🍼👶🏼👣 MAMAS DUE OCTOBER 2021 👣👶🏼🍼

[MyGrassIsBrowner]

Hey ladies, thought I'd start a thread for all us mamas due October 2021! Whether you're on your first or your tenth child, let's share our journey together!

My due date is officially 8th October and this is my second baby girl 💜 My DD is 15 months old so I'm gonna have two under two.. god help me 🙉
I'm actually booked in for an elective section this time (reason being is that I have low grade rectocele prolapse and I'm petrified that another vaginal birth will make it worse) my first labour was 4.5 hours from start of initial contractions to birthing her - textbook waterbirth on paper pretty much. I am however starting to reconsider my decision and go for my original plan of a homebirth. DH has just landed a new job only 15 mins away so it changes a lot. Any other ladies looking to try for a homebirth? I know for me personally it takes a lot of the strain off finding childcare, given how quickly I laboured first time round!

Cant wait to hear your stories and share these last few months of our pregnancies with each other! ❤

@MyGrassIsBrowner They look great thank you! Did you go small? Do you use these instead of blankets for the start?

@summerhillgang I'd probably go for a small for your babas I can see a large not being snug enough myself but deffo have a look at the reviews and see what other buyers are saying!

@Juicytoot287 I've never bought them myself but I am going to this time. I'm torn though between sizes as my DD was 8lb 6oz and I think I'm carrying a biggie this time. My DD hated blankets and still does, but some babies tolerate them. Worth having blankets anyway, the cellular ones are fantastic!

@summerhillgang I'm leaning towards girl for you , especially with the bad morning sickness and the nub techs predictions. It'll be lovely finding out on the day I just knew i was having a boy this time from the scan pics and for how good I felt compared to when I was pregnant with dd.
Any one else just exhausted at this point the tiredness is really kicking in for me now I wish I could have a week in bed. I'm thinking about just getting a baby sling/wrap for around the house this time wish I had one aswell with my first as she would of settled much better.

@queenie273646 I'm utterly exhausted. Even harder when you're running round after another child as well. Well I just had a call from the hospital and they picked up low iron in my bloods so probably explains why I feel so shit. Funnily enough my midwife saw it on my notes yesterday and give me the iron tablets anyway so I was like thanks but you're a bit late on updating me 🙄 bloody mare

We had a stretchy wrap of some sort last time but it seemed so complicated to use! DH used it a couple of times and then switched to the Baby Bjorn carrier which he loved and used that loads. I didn't use it much because I found it fiddly at first (I'm autistic and my motor skills are poor) and I also suffered with back pain a lot for the first 6/7 months PP. So by the time I started using it with confidence she was starting to get heavy for me too especially as I hadn't built up the carrying weight slowly. I am hoping to use it a lot more with no.2 from the outset especially as we aren't buying a double pram and I don't drive so am used to walking decent distances atm with DD in the buggy as she hasn't got much stamina yet! Although it doesn't fit me very well though so I'd never be able to carry as much as DH does with it because it basically just doesn't go small/tight enough to fit me properly so the weight distribution is never really optimal. Fits DH well tho.

@MyGrassIsBrowner ah sorry you're feeling shite, hope the iron tablets soon kick in. I've been feeling grim today too, think my blood pressure is low. DD was asking for a nap so she's been down about ten mins so time for me to have a brew and choc think she's wiped from the super busy last week we've just had. House is a tip but I feel too dizzy and weak to sort it now.

We never got on with swaddling, we used blankets until DD was about 3 months old then switched to sleeping bags, but she was a summer baby born in a heat wave. With this one I imagine we might switch to sleeping bags sooner or even straight away depending on weight limits, will need to check. We've definitely got a large variety of different tog ratings in them from DD. We have a GroEgg in DD's room which we will move into our room when this baby is born and put a different simple room thermometer we have in the spare room in DD's room. I still use the Gro what to wear guide as guidance for dressing her overnight even though she's 3 and has a duvet now . Always been paranoid about it tbh.

