August Due Date Crew (Thread 9)

[DesertSnow]

Thread 9! I wonder if this will be the one most babies are born in - can't wait to hear all the happy announcements 😁

I'm really sorry if I've missed anyone, I've done my best. Do give me a shout if I've missed you or have your info wrong (apologies if so!), and I'll make a note.

Delivered! 👶

June 20th - @Miraclesdohappen88 💙

Due Dates 💥

July

26th - @MidnightSunshine12 💛
27th - @Spiralout 💙
29th - @DesertSnow 💖, @Mulner88 💖, @Porcupette 💛, @Loudmouth1 💛, @overwork 💛
31st - @BusyBushBaby 💖, @jjeanii 💖

August

1st - @CityKity 💛, @SnowL2021 💛
2nd - @sprollie11 💛, @ChloeN 💛
3rd - @PumpkinEverything 💙, @Chl0o 💙, @LS88 💛
4th - @BMK 💖, @Alpacabag22 💖, @Amme18 💛, @DomesticElf 💙
5th - @LBF2020 💛, @Desperatelyboredhousewife 💛, @BoodifulGoose 💖
6th - @buttercupbee 💛, @somuchtolearnabout 💛, @Rowanandremy 💙, @TattyTil 💛
7th - @marleyandme 💛
8th - @RGxo13 💙, @JT2021 💙, @Wineismybestfriend 💛
10th - @VickiGo 💙, @Sjw30 💛, @AlexM7 💛
11th - @tax19 💛, @nadsc 💛, @Rose05 💛, @sally16 💙
13th - @newmummie 💙, @Fizzmatizz 💛
14th - @Babykingincoming 💛
15th - @Gizzyanne 💛
16th - @Recoba 💛
17th - @Narwhal88 💖, @jollydollyirl 💛, @cococat88 💛
18th - @sommeliermama 💖, @EsmeSusanOgg 💛
19th - @Firsttimemomma1 💛, @P1pk 💛, @Marmaladebear 💖, @Stuwe 💛, @MartaEly 💛
20th - @BB1993 💖
21st - @BCxx 💖, @Justdancinginthedark 💛, @honeymirabella 💖, @allgoodthings84 💖
23rd - @MinnieFirstTimeMum 💙, @Owlgirl14 💖
24th - @Daisy155 💛
25th - @unluckyinlife 💛
26th - @MummaYoung2023 💛, @Wife2b 💛, @HRSC 💖
27th - @ropo34 💛
28th - @Shinea 💛
31st - @chickpea1982 💖

September

1st - @froglou 💛

I've been weighed fairly regularly. But that's because I was diagnosed with GD at 16 weeks (had the early test because of GD with my first). So they want to check I am ok. As with first, I've lost about 6-7 kilos since 25 weeks. I had held steady between 12 weeks and then. Currently 2 kilos less than at conception. This did happen last time though! But is a thing they monitor, along with growth scans on baby. I think most other folk just get weighed at keys appts like the 12 week one?

@BCxx I've been on a sad Google hunt for actual guidance.

BMI in pregnancy is only advised to be reassessed at 36 weeks if your BMI exceeded 35 at your booking in appointment. It is not calculated quite the same as usual BMI. Essentially you have to take off expected weight gain from your current weight and use that lower weight to gauge overall BMI. It is far from perfect, but useful for anaesthetists.

Depending on NHS trust the figure to take off is usually around 15kilos.

But it is a clumsy tool, and not supposed to be used for any/ all pregnancies.

@EsmeSusanOgg Its a weird one, my bmi was well inside the healthy range at my booking appointment so it definitely wasn’t that. I kind of get why they’d weigh you, purely to keep track and have a comparison. I’ve had that done at a lot of appointments but just the bmi thing seemed odd. Would be like measuring round your middle then going wow you’re way off the chart for body fat in that area! Well duh, there’s a person in there 😂

@BCxx sounds like the midwife may have been a bit inexperienced/ using really out of date guidance then!

Thank you everyone for your advice/stories about colostrum harvesting. I'm trying not to be hard on myself as it won't help, but I've tried a few more times and still nothing and I feel really quite rubbish about it. Hoping, as many of you have said, the baby will be more effective than me. I really wanted to do it as obviously we have the concern of a potentially not that healthy baby so it feels like I'm letting her down.

Hope you're doing ok @unluckyinlife. You're not being unreasonable at all. Since we were told our baby might have to come early (at 30 weeks), I've just been seeing every extra day baby stays in as a bonus, and I hope you can do the same. It's very scary and I really hope baby can stay in for longer, but it sounds like your team are keeping a close eye and will take the very best care of you, whichever way it goes. I'm glad you have family support and hope you can take it as easy as possible. Thinking of you.

Glad you're feeling better and reassured @EsmeSusanOgg!

@BCxx Frankly seems ridiculous they're using the ordinary BMI scale for pregnancy. I should try to ignore it and put it out of your head if I was you (though easier said than done). You know your body best.

