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 💛

@EsmeSusanOgg I've had to start omeprasole for the same reason!
Lying in bed feeling horrendous but the tablets have worked wonders!
It's worth contacting your gp about it as they would be the ones to prescribe :)
But no harm in contacting the mau if your worried about becoming dehydrated etc!
Look after yourself 💙

@DesertSnow raspberry leaf tea apparently is teh old reliable for bringing on labour and course you could double it with colostrum harvesting and dtd and hope for the best! But r leaf tea I imaginr takes a week or2 to have an effect. Think it 'ripens' your cervix or sth but even my midwife recommended it when I said I wanted baby to come a bit before due date if possible (as want to be able to celebrate my own bday with alcohol!!)
@sally16 I have had now 3 pregnancies and I still am not really sure what BH are! I feel things taht stop me i my tracks but assume they're baby - action. The lightening crotch thing has been a new experience this time and must have coincided with her going head down,but I still couldn't say I've had or noticed BH,or have I ever. Contractions are so confusing but basically you do know- period pains with the same cramping gradually increasing and the timing thing is what let's you know (for anyone who hasn't had a baby before!)
@CityKity this has to be where you stop giving a toss about what anyone else thinks or judging yourself by what others' may or may not think!! Thry are entirely irrelevant and whereas you would like the perfect house,nursery,baby,husband etc etc: life lesson no1 is that perfection doesn't exist and when you have nearly obtained it,you'll find that sth goes in the equation which reminds you of this. Noone has everything perfect and if they have it never stays that way. It's just the way life is: your friends might have Instagram amble nurseries but their relationships or finances might be v under strain or they might not own their houses or might not have good health or family situations etc. My cousin literally uses the baby as an Instagram opportunity and it's pretty desperate that she's that invested that her baby's 1st bday is overshadowed by how the table/room /her plus baby look for the insta photo! Each to their own but your life and experiences should never be impacted by the perceived views of others!most people are too selfish to even really care anyhow!! If they cared about you they would also be the same visiting you in a tent as a big house: the sorts who literally just want to see you and baby and bring sth/help! Just roll with life and what it throws at you and be grateful for everything you do have!!

Just over 34 weeks. Gaviscon does nothing. Same for Omeprazole. Conscious this could be liver-related based on past pregnancy issues.

I assumed Thursday was off because I had to do a 6 hour fast before a liver scan, which messed up my eating plan/ sugars slightly. I have gestational diabetes. I have been on Metformin since 17 weeks and metformin and insulin since 27 weeks.

I had a blood test to monitor liver (lfts and BAs) on Friday. So figured anything off would have flagged then.

But considering I seem to be feeling worse and worse, think it might be worth checking out. These things can just spike. That or I have a big - but no other symptoms and the 4-year-old seems fine.

Yes just phone up and let them know your suffering like this , I hope you get better soon xx

Had loads of notifications there.. thought someone had had their baby 😅 crazy to think the next one will most likely be in the next week or so!

I’ve noticed my heartburn has completely vanished in the last week and it’s been horrific throughout so I’m certain it means baby has dropped and isn’t squashing me high up anymore. I don’t really want her to drop yet though 😂

@sally16 i didn’t ever have BH this time and don’t think I have recently but did have something weird that could have been them at 20 something weeks. I was really dehydrated and it came on when I was walking, it wasn’t painful as such but I had to stop to let it pass and catch my breath because I was so squashed feeling! Glad I don’t seem to have had any since but when I googled it did say dehydration can cause them (along with loads of other things)!

@CityKity honestly try not to worry. As others have said baby won’t notice or remember whether they had an insta-worthy nursery or not! It’s really just about making life as easy as possible for yourself. I think all you really need is somewhere for them to sleep and somewhere for them to have space to do tummy time. If you’ve got those two things you’ll be fine! The nursery isn’t really used when they’re tiny anyway other than for somewhere to put their clothes. I also found last time that I cared so much about what it looked like and how neat the clothes were until baby arrived then suddenly you don’t care anymore and just need to do what is practically best to get through the day! So I think you’ll probably forget about that issue once baby arrives or at least not care nearly as much 😊

I’m finding it weird coming towards the final month not knowing whether this is my last baby or not. I feel like I’ve been pregnant my whole life at this point but it also feels like all of a sudden I’m having another baby, like I had no idea it was coming!

I don’t know whether I’ll be happy sticking with two or if in 3 years (or more) time, il then think I want a baby again. I kind of wish I was one of those people who definitely know that two is their limit so I could see this last pregnancy off properly but I just can’t decide. It’s not been the worst but at the same time I think it has been worse than last time and I don’t remember the huge kicks being this full on last time, especially when shes kicking/hitting down the way instead of out 😬 Has this one made anyone else decide one way or another about another baby? I think the birth will probably be the main deciding factor when I look back on it!

@BCxx I have been having reflux so probably haven't been drinking enough so that makes sense!

