Due January - Part 9!

[PartRadish]

Couldn't see another and the old one is full. Will copy the list from the last one, the tags are really temperamental though and it definitely has quite a few people missing sorry 🙈

@Kalodin
@buckingmad
@FirstT1meMum
@Vikki7
@sashastuck
@xLJ1990x
@suz2285
@TunnocksTCake
@Mummyme87
@Redpanda21
@Luhou
@RootsHere
@Matildahoney
@flowerpot258
@Ttcdcno1
@Onedayatatime24
@PartRadish
@youaremysunshine03
@Dannic2018

How you feeling now @buckingmad?

@PartRadish pains have gone but bump still really tight. DD had a huge 2 hour tantrum which distracted me (and undid my relaxing bubble bath) and I’ve just got into bed. Hopefully a sleep (not going to say decent because haven’t had one of them in a long time!) will set me right again. Thanks for checking in!

May be asking a silly question but would I have to get the swab if I'm having a c section. Like do all moms get this or natural birth moms.
Also I hear it hurts and your like cramping bad after !

@AshleyCali2Uk are you referring to GBS swab? If so, it isn’t routinely done in the UK and should never hurt or make you cramp/bleed. The proper GBS swab is a cotton bud in the lower part of your vagina and towards your perineum plus rectal.

@Mummyme87 oooooh okay why do they do this swab around that time? Thank you for responding

@AshleyCali2Uk in countries that do it or if you pay to do a private swab here 36weeks is the time as it’s transient, so comes and goes. You could have it at 22weeks and not at term, or not have it at 20weeks but then have it at term.

Definitely can't say that swab ever hurt, much less invasive than a smear test.

I got them this pregnancy routinely, a long with various other swabs and tests, as the DRs were interested in monitoring everything to see what could be tipping me into labour early and what could effect any preemie baby etc.

A sweep, however, does often feel incredibly uncomfortable and I was in a lot of pain and bleeding with mine. Do you mean that?

My maternity leave was meant to be 15th December but I’ve brought it forward a week as I just need a week on my own albeit it’s only 3 hours a day while ds is at nursery! I’m aching so bad now so knowing that next Friday is my last day I’m happy tbh. I’ll be 36 weeks, if it wasn’t for Xmas I may have gone longer though.
Baby was painfully active last night and I kept getting regular tightenings so was really uncomfortable.
I didn’t do my bloody thinning injection last night as the night before my hubby accidentally did it into a nerve and by god it killed, had a good cry and he felt terrible…..just another 11 weeks to go 😩😩
Also we have snow here so this mornings waddle is going to be fun 🤣

So jealous of you guys going on mat leave soon - my last day at work is 12th Jan and I wish I had just started it after Christmas haha!

I had a growth scan yesterday as baby girl is measuring big (97th percentile) and they've estimated she's already 5lbs and I've still got 8 weeks to go 😳

Major props to those of you still working. I'm a SAHM but the school run is enough to make me need a nap at this point 😅 20 days until my csection 🙈 I feel completely unprepared lol

Apparently my ferritin level is “12”, is that ok or not? Just appeared in the app rather than been told by a human.

@WitcheryDivine i believe they like it to be over 30, (number may not be exact-but I’m similarly low and on iron tablets) expect the delights of iron tablets soon 😂

@Salamander91 20 days!! Oh my goodness that's not long at all 🤗 how exciting!

God mat leave can't come soon enough. Work is ok because it is an escape from my tantrummy toddler. I can deal with work or toddler but not both! I woke up at 6 and was still late to work as I didn't factor in an hour of trying to get DD dressed and in her car seat. Then my MIL had the audacity to tell me we needed to instil boundaries with DD, when it is ONLY ME that does. These are the people that let her take 3 hours to get dressed, or just not change her nappy when she doesn't want to, or give her 3 ice lollies because she asked for them. I know I should be grateful for the free day of childcare a week but I just don't have the mental capacity for gratefulness these days 😅

Bump at least feels better after yesterdays pain/tightness. Think I overdid it with lunch and walking to and from.

