🍼👶🏼👣 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! ❤

@MeadowHay hey hunnie!
I've also noticed Philips Avent are hard to find now, they are on Boots though and I'll just bite the bullet and buy them, they were just so fab with my DD and she didn't get on with Tommy Tippee. But of course every baba is different!

I'm so jealous of all your holidays ladies! My only break will be when I get married in May, we're staying at a luxury apartment in Stamford and just getting married at the registry office then going off for photos with our photographer. On the evening we're going to book a restaurant and go for cocktails! My mum is having my DD's so it'll probably be our only break away childrenless for a lonnnnng time haha.

As for breast pumps, never used those brands myself, but Elvie is disgustingly overpriced and I had a friend who bought them and they were on FB marketplace a few weeks later.
I just bought the Bellababy double electric breast pump off Amazon (it's 49.99) and its fantastic!

Also, I'm fairly sure you can loan breast pumps from the hospitals. It's a lot of expense if it doesn't work out. The Elvie pump is like £250 for a single pump which in my mind is just bonkers. I used to have to put both pumps on because once one boob started leaking the other one would go as well, lol.

@Juicytoot287 oh no ! When do you start your maternity ? Will u be going back for the start of the school year in sept ? Mayby u could look to book something nice to do in a weekend I'm off to a spa with Dh on Saturday booked it a while ago and I've been counting down the days I'm desperate for a massage.
@MeadowHay glad you enjoyed your holiday! Oh the wait for mental health services has been ridiculous for years luckily they got you in quick with you being pregnant , oh I think CBeebies will be great my dd is 5 at the moment and I think she would still love it an 11 month old would love it to! Think there's lots of activities there. I havnt breast fed but I have saw very mixed reviews on the elvie I think it still leaks when you move around etc. I just bought a Mandela manual breast pump this time as I've never tried pumping and just want to at least try to do for a month along with formula feeding. I used tommee tippee with my first dd I bought Mam this time to try them out for a change, just went with a microwave steriliser this time aswell to keep in the microwave out of sight as I'll have too much stuff on my kitchen benches ! Cant bear it getting too cluttered in there.
@MyGrassIsBrowner oh I bet you can't wait to get married ! We managed to get married in 2019 and our hooneymoon in March 2020 just missed the covid lockdown! I really felt for everyone's cancelled weddings over this past year it'll be lovely for you to enjoy the day with your soon to be Dh!

@MyGrassIsBrowner @queenie273646 you can hire breast pumps but I'm really keen to get one that sits in your bra because I think I would use it way more that way than if I have to have my breasts out and be plugged in to pump. Assuming the baby latches my use for the pump would be just to pump one side whilst they feed on the other sometimes which is what I did with DD. It was fairly successful initially but I only had a manual pump so she quickly drank more milk than I could pump easily and I also couldn't pump in front of anyone and didn't want to be trapped at home alone all the time just to pump. So I feel I would have pumped for longer if I'd had a wearable electric one and that way she would have had breastmilk a lot longer than she did if I could have built up more of a stash. I agree the cost of the Elvie is though! The CosyTots or whatever it's called is similar and a fraction of the price from Amazon, I think I might try that.

Also considering the Elvie. Just looks really easy to use and like you get a lot of milk. How quickly do you think a pump is needed?
I have a very basic manual pump that a friend brought me.

Haakaa Manual Breast Pump Silicone Breast Pump 100ml https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PR894PQ/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcB8040BSST5QZMYZMKSEN??encoding=UTF8&psc=1

In other news, I squeezed my nipple yesterday and a sort of thick almost clear liquid came out! I think maybe this is the first signs of milk 🥛. Has anyone harvested colostrum here? I think you're supposed to start from 36 weeks so I am a bit early, so will hang back a bit x

Definitely go for what you think will be best for your lifestyle! Tbh I wouldnt recommend pumping straight away as it can really mess your supply up. You really only need to be pumping if you're planning on combi feeding i.e from bottle and breast.
I pumped the 2nd week as I couldnt hack my DD been on boob for the long stretches she was, I was sleep deprived and she wasn't getting enough from me. I will warn you though if you're like me and have massive breasts, when they get engorged you need a powerful pump to get a good let down. I've heard mixed reviews on the Elvie for women with largers breasts so bare that in mind.

