November 2023 babies - Thread 5

[Shaker21]

I couldn't find a new thread open as the old is now full.

Got a few of the usernames to tag, definitely missed people but hopefully they find the thread :)

@spareincoming @Pinkplantcase @leeanneD11 @LilmissCa @FlyingHighFlyingLow @Psqueak87 @spanglesj @BabyBabyBaby123 @Houseonthehills @GreenAventurine @reememberly @Cegbee @DollyGx @38andtrying @JD90 @travellingislife @mldn @sb86 @TMI2000

Not sure if it’s nesting or just panicking but definitely got a full to do list for this weekend and about to wake my poor DH too. We have had a lot on our plates and have ended up too last minute getting sorted for baby. Midwife gave me a row this week for not having hosp bag packed and I didn’t like to tell her how many other things we’ve not sorted. Section now booked for Nov 1st though, so time to get organised!

For others being told baby is measuring at the bigger end of the spectrum, Next do a 0-1 month size which I’ve found perfect for babies who might find newborn size too snug, but 0-3 is still going to be too big on them initially. My previous babies have been around the 9 pound mark, my eldest was v long. Think a few other places do this size but definitely not everywhere. I think it’s a good compromise size to buy in this situation cause it’s not going to drown them even if they come out a bit smaller than predicted.

Vest extenders are a handy item to get. Not too expensive on amazon.
It's more for older babies who are between sizes but they're useful for tall babies too.

I keep seeing two different consultants. Both great and supportive. But last week one said I’d get a date yesterday for a section at 37 weeks, saw the other consultant though and he wants me to go to 39.

Its thrown me as I was told I won’t go over 35 at one point and while I’m so so glad that baby didn’t arrive extremely prem as first thought, I feel all over the place. I thought I would be having her in three weeks without a doubt, now it might be five. Was just disappointing that I waited all week thinking I’d know baby girls birthday and left there none the wiser. I’m not sure if it’s my hormones but felt so deflated 😫.

It was just a very traumatic few weeks, and it seems so much better now thankfully, but my brain is still all over the place, even though I’m physically better.

Work was really tough as well this week. Three more weeks left till maternity.

Totally understandable to feel thrown by that @GreenAventurinee. Obviously if you’re waiting to go into labour naturally then a lot of uncertainty is part of the deal, but if you think you know what’s happening and then it changes, it’s difficult to recalibrate straight away. My section was booked in two days later than the date originally discussed and I felt a bit sulky about it 😂. Just desperate to have her here safely after a long and difficult road to get to this point, but also know what it’s like to go mega overdue, so really should be less impatient.

@GreenAventurinee I totally get this feeling, with my first DD I was told from 24 weeks she would 100% be early, and if we got to 34 weeks it would be a win... 32 week scan and things seemed slightly better and she ended up coming on her due date. But I started mat leave at that point to minimise stress. It was soul destroying.
Slightly similar this time and it's just a wait and see every other week with no one wanting to put any kind of date in yet. Next scan and apt I'll be almost 35 weeks so I will definitely push for more of an actual deadline at that point just for my own sanity. It's great the longer she gets to cook but not knowing anything at all is tough. Hope everyone has a good weekend! I want to try and get some stuff done around the house, but I'll be honest I'm absolutely exhausted.

I’ve been nesting for a couple of weeks now, we had the loft boarded out and ladders fitted last week so we could create move storage so since then it’s just been full on with the organising. I’m now at a point where everything is pretty much done and we are ready for her, but considering I’ve started Mat leave due to the extra monitoring and I’m only 34 weeks, time is now dragging!! Im so bored 🙈

I know how everyone is feeling with the dates, my first consultant said it’s a definite ELCS and will be booked for 39 weeks, so I’ve worked towards that for months. Saw another consultant a couple of weeks ago and he started to imply my wishes wouldn’t be honoured and wanted to push me for VBAC. Midwife assured me it’s my choice so I know ultimately it’ll be a section but I didn’t like the ambiguity he gave me. Since then however I’m now on daily monitoring so there’s frequent talk of bringing me in at 37 weeks but won’t know exactly what’s happening till I’m back with consultant next week (Mr Ambiguity unfortunately, not the first consultant). Just feel so up and down with it all, never had any of this with my last two.

