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

@2020Aug cheeky little babies 😂

Thank you
The walks are definitely something to look forward to after hours and hours cooped inside! Especially now the weather is nice and warm and the evenings are brighter

@Mabel88 @Nellie3 please tell me that your first thought about not going back in before going on maternity leave was the horror that you won't have chance to sort your classroom out 😆 I'm pretty sure I left mine in a state as the Tuesday the info came out about pregnant ladies being vulnerable I was told I had to go home by lunchtime and I was in a right faff.. piled some textbooks into a trolley and took that home with me for home learning but that's it! Luckily the children knew I was pregnant and the parents ask every day how bump is- we have weekly video class assemblies and they're always asking to see it which is lovely, but honestly not the same as seeing the kids every day.

The idea of not going back is so hard if schools do reopen (my kids leave to go the senior school this year so I won't see them when I'm back off mat leave) but I guess we just have to keep thinking about baby! It honestly wouldn't be possible to socially distance primary age children though- how would they have break times? I think it would be scary for them and do more psychological damage than keeping them at home in a nice family bubble away from all this!

I’m glad others are experiencing the rib pain too! I’ve been in agony & had convinced myself I had a PE lol 🙈
I’m a nurse so been happy to have been signed off since this kicked off as I was so worried as I work in a unit that were receiving Covid patients! Sad though cause even when the lockdowns lifted I won’t be able to see most of my friends as they are still working in that environment 😔

@squashie34 I was so worried about my classroom being a state that I went back in to school really early one morning to have a little today and grab some books my class didn’t know I was pregnant either so I was sad not to get the chance to tell them - my head ended up telling them the day I suddenly wasn’t there as most of the children assumed I’d been taken I’ll, bless them. I’d be really tempted to go in at the end of term if we reopen before the summer just to say goodbye to the kids but my husband says I’m absolutely not to do that!!

Hey everyone! Just thought I'd check in see how everyone's doing? All baby's behaving?

@JMill13 had to go to the labour triage Friday night and I've been diagnosed with Obstetric Cholestasis which wasn't what I expected 😕 so lots more appointments etc now.. trying to be positive that she can stay in there as long as possible and she will be all ok.

How's everyone else feeling? X

@squashie34 oh no, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm going to sound so ignorant and stuff here but may I ask what exactly that is/what it means? How far along are you at the minute?

@JMill13 I went it to the triage unit with horrendous itching all over my body. Apparently it's a condition in pregnancy where your liver doesn't get rid of bile properly or something so the bile acid builds up in your body. The doctor told me there's a slight increased risk of stillbirth with the condition so it's likely they will induce me early.. and then it just disappears once baby is out! 😧 got an appointment with the fetal medicine on Friday so I will know more then.. all a bit scary especially when we have to go to the hospital by ourselves. I'm 26 weeks today!

Hi ladies hope you're all having nice relaxing weekends! Finally getting into some nice little routines in this lockdown and weirdly starting to enjoy it, especially with the weather being so glorious!

Oh @squashie34 I was watching a baby program recently and there was a woman on there who had it - mental! She went into labour and immediately stopped itching, so bizarre! I hope it's not too uncomfortable for you. I'm also 26 weeks today too! 14 weeks to go (feels like I've been pregnant forever!!).

Hey @JMill13 how are you doing? X

@StephD2020 glad you're doing well lovely! Isn't it strange how lockdown has almost become the 'new normal'! Have you spent the time doing the nursery or any baby related things?

How strange you saw it on a baby programme! Was the baby ok?

@squashie34 it was on a show called Babies 24/7: Maternity Ward on 5star (it's on sky but I'm sure you would find it elsewhere too). Was around episode 5/6 and baby was absolutely fine! She was brilliant too, I think she was relieved to be in labour to stop the itching!

We are currently trying to move house so things all in boxes currently which is a bit stressful. Had all the nursery furniture delivered here but waiting to see what happens with the next set of government announcements before we try and put any of it up as it's flat pack so don't want to have to suffer the pain of putting it up just to take it back down again! So instead I'm now trying to sort out getting all the small bits together like hospital bag and first few outfits. Trouble is I've got no clue what to get as August weather can go one way or the other can't it! Have you bought any clothes etc yet? X

@squashie34 oh no! Hopefully they can help and advise you a bit more at the next appointment. Hopefully the little one is okay in there. Will it mean many appointments and things going forward, (I know you said it'd be more appointments)?

@StephD2020 glad you're doing well! Lockdown is so weird isn't it? Part of me hates it but part of me loves it. The only thing I'd really like to change is even once every couple of weeks or whatever being able to go visit family. Video chat just isn't the same. But WFH, being able to grow bump in peace without any randos wanting to touch me is amazing 😂. Think the weather definitely helps though. After so much rain and all those storms it's great to see and soak up some sun.