@MyGrassIsBrowner at least they found the cause and hopefully the tablets will make you feel better soon . It's a different ball game when you already have kids isn't it im counting down the days until the schools go back now so I can have some relaxing days and I think I'll start getting the cot set up middle of september I was going to wait until around 37 weeks but I don't even think I'll have the energy by then !
I havnt tried swaddling either @MeadowHay think I'll use blankets again and then the sleeping bags it's usually around 8.12 pounds and over I think you can use a sleeping bag from I think different brands say different things though, im sure John Lewis used to say online 8.6 pounds but I can't find anything on it now.

@MyGrassIsBrowner I hope the iron tablets kick in soon, that will defo be a big reason you don't feel good. Low iron can make you feel like you have flu almost, achy and weak and very fatigued, just massively under the weather. Hope it makes you feel better, i think the positive change can be quite rapid 🤞🏼

I feel absolutely exhausted as well, I don't know how mums can do this. Thinking to myself, this is the easiest pregnancy I'll ever have (!) as if I am lucky enough to get pregnant again then I'll have a child as well next time. The first three months were unbearable, and I'm feeling really bloody fragile/vulnerable now esp after hospital scare. I look at my belly with a mix of awe and disbelief about how massive it is! And the kicks take my breath away sometimes.

Today took it out of me. Was up at 6:30am to view a house 45 mins away (am not enjoying any long car journeys at all at this stage), then to meet my cousin for lunch with her babies (ended up going to the wrong restaurant first off 🤦🏼‍♀️) and then have brother & sister in law staying tonight and had dinner out. Got a hypnobirthing class tomorrow AM too! Praying for some good sleep tonight 🙏🏼

Thank you ladies. The hospital contacted me AGAIN later on in the day, said I actually need to be on 3 tablets a day not 1.. I was like oh, thanks for that 👍 so hoping they start perking me up a bit as I've really felt awful and keep questioning myself as to whether I'm just being an absolute drama queen 🙄

Any of you ladies who have a sling, this youtube tutorial is brilliant, it's a really straight forward way of using it!

@summerhillgang pregnancy does some crazy things to your body and annoyingly it's not the same for everyone, with my DD I would say my pregnancy was a breeze in comparison, this time I had horrific nausea for the first 6-7 weeks and then I've had PGP start from about 20 weeks.
There's certain things you can do to self help but it's finding the ruddy time half the time. I can't even walk long distance so it's not like O can walk myself and my DD to take myself off to physio or anything cause I'd probably collapse on route 😆 good luck with the hypnobirthing class. I hear they're quite good!!

Xx

How is everyone? Hope your increased dose of iron tablets helps you feel better @MyGrassIsBrowner. My midwife is coming this PM.

My breast pump arrived this morning, the Pippetta one. DH and I also started to take some of the baby stuff out of the loft over the weekend and I've started an inventory to keep track of what we've got to see if we need to buy anything. So far it looks like we need a range of small size nappies as only had an odd few here and there left over. Also probably a few long-sleeved vests, a few sleepsuits, a few pairs of socks, a few tops and a few leggings/joggers etc. Unless there are more somewhere in the loft that we haven't found yet! Also got the pram bits out so need to call this local company I found who collect them and clean them all. I know we could do it ourselves really but it's not very expensive and we would really struggle to find the time. Finally, it looks like Cosatto don't make our infant carrier car seat anymore, which means the isofix base for it also isn't made anymore by the looks of things. I don't know if the newer ones are backwards compatible but I bet they aren't! I will be gutted if we can't do isofix, feel like it would make our lives so much easier. We didn't have a car with DD so we didn't buy the isofix base at the time. Now regretting that obviously but never thought in just a few years the model would end! I don't think I'd feel comfortable buying second hand either with it being a safety thing.

