Due Feb/Mar after MC 🌈 🙈 Thread 2

[MooBugz]

New thread following the almost full last one! Sorry if I missed the tag for anyone 😬

@Ally256 @madeinthe80z @Lmcc88 @OceanbreezeSun @doingitalllagain @RedElleJ @STom2 @WonderWoop @LittleLottle @Skylark1990 @Rubes1234 @Hagster @JoKB @Gamergirl84 @Franklin321

@Skylark1990 no, I have a posterior placenta and can very well appreciate my mini me's kicks.. but she goes really quite sometimes, like for a couple of hours.. say from around 4 pm to 10 pm mostly.. rest of the time she kicks like she is practising for a football world cup match 😂 but on random days, she chooses to be not so active and these lazy days are what scares me, as if that's natural or not.. does your babies have any such patterns?

I did discuss this with my mw and she said , even if the pattern changes, I need to ring them.. I guess I should stop googling; too much information is what is making me confused!

@drV I never really nailed down a "pattern" when pregnant with DS. So every time theye ask me about movements this time around I tell them that and they say "oh some babies are just like that. " I know some will say they used to go to bed at a certain time and baby would start kicking almost automatically around that time. Or eat certain foods and baby would automatically start kicking. I find the guidance on it a bit confusing if I'm honest and can appreciate how nerve wrecking it is, particularly when it's your first. I'll be honest, I was so sick over the weekend that any sort of movement tracking was impossible!!

When pregnant with DS my rule of thumb (and this was just personal choice), was if I couldn't remember feeling something for the previous couple of hours, I would consciously sit/lie on my side for up to an hour until I felt them move. So I never really had a situation of thinking "oh they've moved less today than yesterday". It was more a "making sure they were still moving in there when I honed in on it".

@skylark1990 I really do feel for you with the gastritis. I'm so low on energy atm and trying to catch up on all the eating I've not done since last Wednesday. So I'm at point of just saying sod it now and eating whatever and dealing with consequences afterward.

@redelleJ we have the Occarro for DS and will be using it for this LO. Still going strong after 2 years. Its on the weightier side as far as prams go, but an absolute gem if you're doing any sort of "off roading" 😉.

On clothing - Vinted is very good for picking up bundles of newborn clothes. Can get stuff that's brand new without tags etc. I second what @Skylark1990 said - 100% cotton is best. Onesies with built in scratch mitts are very convenient (avoids losing them!). I also much prefer onesies that button the whole way down the front. Some only do around the legs so you've to pull over the head and arms and I found that fussy with DS when he was newborn. But that's a personal preference!

Oh this thread is getting me so excited now we are talking about clothes etc! I need to get round to make my hospital bag list soon too. I do love a list to work from 🤩

@RedElleJ welcome back haha, and so organised too! For size I would say first for all my previous babies first size/newborn has always been big and lasted a few weeks on the babies and then I always get some 0-3 aswell but they last way longer and will look massive if you put them on from birth.

I would also say stick to vests and babygrows as opposed to outfits they really are not practical at all, you'll find your mummy friends will gift you non outfit things because they know haha. A good pram suit is great for the outside if you are baby wearing but be sure to take it off when baby is in car seat and out back on after baby is out car seat as they can be dangerous is there is an accident as they can be bulky.

Also worth getting some mummy/buggy clips they are great for when out shopping to hook bags on etc. and some blankets there are sooo many cute blankets out there and you could choose swaddling blankets or sleeping bags too if you prefer. There's no right or wrong it's really down to preference when it comes to clothing hope that helps 😊

It's so exciting that we can finally all start getting organised! I've got 89 days until due date and only 68 days until full term, and my son was born at 37 weeks so it could happen again.. that makes it seem so soon!

Mission clear out the nursery has started, we bought the paint today and the buggy is arriving on Friday. Eek!

Ahhhh all this clothing chat is so lovely ☺️ would agree that 0-1 month lasted us quite a while last time, 0-3 seemed huge!

@drV the midwives will never tell you off for ringing, no harm in calling to check no matter how many times.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions on baby's movements.. will talk to my mw asap...