I've not harvested colostrum (personally never felt the need to) but yeah, dont start before 35 weeks lol. My colostrum is genuinely leaking through my tops already and I've noticed a stain on my mattress cover where I've obviously been resting in my boob and its come out 😆 x

Hi everyone bit late to the party but just seen this thread and had a read through :)
I am due Oct 1st so 32+5 with my first baby, a boy! Very excited and a little nervous.
Haven't bought anything for the baby yet as only just came back to the UK from some time abroad. It's all so overwhelming, don't know what the absolute essentials are really!! I probably should also start thinking about packing a hospital bag I guess?
I am hoping to have an epidural for the birth, heard sometimes they are hard to get though.

There seems to be so much to learn with pumping I was just going to give it a go and if it worked it worked , you all lost me at colostrum 😂.
@areforumsstillathing welcome and congrats on your pregnancy! Not long to go for you ! Essentials I would say are
Vests / bodysuits
Sleepsuits
Sleeping bags
Cot /bedside crib
Bottles if formula feeding and formula
Breast pump if pumping
Hats
Cardigans
Blankets
Baby nappy cream
Wipes/cotton wool
Nappies
Baby bath or bath insert / baby sponge
Changing mat
Pram
Car seat
Don't think I've left anything out but I may of forgotten some things I've never breast fed so couldn't really recommend things for that , for me it's nice to have a perfect prep machine if formula feeding but not essential .

Oh the epidural is heaven they were basically throwing the drugs at me before I even went on the drip and I choose the epidural , when i needed a top up the epidural man was there within 15 mins to re insert it, If you go on a mlu they obviously don't give it down there but I had no problem getting it it was the midwifes who recommended I have one, gas and air is also heavenly . You could start getting some bits in for your hospital bag pads flip flops your clothes etc, and pack babies things , im thinking about buying some black towels for my bag which I didn't last time. I'm also having a boy after having a 5 year old dd it's been over 5 year since my last labour and im a little nervous too as it feels like forever ago.

I think I've settled on a Pippetta pump now. It's the cheapest hands free, wearable pump I can find really and I've seen a lot of good reviews of it.

Welcome @areforumsstillathing I think epidurals tend to be difficult to obtain if you leave it late because then they're difficult to site and often the anaesthetists are too busy with other patients to get to you in time. If you know you want one from the outset and make that clear as soon as you get on to delivery suite (or even before if you have to call before you come in) I'd imagine it should be fine. I didn't have one, was one of those naive FTMs who wrote in my birth plan I wanted to try and avoid it in a step-wise approach to pain relief. At 8cm I was crying for one but they wouldn't give me one because they said I wouldn't be able to tolerate the siting as I was in such a state. Not sure that was true really as they didn't even document my request in my notes (which they should have done). When I had my DD delivery suite was actually full when I got to hospital and I was kept on MLU for hours despite being classed as high risk. So I think I didn't get one because there were no anaesthetists free tbh rather than anything else.

@summerhillgang I did colostrum harvesting last time. Hated it as I couldn't express it really had to get DH to do it for me each time and it bloody hurt but that's not typical I don't think. I didn't actually take the syringes to the hospital which was a mistake as my DD wouldn't feed in the middle of our night in hospital and then the midwife had to help me express for her so would have been easier if I'd had a syringe with me given I already had them at home. I didn't end up needing any after that though, I just used to give them to her when she was ill as a baby heard it can potentially have immune boosting qualities. Yes don't start too early as there's some evidence it could start labour I think because of the hormones. One of the reasons I did it was because of that, to try and avoid going overdue, which seemed to work as I went into labour at 39+6 and had DD on her due date.

Morning everybody!

Had my midwife appointmemt yesterday and all went well, predicted baby size is quite small which i am happy about (slightly concerning being near that bottom line). I also had my 2nd covid jab which knocked me for six! Had an awful headache so have hidden in bed and now have to go to the hospital for the bloodwork - just a pin cushion this week lol!

Regarding sleepbags etc. What tog are people going for. I am finding it difficult to work out what is best as we are due in autumn. Obviously our 0-3 will be a winter type but initially at newborn do you just use a cellular blanket or swaddle or what?

Morning ladies hope you're all well. I went to see the MW this morning and my section is all booked in and confirmed. So all being well I'm having my bubs on the 4th October, feels so real now!
In the process of gathering and washing all my DD1s newborn stuff. I haven't had to buy a single thing new, lol. Baby is lying oblique though the little sod, which explains why I'm so uncomfortable atm though.
@Juicytoot287
Sorry to hear your Covid jab has made you rough, just rest as much as you can hun. Typical isn't it, my DP had his and was fine but it seems men don't have many side effects. I haven't had mine yet and I'm really not sure what to do, I'm in lincolnshire and we're currently a hotspot. My midwife said they've had some pregnant ladies on ventilators at my hospital so I'm a bit concerned now but literally dont know how I feel about getting it.

