July - we’re half way (thread 3)

[PeanutButterFalcon]

Spotted the last thread was almost full so started this one.

@Luckyelephant1 exactly, you have to make a big commitment to it, if you find it's not helpful or you want to walk around or something you can always just get out and try something else.

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE sadly no, my current midwife said that he wasn't quite big enough to warrant monitoring this time. Which has really worried me as I very narrowly avoided being rushed off for an emergency c-section. Luckily the doctor was held up and I got another 10 mins of pushing which got him out.

I was told at the time that if I ever had another baby I would need to mention it as they would probably need to induce me early to stop the baby growing that big.

So yes, I'm very nervous about the size and felt a little dismissed by my new midwife.

@Warrickdaviesasplates, my last baby was smaller than yours and i am seeing the consultant at 36 weeks to look at weight and discuss the birth, if you are worried please mention it again. I was warned before last birth that baby was large and was at risk of shoulder distocia (this didn't happen) and this made me very anxious while in labour

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE luckily he didn't get stuck by his shoulder but was stuck in my pelvis... I can't remember it exactly but I remember it hurt and people were starting to get worried.

What I also worry about is that I was sent for extra scans with DS to figure out why my bump was so massive (consistency measuring 4-6 weeks bigger than I should have been) and nobody thought DS would be big, so I'm worried that if I'm not monitored this time I could have another giant as I was so unprepared even with the extra check ups last time.

Thank you, I will definitely bring it up again. I thought I was maybe being too anxious as I have already been referred to a service to manage my anxiety during pregnancy so am finding it hard to trust my instincts.

You went through a scary, painful situation no wonder you are anxious, but you need to be able to feel more prepared this time and they need to take your concerns on board. If you measure big again then i would hope they would see weight of your last baby and put two and two together!

Quick one - to people who already have a baby and this is their second, third, fourth, fifth etc

Was there anything you would 100% recommended buying for your baby? And was there anything that you think was a total waste of money?

I know it’s all subjective but I don’t really have anyone to ask and would be useful to know from others experiences. :)

I love the perfect prep, but if your going to breastfeed then obviously that would be no use to you! Do not pay more than £60 for one as they are regularly on offer at various places.

I also really rate star wraps from tuppence and crumble although not so much for a summer baby, baby sleeping bags are much easier than blankets (aldis are fine but actual grobag keep nicer)

Don't get sucked into buying a travel system unless you will actually use the feature or its cheaper than an alternative!

Everyone raves about muslin cloths but ive never used them, i just use a bib

Babybaths are a bit of a pain in the arse, i gave up on these after dc2 and just use the sink / actual bath

Baby towels arent really necesary either

Fitted sheets are 100000000 times better than non fitted ones

Thanks so much @THATbasicSNOWFLAKE it’s all things like this that’s useful to know!

I’ve got a perfect prep as I’m hoping to do a mix of breast and bottle feeding and have heard people raving about them!

I’ll look into the grobags - it’s hard knowing what togs and stuff we will need while it’s summer but I’ll do some research!

Has anyone used a baby carrier type thing? We will be getting a pram but we have a dog and walk him a lot so thinking a baby carrier might be good for off road walks while the baby is small and it’s summer so it won’t get cold.

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE thank you. That's made me feel much better, not being dismissed with a "it'll be fine/ you worry too much" has given me a bit of confidence to speak to my midwife again. You are right, hopefully if I start measuring big again they will act on it.

@TiredAlreadyOhDear I used a FreeRider wrap with DS, found it really useful, I'm planning on trying a Kony one for this baby though as i struggled a little doing the wrap up if I was out on my own as had nowhere else to put baby. It might be worth seeing if you have a local sling library. They might be able to give you some advice even if you can't go and try any on at the moment.

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE please could you add me to the due date list? 27th july, 4th child.

@Fartymcfart I'm due the same date as you with child #4 as well! How old are your others?

Interesting to see others talking about exercise - I've been pretty rubbish ever since my morning sickness first came on and these days I probably do 5*30 minute walks a week and that's it. Have bought some maternity sports leggings in the hope it motivates me to get back into running, though I'm a bit worried that it'll be at least 12 weeks since I last went out for a run!

On a related note... is anyone else paying attention to their heart rate? I know it's supposed to be a myth that pregnant women should make sure heart rate stays

I felt the baby move for the first time this morning! I was lying in bed and it felt just like something small poking me from the inside! I wasn’t 100% sure it wasn’t wind/indigestion but then I felt it in my hand too! Then DH felt and he felt several kicks too! Surprised we could feel it on the outside but I guess it was just a lucky position!