I'm doing good thanks, after a few days of feeling no movement from baba, its been going crazy in there today so I'm relieved and super happy. Not ready for work tomorrow though, how is it basically Monday already?

@squashie34 sorry to hear that. Positive story for you, my friends wife had this very recently, she was induced as planned at 38 weeks and baby was absolutely perfect, they were home very soon after and are all doing well

Got my 25 week appointment booked to Tuesday (although I’ll only be 24 weeks, woops!) and it’s not yet been cancelled or moved to a phone consultation.... hoping this means I actually get an outing this week other than walking round the village!

@stephD2020 oh I’m going to have a little watch of this, will be nice to see a positive story as I’ve scared myself reading some bits over the Internet this weekend.. i wish I knew to stay off google 😂

@JMill13 I’m so glad your baba has had a crazy day of wriggling and somersaulting today 🤭 that bit of reassurance, they must like keeping you on your toes! how far gone are you now??

I’ll know more on Friday after seeing the fetal medicine doctor but it’s more scans and movement monitoring (got one in 2 weeks at 28 weeks now) and then at least weekly blood tests to check my liver bile levels to keep them under a certain number I think. That number determines how safe it is to keep baby in there so I’m praying it stays the number it needs to until 37 weeks so that she wouldn’t be too premature!

@mable88 thank you so much for sharing that positive story with me, I really need to hear them at the minute! That’s lucky that you still have your 25 week appointment, another chance to hear little ones heartbeat! 💛 I love how excited we all get about going out even just for a doctors appointment

Here’s a question for everyone.. the talk of the lockdown being eased, will you still be self-isolating or going back to work/ going out?

Hahahaha @JMill13 that is so true about randos wanting to touch you - it's like you're an exhibit in a museum isn't it!! So yea, I'm loving being able to grow my baby my way without being told what to do/when to do it, it's lovely and stress free!

@mable88 I heard nothing from my midwives and when I called the central teams turns out I'd fallen down the gaps and someone should have been in touch. Might be worth giving them a call to check about your appt as I think RCOG guidance is for that one to not go ahead face to face but over the phone and to only see someone at week 28.

@squashie34 I'm a freelance lecturer so my work has been cancelled until July - any work I do now have is home working so I'm hoping that I won't have to go to any clients now until next year and it's not an issue for me! 🤞🏻

@squashie34 I’m a nurse so as long as my work are still happy to have me off I’ll continue to stay off work as it’s still a risky environment in the hospitals. I would like to be able to visit some family & go to some shops though but other than that I think I’d still continue to isolate as much as possible!

@squashie34 as previously discussed, working in school makes social distancing potentially a bit of a nightmare, so I’d have to see what the arrangements for schools will be before deciding if I’m going to go in. And if I’m not in school then I wouldn’t be going out and about just in case I bumped into parents - ‘if she’s ok to go to the shops then why isn’t she in school??’ I’m lucky to have a husband who can go and get us things we need though.

@StephD2020 when I booked my appointment over the phone I was told that the midwife would be in touch if I didn’t need to go to the surgery, otherwise to turn up in person. So that’s my current plan, unless I get a phone call today! I think it depends on the area/nhs trust, certainly lots are cancelling face to face appointments but some are still having them as normal

@Lolxx definitely! A nurse is still risky for sure.. wasn't there also the advice from the RCOG about nurses needing to work from home where at all possible after 28 weeks?

I'm the same, I'm a teacher so we can't exactly socially distance the little ones 😂 I have the 12 week isolation letter from my go which takes me up to mid June, so maybe I'll see how it is then. But yes I really want to see family and maybe just shop for at least a few baby bits instead of getting them online!

@squashie34 when I spoke to my work at around 18 weeks they were happy to sign me off to be at home indefinitely (my boss seems to think it’ll be mid June before things start to return to normal in our unit). We were a receiving unit for covid patients so there was no way of escaping it & they didn’t have any work for me to do at home, so unless things drastically change with the covid situation I doubt I’ll be back before maternity leave.
It’s hard as I want to see all my colleagues before I have the baby 😔 & as most of my friends are nurses I doubt I’d get to see them even when lockdown is lifted as they are too high risk to be around! It’s all just a guessing game at this stage.

Hopefully you are able to stay off until the summer break starts, we all have to do what’s best for our little ones at the end of the day!