@MeadowHay Morning lovely. Been taking the iron tablets a few days now, haven't noticed any immediate changes per se but I think it can take a couple of weeks to really kick in.
How are you doing? My PGP is still playing up and I genuinely dont know how I'll get through the next 7 weeks 🥴
We also went up in the loft and got all of DDs newborn stuff down, I forgot how many sleep suits I had, loads with zips rather than press studs which I remember being a godsend!
Aww it's such a bummer about your carseat, how annoying. We just have the maxi cosi cabriofix with isofix base, the base does genuinely make all the difference, personally they never feel secure enough just belted in.
Worth having a look round some pram places and seeing if they've got any ex display ones as they usually discount them a fair bit.

How's everyone doing? Xx

We've also been

@MeadowHay oh no that's such a shame on the isofix base ! I know joie do some car seats like are around £110 for the car seat and the base together , I agree that the isofix makes all the difference feels a lot more secure for little one. I've went into nesting mode ordered some storage solutions from IKEA for a few of the cupboards yesterday it's due to come today so I'll be busy putting everything together today and tomorrow .
@MyGrassIsBrowner hopefully the iron tablets kick in soon , I don't know how your coping with pgp im hoping the next few weeks fly over for you , im starting to feel the strain now of the extra weight I think another 4 weeks and I won't be leaving the house at all apart from the school runs.
Me and Dh went for a spa day on Saturday which was heaven got a lovely pregnancy massage , heading down to Wales this weekend and then I'm going to try and squeeze in a visit down south to see my grandma which is proving difficult between the hospital and midwife appointments , she lives not too far from london so was hoping to take dd on the train to london for the day and do a zoo and gullivers world as-well , our bathroom should have the finishing touches done today ill be glad to see the back of the workmen as it's been 2 weeks with them in all day everyday and I want free rain of my house again! I'm starting to get nervous for giving birth now! I didn't have to feel the pain with dd as I had the epidural and this time I'm hoping to be in a pool with gas and air , although I might cope well on it I did have some when the epidural had shifted and it was heaven it really gelled well with me 😂 .

@queenie273646
I honestly think all my pain is being exasperated because she's currently in an unstable lie the little sod. Shes been transverse/oblique everytime I've been checked or had a scan and I dont see her engaging anytime soon. Now frightening myself with all the worst case scenarios like if I go into labour there's chance of cord prolapse so I'm like.. really dont need this stress right now 😑
Also being reading on here a lot of women are admitted at like 36 weeks if baby is still in an unstable lie as you need to be closely monitored. I dont think I could be apart from my DD that long it would kill me, then DP would have to have loads of time off work it'll just be a complete mare. I'm already getting niggles here and there and part of me thinks she wont stay put until my section date. My DD came quick when I went into labour so I'm on edge all the damn time.

Oh my god take my hat off to you for going places! I went to my local Asda and only walked around for about 20 mins and it genuinely did me over. I was super mobile with my DD right up until my due date so now I'm feeling like a complete useless bastard. Urgh.

Remember 2nd babies tend to come easier and faster, just get on that gas and air nice and early! The gas and air was amazing I actually loved it 😆

Will be such a nice feeling once your bathroom has been finished!!

