Due August 2021 - over half way!

[Daffodil21]

@wimbler - EDD 29 July, surprise 💛
@Champson - EDD 22 August (but really June/July), TBC 💖💖💖
@coffeeandrainbows1- EDD 4 August (but most likely July), Boy 💙
@Jessicapebbles - EDD 5 August (but having C-section at 39 weeks, so really July), Girl 💖
@Smurf123 - EDD 5 August (but likely to be July) 💛
@WhatEvenIsSleep - EDD 2 August, Boy 💙
@ready2020 - EDD 4 August, Girl 💖
@Xaxnxdxrxexaxandrews87 - EDD 4 August, Boy 💙
@Smushty14 - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Rattyclife - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Dia12 - EDD 8 August, Girl 💖
@Biscuitcat - EDD 10 August, surprise 💛
@ElonaWise - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@Runnergirl123 - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@PurplePansy05 - EDD 12 August, Boy 💙
@Srtdr - EDD 12 August, surprise 💛
@Daffodil21 - EDD 12 August, Boy 💙
@Inmypjsagain - EDD ???, Boy 💙
@BananaHammock23 - EDD 13 August, surprise 💛
@MrsB2019x - EDD 13 August, Girl 💖
@Magik01 - EDD 13 August, Boy 💙
@Aaaaa1519 - EDD 13 August, Girl 💖
@Carefree1 - EDD 15 August, Girl 💖
@DressyGerbera - EDD 15 August, surprise 💛
@lucyrp - EDD 16 August, undecided 💛
@BertieBotts - EDD 16 August, want to know! 💛
@WolfMother326 - EDD 17 August, surprise 💛
@Caz1226 - EDD 17 August, Boy 💙
@Lille4 - EDD 17 August, Girl 💖
@Redskinsucks - EDD 17 August, TBC 💛
@RockyRockyRoad - EDD 18 August, can't wait to find out 💛
@Smallbean27 - EDD 19 August, surprise 💛
@WatermelonKisses - EDD 20 August, surprise 💛
@Alittlexmasmagic - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@Millymay13 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Whatshouldbemyusername - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@LottSE20 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Notinthestarsigns - EDD 23 August, TBC 💛
@Winecoffeeteamum - EDD 23 August, Girl 💖
@LaceyMermaid - EDD 24 August, TBC 💛
@Fran919 - EDD 25 August, surprise 💛
@ava50x - EDD 25th August, Boy 💙
@Ghhh - EDD 25th August, Boy 💙
@northernsquirrel - EDD 26 August, surprise 💛
@LyraShaeLilly - EDD 27 August, Girl 💖
@ame88 - EDD 28 August, TBC 💛
@diamante11 - EDD 29 August, Girl 💖
@HopefulB - EDD 29 August, TBC 💛
@CountryGirl84 - EDD 29 August, TBC 💛

I've been away for a bit - how is everyone feeling?

I'm 26w2d and definitely starting to feel big. Rolling over to get out of bed or off the couch suddenly a bit of a struggle, and feeling a lot of pressure on my pelvis. Last scan I had for cervical clinic was on Monday, and then told me the baby had turned head down, so maybe that's why I suddenly feel less comfortable?

I've finally started buying some things, including a bedside snuzpod that I love and a secondhand bugaboo cameleon 3 bassinet/ pushchair set off ebay, that was refurbished and serviced. Got a pretty good deal and met the previous owner, who lives locally, pleased not to be buying absolutely everything new, although most things will be.

Random question and hopefully not tmi: has anyone else been experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions after sex? I haven't had them at all during the day etc, just every time I orgasm Not very fun and doesn't exactly make me want to keep it up...

Yes braxton hicks after sex is sadly normal! I get them randomly throughout the day now as well, most often in the evenings. They aren't completely painless although it's more of a twinge than anything seriously uncomfortable.

@WolfMother326 i wouldn't know as OH doesn't feel right having sex with a baby in there 😏 he's well aware we can do it but just generally it freaks him out. So no sex until after August when clearly we'll be well up for it with a new baby 🤔

I had my 28 week growth scan today. They measured the head and thigh bone plus amniotic fluid and blood flow of the cord. All looks well except she's got a tubby belly apparently. Taking after her mum already... If she continues at that growth she'll be around 8 pounds 3 oz at birth, but I imagine these things change.

Oh and she's feet down now which accounts for the bladder kicks.

My next scan is at 32 weeks but between now and then I'll be moving councils so what's the bet it'll take ages to get me on the system.

@Ready2020 don't worry I wouldn't know either - I'm ridiculous and I've been far too paranoid to have sex so nothing since conception 😂 poor DH 😂

@wimbler hmm I'm wondering if I've had them and not noticed! I didn't know I was having actual contractions in labour until they hooked me up to the monitors so😳🤷🏼‍♀️

Just curious but you ladies that haven't had sex since conception so you generally have a low sex drive anyway??

I think I’m more up for it than DH at the moment which is unusual! Not sure it will last when i get a bit heavier.

@N1985T welcome and congratulations! I think it might say on your scan notes if you have an anterior placenta, mine does.

I can’t work out where baby is at the moment, I’m feeling quite a bit of movement all over in the last couple of weeks. It’s fun seeing my belly move for the first time too (I’ve got a reasonable layer of padding so wasn’t sure I would..)

Can I ask for an opinion on new/second hand mattresses? We’ve just bought a cot and the mattress looks pretty immaculate. If we buy a protector for under the sheet do you think it’s Ok to use it should I really buy new. It’s not so much an issue of money but it feels a bit wasteful.

And what about second hand bassinets on buggies or Moses baskets?

