Due December 2022 (thread 4)

[Sdoubleyou]

Hi all, looks like we'll be filling up today or tomorrow. I wanted to create the thread early so we can have a link to the new one. Have a nice weekend!

29+3 and oooh it's getting uncomfortable! Baby is head down (horray) but push right up against my right side, and elbows me in the side at least once every 10 minutes! It's squirm-inducing!

Lovely she's moving more though and I'm starting to feel a bit braver about offering other people to feel the movements now she's a bit more predictable!

@MrsN3 @Jaaxe thanks for clarifying, would be lovely to see another scan, but I'm not going to complain about being low risk. I guess I'll just find out his weight when he arrives!
@AmyAW I totally relate, my little one is head down most of the time, but seems to favour leaning over to my far left side, and kicking my ribs at the moment, DH finds my very lopsided tummy quite amusing!

31+6!! Getting closer everyday !!!
I had a growth scan this week so I know baby is fine and is head down. But does anyone feel like baby is moving a lot less? He was never much of a kicker. But previously I used to feel like he was always shuddering and wriggling. Now I just feel he stretches sometimes but not actively moving around.

Is anyone else going for an an elective c-section? Have you had the date booked yet?

I've been back and forth about having a vbac or elcs after I had an emcs with my first and have finally decided on an elective but I'm absolutely refusing to have it before 40 weeks because I'm certain my dates are wrong and my due date isn't accurate! I had my dd at 40+2 before so I don't know if the hospital will kick up a fuss if too close to their estimated due date.

Hi @Chanel05 I'll be having a planned section this time after having a horrible labour last time which ended in an emergency section. The way they explained it to me was that they like to bring you in at week 39 just so you don't risk going into labour if it is your wish to have a section

@Beachy10 do you have your date booked yet?

My consultant said 39+ weeks at my last appointment, however there's a few days in the 39+ week that I need to avoid for personal reasons too. I was spot on with my dates for my daughter and my edd this time comes from when I hadn't had a positive ovulation, temp confirmed or had even dtd so I know it's wrong 😂.

@Chanel05 no I haven't got it booked in yet, I was told that can't be done until 36 weeks. It would be good to know though although I guess if I wasn't having a planned section I wouldn't know either.

I kind of envy those of you having a elective section and getting to know/pick your baby's birthday! 😂 I'm only 32+3 and am already done being pregnant 🤣 I'm fairly certain she's not got much room left either as I've felt very very full for a few days with no let up in the feeling.

@Jaaxe when i went for my scan was only 32+4.. will be 33 weeks tomorrow 🙂

@Mommabear20 I know exactly what you mean! I'm 33 weeks tomorrow and I really don't feel like he has any more room to grow in there! It feels like he is constantly pushing out against the walls of my tummy, it's exhausting!😅

@Mommabear20 it can be so frustrating at the end!! It's better to cook for as long as they can anyway :). Something like 80% of first babies are overdue!

@Chanel05 im having a planned csection and have been given my date, I got it at 28 weeks but this isn’t the norm, it’ll be my 4th csection and they want to do it at 37/38 weeks for various reasons and ive a specific consultant doing it who doesn’t have a specific csection theatre list anymore so she was able to book it in with me at my last appointment when it suited us both within the 37/38 week timescale (obviously this could still change for various reasons though) . Usually and with my other electives they book it at 36weeks when you have an appointment with them and they will do it from 39weeks plus unless there’s a reason to do it before, they try to do it in the 39th week before your due date to avoid you going into Labour because then it turns into a emergency section which is slightly more chaotic or you could risk having a vaginal birth etc x

@Chanel05 this will be my 3rd baby so hoping she comes early (as long as she's ready!) 😂 my first was induced at 39 weeks and my second was natural labour at 39 weeks so hoping I can just squeeze into November rather than December! 😂 I don't like the idea of Birthday and Christmas decorations up at the same time, but I'm a ' Christmas goes up on December 1st' kinda gal 🤣🤣

NCT stands for National Childbirth Trust, but I've only ever heard of it referred to as NCT classes. They apparently have a range of paid for antenatal classes and other resources. I haven't done them yet myself (I'm booked in for November classes), but I've had several friends/colleagues recommend them, particularly for meeting other pregnant ladies/couples in your area with similar due dates.

My midwife suggested several different antenatal classes for first time parents including NCT and I think one called bump and baby, although there are others out there plus the free ones at your hospital. My hospital only has zoom ones at the moment, and I wanted to do in person.

I also try to do a weekly pregnancy yoga class, which is good for both getting out and gentle stretching/breathing exercises and meeting other pg ladies with quite varying due dates.

Otherwise I don't know that many friends/family who are pregnant or have been recently. I'm pretty clueless about all the baby stuff!