Also, when are you all planning to pack your hospital bag?! It's so exciting to get things done 😃

Oh my goodness.... I've not done a THING in the new baba's nursery yet 😆 All DSs stuff is still in the attic but I have started looking at prams.
As DS is only just 2 and we walk into town a fair bit for groups I think I'm going to need a double buggy. Anyone else going down that route? I think the Mountain Buggy duet is best for us as it has parent facing options and is quite narrow for a double.
Other than that prob just need a car seat (my mum pinched our old one is very reluctant to give it back!)

Been feeling quite regular kicks- not sure about baby's routines but that's because I just don't have time with the toddler to take notice.

Feels like such a long time between scans - my 32 wks isn't until 23rd December!

All clear on my glucose test, that 2 hours really dragged though 🙃

Sorry to hear a few of you have had some awful experiences. Most of the midwifery team I have seen in my unit have been lovely but there was one at the beginning who I now can not wait to see after passing the glucose test with flying colors. 😂 Advocating for yourself is so hard when you feel like you have no idea what’s going on but just remember you know your own body and your own capabilities.

I have bought a few bits but I haven’t gone mental. Every time I buy something I have a little bit of a panic like I’m jinxing it. Can’t get it out of my head. Just buying the essentials and a few nice bits then can do an online order once she’s here.

We out a deposit down on a pram/car seat and nursery bundle a few days ago and it really set me off in a spiral. I know it needs to be done but I just can’t shake the feeling that buying something will do harm. Doesn’t help that me and my whole family are old school superstitious. 😂

We went for the Icandy peach 7 but we were stuck in between that and the mammas and papas Occaro. It was a real struggle but the bundle deal felt like a much better solution for us and the fact we can leave it all in the shop and pick it up whenever.

How are you all feeling about coming in to the third trimester? X

@Gamergirl84 ditto on the drag re the glucose test lol the room was full of hangry sleepy pregnant woman on Monday haha luckily I was first I and first out.

@Rubes1234 I can understand why you would feel like you are jinxing things but look at it with prams your need before ordering them if you are buying new so that they are ready in time for baby coming. And it's a huge deal it's the biggest and most important purchase you'll make for little one.

Congrats to us all getting into the 3rd trimester it really does feel like a long time getting here doesn't it? Saying that, I felt like the second trimester flew in after a very very slow first trimester where we were all glass half empty. Of course the worry is still there for a lot of us but happy we have each other to support through these strange feelings.

In other news I've been sniffing washing up sponges after using them to clean the dishes I'm actually obsessed with the smell. I love me some eucalyptus fairy liquid !! This has moved in to radix eucalyptus and lemon shower gel sniffing on the body puff in the shower too and a car wipe this morning. I'm a freak.

@Rubes1234 you are not alone there, every time I but something, I panic that I am jinxing it... Sometimes the superstitions get such strong hold of me, I put off doing anything for a couple of days altogether! Just praying and hoping our girl will be delivered safe and sound 🙏🏻

Btw is the third trimester starting at week 27 ? Or 28 ? I will be 27 weeks this Sunday.. have a midwife appointment booked for 28w and also a growth scan with fetal medicine specialist..

My pregnancy till now has been very rocky.. specially mentally.. I lost my dad to cancer when I was 13 weeks.. I still struggle with coming into terms with it.. mum lives overseas and she will be coming to the UK in a month.. can't wait for her to be here tbh!

Just caught up on quite a few posts, hope everyone is well and nice ti hear about all of the nesting starting.

@STom2 and @Skylark1990 sorry about the stomach issues and sadly I feel your pain, recovering from a horrific stomach bug. No idea where it came from but it's really knocked me

I'm also never sure if there's a pattern to the baby movements, like someone else said I put it down to my toddler not giving me any time to figure that out! But all or any movement I see as good

@drV so sorry to read that you lost your dad recently. That's so hard but particularly so when you're pregnant. I lost my dad five years ago and really struggled with my MH during pregnancy with DD. Thinking of you. A really useful website to help rationalize your thoughts I find is what'syourgrief.com

In terms of prams, I had an old model icandy to start but when the baby got big enough I moved to a bugaboo bee as it's so nippy to get around and I'm in London so on and off the tube. I've bought a secondhand bugaboo chameleon since, which is a bit more bulky than the bee but had a buggy board etc for toddler

Wow @drV you really have been through a lot. I'm so sorry for your loss and I'm not surprised you're still struggling to come to terms with it. Grief is up and down and can be long. I read a lovely thing about how at first, grief feels like it fills you up and you have no room for anything else, and you can't imagine it ever getting smaller; then one day you realise that the grief hasn't got smaller but you've got bigger around it and you have a bit more space for other things again. It felt really apt to me from my own experiences. Sending you a big hug.