Thank you all for the sympathy - it feels better to know I'm at least not being unreasonable and hormonal! It was a bit rubbish, but I think I'm now planning on knocking off work a bit early as compensation (which will only make tomorrow busier, but I'll think about that then...)

@alittlexmasmagic I was really surprised they do it publicly! It can't just be me who gets incredibly stressed at situations like that, so surely they must get loads of false high readings? I'll try to put my big girl pants on next time and ask to do it in a side room, otherwise I'll end up having to stay for bp monitoring every time which I just don't have time for (especially when I know mine is totally normal - just not when everyone is watching!)

@WolfMother326 yes definitely have been having Braxton Hicks after sex!! It's so odd, my bump just goes rock hard - luckily mine aren't uncomfortable at all yet so it's more a curiosity than anything unpleasant.

@LottSE20 using second hand mattresses can increase risk of SIDs so I know I couldn't take the risk.
We will be buying a new mattress for this wee one for the cot and moses basket. Hadnt thought about pram but it was only used for such a short time by ds and never unsupervised.
Mil bought a travel cot she bought second hand for ds. We did use that mattress but it's one of those fully enclosed waterproof plastic mattresses - like in the hospitals.

@lucyrp to be honest I can't even remember what my normal sex drive was as we had been TTC for so long 😂 but yes, if I'm honest probably slightly lower than average. In my first pregnancy I had a bleed following sex so that's just taken sex totally off the table tbh. Even though I know it realistically wasn't anything to do with it!

@lucyrp this is an issue in my relationship generally as I've got a higher sex drive than my OH. He's been on anti depression tablets for all the time I've known him and it really makes his sex drive dip. Plus stress really puts a downer on him too and things have been pretty stressful for us too. Trying for this baby was the most sex we'd had in ages 😂

So since I've been pregnant I just generally help myself if I need to 😏😏 as I find it helps with stress release. But I did find doing that made me have a little bit of bleeding the next day (hardly any at all, a bit of spotting) so I stopped just in case.

We've made a promise though that once baby is here and we feel settled we'll start again and I'm kinda looking forward to it. 😊

What do baby's hiccups feel like?
Had a regular what felt like a pulse inside my tummy for about 5 mins. Didn't feel like any kicks i have had, wondering if it was that?

Lullaby Trust have retracted their guidance on second hand mattresses, they used to advise against them but they say now the evidence isn't clear or has been disproven or something. So you will see a lot to buy a new one, but it's not actually considered necessary any more :) Personal choice - I think I'd be happy using a second hand one in good condition, as they are very expensive, but some people won't want to and that's fine too.

@LottSE20 I was considering getting a new mattress for my new pram as it is second hand but as I'm sending it off for a full steam clean/valet I think it will be okay and I use Moses baskets sheets on pram mattresses anyway. I'm using a swinging crib I used for DS and will be using the same mattress I had for him.

@Daffodil21 oh yeah thag totally makes sense. If I had bled I would be cautious too. We had less sex in the first trimester as I found it so uncomfortable and not enjoyable. We did start having more second trimester but so much less than normal 😅

@Ready2020 same! I definitely have a much higher sex drive than OH now. But again I also know the other side of it as i was on anti depressants for my anxiety for a while and I also think my contraception affected my sex drive so when TTC it was like a new woman had emerged 😳😂 I used my vibrator once and then thought what on earth does the poor baby think of all these vibrations it csnt be good so I stopped 🙈🙈

@lucyrp that vibrator comment made me laugh 😂😂😂 that's exactly what I would think!

Apparently all the feelgood chemicals released by orgasm are good for them so if not too TMI - buzz away!

I remember trying to conceive after the first few months I started to properly count days and work out when was best to try and my poor OH had to eventually say please don't tell me when we'll be having sex, just jump me and we'll see how it goes 😂 I think he felt a bit of pressure poor thing.

@Daffodil21 i don't think of it normally but thought Jesus this really does have some go in it 😂😂

@BertieBotts I'll keep that in mind 🙈🤣

@Ready2020 I think everyone would have a heart attack if i attached my charts showing how many times we had sex every month ttc 😳

@Ready2020 every two days!!!!! Except when we conceived - I was exhausted by then 😂😂

Trying to decide whether I am experiencing heartburn or not. Don't know what it feels like but feels like before I used to get a gallstone attack, tight burning feeling in my chest 🤔

Yes that sounds like heartburn. In my first pregnancy I had never experienced it before and ended up going to A&E thinking it was chest pain! The receptionist must have mentally diagnosed me on the spot because she very gently suggested that I try next door out of hours first as "the wait would be shorter". Which I did. They said "We'll give you an appointment for four hours' time, but in the meantime, go home, take some gaviscon and if it goes away phone us and cancel the appointment."

I cancelled the appointment :o

@BertieBotts I remember my first gallstone attack I thought I was having heartburn and drank a glass of milk really slow and somehow managed to go to sleep only to be woken in the middle of the night with excruciating pain and thought I was having a heart attack. My Apple Watch kept telling me my heart rate was far too high and I was in so much pain. Ended up having an ambulance to the house and multiple ecgs and then blue lighted to hospital. Spent all day in and out of a&e for tests for them to tell me I'd probably just had a panic attack in my sleep and the adrenaline had woken me ...🙄 only to be diagnosed with gallstones a month or so later with the help of my mum. So I'm guessing heartburn is like what I used to get before a full blown attack 😖

Yes, it's not nice. Gaviscon is really helpful though!

@lucyrp I think I started getting a bit of heartburn the other day - like a hot burning sensation in the back of my throat and a little in my chest. Luckily mine hasn't been too bad yet so I've not taken anything, but DH suffers regularly so we're well topped up with the right drugs for if it does get worse 😂 not much fun though is it?

@LottSE20 my free swimming costume just arrived so it was legit!!