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

My midwife told me that if I want to breastfeed then don’t take any pre-made formula to hospital with you! If baby doesn’t latch or you can’t feed for whatever reason, they will have milk on hand to “prescribe” as it would be a medical need - baby needs to eat! Coming up to 37 weeks & boy do I know it. Defo living in denial re sorting my hospital bag, but last night I had some sharp pains & movements that woke me/scared me ! So I reckon I’ll get it ready this week 🙃 - cannot believe we are at this point now! So exciting, yet very nervous.

Pure laziness here but I’ve decided I’m not washing stuff. I didn’t have time last time and baby was fine in fresh from the packet clothes; similarly the hand me downs were out away clean and have been on the washing line this morning and smell fine.
Turns out I’ve got lazier and lazier with each DC!

Anyone else having a lot of Braxton hicks early on? I am only 33+3 today.

I went into MCU on Saturday afternoon because I felt like baby hadn't been moving as much the past 24 hours as he normally would have been and had a few period cramp type pains Friday evening and Saturday morning. Got hooked up to the machine to monitor baby's heart rate, my heart rate and tightening's if any for 60 minutes. After the 60 minutes they was happy with baby's movements and heart rates but was concerned with the fact I had about 8-10 tightening's in that hour quite regularly. I could feel the tightening's at the front of my bump every time they was happening and had felt them before then also but no way near that frequent. They ended up sending me up to triage/delivery suite to be checked over by a doctor and midwife to make sure it wasn't pre term labour. I had a swab done and they confirmed it was not pre term labour and also did a cervix check and said my cervix was completely closed so definitely was just Braxton hicks. So managed to leave and didn't have many more that day, Sunday still had a couple throughout the day and then this morning have had maybe 1 or 2 an hour, one of which did take my breath away a little bit.

Anyone else had similar and everything all be ok to have that many all the time?

That sounds stressful @Shaker21

I'm only getting a couple of BH a day but I've read they can increase if you're dehydrated or moving about a lot.

Hopefully it's just your uterus getting ready for labour. It sounds like they checked you over thoroughly, and it's great they ruled out pre term labour.

I'd use it as an excuse to put my feet up more!

@Spareincoming I'm also one who doesn't wash new clothes. I've washed all the hand me downs and that's good enough for me!

@Shaker21 I am getting quite frequent tightenings and period type pains, had them a couple of weeks now and I’m 34 weeks. If it’s any reassurance, the test they do to rule out pre-term labour can apparently pick up if your body will go in to labour within the next two weeks, so if you’ve got a negative on that, you should hopefully be ok for now.

I am in the not washing group too, first pregnancy washed everything, last pregnancy happened sooner than I expected so had nothing washed and it was an emergency section so wasn’t fit enough to be washing when we got home, just went with it and he was fine with fresh out the packet. Gone for the same this time round 🙈

Thanks @Alloveragain3 and @WriMum22

I shall definitely take is a need to slow down and rest up hint! Only 2 more weeks left of long working days and it can't come quick enough!

Yeah it was negative and they did say it can rule pre term labour out for 1-2 weeks so that's reassuring.

Im also in the not washing group. Never did with any of mine and everything was fine with them.
Our twins were born premature at 34 weeks and I remember the nurses/midwives on the nicu saying to parents on to not bother washing and straight from the packets are fine!

@Shaker21 I had reduced movements a couple weeks ago and more braxton kicks than normal, they said dehydration can cause baby to be more sleepy (less movements) and more BH’s so I put it down to that as I’m terrible for drinking.

I’m also a non washer, I’ve bought everything new this time so I don’t wash it unless it’s second hand. X

To be honest I only washed my new stuff as I got a load of second hand stuff and it seemed wasteful just doing half a load of washing each time so I put the new stuff in too.
Urgh I've also reached the point where I've got a really painful pile all of a sudden. Didn't have this with my first and is just suuuuper sore and uncomfortable. Yet another joy of pregnancy.

What number DC is this for you @Spareincoming? Sorry I think you said right back on an earlier thread. Are your older children excited? Mine are, hope they feel as positive once reality bites.
I’m the same as most have said I think, not washing anything new, but some of the hand-me-downs need a freshen up and no chance of getting them an outdoor airing here sadly.

Sorry you’re in pain @JD90 - hope you’re able to get some time off your feet and some help from GP or midwife to give you some relief, so miserable.

Thanks @Mrsrobinsonx that could well have been why he wasn't moving as much, I probably hadn't drunk as much water as I normally would do. I have drunk more today and he has been moving way more like he normally would do so all good and will keep an eye on braxton hicks and they don't change to being painful rather than just uncomfortable like they are 😊

Non washer here too! I have three weeks left in work and I am dreading these last few weeks. I work with 2-4 year olds and it is extremely demanding. I am seriously thinking of just working up to the 36 week mark as I may be having baby at 37 weeks which is one day before I’m due to finish.
Last week really got me down.

