Anyone else due August 2020?

[Jem9153]

How are you feeling if so? How far along are you?

I’m due 12th August, 21 weeks 1 day today, first baby and I’m having a boy!

I’ve felt a bit overwhelmed with this whole pandemic and the unknown of whether it’s going to be better by then! Fingers crossed for the best.

I also really want to start buying things but feel bad for shopping online given the current scenario, I just don’t want to leave it all til last minute and be really unprepared.

Would love to hear from you all

@WorriedButterfly keeping everything crossed for you, I'm sure it will all be fine! They will always get you in to check everything out and know that's the best place you can be 😘

@WorriedButterfly fingers crossed for you lovely x

@worriedbutterfly fingers crossed for you lovely. Hope everything's okay 💛

@WorriedButterfly sorry to hear that, hope everything is ok x

@WorriedButterfly Sure everything will be fine, you're going to the best place you can and they'll look after you xx

@squashie34 Nah she was fine, just 5 days on the light on the postnatal ward. No scbu or nicu thank goodness.
Yes, very excited but still trying to get my head round it!! Xx

Thank you all - all looks ok thank goodness. Midwife said it could have been from the 'back passage' if I was constipated and the doc said it could just be unexplained bleeding which is very common (I didn't know this). We are changing all our floors at the mo so have been doing a lot more and now got to take it easy! Thanks for being there! 😘

@WorriedButterfly so pleased to hear that. Make sure you take it easy - it's surprisingly easy to over do it I am finding. I did my normal cleaning of the house yesterday and then was absolutely knackered with really sore feet and knees by the evening - was in bed at 8.30!

Glad to hear all ok @WorriedButterfly bleeding is so scary.

@worriedbutterfly this exact same thing happened to me at 27 weeks. Mine was also from back passage. They didn't diagnose me but I'm pretty sure it's internal haemorrhoids.

My sickness has come back with a vengeance this week. Feels like 1st trimester xx

@worriedbutterfly so glad to hear!

Has anyone got any recommendations for Audio only monitors and Thermometers? Heads melted by the sheer amount of different versions of the same things. Also Breastpumps? I want to be try breastfeeding when baby comes (not putting pressure on myself or anything though) but want to be able to pump at least one feed a day so that Oh can do a feed and have that experience with baby.

@JMill13 where are you situated? I’m in Scotland & we get the baby box that comes with a thermometer. Also some hospitals will let you borrow a breast pump for a few weeks, that saves you buying one in case you aren’t able to

@lolxx what's the baby box? I'm in Northern Ireland so prob not a thing here. Ooh thanks, had no idea hospitals could lend them out 😊

@JMill13 it’s an amazing thing! You apply for it during your pregnancy & it’s basically a big box with all essentials for baby: baby gros, vests, mittens, socks, hats, room & bath thermometer, changing mat, books, condoms, breast pads, blanket, play mat. It was rolled out by the Scottish government to ensure that all babies get the same start in life, due to having a high poverty rate. The box can also be used as a crib.

@lolxx wow how amazing is that!

@lolxx wow, that's an amazing idea!

I'm due 27th Aug luckily ordered most stuff(pram, car seat) before the pandemic started I would suggest it's better to be prepared than not.This week I will pack my hospital bag this is 5th child and haven't ever really had a birthing plan for any of them just because I will call when I go in Labour and only take gas and air. Nappies and supplies gradually stocking up on just in case.
Hate going to the hospital for any appointments right now

Evening ladies - hope everyone is ok!

@worriedbutterfly glad to see you are all fit and well, I bet that was a worrying time for you!

Welcome to the group @Chez2306, sorry to hear what you have been through. FWIW my friend's husband got caught cheating on her when she was 39 weeks pregnant and she has done amazingly well, in fact far better without him than with him! I'm sure you'll be stronger than you ever imagined. X

Did anyone watch the PM's announcement tonight? What are your thoughts? X

@WorriedButterfly just catching up, really glad to hear everything is okay. These babies continue to keep us on our toes.

@JMill13 Boots own infrared inner ear thermometer I would highly recommend. I had to trial and review last year and really found it great. It lights up so you can see in the dark and gives nearly instantly gives results. Plus instructions on how to do the temperature check etc,. Things like always picking the same ear!!

I have purchased for myself just a hand pump again from Philips it's what I used last time. I don't use their bottles, I use MAM as they're great for switching between breast and nipple we found. Especially with the air flow. I expressed from early on and then after 6 weeks husband gave a bottle a day usually last feed. I had a really strong let down so expressing was very helpful as otherwise my daughter couldn't take all the milk that was coming out at first. Then at end of feed if still hungry she could have what I expressed. If not in the fridge/freezer. I will say it took a good couple of weeks for breastfeeding to get established last time and I'm fully expecting the same again.

@StephD2020 I'm a little confused as to what we can or can't do tbh. Especially being pregnant, it's like are we safe?

I mean going to the beach sounds amazing but it's an hour away from us. Plus toilets etc.

@Beau2020 @JMill13 it’s a fantastic thing! Really helpful for first time mums

I’m planning on trying to breast feed but mostly express as I would like DP to take part. I’m thinking of combi feeding as well as I’m so paranoid that I won’t express enough for baby does anyone have any advice/experience on this? I’m a FTM so any help is much appreciated!

Ahhh thank you for all the lovely comments. No blood since so hoping what ever it was has calmed. Is anyone taking anything for constipation?

That baby box sounds fab!

@cannotmakemymindup - can you set up a zoom tutorial inAugust!! you make it sound so methodical, I really want to BF but there's so much angst already from books and people! X

@Lolxx with breastfeeding your body learns to make enough milk for your baby by demand feeding. There are days where they can cluster feed especially in the first few weeks but all that does, even if you think you haven't got enough, is give signals to your body to make more. So after a couple of days your body catches up with what baby requires and ups your supply! This can happen when they have growth spurts and in the early days.

With combi feeding with formula, your milk supply can dip as if your body isn't feeding baby as much, it thinks it doesn't need to make as much milk. So some women end up with a supply and demand issue. I know some women who make it work.

I loved expressing so my husband could feed baby however I definitely breastfed more than I expressed.

Best thing either way is not to put to much pressure on yourself. I always said, if I can breastfeed great and if I can't, I can't. I still had brought a few premade formula milks so as to know I had back up. This helped to take pressure off. Plus I gave myself a good couple of weeks, got advice from breastfeeding support lines (which helped massively with correct latch).

I am hoping again to breastfeed, hoping it'll be a little bit easier this time. But definitely considering an online breastfeeding course to refresh my mind with latches and holds.

@WorriedButterfly awww thanks. It's literally just all the tips and things I learned first time round. I have to say I didn't read books and I didn't really know anyone who breastfed at the time.

It definitely wasn't easy at first but once we hit our groove I kept going. I am hoping to by pass cracked nipples this time! Last time my daughter had a strong latch, but the wrong latch. So whilst yes she was on boob/nipple as it wasn't in the right place it put extra stress on nipple so caused pain. Once I figured out that I needed to take her off (feels so mean to them but it isn't ) then relatch her and sometimes with feeding it took a few attempts, it got easier. Because it is soo much more comfortable when there latch is correct!