🍼👶🏼👣 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! ❤

Congrats @Peacefulspirit how lovely! Hope you're both doing well. I'm really hoping to be discharged home from MLU/delivery suite too, I reeeeaaally don't want to stay on the ward eek.

My baby was 4/5 engaged at my appointment on Friday but I don't think it means anything. Some babies are pretty engaged for weeks and others dont engage at all until they're in labour.

I'm so fed up of being pregnant now but still anxious about what comes next. I think I'm more nervous for the baby actually being here than I was first time around now that I know exactly how hard it can be!

@mooloop @NW2021 The sonographer said that some don't engage until labour starts so I guess it doesn't mean much and I honestly doubt my midwife will check. I am usually in and out and feel like she just does BP and heart beat. Did check the NHS appointment website and she hasn't discussed labour, pain relief or breastfeeding like many should have so I will keep expectations low. She does know I am FTM too so no excuse really.

Just been bouncing on my ball! Might try raspberry leaf tea - where do you get it?

@Juicytoot287 I got some raspberry leaf tea and some of the capsules from Holland and Barrett online

@Peacefulspirit congratulations! You were in and out in 6 and a half hours? Wow! Stayed one night myself (well, 2 if you count during induction) and now have a beautiful baby girl, Tamara Rose! All 8lb of her haha.

Epidural numbed my left leg for the 'active' labour part of birth...then was re-sited and kicked in in the right area just ready for...after the birth! Right pain in the arse/other areas lol. Had the longest wee 6 hours afterwards, due to sensation returning so slowly. Must have been on the toilet for 5 minutes with it trickling out 🤣

How is everyone doing?

Awww another baby!! @Hungryinthefridge congratulations, Tamara is beautiful 😍 how did your induction go? Hope you're enjoying the newborn bubble!

@mooloop thank you. How are things going for you? My induction started with a pessary which caused some bleeding and ramped the pain up. Then when the contractions were more frequent/painful I went to labour ward. The epidural only worked properly when it was re-sited and kicked in just after she was born. At least I can walk again now! The leg still has some sensation loss though? Like if you poke it with a nail or run your hand up it, it feels different. A bit strange .

Am loving newborn cuddles. Can't stop sniffing and staring at her head! Took her out in the pram for the first time today. She was sleeping mostly but there was some sun out, which was nice. Just need to try to get some sleep tonight but she cries everytime I stop feeding and put her down. Even with co-sleeping or when in her co-sleeper.

@Hungryinthefridge gosh that's so strange about the epidural! I'm sure the newborn cuddles are worth it mind 😍 hopefully she will get used to being put down soon bless her, it must be mad being a baby and suddenly entering the world 😂

I had a weird night last night. I woke up in the night with pains in my bump that were maybe about 20 seconds long, so fairly short, reached a peak and then subsided. They carried on for id say at least an hour so I was lying there thinking is this the start?! but alas, they then stopped! Maybe just my body having a bit of a practice I guess? I did get up to see if I just needed the loo but it wasn't that

@mooloop maybe your body is getting ready for those early stages? I have not even had braxton hicks let alone contractions so I cant help but feel I am here for the long haul. Have an awful feeling I will end up in a November Club 😭

Working from home now and still have bits i feel I need to do yet anyway before I will be "relaxed". I know life goes on but Cant help but feel if I had my baby now I wouldn't be ready for work handover

@Juicytoot287 I hope so! It's all very confusing isn't it. I'm convinced I'll be having a November baby too mind!

Does anyone else just have no desire to eat well? I take my vitamins and try to eat fresh fruit and veg but all I want is takeaway or chocolate
Really struggling to resist it all and find the energy to cook😭😭

Congrats @Hungryinthefridge !! Beautiful and glad the induction ended up ok in the end?

I think I'm the only one left here who is overdue is that right?! Really shocked as my DD wasn't! Scared about birth and going back to newborn days so not in a huge rush for them to arrive but equally not keen on the idea of induction so hoping they will make an appearance this week some time...tomorrow or Wednesday would be best as DD is in nursery . Also fed up everyone I know constantly messaging me on WhatsApp now I'm overdue! I know it comes from a good place but gosh I'm hardly going to let everyone know when I'm in labour am I and if the baby was here then I'd be telling them all!!

@Juicytoot287 yes me neither but I've been like this the whole pregnancy so it's not new haha. I'm trying to eat good meals, but then I do eat a loooot of sugary crap on top. However I finally plucked up the courage to weigh myself for the first time in absolutely ages and I've only put on about 11kg so I feel reassured, I put on about 10kg last time too so about the same. So Im thinking I am going to make the most of my last few days of pregnancy and eat as much crap as I want . Also you possibly don't recognise the BHs - I don't feel I've ever had any before in either pregnancy, but when the midwife came last week she told me I was having them when she checked my bump! I couldn't feel anything!

