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

Phew…that makes me feel better. I think we have about 5 newborn and 7 0-3. Although we’ve said to family and friends not to buy us anything but we know they will so we’ve said we’ll wait and see what they get before we buy anything else. I have bought a couple of dresses for going out and visiting relatives when she’s able to. I couldn’t not take advantage of the sales. 😂

@ChangeHtotheP I've found with mine they stay in the newborn size for a good few weeks so have got a few packs of 3 and two packs of vests/bodysuits for baby.

I went a bit overboard though after finding the boots sale had mothercare branded on sale because that is so good quality and washes so well I've found!

But like you say people will buy even if you say not to haha so you'll inevitably have more than you need either way x

On the babygows- things I learned with my DS:

They grow out of them so quickly in first few weeks. Depending on where you buy from there can be quite a difference between Newborn size and the 0-3 months (these ones can vary wildly and you'll see on tags what weight they go up to). DS was 3.1kg when born. He was in newborn onesies for about 7 to 10 days I think. Then we moved onto the "up to 1 month" ones. It was a few weeks before he was into the 0 to 3 months as these were generally big fitting on him (but again, if you have a big baby this won't matter so much).

I didn't bother with any sort of "outfits" for the first couple of weeks. It was all bodygrows and onesies. That said we were in lockdown and not going anywhere. But I plan on doing same this time around even if taking him out. Button down onesies are the quickest/easiest thing to get on them (I hated the onesies that only buttoned around the legs as getting over their head etc seemed like a faff).

Also, when you're just at home with them you can do as much skin to skin as you want. So in the first couple weeks there was lots of him in his nappy on my chest or DHs sleeping. Or just a little bodysuit. And I'd throw a little blanket across him if any way worried about how warm he was. But that probably also eliminated some of the need for constant outfit changes or loads of laundry. Pretty sure we had 10 babygrows maximum first time around so that should be more than sufficient I reckon. And 14 vests/bodysuits. And I pulled these out at the weekend and I'd swear there were vests in there that had never been worn.

Thanks so much @STom2 and @MooBugz. We had another growth scan today and they are currently estimating her weight at 5lbs and she is on track to weigh just under 8lb if we went full term so I think she might be on the border of some newborn and 0-3.

So far all I’ve bought is super market baby grows/vests and a few dresses for family visits (elderly grandparents etc). I am
more than happy to have her in baby grows when we’re at home and going out for walks. We love being in our scruffs at home so not making her get dressed up for me and the dogs. 😂 I did get a couple of cardigans that were in the sale to get her wrapped up in for walks as we are very rural and it gets really chilly out. I ordered a snow suit as well but hoping we won’t use it, was just conscious we have had very cold whether late feb/early March the past few years so trying to be prepared (and it was in the sale obviously 😂). I want to get out walking as much as we can so she gets fresh air and help me get out of the house and see proper day light.

I have bought quite a few blankets, mainly because I will have a crib upstairs, Moses basket down stairs and then the pram to think about. I imagine there will be a few ‘accidents’ as well so wanted to make sure I was prepared.

It’s crazy how much one teeny tiny person needs.

Haha so true about the little person having so much stuff! Good idea on having extra blankets you'll be surprised how one drop of missed vomit can stench out the whole thing 🙈

I'm the same re don't go for outfits it's normally people without kids that will gift them lol I find them a right nuisance and they look in comfy too, what's a baby going to do in a pair of jeans at 1 month really?! Each to their own though whatever works for you.

The tiredness has really hit home this past week and I'm done for the day by 3/4pm and finding I get puffed out quicker too. Shame the work never stops around us though! 35 weeks tomorrow here and it's scarily close.. my first born was 38 weeks and second 39 weeks so it's all feeling real now 🌈

@MooBugz Think we're due date twins! I'm 35 weeks tomorrow too! Booked in for section at 39 weeks though.

With you on the tiredness. For second time since Christmas I seem to have ate something that didn't agree with me. It leaves me with a dodgy stomach for a day or two, and as a result feeling insanely lethargic. I'd a good cry yesterday when DH got home and then went to bed at 6pm!! Clawing back to normality today thankfully. So strange as exact same happened over Christmas and can't think what it is that set it off. Maybe it's just hormones.....

@ChangeHtotheP totally agree with regarding how a tiny person needs so many things😵‍💫 we assembled the nursery furnitures today and it took whole of the morning.. and one whole room is her's now 😅

@MooBugz @STom2 I'm very much with you two on the tiredness bandwagon.. I really don't want to wake up in the mornings; just want to be in the bed and moan 😂 sleep has deserted me since a week or two... I am hardly getting 4-5 hours of very disturbed sleep.. dreams are so vivid and crazy, I feel like screaming in my sleep but I lay there playing them in my head and getting terrified😣

I have a growth scan and an antenatal clinic with the consultant tomorrow.. hope the baby has picked up some decent growth!

