🍼👶🏼👣 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! ❤

Oh I know I should really but I just can't bring myself to, I don't blame anyone else who does though obviously.

I don't personally know anyone whose had it in pregnancy but my friend is pregnant and had it prior to pregnancy. Loads of pregnant women have had it during pregnancy though. Rationally I'm sure it's fine but then when it comes to me getting it I just don't feel comfortable with it at the moment yet.

Ahh which pram did you order? I remember buying ours hah. We have a Cosatto Wow travel system and still use it sometimes, it's great and I'm actually looking forward to being able to use it more again with this baby!

I've had my first vaccine while pregnant (when I was about 18 weeks ish). I weighed it up and for me the benefits outweighed the uncertainty but I appreciate it's a totally personal choice.

Not sure if the pram question was to me!

But if so we ordered a bundle from Mamas and Papas as it was half price at the time, you get a lot with it so thought it was a good deal it just felt nice in the shop too and easy enough for me to handle I hope

It was this one if links are allowed!

www.mamasandpapas.com/collections/baby-travel-sets/products/flip-xt2-fossil-grey-8pc-complte-aton-5-526982203

@summerhillgang Awww congratulations!! How are you wedding plans coming along? We've changed our plans three times now (mainly due to Covid) so now the pair of us are eloping instead. We've booked an apartment for three nights and are getting married at the local registry office. Our photographer is coming with us and we're just going to spend a few hours going around in her car and taking pictures in places that take our fancy! I cannot wait!

To be honest, if your friends are saying you're crazy, chances are it's because they're probably a bit jealous!

I'm stopping after this one, my DP has already offered to get a vasectomy. This pregnancy has done me over and to be honest I don't know how I can cope with another 12 weeks of this. My PGP is horrific at the moment but I dont have time to be going for physio 😩

You poor thing, I hope you're feeling better now. I'm not convinced by the current data on getting vaccinated whilst pregnant, but it's totally personal and I think if you're classed as vunerable it's probably worth going for. I'm a low risk pregnancy again so for me I'm just laying low until I'm due. Then I'll get vaccinated once baby arrives. X

Hi all - I’m having a little boy via ELCS on about 7th Oct - DD will be 28 months. Pregnancy is very different when there’s a toddler in the mix, isn’t it

@summerhillgang I’ve had my first dose of Pfizer and will get the second in the next couple of weeks. I was on the fence about it for a while but as my DP commutes to work and DD is at nursery, isolating from the rest of the world wasn’t really an option. And now Delta is spreading so quickly it felt like the benefits outweighed the risks.

I found this thread useful when weighing up whether to get the vaccine now or wait: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4254451-Vaccine-should-all-pregnant-woman-get-it

@Tulipmonster welcome hun and congrats. Oh yes, different kettle of fish when there's a toddler to look after. I miss being able to go off and nap 🥲 I literally dont know where I'm getting my energy from!
Any particular reason for having a section this time?

@MyGrassIsBrowner oh I'm sure the next dd will be a great sleeper too! My daughter turned into an amazing sleeper from around 5 months she can sleep for england still, the milk allergy was quite honestly horrific I don't know how I got through it but if ds one it I'll be more prepared.
@MeadowHay congrats on your pregnancy! For some reason this time round my bump is alot smaller I weigh heavier than I did 6 year ago though so Mayby I havnt noticed the dramatic weight gain I did with my first, I cannot stop eating though this time around I've never been one for chocolate but the "baby" (me) is loving it 😂.
@summerhillgang congrats on your pregnancy ! I think having a home birth will be lovely ! I wish I was brave enough to have one for my second this time but I'm hoping for a nice inbetween of using the mlu this time. I had cold for around 10 days I recovered last week and it's awful being poorly when your pregnant . I'm a director of dh company so won't be going on maternity but I only do payroll and invoices etc so it's something I can still do quickly and easily, im 90% a sahm. Tbh when the kids are really young I think I'd prefer a nice 40 hour a week job for a break 😅

@Anynamenottakenplease congrats on your pregnancy ! I'm sure your first dd will get used to a new baby quickly , hearing about kids tantrums is taking me back to when my dd was a toddler and how I have it all to come again shes 5 now so I've had it easy going for a while that will soon change once ds arrives 😅

@pixiedust21 congrats on your pregnancy! Oh your close to me I'm due 23rd (26th if we go by the ivf dates) I ordered mine too there was a 6 week wait so thought I'd best get it ordered I've went for the egg2 This time.

