loads of other stuff comes into it too. Also I think maybe the fact I had the stamina for it will have been helped by the fact I kept relatively fit. I've just read it various places online like mum and baby websites etc. Maybe it's that you're more equipped for what labour throws at you rather than it being more likely to be shorter , I can't remember fully now but I know I've read it helps with labour to keep a bit active.

In saying that I'm sure plenty handle labour fine even if unable to be active in pregnancy.

@BeingHappy you're doing great! You don't need a nursery spreadsheet 😂 great if that's what floats your boat of course, but loads of the baby stuff on the market isn't even useful once baby is here and we are only just coming up to half way too,so plenty of time. I'm glad working from home is helping you. I've also go Pgp it sucks doesn't it 😔

@Skylark1990 thanks for your reply about exercise! I am going to stick with this Bloom app and see how it goes for the rest of the year.

@DBS94 completely with you there - am feeling very nervous and anxious about my 20 week scan this afternoon 😔DH & I have somehow convinced ourselves that something's gone wrong and we're going to get bad news! Which is very unlike me as I'm always a glass half full kinda person..

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DBS94 · Yesterday 19:30

Anyone else not had their 20 week scan yet and feeling super nervous for it? Mine is Monday and I'm just full of anxiety!

I think it's normal to be nervous as it is a big scan. They are looking at the main baby's organs.
I had my scan yesterday and I was nervous as I wasn't eating well for a while. Didn't help that I had to go to it from work and go back to work afterwards.
However, the scan went well and I'm having a boy. Getting excited now ☺️☺️

Good luck, I'm sure it will go well xx

morning ladies 🙂

I know we have spoken about this before, but can’t find it in the threads ha.. but movement, what is everybody’s experience with feeling baby move?

Im 17 weeks tomorrow and it’s my first so know this is very early, and i have an anterior placenta but at my 16 week appointment last week the midwife asked if id felt baby move and i said no- ive not even had little sensations which i could think as movement, the midwife wasn’t worried naturally but said if by 20 weeks id felt nothing to give her a call..

I know it’s normal but since then it’s been on my mind, i know baby is healthy and moving a lot because she never stops on our scans, she moves constantly and stretches her arms and legs, does little jumps etc but i am so desperate to feel her now!

When did people start to feel their movements and if anybody has an anterior placenta or had one before when is the normal time to feel anything 🙂
My friend’s girlfriend is due 4 days before me and she has felt her little boy move already, trying not to compare but it’s difficult!

@alwaysseeingstars good luck with your scan this afternoon 🥰 let us know how you get on xx

@LauraA31 with my first I had anterior placenta and felt first movements just after 24 weeks

@LauraA31 Last time by 20 week scan baby's movements could be seen and felt on the outside, the sonographer was getting kicked🤣. I can't remember when I first felt movements. This time I have anterior placenta, 16 + 3 and nothing yet. Like you I'm also keen to feel something.

Yes most definitely! I’ll keep checking in on this thread to see how you’re getting on too :)
I'm having a gender scan today as my fiancés birthday, finishing work early and scan at 1:30!xx

Thanks ladies for all the advice :)

I work from home at the moment which is a massive help. But being stuck on 3-4 hour long video calls with my boss is no fun 😂

I think I need to tough it out until after Christmas and then look at whether I can us annual leave and then start maternity leave earlier to get away and sort my head out before baby arrives. I don’t think I’ll be coming back after mat leave the way it’s been recently anyway, there’s no way I can do my current role with the newborn in tow and to say the company is not understanding would be the understatement of the year.

thank you all for allowing me to rant ❤

Just had a consultant midwife appointment to discuss birth options. It was really good. She said I'm now consultant led due to 3rd degree tear and 'severe obstetric bleed' (apparently diff from a pph!) Last time. But she agreed and confirmed that the conditions of my labour (v long, needed syntocinon, forceps) are most likely what caused these issues so if the labour and birth are smoother this time there is no reason why they'd happen again. She also thinks that it was baby's position that led to the long labour.

She said I could have a home birth if I want to but they're keen for me to understand all the information around it to make a decision, so I'm going to go back when I'm 28 weeks and have a longer appointment with her to do the birth afterthoughts session and go through a birth plan. I'm.not opposed to a hospital birth but I have a lot of reasons for wanting to aim for a home birth, esp as I think it'll help with childcare issues and it's more on my own terms with timing, plus can guarantee a pool. She did say the pools at the hospital are rarely used tho so chances are I'd get one. 🌊

anyone else started to think about birth plans? I know there are a few elcs. Anyone planning a home birth?

she also listened to baby's heartbeat at my request and we heard it so that was nice 💕💗💖☺️