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 💛

They didn't give it to me for pain relief! It was something to try and open my cervix. To be fair it (or something I did) did actually work. I was mainly like FFS I don't care, do whatever you want at this point. OK homeopathy probably doesn't do anything but it doesn't harm either.

I can't empty my bladder/get rid of the full bladder feeling either, but I've had that for ages. If you're constipated, it can also be the bowel pushing on your urethra. Sometimes rocking back and forth about 30 seconds after it feels like you've finished weeing will get a bit more out. I am just averaging loo trips about every 30 minutes -_- and it's even worse when I drink properly which doesn't help with my dehydration.

My boobs touch my belly when I sit down XD I wear a bra in the day so not getting this but if you have a damp patch there from sweat/skin contact that might be the problem?

I'm not getting it Ready as my doctor doesn't advise it but I am in Germany and advice is a bit different here to the UK. I might get it after the baby is born.

@Ready2020 I was hesitant too. The advice I was given is that it is a variation of the flu vaccine designed to target covid specifically so the technology has been tested before, and if I would take it not pregnant then I should take it pregnant. So far im glad I've had it. The resources I found helpful were:

1. ROCG guidance: www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-and-womens-health/covid-19-vaccines-and-pregnancy/covid-19-vaccines-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding/?fbclid=IwAR140WBlu_ePrqYVCpjF8JT7GVWnpyXPls8l1JIrzQLCO4C8UN7CAl41fnE

1. A video on the Pregnant Then Screwed youtube channel called 'Pregnancy, Fertility, Breastfeeding, and the Covid Vaccine'. It's an hour and 20 minutes long but very reassuring.

1. A Facebook page called 'Covid 19 Vaccine - Evidence Based Group: Pregnancy, Lactation, TTC & Families' which has lots of people sharing their experiences, and mothers who have since given birth after having the vaccine.

1. Reading about the data collected from the 90k+ pregnant women in America who have had the vaccine.

I agonised and stressed about it for days (got my letter on the Friday and it was booked for Wednesday) but I am glad I've had it. I'm more concerned about long term affects rather than short term, but I just hope the science is known enough as they say it is

@Daffodil21 thanks for all that. I do find myself far more paranoid about getting covid now more than I ever did before due to the complications it can bring in the third trimester but then I just have this feeling of not wanting to expose my baby to a vaccine that's not had enough time to see the long term impact.

Hmm. I'll wait until I get my vaccine invite and see how I feel.

I ended the conversation with my OH when he said it's stupid not to get it 😐

I have come to the conclusion that the pain and sickness heartburn etc I am feeling is down to my gallbladder starting to play up again. So strict diet of no food or fruit and veg to try and calm it down before it flares up completely 😩 currently lay in bed trying to calm so I don't get an attack

Without wanting to cause any worry, it’s the AZ vaccine that is the same technology as ‘flu, and that is not the one being offered in pregnancy in the uk.

@Ready2020 I think it’s a balance of risks. Studies are suggesting that antibodies are transferred in breast milk (but vaccine itself is not) so opting to have vaccine soon after birth may still protect both of you (assuming you can/want to breastfeed)

@Ready2020 I’ve had my first vaccine (and boy did my arm hurt for 72 hours!) it was recommended by my dr, midwife and I mentioned I had the jab when I spoke to the fetal health consultant when I went in for reduced movements (I wanted her to know cos I was so paranoid there was a correlation despite it being over a week apart) she said not to worry and she was pleased to hear that I’d got the jab, that in her opinion it was a good thing. Coupled with the points @Daffodil21 made I decided it was right for me. I completely get being on the fence though. I think I thought I’d be more at risk with it than without. But then, some midwives and Drs aren’t for it, as Bertie says, guess worth going with your gut
And doing as much research as possible.

