🍼👶🏼👣 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! ❤

Thanks everyone, think I just needed a rant 😂 just have to hope it's not a battle to get a refund too!

Think I'm going to start my hospital bag this weekend too, eeek 😬

Must be something in the air. I’m in a vile mood! 37 weeks tomorrow and absolutely ready to have this baby (or murder someone)

Yes @MyGrassIsBrowner I have the swollen feet and ankles too, it's worst in the evenings. Sitting with them up in the evenings and harassing DH for the odd foot rub here and there too . I have wide feet anyway but they're still visibly swollen and puffy. I did have this with my first pregnancy too though so was expecting it grr.

@Peacefulspirit I'm 37w too and feel the same from a pregnancy POV but still got so much to do in the house and appts and that so I need them to stay put another 2 or 3 weeks eek!

@MeadowHay I remember getting it with my DD too! Bloody awful isn't it. Haha I always get DP to give me a foot rub too 😂

I'm 37 weeks today too. Last leg now ladies I am so fricking excited to not be pregnant. I'm going straight on the implant this time! Not taking any chances haha!

How's everyone today? Hope you all had a nice weekend

I managed about 4 hours sleep last night, oh the pregnancy insomnia what a delight! 😑

@mooloop eurgh I'm the same but mostly because I'm being woken up by needing to pee very frequently the first half of the night followed by horrible PGP pain the second half of the night. Add in my DD shouting/crying/sleep talking sometimes and my DH's bouts of snoring plus noise from our noisy street outside... I really need afternoon naps but no chance of that happening with DD! My PGP is just getting worse and worse now as well, which is tough looking after DD. Already done a couple of hrs of walking with her today and we need to go back out in a bit really to get some shopping too. Am zonked and in pain.

How's everyones prep going? We are getting through jobs slowly, although now seem to have a fly infestation which seems to just be getting worse despite us taking action like spraying fly killer every night. It's grossing me out eek. My perineal massage is going well too, still kills eventually but I'm up to the 8min mark now. Colostrum harvesting has been largely a failure so far though which is a shame as I managed to get quite a lot in my first pregnancy . Trying not to stress about it but I did use some for one feed with DD last time when she wouldn't latch and I'd be a bit upset to have to give formula so early on if that happens again and I can't express but I know this is first world problems really and baby will be fine even if formula fed from birth tbh.

Caught up on all the posts! Hope you ladies are feeling much better. I was feeling pretty shit as well to be honest, turns out I’ve got Covid! 🙈
Managed to dodge it for 18mths and end up getting it at 35 weeks pregnant 🙈 just my luck!
Luckily I’ve just got on with it and haven’t had major symptoms, headaches are the worst part! Stuck in isolation now but means I’ll be working from home till my maternity starts 😁
All I’ll say is those lateral flow tests do not work! I’ve taken one every day for the past week, all negative then went for PCR and it was positive! Lateral flows still showing negative even after my PCR result! They’re pointless.

Oh @MeadowHay that sounds rough  PGP must be awful, I really feel for you ladies coping with that on top of everything else.

My prep is probably not going too great  but we've made some progress haha. Our nursery is fully painted now and the carpet is being fitted a week today. Just need 1 wall wallpapered and for the furniture (which is horrifically delayed, and I'm finding the customer service atrocious) and that'll be sorted. I had my baby shower yesterday which was lovely, and need to crack on with the hospital bag and antenatal classes now (yep I've left those this late!!).

I have a MW appointment on Thursday so I'm intrigued to see whether my bump is still apparently off the chart enormous or not 

@NW2021 oh no!! Just shows the LFTs don't work doesn't it I hope you're not feeling too rubbish and that LO stays put at least until your isolation ends!

@NW2021 jeepers creepers so sorry to hear you're poorly with Covid. Such bad timing but sounds like you're coping ok. I got a bad headache last week and used a balm called '4Head' from Boots which worked a treat, and good if you want to avoid pills. Hope you feel better and hope someone is making you lots of honey/lemon/ginger hot drinks. Manuka honey really seemed to help me turn a corner when I have Covid or whatever it was. Just sucks as you can't take any decent drugs to make yourself feel better. Hugs xx

