Due December 2023 part 4

[wannabemum38]

Part 4 thread ladies

Hope everyone is doing well, another week closer to meeting our babies!

Is anyone else’s trust using the Badger notes app? I can’t see my notes from the last couple of appointments I’ve had and I’d like to have a nosey😂

I’m going to mamas and papas to look at prams after work today
it’s going to feel very surreal as apart from scan my husband and I haven’t actually done anything together to prepare for the baby

I've checked with my finance manager but unfortunately my company doesn't offer KIT days :(

Never heard of badger notes app :/ will check with the midwife on Wednesday though.

Hello :)
I had my re-scan on Friday as they couldn't get a clear picture of the heart and face at my 20 week scan due to the position baby was in. All was well and got some lovely scan pictures this time.
Went to have a look at some prams on Sunday for the first time...I was pretty heart set on getting the out and about nipper after looking online as I definitely want an all terrain/jogging style pram but when I tried it out, I don't think it will cut it as an every day pram. The harness was a PITA, the pram in general was quite big and bulky and also awkward to fold so it was back to the drawing board. I really liked the oyster 3 and you can get lots of great accessories in a bundle for a good price. The shop didn't have that many different brands so I'm going to another place hopefully next weekend to try out a bigger range. Now planning to get a travel system as a bundle and will buy a jogging pram second hand a bit later on to only use occasionally. I live in the West of Scotland and it is WET!!! so it really needs to be quick and easy to fold/unfold and strap baby in etc for me.
@FirstMondayInMay my health board uses Badger Notes...it's a very clunky/unreliable app. It also depends on the midwife publishing certain info to you so would be worth mentioning at your next appointment that you can't see it, she's probably just forgotten to tick a box somewhere.
My work does KIT days but not entirely sure what they will consist of. Hoping it's quite casual...if not and they expect me a full day in the office then I'll probably only do 1 or 2 nearer the end to be polite 😂

Thanks so much @SMG1992 I always sell wedding outfits etc on Vinted I don’t know how I didn’t think to search for maternity!

I popped yesterday definite baby bump and feeling loads of movement, we had our rescan last week and baby’s heart was perfect. We had a completely different experience than the first 20 week so definitely think it was just a bad day for the radiographer beforehand! We’re also waiting to find out the gender, I think they are a girl and my OH is convinced it’s going to be a boy 🤣

We’ve also ordered some baby bits from our local nursery shop - we went for the egg stroller, next to me, hug 4 in 1 and the Maxicosi Cabriofix 0+ car seat and base. I loved the idea of the 360 seats but the seats were quite heavy so I went for the one I could lift the best, we’ll upgrade to the 360 swivel fixed seat when baby is about 6 months and I won’t have to lift the actual car seat in an out of the car. I have zero idea about half these things but as I’ve said before it’s my MIL’s job so she guided us into what would be the easier options for lifting/storing away etc.

I’ve my maternity leave submitted and I finish work on the 1st December for 9 months, terrified because I think I’m only eligible for SMP (I had to be in my role 12 months for 3 months full pay then SMP before I was 25 weeks pregnant and I’ve missed this as I’ll be 31 weeks) so I’m also hoping to make do with a few KIT days and also saving as much as possible before December!

Oh I’m having a bad day today. Really worried about this short cervix. I am feeling so much pressure down below and no idea if it’s normal or related to my uncooperative cervix.

I’m being rescanned on Friday and it can’t come soon enough. I’m terrified something will go wrong between now and then. I’m also having a scan of baby on Thursday as at my anomaly scan they couldn’t see her heart properly due to her position.

I went through hell for this baby. It was a long, difficult, expensive road conceiving her and I feel so stressed. My other two are 14 and 4 (Ridiculously long road to get the 4 year old too, as you can see by the age gap)

My partner is away on a stag break, he’s back tomorrow late night, he went on Friday afternoon. I’ve just rang him and burst out crying. I feel super vulnerable and scared today and I feel like he’s annoyed with me. He said “It’s not worth me going anywhere is it?” And now I feel like I want to punch him 🙈

I’ve had such a busy, mad few days with my other 2 children, I haven’t stopped. I’m honestly exhausted. I just want to go to bed and cry. I know i’m being ridiculous- I guess that’s bloody hormones for you!

Regarding maternity allowance, i’ll only be getting that too as i’m a freelancer. Can you do KIT days on maternity allowance? Is there a cap on what you can earn on KIT days if they’re allowed?

Thanks @RG84 I hope so!

@Mushroo it's all such a minefield isn't it? My car is a tiny Fiat 500 (OH has a bigger car for work) so I've been trying to find something that will fit in the boot. Apparently the Mamas and Papas Occaro pram fits. Pramworld have lots of bundles with that particular pram, we were looking at the Maxi Cosi 360 pebble car seat along with it. The Occaro looks great as the sit-up seat can actually recline so it's flat and it's one of those pop up and down with one hand jobs. It says the sit up seat can be used from birth because it can lie flat? I'd say I'd maybe just use the bassinet to start with.
But a lot of prams come with car seat adaptors that fit certain brands. So keep an eye out for that as an option?
I've started and stopped researching so many times because I couldn't get my head round it all 😂

This is exactly how I feel. I keep starting, getting overwhelmed and stopping! Sounds like you’ve done a good amount of research though.