Congrats on the glucose tests those of you who've had them! I didn't have one last time and so far I don't think it's booked in - is it routine? I don't feel like I'm missing out though from your descriptions, not sure I'm going to push too hard 😆

Absolutely understand on the 'don't jinx things' front - I'm the same. I buy things then shove them in a drawer 'just in case'. I think it's totally understandable given our experiences.

@WonderWoop thank you for your kind words, I am really sorry for your loss too..I totally understand how difficult it must've been for you😔

@Hagster thank you for your beautiful words 💖 at the moment, grief feels too heavy at times.. it has been incredibly difficult since last two days, I am just a crying mess despite my husband being incredibly supportive and understanding.. hope it gets better with time!

Also managed to do come shopping today, had been to mamas and papas.. bought the crib, cotbed and the car seat.. didn't buy pram atm because we know very well that me and the baby won't be going out much for first few months, except for the doctors visits and hospital.... It's a religious thing and for sure my mum won't be letting us go out... It's kind of win win situation as I dislike winter so much 😆 I kind of hibernate once the clocks change.. remain in hiding till the spring time clock change 😬

How's all your shopping and prepping going on?!

How's everyone getting on? Have many people had their 28 week scans yet, if you're having one?

Had mine this morning, he's weighing 2lbs 7 and all looking good. Got my gestational diabetes thing tomorrow morning too.

I switch between feeling like we're nearly there and like we're bloody ages away!!

@doingitalllagain that's a good news!

My 28w scan is scheduled for next Tuesday 29/11, followed by the midwife appointment the same day. My GD screen is clear 🙏🏻

I had another episode of RFM last Friday, so my midwife has asked me to be scanned every two weeks instead of 4.. my lil girl was of adequate weight and measurements in last scan. Hope she continues to grow adequately 🤞🏻

And I am with you in the feeling of 'i am nearly there but it's still 12 weeks' .. specially when I get an episode of RFM 🤦

@doingitalllagain Don't get another scan here until 36 weeks as a final growth scan. Had my GD test yesterday though and all clear thankfully.

With you on the feeling so far gone but still so far to go. I feel MASSIVE. I'm fairly uncomfortable already. Not sure how I'll manage another 12 weeks. Or where they will even have room to grow!!!

@doingitalllagain we don't get a 28 scan where we are but I do have a growth scan booked in at 30 weeks so looking forward to that.

Feeling huge suddenly and find that I penguin walk now often holding my bump lol and getting a lot of ligament pain if I do too much. My GDD came back fine but my irons low at 5 the midwife said it should be around 30 😳 so explains the extreme tiredness and getting into them iron pills asap.

Hope you are all doing okay. Still some time to go but this is the fun bit now the countdown is on especially given Christmas and new year will be fine and next milestone will be us meeting our babies 🌈

I’m sorry to hear about your dad @drV
I'm glad you have a good support network at a sad time like this.

It’s good to hear all the GD results we have had have come back normal.

@MooBugz haha, the penguin walk.
I feel like I’m waddling too, all my clothes feel uncomfortable & I definitely haven’t got the pregnancy glow this time around😂. I’m just living in maternity leggings, which I never wore before.

It’s good the mw identified the iron deficiency, hopefully you will start to feel less tired with help from the tablets.

I had a growth scan last week as my stomach area was measuring rather big and I’ve been feeling very uncomfortable. It just shows how inaccurate the fundal height measurement can be. I was plotting right at the top of the chart but actual growth scan measurements show ds is growing right in the middle in normal range. He’s measuring approx 3 lb. I do have abit of extra fluid though, which I had with dd, so I have another scan booked for 3 weeks time to see if it’s still there. With dd it corrected itself, I’m hoping the same will happen, but at least I get to see ds again.

