Due March 2023 - Thread 6

[TeddyBeans]

The one where we might start meeting babies!?

23/2 - botleybump 💓
24/2 -
25/2 -
26/2 - TeddyBeans 💓
27/2 - Ubbee 💙
28/2 - BabyNumber3OnTheWay 💙
1/3 -
2/3 - BethBeef 💙, Cams50 💙
3/3 - LittleAcorn20 💛, LaForza101 💙, SammyJay5 💓, pamplemousse19 💓, Lauren11x 💙, Whatsforpud 💛
4/3 - EastyBaby19 💙, Cdoc 💙, Katdemar 💙
5/3 - Babynum2 💙, hopingforarainbow27 💓
6/3 - allthingssparkly, Thirdtimesacharm3 💙
7/3 - GreenIsle 💓, Noodle20, Pickles23 💛
8/3 - Splashh, June628 💓, BabyLimey 💛
9/3 - Penelope_2023, 91mana
10/3 - iratepirate 💛, PeonyPops 💓
11/3 - Chloe1896
12/3 - Katlouise24 💓
13/3 - ToffeeEl 💓, Franklin321 💓
14/3 - beatingheartbaby 💓
15/3 - Hrf1503 💓, TTC24 💙
16/3 -
17/3 - Room4onemore 💓
18/3 - XjustagirlX 💛, CristinaNov182 💓
19/3 - Dreamingof3 💓, alotoftutus 💙, AK93 💙, hellosunshineagainxxx 💙, Allthegirls3 💓
20/3 -
21/3 - FirstTimeTryer93, LifeOfRiley1 💛, Rose429 💓
22/3 - mrshenny 💓
23/3 - Choc2022 💛
24/3 - whydotheyallhaverubbishwheels 💙, Charlothevet88 💛, Mrs2022 💛, Blocklynn 💛
25/3 - Whywhwhy 💙, Missy95 💛
26/3 - purplerain555
27/3 - Cats23 💓, firstlittleone 💓, dmb91 💛, AGirlsNameIsAryaStark 💛, hol92 💙, Amy1303 💛, Bobduncan 💛, OonMP 💛
28/3 -
29/3 - Perexi 💙, SenecaFalls1848 💛
30/3 - ChristmasJumpers 💓, Moonlighting 💙
31/3 - Baby2iscooking 💛
1/4 - diamondbutterfly 💓

I want to try and breast feed, I’ve bottle fed my others but I want to try this time

This thread has actually got me and DH talking tonight. We are both in agreement with not being forced to hug people, it's a great early lesson on consent so I won't allow anyone to force it.

My aunty has already commented on how baby lead weaning only teaches children to eat with their hands. I am absolutely going to give BLW a good go so I'm going to have to toughen up when it comes to other people's opinions!

@JB2021 @Perexi i started NCT tonight! First baby and I have to admit it was quite overwhelming 🙈but it was nice to be in a room of other couples facing the same concerns at the same time. I’ve heard they’re great so fingers crossed they make us feel better!

@Cdoc a WhatsApp group was started this evening for our NCT group even though we don't meet until next week so that's nice. I'm towards the later due dates in the group (as I suspected).

Hope it's useful for us

@JB2021 it’s definitely good, and nothing wrong with being one of the later ones! I am the same and hoping I get to learn from some of the other ladies when they go through things first. Does make it feel a lot more real though!

So I've read a lot about 'milk coming in on day 3' etc. For those who have breastfed what do you do the first few days?

@Choc2022 For the first few days your breasts produce colostrum. It's thicker than milk but full of nutrients. Babies have tiny stomachs at first and only need very small quantities. It's really normal for them to have a very sleepy first 24 hours and then want to cluster feed/seem unsettled on the second night. They warned us about it in our antenatal classes. The baby breastfeeding creates an amazing feedback loop with your body, so as they feed more your body begins to produce more milk (often day 3, but sometimes earlier, sometimes later). You can also feel quite emotional at this point because of the hormones involved.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/breastfeeding/the-first-few-days/#:~:text=The%20fluid%20your%20breasts%20produce,every%20hour%20to%20begin%20with.

There is a new show on Channel 4 app called Belfast Midwives. Its 5 episodes and shows all different experiences ive finished it all tonight🙈

Placemarking

@Rainbowbaby23 oooh I love those sorts of things! Wil definitely be checking it out, thank you!

@Choc2022 I didn't breastfeed last time and my milk still came in on day 3 😁 what @Deut28 says about colostrum is right though!

Anyone's bump started clicking yet? It's one of the weirder things in pregnancy that's for sure! I also have my first growth scan this morning, excited to see what that entails! Hope everyone has a good day 😊

Had a really vivid birth dream that's freaked me out. Labour was smooth in the dream, but I think I've woke up with a huge dose of reality that this IS happening very soon and I'll have a newborn again. I do not feel ready!! Aggghhh 😬
Any mum's of more than one (or expecting their second) get funny wobbles when their second was due... I don't know whether it's feeling apprehensive about the uncertainty of labour or how life for our family of three is going to get a huge shake up. All I know is I've woke up wanting to cry!

By this point in my first pregnancy we had just entered lockdown.
So I had lots of time to prepare/chill/think. This time I have a toddler running around and a "normal" world and I just want to retreat into a little bubble and give myself some space and time to appreciate and prepare for what is to come (and not come out for another 8 weeks 😂)

@LittleAcorn20 when I was pregnant with my first I had massive wobbles towards the end - thinking I couldn't do it, I wasn't cut out to be a mum, all that malarkey. I've not had that so far this time, think it might be because DS is that much older and I've been thinking more about how he's going to cope with it than myself. I also have a different partner who's much more interested in the pregnancy which I think helps a lot too.

