Due March 2023 - Thread 7

[TeddyBeans]

Lucky number 7! We were so chatty last thread that no babies arrived! Though we do have 3 on the FB group!

Role call

23/2 - @botleybump💓
24/2 -
25/2 -
26/2 - @TeddyBeans💓
27/2 - @Ubbee💙
28/2 - @BabyNumber3OnTheWay💙
1/3 - @Clarps84 💙
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 💓, @paulinesmithson 💓
14/3 - @beatingheartbaby 💓, @rainbowbaby233 💙
15/3 - @Hrf1503 💓, @TTC24 💙
16/3 -
17/3 - @Room4onemore 💓, @Cuppasoupmonster 💙, @broomfig 💙
18/3 - @XjustagirlX 💛, @CristinaNov182 💓, @Shep21 💓
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 💓

@havanamama you seem to be missing off the list!? I'm so sorry I missed you 😱

I figured I'd tag everyone this time so noone gets lost 😊 I'm really sorry if I missed you!

@beatingheartbaby lol, first at 38, 2nd 42…

I don’t have anything sorted yet, though I have baby clothes from my first, they’re still in the loft, the car chair as well, etc, all mixed up with all ages clothes, etc.

no bag either.

im 34 weeks, my fist was induced at 40 weeks, but I hope this one comes earlier.

do I need a kick in the butt? My DH is as lazy as me…

@CristinaNov182 don’t worry, all of our stuff is still in the loft as well.
I applaud all of the organised people on this thread, I’m just finding that work and various other commitments are too busy right now. Hoping for a break next week where I can get everything down and sorted (I’ll be 36w by then).

I think it's a fair question about the age, but everyone will have a different threshold of what is too risky for them.
Geriatric mothers/pregnancies carry higher risks statistically but if you're not concerned then honestly it doesn't matter

I’d have liked to have finished having babies by now tbh but life had other ideas. We had several losses between 20-28 weeks and here we are. I think that’s why I tend to leave the actual organising of clothes, bags etc until as close to the end as possible.

@beatingheartbaby I’m 38 and this is my first! Husband is 40 and said he doesn’t want anymore as he thinks he’ll be too old by the time we’re ready for another.

Haha yeah I keep saying I want a second and my bf is like hrm let's wait and see how we get on with 1 😂😂

I'm 40 and this is my first. We started trying when I was 33! It's just taken that long to get down the NHS road of infertility and Covid lockdowns didn't help.

Had my 36 week growth scan today. Rather thrown a curve ball, as baby's tummy measurement was over the 95th percentile and also too much fluid- the rest of his measurements were fine, although he's still a good sized baby at 3.7kg. Being sent for a GTT test tomorrow, so hopefully results will be back in time for consultant appointment on Wednesday.

Not sure what this means, in terms of when birth will be set.

Life is such a huge factor in when you're ready for a family, if I had had children earlier I'd now be a single parent so far from ideal! I met my partner a bit later so I'm pleased I waited etc. Everyone has their own path and timelines plus genetics and everyones bodies work a bit differently so what is right for one may not be for another it's just a personal judgement call. Also living in London is bloody expensive 🤣

@Blocklynn the first baby was a shock for us, there is nothing to prepare you for the lack of sleep, etc, even if you think you know everything. Hence we were not sure about the 2nd, then covid came.

We only made the decision when my DD was 3yrs old and a bit, she kept saying this friend has a baby sister, that friend too, apparently everyone was getting a baby sister at that time and she wanted one too. We were fortunate to conceive again, at 42. We”re definitely ready now, having had the first one. And it’s easier with our DD settled into her routine, sleeping on her own, toilet trained, etc.

@Katdemar it might mean you’re going to meet him earlier than expected, but otherwise don’t worry. Remember if they tell you about induction only, you also have the option of a CS. I had friends with CS at 37 weeks bc of GD and they were both fine, home within days.

I’m 27, my DH is 40 and this will be our first baby. We said we want 3 kids but worry he will be too old by the time we can afford the second and third one and he probably will have to work till retirement age of 65 to send them to uni. I do wish he was younger but I have seen his pictures at late 20s/early 30s and there is no way I would be attracted to him then haha. He also said he didn’t think of getting married until he met me so I guess life has its way for everyone.