I've had a bit of crap time over last few days. My private mid wife sent me off to get an ultrasound to confirm the baby's position as LOA. She had recently had a surprise breech home birth so I'd suggesting/forcing her clients have ultrasounds to confirm baby is in a good position. I am 1/5 engaged, maybe fully now, so getting to the head was really hard, the sonography had me on some bolster thing to tilt me and was pressing down so hard it hurt. Anyway she couldn't get an accurate measurement, so head came up as being in 5th percentile. Instead of reassuring me that it was impossible to get an accurate measurement when baby's head is low in pelvis (which I have since found out it is), she said she needed to speak to my midwife and flag this as a potential issue. This is obv my first baby so I am doing everything for first time but I took what she said with a pinch of salt regardless. I remember my last NHS scan at 32 weeks and the sonographer said the baby was very low then and too low to get an accurate measurement, wasn't even engaged, it was recorded at 35th percentile but she said it was likely bigger than that. Anyway I told my midwife this, and even though she said it was a tiny tiny chance it was true, she suggested I speak to a specialist. Ffs 🤦🏼‍♀️ I am just over the arse covering and lack of compassion for the mother's mental health. In my mind, even if there was something wrong with the baby, it's too late to do anything so no point me getting any more investigations when I am basically at full term. The baby is coming and we'll find out soon enough. It's just utter bullshit to say the measurement is inaccurate and then make clinical recommendations based on that. I was fuming tbh. All oxytocin killed off. I have since had reassurance from Sonographer midwives on my home birth group who say most NHS trusts won't take into account the head measurements in third trimester at all as they are so inaccurate. I am annoyed that I agreed to a pointless box ticking episode that has made me feel like utter shite! Never again. The lengths you have to go to get a home birth either on NHS or privately are just a bit nuts.

On the bright did get to see it's cute face (just about) and I defo think it looks like a girl ❤️ or just a very pretty boy, I'll take either.

After a day down in the dumps, my nesting instinct kicked in again and I'm focused on setting up the birthing space. Got fairy lights all over the room, and have stuck up some affirmations. I also made myself an oxytocin inducing playlist with lots of songs that mean stuff to me and fit the setting. Even got round to washing the dog. I'm also just washing everything in site.

Managed to blow up the Aniball to 20cm whoop. I do recommend it for FTM so practice control of pelvic floor. Colostrum harvesting hasn't worked for me so far sadly, but I'll keep trying, just good to stimulate the nips I think.

Feel so ready now. Even got a pedi and wax so I'm birthing pool ready! I'm hypnobirthing myself to believe that I am going on holiday to an exotic place with a private pool and loads of laughing gas on tap. Having some reflexology on Wednesday to try to kick it off xx

@mooloop @summerhillgang thank you ladies 🥰 it’s not been to bad to be honest, I just put it down to late pregnancy symptoms to be honest but turned out Covid. Headache has been the worst & It’s annoying timing more than anything! Little one is doing fine though, wriggling around like normal!
They’re going to send me for a scan just to check (post isolation) but to be honest Im not worried as baby has been moving fine.

You’re completely right with the scans @summerhillgang & the way they measure the bump and it can go up and down so much! I’m first time mum as well and I understand they take extra precautions nowadays which I think some mothers really benefit from but for me I think all extra checks etc and not much reassuring, in some cases, does as much damage especially to mothers mental health!
I’m not really looking forward to this scan just because like you I’m thinking what can they check this late on?! I’m guessing it will be more about the placenta & oxygen supply rather than the baby?! 🤷🏼‍♀️
Everything I’ve read and spoken to about the measurements agree they’re inaccurate in most cases compared to when baby arrives.

The one thing I’ve learnt from hypnobirthing is everything is your decision, if you want a home birth you can have a home birth! 🥰 and say no to whatever you feel you need to, you make the decision based on what’s best for you and baby.

Sounds like you’ve got lots planned to get the oxytocin going! 🥰

Oh ladies you have had a time of it!

We built the cot this weekend and finally feel prepared as best as we can. Just a few bits and bobs left which arent immediate needs but rather have in nlw than popping out.

Baby is still breech over here though so will do one last check next week and will need a scan to confirm now the position. They did want to oush back a week but I said no, I want the best chance to turn this baby so that means knowing as far in advance. If they left it a week I woild be gone 37 by the time I could do anything which is already full term. So just bouncing on my ball today and hoping she gets her but round the right way!

Having the cot up feels so very real! Going to wash the last few bits and start relaxing with some gentle cleaning next month or so now, just keeping on top of it.