Eek @Daisy155 sorry you're struggling with your iron levels, that souds really hard.

@DomesticElf No such thing as TMI on here I think. Good idea to get the hospital bag packed in any case. Sounds like a few people are experiencing the dribbling at this stage, which isn't surprising really.

Hope you're feeling better @cococat88.

Great news about the updated estimated birth weight @Rowanandremy, and that he's sticking with head down.

@unluckyinlife I've got everything crossed all goes well for you. Try to focus on getting through one day at a time, but I know, it's so much easier to say than to do.

I am almost done washing all baby clothes.. I am still ankle deep in small baby grows, I don't know what to possess me to wash ALL of the baby clothes, including 6-9 months ones 🥴

@DomesticElf you are doing better than me. So far I have only washed the stuff for the hospital bag.

I finish work four weeks today at 38+4, hoping he holds on for my c-section date at 39+4 so I can get everything else washed during that week 🤦🏻‍♀️

@DesertSnow you are doing so well with little one still not needing an early arrival, I wouldn't put any extra pressure on yourself with the colostrum, you will ensure they are fed whatever happens.

@unluckyinlife keeping everything crossed for you 🤞🏻

@MinnieFirstTimeMum I finished one week ago at 36 weeks (annual leave first then mat leave starting end of July). I am so glad I did, not only I have started to struggle physically (I am a hospital surgeon), my brain has checked out completely. You wouldn't think I could write a coherent sentence, so it was definitely a right choice to stop when I did. Fair play to you for carrying on.

Had growth scan today at 33+3 and baby is measuring at 90th centile with 6.2lbs weight.
Amino fluid is high with index 26.3, GD positive!!
What will be the adverse effects on baby?
I will be getting C section at 38 weeks!!

Really strange the emphasis on BMI in some cases, I was asked my weight at my booking in appointment and again when I had my midwife assessment at the hospital (under a separate trust so essentially another booking in appointment) and I think I was weighed then but nothing was really mentioned - not even with a BMI requirement for the birthing centre that I’m pretty sure I skirted the edge of.

@DesertSnow I’m sorry you’ve struggled with colostrum harvesting, with dd I really didn’t get much and felt soo terrible for it. In hindsight I put way too much pressure on myself to collect enough that it probably affected my ability to actually collect it. I didn’t breastfeed last time around, I don’t intend to this time round but am going to see if I can get on with pumping, but I’m sure your baby will be able to get what they need and your milk
coming in will surely make it easier.
Thank you! I’m super relieved that his weight seems to be normal, especially because he was measuring 4/5 weeks ahead and it was nice to have confirmation he’s head down - it was a guessing game up until a week and a bit ago if he would be or not.

I am so tired today, dd had a school thing to check out her new school and I was so glad to be there but it has wiped my minimal energy out. Even with my one allowed cup of coffee I’m barely awake but don’t want to nap as every time I do I wake up with a terrible headache.

They'll want to check you and baby's sugars after delivery. A lot of the big risk are down to if it is not spotted - shoulder torsion being quite common, where they get stuck. But if you're having a C-section that can mitigate that! You are at increased risk of pre-term labour with GD. Are they giving you meds?

@DesertSnow really try not to let it get you down. Most people don’t harvest colostrum at all and get on just fine when baby arrives. I don’t think it means anything for your chances of breastfeeding so if it’s not working just don’t do it. It’s so hard when you have an idea in your head of being all prepared before baby even gets here but in reality it’s just not always doable

Out of office is on!
I'm 37+5 and I think I should have probably gone last week or the week before in hindsight but here we are. Just hope baby stays put now for a week or 2 to give me a break.
@DesertSnow I don't expect it would make you feel better but for me personally there's no chance I'm sitting here trying to milk my own boobs I'm afraid, and I don't plan on breastfeeding (though same as @Rowanandremy I would give pumping a try). So atleast you can have the knowledge that you tried for yours!

@overwork I felt like a total idiot last time ‘milking my own boobs’ as you put it 😂 I think that was part of the reason I didn’t feel confident enough to do it in hospital because even though you’ve got a curtain up it isn’t fully closed and people are in and out constantly so I felt mortified to be sitting milking myself into a syringe with people looking 😂

@BCxx that made me smile!
I know it shouldn't be about me but there's only so far I'm prepared to go, my poor baby will have to survive without it

@unluckyinlife so glad to hear that you've got help and your doctors seem to be on top of things at the moment

All the clarification on BMI is really useful. I've not had any weight checks from midwife

I can't believe some of us at 37 weeks already! I'm 34+5 today and starting to think I should just go for a c section, all the unknown is terrifying now

Thanks for your reassurance about colostrum @MinnieFirstTimeMum @Rowanandremy @BCxx @overwork - I should probably relax about the whole thing as getting worked up about it is certainly counter productive.

