August Due Date Crew (Thread 8)

[DesertSnow]

Thread 8! Apologies if I have anyone's info wrong - just give me a shout if so and I'll make a note.

Newcomers welcome!

July
26th @MidnightSunshine12 💛
29th @DesertSnow 💖, @Mulner88 💖, @Porcupette 💛, @Loudmouth1 💛, @overwork 💛
31st @AnnieApple123 💛, @BusyBushBaby 💖, @jjeanii 💖

August
1st @CityKity 💛, @SnowL2021 💛
2nd @sprollie11 💛, @ChloeN 💛
3rd @PumpkinEverything 💙, @Chl0o 💙, @Miraclesdohappen88 💛, @LS88 💛
4th @BMK 💖, @Alpacabag22 💛, @Amme18 💛, @UsernameNotPresent 💙, @Spiralout 💙
5th @LBF2020 💛, @Desperatelyboredhousewife 💛, @BoodifulGoose 💖
6th @buttercupbee 💛, @somuchtolearnabout 💛, @Rowanandremy 💙, @TattyTil 💛
7th @marleyandme 💛
8th @RGxo13 💙, @JT2021 💙
10th @VickiGo 💙, @Sjw30 💛, @AlexM7 💛
11th @tax19 💛, @nadsc 💛, @Rose05 💛, @sally16 💙
13th @newmummie 💙
14th @Babykingincoming 💛
15th @Gizzyanne 💛
16th @Recoba 💛
17th @Narwhal88 💖, @jollydollyirl 💛@cococat88 💛
18th @sommeliermama 💖, @EsmeSusanOgg 💛
19th @Firsttimemomma1 💛, @P1pk 💛, @allgoodthings84 💛, @Marmaladebear 💖, @Stuwe 💛, @MartaEly 💛
21st @BCxx 💖, @Justdancinginthedark 💛, @honeymirabella 💖
23rd @MinnieFirstTimeMum 💙
25th @unluckyinlife 💛
26th @MummaYoung2023 💛, @Wife2b 💛
27th @ropo34 💛
28th @Shinea 💛

September
1st @froglou 💛

@Rowanandremy I've got a 4D scan booked for when I'm 28 weeks ☺️

@BMK Am going to be totally honest and say I’m quite struggling to be positive, despite really trying. I’ve put all scan pics away for now as I feel nervous to bond with this baby at present.

I now have an MRI date for Wed 26th and will have my next ultrasound that same day with yet another professor of fetal medicine who comes in just twice a month to see complex cases. The full MRI results will take a further 5-10 working days. Originally we were told that our issue only has a genetic cause in around 5% of cases and that, given that I’ve had a clear NIPT, this would be even lower for us. Now that my infection screenings have nearly all come back negative though (we’re still waiting on a few), these odds rise to 10-15%. So amnio is again being suggested and I’m waiting to hear about a genetic counselling appointment next week to try to weigh up the risk/benefit of this.

Meanwhile I’m afraid I’ve been really snappy with poor DS. My parents are currently away so not around to help which means I’ve had to get on with trying to get appointments, etc. arranged with him around. I’m also pretty huge and knackered now generally. Am not sleeping well really which is probably not a surprise but not great.

Sorry you’re struggling with all this @AnnieApple123 😔 the not knowing must be the worst part and all the waiting about. Really hope they can give you answers soon

Oh dear @AnnieApple123 . My heart goes out to you. You know the way you call it your issue: is there actually definitely sth wrong or just a maybe sth wrong?
This whole amnio thing at this stage is a bit ridiculous no? I mean the baby is thr baby now irrespective of anything? What is the point of the amnio?
Apart from all that: I did a full day today being 'mummy' with 4 and near-3 Yr old and I am utterly exhausted, so have no idea how you're doing it. Is there a solution ie your OH's family/a creche/your OH even? You can't do every so there has to be a planB.
I still have a good feeling about you and mini you,albeit that has a value of 0!*but still!!

@AnnieApple123 i actually can’t imagine how you must be feeling, everything you have said sounds like a totally reasonable response though. Have you spoken with your therapist for support? I’m so sorry you’re having all this worry and I really hope it’s for nothing! Xx

Thanks everyone. I don’t want to get too specific on a public board but they’ve discovered some extra fluid which on its own is not a problem. Yet whatever is causing it potentially could be and there’s a small possibility it may be a sign of something much worse further down the line. I’ve therefore been advised to continue having ultrasounds every other week for the rest of the pregnancy to see how things progress, whilst also continuing to try to discover the cause. Although it may just be ‘one of those things’ and no cause is ever found.

