Due January 2024 - Part 8

[PartRadish]

Couldn't see a new one yet :)

@buckingmad sorry to hear you struggling, hopefully you feel better soon and baby is all ok

@buckingmad hope everything is okay and like you say it's just because you've been busy ❤️

All was fine. Growth scan this morning at 9 so once that is done and hopefully all good I will feel a bit better.

ar my last midwife appointment she mentioned about a mental health midwife if the anxiety gets worse so I might ask a bit more about that.

I know I’m still grieving and that is having a huge impact. Plus the nature of the shock death and that he was so young and like a little brother I just can’t stop thinking about losing my DD and this baby. My mum had OCD and PND and I’ve always been terrified I’ll follow suit so now I have that hanging over me too.

@buckingmad I was referred to the mental health midwife and a few other things, not dissimilar circumstances. My advice is don’t feel any shame about it and just tell them everything about how you’re feeling. Their job is to try and stop you getting PND etc so they’re on your side. If you want to PM me please do x

@buckingmad I'm under the perinatal mental health team for anxiety and contamination OCD. I see a CPN (community mental health nurse) every Tuesday and a psychotherapist every Thursday. They've honestly been an incredible help and support. Even down to little things like when I had my GTT they contacted the team beforehand and arranged for my glucose drink to be made up in front of me with new everything instead of giving me one of the premixed drinks made that morning.

Like you I've also had 3 unexpected family/close friend deaths this year and it absolutely had a profound effect on my MH and my anxiety in particular. Add the vulnerability of pregnancy on top and I think it's completely natural to need some support. Should be no shame in it at all.

Hope your growth scan goes well this morning x

@buckingmad hope your scan goes well. I was under the perinatal mental health team with ds for stress. I went to see the midwife and just cried, my 20 minute appt was almost an hour, she referred me there and then, they kept in touch periodically for the first year of ds life (not sure if that is normal, or if the mental health midwife I saw went above and beyond)

You've got enough going on for the support to be put in place, take all the help you can!

Thanks all. I think I’ll try and get some more support from the mental health team. I really don’t want it to escalate.

Growth scan was all good. She’s bang on the 50th line and we got an amazing photo of her face. She’s even got her arm up over her face just like my DD sleeps. Midwife reassured me I am just petite framed and slim so will likely always measure small. I don’t think I’ve put on as much weight with this pregnancy as I did DD so probably why I measured smaller this time round.

Glad everything is ok @buckingmad, and what an amazing picture! Getting support definitely sounds like the right thing to do.

We're having a big clear out and moving furniture around today (well DH and friend are doing the moving, I've been supervising 😂). The current spare room is becoming the nursery so we're trying to make space, I know I'll feel better and more prepared when it's all done but oh my it's tiring! Keep having to sit down half way through jobs. Hope everyone is having good weekend!

@buckingmad Good to hear everything was ok
@Bims2019 i was sorting the house today and packing away what i can pack. Like you i had to sit down after every job or about after every 10 minutes

@LittleAlien24 I was exactly the same! Now wishing I'd been more organised earlier on 😂

I packed baby’s hospital bag today. I must admit I highly recommend getting some little labels and individual bags for their bits and pieces. It’ll be a god send for my DH who can never find anything anywhere!

Here’s hoping I packed the right things!

What do I need to pack in my hospital bag?

@Bims2019 i started while back but it takes time because we preparing for house renovations and the minute it's done house up for sale and moving to a different country so loads of sorting and packing
@MrsJ6921 i packed his hospital bag last week and thought im crazy doing it so early but just want everything sorted

I just packed 4 or 5 NB outfits, 7 or 8 outfits 0-3 months (don't know how long in hospital because im having a csection), sleeping bag, muslin cloths, coming home outfit, pramsuit, 2 light hats and nail scissors. still have to get his first blanket and warm winter hat.

@Matildahoney
I've got for me:
Button up pj's (night dress or top and trousers work)
3 pairs clean knickers and nursing bras
Pack of maternity pads
Nipple pad things
Travel toiletries set (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, tooth paste and tooth brush, lip balm and moisturiser)
Leggings, vest top and jumper to come home in
Just need to add snacks, a water bottle and phone charger

For baby:
Nappies
Couple of vests
Outfit to come home in
Blanket to tuck him up in the car

Also have a "hello big brother" present for ds

I'm pretty sure that's all I used last time, I over packed, had a bag for baby, bag for me and a snack bag 🤣

I’m going to pack my bag this week. I’ll pack similar to with DD which was

5 x sleepsuits mixture of sizes
5 x short sleeved vests (was on labour ward for monitoring and it was boiling so might not be needed)
a couple of thin hats
blanket
nappies and wipes

for me
3 x pants and bras
couple of pairs of leggings, breastfeeding vests and tops
pjs
Phone charger
toiletries including nipple cream
breast pads and maternity pads
so many snacks and lucozade
big water bottle
handheld fan
labour comb
electric diffuser and oils for labour
iPad
Big sister present for DD