@squashie34 haha yeah baba definitely likes to keep me on my toes. 4 days of feeling absolutely nothing, the only thing stopped me calling the midwife was the fact I only had my 20 week scan on the 17th and everything was perfect. So thankful I can feel it all again. I'm 23+3 now, so need to make my 25 week appointment, although trying to work out if it's actually an important one or not if the 28 weeks isn't far after. Fingers crossed your bile levels stay down and little one is safe and happy in there for as long as possible. Just stay off google, all you ever see on there is horror stories for everything. I googled last week about not feeling baby move at 22 weeks and it was all madness and scared me,.

If lockdown eases I'm going to ask work if I can continue working from home as if I went back I'd have to get the train every day twice a day to get there and for me that's just too risky. They're going to want me back as I'm the receptionist/switchboard operator though so as soon as more people are back in the office they're going to prefer someone to be able to transfer calls rather than what I'm doing at the minute, sitting with my mobile giving out direct dial numbers. I would love to be able to visit family again though., it's my other halfs little sisters 21st mid May so would be nice to be able to celebrate with her,...at a safe distance. But for the most part I think i'd stay isolated as much as possible even for the first month or two to make sure it's safe out there first.

@StephD2020 hahah exactly. I wasn't very far along maybe about 14-16 weeks and a lady in work rubbed my belly. I near had a fit. I hate being touched and at that point she was basically just touching fat lol.

Wow, sorry guys I wrote way more than I thought.

@squashie34 fingers crossed your bile levels stay down and bub stays cooking for a while yet!

@StephD2020 @JMill13 omg I’m cringing thinking of randomers trying to touch my bump! I’ve been quite lucky and haven’t really had the opportunity to visit or see anyone for them to do this. I’d feel so uncomfortable - I have quite a big bump too so quite glad nobody is around to touch it apart from me and DH.

@mable88 my 25 week appointment also seems like it’s going ahead later this week - I tried to call the midwives to confirm and got the voicemail message saying all appointments are currently going ahead so I’m feeling quite lucky.

I was on a contract which has now finished so I technically have no work to return back to! I think I’d visit family (or at least our parents) and go to shops but not any big events if it’s still like this. My cousins wedding is meant to be end of August and although it’s pushing it since baby is due 13th, I really wanted to attend even if only for a few hours. Not likely if we’re all still in lockdown anyway. DH has also told me to stop dreaming saying that we’ll probably still be isolating and I won’t want to be in public so soon after birth with my bits bleeding and my boobs leaking

@nfblues Hahaha I know, it was one of my biggest turn offs about being pregnant. My friend said everyone was touching her bump while she was pregnant last year and I couldn't cope with the thought. Then lockdown happened and I've been able to cook this little with only me and the boyfriend touching it.

Good luck getting to the wedding. Sometimes it's the little things that help power you through though even if you have given birth and are in no fit state to go, just the thought of getting to go might help. It's my dads 70th in July so I really hope we can at least get a small gathering together for that.

@JMill13 I've had my 25 week appt over the phone and it was fine. Just info sharing rather than anything else. I've been taking my own BP, glucose levels and testing my urine twice a week so she took the data I'd collected and then just chatted me through a few other bits (nothing majorly important). I'm 26+1 today and have my next appt booked for 18/5 where I will be 29+1 and I'll have a full set of bloods, plus the two new tests they are doing instead of the glucose tolerance tests (fasting glucose and HbA1c) and my antenatal appt with a midwife all at the same time. Delighted that I'm managing to minimise the amount of time I spend in hospitals/clinics!

Anyone else done lots of shopping? I've literally spent the whole day buying baby bits online - I am obsessed! Found some lovely bits too, can't wait for them all to be delivered!! 🥰

@stephd2020 oh that doesn't sound so bad. Actually probably better than going to doctors and hospitals etc. all the time. I keep reading about the glucose test and have absolutely no idea what it is, when I/if I'll get it been told absolutely nothing by the midwives. My first appointment at like 8 weeks or whatever it was was so rushed we both came out so confused and the only knowledge I had was the basics of what not to eat. Does everyone get the glucose test? I've been eating so many ice lollys and breakfast cereal lately that I'd actually be worried about a sugar surge.

I've really only bought some vests, sleepsuits, socks so far. Have added a few things to my Amazon basket and Pinterest board but keep chickening out of actually buying stuff in case I get the wrong thing. Like I've no idea where to start getting a decent monitor or a brush/comb, thermometer and stuff like that.

@JMill13 I can't remember if everyone has it but certainly anyone in a high risk group does. So family history of Diabetes, ethnicity and I think age are all taken into consideration plus I think the urine tests can help to see if sugars in.

I to have been thoroughly enjoying ice lollies these last couple of weeks. Hello rowntree fruit pastille ice lollies - so yummy. Plus lovely Solero's!!