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?

@pippapug I know, they aren't the most beautiful especially when they're so raw and prominent - honestly I find people don't admit to the bad stuff in pregnancy but are soooo quick to boast about how great it was and how they didn't gain weight/stretch marks, didn't get sick or tired etc etc etc. They are perfectly normal and I promise you once they've faded they won't bother you. I saw today I have silver ones on both of my hips that I never realised I had! Definitely weren't there pre pregnancy but I just smiled this morning thinking that I can't believe how much my body is adapting for this wriggly monkey 😂 re the c section, don't apologise!!! I have a brain problem that the consultants and midwives said would basically mean I can't have a natural birth and tried at every appointment to just have a c section (my neurosurgeon okayed next having a natural birth over a year ago!!!) but I felt really pressured. Regardless of how you give birth, you shouldn't be pushed into it without having looked into what you want yourself and having had a proper conversation about it. I'd maybe try and put your foot down a bit more and make it clear you want to properly think about what's best for you - it's a shame about the water birth etc BUT there's no reason why you still can't be comfortable in every way possible!!! It's not easy but I'm sure you'll figure it out 💕

@mrseg it definitely was, we then had a two hour drive home 🤦🏻‍♀️ ahhh that's so exciting!!! I bet you can't wait until it's complete, soon you'll have both babies in there too 🥰

@purplefig 27 weeks today wahooooo!! One more to go until third trimester, I cannot wait!! It's honestly flying by now! 😂 the good thing is, you can trial everything you've made before you've perfected the batch cooked one 😅

Oh @elw85 so sorry you had to go through with that 🙁 definitely report her!!! I'm glad they've got you in for a growth scan so quickly, I'm sure everything is okay and she did just plot is wrong but at least you'll have peace of mind on Monday. 💕

Ooh @mrseg I hope things have settled down a bit?! Could you maybe call MAU just to let them know just in case? Hopefully it's Braxton Hicks and you get to keep the boys in a little longer but let us know!! Thinking of you x

Hey all,

Been pretty pants on here once again 🙈

@ELW85 that midwife sounds like a nightmare, I can't believe how dismissive she was of you either. It's good the hospital listened though and are being supportive.

@MrsH497 sorry to hear about your grandpa, is he doing ok?

On the topic of stretch marks, I'm covered in them already. I grew so quickly as a teen that I've got them everywhere. Legs, upper arms, boobs, belly. They do fade and only I probably really notice them. I think that's made it easier to accept more during pregnancy but I'm still very much struggling mentally with my body changing. My mum sent me a photo she took of me new years eve and I can't stand to look at how large I look. I'm a big girl anyway but I look extra round right now.

Also whilst I'm here at silly o clock, does anyone have any pregnancy safe sore throat remedies? I've got that "I've got a cold coming and feel like I've been hit by a bus feeling " just in time for the weekend 😣

@PippaPug I just wanted to comment on a couple of things you said about c sections.... it really wasn't what I wanted either, I wanted the whole natural, no pain meds, water birth thing too. But I had an emergency c section. And it really wasn't as awful as I would have expected! My lovely anaesthetist sat by my head and talked me through everything the surgeon was doing, and I had delayed cord clamping then immediate skin to skin, and I saw the baby be lifted from my belly (I have a photo too!).

I really hadn't wanted an epidural, as the thought of being numb and paralysed really freaked me out, but it wore off so quickly that as soon as I was out of theater I was starting to get some movement back and I was so preoccupied with my baby that I honestly didn't care that I couldn't move properly. My epidural went very smoothly, I had no side effects and have no back pain now. Recovery wise, I recovered significantly faster than some friends of mine who had a natural delivery, I didn't experience any significant pain and all in all the recovery was much easier than I expected.
I plan to have another baby in a couple of years and I am pretty sure at this point that I will choose to have an elective c section.

Morning all - cramps have subsided a little this morning! I don’t know what it is. I know twin 2 has spun and is now head down so I wonder if it’s the extra pressure down there at the moment, coupled with the PGP. It was quite painful last night, but this morning it’s all but gone. Will keep an eye on it!

@Larrydavid Ha me and DH were talking about this last night; when did our Friday nights become such a big deal just because we made it to the cinema?! And I tell ya, it was a challenge haha! There’s only an escalator up at our cinema, and stairs down - my god it was like getting down a mountain!

@cupcakesandglitter Thanks lovely, it’s settled down and isn’t as painful this morning. I’m hoping it was a one off - but will be moving my hospital bags downstairs today just in case!