Hi all.. a bit of good news from my side.. had a growth scan this afternoon and baby has caught up growth since the scary scan last time.. she is now exactly 5lb.. phew😅

No more twice weekly scans for now.. just another growth scan and antenatal clinic in two weeks.. hope she continues to grow normally🤞🏻

That’s great news @drV. Looks like ours are measuring exactly the same at 34 weeks. Fingers crossed they keep growing at a steady rate. I want her to be big and strong but also petrified of a big baby during birth. 😂

I got the letter through for my health visitor meeting today. After all the frustration with different consultants and their different opinions/advice I’m a little unsure about how I feel adding someone else into the mix but want to be hopeful they’re more useful. 🤞🏼

@ChangeHtotheP yes hope these little ones grow sufficiently so that once they are here, they won't have any difficulty🤞🏻

I had my health visitor come to visit last week... She was very pleasant and just enquired what all arrangements have been made to keep the baby safe.. and gave contact numbers in case I need any help with the baby once she is here.. hope it will be alright with you too!

@drV
glad to hear the growth scan went well, that is what you want to hear. I hope the next one in a couple of weeks is good too.

An update from me, this is abit long, sorry! I’m being induced on Sat still - I had a Doppler scan on Friday and saw a different consultant from the week before. This consultant wanted to induce me a week earlier(today) based on the growth scan last week. I said no - baby’s heartbeat and other functions looked good on scan, strong fetal movements and the last consultant wasn’t overly worried about growth (my chart has been abit all over, one minute he’s measuring 99th percentile, the next 50th, then big again, then growth slowed down etc) so I don’t think we can really go off that properly.
I’m keeping a close eye on everything and have a mw appointment on Thursday but didn’t feel mentally ready to be induced today!

Something I found strange though is this hospital have no records of my previous birth with dd (at a different hospital - previous induction due to waters breaking but no labour after 24 hrs)
I think it’s important they have my notes as there are things they will need to know , I went through everything with the consultant but it didn’t exactly fill me with confident - is it normal that different trusts don’t have previous records??
Also, my trust used electronic records called Badger Notes, which is pretty much useless. Nothing is ever loaded onto it, I literally have no record myself, I miss the big green book I had last time!

@drV Good for you for advocating for yourself, it's so easy to feel pressured into it but it's such a big thing you deffo want to feel ready. I hope it goes well for you! Saturday is so soon!

I was booked in for my section next Monday at a hospital just over an hour away, but the fluid around baby is still good and I'm showing no signs of infection so they are letting me have him in my local hospital instead next Thursday at 37+4. So a little further away again but gives baby a few more days to grow and means he can be born in a nicer, much smaller hospital where I can have a private room and my husband with me which would not of been the experience at the bigger hospital!

@OceanbreezeSun I'm in Scotland and we use badger notes too and like you I've found them useless as things aren't updated on it so fine it to be useless.

I had my eldest at a different hospital but the hospital after still had all my notes so I would find out what's going on there maybe they've lost them in transition? It's very important to have them I agree! Esp for me I tend to have fast labours so that's something they always note in subsequent pregnancies.

Good on you for saying no to earlier induction you know your body and if your happy with how things are progressing then that's up to you 🥰

@doingitalllagain oh wow so is that you meeting your little one next week then? How exciting!

I love that birth announcements are only round the corner now 🙈 what a long way we've come ladies. Good luck to each and every one of you when the time comes!!

I've opted for VBAC so feeling nervous but excited. Got my wax booked bang on 38weeks so hoping baby holds out for that ha! My eldest was born week 38 and my other son at week 39 so fingers crossed!

Finally finished work last Friday and also packed my hospital bag yday too so feeling a lot more organised 🥳

Glad that some of you have proper plans in place!

My pregnancy isn't going on that well.. baby's movements has definitely slowed down since last Saturday but despite everyday CTG, no plans have been put in place regarding delivery... Doctors are just refusing to talk about it as though I am supposed to carry this pregnancy for another 3 months🤷🏻‍♀️

I am getting regular but severe period type aches in my lower back and constant tightening in my lower abdomen but everybody is denying to take it seriously just because my waters haven't gone (at this point I am not even sure of that, they have even stopped scanning me) or I have had a show..

Meanwhile my husband is also behaving quite oddly as though I am faking reduced movements and pain 😭

I am just going mad with anxiety what is going to happen to me and my baby. I hope we both make it😞 feeling totally abandoned at the moment

Oh I'm sorry @drV that sounds awful. Are you in the hospital or at home?
Perhaps you could call and speak to your midwife instead, get them to help advocate for you? Or a patient liaison? They have several available in hospitals, maybe even requesting one will get them to pull their socks up.