I need to start thinking about my hospital bag. 10 weeks till due date! I think I had it packed by now with dd🤭

@OceanbreezeSun ditto on the pregnancy glow skip I'm sure I had one day that I recall 🤣

Hospital bag yes! I need to get my list organised for that I always find it fun packing for the big day! Wow 10 weeks is nothing, come a looooong way 🙊

Glad to hear the scan is measuring fine too, I've been living in leggings since my first baby lol but going to try and get into jeans and normality again after this one, looking forward to the fitness journey but not putting pressure on it to do it quickly or anything. Just nice to enjoy being pregnant right now 😊 knowing it's it's the last (planned)

@OceanbreezeSun I was wondering about the fundal height too, in my last midwife appointment, she told I am measuring 28cm, which was 2 cm more than my gestational age (I was 26w during the appointment). I thought I would get to know the accurate measurements during the scan!

I am having issues with breathlessness already, doing stairs scares me 😂 Mr Husband says I have eaten too many chocolate cakes 🤓

Anyone who has experience with packing hospital bag - could you give us a list what we REALLY need in the bag please?! And also when did you/ when are you planning to pack it this time?

Hey all, nice to see everyone's updates 🌷 how exciting that you're all in / entering the third trimester!

I had my twenty week scan yesterday. Everything looked good except one of baby's kidneys is dilated, only borderline as it's 7.2mm and the cut off is 7mm for normal, however it was much bigger than the other one. They've booked me a scan with the specialist consultant for Mon next week so I'll get more info then, as unclear what could be causing it. I've googled ofc and it could be something relatively serious or it could resolve itself before birth so it's really hard to know what to think at this stage. It really upset me, I was hoping the scan would provide that confidence and reassurance we all need especially after loss. I am v grateful though that everything else looked healthy. I'm still feeling quite emotional and just hoping the anxiety doesn't run away with me over the next week, or for the rest of the pregnancy if it's something the consultant says we just need to "wait and see" about 😥

Has anyone else experienced something similar with this baby or previous? Apparently it's quite common, affecting 1-2 in 100 babies and much more common in boys so I'm now convinced baby is a boy, even tho we are still opting for a surprise. 💛

@drV hospital bags! It definitely depends from person to person but some essentials and things I definitely felt glad to have include:

• clothes for baby - 3 sets of sleep suits, vests, long sleeved vests and some leggings, socks, scratch mits, jumpers and a hat.
• your own pillow.
• dressing gown, nursing clothes for breastfeeding and skin to skin (so even if not breastfeeding you want them to be able to open so you can do skin to skin) so eg, warm cardigan, nighties with buttons at front, pyjama shirts, nursing tops etc. Pack 2 or 3 changes of clothes for you, if you end up staying longer then someone can bring more in for you.
• slippers and flip flops
• relaxing room spray, battery fairy lights, Bluetooth speaker, phone charger, eye mask, ear phones, ear plugs - things to set the right mood for labour to encourage oxytocin, and that will help you switch off or sleep on the ward afterwards.
• toiletries
• nappies for baby, wipes/ cotton wool, a few muslin cloths, blanket for baby. Hospitals usually have baby blankets but nice to have options.
• if you have one a small night light, when I had DD I had my own room for a while and it was good to have a light that wasn't the main room light for night time feeds! I actually used some battery tea lights for this.
• nursing pillow, I recommend the my breast friend.

I'm sure others will have other suggestions!

Oh and snacks! So things for labour and afterwards that you like ... Cereal bars, sweets, dried fruit, nuts, crisps etc and some isotonic drinks are good too to keep hydrated during labour, such as lucozade sport or coconut water.

Oh and a big water bottle!

@Skylark1990 oh how worrying, so sorry you are stressed out 😥

Increased measurements of fetal kidneys are quite common in male fetuses and usually resolves on itself. measurements also sometimes depend on maternal hydration status and is increased if the mother is on progesterone supplements. Do talk to your fetal med consultant thoroughly about it. I can totally understand it's a big time worry until you are out of the woods.

Thank you for the hospital bag list, it's Very useful!

Hope everything goes well with your baby ❤️ take care!