February 2020 mums how prepared are you!?

[Lou2120]

Hey February mum's just wondering how your all doing preparing for your new arrivals?

Do you have everything you need yet?
Are things all set up and ready to go?

Love to hear from you all....

So glad to read darling Noah is doing so well! I hope the MRI result comes back soon for you.

I'm 36wks now. I definitely lost my mucus plug last weekend but nothing since. I know often people say it means nothing/can grow back/can take weeks from then. Still dreaming of magic spontaneous delivery at 37/38 though!!

Went for my midwife appointment today. All good. Booked in for 39 weeks for a sweep if I don't go before then myself.

@GoodshipSerenity when do you get the mri results? Really pleased to hear naoh is doing so well. Must be so hard going between home and the hospital. Do you live close by?

Its my last day at work today! It's annoying as I want to enjoy it but we've got some important people coming in so everyone is really stressed out and I don't think it's going to be a very good day. My colleagues have organised a bit of a leaving do for me tonight so I'm going to have to sneak in a nap at some point so I can last the night!

Its all starting to feel a bit real now. I'm quite nervous!

@Mol5 and @CupCupGoose the MRI results are back and Noah has some white matter changes which may be connected to the other physical issues, in which case it is more likely that there are underlying genetic problems, but they may be related to the breathing problems at birth. Either way Noah is currently behaving as a baby should and so we are going to take a watch and wait approach. We are going to be followed up as an outpatient in June.
We are around 3 miles from the hospital but it can take up to an hour to get there as I don't drive, so relying on public transport.
I hope that you had a good day at work @CupCupGoose and it wasn't too stressful, enjoy your night and look forward to welcoming your little one. Do you know if you are having a boy or girl?

@tinatsarina how do you feel about having the sweep booked in?

@CupCupGoose hope you have fun tonight. I finished work the other week but it was supposed to be this week but I couldn't keep going.
@GoodShipSerenity I feel ok about it. I never had one with my son as I went myself at 38 weeks so hopefully I won't need it but you never know with babies.

@tinatsarina I hope this one follows a similar path for you

@GoodshipSerenity did you know about potential genetic problems while you were pregnant? Glad to hear noah is acting like a baby should, I assume that is a good sign? Sorry if that is a stupid question! Sounds stressful having to rely on public transport especially with already having a ds1. Do you have much support?

My last day at work went well. I did nearly cry though! Mad how emotional I am at the moment. My leaving do turned out to be a surprise baby shower, it was so lovely and I had a realy good night.

I've got a sweep booked for Tuesday when I'll be 38+1. I'm not sure whether to cancel or not. I don't think it will work as even when I was overdue with DC2, I had 4 sweeps that didn't work and dc1&2 were 12 and 13 days late. Plus even if it does work this time, I'd like at least a weeks holiday before the baby gets here!

@CupCupGoose sorry, yes acting like a baby should is a good sign and the neurologist said that if we hadn't done the brain scan we may never have known that there is changes in the brain.
As for the genetics, we found out about the cleft lif and palate and that Noah was not opening his hands at my anomaly scan at 21 weeks, so we chose to have an amniocentesis which came back clear. As DS1 is a complex child and a lot of hard work, if the amnio had shown anything we would have chosen to have a termination, as it would hugely negatively impact DS1 to have another disabled/complex child in our family and we didn't think we would be able to cope. In any event the amnio was clear and the lack of hand opening was put down to a stubborn baby. During further appointments we knew that Noah was a small baby but there were no other factors like poor blood flow or high blood pressure to explain it. What we didn't expect was Noah's lungs to be immature for a term baby, overlapping toes, thumbs closed across the palms, brain changes and hypospadios. And the most likely cause for so many physical markers is a genetic condition, we have given permission for full genetic testing so we are waiting for Noah's entire DNA to be unravelled and examined.
Luckily we have fantastic friends around to offer support.

@GoodshipSerenity I'm glad you've got lots of supportive friends to help you. Giving birth is such an emotion time anyway without all the extra worry you've got going on. Do you know how long the dna unravelling/testing will take? I hope you get some answers soon. And of course please feel free to ignore any of my questions, I hope you don't think I'm being nosey! Has ds1 met noah yet? Is he pleased to be a big brother?

@CupCupGoose from memory the DNA testing will take a couple of weeks. Don't worry about your questions, it's nice to talk honestly and not need to be 'fine' all the time. Like I would be letting people down if I told them that if I had the information I have now maybe 4-5 months ago I would have not hesitated to terminate, and that what I wished for most was not a boy or girl but to have a child that wasn't hit by the shitty health/disability stick. Or that as much as I owe to DS1 to keep things normal, I would honestly be at the hospital from the moment I wake to the moment I sleep if I could be. But instead I'm split between seeing to DS1in the morning, doing the nursery run, spending maybe 6 hours a day with Noah and rushing home to do bath and bedtime before the whole thing starts again the next day.
DS1 hasn't met Noah yet as DS1 has had a cold. There is some understanding that baby has arrived but with a 2 year developmental delay it's hard to assess how much is truly understood

@GoodshipSerenity no judgement here. You are going through a rough time and I'm glad you have somewhere to be honest about how you're feeling. How are you doing physically? Are you recovering from the birth okay? The wait for the dna results must be hard, I hope they come through ASAP for you.