@Tulipmonster congrats tulip on your pregnancy! Hope everything is going well, I think it'll be a lovely gap to have between kids your dd will understand more and help with things like passing nappies etc.

Anyone else absolutely dying in this heat??

I'm sat here with curtains drawn and fan on. It's too much combined with the remnants of the flu. @queenie273646 hope you are feeling better 😊

We did all our baby shopping yesterday and that made me unbelievably excited! We got the Joie Finiti pram which is like a cheaper version of the Nuna Mixx Next. I'm prob going to do baby wearing whilst they are new born though.

I begrudgingly booked my first jab for next Wednesday. Was completely against it until recently - we've moved to a town from a very rural area and my fiancée is going into work in London a lot more, plus we have neighbours now who keep coming over (annoying) and there's just loads of nice restaurants I want to check out lol and would love to start swimming in third trimester as now have one down the road. Thanks for the thread @Tulipmonster

@MyGrassIsBrowner wedding plans are coming along ok, invite is being printed as we speak. Booked venue, caterers, furniture, some entertainment, registrar etc - next to finalise tableware and florist - obv will wait till after the baby is born to figure out dress.

Sorry for the delay in replying! How is everyone feeling and coping in the heat? I'm a sun worshiper so I'm making the most of today, it is bloody hot though! I went out this morning and bought a paddling pool and that's where I've sat all day haha it's a god send and the best £18 ive ever spent 😁.

@lockdownbabyx I'm usually also a sun worshiper but I do struggle with it whilst pregnant. We've been out all day but a lot of it was inside and/or in the shade. I can't manage atm sitting out in this sun I keep feeling faint and horrible which is not like me at all I usually love hot weather! But I was like this in my last pregnancy too (June baby). I still feel really hot even now we are home with all the windows open and some of the curtains partially drawn. I haven't drank anywhere near enough today though so trying to make up for it now glugging loads of water.

@summerhillgang aw I found shopping for my first really fun and exciting too. This time the list of things we need to buy for no.2 is just an additional stress on a long list of things we need to sort out before their arrival when we are so time stretched with work and our toddler eek. We obviously don't need loads though with it being our 2nd. I found someone in a local Facebook selling group selling a Lascal Maxi buggy board secondhand for £20 so have messaged her and hopefully DH can go pick it up sometime soon. DD still uses the buggy a lot so definitely need a board for her although I've heard they can make the buggies really tough and awkward to push so we will see how that goes I guess.

@queenie273646 ahhh I am a major chocoholic and always have been however have been v close to putting on more weight than is healthy with this pregnancy so having to rein myself in a bit unfortunately! My blood sugars were also very close to the GD threshold in my first pregnancy too so mindful of that as well.

Need to call the GP practice this week to arrange my whooping cough vaccination. I've had to cancel it twice already, first time I double-booked myself with a midwife appt that ended up being cancelled anyway and second time we were isolating as DD had a temp. Third time lucky I hope!

@MeadowHay aww make sure you look after yourself and keep hydrated! no way would have been able to sit out today if it wasn't for the pool, I've sat it that all day. It was sweltering wasn't it. Hope you're feeling better now xx

Heya ladies! Oh my god this heat.... I'm so over it. 😔
Feeling strangely a bit depressed at the whole 'freedom day'. I'll be honest I'm petrified about going into another lockdown when bubs is due. I had my first DD in the first lockdown and it was hard going. I was abruptly woken by two drunk women getting out of a taxi at about 3:15am screeching the street down.. not happy 🙁

I struggled on Saturday with the heat im now all the way up scotland to spend some time with Dh I must say it's a nice cool 17 degrees with clouds up here ! I'm exhausted thou pulled up to the apartment and there was a party going on the top floor not ideal when it's midnight and you've drove for 6 hours with a 5 year old , we managed to get a refund thankfully and are heading to a hotel tonight instead I'll be glad of the room service options there and a good nights sleep didn't sleep well on Saturday at all due to the heat! Hopefully if anything Itll just be restrictions I don't think they would get away with another lockdown now most have been jabbed deaths are low what more can we do ?