I’ve heard people say it’s like trying to buy a car before you know how to drive (it might have been someone on this thread!).

I think we’re going to go to an actual shop at some point so I can offload all my questions and hope that helps!

I’ll report back in here when we’re a bit closer to making a decision.

I have this one from my first born and I love it!

www.oliversbabycare.co.uk/product/inglesina-aptica-system-quattro-niagara-blue/

But we did go to a shop and looked at loads before deciding on this one.

I love that the handle on this one never touches the floor but I know everyone likes something different. Xx

Reading all the challenges of choosing car seat/pram makes me grateful to have had second hand items when i had my first.

For walking about I used a sling when they were little (loved the sling), and transitioned to a second hand silver cross push chair that fitted in the boot of my wee Aygo easily once my son was a bit bigger.

I bought the car seat new, and asked friends with kids what they had chosen and why (everyone likes something different). I went with the Joie 360 spin as the fact that it turned round saved me some awkward bending in a small car. It also worked from ages 0-4 (son only moved out of it at 4, and will use it for the baby when they arrive). Very rarely took it out of the car, so weight was not an issue.
This time round i am thinking of buying a second hand travel system (Husband has his own car which will need a child seat). Locally i have seen some lovely ones on facebook marketplace for about £50-£100.

For those wondering about prams and car seats, when I had my first I'm so glad we had a travel system - where the car seat clips onto the pram. So so useful for when they inevitably fall asleep and then you have to transfer them in or out of the pram / car. Never wake a sleeping baby and all that! We got the Mothercare Journey travel system for my first and still have it to use this time. Just googled and you can still buy it from boots for £275. Such a bargain!

But don’t you have to wake them anyway after an hour or so because the car seat isn’t lie flat?

This is the part I’m confused about.

(can you tell I have no baby knowledge whatsoever 😂)

@Mushroo Yes you shouldn't keep them in there any longer as those aren't lie flat.
We've ordered the maxi cosi 360 Pro which is reclining to lie flat car seat, regardless though I won't be leaving baby in there longer than an hour because I still get worried.

@VillageFete Sorry to hear you feel like this I am super hormonal and often feel like this 🤦🏽‍♀️
My rescan for cervical length is tomorrow! 🙏🏽

It's 2 hours in the car seat (30mins when newborn I think which we will break straight away as the hospital is 45mins away 🤣) and it's up to 6 months they should lie flat, but my DS stayed in his first car seat that came with his travel system until about 14/15 months. It really is a godsend if you're popping to the shops or a friend's or something and they fall asleep in the 10 minute journey there, then you can just transfer the seat to the pram and wheel them in and around then when you're done straight back into the car, out the car and home and you haven't had to transfer them and they are still asleep, otherwise that's 4 transfers! You may be lucky and have an easy baby but my DS was a crier and would not have been happy 😬

@Mushroo cybex cloud z2 allows you to keep a baby in a flat sleeping position in a car if combined with a base ( I believe the only one on the market that allows you to do that whilst in a car) I have the Priam cybex travel system and all the additional seat packs and cots and this is the best pram ever but a bit pricey. Icandy peach cerium is also a great pram and you can combine this with cybex z2 car seat . It’s amazing and I will be using it for my baby 2. It’s very handy when they fall asleep in a car and you want to pop in to the shop or a quick coffee with a friend :-) x

@VillageFete I'm so sorry to hear you've been having such a hard time. I can't imagine the worry you must be feeling. I hope Fridays news is positive for you.

Sorry I've been quiet- my mind started worrying about how baby is in there, I haven't felt them for weeks now so don't think I did when I thought I did and it's hard to know they're all ok, I even started googling if you can accidentally squash them ( I've been doing prenatal yoga) and the bending and stuff was where my brain went too, I also keep getting these feelings like my heart takes a big beat which makes me feel like I forgot to breathe almost? I've tested my blood pressure and it's totally fine - Anyone else?

As for prams and such - I originally wanted a travel system but having a 3 door car that's also quite low it's not going to be ideal. I'll wake them trying to get them in the back her way, so I'm looking at the swivel car seats to make getting in easier and less disruptive 🤞 we'll take a good look in October (going to America in September for 3 weeks, so too rushed before hand.

Plus the more I've read the more I've decided separate is going to be best for us. One of my clients has recommended a car seat that goes from baby through to 12 years - I need to ask her the name again, so I can check it out. She also had a travel system with her first but ended up hating it. So I think it's definitely whatever is best for you. My cousin loved her travel system and is why I wanted one originally. If we had a 5 door car I'd still be looking at them closer for sure.

I want a next to me bed for sure. Bassinet (what they called?), changing unit/Chester draws. As my main in house items, I honestly haven't looks much into things and really should start making a list! We're 20 weeks tomorrow! Half way already!