Generally with babies you out them in one more layer than you're wearing yourself. Cellular blankets are great but I'm just buying some swaddle wraps off Amazon. Pack of 3 is about £15-20. Wish I'd have bought them with my DD as she had really bad startle reflex and used to wake herself at the slightest noise.

Having a rough time with my DD teething atm. Her molars are coming through and yesterday I caught her knawing the side of my coffee table. Which to be fair is better than her biting my damn arm as she likes to do out the blue. Poor little sod!

@Juicytoot287 there's some good online guides for how to dress baby when in certain togs and for what room temps I've attached one . I've bought a 2.5 , 1.5 and 1 tog and also have different blankets, I'll just go off room temp as I bought a room thermometer aswell. Oh sorry to hear it's made you feel poorly hope everything is ok and it settles down quick.
@MeadowHay that's great news youll be able to organise everything for the 4th now, I will admit the waiting around for baby to come is torture for me every second feels like an hour, ah the dreaded molars ! My dd was in agony when she got her big molars through the other month it was also giving her earache which kept waking her up it's awful when u can't do much for them but Calpol helped a lot.

@queenie273646 Oh it's awful, she keeps screaming out intermittently then violently biting her dummy. I've given ibuprofen but calpol for some bizarre reason she will not tolerate so I have to put it in her milk. I just feel so helpless.
It's brilliant I've got a date to focus on now but at the back of my mind I'm anxious she'll come early 😆 so there's always a bloody worry.
I know what you mean now, it's dragging isn't it. And getting bigger and heavier by the day 😩

@MeadowHay good advice on the colostrum - yes defo good to have it for those early days of breast feeding, I just got to remember to take it to the hospital if i have to transfer!

I am going to check out the pump you suggested 😊

@queenie273646 so organised on the togs, I got a couple of togs sleeping bags/blankets, and have a Groegg to tell temp - that's a good chart to have

@MyGrassIsBrowner great you got a date. I'm due the day after 😊

@areforumsstillathing welcome to the group and back to uk! Yes you should be able to make an epidural part of the plan from the off, have you registered with your midwife yet? I am due just after you

I have been back at hospital today as I suspected a UTI. They did find some white blood cells in there so looking likely, so they send off a sample and then let you know in a couple of days if you need antibiotics. I've got a couple of cartoons of cranberry juice in the interim, and have made barley water on recommendation of my acupuncturist, apparently it really helps to clear it. Had a lovely relaxing session with her today and she's going to give me some acupressure points to use for pain relief in labour.

@MeadowHay and yes will be harvesting colostrum to bring on labour from 38 weeks - I'll think I'll try anything to make it naturally come on tbh!

@queenie273646 ahh thank you and thanks for the list! A lot to buy! Looking forward to getting stuff though as will make it feel more real!
Oh I hope they throw the drugs at me too lol I have no desire to take the drug free route haha. Ooh black towels a good idea, I guess to hide stains?!

@MeadowHay Thanks! OK I'll bear that in mind, have had my first midwife appt in the UK and mentioned to her I want one, so will keep reminding everyone! I don't want to be a hero lol but well done you for managing without!

@summerhillgang Thanks! Yes registered with my midwife team so feel better now I am sorted with that, only was a little annoyed with her this week as she sent me to get my whooping cough vaccine 1 day after she knew I was having my 1st covid vaccine and when I got there they say you need a 2 week gap between the two, so was a wasted trip! Also I'm now late getting the whooping cough vaccine and worrying about it.

No symptoms from the covid vaccine so far though (had it on Monday) so that's good.

Oh thanks for the advice ladies, @MyGrassIsBrowner if the swaddles on amazon are good could you send a link possibly? I have a room thermometer anyway and I am lucky to have a seperate thermostat for our bedroom which definitely helps control the temp.

Finally had ym bloods today, even though I had to go get them done myself and a week late! Does mean I am now back on track appointment wise despite my recent midwife issue.

@summerhillgang
With the UTI, I had a sharp pain down below I thought may be a UTI but it never stung whilst I weed and then I always have back ache anywya due to genetic and baby position. It went away and didn't return so I have always put it down to lightning crotch lol - would you have checked? Hmm

@summerhillgang Oh and I've been thinking about getting acupuncture too, how has it helped you? Do you get it for anything in particular?

