Catching up with TTC #1, thread 8!

[MrsEG]

Getting a new one started before we are full! I’ll go back now and add people - answering everyone’s last posts here!!

@MrsR16 Nesting sounds like a good idea! Our house is such a mess at the moment mid-decorating and I cant wait for it all to be done so I can tidy!!

@BabySquid Fabulous bump! Glad you had such a brilliant time. I’m starting to think that pain sleeping is all just part and parcel of being pregnant now! At my yoga class everyone complains of it!

@Tropicana1 I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about!

@purplefig Yeah it was amazing to hear! Apparently IVF twins are more likely to be small but she never explained why. But yeah, induction is less likely for growth - it could still be needed for other reasons but it’s nice to have one of them off the list! How are you feeling, sleeping any better?

@ELW85 I did sleep a little bit better! I still woke up about 4:30 but slept all the way from 10 til then which is amazing! I feel like I’m slowly getting used to just being tired now! Glad you managed a better sleep!

@PippaPug Glad you got the radiator sorted! Yeah I’m amazed at how care changes from place to place but I think the main thing is as long as someone is seeing us at least once a month then that’s great!! How have you been feeling? I’m 24+4 today and really starting to feel uncomfortable now. My bump measured approx 32 weeks yesterday!! 32!!! She thinks they must be lying all at the front.

@cupcakesandglitter From doing some googling I think at the 28 week appt they’ll more start telling me what I can and can’t do in the birth - like start laying out all of my options? So I’m not gonna worry too much and wait to see what they say! My only ‘preference’ is everyone arrives happy and healthy and all are safe and well! I love the bong haha - how are you feeling today?

@Tropicana1 congratulations!!!

@MrsEG it was nice - I'm still exhausted, but that's ok! Ethan enjoyed lots of cuddles with family yesterday 😊

Enjoy Boxing Day ladies!! Xx

@Tropicana1! Congratulations on your little one! Well done to you, you should be very proud!
I too would love to hear your birth story - because I may be having to be induced/ c section and I’m v nervous about both!
I’m sure she looks beautiful and not like a potato! 😂

@MrsEG - I’m hoping your not in to much discomfort and the scan comes back clear - what times your apt? Like you the twins were 100% spoilt, lucky babies!

@MrsEG - thank you, we’re really happy with the nursery!
How are you? Blood clot sounds terrifying!

@MrsR16 - thank you so much! Ethan is beyond adorable - did he love his first Christmas?

@Tropicana1 - congratulations!! How are you doing? I really need to get stuck into the hypnobirthing reading.

I hope you’re all having a lovely festive period? I’ve got some time off so it’s wonderful to relax and do very little!
I do keep having anxiety dreams about having the baby early though, and not being prepared! I’m not sure how much you can actually do to prepare for having a baby to be fair, but we’re all doing our best aren’t we?!
Last night’s episode was me going into labour in a few weeks. Little one was fine, but it was scary!
Third trimester tomorrow though, so not long to wait in reality.

Just wondering how worried I should be...sorry for the TMI 🙈
DH and I had sex yesterday, all fine.... gone to the toilet just now, wiped and there was a jelly like discharge on the paper...currently no more, I have a pad in currently....not sure what it could be, some things I have read online say it’s fine and others say it’s not...just we aren’t at home and with the in laws currently, don’t particularly want leave as would have to tell them and get them worried....I’m keeping a eye on it atm but am concerned...

@PippaPug - I honestly wouldn’t worry, it sounds like a combination of fluids (sorry!) so CM mixed in with other stuff.
Even if it was something like part of a mucus plug, it all grows back.
If you’re concerned though, give your midwife a call 😊

@MrsR16 Ah I’m glad you had a nice if exhausting day!!

@PippaPug I’ve also been told some mucus-y discharge is perfectly normal at this stage - my midwife said only worry if it’s tinged pink and comes with cramps/discomfort! Could you call the midwife to check?

@ELW85 Oh I’m all over that third tri anxiety!! I need to go back to the hypnobirthing again I think!