Don't be afraid to put your foot down with the doctors. You hear these stories all the time of women not being listened to. Shout up, you aren't there to make friends and keep the peace.

Can't say much for your husband. It is hard for them being so much on the outside but no excuse to not be supporting you 100%. Don't worry though, as soon as baby is here, they usually kick into action and start figuring it all out!

Good luck x

@madeinthe80z i have been coming to the hospital almost every day.. due to reduced movements, I have been asked to come in for ctg everyday which takes hours to be reassuring..

Generally, feeling so crappy with all the back ache, contractions and tiredness. Anyone else feeling similar?

I have requested for an elective c section but the hospital said I would be given a date only at 38 weeks.. It will be a wonder if I don't go into labour before that! My Midwife says baby's head is 3/5th engaged and she is fixed so much she can't move her head anymore😂

All I can do is bite the bullet and get on with this 😵‍💫

@drV That sounds so awful for you. I’m not going through anything like what you are and know how frustrated I am that no one will discuss birthing options with me. Can’t imagine how you’re feeling.

It’s disappointing your husband is making you feel like this. I know at the start of the pregnancy when I was being so sick and just thought I was rubbish at being pregnant I didn’t feel like my husband believed how ill I was. It was only when I was admitted to hospital that it shocked him into really stepping up and looking after me. Before that he’d been good but I felt like it was begrudging. The only thing I can say is to keep on advocating for yourself and baby, no one knows you both better than you. He’ll get it eventually but it’s a hard place to be when you feel like this. There are thousands of pregnant women at any one time but it feels so isolating.

@doingitalllagain Next Thursday will soon be here, baby will be here in no time. Good luck with it and can’t wait to hear about little one when they’re here.

These next few days and weeks are going to drag but hopefully when we look back it will all be a blur. Let’s hunker down and get through these days. 😄😘

Hi Guys!

I’ve been dipping in and out but not really posting! Work has been so busy and also getting prepped for baby!

can’t believe how close some of us are getting now! How’s everyone feeling?

I’m just wondering if anyone harvested colostrum at all and how you got on with it?

I’m need to start doing this @Lmcc88 but I’ve no idea where to start (what syringes, how much etc). I’m seeing my midwife tomorrow so hoping she can advise. Between this and figuring out how on earth I can manage perennial massage I feel like I’m losing all dignity. 😂

@ChangeHtotheP haha! I’m feeling exactly the same I have no idea where to start! It’s funny the things we were oblivious to before pregnancy!

On the harvesting colostrum- I plan to do it as I've already noticed its come in. In my case I've been advised to not do it before I'm 37 weeks, and for no more than 10 mins at a time. This is because it can release oxytocin, which in turn could potentially trigger labour. In my case this is something we definitely don't want to happen as baby is in oblique breach position and I've a planned C Section booked in (if I went into labour before this there's a risk of cord coming out first).

To do the harvesting you can buy packs of little syringes cheap on Amazon or alternatively your MW might give you some for free (mine did last time). It can be easier to do after a shower (something about the warm water triggers things). You can watch videos online on how to do it but it's fairly straightforward. I think the syringes tend to be about 1ml each so you wouldn't expect to collect a lot.

Also - I didn't harvest at all last time (for same concerns about triggering labour), but it was fine as DS seemed to just take to the feeding immediately (which was surprising as I'd had a c section as well and they say sometimes that delays milk etc coming in).

Thanks @STom2 I thought you could do from 35w so thanks for that. I’ve noticed a little after being in the bath…

I’ll have a look at videos. And then have a go at 37w

Hope everyone's doing okay. These last weeks are tough.

I'm 35+1 today with C-section booked in for 39w. Feel like I'm in survival mode at this stage!

In positive news, finally got our toddler toilet trained, so have the teeniest 4 week gap from nappies before another 2-3 year stint!!!! Small wins 😂

@Lmcc88 I asked my midwife today about colostrum harvesting. Same as what Stom2 said, don’t do it before 37 weeks as it can, on rare occasions, trigger labour. It may also bring on braxton hicks. You should be able to get packs of syringes from your consultant who has recommended it. I’m going to get mine in a couple of weeks next time I go get tag teamed by two consultants. 😂

She said to ideally massage your boobs for 10 minutes first, just to warm
them up. Then do the harvesting for 10 minutes. It’s important to try and relax and ideally after a bath/shower if you can. You’ll know when it’s come as you’ll see it. She did a visual demonstration for me on how, which is hard to describe but there is an NHS leaflet from a trust if you google it which might be helpful.

Hope this helps. 😄