I'm also feeling the uncertainty of am I finished at 2... but then I'm so exhausted and overwhelmed at the moment I don't know if I could do this again with 2 children running around 😅
DP has been an angel! He's been so patient and helpful!

@BCxx I always wanted 3 children and was quite determined to keep the option on the table but I’m going to be honest this pregnancy has been soo much harder in many ways that I think I’d have to be quite mad to consider another one. Not because I can’t put up with this type of pregnancy again, I absolutely know every second has been worth it, but because it wouldn’t be fair to dw, dd and ds next time around. I’ve had to miss out on so much with dd this time and luckily she’s at an age she won’t remember but she would be 2-3 years older if we did this again and she would remember that. I am quietly gutted about not having 3 though so I suspect that in a few years I will be exceptionally broody 😂 I keep joking with dw about getting a puppy then because they are easier and she keeps saying she’d prefer a baby which is saying a lot as she’s very happy with two children 😂

@Rowanandremy I always liked the idea of 3... And wanted to keep the option open too.

But I just don't think my body can handle it. I had complications with No 1 kiddo. A couple of miscarriages and with kiddo 2 I seem to be sick all the time too.

@sally16 that could be it! Mine definitely seemed to be from dehydration. Yeah the jump to 3 seems like a lot, especially being pregnant with two young kids around or just trying to get everyone in the car, out a walk etc. It will be a lot easier though in 3 or more years time so I’m just going to have to not decide just now, just a weird feeling!

@Rowanandremy haha its so hard to know! A puppy is a good alternative 😂 I think my husband would go along with either having one more or not depending on what I said I wanted at the time! Which in a way doesn’t help 🙈 Just going to have to enjoy the two I’ll have and maybe assume I’m done then leave the option open for a potential number 3 if I was ever to forget this entire experience and want to do it all again 🤣

@EsmeSusanOgg thats a shame about the miscarriages 😔 I do feel I’ve been lucky to get to here without any major bad things happening and would maybe be tempting fate if I was just to keep going and try and have a third so maybe it’s safer to stick with two and be happy with that!

@BCxx We always wanted 2 (if we were lucky enough) and this pregnancy we are still sure will be the last. Both of us just wanted 2, both of us wanted them 3 years apart and if this baby is healthy and happy we will consider ourselves really really blessed. We had 2 early losses and apart from anything else I don't want to go through that again. I'm super excited to have 2 kids that I can bake with, take on adventures, explore beaches with, do creative activities with and hopefully give them a good life. 3 would be a stretch financially and in terms of time (although admittedly if we'd have considered time, resources and finance we wouldn't be having this one 🤣...Its going to have to live in a box room with its brother, but I think it will be fun!)

@EsmeSusanOgg I’m so sorry about your miscarriages, we had 3 losses before having dd and were terrified with her and this one that it would happen again. Perhaps it’s subconsciously another reason why I feel this is the last. With dd I had a far easier time of it in terms of the pregnancy as with this one I’ve struggled quite a bit with a lot of different things - my body is a lot less happy for one so I dread to think what it would be like with another.

@BCxx haha that’s not much help for you! In a way my dw being so settled with 2 is helpful because all along I’ve had the thought that this was most likely our last, it would take a monumental shift for her opinion to change I think which is fair because her reasons are valid. I guess I’ll be getting a puppy in the future 🤣🤣 because I know myself well enough to know I’ll get broody again. That’s a good idea about enjoying the two you have but having the option open for the future, it seems a good way of managing either expectation.

@ChloeN @Rowanandremy @BMK @BCxx Thanks all for the kind messages about not having the picture perfect house/nursery I’d hoped for. This is exactly the reason I don’t use social media myself, because I know what people post online never tells the full story! Feeling slightly better today but I suspect as soon as visitors are expected the insecurities will bubble up again. Both DH and were born into tiny flats and neither of us remember anything so I’m not worried that the baby won’t have everything it needs, but more the judgment of others. I’m sure once the baby is actually here I’ll have a million more important things to think about!

@BCxx I’m a naive first time mum, but honestly I’ve been so lucky in feeling good this pregnancy and getting sad that it’s coming to an end. Depending how birth goes, I think I’d like a second not far behind. I’d actually prefer a bigger age gap but time isn’t on our side. DH was the first one that started talking about ‘next time’ about 6 months in to this pregnancy and I know he’s very keen for number 2 in the near future. Let’s see how much number 1 floors us! Reading about you ladies raising toddlers whilst pregnant does seem a million times more exhausting than my current experience as I can be as lazy as anything!

@Rowanandremy sorry for your losses too. Yeah, I think it just adds an extra dimension. Also, I'm not getting any younger. I'm 39 at the end of the month - and whilst that still feels young, my body just cannot take what it used to take!

@CityKity and @EsmeSusanOgg I am in total and absolute denial over this and think I'm kind of totally ignoring it to be a fact/not acknowledging it, but I'm actually going to be 40 4 days before the baby's due date- albeit I am convinced/hopeful the baby will be here before my birthday. I had 1st baby at35 and this is 3rd. @CityKity I had a 16 month gap between 1st 2 and unless you have an au pair I wouldn't recommend such a close age gap as I aged by about 5years in 1 year of no sleep and it went on beyond 1yr. However if you have babysitting or au pair help- or get luck with 2bsbies that sleep, it is do-able!