@reememberly the older DC are excited but the youngest isn’t at all; I’m expecting jealousy in the first few weeks; they’re quite a deep running child so we will see how that presents!

Midwife rang today to ask if I was planning on engaging with the health visitor and told me off for not being ready at all. So I might pack a bag later today. But I might not as well.

Baby is moving loads today; really active which would usually be fine but I have this weird thought that loads of pronounced movement isn’t good with Gestational diabetes, I think it goes hand in hand with low sugars which mine aren’t so I’m trying not to panic or google. I’m at the hospital for a scan/cord check tomorrow anyways. The rational part of me thinks baby has moved position as I’m able to feel more now.

@Spareincoming I find baby moves more when sugars are high, so for me at night & they've lessened a lot since starting insulin. Only my theory so very most probably wrong. My DC1 had low blood sugar when he arrived and I had uncontrolled GD in lockdown- only diagnosed at 38wks.

@Crazybrowncow my sugars are mid range of where they should be; it’s been questioned a lot as to if I actually have Gestational diabetes by a lot of the team looking after me - I’ve never had a reading higher than 7 or fasting out of range but better safe than sorry!

Is anyone feeling off in their mood, especially those already on maternity leave?

I had to take my leave early last week due to extra hospital appointments etc. and I’m only a week in and I’m really struggling not having a sense of purpose if that makes sense. I’m used to working full time, in quite a responsible, very full on role and then coming home and being hands on with the kids. Now I’m on leave my days are just so empty because the kids are at school and I have no work to focus on, nothing to keep my mind ticking. I’m feeling like a little lost puppy. Everything is pretty much organised and ready for baby and the house doesn’t take much to keep clean and tidy. I’m spending my days just waiting for my appointment times and then waiting for the kids to get home, but by late afternoon I’m absolutely exhausted because my poor body can’t take much more of this pregnancy, so it’s not even like I’m all that hands on with the kids at the moment either. Sorry, this probably makes no sense whatsoever, but I’m just so ready for baby to be here, each day is dragging more and I have no idea how long it’s gonna be till she’s here. I just want to know a date, which sounds very childish as it doesn’t always work like that, but still can’t help but feel it 🙈

@WriMum22 I'm still in work but totally get you from DC1. I found maternity leave tedious, for want of a better word. I went through a huge process of identity loss which I know I'm going to repeat.

I'm on the other side of the coin at the moment in that I'm probably going to work til I drop, so I've got no time to mentally prepare and wind down.
I have an appointment tomorrow, if they confirm early induction then I'll ask them to push it back a day. I need rest!

@reememberly oh dear you must be VERY fed up! A year?! I was actually just saying that to my husband- 4 weeks is not really a long time as some major work takes months to get done. So we shouldn’t complain.. It’s just it should’ve been done in a few days and the builders/ plumbers have been unreliable and haven’t done a good job. That really annoys me.
Hope you’ll get some things sorted soon, I’ve started washing things and finding all my old baby gear so it’s becoming more real now.

I have a bag packed! Well, 60% of a bag!
The neighbours car alarm went off at 4am this morning and that was me and baby awake, so I had to get up and do something, so sort the bag it was!
Off for another scan shortly. Might get a date today… probably won’t!
DH starts physio today, so we’re off in different directions, lucky for him is mother is taxi-ing him about as he still can’t drive and didn’t like the truck he went to view yesterday so has no transport!

Hello all, New here - I was told my due date was 3rd December however after seeing the consultant today looks like I'll be having a November baby!
So thank you in advance for letting me join.
My first pregnancy I was in preterm labour at 22 weeks therefore this pregnancy I was watched very closely and monitored, Also took progesterone pessaries and all has gone well and practically been normal and straight forward pregnancy, With no sign of of pre term labour at all so I'm so grateful to be here 32 weeks today.

So exciting to read about hospital bags 🤩
I've washed everything just need to pack! X

@Lillybobs86 welcome! Congrats on making it to 32 weeks too, I imagine it's been quite a stressful pregnancy for you! I keep telling myself I'm going to sort my hospital bags out but just keep putting it off for some reason. I'll definitely do them before my next consultant appointment next week! Or at least I'll keep telling myself I will 🤣

@Spareincoming hope it has gone well today

Hey; I know one of you at least had the Thule stroller… I just had a question, not sure if you know the answer. I’m buying the car seat adapter for the maxi cosi / nuna car seat…does this adapter make the pram accept different branded bassinets too? Or can I only use the Thule bassinet with the pram? The bassinet alone is running like $500 in Canada which seems pricey, and after looking out for a second hand one for a while I still haven’t managed to find one. I hate buying things new!

@Psqueak87 I don’t think so, unless it uses the car seat adapters, I think only Thule works with Thule.
Same with BoB etc.
It’s very annoying, means we have many buggies and prams… 4 for this one.