Due June 24 💚 - Part 2

[oop]

Thought I'd make a new thread before the old one filled up completely.

Into the second trimester and beyond 😊

@Ad12345678 - this is my second and becoming a parent has genuinely been one of the most humbling experiences of my life... Made me realise I have very little control of anything, starting with the birth!! It really is mad how things can turn out so differently than what you expect on all fronts isn't it!!

We did a family photo shoot yesterday, and I'm completely wiped out! 32 weeks and I'm counting the days left at work now. I'm suddenly SO much slower too, almost as if baby has moved or had a massive growth spurt... Hoping it's just tiredness and I get back some energy in the next day or two 🤞

@Ad12345678 I know pretty well how you feel: this was my experience with my first born (mine was complete praevia, that didn't move one bit since my 20 week scan). But, like you, I was fairly young and was learning about home births and natural delivery, etc. Well, I had to learn to "surrender", because life had another plan for me! For me, personally, it felt very freeing in a way (and I know it sounds strange) to let it go, to learn that I didn't have control over the situation, that it was bigger than me... In the end, the c-section went perfectly well and we had no serious complications.
The bond you have already made with your baby is very strong, because both of you are in this together and all will be well: every birth is unique and you will treasure it precisely because of it 💜I wish the best for you and your little one 💐

Thanks all 🙏

Happy 1st May - anyone else suddenly hit with the realisation we’re having our babies next month?!🤪

Oh yes! 😅😅
counting down to 3 weeks left of work before starting leave, seriously can’t wait been so knackered lately. Also felt like I’ve gotten slower and baby is kicking much harder to a point I have to stop and take a second.
started packing my hospital bag last night, baby’s bag is ready but thinking if I should add a swaddle and buy a special coming home outfit. Or just save my money aha! Bought some loungewear off boohoo that came today, can’t believe I’ll be 33 weeks tomorrow 😭

@DanisEndo true!! 😃 I'm also being kicked very hard and I have a weak spot in my uterine muscle from my previous 2 DDs, she keeps kicking there!

Been referred for a growth scan today at 31+3, baby has gone up from 50th centile to 100th. Has anyone else had a growth scan for baby measuring bigger? How did it go?

@glasshalffull0
i had a growth scan a couple of weeks back due to midwife measuring me big, at the scan he’s not overly big at all, maybe measuring 1 week ahead if that.
I think I just big. I looked huge with my daughter but she was only 6lb11oz so trying not to let it get to me, even though every single person I see comments on how big I am…
Hope the scan goes ok 👍🏻

@beaniesunrise so jealous I’ve stupidly said I’ll work from home but right up until she arrives and I’m only 32 weeks and SHATTERED. No idea how I’m gana make it to the finish line at this rate. My kicks are also a lot more intense and so distracting. Plus almost constant now, when is she not moving ?!
eep I haven’t even started hospital bags yet. This weekend!!! What else have you packed?

@Suchardchoccy oh noooo😂 already a little trouble maker ahah

@DanisEndo oh no! I feel for you. I’m already finding it difficult to concentrate at work and not think of my long list of things to get done (baby related of course 😜) I’m also working from home, but struggling to sit for long and just want to lay down all the time now. I’ve packed baby vests, grows, muslins, bib, hat, socks, and lots of nappies. For myself I’m packing gowns, long tops with buttons, one pj set, toiletries, going home outfit and 2 pairs of slippers. Feel like I still need to add more to mine - 2nd baby so kind of have an idea but still doubting myself lol

@beaniesunrise saaaame aha the sofa has become my desk which I know isn’t good but so I can go horizontal everytime im not on a meeting.
that sounds like such a good list…. This is my first so i know I’ll end up either dramatically overpacking or forgetting the essentials 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

@DanisEndo ahh better to overpack that’s what I say! Plus you can always leave extra things in the car such as extra nappies so if you need it, can just go get it 🫣 I’m afraid I don’t get much downtime between work & my little one! Try to fit in housework where I can now as I’m so slow & uncomfrtable haha

Ah how are we already in may!? My due date is actually end of this month because I got moved forward at my dating scan so it suddenly all feels very real. 36 weeks now. I've got a presentation scan tomorrow, fingers crossed she's gone head down 🤞🤞🤞
I really need to pack my hospital bag, going to do that on the weekend.
I managed to get some of the baby stuff out of the attic on the weekend so I'm feeling marginally more prepared now. Still lots to do though.

@beaniesunrise thats such a good tip about having extras in the car….! I can’t imagine how much harder all the fatigue is if you already have little one(s) to entertain!!!