@MyGrassIsBrowner oh she's being a little madame in their isnt she ! My ds is like an acrobat is sometimes head down mostly he likes to be breech, it's all so much to worry about isn't it I never knew about all the problems you could have with my first I was really naive and just plodded along and expected everything to be fine ! this time round im worried about my low lying placenta even thou it had moved abit last scan as That would mean c section then I started reading about placenta accreia and all those type of things and it's all a bloody worry isn't it! That's also a fear of mine if I had to be admitted and leave dd I don't think I could cope either . My first I could barely move for 9 month so I think I'm making the most of it this time round plus feel I have to make more effort to take dd out and about a lot with it being the school holidays and from the crap year we've all had with covid and being stuck indoors ! It will probably kill me but it'll be worth it. Hoping she stays in for you u til your c section date if not you'll have to get those legs crossed , would they do an emergency c section if you did go into labour before ? Have they got you in for any other scans before your date or is the midwife just having a feel of which way she is lying ? Could you not try and get the c section date moved abit earlier for bang on 39 weeks , I know my friend did she suffers from the worst migraines she has to get Botox in her skull at the hospital and they moved it from her due date to 39 weeks for her I suppose different hospitals have different policies though but it's worth a try !
Good news though husband has gave in and is going to be working away but he'll only be 2 hours from home ! So I'm a lot happier about that he switches in 2 weeks when we get back from Wales which I'm so happy about!

@queenie273646 I was exactly the same and my pregnancy with my DD was an absolute breeze. I was moving into a new house a few weeks before I was due and painting the nursery, this time it takes me all of my effort just to get off the damn sofa 😆 fml. The midwife said with 2nd babies they have a bit more room in there to slosh about so dont always engage as quickly as they do first time round, which doesn't help the anxiety 😆
Your placenta can hopefully still migrate a fair bit are they scanning you nearer the date to check? Mine was low and anterior but it has moved quite high up now so shouldn't be an issue if I go for section, the only issue will be the little madam as they'll probably have to do a bit more rummaging if she's transverse. Im honestly like, bring that spinal on I cant wait to be pain free for a few hours 😭
I see my MW on the 28th so I'm going to ask her what the deal would be if she is still transverse nearer my date. I am booked in for a scan at 36 weeks and I have a sneaky suspicion I should probably have my bag packed and ready to take with me, I've read again on here that some women end up being admitted if baby is still transverse at that point think it's the concern of cord prolapse if you go into spontaneous labour. Argh!
Sounds like you'll have some lovely trips with your DD before little one makes his appearance. Hey if you've still got the energy go for it just dont overdo it! (Easier said than done right lol)
So good that your husband is closer now too. Hopefully he's around anyway when your DS makes a move!

Ahh ladies try not to worry too much about all the potentials because we don't have any control over things like your baby's lie . My DD was transverse until about 35 weeks or so, she was finally head down at 36 weeks. There's still plenty of time for them all to move in to better positions. This one I have a feeling is now head down because I have started feeling kicks high up now whereas when they were breech they were all low down, but I have a growth scan Wednesday so will find out then. The midwife was meant to come to my house this PM for an appointment but still isn't here and normally comes between 2 and 3pm so I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't turn up. She definitely hasn't contacted me to cancel it either. It's also always impossible to contact her so if she doesn't come I have no idea what that will mean for my future community appointments as I don't see how I'd arrange them when she never answers her phone nor ever replies to texts and neither does the team's lead midwife or the community midwifery admin team...

Im not wanting isofix from a safety perspective as we've always belted in the car seats and we don't have isofix for DD's, but we have a travel system with the infant carrier car seat which I just think would be so much more convenient clipping them in and off pram and isofix base than having to belt them in each time cos it's a bit fiddly and we already have DD to strap in too. Although her car seat is permanently belted in so it's just the harness we have to sort with her. I don't want to buy a different one because this one is compatible with the pram base and I found that very handy last time for short trips just clipping it onto the pram. Proper pain though if we can't get isofix.

@queenie273646 good news about your DH working closer that must be such a relief.

@MyGrassIsBrowner my PGP isn't great but it's not as bad as it could be either, its up and down. I notice it's always worst late on Fridays and then on the next day - Fridays is the day I don't work and have DD on my own so that makes sense. Also the nights are pretty bad I took paracetamol just before bed last night and it really helped, I slept for about 5hrs straight which I haven't done in weeks. Don't really want to have to take it every night before bed but if that's what it takes I may have to because it's really affecting my sleep. With you on the 100 point turn to turn over in bed it's bloody awful! I can see you didn't get PGP first time round, neither did I so I am so confused about why we've got it this time?! I would say I was physically in better shape for this pregnancy than my first too!