@GreenAventurinee We’re in the same boat; having been told we’d be having a section at 36,37,38,39 weeks; every time I go for an appointment they say the date will be set at the next one and it’s not happening; I know their intentions are good, but my anxieties are creeping in as the team looking after me keep saying about how my risk factors climb the longer it goes. Which is exactly what happened last time.

This is exactly how I feel. The risks get higher after 37 weeks. But the one consultant is adamant I’ll be able to safely make it to 39, and there is a much higher risk of scbu if csections are done at 37 weeks?

The other consultant thinks I’ve been through enough in the last two months so said that a C-section at 37 weeks can be booked now.

This is my second and last baby and I want to experience having her on the ward with me and coming home with me and not whisked away to scbu. But there has been so much swapping and changing I feel like I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.

Ive just tried to put it out of my mind today. 34 weeks and feeling physically ok! 😊 Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.

Curious, those of you who've had Bracton Hicks, does your tummy get really hard like it says online?

I've had what I think are BH since about 25 weeks; maybe once or twice a day. It's like a super mild contraction, but my stomach never gets hard. Does anyone else have the same?

I never had any with my 1st pregancy so I'm finding the tightening a bit odd. They're usually at night time.

I feel like I get both types?

I definitely get the hard ones which are not that painful. But I've been getting painful ones too in last few days which are not hard, and feel like mini contractions. They were waking my up from my sleep. I'm trying not to read too much into it.

@reememberly I also haven't packed my hospital bag 🙈 I've packed baby's bag but need to crack on with packing mine. I feel like I'm in denial and avoiding it ... I'm not sure why. I have got one or two things still coming in the post as I was struggling to find no vpl full size knickers.

Sometimes it does sometimes it doesn’t 😊

Thanks, nice to know my BH aren't too unusual!

It's mega hot in London today so I've been keeping cool with ice lollies and apple juice.

I tried perineal massage last night for the first time which was a bit weird and uncomfortable. I also realised I haven't been doing my Kegels at all. I did lots last pregnancy but then had a c section in the end anyway!

In the same @JoyApple with baby’s bag meticulously packed but not mine 😆 except for the dairy milk bar in an otherwise fairly empty bag, which I’ve already stolen once and had to replace!

does anyone else feel like the last few weeks are dragging a bit? I’m 35 weeks and so ready now.

I think I’m going to hospital quite light, I’ve got one small bag for both me and baby 🙈 I’ve decided to take a small amount this time, just essentials then if anything unexpected happens, I’ve got my husband, mum and dad on hand to bring us more and take back what we have already used. Can’t be bothered unpacking it all when I get home 😂

Also not packed yet.. 34wks
Finally got baby clothes down from loft & washed tho so making a start.
@WriMum22 I'll be like you & packing very lightly. Last time I was in hospital 12 hrs so didn't need an overnight bag, obvs won't be the same but only live 5 mins away so someone can grab what we need.

@LilmissCa yes, that’s what we will be doing, we are only 15 mins away from the hospital, so it’s workable if we need more. My first pregnancy I took quite a lot, including snacks and I had him 8pm at night and was home 10am the next day, all snacks untouched and one of my bags not even opened. Second pregnancy took one small bag, no snacks and was in for 24 hours and found one small bag was the perfect amount, didn’t miss anything at all, so going for the same this time. Only extra things I needed were some tiny baby clothes because baby was smaller than we’d expected. My hubby also brought me an Italian BMT subway sandwich in, in the morning and a sugar free red bull, but that was something I’d asked for at about 4 months pregnant as they were the two things I’d missed during pregnancy (also asked for the exact same thing this time too) 😂

I've packed assuming a few nights in, like I had last time.
It was covid times with DC1, so no visitors but I could go and meet DH in the corridor (had to leave baby on the ward). I think that mindset is still in my head, as if I need to minimise movement and interaction. Going to be a very different experience with visitors in the ward.
I hated not having DH with me but it was peaceful.

