November 2020 babies - thread 7!

[wannabebump]

Another thread for us all x

@SqidgeBum I've been wondering with the birth balls - do the hospitals supply them? Or is it best just to bring your own incase they don't have any?

I love my ball so much! Have just got it out again. In my first pregnancy I sat on it at home constantly (at dinner table and in living rm instead of sofa) and also had one at work instead of my desk chair.

@Pink15 you’d expect birth centres to have them - mine did - but not sure about labour wards. I think might be a bit weird to bring one in with you though...would you deflate it at home then bring a pump with you?!

I know some people use them in labour but they’re really ideal for the time leading up to labour, as sitting on them helps you get the baby in the right position and is kind to your back.

@Wigglebum87 yes, I would say that's baby moving 😃

@CoffeeCakeCream you are due on my birthday👍 I feel exhausted all the time and it doesnt seem like it's going to go away anytime soon...

@HarrietM87 thanks! I might invest in one for at home then. Seems silly they don't have them on labour ward - they will medicalise the birth a lot more I imagine... I've heard lying on your back is the worst labour position?!

Has anybody any suggests on what to do to help with itchy boobs? They are driving me nuts!!

I used mine in early labour but then assumed I would have one in the labour ward. I was never offered one and I wasnt in my right mind to ask for one. I did find they were only interested in medical pain relief. This time around I will be focused more on asking for the ball and using my breathing better. I have already started to listen to some meditative videos.

@Pink15 yep on the back is definitely worse. We’re meant to give birth squatting or on all fours to work with gravity, you’re more likely to tear on your back too. But the medicalisation of birth forced women on to their backs. One thing I’m really sure about is I don’t want to be restricted in how I move in labour or on my back. Really hopeful I’ll be able to be in water.

I ended up on my back. I wanted a water birth. It all went pear shaped when I was in labour for so long so the risk of infection went up so I couldn't be in the water, and I was utterly exhausted.

This time I am writing a list for my DH about what I want and what he needs to insist on when I cant, and what he needs to encourage me to do when I have lost my thought in the pain. I panicked my way through my last labour and it made it ten times worse. I am trying to be more prepared and more positive this time. Easier said than done though.

@Sqidgebum that sounds hard, I hope it goes better for you this time and you’ll feel more prepared. I’m conscious that I might not get all I want but trying to know as much as I can. I’m doing the Positive Birth Company online pack to help, might be worth a look?

Had a horrible dream that baby had died when I got to my 20 week scan (next week) and feeling all discombobulated and worried now. I wish home Dopplers weren’t so advised against! And now my lovely travel system has turned up and I love it but I’m worried I’ve jinxed it! Pregnancy is stressful

I second that @BuffaloCauliflower . I have my scan at 4pm today. I havent felt movement for about 3 days, and I was freaking last night, but then I was awoken at 2am being kicked and punched by baby. It has been jiggling all morning.

Buying stuff stressed me out on DD too. I told my MIL not to give me anything before the baby was born, I only bought what I needed and I bought it quite late (buggy arrived at 34 weeks) I couldn't buy any clothes til at least 30 weeks. I was a nervous wreck, but I have a huge irish family and have seen pregnancies not work out, and the irish can be quite superstitious about buying for a baby before its born. Its stressful! This time around I think I am more nervous about things going wrong. I will genuinely just be buying some baby grows and maybe a second hand double buggy before the baby is born and that's it.

@sqidgebum I haven’t felt any movement yet which doesn’t help, but I’m only 18+4 with baby 1 so I know I’m not likely to feel for a bit more still. But I’d really like some movement! I’m also generally more superstitious and don’t like things like baby showers (don’t celebrate a baby that hasn’t arrived safely yet!) but we really wanted this travel system and it’s old stock that was going to sell out, so I went for a ‘let’s just do it and not feed the demons’ approach! I’m also prone to anxiety and I don’t want to let it take over. Odds on baby will be fine, babies are born fine every day and I can’t live in fear. It’s hard though. I’d really like it to just be here so I can at least see if it’s ok or not.

