BFPs after IVF - navigating pregnancy - pt 2!

[xreadytoglow]

@Bluehawaii29
@Overlyanxious
@bajanbump
@2mumlife
@Bryterlayter1
@Justawannabemam

Thread two! We reached 1k comments! 🤍

@xreadytoglow @Overlyanxious thank you both, yes it’s lovely to walk in there, I just make so many trips to do things in there now. Really helps my mind set and believe she is realy going to be here. Once you start getting things it doesn’t stop, enjoy the deliveries nearly daily of little bits and bobs. Looking forward to putting the cot bumper cushions on and bed sheet and just little things really. Helps pass the time since I still just stay at home really. That room was always just the blank room so its so nice to see it have some character now and her presence. @Overlyanxious honestly it will really help make it real once you start shopping for some stuff, you will get in to the whole nesting phase
@xreadytoglow your nursery theme sounds lovely, I love jungle vibes as well, kind of what attracted me to the animal posters haha

Aww ladies your nurseries look so lovely!!

Since we are a "nomad" family a full-on nursery is not an option for us, but ill try to make it as nice as possible when the moment comes. We are doing bed bassinets in any case, so they will be sleeping with us at least for the first 5-6 months.

I am sorry I have been MIA but again..no notifications and this huge bump making me more and more exhausted. The girls now kicking full on, sometimes AAA LOOOT.. it feels like someone is rearranging my internal organs every time they do LOOL

on top of that, i have two friends who just had babies and they both seem to be in the middle of a zombie apocalypse lol it makes me a bit scared how hard is it being for them. I've always been super cautious when thinking about the first weeks-months but I have the sensation im not preparing myself enough at this point

@Bluehawaii29 We're very much hoping room will be used for a sibling as well in the future, so wanted something that would last :) I need to get some bits up on the wall, I have a nearly complete cross-stitch of Jemima puddleduck I need to finish one time! Not sure what your plans are re: sleeping arrangements, but safe-sleep advice is not to use cot bumpers with young babies. Might not apply if you're not using the cot until 6+ months but something to be aware of if you're intending the newborn to be in the cot.

@Overlyanxious I like the neutral look too. Heard it put an interesting way actually recently, can't remember if it was a book or what, but it was talking about sleep and saying to keep babies room (and particularly area around crib) conducive to sleep - so not lots of things to look at that would be stimulating.

@xreadytoglow It is sort of a bit strange to be at the stage now of just waiting for labour. Its all electronic in my area so the birth plan/preferences I filled in awhile ago myself. I presume if I had questions or things I could call the midwife team, but I feel a bit like I've read everything I need to from a theoretical / practical standpoint. Though I am considering hiring a TENS machine (realise I need to get on it if I want to give it a try!). I love the half painted wall look, and terracotta sounds nice - you'll need to show us once you're done!

@bajanbump We're doing a next2me for the first 6 months, which my partner keeps reminding me when I'm setting up room that they'll hardly be in there! But I keep thinking they'll be no time/space for making it nice once they are here. Lots of movement is great (though appreciate your organs wont like it!). I think the early days really varies - some people seem to cope a bit more than others! But everyone seems to get through it :)

If anyone is looking for an interesting book, I recently got the "wonder weeks" book. My sister has been using it with her 9 month old and really likes it - it tracks cognitive leaps and regressions babies go through, to try to help you rationalise why there are difficult weeks, by linking it to the changes your baby is experiencing in their cognition.

@Bluehawaii29 Just having a look at seems general advice is cot bumpers are never safe, even after 6 months, as they're a suffocation risk to young babies, but even when babies are older they still pose a risk as baby can use them to climb out the crib and could fall. You can get teething rail covers if you don't want bubs to chew on your new cot (that's what we're intending to get at some point) which are safe if you get ones that are just over the top of the rail only.

@2mumlife heyy yeah I red that too, we only going to be using cot for night time use from 6+ months and bed side crib for first 6 months but may let her sleep in cot in the day. Think it’s not called bumpers what we got, it’s like these animal shaped tie up cushions but only small and just 4 of them so I think they are classed as breathable but will be careful to not let her sleep there too early on x

@Bluehawaii29 I never know what half the terminology is for baby stuff either! So confusing sometimes isn't it? Even the quilt I got for the cot a friend said after I got it might not be suitable until they are older again. Always seems like 101 things to consider!