@MeadowHay what model is your pram? It's suprising how many carseats now can be fixed to your pram chassi simply with some adapters! If you'll send me the model of your pram I can do a bit of digging for you? Gives me something to pass the time before I string up my teething DD who is now gnawing at my coffee table 🙃

I was also wondering why I've got PGP bad this time but I'm putting it down to the fact that my recovery was so shit after my DD I totally neglected myself between falling pregnant and my body was just a wreck. Probably not helped that there will only be an 18 month age gap between these two.

I cant believe you ladies are actually getting home visits from your MWs! Thankfully my community midwives are stationed on my street which they take pleasure in telling me every single fecking time I go 😆 think they're dissapointed I'm not going for a homebirth as I'm so closeby. I'm kinda like dont speak too soon knowing my luck I'll end up giving birth at home and she'll fly out 😆

@MyGrassIsBrowner aw thats super kind, it's a Cosatto Wow travel system - I've just had a look at the website and it looks like there's loads of newer versions like the Wow 2 etc but they don't make the original Wow anymore which is what we have. Also don't beat yourself up, as I say I was actually in better shape before I got pregnant this time compared to last time tbh I was doing a women's health fitness course and was just more physically active and in better shape and this has still happened to me too anyway! my midwife eventually came and she said it's because it's just harder for the body to cope when the ligaments have already been stretched out once before so it is more likely in subsequent pregnancies than in first ones. But she also told me there's nothing that can be done except she could get me a tubigrip support bandage if I wanted one so she's out of date and unhelpful with it anyway. My community midwife last time was sooo much better than this one...it is good having home appts this time though. I had them in my GP practice first time round which was fine it was only a 20 min walk. But this time we live in a different area and I'm with a different GP practice and it's tiny so the midwife can't do appointments there so originally my options were either have them at the hospital or have them at the sister GP practice which is about equidistant but harder to get to as there's no direct bus route. Then my MW offered to do home visits as that's easier for me not driving and having work and DD so I was like yes please! The only downside is she can't give proper appt times so I have to sit in all afternoon sometimes and things which is a pain on days I have DD with me.

@MeadowHay dont mention it!
K
I found these adapters...

www.babyplanetonline.co.uk/cosatto-multi-brand-car-seat-adapters-for-giggle-2-woop-and-wow

Theres a list on the description of what carseats it's compatible with 🙂 so just a case of having a look online to see of there are some good deals perhaps? Definitely worth getting the isofix base though it'll save you so much aggro having to belt it in constantly.

Ahhhh I see!! What a pain in the bum though having to wait in for her. It just means you cant make any plans. Although I love the convenience of them coming to your house though.
I think I could do with a support belt myself actually that sounds like a good idea! Might ask my midwife about that at my next appointment. Dont really fancy paying out for one if I can get one for free off them 😆
God this pregnancy is really doing us over isnt it. Roll on due date!! 😆 I'm honestly gonna be so relieved when she's finally out I tell ya! X

Ahh well after your hard work @MyGrassIsBrowner I spoke to Cosatto and DH and we've decided to sack off the isofix idea. We'd have to spend around £350 if we go down the route of another compatible car seat just to have isofix when we have a perfectly useable infant carrier car seat that fits on the travel system that we didn't even get much use out of with DD. So we are just going to save the money and belt it in, it's not very difficult to do. We are thinking of buying a new stroller from the Cosatto sale for about £120 though as our Joie Nitro is falling to bits and I don't think it would make it through the next baby's toddler years. Plus it only has a weight limit of 15kg which so far hasn't been a problem as DD is quite petite but this next baby might not be after all. The Joie Nitro is rubbish btw in case anyone has been considering it, I wish we hadn't bought it and had just spent more money on a better buggy in the first place!