@areforumsstillathing don't worry too much about the whooping cough, I have heard the immunity it passes onto baby is minimal but defo good to get it done if you can. Glad you've had a symptom free vaccine, I had my first done a few weeks ago and also nothing. Have my second booked just before due date so debating whether to move it till after baby is born just in case it floors me.

Re Acupuncture - I have been having it ever since we were trying for a baby as took a long while to conceive for us and was close to going for IVF. So she was helping for that initially but have just kept it up as she's just a brilliant healer. She gives crainoscapal massage and reflexology whilst needles are in, each session she just focuses on what's going on, last time it was my pelvic pain and she actually do some massage too, and today it was the UTI and recent bleed. It's just very calming and defo feel more mental clarity after and more energy.

@Juicytoot287 I think I've been feeling a weird down there for a while too. Occasional sharp pain as you say. I woke up yesterday and was sore around my vagina, and this morning I am holding back pee. It's very common in pregnancy apparently, but good to get it sorted promptly as can cause preterm labour if left untreated 🥺 they don't seem worried as haven't given me anything yet and want to wait for the analysis. I am hoping I can clear it with the natural methods but I'd prob take the antibiotics if they offered me them. If you are worried give triage a call, they can prob see you the same day unlike doctors surgery x

@summerhillgang Yeah if they were worried you would have been given something immediately. I had a urine test done yesterday and nothing so I am happy that nothing is there to be fair.

Yes you're all good @Juicytoot287

Another thing happened today. The acupuncturist thinks I am having a little boy 💙 based on the strength of pulses.

Love the guessing!

@MyGrassIsBrowner I hope they get through soon molars are the worst ones, I seem to be getting bigger every day now i may even jump at the induction offer which I completely am against by the time it comes round to being nearly due . That is always a worry babies do like to come when they want even if we try and plan as much possible hopefully baby will stay in there for you.
@areforumsstillathing I think if you write epidural in big bold writing in your notes/birth plan they should accommodate you it's great just to lie there And wait to be told to push. Thanks ve never heard of any one getting whooping cough so try not to worry it did have a few other things in there like tetanus shot and some other boosters but unless u plan on being bitten by a rabid dog I wouldn't worry about it, my arm was dead for 4 days after it which I did begrudge.
@summerhillgang I bet you can't wait to find out if baby is a boy or girl do you have any thoughts on what your having ? They say a mother usually knows .

Hiya ladies, sorry just catching up with the thread! Welcome @areforumsstillathing and congratulations!

Hope you're all doing okay. I've been really struggling with my PGP. The midwife give me Vitamin D and iron tablets to take daily now, the iron tablets should help my body prep for section too.
Before I forget @Juicytoot287 this is the link to the swaddles
Deal: Baby Swaddle Wrap - Pack of 3 Swaddle Blankets - 100% Organic Cotton - Grey - 0-3 Months www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074N2WSQJ/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_dl_CAM91GH8PF4P6TDJJ06W?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21
They're on offer at the mo. They're thin so good to out over your baby once they're dressed in a vest and all in one suit. I wish I'd bought some with my DD in the first place but you live and learn!

Have you ladies thought about baby wraps or carriers? We bought a baby wrap again, off Amazon, they are really useless around the house if you need to get on with stuff. I recommend the Baby Ergo carriers too. We had the Baby Bjorn air Mesh 3D but I found it a total pain in the backside to actually put on and it was quite bulky. We've just got the classic baby bjorn carrier now which I bought of Facebook Marketplace for £10 and it looks barely used. X

Meant to say USEFUL not useless 🤦🏻‍♀️ re the baby wraps lol!

Those swaddle wraps look good, would you get small for a new born? @MyGrassIsBrowner

I got a Koala Sling so going to give that a go but Baby Bjorn seems to be the one that people rave about. I also saw a beautiful one by Artipoppe but it's really pricey.

@queenie273646 I have been going two and fro, spent a long time thinking it was a girl and now I'm more leaning towards it being a boy. I did the nub techs report out of curiosity and said 85% girl at 12+1 but I dunno how accurate these things are. Baby seems to have a big abdomen (like Daddy!) so makes me think boy and my acupuncturist saying she thinks it's a boy too. But carrying like a girl apparently and had horrific morning sickness in first trimester. No penis sited on scans yet. So it's all still a mystery which is exciting! ☺️