@MeadowHay Oh bless you! I doubt it will be too long, probably hjust happily snug in there! And yeah I am the same, but I don't worry about my weight. I don't look like I have gained and quite frankly couldn't care right now haha More worried health wise for bump but I do take my vitamins so she can get what she needs whether I have a curry or not lol

Interesting about the BHs and not feeling them. Would love to know, just the uncertainty of not knowing the cues or what it will feel like is strange. Keep getting the "you will know when you know" but that is incredibly unhelpful 😂😂😂 Still 2 weeks til my due date though so plenty of time

Honestly you really will know @Juicytoot287. My first labour started with period-type pain and I was a bit like sore and crampy, it woke me up and I was thinking hmm I wonder if this is the start or it will go away etc. A few hours later the pains had a clear pattern of coming and subsiding, coming and subsiding - so was clearly contractions. You can't miss them . I didn't have any other signs until after I had already been having contractions for hours (Bloody show, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, my waters only went just before I started pushing...). I don't think you need to worry about it because when you're having the real deal contractions it is really impossible not to notice (not sure if that's a good thing or not though!?).

Actually got some decent sleep last night...am in shock. Couldn't believe it when I looked at the clock and it was just gone 7am, not the early hours. Got 1-2 hours the previous night so it was well needed. Maybe this thing about baby girls sleeping better is true?! God I hope so.

@mooloop How many weeks are you again? With my first I only remember one lot of BH's, but with this one there were at least 3 occasions in the months/weeks before and about 3/4 during the week/days before her arrival! So it's probably variable and if different children vary, then different women must vary even more! You're right about it being strange for them and weird for a baby to be born too, as mad as it is for us! Hope you and @Juicytoot287 don't join the November club! It feels neverending when you're waiting and like you've been pregnant forever.

@juicytoot287 no wonder you're craving takeaways etc when you're still working! I was too and finished a while ago. You must be shattered even if it is from home. Are you planning to work right upto labour?

@MeadowHay well it didn't work, but I can walk again so not bad lol. Keeping everything crossed for you that baby shows signs today or tomorrow. Come on baby!! Would be very convenient for nursery like you say and yes to avoid induction 😆 know what you mean about the well-meaning texts...so annoying. You will be told when you're told and be pleased about it!! That's funny about not feeling your BH's. Maybe they're in a funny position for you to feel them?

Glad you got a decent sleep @Hungryinthefridge, it makes a world of difference! I'm 37+3 today so potentially still a long way to go for me 😂

@hungryinthefridge Amazing news about sleep. Best be true about girls and my little one will be a girl too haha and I do love sleep (famous last words). I am working up until 39 weeks (technically 40 but I have half term so thankfully not). To be honest, I am finding it good to keep me mentally preoccupied. DP is out like 11 hours a day with work so I would just sit and wait. I can't walk the dog alone because she is a unit and we are done and set up baby wise so it is good to keep me busy. NOT GOOD to keep me away from uber eats lol!! I did resist last night and had a quick pasta ready meal, not the best or worst.

@mooloop I am 37+5 so I feel you there. Ages to go or any day now kind of vibe. But no show cramps or waters so I assume I will be making it a bit further. Plus doesn't help us our babies turned late and aren't engaged I guess. I still feel like I am carrying high so dont think she has dropped either.

I am gutted though ladies, I may have to stop my hour dog walks because afterward I cannot physically turn in bed without wincing in pain. Strangely the pain is when my legs close not open. I am gutted as I have stayed doing this for 9 months now and really enjoy getting out for a walk :(

How is everyone? All gorgeous here. Orla is a poppet x

@mooloop It really drags doesn't it? But soon baby will be here and it'll all be a distant memory!!

@juicytoot287 that's true about keeping busy. I was lazy and binge-watched shows, but then that was when ds was at nursery (2 days a week), so you need the chill time haha. Well done resisting takeaway from a money (and sometimes health) perspective, but for your mental health, it's good to partake occasionally 😋 you'll be out walking your dog again before you know it.

@Peacefulspirit how are you sweet? It's a weird transition isn't it. Keep feeling my belly like oh...she's outside in the world now. Very tired and kind of hormonal here but also very happy and my ds has really taken to her which is lovely

Good Morning!

Just had my Midwife appointment and booked my sweeps for if I go over my due date. She did warn me that if my cervix isn't dilated then she won't be able to do it but we are booked incase! Honestly, although I don't need this baby out now, I do think I should start the bouncing and stuff now to be prepped haha

any tips?

Ladies with babies, maybe you could consider starting an Oct birth group in the postnatal clubs section or something? Then we could all join one by one haha. Glad you all seem to be getting on ok, hope feeding and sleeping etc all going ok - well as ok as it can be with a newborn!