@oop omg that’s so exciting! Let us know how you get on at the scan. How are you feeling generally?

growth scan tomorrow morning and I can’t wait to see little girl again 💕

starting to think more about birth plan. I defo want MLU with access to pool if possible, don’t want to labour on my back. I think: Gas and air, skin to skin, delayed clamping, for my husband to cut the cord when it’s time. Have no idea on the pros/cons of things like assisted placenta, vit K, or what other options there are.. any advice?

@DanisEndo I'm feeling very very pregnant 😂 really uncomfortable now but I finish work next week which will help!
I'd say definitely have vit k for baby, I don't see any downsides to that really. Active management of the placenta I'm pretty easy about. I had it with my first as I was in theatre (forceps) and it was out very soon after. I was still able to have delayed cord clamping though. Once I'd given birth I kinda just wanted to go to recovery with my baby so was happy for the quickest option! But equally would be happy to let it happen on its own if that was suggested at the time.

But as I'm sure you've heard before it's best to be chilled about the birth plan. I'd planned to give birth in a MLU but when I rang in labour it was closed because of COVID related staffing issues so my first huge part of my birth plan went out the window before I'd even got started 😂. I'd also said I ideally wanted just gas and air and definitely not pethidine but as it turned out the gas and air made me feel sick so I didn't use it at all and I had pethidine as the only other real option when the pain got too much.
So definitely be ready to go with the flow, although it's good to have a plan with your preferred options laid out!

@oop so exciting. Do you have much planned for once you’re off?

oh I’m defo chilled about the “plan” and know to be prepared for the unexpected 🤪
But I’m always most calm when I’m prepared aha. Have any of your experiences of your last birth effected your choices for this one?

@DanisEndo I'm the same! I like to feel prepared!
Not much planned for when I'm off, just hoping to get some relaxing in and prepping for the baby really.
The only thing I'd say my last birth has changed for me plan wise is that I'm prepared for the fact I probably won't be able to use gas and air again so I'm much more open to pethidine (I found it really helpful).
How long do you have left in work?

@oop its so interesting how pain reliefs effect everyone so differently!
I’m going to work from home full time from the start of June and then work right up until the big day. Its sounding challenging in those later weeks but I’m hoping because I have quite a lot of control around my diary / clients I can make it work 🤞🏻🤞🏻

@DanisEndo sounds like a good birth plan to have. Definitely best to have a plan than not, whether it happens or not. I would suggest the vitamin K injection for baby, as far as I'm aware it's what's best for baby. I had the placenta injection with both my DDs and I'm planning to have it with this one too. As op said I just wanted to get it all over with after the birth, however if the midwives advised me to wait for it naturally I would go with what they say.

To be honest I can't remember what happened with the cord both times 😅 I think with my first, the doctor didn't give DH chance to cut the cord (ventouse birth) and I can't remember with my second 🤔 I don't think DH was that fussed tbh

@Suchardchoccy i don’t actually know how fussed DH really is to do ours 🤣 but I think it’s a nice way for him to be involved. I haven’t heard any negatives to the vit K so think will opt for that. I can defo see both your point about just wanting it over after babies arrived! And it’s great to know can still delay cord clamp even with the assist.

we had our first growth scan this morn. The sonography was a bit grumpy with us 😒😒 and didn’t give us a print out at all which made me so sad. But all looking healthy! 30th percentile which tracks with her last scans.

I’ve got my last growth scan next week and then a consultant appointment at 36 weeks when they’ll give me the date for my c section at 39 weeks. That’s assuming it’s all straightforward and I don’t need anything else.

Ive been looking round nurseries this week and the one I want doesn’t officially have space until Sept 2025 but they think they’ll be able to fit me in. It’s mad. It wasn’t like this when I was last looking for nurseries a few years ago.

We had a presentation scan today and she's gone head down hooray!! So pleased. Lovely to see her again too as I haven't had a scan since 19 weeks.

@MizzMarple I emailed my nursery this week to try and reserve a place for baby too. I didn't book my first in until about 6 months before he needed to start but they mentioned that they were filling up baby spaces so I'm suddenly a bit worried. Fingers crossed they'll fit us in!

Hehehe… In Ireland (the republic) people contact creches when they’re planning to conceive… for real. I called all in my area when I was 6 weeks pregnant (Oct 2023) and 6 out of 7 said they were full for 2025 and one gave me the last place for July 2025 (for when the baby will be 1yo). They have Baby + our surname in their docs as the name 🤣