Baby January 2023!

[TTC24]

Anyone else due January 2023?! Found out yesterday I'm pregnant with baby #2. If my dates are right, I'm 3+6, due 27th January! My daughters a Jan baby, but was due feb (she was 3 weeks early). May just must be a very fertile month for us! We fell pregnant last May too, but never met them😢.

@H44123 That does sound like a bit of a waste of time!

With DS, we bottle fed and had the TT prep machine too. We kind of did a combination of things. DP always comes to bed later than me, so if at the point of coming to bed he knew DS's next feed was in the next hour or so, he'd make the bottle and put it in the bottle sleeve to keep it the right temperature. Otherwise, I'd take DS downstairs in the middle of the night to feed him (which was a pain, but he was a really tough baby and cried a lot so it meant we were both woken if we stayed upstairs). Once he got a bit better, we just bought the pre-made bottles for night time. They were expensive but we were so sleep deprived, that it just felt worth it to us to not have to go downstairs and mess about with powder bud the prep machine.

I haven't bought another prep machine yet in the hope I can breastfeed but if I can't, to begin with, I'm going to see if I can mimic the TT, by filling a flask with boiling water at bed time, and an empty bottle filled with boiling water so that it cools to room temp. Then during the night, I'll just do 2oz of the hot water, add the powder, then top up with the sterile water. I feel like it might be quicker and quieter upstairs than our TT as I really don't want to wake DS.

@TokenGinger yeah it was pretty much a waste of time, I wouldn’t say you have missed out on anything if you haven’t had one.

Thanks for the advice. That makes sense… I will see how I get on. I was debating just moving the machine upstairs on an evening if I do end up using it, or buying another which is just another expense but I will try the way you mentioned first.

My partner gets 2 weeks paternity so I’m not bothered about him waking up then but when he goes back to work he often starts at 3am and is a HGV driver so needs his sleep for safety really so just trying to get some ideas how to quickly get the job done! Once he’s left for work I won’t stress as much

Also just to add, I was talking to my midwife this aft re hospital bag as I said I don’t plan to take a dressing gown as too bulky and hospitals are apparently super warm.

She told me to take one because if I stay in I will need to go to collect food eg breakfast which threw me a little as I said what happens with baby if my partner isn’t there at that time, does a midwife watch baby etc. She said I can take baby in the crib thing or leave baby and there’s a lock/alarm on the crib?! Also said if other people have their partners with them they might be uncomfortable if I’m just in my pjs or a long nightie 😮

@H44123 That sounds awful! Who in their right mind would leave their baby?! I've never known anybody in hospital have to go and get their own breakfast, never mind a woman who has just given birth. That's madness.

I'm afraid if somebody's partner is uncomfortable with how I'm dressed, they'll have to turn their head or close their curtain. I was roasting when in for DS's birth. I definitely won't be using up space and taking a dressing gown x

Hi all,

Just having my first cup of raspberry leaf tea. Just wondering if anyone has any positive stories from drinking it. I haven’t got my hopes up thinking it’s going to work but I gave into the hype!! I heard it can help during labour also x

Thanks very much x

Hey

cant comment as Iv never used it but looking into this. What brand have you gone with ?

thanks x

Hey,

its called “Hottea Mama, the final push”

from Amazon xx

That’s the one I have ordered , I have been taking it but don’t know if it’s doing anything or what I’m having is normal. Like braxton hicks etc pressure etc. only been drinking it once a day but other people said 4 times a day ! Tastes like peppermint and not like raspberry lol 😂 how far are you along ? I’m 35 weeks x

I completely agree had my first cup tonight! I had some lemon with it to sweeten it up because I hate peppermint! I’m 36+4. Not and any braxton hicks yet but didn’t have them with my first either! Xx

My braxton hicks started around the time I started drinking this but more frequent now and uncomfortable. Lots if good signs of labour and my midwife said yesterday she wouldn’t be surprised if baby came before our next appointment due to the amount of BH I’m having every day. I never remembered any BH with my first.

it’s all very confusing and think ‘what does this mean, am I going into labour’ lol 😂

baby seems healthy and happy and is already at a good weight so no one’s worried if I have her early

x

Hi everyone! Hope you’re all well.
I thought my waters had gone… turns out I’d just wet myself 😅 haha I’m definitely not going to miss all the pressure on my bladder!
Anyone else getting up about 20 times in the night?

Oh that’s brilliant news.

fingers crossed for you & good luck! Xxx

@TokenGinger I thought the exact same thing! I know it’s a hospital not a hotel but I wasn’t expecting to have to go get my own food and also leave my baby! With a lock and alarm! Off to Asda I go to get more snacks!

I will also be dressing to suit me not others too! Unbelievable. Not like I would walk around with my boobs out or anything. All my pjs/clothes I’m taking cover more than enough! Luckily I got a thin dressing gown for Xmas but it will mean adding another bag to take so that will probably just get left in the car to be honest! Xx

Same same here!! And then you roll over and the pressure of baby's weight on the bladder(!!!). Every night I think this is the night I wet the bed haha!

