Pregnant After Loss and Dreaming of Rainbows - 4

[Avocuddles]

Thread 4 already! New members very welcome to our friendly and supportive team.

Latest roll call....

@Bellsx. 26wks (due 20/08/20)⁣
@Rachael321 26wks (due 20/08/20)⁣
@Pugmum19 18wks (due 31/08/20)⁣
@UrsulaSings 17wks (due 07/09/20)⁣
@Hoping2020 19wks (due 13/09/20)⁣
@SammiLou2312 22wks⁣ (due 17/09/20)⁣
@Knotemma 21 wks⁣ (due 23/09/20)⁣
@LilMrsS 20wks (due 24/09/20)⁣
@didslysquiddlydoo 20wks 26/09/20)⁣
@TunnocksTcake 19wks (due 26/09/20)⁣
@avocuddles 20wks (due 27/09/20)⁣
@Sunflower1608 20wks with twins (due 28/09/20)⁣
@SunStruck 19wks (due 28/09/20)⁣⁣
@Scout20 19wks (due 29/09/20)⁣
@Littlegoth 20wks (due 30/09/20)⁣
@HighHopes20 16wks (due 03/10/20)⁣⁣
@Treaclepie19 18wks (due 07/10/20)⁣⁣
@Aria2015 10wks⁣
@tmc14 17wks (due 11/10/20)⁣
@Hagster 17wks (due 12/10/20)⁣⁣
@seaduck 12wks (due 17/10/20)⁣
@DressingGown87 13wks (due 20/10/20)⁣
@rachelrainbow 11wks (due 1/11/20)⁣
@teaandtantrums90 13wks (due 05/11/20)⁣
@AnxiousLady1 14wks (due 07/11/20)⁣
@Shefliesonherownwings 13wks (due 09/11/20)⁣
@MysteriousSheep 12wks (due 21/11/20)
@Whiffle77 11wks (due 04/12/20)⁣
@MOGMOGMOG85 10wks (due 09/12/20)

oh for goodness sake I forgot to post pic

Meant to say 11 0-3 sleep suits, not 0-6 which is presumably quite a bit bigger! xx

@Knotemma I am hoping to use cloth nappies also, but have done a litle research into a good biodegradable brand that I can use for the first month. I'm being cautious in case I'm exhausted/looking for most convenient route in the initial weeks. I'm also getting one of the trial cloth nappies kits, on the slim chance that it doesn't work for us at all.

@MOGMOGMOG85 Lovely bump pic!! I had previously read that bump is smaller in mornings than the evenings, and I definitely have that, so no reason to worry. I've definitely learned that movements vary from person to person. I did start to notice something around 18 weeks but it was soooooo subtle (blink and you would miss it), and only happen a couple of times a day (usually in the evening when sat down), so I convinced myself it was in my head. Its only in the last week that those feelings have been more frequent (I'm 22 weeks now), and I will notice throughout the day when working. Again, still subtle, other than the couple of more pronounced taps I've felt in last couple of days. But I totally understand where you are at. I had major wobbles more than once in the last few weeks, trying to figure out movements (wanting to be sure something was still in there before my scan). One of which culminated with me using a home dopplar. Obviously aware these are not recommended, and I haven't used it since!

@AnxiousLady1 my growth scans are because I'm on blood thinning injections and have a history of clotting so have always been deemed high risk. As my losses have been early on I don't think I'd have been offered extra scans on those grounds alone but would no doubt have gone for private ones for the reassurance.

Re clothes, our niece was born 2 weeks ago, not a particularly huge baby (8lb something...) but she grew out of newborn size within a week! She's quite long which might make a difference I guess.

Just had my scan and little one weighs 2lb 9oz which is just slightly below average so am feeling very relieved. I've still only gained about half a stone so was nervous that she'd be very small but all looks good, will have a follow up call with my consultant on Friday but can breathe a sigh of relief for now. Baby was very wriggly so took a while to get the measurements!

