April 2023 thread 8!

[Missgemini]

Hey everyone,

I can’t find a new thread. Hoping I’m not doubling threads here!

@cuppasoupmonster
@lauraa31
@xalexandra
@skylark1990
@peachesthecat
@piggybean
@beinghappy
@longbin
@biscuitsplease
@balloffluff123
@savedbygracealone
@aliceinslumberland

And many more ladies (and gents) :)

@MamaMenna it's so lovely when partners can feel it too isn't it! this is our first and DH really didn't know what to make of it, on the one hand he found it freaky and on the other he got really emotional!
@Margo34 hope you've managed to avoid the germs 😊

@MamaMenna yay! it's lovely when they can feel the kicks and it feels a bit more real for them.

Can anyone recommend a baby first aid course? I have looked at the red cross and st johns ambulance but they dont have a course near to me.

Hope everyone is keeping well 💖

@oceanadventurer I did Daisy First Aid with my DC1

www.daisyfirstaid.com/

Hi everyone! I owe you all an apology for not making this thread as promised, and also for vanishing off the face of the planet for a few weeks. I had a family bereavement shortly after my last post as well as some other stressful things crop up, and totally forgot. I kept meaning to find the time to read through all the latest posts but only this evening have found the time to do it! I hope you are all well and having a good run up to Christmas 🎄

As for me; things have been really busy at this end, good and bad, I’ve had a few stressful weeks with family politics etc regarding the upcoming funeral which is being held on Boxing Day (wtf!) as well as some work deadlines and an email from my university to say I’m basically going to be unable to take more than a few months of maternity leave without setting myself up to fail my course when I get back (long story). So ive had to rejig all my plans and it looks like DH will take the lions share of the year off, while I go back early. Sigh 😔

Have had lots of Christmas events with DD which has been nice and cheering me up including her Christmas play! Happy to say she remembered her role and seemed to enjoy it, an elf had to be carried off in tears however 😬

25 weeks tomorrow 🎉 as you must be as well Skylark, my due date twin! Nervously waiting for my 28 week scan to see if my placenta previa has corrected itself. I really hope it has 😔 has anyone else got this issue currently?

Happy to say I’ve also managed to sell the girly bits and pieces I bought before the 20 week scan and have replaced it with some cute boys things, so looking forward to having our little man here! 💙

@Cuppasoupmonster sounds like you could do with a holiday after all that!

I have a low-lying placenta or placenta previa, not sure which exactly as no one gas said specifically. I don't have another scan for it until 32 weeks, though, which has left me really unsure about a couple of things. Most importantly, I don't know what to tell my work about when I'm starting maternity leave, as the need for a c-section will bring my leave forward fairly drastically...

Less importantly (to me, but more importantly to other family members), the date for a baby shower is also in jeopardy. I'm not that fussed, but my aunts and sisters are keen to have one. My aunts won't be able to be here for it until the end of march, which would be fine without the placenta previa... with it, they may well be holding my shower when the baby is already delivered! Not sure how I feel about that, honestly.

Thanks Simply yes ive been a bit burnt out and sort of checked out of the pregnancy for a few weeks (beyond taking multivitamins and not drinking obviously!) but feeling better now the funeral arrangements and various other things are out of the way.

Are you in the U.K.? They told me mine was ‘low’ but it wasn’t until asking they confirmed it was covering although only the end. It’s also anterior which apparently is more likely to move. Obstetrician said she’s very confident it will, but it’s me and I’m always the one to defy the odds and not in a good way 🙄

I don’t mind a c-section but would prefer another vaginal delivery because I would like to keep the ‘damage’ to one area if possible! It’s also the devil I know and the thought of surgery is a bit scarier. I’ll just do what has to be done however. But if it moves and I can have a straightforward birth that would be a great end to what has been quite a stressful few months 🤞🏻

I have my next scan at 28 weeks, I know it may well not have cleared completely by then but hoping it will have moved in the right direction a bit. It’s nerve wracking isn’t it, another thing hanging over my head 🙄 here was me determined to enjoy this pregnancy and ‘make the most of it’!!

@Cuppasoupmonster yes, I'm in the UK - mine is also anterior! From looking at the scan notes, I think mine is covering the way out by a couple of centimetres. I know what you mean about being the one to defy the odds! Am I right in thinking you've had HG? I've had it and am only recently starting to feel reasonably normal, just in time for Christmas! But that's only, what, 2% of women who get it? After that, I find it quite easy to believe that I could be in the 10% who don't move...