Feel sorry for the other half as I wake him up by switching lights on 🙈

I've been drinking 1 cup a day for over 2 weeks. I feel no different. I just can't fit in more cups than that as I'm always busy! Maybe I need to make more of an effort and see if it makes a difference.

All i want to do is post on here that I have had our son in very lovely and relaxed home labour. Bahhhhhh!

@Jusmakingit i didn’t think Braxton Hicks were an indicator of how quickly labour is going to occur. I’ve been getting them for ages now and for the past few weeks they are pretty much constant! I’ve no other signs of labour coming, not lost mucus plug or had a bloody show, cervix is still high, waters not broken etc.

@H44123 that sounds insane. Are you expecting to be in for longer than normal? If no complications we get home after 6 hours here!

Aww how lovely! Congratulations!

@LA9610 no I’m not expecting to be in long I just asked what happens as she said likely 1 night as a first time mum so not sure. I did say I want an epidural and asked whether having one meant you stay in longer and she said no. Fingers crossed I’m not even in one night but I want to make sure I stay until I’m a bit confident with what to do as I feel totally clueless now and get as much support to try breastfeed

Interesting to read how your experiences with how the hospitals work, we left pretty quick with my first because my partner was bored! 😑So I never got a chance to understand how it all operates. Definetely going to stay longer this time because honestly it'll feel like a little holiday haha.

@RedLipsticks me too its so fustrating, if my 2 year old isn't waking me up constantly it's myself because I need to pee! Grr

How are you all feeling so far? I can't believe I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow, I have a feeling they're going to come late because my first did but if they came early it'd be a pleasant surprise. So interesting hearing about the different symptoms everyone is getting. I've only had braxton hicks a few times with this one if I've been active or if im stressed but I never ever had them with my first. I'm watching out for my mucus plug since I lost that a few hours before I went into labour before. I just can't wait to have this over with and I really really hope I have a bit more energy with the baby out of me rather than in. I feel so bad for my 2 year old girl, usually I'd be taking her out places but I just don't have the energy anymore. If she isn't tired out she gets grumpy and I'm finding it hard not to get snappy with her which makes me feel absolutely awful because she is such a good girl really😥With toddler groups and nursery off too I'm just really struggling, family is always busy and I've struggled to make friends in the area since we moved.

Part of me really wants a home birth now after reading a hynobirthing book. Don't agree with all the points it made (i.e. suggesting I relax and envision having a lovely stroll in the countryside during labour lol! easier said than done) but the stuff about being more relaxed at home, feeling under pressure by strangers and the unfamilar enviroment at the hospital is something i'd never considered

@Yellowflower123 hahaha no I haven't had the little darling yet. I am saying thats what I would like to post on here. I'm feeling slightly frustrated because I lost my mucus plug a couple days ago, had back pain and strong braxton hicks and a good couple of contractions and now nothing.
I'm 40 weeks next week and this is baby number 6! Hoping he comes while my other children are still off to give me time to recover and recuperate before the freezing school runs start again.
Let's hope for the best!

Seems like some of you are in a real rush to get the baby out! I'm 39 weeks but I won't be on the raspberry leaf tea till next week I think.

No symptoms here except occasional BH.

I have a pain in my right hand side since Monday though which is annoying me but the GP isn't concerned.

Same , no normal signs of labour but I’m hopeful not to go over my due date . Fingers crossed ! X

@H44123 I agree completely. My pyjamas cover me up just as much as my normal clothes do. I'm sure no one would bat an eyelid if I went somewhere in t shirt and leggings so I'll be wearing my pyjamas as much as I like 😂

@RedLipsticks I had to have a little giggle at you wetting yourself. That's definitely something I'd do. I'm going to the toilet so much as the moment and then barely anything comes out!

@PopsicleHustler How are you holding up? Inshallah he's here soon. It must be so frustrating with the mucus plug going and the contractions etc and still no sign. I hope he doesn't keep you waiting much longer.

@LA9610 We had been told the same re: 6 hours after birth we could go. Unfortunately, there was a mass birthing the day DS was born and they didn't have enough staff to do the newborn checks, paperwork etc., and we had to stay overnight because all hands were on deck for births. I was so grumpy at having to stay overnight, especially as he was born at 10am so thought I'd have been able to go home that day.

@Razputini I hear you completely on wanting more energy. I feel awful for DS. He just wants to play on the floor and go out on his bike and just getting myself showered and dressed is an effort right now. I hope I have some energy once he's here rather than feeling like a zombie. It's a really tough time with nursery closed too as he has nowhere to go to burn off his energy but experiencing this has made me certain we've done the right thing keeping him in nursery even whilst I'm off because it'll give him that time to play with friends and burn off some steam each day. I haven't read anything about hypnobirthing. Do you recommend me reading into it so close to D-Day or would it be too late to implement anything?

I'm feeling really relaxed about baby still being inside. Whilst I'm low on energy, she isn't causing me any trouble and I would like her birthday to be as far away from Christmas as possible so I'm quite relaxed about keeping her inside for a little longer.