@MOGMOGMOG85 that is definitely a 'proper' bump! The 'bowels' sensation is almost certainly baby, i went a lot of weeks constantly thinking 'baby or digestion'?! I have a posterior placenta and even with that didn't feel definite movements until about 20 weeks but she's impossible to ignore now though! It's only in the past week or so that I've been able to see my stomach move from the outside which i still find a little freaky!
Sorry to hear about your friend's situation, miscarriage is definitely a big thing that will no doubt put a strain on many relationships, I hope it works out for her.

@MOGMOGMOG85 that's a gorgeous and very proper bump! I've got an anterior placenta too, and felt the first definite movements during week 19. I had 2 or 3 is it or isn't it? Moments before that which in hindsight were almost certainly movements too.
Aiming for a minimalist approach to having a small human in the vain hope that they don't take over our entire house... I already know I have no chance 😂 I've just been offered a massive bundle of clothes and baby gear by my aunt, all second hand but in excellent condition, which is a bit exciting.

@AnxiousLady1 I'm going for a combination of flats and covers for the "newborn" stage, I've got a pack of 25 disposables that I got free with a bounty pack that I'll take to the hospital, but I'd rather just get started while they're less able to wriggle away 😂. I've been practicing on a bear and I'm also knitting wool covers to keep our costs down. I've got a stash of pockets ready for when goblin gets a bit bigger. I've also been looking into elimination communication, because that's a really good way to minimise how long they're in nappies, which I'd definitely prefer! Totally going for the earth mother/hippy mum approach 😂.

@Avocuddles really pleased your scan went well, average is a good size in my opinion!

@Knotemma @AnxiousLady1

h and m are great for cloth nappy babies, the vests and baby grows have extra elastic to accommodate the big cloth baby bum.

@footprintsintheslow thanks for that I'll have to have a look online!

@AnxiousLady1 I was due to have growth scans at 36 and 38 weeks due to my BMI being high when I fell pregnant. I am now having extra growth scans due to the gestational diabetes diagnosis (found out today that I have my first growth scan on Wednesday afternoon!) Apparently there is a high risk of her getting too big so they like to keep an eye on things to decide if I need to be induced early.

With regards to clothing, I have a number of vests and baby grows along with a few other outfits for her in newborn and 0-3 sizes...not sure I have enough yet but worry if I buy more she will grow out of them too quick lol.
For anyone looking for newborn clothing, George at ASDA and TU at Sainsbury's have some really nice things and basics multipacks at really decent prices at the moment (plus you can get them delivered)

Any other 28+ weekers getting seriously uncomfortable?! Urgh! He’s got his feet in my ribs and they are SO sore, the pain is making me so uncomfortable and feel so sick again! I can’t remember having this last time, maybe it’s because lily didn’t move at all by this point so wasn’t playing drums on my organs 🤢 please say I’m not the only one finding this really hard now?!

@Anon20something you're not the only one don't worry!! There are days where i have to put my hand on top of bump and try to push baby down from ribs!! And thats just the start of it! I'm 33+5... almost there!

@Anon20something @Rachael321 I feel like my ribs are about to burst 😂 29 weeks tomorrow and they're really uncomfortable. I've discovered I've gone up 2 bands sizes in a bra (as well as 2/3 cup sizes 🙈) so that's not helping. I've been to the midwife today and goblin is officially in the appropriate place and has started to move down into my pelvis, so I was warned that I might start to get hip pain too 😂🙈. I'm feeling enormous and made the mistake of stepping on to my parents scales tonight when I went for a socially distanced tea at theirs. I'm 16 pounds up with 11 weeks to go. Considering I threw up everything I went near for the first 12 weeks that's not ideal 😂.

Midwife seems very happy with my progress, happy for us to go on our holiday, but wants me to take notes with me and know where the nearest hospital is... I need to double check, but I'm 90% sure that it's the one I'm registered at!
Hope everyone is having a good week so far

@Anon20something my baby girl still seems really low down...worries me slightly that she hasn't moved up and turned yet 😕

Thank you ladies! Glad I’m not the only one feeling massive and sore, it’s lovely this isn’t it?! So much of this is new territory for me now, he’s so active and it does make me sad I didn’t get to experience this last time. But I’ll definitely take the pain as a good sign - my midwife said he’s really long already and I’ve been getting Braxton hicks for weeks, starting to scare myself that he’ll come before my induction date at 38+3! 😬

@SammiLou2312 don’t worry! They get in odd positions and she’s got lots of time to move yet. Some days even though I know he likes to stretch up by my ribs I still feel lots of the movement super low!