Dreading covid but so glad you are coping well. I think the scan is good because they are just checking as we still aren't 100% on the effect so better safe than sorry and they can help baby if they needed. If partners are double vaxed do they still have to isolate and miss birth? That is my fear if I caught it.

@Juicytoot287 Oo I hope baby turns in time! 🤞🏻 Get bouncing on that ball!

I keep forgetting it’s so close to start of Oct, I’m due end of Oct so feel like it’s still ages away! Can’t wait for babies to start arriving 🥰

Yeah you’re right, better to be safe than sorry with the scan I’m just so chilled with it all at the moment I don’t want any bad news to make my anxious is my only worry.

My midwife said even though I’m positive if anything happens or pains etc the labour ward is still open to us, hopefully I don’t have to go there just yet though! Anyone who are double vaxed and in contact with some who is positive doesn’t have to isolate, only have to isolate if you’re positive (is my understanding for England I think?) so partner should be fine as long as negative test?
My trust/ward doesn’t require a test when you go in (labour) but if you’re there for longer than 4 hours you and partner/any birthing partners will have to be tested.

Just catching up ladies. I've been quiet as I'm being monitored for pre-eclampsia 😩 so I'm avoiding doing anything that's going to potentially raise my blood pressure. My blood pressure keeps soaring as does babies.
Mum has had to come over for a few days to help me with DD as I'm close to actually not being able to walk with this wretched PGP too so safe to say I'm miserable atm and wish they could bring my section forward but they wont. My belly is huge and my boobs are painful and leaking which if that doesn't tell me that babies ready I dont know what does. To top it all off, they cant even decide whether she is head down or still transverse (and that's after having ultrasounds) just getting sick of it all tbh.

Sounds like some of you are struggling too, these last few weeks of pregnancy can be brutal. Loving hearing the stories of you ladies prepping for your homebirths, sounds wonderful!!

I went for a walk today round the block with a slight deep down hope it would start my labour off, and just go into the hospital for my section sooner.. but instead I'm now laid on the sofa unable to move without assistant from DP or my mum, so did myself no favours at all! Argggggh lol.

Xx

@MyGrassIsBrowner I’m so glad your hospital stay was short and wasn’t anything serious! I bet you were so relieved to get home to your DD!

@NW2021 so sorry to hear you’ve got the dreaded covid! Glad you aren’t too symptomatic - the headaches were one of the worst things for me too when I had it last Dec, painkillers didn’t touch them at all, the only things that helped were staying really hydrated and lots of naps so I hope you’re managing to get lots of rest in!

@mooloop I’m at exactly the same stage as you preparation wise - had my baby shower yesterday which was lovely. Made a start on mine and babies hospital bags too and have started washing baby clothes (still overwhelmed by how tiny they are!!).

I’m going to start perineal massage and eating dates daily this week and then will have a go at colostrum harvesting in a couple of weeks. Still undecided whether to do an online birthing course or not - have any of you started any or done one previously? I’ve read the positive birth book by Milli Hill which was really great

Hi all! Haven't commented on here before but thought I'd say hello.

37+3 today and have section booked for next Thursday so I have 10 days left 😁

Nesting has fully kicked in and my house is spotless, but pretty sure it won't stay thay way! Just trying to keep busy for the next week. Next Tues we have to self isolate after our covid tests so its all getting a bit real now.

We are having a boy (well, hopefully 😂😂) and I have a ten year old daughter. Does anyone else have an age gap this big?

We don't have a nursery, our daughter only really moved out of our bedroom properly when she was about 7 as we co slept from birth and she always used to duck in and out of her own bed. I'm in no rush to get it ready at the moment when I think he will stay in with us for at least a year.

NW2021 I hope you stay well and baby keeps wriggling away. Make sure you get checked if you need to!

Xx

@Chameleon2021 welcome! I bet your DD will be a great help with the new baby 

Oh @MyGrassIsBrowner how rubbish  how far off your section are you now?

@HedgerowRobin I've done the positive birth company hypnobirthing course online, some of it was a bit out there for me personally but I liked all the sciencey bits about what your body does, I definitely feel a bit more informed after it! Still terrified though 🤣

@NW2021 Missed part of the thread, I'm so sorry to hear you've got Covid. I hope you're not suffering. It's literally my worst nightmare I am petrified of getting it myself.