@Juicytoot287 ah I'm meant to be having one on Friday but I'm not sure if DH will be back from work on time, and the midwife doesn't give me proper appointment times, so I won't be able to have it if he's not back cos I will have my 3yr old with me! They can still like massage the cervical opening even if there's no dilation though and there's research that can still bring on labour so I wouldn't worry about that too much. There's no real evidence that anything else will bring on labour tbh so I would just focus on looking after yourself and getting as much rest as you can.

Had a proper discussion about the induction process today with one of the community midwifery team leaders. Feel like I at least know better what to expect now but still hoping it won't come to that. Got just under a week before this baby is going to start getting forcibly evicted eek. Can't believe I am still pregnant!

@MeadowHay What a nightmare. Can you ask for a set time because of this so you have someone to look after your child? Seems silly to come and not be able to try it. I go to the doctors for my appointments so get a set time but always a bit awkward stripping off in the docs so defo prefer to be at home lol!

That's good about induction but lets hope you dont have to go that far!

Just catching up on all the messages now - was a bit of a race to the finish line getting to the start of my mat leave and handing over but so glad it’s done now! Had a lovely little leaving party with my team with some beautiful gifts for me and baby which made me quite teary to be leaving

@MyGrassIsBrowner beautiful update photos - she is an absolute beauty! And congratulations to @Hungryinthefridge and @Peacefulspirit on your lovely babies as well! Gorgeous names all round and I hope you are all recovering well and enjoying the newborn bubble 🥰

@Juicytoot287 @mooloop @NW2021 how are you all doing? 37 + 3 here now, had an upset tummy for a couple of days, cramps on and off and baby feels so low down (constant fanny daggers which is getting wearing now 😂) but well aware we could still be weeks away from baby actually making an appearance!

I’ve started the positive birth company hypnobirthing course as well - probably a bit too late but wanted to wait until I was on mat leave to give it my full attention. Not completely convinced yet as some of it seems a bit too ‘woo’ e.g labour shouldn’t be painful but feel like a hard workout if everything is going well…going to keep persevering though as I usually have quite a low pain threshold so anything that might help me stay calm!

@MeadowHay I’ve got all my fingers crossed that baby starts making a move for you before the week is up! Can’t imagine how frustrating it must be for you now

@HedgerowRobin Hey hun! Glad you are on mat leave now so can relax. I am working from home now so much easier and have a very understanding boss which helps. Feel like I can keep mentally busy but also look after myself.

Let me know how you get on with the hypnobirthing. I didn't bother because it seemed a bit wish washy and I just keep telling nyself my body is meant to do this, I will be fine. I do have a low pain threshold too though so maybe I should join you lol! You are also having much more signs than me, Baby seems very content in me atm with no signs of leaving. Think I am in it for the long haul

Hey ladies!

37+6 here. Much of the same symptoms as you @HedgerowRobin cramping on and off and tummy is a bit off for the past week, baby feels lower today (has the hiccups all the time) so I can feel it lower. Still think I’ve got weeks away though to be honest, but feels like body is getting ready!
I’m absolutely shattered today, been none stop since finishing work so decided not to leave the house for a few days and just chill and relax.

I haven’t done the course but I have read the positive birthing book twice. I get what you mean about some bits I won’t use but it was good for some important information. Like every decision should be yours, I think the main thing I took away from it was I just want to be in control, no matter what birth I end up having I want to make sure it’s positive and I’ve made the decisions (based on the advice from docs etc of course). That way I can look back and hopefully not be distressed by it all!

@Juicytoot287 No, because I have my appointments at home she just fits me in at whatever time in the PM or AM (that's as much of an estimate I get) depending on what she is doing. Two weeks ago she came at 4.45pm which was the latest ever, and she told me it would likely be a similar time the next week, except she turned up at 1.50pm which was the earliest ever as she's usually in the hospital until 2pm. She was about to drive away from my street when I turned up back home with DD as we'd been out as I wasn't expecting her until much later. So for next week she just said 'afternoon' again but it should be 2pm+. Spoke to DH and he should be able to get home before then. If I can't have the sweep it's still worthwhile her coming as it will be my 41w appt anyway so she still needs do my obs and check the baby. But would be disappointing not to be able to have the sweep.

Hospital called me earlier to book me and DH in for covid testing on site on Saturday morning in advance of the induction. DH has also informed work and booked Tuesday + Wednesday PMs off as holiday. Feels more real that I'm probably going to be induced now .

Ladies with or without symptoms, I'd try not to read into any of them either way. I've had some 'symptoms' for many many weeks now (dodgey bowels, losing bits of mucus plug etc) and I'm about to turn 41w so it didn't mean anything. Whereas with my first I had no symptoms prior to contractions actually starting at 39+6. When it really starts you will know about it and there's no way to tell whether it will be a slow build-up or just come out of the blue so try and relax and not second-guess your bodies .

I read the positive birth book in my first pregnancy, I liked that. Not into hypnobirthing though, not my cup of tea. I listened to a few audio things of it in my first pregnancy and just didn't get on with it.