That time again already! I can’t believe how quickly time is passing for me. Growth scan tomorrow, I think this is the first time I’ve looked forward to a scan with (cautious) excitement instead of anxiety x

@Bellsx 33wks (due 20/08/20)⁣
@Rachael321 33wks (due 20/08/20)⁣ SURPRISE
@Hoping2020 28wks (due 13/09/20)⁣
@SammiLou2312 29wks⁣ (due 17/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@Knotemma 28wks⁣ (due 23/09/20)⁣ SURPRISE
@LilMrsS 28wks (due 24/09/20)⁣
@didslysquiddlydoo 28wks (26/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@TunnocksTcake 28wks (due 26/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@avocuddles 28wks (due 27/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@Sunflower1608 27wks with twins (due 28/09/20)⁣ GIRL & BOY
@SunStruck 27wks (due 28/09/20)⁣⁣
@Scout20 26wks (due 29/09/20)⁣
@Littlegoth 28wks (due 30/09/20)⁣ BOY
@HighHopes20 25wks (due 03/10/20)⁣⁣
@Treaclepie19 26wks (due 07/10/20)⁣⁣ GIRL
@tmc14 26wks (due 11/10/20)⁣ GIRL
@Hagster 26wks (due 12/10/20)⁣⁣ SURPRISE
@DressingGown87 18wks (due 20/10/20)⁣ GIRL
@rachelrainbow 23wks (due 28/10/20)⁣
@teaandtantrums90 13wks (due 05/11/20)⁣
@AnxiousLady1 22wks (due 07/11/20)⁣ BOY
@Shefliesonherownwings 20wks (due 09/11/20)⁣ BOY
@MrsG3 18wks (due 16/11/20) GIRL
@MysteriousSheep 19wks (due 21/11/20)
@Whiffle77 18wks (due 02/12/20)⁣ SURPRISE
@MOGMOGMOG85 18wks (due 05/12/20)
@footprintsintheslow 12 wks (due 10/01/21)

How is it Wednesday already?? Another week gone, hoping that time will slow down a bit once I finish work.

I'm struggling with tiredness now, however I did find out yesterday that my iron levels are down from early pregnancy, so I'm back on the supplements, I had thought fresh kale and spinach in every smoothie would be enough, but never mind. Hopefully I can get the levels back up fairly quickly and I'll feel less like I've been hit by a bus 🤷‍♀️.

@Littlegoth have a lovely scan today 💥

@Bellsx 33wks (due 20/08/20)⁣
@Rachael321 33wks (due 20/08/20)⁣ SURPRISE
@Hoping2020 28wks (due 13/09/20)⁣
@SammiLou2312 29wks⁣ (due 17/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@Knotemma 29wks⁣ (due 23/09/20)⁣ SURPRISE
@LilMrsS 28wks (due 24/09/20)⁣
@didslysquiddlydoo 28wks (26/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@TunnocksTcake 28wks (due 26/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@avocuddles 28wks (due 27/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@Sunflower1608 27wks with twins (due 28/09/20)⁣ GIRL & BOY
@SunStruck 27wks (due 28/09/20)⁣⁣
@Scout20 26wks (due 29/09/20)⁣
@Littlegoth 28wks (due 30/09/20)⁣ BOY
@HighHopes20 25wks (due 03/10/20)⁣⁣
@Treaclepie19 26wks (due 07/10/20)⁣⁣ GIRL
@tmc14 26wks (due 11/10/20)⁣ GIRL
@Hagster 26wks (due 12/10/20)⁣⁣ SURPRISE
@DressingGown87 18wks (due 20/10/20)⁣ GIRL
@rachelrainbow 23wks (due 28/10/20)⁣
@teaandtantrums90 13wks (due 05/11/20)⁣
@AnxiousLady1 22wks (due 07/11/20)⁣ BOY
@Shefliesonherownwings 20wks (due 09/11/20)⁣ BOY
@MrsG3 18wks (due 16/11/20) GIRL
@MysteriousSheep 19wks (due 21/11/20)
@Whiffle77 18wks (due 02/12/20)⁣ SURPRISE
@MOGMOGMOG85 18wks (due 05/12/20)
@footprintsintheslow 12 wks (due 10/01/21)

@knotemma I'm also on supplements for iron. Hope it helps!