I’ve packed the following for baby (not started for me yet but I do have most of the things)

3x NB vests
3x 0-1 month vests
3x NB sleepsuits
3x 0-1 sleepsuits
3x Muslins
3x Socks
2x Cardigans (1xNB and 1x0-1)
1x Going home outfit
1x Going home blanket
1x Cream Cellular Blanket
2x hats
1x Pack of nappies
1x wipes
nappy bags
2x dummies
1x Kendamil ready made formula with tests
Cotton wool balls
Nappy barrier cream
Milton Anti bac wipes
Hand gel
Welcome to the world plaque/name reveal

Minus the nappies and milk it’s all miraculously fitted in my pram changing bag.

Sounds ridiculous, but for you if you can, take a:

• really decent lip balm. Labour and gas and air really dries your lips out and feels uncomfortable. Nipple balm works great.
• a clip or comfy hair scrunchy
• a long vest to labour in. The maternity ward was so hot! And I didn't want stuff on my skin
• head phones
• a book or kindle
• a pillow. I thought this was ridiculous, but oh my god it made so much difference, esp with a silk pillow case. I clutched it during labour, and it was fab to prop up with after to feed baby

Another question from me about movements 🤦🏼‍♀️🙈
Has anyone noticed a change now baby is getting bigger?
She's not had any decreased movements they've just become less jabs and more stretchy?
On holiday ATM so not sure if that is fuelling some of my stress as no access to NHS (we know where all the hospitals are and there's a private one near by we can access).

Like I say, movements are still very frequent.
Not sure if she's gone behind my placenta (anterior) or just has less space! Some places say its totally normal but just wpuld like to know if others have experienced this?

@FirstT1meMum yes it's the same for me, movements now are definitely more like shuffling and stretching rather than obvious kicks. I still get some but does feel like there's less room in there now! As long as you're feeling movement I'd say that's probably ok? Hope you're enjoying your holiday!

@Bims2019 thank you! So reassuring knowing I'm not the only one! I definitely feel like I feel her more too. Yeah there's still some kicks, probably when I've annoyed her 🤣
That's what DH says that we can both feel her wiggling away so that's reassuring at least!
Thank you 😊❤️☀️

I’ve packed nothing for baby or me, not even a list. I really need to get my head in gear. I’ve told OH he needs to go in the loft tomorrow to get stuff down so I can see what we actually have.

I recommend a flannel of some description, women are often hot in labour so nice to wet them to put around your neck.

tens machine

flip flops

Gosh I’ve missed soooo much. Been a busy week trying to get house sorted, still continues. Need baby’s stuff sorted for my mental health because house renovations and my personality just don’t mix.
Hope you’re all good. @Kalodin i really hope you’re ok lovely and baba stays out so you can get home. @Mummyme87 hope you’re enjoying your break up north, the weathers rubbish though bless ya. @LittleAlien24 hope you’re ok
and anyone else I’ve missed hope you’re doing ok.
I’ve got my next scan on the 16th November I’ll be 33 weeks and I’ll find out if the placenta has moved, fingers crossed.
Blood thinning injections are also doing my head in, I’m bruised and so over it already.

on hospital bags I put outfits in ikea sandwich bags so it had a vest, sleepsuit, hat etc in so we could quickly grab them rather than trying to find each item. I just don’t even know what I have and what I need until I can actually get to the baby stuff, I’m off this week so hopefully if my toddler allows I’ll get some progress made 🤣

Some good ideas for hospital bag! I think I've mentioned on here before liking the my expert midwife range.

I haven't got organised yet either. I just keep buying baby clothes and putting them in the cupboard - think a more strategic approach is required to make sure we've got all bases covered!

I’ve just packed my hospital bag to make sure I’ve got everything. I feel like I’ve overpacked and I might take some things out to leave in the car just in case I’m in for longer than expected.

My travel system which includes the changing bag hasn’t been delivered yet so I ended up putting mine and baby’s things all in one suitcase (bigger than a cabin bag but not one or the huge ones). It does have 2 sections but I don’t know whether it’d still be too much faffing around so I’ll probably end up changing to some kind of smaller bag x2 (hopefully I have the changing bag and travel system before baby arrives!)

I think I’ve been having Braxton Hicks for the first time last night and this morning. I had some quite vigorous movements from baby about an hour ago as well which is a new thing for me. I can definitely tell he/she is getting bigger!

I hadn't even thought about hospital bag yet but have just made a nice long list based on all your recommendations! Turns out I've got pretty much nothing for myself but all baby's bits are sorted.

I keep having a really strong feeling that baby is going to be early. Probably not the case as he's only 39th percentile but just can't shake the feeling that he'll be here for Christmas! That would mean he's 3 weeks early though so 😬 hope he stays in there and I'm just being nuts.