I'm sure the doubt will creep in over the next 7 weeks though. Try not to worry, you've done it before, you can absolutely do it again ❤️🥰 I've seen advice about getting your toddler involved as much as possible with feeding and nappy changes so they don't feel like they're being replaced. DS is 4 (will be 2 months off being 5 when DD is born) and is very excited to have big brother jobs like getting the nappy basket for changes, choosing her clothes and helping me feed her with the bottle

Morning ladies, had a rough night with my 1 year old, she hasn’t been herself for a couple of days but had a temperature last night and didn’t sleep well, surprise surprise she is asleep now lol

@ChristmasJumpers I actually think it's the opposite. We started with puree with my eldest but straight into blw with my second and she mastered a fork/spoon/knife much earlier, I think it's as they're developing the fine motor skills by feeding themselves with their hands. I'm a huge blw fan, I even did a course in it 😂 my biggest piece of advice for weaning is, take a baby first aid course! Learn the difference between gagging (completely normal and will happen a lot during weaning) and choking (very rare!). Choking is also less likely to happen if you blw as babies learn from earlier how to navigate different food textures.

@TeddyBeans I think I had this yesterday! I have no idea what it is though? Pregnancy is so weird 😂

Hello everyone 😊
thanks for the new thread @TeddyBeans
How awesome (and scary!) that we are so close to meeting our babies! I’m one of the later ones, due 24th March, but it still feels really close now!

@Katdemar I am going to use washable wipes at home, have bought cheeky wipes ready. Not quite there with the idea of washable nappies so will see how we get on with the wipes first.

@LifeOfRiley1 I’m not buying any formula feeding equipment as I want to breastfeed.
Going to keep my fingers crossed and we have a big Tesco 5 minutes away if desperate.
My midwife said not to take formula to hospital if I definitely want to breastfeed.

@BabyNumber3OnTheWay we have a Infababy system, a lot cheaper than most and is really nice and sturdy.

@Babynum2 hope you are doing ok.

Is anyone not doing classes? We have got the positive birth company videos and going through those. Didn’t know if to go to an in person one as well, when I looked at the course materials they cover the same things so was thinking I’d just save the money.

The main thing I worry about is comparison.
My sister had my nephew 6 months ago and has been an amazing mum, it all seems to come naturally to her and I’m worried it won’t for me.
We weren’t even sure we wanted a child until the last year or so (I’m 37) and I feel like I might not be a very good/natural mum, although I will always try my best.

Morning!
I just keep getting sicker and sicker. Luckily baby is kicking around, which is reassuring.

Got midwife next week and less than 2 weeks till 2nd growth scan. I wonder if she will have hit 2kg by then!

@Blocklynn I am doing classes through nct. But have fears about being a 'natural mum' and very very anxious about the labour process.

So far I've done 2 sessions this week on labour - it's really helped me understand and make more informed decisions, and I feel more confident. Its been nice to see partners there too bcos if gives both parties the chance to ask questions and infront of others.

And on being a natural mum, honestly everyone says all these stereotypical things about it comes naturally and it's annoying. I'm sure some things will but one thing with me and my DH is he is definitely the more maternal one! I'll do my best but it doesn't come naturally to me. And I'm okay with accepting that, I don't think there's anything wrong with it!

I've heard from friends NCT is also just good for the support network of other mums going through it at the same time as you e.g. sending pics of babies poo in funny colours and whether it's normal!!

@Blocklynn thank you 😊

I didn’t have a great experience of NCT bc it was all remote through zoom during lockdown. I know that most people find that’s how they connect with other parents in a similar area etc but even the group chat we were put into at the end of it didn’t progress any further than birth announcements.

I imagine it can only be 100x better in person though. And I know people who have gelled with their groups and still meet regularly several years on.

Growth scan was good - estimated 4lbs 3 oz. Waiting to see the consultant. Had my urine dipped - lots of glucose and trace protein 🤦‍♀️ got to wait to see what the consultant has to say about that now. I was fine on Monday at the midwife!!

We are only doing virtual classes - taking care of babies, safety, and first aid.

I've done a breastfeeding course and my midwife said that around week 36 someone from the NHS will come to my house to tell more about breastfeeding to prepare me for what to expect.

Has anyone had this with their previous pregnancies?

At hosp right now appt for growth scan, bloods, anti D jab and today I start my daily injections for blood thinning- dreading it!
Baby is measuring on 50th centile, all well, head is engaged- Really far down too and its 100% a girl!
Baby was finally v.co-operative so all measurements had and such clear images, she looks like my Youngest daugher !

As for opinions of others, with my last 4Dc no family have said a thing....perhaps they know they will get a mouthful from me, if they are over bearing or judgemental? Haha!!
The only comments I had were off midwife and health vistor with Dc2 (2008) He was a v.sleepy baby and my milk was insane, so painful, I tried to bfeed and got to 8 weeks , the midwife and HV were no help and after having a v.bad day of bfeeding, my Dp went and got formula ect and said that me beimg so upset and in pain, simply wasnt worth it..., the HV came in next day and her first words , on seeing formula was ' I knew you wouldnt last long' she was marched out of my house by Dp! I succesfully expressed with DC1 ( born too prem for breast feeding) Dc3 was also hard so stopped at 8 weeks and Dc4 was breastfed for 5 months, this baby will be breafst fed 8 weeks hopefully as I plan to go back to work then

28 week appointment today was eventful!

Had to rush out to be sick and they couldn't get a vein to play ball for the bloods and I almost fainted! 😂 Bump is only measuring on the 10th percentile and I don't have a growth scan booked until February so I have to go in today for a growth scan. Really impressed at how quickly they got it organised, fingers crossed he's all ok in there.