I'm 37+5 and half wishing I decided to go on mat leave earlier - I'm working until next Friday when I'll be 38+6. My head just isn't in it any more and it's knackering. We had a virtual away day today so was in a video call the whole day doing brainstorming/solution focused work that has left me feeling very fatigued.

@DomesticElf I am SO impressed that you have managed to become a surgeon!!!!*That,to me,is so impressive and particularly as a woman. Was it v difficult to get there with all the competition we'll call it,or were you just good so that made it easier?
I have been up until min 3am for the last 4nights (5am last night) meeting deadlines and trying to clear stuff. So much for taking July off,as I thought I had done!!! However I actually feel fine as I can wfh and getting through it gives satisfaction and some energy burst. It's really hard to sleep through the night anyhow now!
I am here at hospital waiting to be seen. Hopefully swift in and out. Platelets were low (but not dangerously so) and baby hopefully is still head down having been transverse until last week!
I

@BMK you are too kind 😘 I think the most difficult bit is to continue full time and putting in work hours with small kids at home (I imagine this is the case with any time consuming career). We don't have any family support either, so I am a little apprehensive of how new normal will turn out once I come back from this mat leave.

How did you get on at the hospital? Hopefully all is fine and you are heading home for a relaxing evening.

Hope everyone is doing ok!
Good to hear from you @unluckyinlife hope you can rest and the baby stays put another few weeks🤞.

Just wondering if anyone has the Babyzen yoyo pram? What are your opinions on it? How easy is it to travel with and what is the newborn package like? We already bought a pram but I realised the other day that we are going to need one that will be able to go on a plane … not massively keen on spending lots of money on a second pram but also want to get something that’s good quality and will be able to take rough handling by airport staff. Also, is it ok to buy newborn bassinet/inserts second hand or should you always buy new?

@HRSC we have a baby zen yoyo as our main pram from our first - absolutely love it, sooo good for travelling (on public transport around London and we've also taken it on flights). We are going to change it to newborn for this baby too. Literally everyone that lives in our area has one as their main pram. Totally fine to get the newborn insert second hand if you can get your hands on one!

Thanks @DomesticElf !!! No genuinely: for your kind of- or any - high pressure job/home situation I again couldn't recommend an au apir highly enough!! They have been life savers to us. I have v pressure entailed job with long hours and varying ones including being up at night and lots of research, so without the au pair I would have to give up or fall.apart and I think relationship would be over as OH has different approach to things which when stress is included, wouldn't work long term as I'd end up stretching myself to do everything (and still not being able). However that's just my scenario,but they are a Godsend. (Au pair world is website) Some only want to come for 3 months,others 6,9,12 etc.

Anyway- back to hospital!!..: well there was I all.relaxed and looking forward to getting in and out and to my hair appt and just wanted to check that baby was still head down as opposed to transverse like 10days earlier etc. Doctor was like 'yes,there's the head'(down). I was like 'yay'!!! Then she gets the mini scanner thing going and all I hear was 'oh no,oh no and turns out indeed head not down but up at my ribs and feet where head should be ie breech. I was 37 weeks yesterday so they are going to bring me in to try an ECV/R next week someday. It's a manoeuvre to try physically turn the baby. It may or may not work and risk if fetal distress, rupture of sac etc so if it doesn't work it could be emergency c section or otherwise c section at.39 weeks,so I may not be able to avoid c section after all. Didn't even get blood taken re platelets as had to go for further scan etc. So this is new for me given that had 2 uneventful prev pregnancies!

@Marmaladebear Thanks re the Banyzen recommendation. I was looking at one called the Doona that is also super useful rr flights and everything: it actually converts from the car seat to a pram,to car seat- all in one unit ie no having to take the seat off frame etc,it just folds and becomes the car seat and go back then to the pram. It has an isofox base or can be used in taxis etc with seat belt. Only useful for 6months though, Babyzen lasts longer and is it compact /light or what is so good about it?

Hope everyone else good! It's a wet and grey morning here- perfect for more sleeping!!(';)

I definitely lost my mucus plus this morning. Trying to remember how many days before my waters broke it happened with kid 1. 35+1 but I look a good week or two further along despite everything measuring around 50th centile at my scan earlier in the week.

Today's family focus... Packing the hospital bag.

Thank you @Marmaladebear that is very useful to know about the Babyzen. I’ve seen it for sale on Vinted so might keep my eye on that.

Oh wow @EsmeSusanOgg hope it’s all ok!! 🤞🤞

@BMK I've not used the doona so that one might be a good alternative, especially if it is easy with he car seat etc. I never put the car seat on the babyzen, I think you need to buy special adapters for that and I've only ever seen anyone use that once - baby zen is mainly popular in cities like London etc where public transport is used a lot. So it's super light weight, easy to use on escalators and on the tube/train/bus and folds up and down really easy. And takes up very little space in our tiny London houses!

@HRSC oh good glad you found it useful. Hope you find one on vinted! The newborn insert is sooo expensive brand new!

@EsmeSusanOgg good luck!! Hope everything goes really well 💕