Pregnancy massage was great and really helped my PGP, I could literally walk with so much less pain immediately afterwards. I can get one more and still claim the cost back through work so will probably book one for the beginning of mat leave. I was nervous as I've never had a massage before but the masseuse was really chatty throughout which helped me take my mind off my toplessness!

Deffo ask your MW about a support belt. I bought mine for £30 off a private physio, it's a Neo G one. I think it does help a bit, I seem to have less pain on days where I remember to wear it when I've been active. And I can't wait to not be pregnant but then I'm starting to get scared about the realities of newborn life especially with my DD around this time too eek.

@meadowhay Happy to hear you are sorted now! Better to save the money - Isofix may be useful but not worth a whole new system! We are fortunste that we got 2 isofix seats in our bundle with Joie but would not have been willing to pay additional 400 to make it work so I feel you.

How is everyone doing?

I have been in hospital yesterday with movements . Not reduced but just fainter. Anyway, hooked up and she started walloping me so that is great! Then today hit with a huge migraine. Called Triage as advised due to pre eclampsia but explained I got them at 14 weeks too and was in yesterday where they had urine and BP so we agreed to see if it goes away alone. Hate feeling like wasting time but seems to all hit me at once lol! Midwife did say that around 30-32 weeks there is a hormone surge that causes you to feel shit so probably that?

Glad everything ok @Juicytoot287 - but sorry you're experiencing a migraine. They are the worse. The only thing you can do is get lots of rest and try to sleep. Feel better x

I'm 33 weeks and feel like shite today! DH is really stressed with work. I urgently need to get my own car, it's causing arguments!

oh no! To be fair, I love having my own car but it is an additional finance we could have done without if I didn't work! It will take a big chunk of my mat pay from me

Hey ladies, just catching up at this ungodly hour. Had a real rough few days, sounds like some of you have too!
Absolutely in bits with my PGP and I'm fairly certain my bubs is still transverse, my bump is absolute agony and I'm getting to the point were I am genuinely struggling to walk. I'm so fed up, my poor DD is witnessing mummy crying at least once a day.. argh. I see the midwife on the 27th and I'm contemplating asking how much earlier they can book my section in for as currently I'm only booked in 4 days before my due date and I'm stressing out about going into spontaneous labour as I literally dont think my body could deal with me giving birth naturally again. Of course I wouldnt want to put bubs in any danger having her yanked out too early but I'm not coping well at all with this pain and paracetemol isn't touching the sides 😭

@MeadowHay No need to apologise, no point wasting throwing money at it when you wont be using it very long in the grand scheme of things! I totally dont blame you.

@Juicytoot287 Sorry to hear you've had to go into hospital, you cant help but feel like you're wasting their time but honestly it's better to be safe than sorry. I hope you start feeling better soon.

We're on the home stretch now ladies. Though that home stretch feels too long atm 🙈 xx

@MyGrassIsBrowner definitely ask midwife about it start crying and really say your in agony with pgp aswell , which you are , 39 weeks is fine to take baby out they say it's the best time as it's not too early. I've been in nesting mode and completed three IKEA furniture deliveries the past few days and now I've over done it and my body is aching, I've also got a mild cold but the stuffy nose kept me up most of last night and it is again tonight , im struggling now I want baby out just another 10 weeks to go for me now .... I'm hoping it will go quick.

@MyGrassIsBrowner Oh hun! You said your baby was measuring big I think so surely that could bring them forward a little bit - I think if they are tranaverse you have more leg to stand on too as they won't want to risk labour either!

@queenie273646 10 for me too! although... 7 till we count as full term?

The mix of excitement and nerves are kicking in now lol, painted nursery and need to order some furniture soon! The one thing about going to hospital is it makes you realise how badly you want to meet them! I am FTM so obviouslt bricking it, but then the thought of something being wrong makes all the anxiety of having a babh go away and you just want them safe and here!