Being ready though is completely separate to risk factors for geriatric mothers

I would like to have all our babies by 35, as I would find all the increased risks of miscarriage, chromosome abnormalities, pregnancy illnesses etc too stressful and also statistically more likely to have more time alive with the children the earlier you have them

I'm a very numbers person 🤣 so go by the statistics

I was actually surprised that nobody has mentioned age at all when I've been to midwife etc as you always see on tv or online the whole geriatric pregnancy thing. I was married previously and got divorced just before covid hit so yeah like other said life just didn't work out for me to have a baby before now.

We weren’t sure we were ever going to be ready for/want a child enough to totally change our life for.
Been with my husband over 10 years now.
Thankfully once we did decide we were both on board with having a baby we conceived very quickly. Which was a shock in itself! I had kind of convinced myself it wouldn’t work. We had agreed to try for a year and my husband didn’t want to have any tests so had said after the year we would stick at just the two of us.

I get what you’re saying about the risks @havanamama but there are so many checks now to minimise those risks as much as possible. And I don’t think geriatric mother is a term used now, at least my midwife says it isn’t 🙂

Apologies, English is not my 1st language and writing older seemed like a worse option

Anyways, each to their own, what my point was if the risks don't scare you, then don't let a stranger on an online forum project their own fears on you. You'll be just fine!

I’m 31 and having our second (and final) so I guess supposedly should be in prime fertile health…but this is our 5th pregnancy having 3 miscarriages trying to conceive our son and this baby. You never know what may happen until you start ttc, I’ve got friends who struggled in their 20’s and others who had their first child late 30’s/40’s without much bother!

If I hadn’t of met my husband etc I wouldn’t have minded waiting till older to have children…it’s magical but hard work 🙃😅

@havanamama older mums nowadays have increased chances of catching any issues earlier on, are offered more follow up tests (free on nhs), getting preemptive treatment early on etc. hence the stats are that 85% or so or DS babies are born to young mums (who get low risk at the combined test for ex, and no nipt after)

for many it’s also either not being ready or not having everything in place (partner, if that’s important to them, finances maybe etc) until later on.

I wasn’t ready, plus I didn’t even know until mid 30s if I wanted a baby or not. I relied on having no fertility issues in my family (more, easy fertility if I can say that) and fortunately it has panned out for me. I’m classed as high risk, but think I would have been anyway, as the issues I’m having my mum had them too, and she had me in her early 20s.

I have definitely lost my mucus plug today I never lost it that l saw of with the last 2. It doesn't always mean anything it can even grow back. All day I've felt him pushing down and then when I got back from school I went to the toilet and it was jelly/snotty like with a tiny bit of blood in it.

@Babynum2 shouldn’t you been seen, or at least have a call with them, even if it can grow back? In case it doesn’t? I didn’t lose mine with the first, so don’t know what I would do if it happens this time.

@CristinaNov182 they are not bothered about loosing plug it's not a "sign" of labour.

I do wish I would have waited to have kids I was 18 with my first and I didn't really "live my life" but when me and her dad got back together we lived it with her holidays ect. I said I only wanted her and now I'm 28 and on number 3 but this will be my last 100%.

**

NHS says it's a sign of labour

Losing your plug 'can be' a sign of labour being near but on its own it doesn't mean much. I don't think the hospital would want to see you (in most cases) but would most likely just tell you to monitor for any other signs

@Dreamingof3 yes I can mean you could go into labour in an hour or even 2 weeks time she said just keep an eye out for any waters and get on with life basically.

on the whole age thing - it’s a tricky one - in a lot of ways I’d love to be a younger mum but I was focusing on my career/travelling and having lots of fun in my twenties and early 30s and didn’t meet DH until I was 30 and he was 31.

I’m now nearly 42 having my third (first at 34 and second at 36) - I’ve not been treated any differently to either of the first two pregnancies apart from a check in with consultant at 16 weeks at which he bounced me back on midwife pathway as low risk. Any midwives I have seen don’t bat an eyelid - think it’s just totally in line with trends generally. I am conscious DS3 will be 18 just before I’m 60 but have no intention of looking or acting 60 at that point! My Granny lived strongly until she was 99 and my mum is 72 but acts like a 50yo so hoping I come from a line of women who age well! Also a definite upside of having kids “older” is having much more financial security and stability we can give and now I work for myself loads more flex on how much time I can spend with the kids etc.

Also @havanamama although the statistics do increase, they are from such low bases that the absolute risk is still very small, and as others have said there are more tests and checks/NIPT zeta that can be done for reassurance.