My birthday is 29 July. I'll be 37+1. Had DS at 36+6 (early hours there of). I have it in my head that bub will arrive just before I turn 39... But who knows!

That sounds brutal! I’m also going to be 35 when this baby arrives and would like to leave the option open for 2 or 3, hence thinking that there’s limited time available especially as both my mum and sister really struggled conceiving later on.
We certainly won’t have an au pair so maybe it’s a bit ambitious. I have a big age gap with my sister which I really like and if I could I would wait until the first is at least 3/4 to think about trying for number 2, but that firmly rules out the option of 3.
So crazy to be thinking about this already, when I'm pretty sure the baby currently brewing is going to be a handful as it is!

Anyone else has wild mood swings recently?
Today was not a good day. Honestly, I've lost count on the number of times I had to apologise to my toddler for being unreasonably snappy. I feel like I needed to put myself into a timeout or something. Definitely didn't win any parenting awards today.
Slightly apprehensive on how things are going to be once this one is out 😬

@DomesticElf : oh totally- just not able I think is the point. I have realised this in teh last week: have been trying to function as normal and failing miserably and turning into.the most hateful creature when exhausted/not able but trying to push on!
@CityKity 2years between would be ok just not the 16months! You could have the 3 then! I have 3 yr gap between 2nd and this last one,having had first 2 16months apart. So you could have 2 or over 2 years between sll,or whatever the Universe agrees with!(';)*as it rarely goes according to any plan we make!!(';) @EsmeSusanOgg you have made me panic that I am nearly 36,6 when you had your 1st,and my hosp bags are yet to be packed,albeit finally have all the stuff but just not in bags!!

@BMK yeah... Our bags were not packed - though had most stuff. My husband had to make an emergency Mothercare run (miss Mothercare!)

@DomesticElf yes as soon as I entered 3rd trimester I can’t seem to get my emotions in control! I have had 2 boys and I was completely fine both pregnancies when it came to my attitude!

But for the first time I am snapping at everyone in the house my son is 6 and I think he has never seen me like this, I had to explain to him that it’s not him it’s me and my husband is trying his best not to get offended. He just either hugs me or just ignores the attitude because he knows I’m not like this! But I don’t like this and I’m really trying but I think it’s because I’m physically exhausted these days!

@CityKity with our first we lived in a tiny rental one bedroom flat in London! I didn’t care what anyone thought because my son had everything he needed! A few people made comments about our living situation not being suitable for a child but like @BMK said some of these people I personally knew their lives and it was not all picture perfect so I really didn’t care!

With time our son pushed our determination for a better life! Not the comments made by people who didn’t know or see our vision. We now even have more spare bedrooms one which has become the babies nursery! We moved out of London after our son turned 9 months! People don’t know your journey and their opinions are nothing but just that! The fact is in time you never know how life can change and also I loved that one bedroom flat and it holds some dear memories of when we first became parents! I have so many cute photos of the corner I set up as the nursery!

Love your life because no one else can walk in your shoes and don’t be embarrassed at all when the time comes! What is important is that baby is ok and loved 🥰

Anybody else struggling to concentrate at work?

A lot of my work involves reading and drafting (contracts solicitor), and I am aerosols struggling to stay focussed.
I am 34+1 weeks and I am not due to finish until I am 38+4!

@airmaxJ Hello! Sorry I totally missed your reply about Falkirk! It would be Finnegans at 12:30! Would you like to come? :)

@CityKity I think if people are going to judge you for a situation you can’t currently control, then they would always find something to nitpick at and that’s a reflection of them and not you and your circumstances. By the time we left our old place I hated it but I still look back on it fondly as the place we started our family, as difficult as it is just remind yourself that this isn’t forever and if people are judgemental towards you then they are showing you who they really are and that can be invaluable going forward with them.

@DomesticElf i wouldn’t say I’m having wild mood swings but I’m having little bursts of pure irritation and then I calm down as quickly as it flared up. I’m usually quite patient with dd but have had a few moments of having to close my eyes and breathe so I don’t snap at her - awful feeling as she immediately apologises and I have to explain it’s not on her at all, it’s all me.

@CityKity totally agree with @Rowanandremy - anyone that would judge you for that would always find something to criticise!! My baby will have no nursery and my first didn't until he was 7 or 8 months - people tend to have a script of questions they ask all pregnant women and one is usually whether the nursery is done without really caring what the answer is!

Okay maybe I'm mad but after thinking this whole pregnancy that I wanted an epidural (again) today I've decided I want a home birth. Honestly childcare is the thing I've been worrying the most about this labour and we've got a few people on standby to look after my son if I go to hospital but none of them live very close by and if it's the middle of the night I might not be able to get hold of them... Going to mull it over a bit before I speak to the midwife on Wednesday.