I've been feeling loads of pressure and tightenings in the last 2 hours. Nothing painful or regular so it's probably nothing. I just feel weird!

@GoodShipSerenity no judgement here either x My DD (who is pg) has health issues/disabilities (hence I post here and she doesn't) & I remember well, having to split myself between my children as she was in the hospital, more than she was at home. Always got an ear if you need to sound off

I hope little Noah is continuing to do well and that you're managing to get enough time between your little ones x

@CupCupGoose How are the niggles? Hope all is well with you x

DD had her growth scan this morning and it seems that DGS2 has started to drop off his chart 😢 so the consultant has booked her for induction for next Saturday, which is her due date. I think there is an issue with the flow in his cord, even though at the moment, it's still within normal limits, it's right at the bottom. She has been told to keep an eye on movements and if she has any niggles or worries, to go straight in. Worries me a bit, but I guess he's still within normal limits and if they were that concerned, I presume they would have kept her in today? She's still in the middle of moving and DGS1 is poorly, so it's all go here!!

It's ever so quiet lately on this thread, I hope everyone is ok x

I'm 37 + 3 and since thursday I think I'm in the latent phase of labour... can be painful for hrs then just tight. I'm restless and want things to speed up now. My last growth scan pointed to blood flow problems in the cord as well. Am due another scan next Friday if labour doesn't start properly. I've been told it could jump to active phase quite quickly as it's my second but we'll see. Very uncomfortable now lol

@Sushirolls sorry to hear about about your dd sounds like she's got a lot on at the moment. At least she has you as you sound so supportive. Sorry to hear dgs2 growth has slowed, I'm sure they would have kept her in or induced her ect if they were seriously worried but I can imagine it's still hard not to. Please keep us updated!

Nothing came of my tightenings, I've been getting them every evening. I've noticed it's when I'm cooking dinner and washing the dishes that I get them. It's hard not to over think every twinge at this stage!

@Lcw29 is this your first? Have they offered you a sweep or anything to get you going?

@CupCupGoose it's my second. They wont offer a sweep until I'm overdue I don't think. I'm going for a walk today as I feel something us happening just dont know what. Youd think I would know from last time lol

I'm getting tightenings throughout the day for 2 days so will see

@CupCupGoose and @Sushirolls I feel awful saying that because now Noah is here I love the very bones of him but I know the future is going to be hard. Noah was discharged from hospital on Thursday and he has slotted right in, so far he seems to be a chilled out baby. However, we have left hospital with no fewer than 8 referrals for community and outpatient teams, and the feeding tube is still in place to ensure enough milk is taken. Luckily I have recovered well from the birth, despite my established labour being fast (5cm to baby in 1hr 30) I came away with only a few grazes, was walking the hospital within 3 hours and was sitting in bed crossed legged the next morning.

@Lcw29 and @CupCupGoose I hope the tightenings come to something soon for you both and that it is nice and straightforward too.

@CupCupGoose Hopefully, the niggles will soon turn into something stronger, and you'll soon have your LO in your arms When is your due date? X

DD's move was unexpected and quite quick! So we've been trying to get the house decorated, carpeted etc She needs a new boiler, so she's still at home with me for now. I'm going to really miss her & DGS1 as they've always lived with us. Luckily, they're only round the corner and I take my DGS to classes etc as it's too much socially for DD but obviously, she doesn't want him to miss out. So thankfully, I will still see him regularly every week 💞 Thank you for your kind words xo

@GoodShipSerenity Fantastic news that Noah is now home! 🎉 I hope you're having a lovely weekend with your little family x I am going to share a poem with you, that sometimes helps. You may already be familiar with it 💖

@Lcw29 Good luck!! I hope things soon progress for you xo

Sorry @GoodShipSerenity I'm a dingbat and forgot to attach the poem 🤦‍♀️ x

Well I went in last night as had reduced movement for 6th time. Baby is fine as far as they can tell but the doctor would have induced me if it wasn't for the fact I have an appointment next friday for a scan and to see my consultant. It seems likely I'll be induced next week though.
I'm actually really scared now. My last birth was back to back and long. But I have no idea what to expect being induced....

@GoodshipSerenity So so pleased to hear noah is home! I'm pleased you've physically recovered well too. Things must be slightly easier now that you haven't got an hours journey to the hospital and back every day.

@Sushirolls you sound like such a caring mum/grandparent!

@Lcw29 I'm surprised that after 6 times of reduced movements they haven't induced you. Hope you are okay and the appointment goes well on Friday.

I've been trying to keep busy but I'm so restless. I was supposed to meet my friend today but we've had really bad flooding so she couldn't make it so I've been stuck in all morning with too much time to over think all the niggles I'm getting.

Also, can't believe we are a third of the way through February and only one baby so far!

Me neither! I'm due later this week, but no idea when Baby will come.

Can't believe it's 10th Feb! Where are all our babies! I am seriously losing the will... I need this baby to evacuate!