@Chameleon2021 I'm also 37+3 today, booked in for section too! Slightly envious that yours is booked in earlier than me! How have you found your pregnancy this time round which such a big gap between?

X

@mooloop two weeks today until my section! Wish it was sooner now as I'm totally fed up, but also wouldn't want to pull her too early if it meant she had to have a stint in NICU so guess I just gotta try and power through for now lol.
X

@MyGrassIsBrowner so sorry to hear about the monitoring, it's so hard to keep blood pressure down when you've been alerted to it. I am glad you got some support with your little girl. I am sure your baby would be totally fine if they end up bringing the section forward. But hopefully it's not preeclampsia, assuming placenta was all ok on ultrasound. I started having a headache on Friday after my flu jab and was freaking out that it could be happening.

@Chameleon2021 welcome! I am 37+6. Am with you on the nursery, we haven't bothered to set one up, mainly cause we know we'll be moving house early next year and also that I have no idea how sleeping arrangements will go as I am a FTM.

@HedgerowRobin recommend NCT if you have time, I also did a hypnobirthing course on the app Expectful which was great and free (apart from app subscription cost). We also worked with a local woman who came to visit us for three Saturdays for 2 hours and taught us hypnobirthing and also gave us recordings to listen to which are great, I defo recommend someone local who you can get to know.

@NW2021 I would suggest avoiding scans so late on in pregnancy, unless there's a clear medical need as it can just stress you out, as happened this weekend. As long as your baby is moving around all is good. The main risk from Covid is just getting enough oxygen but hopefully baby has dropped down a bit by now so you've got more lung capacity. I hope you feel better ❤️‍🩹

@Juicytoot287 really hope baby turns. Did you look into moxibustion? Supposed to really work

Xx

@summerhillgang To be honest they're reckoning she's going to be a decent weight (obviously all guesswork atm) but my DD was 8lb 6oz so got a feeling she could possibly be similar or bigger. My bump feels as big now as it was when I was overdue with my DD haha. How are you getting on? I've been toying with the flu jab but I'm also going to get my Covid jab when I've given birth and frankly I'm sick of being blumming poked with needles, the amount of blood tests I've had during this pregnancy has been a joke tbh.
How are you feeling?? You're very close now!
If you're planning on breast feeding re sleeping arrangements, I highly recommend either a next 2 me crib or simply co-sleeping. It's easier and as long as your following safe sleeping practices it makes life much easier for night wakes etc.

I honestly can't believe how much the midwives/sonographers can scare you with scan referrals etc, especially this late on. When I went to get my blood pressure checked this morning, she had to take it three times and one of the arm bands she used had a hole in it so the air was escaping which I had to mention to her 😟 she then asked me why I was having a section and (no lie) when I told her I have a rectocele prolapse, she said oh ermm..? what's that? Was truly gobsmacked that I had to explain it to her and I still wasn't convinced she understood what I meant. 😬

@MyGrassIsBrowner they guessed my baby at 6lb 5oz at the moment, so maybe 8-9lb if I go to full term / overdue? I did hear that slightly bigger babies are easier to birth out the vag.

Totally get you on jabs / needles. You're so close now and tbh staying at home and chilling is prob the best thing you can do.

I feel ok and have calmed down a bit from the weekend but need to get back to my zen-state, so I am listening to lots of music, have a book to read and am going to try some embroidery, and take each day as it comes, not get too focused on the 'stuff' the books say you should be doing but more what makes me happy/relaxed.

I got the Snuzpod - defo going to try putting babes in the crib as a first off and hopefully they take to it. I have a very needy dog who always wants to get in bed with us so this is something else to consider.

Ladies, it's a full moon tonight, so I wonder if we'll get some movements! Xx

Sorry to hear people are struggling with covid and high blood pressure and the stress of last-minute scans etc. I was referred for a growth scan with my first when I was about 39 weeks due to fundal height measurement but I gave birth before the appointment! I do wonder how it influenced by labour though - because they didn't have the results in time, I wasn't allowed to birth on MLU and had continuous monitoring ultimately a ventouse delivery, which was partly because they were worried in case she was small for gestational age. OTOH I had been pushing for 2hrs already and was utterly exhausted so probably the outcome would have been the same anyway as my labour was so long I couldn't push effectively anymore after that length of time. Who knows though.

I've got such a busy day today whilst DD is in nursery. Flu jab, physio, lunch with two friends, massage. Will need to try and squeeze in chores around all that too eurgh.