Ugh I'm jealous. I'm North Lincolnshire and the heat is set in for the next week and I'm so over it now.
That's so shit but at least you got a refund I guess! But yeah not what you need after a long car journey.
I think the way the government have made last minute U-turns throughout this whole shit show, nothing would suprise me anymore. It's certainly making me more inclined to attempt a homebirth this time though as I dont think I could cope being without my DP. My local hospital have just announced they aren't lifting any restrictions they've had in place previously.

@MyGrassIsBrowner same here, postnatal visiting is limited to one visitor on a pre-booked 3hr timeslot each day. With my first I was only in one night and because of my poor mental health (I was known to the perinatal MH team) they let me have a side-room and let DH stay the night with me which was great and a good experience. This time I honestly think I will self-discharge if they want me to stay without him, I just can't do it. One of my anxiety triggers is medical settings as it is, particularly hospital wards and I'm autistic and just cannot cope with the noise and lights and everything about being on a ward nevermind having just given birth and having a newborn to care for too. Literally the only way I'd be staying in is if I was severely ill tbh. Luckily my DH is a physician associate so would be able to care for me well at home too and I'd be confident if there was any issues arising he'd pick it up and get me medical attention quickly as well. I don't want a home birth though because of DD being around, I'd find that really really stressful so need to be in the hospital away from her haha.

@queenie273646 ugh what a palaver! Glad you were refunded promptly though.

Anyone else really struggling to sleep atm? I'm assuming it's the heat. Couldn't drop off til about 2am then up at 7.30 with DD and started work at 9. Shattered!

@MeadowHay it's really sad isn't it. Ours only get a 2hr visiting slot and even then I think the midwives are quick to usher them out once their slot is up, and they have to provide a negative Covid test on arrival. I went in for reduced movements recently, really could have done with my DP there, he dropped me at the ward door and I got an abrupt "NO PARTNERS ALLOWED." I said I know, he's only dropping me off at the damn door! I get why they have to do it, I really do, but those of us who struggle with mental health, it's really horrific.
I'm actually scheduled for a section (maternal request) but I'm reconsidering now and going to see my midwife on Wednesday and I think I'm going to cancel it and go for my original plan of a homebirth.
My DD sleeps through all sorts so I'm not too concerned of having her at home with us when I give birth. I'll scream into a pillow 😂

@MyGrassIsBrowner oh no does that mean they won't allow any visitors? I know my hospital has only changed in June so now u can have one visitor visit once a day for a few hours but it has to be the same person each day and partners are aloud to stay in the mlu I think , I considered a home birth because of covid and the masks and all the rules and if I was stuck in hospital I didn't want to be stuck there on a ward alone I was in last time with my dd for 4 days and it was awful when your on a ward with 6 other mums with their babies and u just want to be home with your Dh and new baby.
It's been a lovely 17 degrees here today and I must say a lot of people are complaining how hot it is i don't think they would know what to do if it reached 30 degrees up in Scotland , I've had a staff member bring me an extra fan as she saw I was pregnant and said it's best to have a few in the hotel room 😂 I'm glad I'm uo scotland for the week as after Saturday I could not handle the heat! I struggled to sleep much on Saturday night and on Sunday I felt quite unwell at points from it.
@MeadowHay Oh I hated being in hospital with my first dd I was stuck on a ward for 4 days and it was awful . Hopefully everything is plain sailing and you can get a nice easy quick discharge after birth im hoping the same for myself this time!

@queenie273646 I'm fairly sure they can be there during active labour, and then stick around for an hour or so then they're chucked out. Then there are 2hr slots they have to book in advance and provide a negative LFT before entry. It's all a farce really and we'd have to take into consideration childcare as you cant bring in children 😒
I hope the temp starts dropping here as I'm so over it now. I woke up at 4:30am absolutely sweating my tits off and on my back, so now my backs in agony and I couldn't get back to sleep. Looking at DP all peaceful like.. I want to put a pillow over your head right now 😆
Got a lot to discuss with my midwife tomorrow which I'm looking forward to tbh. Feel like I've been forgot about atm as they seem to just leave you to it with 2nd baby haha!