Anyone formula feeding? Have you looked into bottles yet? I've not - that's another minefield! My midwife has advised not to go with the Tommy tippy one bottle maker machine, for health concerns, I know people who have loved it though and their babies were fine. We won't get one though, our midwife recommended pre making bulk formula for the morning/afternoon/day and keeping in a flask until ready. The amount you make depends on how good your flask is. My husband wants to practice making bottles before baby arrives so we're not panicking when they arrive and trying to do it all for the first time, I think this is a good idea, it's been a while since I've made up a bottle (although not hard I'd like to know timing wise at least). My husbands not really been around new borns whereas I have my whole life so his worries are not worries I have and I think it's so sweet.

So that was a looooong message to you all - only the top paragraph was for villagefete 🙈 maybe I shouldn't go so long between chatting 😂

Hi ladies. Have been a bit absent from here with busy life times. 21 weeks now and already very big and feeing lots of movement. All of that is very reassuring. I have recent had a friend suffer a loss just before 20wk scan and it had made me feel really anxious. I suffered with peri natal depression and anxiety last time ( most of which I put down to being in covid lockdown 1) but please can you let me know any tips that are working for you to remain positive and combat anxiety? Xx

I'm so excited to hear those of you starting to feel movements now! When they start (properly start) what's it like? is it little bits or just lots for short periods? We're 20 weeks tomorrow and scan isn't till Monday afternoon - I can't wait to make sure they're all ok in there!

I cannot wait to feel them now, so I know they're ok - my sickness is virtually gone mainly heaving and nothing happens and I've decided in the last couple days that my bumps not gotten any bigger (quite bug early on and is my first) and boobs seem to be smaller (husband thinks I'm being insane as my boobs are the same and bump is getting bigger 😂) I've not put much weight on either on the scales, 1lb in the last 10-12 weeks and I'm eating around 2000kcal a day - I normally eat closer to 1200. So god knows what my bodies doing with it all!

@Peaceandloves I find yoga helps, journaling helps too. I don't do is often as I should but I'm going to start again. Just 15 mins journaling in the morning has helped me in the past. It takes a bit to get into though if you've not done it before. I think yoga does too, I do prenatal yoga now. Be careful with normal yoga stretches as some moves are not recommended from second trimester onwards.

@Oldermum84 @Kat2022 thank you! It’s so helpful hearing from people who have been there, done that.

Sounds like it is handy then, I’ll do some investigating when I go look at prams. Thanks again!

@Nclktnntt I started feeling bubbles which I thought was gas after around 18 wks. Then had my proper movement one weekend at about 19 wks.
Now 22 wks and get movements throughout the day and evening which is so weird but so wonderful. Couple of days ago I was laying on sofa and I could see the movements under my belly like I had an alien in there which freaked me out a bit. But it is reassuring me a lot that baby is doing OK.

In terms of buying prams and stuff I have researched a few as we don't have a car and live in flats we need to be careful how heavy it is.
I want to breastfeed and maybe formula if that's not working so might buy a bottle set incase , my sister used one can't remember what brand though.
Wedding is not far off now so once that is over can concentrate on making a list of what we need etc we are being given a few bits luckily from my sister and my best friend has car seat to give us for bringing baby home from hospital which is great.
Time is flying!
.

@wannabemum38 ohhh I'm so excited and also will be kinda freaked out at the belly moving around part too 😂

Ohhhh I forgot you're getting married soon! It's so close now. You'll have a fab time - I've done lots of weddings in my career and my advice is to enjoy and savour every moment! Sit back and just take it all in. The day flies by! I did the rounds after food and anyone I missed could find me, I was the only one wearing a wedding dress after all 😂

Pass everything over to your maid of honour on the day, if anything isn't going to plan on the day - it doesn't matter, only you guys knew what the plan was, your guests don't and it'll be fab either way. I got married abroad and the wedding organiser found it hilarious when I told her any problems to tell my maid of honour , she asked if she spoke Italian as she didn't speak English and when I replied no, if anything isn't going to plan, I don't want to know, she just started to laugh 😂 just remember the wedding is to celebrate you guys, so as long as you two are happy, that's all that matters!

@Nclktnntt I've been feeling movements since 17 weeks. It feels like the tiniest little pop inside, or like a soft tap. There are normally a few of them one after the other. Mine seems to kick more when I'm lying down flat and you can actually see the little tap on my skin (but only when I video it as I can't see below my belly button from that angle 😂)
They feel different for everyone though and my sister didn't feel anything until 22 weeks!

I'm currently 21 weeks but the best way I can describe it is waves. I am yet to feel obvious kicking so hopefully in the next couple of weeks. Anterior high placenta on this side!

Speaking of placenta, is anyone keeping it for any reason. I didnt with my first due to emergency c-section as a traumatic experience (not the section, more on the admin side). But thinking this time and turn it into tablets. I have no idea, just crossed my mind.

@RG84 not planning to keep it, but have vaguely looked into donating the cord as it contains stem cells.

Only some hospitals do it, or you can do it via the Anthony Nolan foundation in some places. The stem cells can be used to treat someone fighting blood cancer. So I I can do that I will I think.