@Lemonysherbet I’m on the other end of a bad cold at the moment and there’s bugger all they’ll give you for it, not so much as a strepsil! I got through on hot honey and lemon water and just bags of boiled sweets to suck on!

Lovely to hear from you @stormtrooperjulian :) Hope all is going well! @PippaPug to echo the above also, there’s no guarantee of a quicker recovery with a natural birth - my sister had a bad tear that got infected and she ended up in hospital for 5 days; another friend ended up with a forceps delivery and still 2 years on has problems with the scar tissue/healing down below. I know you’ve been treated really poorly at your hospital in feeling forced in to one option that you never wanted and I really sympathise there as I think it’s awful no one has sat with you to listen to what you want, and explained exactly what you can and can’t do and why. I really think you should try and raise this with someone as it feels very unfair and I think this could be why it leaves you feeling so upset? But also, try and remember no one can ever really have a birth ‘plan’ - even the most straightforward of pregnancies can end up with emergency sections for all manner of reasons. I’ve tried to research c-sections to ensure I feel very calm and happy with that as an option on the day, so I am not feeling worried about it - as @stormtrooperjulian says the recovery isn’t as bad as you would think and especially with an elective section as you have the full pre-op etc.
I hope you’re feeling a little better about it all today after a good nights sleep - if you’re at all interested I can share some of the links on sections that I found and saved that really made me feel a lot calmer about them. They may alleviate some of the worries you listed x

Morning all

@MrsEG - pleased that things have settled down for you. Of everything I’ve read, the BH contractions subside after moving for a bit but actual contractions just keep going. I’m sure you already know that, but I thought I’d try and be reassuring!

@cupcakesandglitter @Larrydavid @Lemonysherbet - thank you ladies. I’m trying to feel better about it today but I probably won’t get it out of my head until Monday.
I’ve emailed the hospital the community midwife is based out of to ask about their complaints procedure. Nobody should have to put up with that.

DH and I have had a lovely chilled morning together and are heading to town soon. The baby is kicking away so fingers crossed everything is absolutely fine and Monday just confirms it.
Have a lovely Saturday, all!

Hi ladies. Thank you for the messages. Grandpa was let home last night got to see cardiology Monday morning for a bit of an irregular heartbeat but no heart attack, blood pressure was bit low but otherwise pretty good health! Had a good cry after work but feeling ok today.

@MrsEG hope your pains are ok
@stormtrooperjulian lovely to hear from you. Something I am concentrating on is no plan is likely to actually go to plan! As long as me and baby are safe that's what matters

Thanks ladies you are the best

Hi ladies, just popped on to see how everyone is 🙂

@MrsEG, hope you're doing OK and will be keeping an eye out on here for when your twins arrive! Xx

@MrsH497, glad your grandad is home from hospital xxx

@pippapug, just to echo @stormtrooperjulian, I had a c section because of Joe's awkward position and it was honestly fine! The worst part for me was feeling very shaky in my top half for about 30 mins after, but otherwise all OK and my recovery is going really well. Xx

Ladies don't forget to join the Next Thread once your babies arrive 🙂

Some pics of Joe attached, he was most unsettled yesterday but had a day on the sofa with lots of skin to skin, feeds and cuddles today and he seems much better!

@mrsh497 glad he's doing better :)

@Fivebyfive2 oh isn't Joe amazing. How are you feeling overall?

Its just hit me that so many of the group have had their babies now, and hardly any have joined the group. Looks like it's gonna be @LokiCat, me and @Larrydavid left in a few months 🤣

Ahh @MrsEG so glad it's settled! Has it happened again today or have you been okay?

@elw85 so glad little one is kicking as normal today, hope you've enjoyed your day with DH and are feeling more chilled out?

@flapjackered he's beautiful!! I'm following the other thread, glad he's been better today x

As promised ladies here's the nursery pics!! It's finally finished (bar a name plaque for her, a couple of frames and a mobile that my mum is making) we're in love with it!! I'm sat in the nursing chair now just dreaming about her 🥰

Oops here's a cot pic too - mattress should be delivered over the next couple of days, and the toys will be taken out when she's in there 😊

@MrsEG just seen your sore throat remedy suggestion, I'll give that a try tomorrow, thanks! This bug is making me a bit out of it!