@2mumlife lol I know tell me about it, I only just realised what a baby carrier is the other day. Thought it’s called a sling all this time and wasn’t getting good search results 😂

@bajanbump sorry to hear you're feeling exhausted. I think with the first few weeks you just have to remember it will get easier. I saw some advice recently about trying to prioritise sleep where possible as it's the tiredness that gets to you. How many weeks are you now?

@Bluehawaii29 @xreadytoglow I've been doing some looking online at various baby bits. Haven't bought anything yet - but feel this is a step in the right direction.

@xreadytoglow your nursery sounds lovely as well.

@2mumlife thanks for the book recommendation.

@Overlyanxious Thanks :) Just "turned" 22 on Thursday. 15-16 more to go for me if all goes well. I am trying to rest as much as possible now, but for example today the girls woke me up at 4.30 am kicking which I know is a blessing but also wow LOL

@2mumlife yeah our bassinets are very similar! I am now in the phase of researching every swaddle in the market and understanding which one is better. I ended up going for one called HALO which is very recommended by nurses in the US, the next challenge is to understand how to dress them exactly under it LOL

I am also trying to buy a bit of every size of clothes to be prepared. Some preemie sets and then newborn size. Everybody is getting us 0-3 but I am afraid the girls will be too small to wear 0-3 and will probably need a month or more until they reach that size.

@2mumlife I'm with you in the baby stuff terminology, we just learned a couple of weeks ago what tummy time was LOOOL..now we have the playmats and the cards already in the registry lol.

We have decided to put up the registry at the end of the month as we have friends from all over asking what they can get us..and then what doesnt get bought by mid-October we will get it ourselves.

@Bluehawaii29 Babygrows got me for awhile. Couldn’t work out what piece of clothing it was meant to refer to!

@bajanbump I woke up in the night with a stabbing pain in my left. It’s happened a few times now but most I can find online is ligament pain. Only ever feels that stabbing pain at night though so not sure. We’ve bought a “Love to Dream” swaddle thing - it’s like a cross between a swaddle and a sleep bag, but it lets their arms be above their heads, but contained. We’ll see, I have some normal sleeping bags from my sister and my mum is knitting a sleeping bag too. We’ve been given loads of hand me down clothes. I saw 2 friends at the weekend who both have babies who gifted bags of useful stuff instead - so cotton wool, nasal drip thing for when they are sick, baby teethers their kids found good and that kind of stuff. It was really nice actually :)

@2mumlife that’s great! Glad you got some useful stuff and feel more prepared. Could be just round ligament pains, you must be very big by now so will be expected, let us know how it all goes. Lots of luck xx

We had our 4d scan! At first he was covering his face with both hands, had his cord over his mouth and facing away and wouldn't move at all .. we tried everything. They sent us away for an hour and I had a sugary drink to try and get him to shift a bit. We went back in and still the same! But after some hip wiggling we managed to get a few photos without his hands and cord in the way. Still a bit disappointing though, the pics are great but other than that you couldn't see anything. I think I was expecting a lot more, like to watch him in 4d rather than still images, I wouldn't pay for it in another pregnancy anyhow if we were blessed with another.
At one point though my mum asked if you could see if he had hair, I was thinking nah no way, then they zoomed into his head and said 'you see all those fuzzy lines? That's his hair' .. 🤯 mindblown. I didn't realise you could tell that from an ultrasound! Made him feel more real somehow. Our boy with his hair! 🥹
Anyway here's some of the photos we managed to get.

Happy Birthday @xreadytoglow. I'm sorry to hear the scan was a bit of a disappointment but that is a cute looking baby. That's also cool you could see his hair.

@2mumlife sorry to hear you've had some pain. That's great you've got some good second hand bits from friends.

@bajanbump sounds like a good plan having a registry.

I finally bought something - but it's not practical and was only because I felt obliged to 😂 I went into this local toy shop as I often walk past it and it was only me in there. The lady spoke to me for ages so I felt like I had to get something. I got a cute dinosaur toy and she was really sweet and gave me a small one for free.