Unlike you, however, I don't really mind the idea of a c-section. It's my first baby, but at least being told I need a section removes the decision making from me! If I don't need one, I'll have to figure out what I actually want (which doesn't feel easy right now).

Looks like we’re in a similar position! There’s frustratingly little information on how many covering placentas move versus those that are just ‘low lying’. However I did find this (attached), so it looks like we have an 85% chance of it moving. Yes I also had HG! Also rhesus negative, type 1 diabetic and my NIPT which had a gender accuracy of over 99% turned out to be wrong 😆 why can’t I just win the lottery instead?!

Would you be able to bring your baby shower forwards slightly to perhaps 30/32 weeks?

Personally, don't care about a baby shower at all! 😆 If people want to send presents for the little one, or come see us, that's fine. But a party where I'm the centre of attention is my worst nightmare.

Timing-wise, it's because one of my aunts lives up north and needs to wait until the school term finishes before she can come down. The other one lives in Australia and they're on the way over at the end of march. My mum said "we'll discuss it at the weekend..." 😅 that'll be a fun zoom conversation - think I'll be walking the dog at that point in time!

@simplythequest I find baby showers to be very American in the idea of them, I just don't get it. I didn't have one with my first and I won't be having one this time either! If you're not that bothered about having one or it's going to make you feel awkward, say so!

@Cuppasoupmonster wow sounds like you've had a very tough time of late! Sorry for your family bereavement 😔 oh and buy yourself a lottery ticket! Sounds like you deserve a win!

@Cuppasoupmonster gosh what a stressful time you’ve had. Sorry to hear.

I’ll also be having extra scans myself but due to a different reason. They said my uterine artery pressures are high, so they’ll need to scan at 28, 32 and 36 weeks to check on baby’s growth.
Baby was growing perfectly fine at the 20 weeks scan though, so hoping these are just extra reassuring sans.

Hi all
couple of questions for you...
I'm planning to try and breastfeed but very aware that it might not work out - should we get all the gear to bottle feed so its ready just in case? I hate not feeling prepared and last thing we want to do is have to rush out and get what we need a few days after birth

Next question is about the snoo...A very generous and wealthy relative has asked if we'd like her to get us one. It seems to be obscenely priced and if she hadn't offered we would never have dreamed of getting one. All the gear we've got so far is second hand, we could probably have afforded to get all new stuff as we're comfortable but it just seems like such a waste.
My initial reaction was thanks but no. However i love my sleep - I normally get 10 hours a night and the thought of being without sleep is petrifying! All the reviews say how wonderful the snoo is and you can get at least an extra hour or 2 a night using it.
Any thoughts on this?

Thanks all

@JG24 if you want/hope to BF exclusively then don't get bottles etc in! They'll be too tempting when you're exhausted and on the verge of giving up Bf, even if that's not really what you want. BF is hard work! I'd get them at the time you find you may need them and only if you find it too much or your find you're struggling, for whatever reason. It's exhausting BF, especially in the early days/weeks/months.

@JG24 I was thinking the same but ultimately decided to get everything in for breastfeeding and pumping and not get a perfect prep machine or formula incase I find it too tempting when it's hard. I think just knowing how easy it will be to get this stuff if it doesn't work out with my partner popping to our local smyths for the machine if needed and that way temptation to give up isn't right in front of me. Im still getting bottles and steriliser in and have a mom cosy pump as I plan to express. I think it's just very individual on how organised etc you'd want to be

@JG24 that's great you are thinking about this already, it will set you up well for breastfeeding! Imo breastfeeding success is very much also about mindset, so would second others to say that best not to get formula stuff / bottles straight away, to give yourself the best chance to really get going with bf. Very few women physically can't breastfeed, being able to is more about the support you get at the beginning and the knowledge you have so getting yourself well prepared beforehand and knowing what to expect is key. Would recommend the la leche league beginning breastfeeding course (it's online and free) and also their book, womanly art of Breastfeeding.