@lemonysherbert, I was checking on the ttc thread today funnily enough and there aren't many names I recognised! Seems to have gotten quieter. Soon everyone on this thread will be on the post baby one, swapping sleep deprived stories and baby pics 🙂 We're doing well, today I discovered Joe likes it when I sing to him (at least someone finally appreciates my out of tune/key singing 😂) He's asleep on me atm, I need to go into stealth mode to put him in his basket without him realising!

@cupcakesandglitter, love the nursery pics, it looks stunning! Xx

@fivebyfive2 sorry I've just seen I've tagged flapjackered instead of you in my message below! So sorry 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ Thankyou!! Hard work but I can breathe now that it's done 😂 x

@ELW85 To be honest it didn’t feel like either - it’s a dull ache that’s constant but only at night (it happened again yesterday) across my pelvis and upper thighs. It makes my bump feel so heavy that I feel like I have to lift it up! I’ll mention it at the hospital this week but I’m thinking Now’s the time to just get my feet up!! Good luck tomorrow but I’m so sure you won’t need it and you’ve just had a terrible experience with that midwife - I’m sure baby will be just fine and how fun to see him again. Growth scans are fab they’re really detailed!

@MrsH497 Glad to hear your grandpa is home that must have been a shock for you! Hope all is well with him now.

@Fivebyfive2 Joe looks gorgeous! How is he getting on? I’m doing okay thanks lovely just getting really uncomfortable now and can’t wait for them to be here!

@cupcakesandglitter It did happen again last night - part of me thinks as it’s happening late in the day maybe it’s just gravity and it’s all the weight of the twins weighing heavy on my pelvis! Your nursery is absolutely beautiful! What a fantastic job you’ve done with it!

@Lemonysherbet So sorry to hear you’re poorly too! Yep give it a go and also just rest, lots of sleep and naps where you can!

Happy Sunday everyone! My legs are super swollen again this weekend so going to attempt a very little slow waddle with DH and the dog this morning - the plan is to head to a park near us so I can walk the 15 mins to the coffee shop and then just set up camp there while DH does the proper dog walk and then come back and pick me up - I’m like someone’s nan!!! Then home for some serious food prepping - the online food shop has just arrived so I’ve got stews and chillis to crack on with!

Morning all

@MrsEG - sorry to hear it was back again last night! It definitely does sound like just the weight that your body is having to carry. You’re doing a wonderful job though, never forget that!
The dog walk drop off sounds fun to be fair 😀 but if fresh air and a chill; perfect!
Thank you for the positive words for tomorrow. I’ve woken up really worried again though. I’m so scared that he’s not alright. I can’t shake it.

@MrsH497 - really pleased your Grandad is alright, I’m sure that’s a huge relief!

@Fivebyfive2 - Joe is absolutely adorable! I hope you’re doing well?

@cupcakesandglitter - the nursery looks great! It’s lovely to have it done, isn’t it? Thank you, I was feeling better yesterday but today I feel awful again. I would do anything to know he’s alright.

After doing better yesterday, I feel like I’m back to square one today.
I feel so worried about tomorrow, and what it means if he’s not growing as he should.
Sorry guys, I know I should be trying to stay optimistic, but it’s really hard.

@ELW85 it’s totally understandable after the ordeal you’ve had and if you’re anything like me you’ve probably been googling against your better judgement! Scanxiety is always horrible as well - you just desperately want everything to be okay.
If it helps in any way, I am on a lot of twin forums now and lots of twins grow small or one will be much smaller than the other (due to space). It sounds like if that is the case (you have a small baby) they just monitor a bit more carefully and I’ve seen some people talk about taking steroids.
But like I say - I really hope that your midwife has just been as useless as she sounds and that tomorrow everything looks great :)

Thank you, @MrsEG.
I’ve definitely been Googling and I know I shouldn’t have, but I can’t help myself!
If we could fast forward to tomorrow at 6 and everything is fine and the conclusion is that the midwife is an idiot, that would be fantastic!!
I’ve got a feeling that this is going to be a case of monitoring him over the coming weeks (which I’d rather have than not) but again, if the scan is great tomorrow and it’s not necessary, then even better.
Sorry for going on about it. I just don’t feel like I can feel happy until this is sorted.

Happy new year everyone!

Sorry I've been totally AWOL, deleted the app as a way to not procrastinate too much! Things are as mental as ever at my end, still doing flat renovations and applying for a consultant post at the moment. If I get shortlisted I'll be 36 weeks at my interview 😂😂😂

I was supposed to start antenatal classes on Friday but I was the only one in the class, so has been delayed until 31st Jan (35 weeks!). Hopefully not too late!!