Had my leg scan today and there were no signs of clots :) so I am very relieved! They said that at this stage now with twins they kind of ‘sit’ on your groin and can block the nerves and veins so its just one of this wonderful things about pregnancy!! Saw the midwife today too and babies are both still breech. I’m not fretting about it anymore - if that’s where they’re comfy then so be it! 32 weeks on Sunday... and I’m convinced my bump is dropping!

Hi ladies! Thanks for the messages - we've settled on her name, meet Olivia Grace Jennifer

@MrsEG I found the cesarean a really positive experience. I asked for one after about 30 hours of the induction process so it was probably more on par with an elective anyway. It was very relaxed and calm, we had an all female theatre team who were so lovely. Everyone introduced themselves and explained what they were doing and why. I didn't find the spinal block painful at all to have done, just some pinching like a blood test / IV cannula. Getting her out was so quick. I'd asked if they would still do fleshed cord clamping and skin to skin which they said they do as standard anyway. They offered to lower the screen so I could see her being born (she looked like the angriest thing you've ever seen 😂) and then put her on my chest. After they clamped her and put the screen back up she was weighed and then DH had a cuddle, then she came back for more skin to skin while I was stitched up.
Took about 6 hours or so for me to be able to fully move my legs afterwards but I was up and had a shower on the ward later that morning (she was born just after midnight and I was in the shower before lunch time) I think the more mobile you can get the better for your recovery. I don't feel in any more pain than with my surgery at the start of the year - I said yes to all the painkillers they offered me in the first 12-24 hours even when I was still having some pain relief from the block just to make sure I got it on board and didn't have a big dip where It was suddenly agony. I feel like it was a really positive experience all round!

@PippaPug so they did an internal exam and unfortunately my cervix was too firm and closed for the balloon dilation, so they put in the process hormonal pessary which softens and dilates you. I found the internal exam of my cervix and the pessary being placed really not nice at all - I thought it would be like a smear test / coil placement but it feels much more invasive / rummaging around than that. The propess started me having mild period like pains within maybe 6 hours or so. It also made me feel insanely bruised, sore and swollen. It hurt to wee, and I felt like I'd been punched all around my pubic bone and vulva externally and internally really swollen and sore (unfortunately this is sometimes a side effect with it). They left it in for 24 hours and then removed it - I had to stay in hospital and didn't really sleep much at all. I had gas and air for the removal because I was feeling so sore that my anxiety about any more internal exams was really ramping up. I was dilated to 2cm and softening so they sent me down to labour ward to have my waters broken. Had gas and air again for this. I didn't find it pleasant but it wasn't any worse than the previous internals. Then I had 4 hours of increasing contractions. I had another internal which was probably the worst yet and got told I was still only 2cm dilated and my cervix hadn't changed so they wanted to put me on the drip. I was so tired by this point of not sleeping etc that I had a bit of a cry and said I felt that things were snowballing, that I was so tired already from the induction process I was going to end up with an instrumental delivery and I didn't want any more internal exams, and that given how almost unbearable I found the internal exams by this stage I was worried that I would end up feeling like I'd had a traumatic birth if things kept going down this road. The midwife and doctor were lovely and after a bit of a chat we decided on going for a cesarean at that stage rather than any later in an emergency
Setting as my blood pressure was persistently raised over about the last 5 hours of the induction and not coming down. This is just my personal experience though with how induction was for me I know other ladies on here have had much better experiences with it and can probably share their stories with you too. If you have the positive birth company online course you get access to their private facebook community and there are SO many positive induction stories on there (I was reading them all after we were advised to induce) so I think it's more about how you personally respond to what they're giving you / side effects You get and everything 😊

*delayed cord clamping not fleshed 😂

Also propess pessary not process 🤦🏼‍♀️ I really should proof read my posts!

@Tropicana1 congratulations again on beautiful Olivia! I absolutely love the positive birthing company's Facebook pages! You sound as though you managed to turn what could have been quite a traumatic birth into a really positive experience for you which I'm thrilled about! Have you got the postpartum pack from the PBC?