OH’s family are all based abroad and my parents and brother and SIL are both on holidays simultaneously so we have no childcare back-up at the moment . My parents are back Wednesday night though so it’s not for much longer. We’ll survive!

@ChloeN @Mulner88 how exciting! I’m hoping to have one around 28 weeks too, dd was a bit stubborn with hers and kept her face hidden in the placenta for a while and we know this baby turns his head away from every scan we’ve had so far so expect him to be the same 😂

@AnnieApple123 I am so sorry for what you are going through. It’s perfectly reasonable to be nervous about bonding and to feel overwhelmed with what’s happening and everything you are having to remember - especially when you’ve also got a child to look after and a lack of sleep. There’s nothing I can say that will help that hasn’t already been suggested by the lovely people on here but I am thinking of you and hoping with everything I have that all of this turns out positively for you and your family.

@Mulner88 a 4d scan? Sounds exciting!! Hope the little baby gets into the right position and gives you a wave.

@Rowanandremy also hope your little baby gives you a nice positioning period when your next scan is.

@AnnieApple123 Hope things get better for you, and that the concerns that you and your midwife have turn out to be nothing in the end.

I would just say again let housework slide and nap with your toddler when you feel you need to it just want some peace. Literally what I'm doing now. Can't sleep but just lying down and having quiet time rather than cleaning the shower like i had planned.

@BMK just a fistbump for you hun. Hope everything is going alright.

Well my little toddler has hit the tantrum stage and wow. Just wow. He can really tantrum. I mean i know all toddlers go through this but it seems so much more worse when it's your own kid. Any advice?
I'm a bit nervous to pick him up when he is thrashing around because baby belly has Forton so...well big. So tend to pick him up and hold him horizontally like a spring roll.

@AnnieApple123 I had a rediculous amount of extra waters and was scanned weekly at one point.. turned out to be no reason at all!
Sometimes like you said can be nothing wrong at all!

Keep positive! I know it's hard but we're over half way! The hard bits nearly over 💙

@Paintandpots my toddler regularly body slams me/the bump/floor etc in a tantrum and I've found just walking away the most effective!

@AnnieApple123 : really glad to hear that!! @sally16 you are hilarious! bodyslamming : God I would have a fit or not know what to do if that happened!!*wouldn't be getting the joke! You are a cool cat!! @Paintandpots A lady I know has this problem with her granddaughters and she just lets them tantrum away on the floor until they run out of steam, even if in a shop; she just stands back or sits down and waits for it to stop without giving extra attention or anything. She finds that most effective. She used to be a PHN and has children and gchildren so maybe it's from experience. And thanks for the fist bump!!!!!
Also a sink of water with suds seems to be a source of an hour's entertainment for those with toddlers wanting to sit down andnot haveto endlessly follow/entertain(*if you keep saying 'keep water in sink only,NO splashing or water outside sink,it does go in after a few goes)

@BMK I've given up shouting at him.. he just laughs at me and goes 'ROW ROW ROW' and points his finger..
don't think the words are suitable for MN 🤣

@AnnieApple123 I really hope there turns out to be no reason for the extra fluid and that baby is healthy in there. It must be so nerve wracking.

@sally16 I actually never cursed or swore until 2nd baby- who didn't sleep much and was v active- came along. Now I feel awful as curse and swear at them almost daily; but then I was thinking that no parent is perfect and there are plusses and minuses with everyone. So good to get confirmation that I'm not alone!!
@AnnieApple123 or anyone else- this is totally the comment of someone with basic knowledge but doesn't gestational diabetes make extra fluid and the test for that isn't until (or isn't accurate until) after 25weeks .

@BMK I find myself shouting Atleast 15 mins after opening my eyes in the morning 🤣
Your not alone haha!
I would gentle parent.. but I don't have a gentle child lol

@Paintandpots re tantrums, I find just letting them crack on with it is the best option. Trying to cuddle a tantruming toddler is like poking a bear. I just make sure they can't hurt themselves and just let them work through it. There is no reasoning with them once they are in the middle of it. If in public, just a neutral face and ignore everyone! Toddler will run out of steam fairly fast and come for a cuddle.