Looking forward to my 31 week scan next week! Nothing much is going on, but I'm finding it hard to get into a comfy sleeping position lately. After a couple of turns in the night both sides hips and shoulders are sore. I'm trying some different pillow positions that I think are helping, but there's no chance of sleeping in, as at some point I'm just too sore to stay in bed. Wondering if I should look into getting a recliner!

@Mommabear20 Ooh that's handy! Fingers. Crossed then!! My own birthday is actually between Christmas Day and New Year's Eve and I've always loved having decorations up for birthday - it's such a beautiful and most of the time, happy time.

Has anyone heard from the health visitors yet? I know we're supposed to get a visit prior to birth, and I'm sure I'd had it by now with my other two but not heard anything yet 🤷‍♀️

I had a letter from them a few weeks ago just to say who ours will be and briefly what she does but I wasn't even aware you had a visit before the birth I always thought it wasn't until after baby is here that you meet them so unsure what'll happen as we haven't been told anything about a visit so far

Not heard from health visitors either, never had a visit before birth with any of my other children either I don’t think. I’ve a 2 year old and not actually seen a health visitor for her since she was a few weeks old, they even did her 2 year check over the phone in the space of about 5 minutes 😂 x

Hi all, exciting/scary how close we're getting!

The last couple of weeks in particular I've been doing loads of shopping for baby stuff. It feels good to be getting it sorted but also can't help feeling more anxious - what if something goes wrong and we end up with all this stuff and no baby? 😕 I've had a healthy pregnancy and midwife checks are fine so I know it should be fine, but I just seem to be getting more and more worried as I get more attached to this little baby.

Also making me anxious (amongst the many, many other things!) is the upcoming maternity leave. I just feel really bad that I'm off for a year which means extra work for my manager and team in terms of recruiting and training someone else. Hopefully when I'm actually off it will be the last thing on my mind! But for now I can't help feeling guilty. Is that just me?

We had a pre-birth phone call with DD (mid lockdown), and a home visit with DS. They just check if there's any smokers in the house, how many live in the house, any pets, do you have outside support, have advise on safe sleeping, feeding etc and wanted to see where baby would be sleeping.
Wouldn't be bothered if we didn't get a visit this time but it'd be nice to know one way or another 😂

@Mommabear20 I had my home visit from the health visitor a couple of weeks ago. But I think they only do a pre-birth visits here before the first baby. I think it’s only after birth for the second child onwards.

I had a HV home visit today, but didn’t have one with DS almost 6 years ago, she said it was something they’d recently brought in. All other appointments with DS were face to face but this time around it will just be the day 10-14 home visit then virtual for 6-8 weeks and the 1 & 2 year reviews. No drop in clinics anymore either, just pre-booked appointments if they’re worried that baby isn’t gaining weight but no idea how they’d know that if there aren’t any drop in weigh sessions 🙃

My midwife mentioned the HVs in my area (Scotland) had started doing home visits before birth, before COVID, but haven't restarted. Apparently they are going to call and introduce themselves, but I haven't heard anything yet! No idea what to expect from that to be honest.
@Nutella99 I can totally sympathise, this is my first and I got a bit nervous/over eager and bought most things weeks ago now. At first it felt a bit weird having baby things about, like we were jinxing things, but it actually has become quite a comfort, once we got used to it! It's helped me to bond and get used the idea of having a little one about.
I also feel the same about work and maternity leave, although it's been slightly relieved as I was able to help with the recruitment of my cover, and am going to have a couple of weeks overlap, so I can make sure I have properly handed over everything. Is that possible in your workplace? If not, I'm sure your manager and team will be absolutely fine and are very happy for you, and you will be far too distracted to worry about that anyway!

@Nutella99, I completely understand the anxiety ❤️❤️. I also sometimes think about what if, and I'm so attached to baby already. We also just bought a very expensive stroller (pram? 🤷‍♀️ I'm Canadian) and thought the same. But we said f* it, too invested to be scared, we're all in. My friends with kids tell me that this feeling will never go away, it's the parental worrying that'll last forever. You just have to learn to live with it and not let it rule you. Easier said than done! I also think it's normal with all the hormones and instincts kicking in. It's that fight to protect our little ones which is a pretty necessary instinct.

I had a home visit before DS was born in 2019 but not heard anything about it for these babies yet.

Was in hospital on Sunday for about 12 hours. They called me in at about 5am and I had to have some bloods and wait for results. Turns out I have OC 😩. Doctor was lovely and reassuring and also sent me for a gallbladder & liver ultrasound that day. Have to have weekly LFT and bile acid bloods now. Hoping with the medication all can stay under control.