@ELW85 Ethan had a great day! He was thoroughly spoilt 😂 and spent most of it asleep! Oh goodness, those dreams must be scary! Try not to let it take over though - keep up with the hypnobirthing! It made such a difference with my mindset and the actual birth.

@PippaPug I swear I lost part of my mucus plug really early on, but read up and it does sort itself out if it's too early for babies to be coming! Definitely call your midwife if you're still concerned though, lovely.

@MrsEG I'm so pleased there's no signs of any clots! That must be a relief... it really won't be long before they're here! 🎉

@Tropicana1 Olivia is beautiful! Are you out of hospital and at home? I love the dog snuggled up to her!!
Thanks so much for sharing - makes me feel a lot happier and more confident about my ELCS! To be honest if both twins stay breech I don’t think they’d even offer an induction anyway, but I was already not really wanting one. It sounds like you had a rough time of it upfront so I’m so pleased to hear the c-section was such a positive experience for you in the end! We’ve also been told we can have delayed cord clamping and skin to skin too - I was worried with twins they wouldn’t do it but as they get both out so quickly (within 5 mins of each other apparently!) it’s fine and they’ll place them both on me and/or DH for a few minutes, all being well and healthy.
How have your first few days of motherhood been?

@MrsR16 Yikes I know. I haven’t packed the babies bag yet for hospital so I’m doing that today! 5 weeks max for us now. My midwife agreed yesterday that bump looked low, but she had a good feel around and said they don’t feel too low in my pelvis but then said ‘so I reckon you easily have a good 3 weeks’ - but I want all 5 haha! I’m not ready!!
Now you’ve been there - any top tips for packing for hospital for the baby?

@MrsEG 5 weeks!! So exciting! As far as packing goes, I didn't use half of what was in my bag! I didn't have time lol but as for baby, I'd definitely recommend nappies (obviously!) and cotton wool rounds rather than normal cotton wool (you'll go through loads trying to wipe the meconium off their bums/anywhere else it ends up!) Ethan had 3 poos while we were in hospital and they were all as sticky as the next! 😂 a few outfits for them - we ended up getting him changed a couple of times. Hats! Hats are super important. We ended up taking 3 and the hospital gave us 2 🤣 i can't remember if you're going to try breastfeeding or not? I've bottle fed since birth and I had to take formula with me. I cheated and took pre-made stuff!

As far as you go, I'd highly recommend disposable knickers - I forgot I packed them and bled right through so ended up throwing a couple of pairs of mine away. 3 weeks later and I'm still wearing the disposable ones although the bleeding's settled right down now which is wonderful! Definitely bottoms that you won't mind getting a bit bloody! I ended up walking out of hospital in PJ bottoms because I only took them and one pair of trackies which I covered in blood 😂

I'm sure I'll think of more useful stuff... Ethan had us up late last night crying inconsolably! Baby brain is in full effect this morning haha!

Sorry I've been MIA - we went away for Christmas and I decided to take a bit of a tech break. It was lovely but I'm excited to catch up with you all

@thumper59 how was Christmas with your little man? Loved his little Father Christmas outfit!

@cupcakesandglitter it's mad how quickly it goes once you get past the 12 week scan, or so I've found. How're you feeling now?

@ELW85 your Christmas sounds lovely. And I'm glad to hear Christmas Eve in M&S was a civilized affair minus the one woman and her basket throwing drama bahahaa. There's always one! Loveeeeee your nursery wall colours too.

@Tropicana1 A huge congratulations - what an exciting Christmas present!!!! So glad to hear you still found the PBC useful - I've read a lot of women on the FB group that say that. Olivia looks like such a cutie and your nursery looks fab! How have you found your first few days of motherhood?

@daisiesandpeonies lovely to hear from you - how're you doing?

@LokiCat how was your trip? That is one epic giraffe!

@MrsEG Sorry to read about your hospital drama - you won't forget this Christmas in a hurry, but so glad you don't have any clots. Can't believe you're 32 weeks tomorrow, that's just incredible. Netflixing and napping is going to be my mat leave motto hahaa!