@MyGrassIsBrowner it's all so sad really about birth partners only aloud for so long or not at all after the birth especially if you have to be kept in for any reason. How did things go with the midwife ? I saw a midwife once for bloods at around 10 weeks then nothing until 24 weeks which was just a quick urine sample and baby's heartbeat apparently it's same again at the 28 week one but they'll take my blood and measure bump aswell, I think I'll end up with extra growth scans by bump doesn't seem big at all this time round. I've sailed through this pregnancy so far until this week..... im really starting to feel the back pain the aches and now the leg cramps have started during the night which are horrific I had the same when I was pregnant with dd and was hoping I wouldn't get them again the joys of pregnancy! I honestly already started thinking about an epidural just from having a leg cramp how will I cope pushing a baby out and feeling it all this time round 😂😂 I'm also starting to worry this baby wil be breech he was breech at my 26 weeks 4d scan and has been for a while I know they can move plenty of time left but I have a feeling he's going to be awkward hopefully he's shifted by my 32 week scan for my placenta . I feel like I'm worrying about everything this time around .

@queenie273646 Heya sweetheart, so sorry to hear your suffering. I too! This heat has been awful as well, I've spent most days sobbing. DP has been working shitty shifts (of no fault of his own) but it's just a strain on me with how I'm feeling and my PGP is playing up big time. I know what you mean about sleeping positions, awful isn't it. Takes me a good half hour/hour just to get me and bump comfortable.
My DD is trying at the minute too, she's wonderful but anything gets within arms reach and its either in her hands or mouth so I'm forever having to keep an eye on her.
So went to see the MW weds morning and had bloods/bump measurement taken, but she wasnt happy with bump measurement and it looked like 'static growth' since my last measurement. She wasn't hugely concerned as my bump is massive so she's obviously growing but she got me in for a growth scan yesterday morning. Anyway, all was absolutely spot on and she's currently estimated at 2lb 14oz so think I'm going to carry a whopper this time! no wonder my body is in bits!
They're really keen on me trying for a homebirth, they have a dedicated homebirthing team but my town is pretty small and they dont do many so it's a treat for them, lol. I've met a couple of the homebirthing team already but she's got me booked in the 12th August to meet another one. Said she wants me to meet as many of them as possible before I'm due so that at least I have a rapport with each of them depending who's on call at the time.
I've also been thinking about how the hell I'm going to cope with the pain of childbirth when I am so uncomfortable right now as it is. But she said I can hire a tens machine and they'll get the gas and air to me as early as possible. So I'm definitely re-considering my plans at the moment!
Hope everything is alright at your growth scans, still so much time for them to turn yet though so dont panic too much. This one was actually transverse during my scan 😆

Hi ladies!

Due end of October. Just wondering how and when they decided to give you growth scans? I had our 20 weeks scan at the beginning of June and told I was low risk so wouldn't see them again. I am sure this is normal but apart from a heart beat doppler at 24 weeks, it feels so strange to not have another proper appointment!

@Juicytoot287 Hiya!
They'll generally refer you for a growth scan if they're concerned about babies growth or because you've reported a concern were they would prefer a scan just to check on baby. They're not routine though.
If you're low risk they tend to just leave you to it. You may see the midwife around 34-36 weeks to discuss your birth plan though!

@Juicytoot287 I'll also add, they should be offering you a MW appointment at 28 weeks as they will take bloods again.

Hi @juicytoot287 - growth scans aren't standard, they're only done if you have certain risk factors. I only had the 12 and 20 week scan in my first pregnancy and no more. In your second pregnancy you get seen even less if you're low risk - Ive only had 2 face to face appointments midwife so far at 29 weeks this time around.

I had my second appt today, it didn't go well! Our hospital have an electronic notes system however my midwife was expecting me to have been given a printed growth chart at my 20 week scan, which I wasn't, and she couldn't find one on the electronic system. She rang three different departments at the hospital for advice and none answered. So she took my fundal height measurement which was only 26cm but couldn't plot it anywhere yet. I'm anticipating I will need a growth scan tbh as that is pretty small but this arsing around will delay the referral too if I need one. Also she couldn't take the blood as I was too dehydrated so she has to come back Monday to try again. My fault though, I need to drink more! She also checked my referrals and my referral to the mental health consultant to discuss the possibility of an ELCS hasn't gone through either ffs. She said she'd try and sort it so I will chase her about it on Monday when I see her again. Nightmare!

On the plus side have had a lovely day with DD. Had pancakes for brekkie at the play cafe and she played there for hours with it being quite quiet, she doesn't like it when it's busy. Then after her nap we sat in the yard whilst she did loads of painting, we just bought the paints last week so it was a novelty. Then she had a bath and for the first time ever she didn't scream the place down whilst I washed her hair!