Re sleep and snoo... Can't say I have the sboo myself or have read any reviews. But I would be wary of any gadget promising more sleep! Babies naturally wake in the night for comfort and to feed for a few months at least, it's just something we again need to accept and prepare ourselves for mentally I think! 😅 It's a bit of a shock but you'll get through it. Again having support so you can rest when able and catch up on sleep, plus considering things like safe bedsharing if breastfeeding will really help, as this is the biological norm and generally mums who bedshare and breastfeed get more sleep overall. My DD didn't like her next to me crib much so we pretty much bedshare from the start and I was Def the least exhausted of my NCT friends, although still exhausted 😅💓😘 look up the safe sleep seven and lullaby trust for safe cosleeping/ bedsharing info just so you know how to do it (even if you don't plan to!) Xx

@JG24 also ideally it's recommended not to give any bottles or express for the first 6 weeks or so, to ensure latch and supply is well established, so I wouldn't even bother getting a pump right away. Sometimes if issues crop up it can be good to pump earlier on, but you can always get on Amazon next day delivery if needed! And hospital will have one too, if needed in days after the birth. I would however recommend a haakaa pump from relatively early on, as they're cheap and collect let down so can be handy!

Here is a link to the course www.laleche.org.uk/antenatal-courses/

@JG24 I think it depends on what you’re like as a person, to be honest.
For my first, I knew I would do everything I could to breastfeed, but I also had a couple of things on standby just in case it didn’t work out.
I ended up donating them via the health visiting team as I was fortunate and had no issues breastfeeding.
I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way. If being prepared makes you feel comfortable, then by all means, get one or two things. But you could also just take the strict route of only breastfeeding paraphernalia. Very exciting though 😊

@JG24 it definitely depends on how you cope with pressure! I wanted to exclusively breastfeed but I still had a couple of bottles of ready made formula just in case. Having that in the cupboard helped me not feel totally overwhelmed by the pressure of being the sole food source. I never used them, they went out of date before I could donate them.

From my perspective it’s worth having a bottle and just a couple of premade formula cartons in the cupboard, just in case. Otherwise if (worst case scenario) baby simply won’t latch and settle, or you get ill, your DH isn’t driving round shops at 3am looking for bottles to buy. Mentally it helped me knowing they were there for emergencies and DD would be fed no matter what.

Happy Christmas Eve everyone! ♥️ 🎅

Hi everyone
I hope your Xmas is going well.
Thanks for thr brratfeeding/bottle tips. I think I will get some bottles etc in as that will make me less stressed which will hopefully help woth breastfeeding in a roundabout way
We've also gone for the snoo after a fee duas of Immingham and ahhing. It was reduced in the boxing day sales and my sister who bought it us passed on lots of good feedback from her friends who have one. Apparently it has a good resale value too so hopefully it won't turn out to be as stupidly expensive in the long one
I'll let you all know in April how it turns out!
I've got my glucose toldrance test after the Xmas period on 4th which I'm a bit nervous about. Anyone else had one yet?

@JG24 I had my GTT a couple of weeks back. My pre-glucose drink sugar level was normal but my post-drink level was 0.1 above what they were happy with so I've basically been told I have gestational diabetes now 💔 I have been advised to control it via food and haven't been given any other medicine for it.

@BeingHappy im type 1 (currently awake due to a hypo 😉) I’m part of many type 1 pregnancy groups and the vast majority of babies are absolutely fine even when mum’s blood sugars have been all over the place so don’t worry. I can recommend the book Carbs and Cals to help with diet/portion size:

www.wob.com/en-gb/books/chris-cheyette/carbs-cals-pocket-counter/9781908261076?gclid=CjwKCAiAzKqdBhAnEiwAePEjkntq5FXDGgND0Z57nnpUOleZP9PbLVXXP4JDjKCExm1Ae5KhDzTZARoCqLYQAvD_BwE#GOR005772538

You’ll work out a rhythm that keeps your sugars under control but do drop me a message if you’re struggling, I find the medics to not be too knowledgable about blood sugar levels in relation to diet.

@BeingHappy oh so sorry to hear. I have my test in January and feeling quite nervous for it.
Most people do have healthy babies. It’s the long term risk of you developing T2 diabetes that is the main issue, in my opinion. But of course, that can be reversed with a strict diet etc.
Pregnancy is one of those things that just causes so many anxieties. Wishing you all the best x

@JG24 @Missgemini I also have my GTT next week, nervous about the outcome but hoping it's just precautionary!
@Cuppasoupmonster sorry to hear about being T1, that must make life difficult at times! I've been diagnosed with hypoglycaemia in the past and I know what you mean about doctors and sugar levels, it isn't as simple as one diet suits all as mine was more about keeping a stable balance and listening to my body rather than just having x amount of sugar a day!
@BeingHappy glad to hear you're able to manage it via food alone, definitely the best way if you can!