I would also love a waterbirth as a long hot bath is one of my favourite ways to relax, I have one at least twice a week except in midsummer. My midwife hasn’t asked me anything about the birth yet though except where I’d prefer to give birth as we have quite a lot of choice around here with multiple hospitals and midwife units. When did you guys get to specify this?

I also found out today my best friend is due 2 months after me which is amazing as we’ve just moved back to near where I grew up and I don’t know anyone except her nearby. So it’s perfect if we’ll both be on leave together!

Hi @BewareThePenguins (love the username), I have 11, 9 & 7 year old, so a big gap this time round. What about you?
Are you scared about about no.4,

I'm much more anxious this time round as I'm fatter and older than my other pregnancies.

I had a water birth with my 3rd and it was lovely, just a shame the care was so awful when I was being induced that soured it for me.

I will almost certainly be induced this time around as they won't let me go past my due date, but I might opt for a Cs as I've been induced twice and I really don't want to go through it again.

Will add you shortly @BewareThePenguins

Has anyone else started having braxton hicks yet? I have had them pretty much all day if i sit or lie down

@notalwaysalondoner

That's amazing. Me too. It was definite little kicks/hits/some kind of joint haha. My other half came to feel it too. I was lying on the sofa resting and suddenly was like oh what was that?!

Lovely timing with your friend being pregnant too.

No BH for me.

Midwife hasn't asked me either but I intend to have a home birth with private midwives as the actually maternity unit is on a bad place and has just been downgraded to the lowest CQC rating for concerns about staffing and clinical care followibg some awful outcomes in the last 2 years. Absolutely terrifying. So am taking matters into my own hands out of desperation!

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE
Please could I be added to the due date list.
26th July. 1st child. Boy :)

Booked on free nhs antenatal and Nct just to meet other mums really.
Thank you

Super jealous of all these wriggly babies!! Anyone suffering the dreaded heartburn/ indigestion yet? It's keeping me awake at night! X

@notalwaysalondoner I haven't been asked anything about my birth preferences yet either, I did ask my midwife at 16 week appointment when this all happens and it's not for ages yet, I think she said after 28 weeks? I'm really hoping I will be able to get a birthing pool as in my unit there's only 2 and from what I've read it just depends if one is available at the time so it's kind of down to luck on the day.

@PurpleCurtain I think they say you shouldn't do that sort of activity for more than half an hour at a time but then I think there is also the advice that if you've were doing it before it's usually okay to continue. I think you just need to be mindful to stop if you get very early or feel lightheaded. I can't do much cardio due to PGP so I'm limited to walks anyway.

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE could you add me too? I'm due on 6th July, first child :)

Is there also a Mumsnet FB group for July mums?

Hi everyone, what a lovely thread, I want to jump on I'm due 26 July with my second and I have my gender scan in two weeks. So excited .

But last night I had the most vivid dream I was had a chubby baby girl so can't wait to find out now.

Has anyone had any strange dreams?

@CoffeeAndCaramel I've been taking prescribed omeprozole for heartburn since I was 8 weeks. I only need to take it about once a week now (it massively improved at 14 weeks) and expect it'll come back again in a big way in the third trimester! Rennie keeps it under check most days now.

@grace1989x I’ve been having such vivid dreams, much more than normal! Although last couple of nights have slept much worse, hope it’s not the start of a poor sleeping phase as I’ve been sleeping very well so far!

I’m going to try some online classes in antenatal yoga and Pilates, although they all seem to be early evening whereas I prefer to get exercise out of the way first thing in the morning! Guess there’s lower demand for antenatal classes in those prime slots though!

Hi everyone. I'm due 21 July with baby number 2. So 18+4 weeks. I'm hopefully going to find out the sex more because DD is desperate to know.

Hi everyone just after a little advice/reassurance! Have been very anxious this pregnancy after a MMC a couple of years ago but have managed to keep it at bay recently. Until today! I’m a FTM and am 20+5. Have been feeling movements for a few weeks now and they have definitely become more frequent and stronger over the last week or so. However, I realised I haven’t felt anything over the last 2 days. I know it’s important to be aware of reduced movement further on in the pregnancy. Is it too early to be worrying about this now? Has anyone else experienced this?

@LouLikesLollies I have experienced this. I am 20+4 so similar stage to you and also anxious because of a previous late loss. I started feeling movements around 16 weeks but it was not definite movements at all and very on and off. For just over a week I've been feeling more definite movement every day but it has definitely varied and I worried for a day when I didn't feel much but I reminded myself it had only been a week since I had even felt something at all every day. With my first baby I remember calling the midwife at around this stage and she said they basically don't take notice of low movement before about 24 weeks. Call your midwife if you are worried but most people only start to feel movement around about now so it's very unlikely it means there's a problem.