I didnt feel any movement til the start of week 19. I do have an anterior placenta so I knew movements will take a bit longer.

I am the same with baby showers. I didnt have one with DD. I did go for an afternoon tea with my mom and sister at about 35 weeks but there were no presents or baby stuff. This time around, I think I will have a celebration with friends when the baby arrives. I went to a 'baby has arrived' shower last year and it was lovely (they had issues during pregnancy too so didnt want to celebrate until baby was here safe).

@Pink15 oh I only said I wasn’t sure about labour ward - they may well have them - check in your local hospital.

I gave birth on my knees leaning against the side of the birthing pool having spent most of my labour pacing up and down. Baby was quite big (just under 9lbs) and his head was on the 95th centile so I think gravity definitely helped! It was incredibly painful for me to lie down so no way could I have given birth on my back.

@SqidgeBum yes, ‘baby has arrived’ party is much more up my street! Hopefully by November some normality will have resumed, if the county hasn’t totally fallen apart I think bad dream has given me a dose of the blues, need to get outside this morning I think

@HarrietM87 that’s what I think I’d go for, if everything goes to plan. Just feels more instinctively natural to me

@buffalocauliflower
I haven’t felt any movement yet. I’m 18+5. First time mum too son I’m not worried as it probably is wriggling away I’m just oblivious.

@BuffaloCauliflower I had the same dream the night before last, it was awful so I can completely sympathise with you. I have my 20 week scan on Monday so this week is going to drag

@MrsR87 yeh I know it’s too early, but also I know how big baby is now and I feel like I really should be able to feel something that size moving inside me! 😂

@Wigglebum87 my scan isn’t for 2 more weeks! Feels like bloody ages. I’ve also got a little bump but it’s stayed the same for 2 weeks now. I know I’ll be massive in no time and wishing I could go back. All this time off to stew doesn’t help.

Yep @SqidgeBum I’m the same with the Irish family and no celebrating before baby is here superstitions! I know some people love them but I think baby showers are kind of awful 🙈. I have some friends who actually did a wedding style list of baby items they wanted people to buy for them and it just seemed so greedy. I felt really awkward about it because most of the items were really expensive!

@BuffaloCauliflower I'm exactly the same, I did bump pics at 17, 18 and then 19 weeks, the difference between my 17 and 18 was so much, then barely anything between my 18 and 19. Thought I felt some little wiggles last night but now not sure

Getting little sharp pains in the centre of my lower abdomen, pubic hair line level. Not awful or hugely worrying, but little sharp stabs intermittently. Had the same yesterday as well. Doesn’t seem to be round ligament pain as that’s the sides. Anyone had the same?

I'm getting really miserable with this pregnancy. I'm still suffering with some sort of infection but the doctors dont know what. I'm starting to worry its moving to my kidneys because I'm not feeling great, my back hurts I'm getting lots of cramps on my side, I keep feeling dizzy, burning pee, and I'm exhausted.
But I just dont know what to do. My midwife hasnt contacted me back again, and when she does I know she'll just tell me to go to the gp again even though they arent finding anything!! I'm so miserable!

Yes I'm 18+5 too and haven't felt anything that I can categorically say is movement. I've had twinges and pulls. I've had ligament pain and suffering from mild sciatica problems. I've had light sharp pains in my lower abdomen on both right and left sides. I assume this is the uterus stretching. It's all very exciting!! Cannot wait till my scan. 1 week and 6 days.... I think counting down makes it slower but not much else to think about given the circumstances we're living in. This is the only positive news me and family have right now. Everything else is sh*t

Oh it's awful when you have bad dreams like that, they really throw you! Hopefully the next few weeks fly by and then we can all relax a bit more once we feel regular movements (she says)!

I thought I may have felt my first movement yesterday but nothing since so now not sure. I'm only 17 weeks so quite early still so not concerned.

I'm also pretty anxious generally and said I wouldn't buy anything until after 20 weeks but there was a good deal on a next to me crib so that has arrived today and I seem to have an addiction to buying clothes too. I keep thinking I'm going to jinx things. Will try and hold off anymore until after the scan..