We had a lovely quiet Xmas away in a cottage up north, so lovely to just be the 2 of us this year. And it's DH's bday on Xmas eve so was nice to make a fuss of him too.

My main complaint about life at the mo is with work. I unfortunately change hospitals tomorrow and the rota master in the new place is being extremely unaccommodating with my rota. I've been emailing and speaking to him in person since Mid-November about it. I'm rota'd to work Monday to wed 8-5 then Fri to Sun 8-8:30. A total of 64.5 hours!!! He's unwilling to change it at all so I've got a GP appointment tomorrow and hoping they'll do me a fit note to take me off all on calls and limit hours to 40/week. It's not the sort of additional stress I need right now!!

We had an appointment at JohnLewis yesterday to go through what we need to buy etc which was really useful. So I've made a wee wish list now. We're very luck in Scotland that we get a baby box with tons of stuff in it so really only need to get big stuff and some clothes. I'll post a pic of the contents.

@MrsEG hope your doing well, so impressed you're still getting to cinema despite the pain you're in!

@cupcakesandglitter lovely nursery! Ours is still a kitchen at the moment 🙈😂😂

@PippaPug so sorry for the treatment you've had so far. If it's of any reassurance, I'd have absolutely no concerns about getting and epidural or spinal anaesthetic (in fact if possible I would chose these over a general anaesthetic for any operation). Have a look at www.labourpains.com for unbiased info about all modes of analgesia. Incidentally there is zero evidence that epidurals cause back pain - lots of studies into this - carrying babies for 9 months and pushing them out cause long term back pain. I really hope you come to an agreement with them. If both babies are head down and healthy there's no good reason you can't go for a vaginal delivery. As someone up thread said, if you go to theatre the anaesthetis will really look after you and talk and explain to you as much or as little as you'd like (that's what me and all my colleagues do). If twin one is not head down then a section is the only safe option. Thinking of you 💕

@ELW85 hope scan all goes well tomorrow. So easy to get down a google wormhole! I ended up with extra scan at 28 weeks because of reduced movements and I was the same (despite my medical degree😂)

@Fivebyfive2 Joe is gorgeous! Hope you're both well

@MrsH497 glad your grandad is ok!

@Lemonysherbet sorry you're unwell. I swear by hot toddy's without the whisky!

If I've missed any babies huge huge congratulations!!! And a pic of me and my Xmas pudding xxx

@ELW85 You won’t be able to relax until you’ve had that scan and that’s totally understandable - I’m a little nervous about our growth scan on weds given the reading from twin 2s umbilical cord last week even though the doctors have already told me they aren’t concerned. The nerves are quickly kicking in! You just get to that point where all you want is for them to be healthy and okay; I’m seriously at the stage now where I just want them here - I’m done, I wish I could click my fingers and skip 4 weeks and they are here safe and well! Good luck tomorrow and keep us all posted. Have a nice day today and try and put it to the back of your mind, with the knowledge tomorrow you’ll know for sure x

@LikeTheFruit You look fabulous!! That baby box looks amazing, how awesome you get that - all I’ve been given was a cardboard box from Lidl that had some baby wipes in it!! Those shifts sound ridiculous - I hope the GP gets you sorted with that fit note as that’s crazy hours!! On my NCT course there was a girl who started at 35 weeks - we finished up the week before christmas and she is due tomorrow!
Really fab website link there too - there was actually an anaesthetist on our NCT course (one of the husbands) and I found him extremely helpful - he said very similar to you, he wouldn’t hesitate to give his own wife an epidural and that a big part of his job would just be to chat to you while it’s all going on! I do tend to get a bit nervy in hospital situations so I loved the idea of that - he said you’ll literally chat about anything from what’s happening to what you fancy for lunch later that day!

Happy Sunday everyone! Just catching up on the thread.

@ELW85 urghhhh sorry to hear about your experience with that midwife, it makes you wonder what drew her to midwifery in the first place. Well done on checking with the hospital and getting the ball rolling of your own volition. Fingers crossed the scan goes well tomorrow lovely. Like everyone else said, measurements can be pretty vague but I totally understand why you're stressed out with it and won't be able to relax until you know. Sending you big hugs.