@MrsR16 what a gorgeous Christmas pudding! How was your first Christmas as a mum?

@GemmaJen lovely to hear from you - what a cutie!

All good here - I'm 34 weeks on Monday and starting to feel really, really cumbersome. I slept really well while we were away though which was lovely. Just what I was after really, a week of relaxing, good sleep and lovely food/company. I'm back to work on the 2nd and going to start slowing things down ready to start mat leave the last week of Jan - DD is Feb 10th. Getting real now! Not least because I bought his/her Christmas outfit for next year in the Next sales . Have a lovely evening all x

@purplefig good for you taking a break! 😊 thank you - I think he's rather beautiful! 😍 it was lovely if a bit strange! Next year I think will be fantastic as Ethan will be all excited but not have any idea why he's so excited! Haha! Are you hoping to get very close to due date or are you all ready for baby to be here? I was getting to that point...

Hi @purplefig lovely to hear from you. Glad you've had a nice break.

@MrsEG random one what does PGP feel like? I've always had iffy hips get cramp like feelings in particularly the right but both today have been so sore.

DH bought us tickets for the nutcracker at the royal Albert hall for Christmas so we had a date night tonight! I just love the ballet and the music of the nutcracker ❤️
20 week scan in a few days 😱

Hope everyone has had a lovely day x

@MrsR16 Thank you! They actually mentioned at NCT about cotton wool and water for those early days nappy changes so I’ll grab some this week! We’ve got some hats that were gifted to us but they just look enormous to me, even though they say newborn!! I’ve also got some Tena disposable knickers ready! Oh gosh, hope the bleeding settles for you soon - perhaps I’ll steal some of DHs old sweatpants for hospital ha!
I hope Ethan (and you!) are doing a bit better now!

@purplefig Glad you had such a lovely break, and lots of sleep!! The wind down is officially on now! Ah we got a few bits from Next yesterday! Gosh Feb 10th, it really will be here before you know it! How are you feeling?

@MrsH497 My PGP is very localised to my pelvis - initially it felt like I’d been kicked hard in the vagina! These days it’s a constant pain from my lower back around to my pelvis and in to my upper thighs, and it’s much much worse when sleeping and first thing in the morning - I have to do a bit of shuffling to get moving! Mention it to your midwife or GP as they should be able to refer you for physio.
Ahh hope you enjoyed the Nutcracker!

Ladies; I’m done in. If these babies stay settled in there I’m in for a long 5 weeks! Posting a pic of my ankles for sheer pity haha. My PGP is so bad now I can’t walk more than 10 mins (don’t think the swelling in my legs is helping!) I have heartburn every day. I don’t sleep longer than 2 hours max before being woken either by the pain or needing to pee. I know it’ll all be so worth it, and in a few weeks this will all be a distant memory - but I broke and had a big cry last night about it. I think the sleep deprivation is making it all seem so much worse than it actually is!!

@MrsEG yes we were let out Friday lunch time 😊 haha the puppy is obsessed with her. Have to keep her a bit quiet to begin with as she tried to boop her but once she settles she'll just lay beside me while I feed. My old boy didn't even notice her for a good day 😂 and now really only comes over to investigate when she makes noise. I'm pleased with how they've both done so far

@purplefig the first few days have been amazing! I'm tired and my nipples are BEYOND sore, but she's so worth it! She's taken to breastfeeding really well but I don't think I've been making sure enough Areola gets ok with the nipple particularly on one side which has made me quite sore. I've ordered some breast shields off amazon to try for a day or so to give me a bit of respite / might give hand pumping a go for a feed or two on the sore side just to let that nipple heal a bit! But other than that I actually really enjoy the breastfeeding experience so far it's a really lovely bonding moment I'm finding! She goes about 3-4 hours between feeds which is great, although the first two nights she was cluster feeding to try to get my milk supply sorted! Just get prepped in advance with lots of drinks at the bedside!