@Paintandpots im totally in the tantrum bit too. The worst ones tend to be when I’ve got my arms full of stuff and need him to walk from the house to the car. I always think my neighbours must think I’m beating him up if they just come out and see him getting awkwardly lifted up while he screams and thrashes about like I’m hurting him 🤦🏼‍♀️ I do find walking away or leaving him to it works best but it’s not always possible if he’s heading for the road etc. I also think it’s often because people are looking and if you look harassed they end up coming over and trying to intervene so I’ll just scoop him up as quick as I can to make it stop 🙈 the best thing I can do is completely change the subject and start talking about something he likes while walking away then he’ll usually get up and follow me but it’s a risky game!

Oh @AnnieApple123 what a worry, it sounds like an awful lot for you to deal with. I have nothing practical to offer in terms of advice, but just wanted to say I'm thinking of you, as I'm sure we all are, and I'm wishing you well.

@Paintandpots Thank you! We’re really hoping he isn’t too stubborn. Commiserations on the toddler tantrum stage, dd was a nightmare when she did tantrum and to be fair she sometimes still does. Only thing that worked for us was ignoring until she had calmed down or more accurately worn herself out, if we were in public we’d remove ourselves as quickly as we could either home or somewhere quieter. Once she was calm we’d talk her through it.

@BCxx when we moved here our dd would have screaming fits every time she had a bath, we were so concerned our neighbours thought we were hurting her. Turns out, despite her best efforts at screaming blue murder, they hadn’t heard her at all.

Its been a funny few weeks with dd, she hasn’t had preschool and my word we’ve all known about it 😂 she’s back tomorrow and less than thrilled at the prospect, despite loving preschool usually, I always thought we wouldn’t be those parents who couldn’t wait for their kids to go back to school but we are quite eager 😂 we find out her school allocation either tonight or in the morning and we’re very nervous.

@Rowanandremy we are awaiting school offer this morning too! 9.30 we’ve been told, I wasn’t really worried about it but feel quite anxious this morning! And can’t believe he’s going to school in September, although very ready for it he’s end of July baby so still 3! X

All the best for school allocations @Rowanandremy and @Amme18 . Hope you get what you want.

Well I made it through the weekend. Am going to try to really put the focus back on DS this week. Am feeling tired and sick (hopefully just because we went to a children’s party yesterday and I ate much worse than usual) though which doesn’t seem like a great start to a Monday morning.

@BMK this is not amniotic fluid so definitely not gestational diabetes or polyhydramnios. But yes, it’s very late for an amnio. They try to do them before 24 weeks. I don’t think I could go ahead with one now unless things were looking absolutely dire (i.e. a prognosis incompatible with life which is thankfully thought to be unlikely but hasn’t been ruled out). I’m waiting to hear from a genetic counsellor to discuss this week.

@AnnieApple123 sounds like the best plan, put your focus into DS and if he’s anything like mine will leave you no room to think! You have no control in the outcome, it already is what it is it’s just you don’t know what that is yet. All you can do is be gentle to yourself. Just know we are all thinking of you and wishing for the best possible outcome xxx

@AnnieApple123 sounds like the best plan. Distraction might be key until you have an actual understanding of what it all means. Thinking of you and keeping everything crossed x

@Amme18 Hope you got the school you wanted. We actually did which was a pleasant surprise, I think we’d built it up in our heads that we’d be given a different school when this one really seems the best fit for dd. We also can’t believe we have a child gearing up for school, we went to look at some uniforms today just for a price up and that hit home a little bit - I’m torn between sobbing and happiness because she feels like she’ll be ready by then.

@AnnieApple123 Thank you :)
Everyday that passes is one less until you hopefully get answers so getting through the weekend is a step forward. Hopefully you feel better soon, not nice when you feel tired and sick though hopefully it is just down to the party food. Both me and DW have had worrying health concerns in the past and each time we try to distract ourselves as best we can - it doesn’t always work of course and you can’t fill every second of the day but it does help a little. You can only be gentle with yourself and do what feels right for you at any given moment. Hope that what I’ve said doesn’t sound or come across as patronising, I’m hoping for the best possible outcome for you.

@Rowanandremy also got our first choice! Which is a lovely little school in walking distance. I’d also geared up for not getting first choice as not our catchment area but apparently it’s a low birth year? Who knows!