@LikeTheFruit happy new year! All sounds very full on your end, I don't blame you for taking a break. Those hours are outrageous, I hope you can bring them down. Love the baby box concept, complete with condoms 🤣👌🏼

@MrsH497 great news about your grandad 💕

@MrsEG how was your dog walk and batch cooking session?

@cupcakesandglitter gorgeous nursery! Where are the wall shelves from? Quite fancy popping a few up for the most aesthetic books 🤣

@Lemonysherbet yes it's true actually, there haven't been any new faces for ages. I do check the TTC thread every now and then too, but don't really recognise many on there.

@Fivebyfive2 Joe is so sweet!! 😍

@PippaPug out of interest, do you know why they are so insistent on a c section? If the babies are head down and no other complications I don't understand why you can't try for a natural birth? Probably a silly comparison but I remember seeing two different natural twin births on One Born and despite the shows penchant for the dramatic, they both went totally smoothly. I get that c-sections are necessary in certain circumstances and also can be life saving, but you're not saying you don't want one full stop you're just saying you'd prefer to try naturally first if viable and that is a totally valid and fair way to feel. Can you get a second opinion? If your hospital doesn't have the right provisions to support you in your preferences, could you change hospitals? A friend of mine did that, though for different reasons, and it wasn't a huge hassle.

Ladies - when did you go on mat leave or when are you planning on?

I'm 35 weeks tomorrow and although I feel pretty good, I'm also starting to get bloody shattered. I was planning on going until 38 weeks, but I'm seriously considering bringing it down to 36. Not a hassle to adjust as I'm self employed. I just want some time to get organised and focus on relaxing before they arrive.

I can't shake the internal feeling of being lazy and part of me feels like I should give up until the government confirm my maternity allowance. But they themselves had said that won't be until my due date 🙃 X

*shouldn't give up 🙄

Thankyou @mrseg 😊 oh no, maybe try and get into bed a little earlier to see if taking the pressure off it might help?

Thanks @elw85 such a relief! Sorry to hear you don't feel great again today - don't apologise again all, it's totally understandable! On the plus side, you don't have long to wait now and you'll have more answers tomorrow but I can imagine how frustrating it is to even be in this situation in the first place!! Sending hugs, I'm sure your little one is doing fine 🥰

Thankyou @Likethefruit good to have you back!! Super lucky to have that baby box, it looks so useful and good to have a good list too! Fx you get the interview x

Thanks @purplefig they're from IKEA 😊 I can't wait to keep adding to the book collection 😂 I start Mat leave at week 35, only because I'm using a month's A/L beforehand so technically starts on week 39! I'd definitely bring it forward if you're feeling a little run down - my thinking is I'd rather be doing nothing and rest as much as I can before the little one is here, instead of not feeling great and then having a newborn! X

Afternoon all

Thank you for the words of encouragement. I’m feeling a bit better now, but I totally agree that I won’t feel ok until after the scan tomorrow.
Your lovely words are certainly helping me through though, so thank you all so much ❤️

@LikeTheFruit - you look fantastic!! Sorry that the new rota manager isn’t being very helpful. Fingers crossed you get the new role and then you don’t have to deal with them anymore!

@MrsEG - I couldn’t agree with you more! You go through the bargaining thing in your head don’t you, where you’d give anything for them just to be ok.
I know Wednesday will go brilliantly for you; it’s fantastic that the docs have already said they aren’t concerned. It’ll be lovely for you to see them again, and get some reassurance.
Let’s get each other through this!
And I also wish I could fast forward to little one being here and being happy and healthy.

@purplefig - thank you so much for your kind words, and hugs right back at you!
You’re by no means lazy; it’s a tiring business growing a baby! I’m not planning on going off until 38 weeks but I wouldn’t be surprised if that changes as I get closer to my EDD.
You’ve got to listen to yourself and make sure you’re doing what’s right for you, so when little one is here you can enjoy it all, having had a nice break! X

I hope everyone has had a lovely Sunday? DH has suggested we book some time off together before the baby arrives so I’ll be looking for good weeks/long weekends to take. I’m excited for it already!

@cupcakesandglitter - crosspost! Thanks my lovely. I’m feeling a little better but my head definitely won’t be in the game until after the scan!

@ELW85 glad you're feeling a bit better 💕 what time is your scan? What a lovely suggestion from your DH - any ideas on where? Yeah I was keen to work as late as possible but I'm just not feeling it after Christmas - suddenly soooo tired and everything is more effort than even a few weeks ago. Think I've decided to go with 36 weeks. X