@MrsEG your foot!!! You poor poor thing!! Wish I could offer any words of support that would actually help you, but Jesus I feel for you -
You're doing amazingly well to keep upbeat and positive. Come on babies come a bit earlier and help your mum out 😂

Hi ladies. I just realised I never updated when I gave birth, over 3 months ago, oops! Think I'm 2 threads behind. Glad to see lots of you are still doing well!

I gave birth on 6th September (was due 30th Aug) to a little girl, Beatrix. She was 7lb 13oz. We had a bit of a nightmare labour - ended up being ambulanced from the midwife led centre to the main hospital, then in theatre for a forceps deliver with episiotomy and 3rd degree tear. Beatrix completely healthy though :)

We're doing really well - it doesn't feel like nearly 4 months have passed!!

Pictures of when she was born, and now :)

Morning Ladies! Just passing by!

Loving all these little bubba pics - making me excited!

Lovely to see how close some of you are now too! Time flies! I'm 24 weeks now so just patiently waiting!...impatiently 😂

@MrsEG that foot looks so sore! Bless you

Oh @EltzBee what a beauty!
@MrsEG you poor thing looks sore and uncomfy as well. Thank you for the advice I'll talk to my midwife and see what she says.

@MrsR16 yeah just think you'll have a one-year-old next Christmas - that'll be outrageously exciting!! I'm excited to meet them, but not ready just yet...I'm going through the PBC pack again, just finished NCT and we've only just finalised the main baby bits like car seat etc. Now I'm looking forward to winding down and relaxing before they arrive. That said, on the days where my back is really bad I might feel otherwise 🤣

@MrsH497 what a fabulous Christmas present - how was it? Congrats on twenty weeks - you're halfway!! Huge milestone! Enjoy your scan - I found it incredible how much they'd grown / extra details from the 12 week scan. Will you find out the sex?

@MrsEG oh mate, you are more than entitled to cry and moan and complain as much as you want. You've had such a bloody time of it. Anyone would struggle to stay cheerful going through all that, you're an absolute trooper. I'm so, soooo glad you're on mat leave now. Lots of Netflix and dog snuggles! I had a big cry last night over burning dinner👍🏼 and then at my bump getting in the way 🤣. Had a cry today because DH asked me to be quiet while he was on the phone 😳. You're going through so much physical stuff AND the raging hormones and emotions of pregnancy. It's a wild ride and you are doing excellently!

@Tropicana1 she's adorable (as are the pups). So glad to hear you're getting on well and enjoying the breastfeeding journey for the most part. FWIW I follow motherkind on Instagram, she's just had her second and swears by nipple shields. great advice about getting prepped before - I've got a water bottle with inbuilt straw (ready for labour too!) and will be stocking up on portable snacks.

@EltzBee lovely to hear from you and so glad all is OK. I love the name Beatrix - what a cutie! How're you healing and feeling after that labour?

Well we've just finished our last NCT class (it got postponed). Think once the new year rolls around it's going to feel really real! Hope you guys have all got a lovely Sunday planned. X

@purplefig it was amazing we went into London we were going to go to winter wonderland for a walk round but the queue was ridiculous so abandoned that and had an early dinner instead. Nutcracker is my favourite so Ioved it!
We aren't planning on finding out the sex! Little surprise if we can hold out. How long is the scan normally for 20 weeks?

@MrsH497 ahh that sounds amazing! I've only been to winter wonderland once before, but fwiw I thought it was hugely overrated - could barely move it was so busy! Ballet and dinner sounds way nicer 👌🏼

Our 20 week scan was really straightforward so only took about 40 mins. It's not uncommon for them to get you to leave the room and try to get the baby to move position if they can't see everything clearly though. Also our sonographer said there's usually at least one person per clinic he has to get back in for a scan because the baby won't budge positions. Don't forget some change if you want to buy a print of the scan! Oh and if you don't want to know the sex it's also worth mentioning straight away and they'll tell you when to look away (as sometimes, especially with boys, it's really obvious).

Thank you @purplefig I'll let my boss know it may not be a quick appointment then! Our appointment time is 9:15 but last time they were an hour over so I'm not optimistic of being seen on time!
Assuming usual full bladder but not to point of being uncomfortable?