@Littlegoth hope all is well today

I'm so tired and sore. Officially 27 weeks though today. Getting there!

@Bellsx 33wks (due 20/08/20)⁣
@Rachael321 33wks (due 20/08/20)⁣ SURPRISE
@Hoping2020 28wks (due 13/09/20)⁣
@SammiLou2312 29wks⁣ (due 17/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@Knotemma 29wks⁣ (due 23/09/20)⁣ SURPRISE
@LilMrsS 28wks (due 24/09/20)⁣
@didslysquiddlydoo 28wks (26/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@TunnocksTcake 28wks (due 26/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@avocuddles 28wks (due 27/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@Sunflower1608 27wks with twins (due 28/09/20)⁣ GIRL & BOY
@SunStruck 27wks (due 28/09/20)⁣⁣
@Scout20 26wks (due 29/09/20)⁣
@Littlegoth 28wks (due 30/09/20)⁣ BOY
@HighHopes20 25wks (due 03/10/20)⁣⁣
@Treaclepie19 27wks (due 07/10/20)⁣⁣ GIRL
@tmc14 26wks (due 11/10/20)⁣ GIRL
@Hagster 26wks (due 12/10/20)⁣⁣ SURPRISE
@DressingGown87 18wks (due 20/10/20)⁣ GIRL
@rachelrainbow 23wks (due 28/10/20)⁣
@teaandtantrums90 13wks (due 05/11/20)⁣
@AnxiousLady1 22wks (due 07/11/20)⁣ BOY
@Shefliesonherownwings 20wks (due 09/11/20)⁣ BOY
@MrsG3 18wks (due 16/11/20) GIRL
@MysteriousSheep 19wks (due 21/11/20)
@Whiffle77 18wks (due 02/12/20)⁣ SURPRISE
@MOGMOGMOG85 18wks (due 05/12/20)
@footprintsintheslow 12 wks (due 10/01/21)

Morning all. Updating my weeks now. We had a good hospital appointment on Monday with the consultant. Saw our little bean although he was almost too wriggly to see things properly. Consultant asked if I'd just had lunch as he was moving so much lol. We also provisionally booked my c section date as something to work towards and the consultant is going to personally perform the op. So 16 weeks today we may have a baby although I'm still trying not to think that far ahead.

However on Monday we also spoke to the investigator who has been looking into Isla's death. Due to Isla being a full term stillbirth and alive during the first part of labour an independent investigation has automatically been carried out. We know now that there were failings by the community midwives and the hospital. At least one of which may have meant she would be here if it hadn't happened. We are devastated again that this could have been avoidable. Recommendations have been made to the trust but there doesn't appear to be any way of enforcing them. I feel so so sad for our girl that she paid the ultimate price for incompetence. I'm feeling pretty raw still today.

@Bellsx33wks (due 20/08/20)⁣
@Rachael32133wks (due 20/08/20)⁣ SURPRISE
@Hoping202028wks (due 13/09/20)⁣
@SammiLou231229wks⁣ (due 17/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@Knotemma29wks⁣ (due 23/09/20)⁣ SURPRISE
@LilMrsS28wks (due 24/09/20)⁣
@didslysquiddlydoo28wks (26/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@TunnocksTcake28wks (due 26/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@avocuddles28wks (due 27/09/20)⁣ GIRL
@Sunflower160827wks with twins (due 28/09/20)⁣ GIRL & BOY
@SunStruck27wks (due 28/09/20)⁣⁣
@Scout2026wks (due 29/09/20)⁣
@Littlegoth28wks (due 30/09/20)⁣ BOY
@HighHopes2025wks (due 03/10/20)⁣⁣
@Treaclepie1927wks (due 07/10/20)⁣⁣ GIRL
@tmc1426wks (due 11/10/20)⁣ GIRL
@Hagster26wks (due 12/10/20)⁣⁣ SURPRISE
@DressingGown8718wks (due 20/10/20)⁣ GIRL
@rachelrainbow23wks (due 28/10/20)⁣
@teaandtantrums9013wks (due 05/11/20)⁣
@AnxiousLady122wks (due 07/11/20)⁣ BOY
@Shefliesonherownwings22wks (due 09/11/20)⁣ BOY
@MrsG318wks (due 16/11/20) GIRL
@MysteriousSheep19wks (due 21/11/20)
@Whiffle7718wks (due 02/12/20)⁣ SURPRISE
@MOGMOGMOG8518wks (due 05/12/20)
@footprintsintheslow12 wks (due 10/01/21)