@BertieBotts lol your comment about not caring at this point made me smile. Well if it works it works!
Sorry you’ve got that pee thing too- you’re going more than me! Would drive me nuts. It’s odd as well cos I wouldn’t say I was constipated cos I’m regular but it’s just such an event every time, so wouldn’t surprise me if that’s adding to it. And the boob rash- my boobs flopped on my tummy pre pregnancy 😂 but yeah it could be heat or sweat rash, hadnt thought of that! Oh this whole process is so unglamorous!!!!

@HopefulB oh is it? The person I spoke to didn't mention that at all 🙈 I'm so exhausted thinking about it and it'a also too late for me now so I'm just going to hope that no long term effects are found. I did what I thought was best at the time but I did feel a little bit screwed either way!

@Ready2020 I feel the same about covid, especially now things are opening up now. As of midnight we are now in tier 2, and although I won't be going into other people's houses, pubs, cinemas etc surely it'll spread more 🙈

@lucyrp im sorry you're having to deal with that. It sounds totally shit. I hope it all settles soon x

@lucyrp ouch poor you! Hope you can relax and avoid a flare up. Good excuse to get a leg massage or something from your DP?

You can try a bit of natural talc or cornflour under the boob, this will absorb any sweat there and prevent it from chafing which might be causing the rash? Possibly all the moisturising efforts might actually be making things worse. Isn't pregnancy glamorous :o My boobs are normally man-sized so not big enough to droop really. Not perky as much as non existent so it's just a lovely pregnancy side effect for me. And my bump is really high up.

DS1 was saying that today about things opening up and the rates going up again.

I probably did exaggerate a bit saying I need to go every half hour. But certainly if I stand up I tend to feel like I need to go. I go before I leave the house and then I need to go as soon as I've arrived somewhere as well it's really annoying. Luckily there's no more toilet paper shortage!

@Ready2020 I was on the fence a bit, but today’s story about the link between Covid and stillbirths has swung it for me (check out BBC news). For me it was how confident I was that I could avoid infection by the time I give birth, and I decided with everything opening up I couldn’t realistically protect myself fully.

I certainly wouldn’t let anyone pressure me though - including my DH!

@Daffodil21 it's awful because while I haven't had an actual attack yet I can tell the signs of how I felt right before an attack and so I'm on edge now as to when and if I'll have an attack. If I do have an attack il end up going into hospital for pain relief and fluids as I could never manage them at home as the pain would go on for hours 😣

@Inmypjsagain I've always been told gallstones is worse pain than giving birth and I totally agree with that so yeah 😣 I'm constantly feeling fragile at the moment and the being sick randomly is probably correlating to that too

@Ready2020 I was offered mine and decided against it until baby is here x

@Ready2020 (and others for reassurance/ if still deliberating). This is the main source of info uk health professionals are referred to with regards the vaccine. It is updated regularly with latest info.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/984310/Greenbook_chapter_14a_7May2021.pdf

@Inmypjsagain unless you have close contact with animals it's unlikely to be ringworm and I don't think the right time of year. DH has a patch on his thigh. I get a boob rash which is hormonal, neither hydrocortisone or canesten help (which is what the pharmacist will suggest). I do as you do and moisturise, Sudocrem is great too, especially when itchy x

@Ready2020 the 'it's my baby too' line would irritate me like it has for you - until baby is born, it's your body so only your say counts.

I've had my first jab (AstraZeneca), which I did before the guidance changed for pregnant women. I based it on stories about the worse outcomes in pregnancy (for mum and baby) getting covid, especially in the third trimester - particularly as I don't want to miss all the socialising which will hopefully be possible in the next few months! As well as the research showing that antibodies could be passed on to baby, which for me meant it went from being positive for me and neutral for baby to being positive for both of us (I should say, the research was done with Pfizer and Moderna jabs but from my fairly non-expert reading of the research I couldn't see a reason that the same won't be true for AZ, especially as flu and whooping cough antibodies can be passed through. I imagine as more people have AZ they might research that too? But maybe not as they're now not advising pregnant women to have it).