@MyGrassIsBrowner my PGP isn't great either. The midwife said she could refer me for physio but she basically said she didn't think they'd do anything really as she didn't think it sounded severe enough for a proper intervention which is fair enough because it is manageable still. And I already had a private physio assessment a few weeks ago and bought a support belt so there's probably not much else to be done really. I had one day a few weeks ago when it was so bad I was struggling to walk though and had to take a few paracetamol doses but most days it's nowhere near as bad as that. The midwife told me to try and sit on a birthing ball too so I will get DH to pump it up for me. I am really worried about pain relief in labour too, it was one of the things that contributed to my birth trauma last time.

How's everyone getting along? I am 30 weeks today and tiredness has really hit me like a truck this week. I am needing a nap from about 2-5pm and this is after 7 hour sleep at night. I hope this gets a bit better and I am trying to finish up work... only 3 days to go.

I have recently moved from Kent to East Sussex so met them community midwife here and she's lovely. Very warm and positive about home birth. My independent midwife is great and very knowledgable, I know she'll be amazing on the day but I do think the NHS midwifes around here are pretty epic.

On Saturday, we had our first NCT group, I wasn't expecting much tbh but it was actually really great and nice to connect with some lovely local Mums and Dads.

On Sunday, we went to London for a family birthday. There was a huge storm and a month of rain fell in a couple of hours. Unfortunately I took a fall (on my bum) and was absolutely distraught. We had the dog with us so couldn't leave her so decided to wait to visit hospital until we got back home to Sussex. It was impossible to leave London as so many roads were flooded so took us 4 hours to get back, got dog in the house and fed, then straight out to the hospital. They were really good, and baby was moving loads more than I could feel. I have an anterior placenta so I think I miss a lot. After a couple of hours we were discharged around 11pm so got into bed and just had a bit of cry.

Having annoyances this week with sorting out my maternity allowance. I am self-employed and it seems HMRC didn't have me down as self-employed 😵‍💫 despite me doing tax returns for the last 3 years. Not sure what my accountants have been up to lol. Anyway after a few hours on hold today, I think it's sorted.

It's my birthday tomorrow! We're going out for some nice food in the evening. I've also had a card and present (pretty weird presents but fine) from my Dad for first time in about 5 years. Long story short, he's not a great Dad and we can't stand each other. Seems like he's trying to be part of my life again in lieu of the baby coming. Not sure what to make of it or how to respond. Hadn't even intended to invite him to our wedding (although that's not for another year). Hmmm. I guess I owe it to be my child to make an effort so they can know their grandfather but I also don't really like him! He's never been great for my self-esteem whenever he's been in my life.

Anyway, sorry for over sharing! X

@summerhillgang Hiya lovely. Gosh, sounds like you've had a right crazy few weeks. I'm 29+4 now. And I have to say, I am struggling too. Tiredness is REAL and I feel guilty as all hell for my 15 month old DD, she's the love of my life but she's testing me at the moment. Little things like having to think about preparing her food during the day, whilst making sure the dogs water bowl doesn't end up flooding the kitchen, is all just becoming overwhelming for me. How women have multiple pregnancies and come out the otherside unscathed is beyond me. Final straw for me was my poor dog shit and pissed on my DD's playmat yesterday whilst we were upstairs having an afternoon nap. Loads of her books and toys had to be binned and I flew off the handle. Had a total meltdown and I'm talking falling to the ground in a heap of tears. Books and toys got lobbed 100mph out the back door. DP had to come home from work and he's having the next few days off cause I'm just not coping well, like at all.
Dog has gone to DPs parents for some restbite and attention he deserves. I went to bed at 4pm today and didn't wake until 8pm, dont even remember falling to sleep. And I'm still tired.

I must say I am also having great experience with my midwives too. We have a dedicated homebirth team in my town and they are keen go get me to meet all of the ladies who are on call, so I've got a fair few appointments coming up which I'm pleased about. I also went in for reduced movements a few weeks back and had to go for a growth scan (I'm really big atm) baby is absolutely perfect, estimated at 2lb 14oz so got a feeling I've got a biggie this time.

Argh it's so awkward with your situation with you father isn't it. Maybe let him in but be very cautious and take things slowly. If anything just do it for your childs sake and let them make their mind up about him as they get older.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY for tomorrow ❤ Hope you have a lovely lovely day. You deserve it. X