@MyGrassIsBrowner so sorry to hear you’re being monitored! Not what you needed 😔 glad your mum and partner is there to help out! Hopefully you’re relaxing and chilling. Hopefully the 2 weeks will fly by and section will be here before you know it!

@HedgerowRobin thank you, yeah the headache are by far the worst, luckily I’m healthy and no Heath conditions so not had it as bad as some. Just felt like a cold/flu. Although I’ve had worse colds to be honest. I had one bad day last week where I had to take paracetamol (don’t ever really take anything) so it took the edge off it. Unfortunately I’m still working so no naps for me but thankful it’s a bit more chilled as I’m working from home.
I’ve also read the positive birthing book! I found it useful, some of the stuff I don’t think I’ll use but it defo put me in a good frame of mind about birth ☺️

@summerhillgang @MeadowHay that’s exactly what I’m fearing from going for a late scan! That it’ll be so inaccurate and then influence how I give birth. So far I’ve been fortunate to have a really good pregnancy, very low risk, measuring fine, no real issues, baby moving fine so I don’t want that to change with a late scan.
I’ve got my community midwife appointment a week today (first day out of isolation) and she’s lovely, really chilled and been great so I’m going to ask her if she thinks it’s worth the scan and what benefits will I actually get from it. I don’t even know what they’ll be looking for to be honest?! Probably should of asked on the phone.

@summerhillgang I’ve got the snuzpod as well, my thinking is you can take the crib off the stand and take it downstairs in the day so I’m hoping they’ll get use to it as I’m hoping to use it day/night for sleeping as I’ve not bothered with a Moses basket. You watch baby will probably end up hating it 😂

@summerhillgang Yeah bigger babies should technically be easier to birth and gravity should help them down the birth canal easier, but then you've always got the worry of shoulder distocia or episioty for a bigger baby, the worry never blumming ends. Although you ladies seem pretty mindful and quite prepared for your births, I think you'll all do a great job!!

@NW2021 I'm glad you've not been suffering too much with the Covid symptoms. It's just sods law that you catch it this late on though isn't it. I go for my pre-op on the 2nd so DP is breaking off then and can isolate with me, they said if he tested positive (even though he's double jabbed) he couldn't be with me, which would be horrific but I can understand why they'd not allow it. So dont want to take any chances.

I'm currently just on edge now watching out for all the signs of pre-eclamsia, so headaches, blurred vision, swelling etc. They're mainly worried about my BP but at this point our bodies are working overtime for the last stages of growing these babas!

I think its wrong to refer for scans this late on, it just causes unecessary worry and to be perfectly honest they're that big you cant make heads nor tails of them on the scans anyway! Proven by the fact that my sonographer couldn't actually work out which way she was lying 🤦🏻‍♀️ I give up.

Pre warning ladies, I had the Snuzpod 3 and my DD hated it lol!! I hope you ladies have better luck as I spent £200 on mine 😭 x

@summerhillgang I have looked into it but there is a woman the hospital recommend so need to wait for my scan to find the details and then go for it. I will be bouncing away in the mean time! I apparently didn't turn until the end for my mum... Karma is a bitch ;) But it's not the worst problem in the world so I keep having reality checks that what will be will be and at least she isn't trying to make an entrance any time soon! (For reference I am 35w this week so not ready yet lol)

Not sure who asked about antenatal classes. The birth academy have a free 2 hour one online which is about babycare e.g. baths etc. Useful for FTMs and definitely anxious dads. My partner found it much more reassuring as he has no young children in his family so we are the first. They then give you a discount if you want the full course for first aid, breast feeding and birth etc. To be honest with you - it came down to cost with us as I was not willing ti spend 300 quid on a course with NCT. Most of the information you can source yourself and it is not worth that price to me when we are saving for a newborn. A lot of people recommend them socially but that's a heavy price for that..

I do understand the stress with scans. I personally like them, seeing and hearing they are OK is always nice and got a little face shot last time which helped us feel excited again. That being said, the worry beforehand was no nice. I think it has to be within reason. If you knkw baby is fine and just need to check and confirm position like I will then that is OK as it won't stress me out and I will just use it as a bonus pic before meeting her. But when theh scare you about size, it really does cause upset for a baby you are already having. Again, naturally they do influence labour as they may chose inductions etc. if they ever found a risk so I do understand why they happen just doesnt help us worrying.