Is anyone else having real problems with their hips at the moment? I was building flat pack furniture yesterday evening and I think all the twisting and lifting was a really bad idea, my hip was in agony and it made getting up to pee in the night an even worse experience than usual 😩

i was planning on waiting until the bby was born to get my vaccine but like @LottSE20 the recent findings published on the BBC are swaying me to get it. www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57193361

I got my text last night inviting me to book - i've not yet but think i will

Arg got my vaccine letter through the post today! Though the date of vaccine is day after we move house so not ideal anyway as its over an hour to get back to the vaccine centre.

I'm so confused what to do 😭 It feels quite unfair that we need to choose between potentially getting covid or taking a vaccine that's not been around long enough to really know the effects on children in the womb.

@biscuitcat my hips were very bad on Thursday after a very long day driving to Glasgow. After a day rest they got better. We're packing today so I think lots of rest between boxes will be a good idea. Not sure what else can be done apart from rest and gentle stretches on the birthing ball.

Its hard to make the decision for the vaccine, as it will be different for each of us. I was on the fence, but having done research into the facts and figures, I booked it and had it today.
The Dr was very encouraging and advised me to have my 2nd after 8 weeks rather than 12, so I will have full immunity before due date.
Like others have said for me it is the risk of getting covid in 3rd trimester and the known risks of premature birth, ITU stays and being more unwell.
But everyone has the right to their own choice.

Has anyone had a high white count? Had my bloods done on Wed got a phonecall today to say white count is raised. Urine sample had been sent away as the dip test showed signs of infection but it came back clear today. Been told to get bloods redone on Tuesday.

Re vaccine I've had my first one 2 weeks ago now and other than a sore arm had no other side effects. I was really unsure also whether to take it or not as I was worried I'd blame myself if I had it and something went wrong (even though logically I understand it would be unlikely to be caused by the vaccine.) someone pointed out to me though that not taking the vaccine is also me making a choice to do something so would I feel differently if I chose not to take vaccine and then despite best efforts caught covid.. When I thought of this I decided the risks from covid to pregnancy were higher and I felt happier knowing I took the vaccine to try and reduce that.
It's a very personal decision to take though.

@Smurf123 not me personally but a friend had a high white count before she was due. Levels did go down quickly though, was probably due to a cold or mild infection but she was able to gave the home birth which might have been at risk x

@Smurf123, mine were slightly above ‘normal’ at booking and midwife reassured me that WBC count is higher in pregnancy.
Also WBCs fight infection, so worth reminding the team you’ve had your vaccine as I wonder if it could be a normal response to that, and just due to timing?

I've just done the baby academy course - thanks for the suggestion @Smallbean27. A few people asked her about the covid vaccine and she said it currently wasn't recommended for pregnant women 🙄 the first person who picked up the phone at the hospital when I was trying to speak to my consultant said the same thing to me as well - how can they not be up to date?! Anyway, I emailed to say it is being offered and a few other people said the same. Overall it was a good course though!

@Ready2020 such a hard decision isn't it. I definitely got really stressed out over it. Either way it feels like we're potentially putting our baby at risk. I am glad I've had it now though.

@Smurf123 mine were elevated earlier on, but not now. there wasn't an infection and for me it was likely to be because of the steroids I was at the time. My midwife did say it can just be pregnancy that elevates it, so I hope it's nothing more for you x

Thanks all hopefully it's nothing..
@HopefulB I didn't even think maybe it could be vaccine response? I'll mention it Tuesday and see. They didn't seem overly concerned and were happy to wait since I'm seeing consultant on Tuesday anyway though they did phone me on a Saturday about it

@Daffodil21 glad you enjoyed the course!
Our NCT has just been moved online so we are cancelling and may do the full baby academy day instead.

@Daffodil21 yes I did the 10-12 am baby academy course too. It was good.

I cancelled my antenatal course too and will probably do the baby academy course.

Re the vaccine I too haven't taken it and as the other women said it is a personal choice. My MW asked me to refrain from taking it unless I'm customer facing. However, if we feel safer with it then we should take it for sure x