@xreadytoglow cool 4D scan! Glad you got to see little bubs @Overlyanxious that’s great you feel like you got something and it’s becoming more real x
@2mumlife heyy how are you? Is the pain better? You must be due any day now? Let us know how it all goesss xx

@Bluehawaii29 Actually everyone keeps telling me how tiny I am lol (though I don't feel it!). I've done my fundal height at home and actually only measuring ~31 cm even at 37 weeks (and growth scans show baby is a bit above 50% centile). And I've put on nearly 1.5st. My bump is just incredibly compact and solid! Still another 3 weeks until I'm due - I'm, still working this week and next week, so would be good if there weren't any early appearances to be honest! Had the funny pain in my right side for the first time the other day - I think it must just be ligament pain. It never lasts very long and only happens very occasionally so its not so bad.

@Overlyanxious Dinosaur! :D its nice you got something, this is the beginning!

@xreadytoglow Sorry you felt a bit disappointed with your 4D scan. I think is variable what you get - my friend got a wee 20s video with her 4D scan. Its hard to see much though the bigger they get! I think its a nice thing to get a private scan if you're not due any between 20 and 40 weeks - it would feel like a really long time! I've heard about indications of hair before on ultrasounds :) At this stage he'll be fuzzy all over though from the lanugo.

Hey guys hope you are all good, I’m 27 weeks today. Am happy to have reached this stage but still feeling anxious about getting from one week to next, have no idea how to shake this off. I’d been keeping myself busy getting baby items and finishing the nursery but now it’s all done my mind is reverting to a negative state that will I be lucky enough to get past 30 weeks and time has slowed down a lot. Not sure how others are getting there but if you have any advice I’d be grateful x

@Bluehawaii29 Congrats on getting to 27 weeks! Try viewing thinks pragmatically - has consultant suggested at all that there is a worry you wont get to 30 weeks? You're doing fantastic so far and the stitch is doing its think. Try to stay positive, you're doing great!

@2mumlife thank you x no she said it is very low risk before 30 weeks but still now that I’ve got everything ready for the baby I feel like maybe I’ve put myself under more pressure with this waiting around. I feel like I will make it but tummy is getting quite big now and just get freaked out in case I encounter any more symptoms like tightness etc as I always assume the worst!

@Bluehawaii29 27 weeks! Your doing really well and having coped with your anxiety this long you have done very well, keeping yourself busy & distracted sounds like a good idea. Easier said than done i know 😔

@Gigi89x thank you xx I was just thinking about you today! How are you? How far along are you now and how you finding it xx

@Bluehawaii29 what a coincidence haha
Im doing well thanks, I'm 15 + 2 weeks now. I don't have any nausea feelings anymore since the 2nd trimester which is nice.

My main issue at the moment is sleeping- is it true you are meant to sleep on your left side only? I find it impossible , iv got a pregnancy pillow U shaped. It does not really help and i get bad hip and leg pain during the night and have to switch sides a million times. I used to sleep on my front or back not my side before pregnancy
Any tips on this? 😫

@Bluehawaii29 congratulations on getting to 27 weeks - look how far you've come. As you know I suffer from anxiety as well so don't have any advice but I think it's great you've got stuff ready for baby as that's one less thing to worry about. When do you plan to go on maternity leave?

@Gigi89x really glad your second trimester is going smoother and hopefully that’s the end for the nausea, it didn’t bother me again after first trimester so hopefully will be ok for you x You can sleep on either side just not back, been sleeping mainly on right side throughout and checked many times with different midwives who have all said either side is fine but just the back not safe!
@Overlyanxious thank you, yes it is a relief to get to 27 weeks and should be happy that I’ve made it this far but can’t help wanting to get in the 30s now. Just have to keep going with this quiet life, maternity leave is 8 weeks away! Can’t believe it, how about you? X

@Bluehawaii29 yes I'm keen to get to the 30s as well. I guess we just have to keep taking every day as it comes. I'm working right up to the last minute - so won't be finishing till 4th November (I'm due the 9th). However this may change if a c section is needed at any point. Still waiting to see if my low lying placenta moves up.

@Gigi89x glad to hear the nausea has gone. My understanding as well is that sleeping either side is fine. I have a long pillow and I find it's good - I basically cuddle it and then have one leg underneath and the other on top.

@Overlyanxious thats good you are working very close to due date as more time with baby after, Mine is about 2 weeks before my c section week so not too long I guess and I think will just use it for the last min prep and trying mindfulness right till the end haha I got my classes with iapt starting this weds for the bump to baby course which will hopefully give me some coping skills specific to anxiety in pregnancy and beyond x