@Shefliesonherownwings i feel heartbroken for you regarding what you have found out about Isla's death, there are no appropriate words really other than to say that it's devastating that any parent should have to experience this.
Really glad all is looking well with boy bean and it's great that you've already got a date planned for your section. Take each day as it comes but take comfort in the fact that you're getting closer to meeting your on.

@Knotemma I feel your pain re bra size, I had huge boobs to start with and am now spilling out of a HH cup so terrified to think where I might end up!

I've only put on about 7lbs so at the very bottom end of the scale but was overweight to start with and took quite a while to regain the weight I lost when I had covid. My chest and bump are pretty substantial though and baby measuring where she should be so trying not to worry too much. It's weird isn't it how we all worry whether it's over weight - too much or not enough there's always something to feel anxious over! Am glad you've been given the ok for your holiday, some relaxing time away sounds like a great plan.

@Anon20something definitely feeling uncomfortable, especially in bed where the simple act of turning over feels like a huge effort! Getting up from the sofa, picking something up from the floor.....it's all getting tough and know it will only get worse

I'm off to the midwife later today but it feels a bit pointless given I was at the hospital only two days ago, intrigued to see if her measurements align with the growth scan or not!

@Shefliesonherownwingsthats absolutely heartbreaking. Losing a child at any stage is incredibly difficult, but to find out that it was avoidable is too awful for words. I can't imagine how you're feeling, so I'm just sending you a massive hug x

@Avocuddles at my 28 week midwife appointment they did bloods to recheck antibodies as well as my iron levels etc (that's how I found out I'm on the slightly anaemic side). She didn't measure my bump then or yesterday, but will at my next one when I'll be 32 weeks. They'll redo bloods again then to see if I've managed to get my iron levels up too. I also get to hear the heartbeat at every in person midwife's appointment, which I love, especially because she always lets me record it to send to DH, something I can't do with scans.

@Knotemma you might want to drop eating spinach and just go with kale and dried fruit is great too. Spinach although it does contain iron also contains an iron inhibitor so it stops the body absorbing iron and calcium. I was shocked when I found out.

@Shefliesonherownwings I can't imagine knowing that incompetence was involved with Isla and how you move forward from that. There must be some mixed emotions including anger. Are you accessing any support or counselling now?

@footprintsintheslow looks like I'll be moving to cooked spinach! Which is a shame because I much prefer it raw but never mind. Back on the pregnancy vitamins regardless, so hopefully that will do the trick

I prefer it raw too but I shove it in curries, spag Bol and chilli as you can't really taste it.

Here's a picture of iron rich food from my food chart.

I prefer it raw too but I shove it in curries, spag Bol and chilli as you can't really taste it.

Here's a picture of iron rich food from my food chart.

Also @Knotemma you probably know all this but it's important to take a source of vitamin c alongside a source of iron to aid absorption of the iron

@footprintsintheslow thanks for all of that it's really helpful! I've historically had issues with low iron levels so an pretty up on it... When I was 18 I was prescribed stout, liver, broccoli and spinach 😂 obviously stout and liver are out of the question at the moment, but the only thing on your list I don't eat regularly is tofu and millet🤷‍♀️ I always make sure I'm having them with a glass of orange (our milkman delivers it and it's delicious) but I think that I might have to accept that even with a good diet that I need to chuck in the supplements for now to boost it