I’ve another growth scan on Tuesday and still don’t have any bags packed. I’m likely to be in for 3 days again and we live an hour from the hospital I’ll be delivering in. Not sure if DH will be allowed to stay yet.
I’m planning on a bag for me - going light on clothes; dressing gown, sliders, two sets of ward clothes - vests and tracksuit shorts, plus going home top and tracksuit bottoms to hide the adult nappy bulge! Plus toiletries, Tena pants, sports towel and chargers, then a large amount of stuff to eat that I’ve been banned from due to diabetes.
Small bag for baby, nappies, hats, 4 changes of clothes, premix bottles, 2 dummies, blanket. Job done.

I may have a bag of spares in the car and toiletries and a change of clothes or two for DH, he gets ripe!

I’ve packed my bags and even though it’s my first I think I’ve done quite well with packing light, especially when you see people with a suitcase full! Just an overnight bag for me with a pair of comfy pjs, a nightie, toiletries and my going home outfit and a bag for baby with a couple pairs of clothes, bodysuits, milk and bottles, muslins and a blanket and nappies. I’m definitely lying in the over prepared category 😂

I need to get my bag packed and baby clothes/ paraphernalia sorted this week. I’m 36 weeks and I have a feeling I’ll have to be induced ( at 41 weeks) but you never know with babies.. I wrote my Birth preferences yesterday and will start washing baby clothes today and put them in the drawers.
I will also just bring a small overnight bag to the hospital and if I need more my husband can always go back, it’s only 25 mins away.

We’ve had a nightmare with leaks in two bathrooms so we’ve had builders in for 3 weeks, the house has been a building site, to top it off they missed something they should’ve done and have to come back this week.. But at least we’ve got new, shiny bathrooms soon.
I’m either nesting or I’m just so fed up living in a building site because now I’m itching to clean and clear out wardrobes, cupboards and the loft space! These jobs will be a project for next weekend I think.

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

My hospital have always provided milk, in those handy little bottles with the teats attached, they just ask which brand you want, so I luckily don’t need to bring bottles or milk so that helps me to pack light. Maybe check with your midwife about your own hospital as it could be something they provide too, unless your personal preference is to bring your own 😊

@WriMum22 I thought that as of pretty recently a lot of NHS trusts no longer offer formula for well babies, unless it’s an emergency requirement. Defo something worth checking, although I’m sure they wouldn’t leave you without if you had none.

I will be 35 weeks tomorrow, this is my last week in work and I am so ready to finish!

I haven’t packed my hospital bag, as far as I have got is making a list, but I will start to get things like that ready next week when I’m on maternity leave, I just don’t have the energy to do much after work.

I have 3 weeks until my planned section and I have so much left to do, I am starting to feel pretty stressed out, but I am also lacking the motivation to make a start on anything because I’m so tired!

@BabyBabyBaby123 mine definitely does still provide milk luckily, Midwife confirmed a few weeks ago 😊

@JoyApple - you’re doing better than me! 36wks now so no messing time. Definitely been a bit of denial for me too. I’ve been scared to be too organised in case something went wrong, but I also don’t want to end up coming home with baby to chaos so making myself get sorted now. There have been other reasons for last minute too though. Mostly, that we’ve had major building works which have dragged on beyond even our worst, worst case scenarios (should’ve been totally finished a year ago!), and having real trouble getting the builders to finish the last few bits. Solidarity on the building site house @Travellingislife, hope you get sorted soon. Thankfully the worst of ours is mostly outside now, but we’re still putting it all back together inside ourselves. Things starting to feel more organised/homely now though, so full baby prep this week - need to order everything for hosp bag, order pram, choose and order car seat, swap our car for one that’s actually big enough for us all (think we’ve found one though, seeing it Thurs), start washing baby’s things. Putting it all here to keep myself accountable!