Mat leave really can't come soon enough! I've got 2 weeks to go after this one and will be 37 weeks when I go off. Do have a few days holiday left so very tempted to bring it forward, my concentration levels are at an all time low! But my mat cover doesn't start until next week so feel I should have at least some time with them.

Kudos to anyone doing this with a toddler, it's hard enough without another child to look after!

I finish work next week, at 34 weeks. I’m exhausted, stressed and have had insomnia for the last 5 days.

Woke up at 3.30 and fell back asleep at 7ish last night. Been the same most of the week.

And I have a regressive and moody 21 month old to get ready in the mornings.

Virtual hugs to everyone struggling. It is my last day at work today, then 2 weeks Annual leave and officially starting mat leave on the 18th Dec. Looking forward to be able to have a rest in the afternoon when my DS is at nursery. But still have so much to sort out for the baby, hopefully he hangs on until January at least as i have a feeling he may be early 🤞

@WitcheryDivine ferretin range is 13-150 so could do with some iron supplements

Christmas shopping day with DH. My back and under bump is killing me 😖

@JaffaCake123 SO Jealous of you finishing today!

Im another with a regressive toddler to get ready in the mornings, my DH starts work stupidly early so its always been the most stressful part of my day, but doubly hard now she wants to 'be a baby' for 30 mins before she will get dressed!

i keep going back and forth wondering whether I should have a section... I had a prolapse after birth of DD and I know there is no official guidance that says a second birth will worsen it but I am wondering if it is worth the risk.... If I have another natural birth the risk is there that it may get worse again but if I have a section the risk is removed. There is the strep B factor as well which wouldnt be an issue with a C... I guess size of baby at scan may help me to decide too. Just cant actually make my mind up!

Thanks to all for supportive comments about me losing my cat, I think it was a good idea to deal with my grief rather than bottling it up I spend last 3 days being emotional and today am actually feeling better, ready to focus on baby more.

I go on annual leave on the 7th december and then maternity leave from 5th January which is my due date. Luckily I had a lot of leave left to use so making the most of it relaxing hopefully.

Had 34 week appointment which I had another fundal height measurement which has shown accelerated growth so having a growth scan tomorrow as he's measuring over 97th percentile!

Also had a discussion about colostrum harvesting which midwife recommends to try from 36 weeks onwards. She has given me leaflets and syringes but honestly I don't know much about it! Anyone planning on doing it or has done it before?

@EL27 im starting on Saturday when I’ll be 36 weeks! I had a quick go in the bath the other night just to gauge if it would be easy or not, and I’d say not easy at all!

So I think I need to lower my expectations and not get stressed about it. I think there’s some good videos on YouTube.

It’s extra recommended for me because of the diabetes so I’d really like to try and get a decent amount.

@EL27 planning to do this too, haven't had any advice from midwife yet, not seeing her again till 36 weeks. If she doesn't mention it i'll probably buy a kit and just do it myself, but they do usually recommend

Always good to try and have some back up if feeding is awkward in the first few days or if any issues!

Oh yeah for the colostrum harvesting, I highly recommend these www.amazon.co.uk/haakaa-MHK111-Haakaa-Colostrum-Collectors/dp/B08PV948PH

They're soft silicone so gentle on your nipples, and have a wide collection point so colostrum doesn't get wasted. I really struggled with the tiny hard 1ml syringes from the midwife. I took about 24 ml to the hospital, and I think it all got used, so it was handy in my experience

I did it both times previously @EL27 with DS1 from 35weeks and had 100ml in the freezer by the time he was born, he used every bit and so glad I had it as he had meningitis in NNU. dS2 didn’t do as much and didn’t need it, so used it in the bath. I’ll do it again maybe a little bit before we go away for Christmas then when we come back. I find it really easy but it’s my day job 😂😂 it’s a real knack trying to find the right place and it’s firmer than you think. Handling syringe can be a challenge aswell but again you learn. Best to learn pre birth rather than needing to afterwards and it being an extra unwanted challenge

I didnt manage it last time but hoping to this time around - will put some hours in in front of cheesy xmas films when I finish work!
What do you do with it if you want to take to hospital? Keep it in a cool bag?