Due May 2024? Part 3

[Sa11yCinnamon]

Just kicking off a new thread, hoping no one else does it at the same time!

@Athena1984 hope all is ok, keep us posted xx

On my packet it says to take one a day but don't think it's helping at all!
I'm thinking to up the dose x

@nh93 I've been told to take 2, 20 minutes before breakfast & 2, 20 minutes before Tea.
This seems quite excessive to me, so I'm only taking my evening ones.

Had my second growth scan today and baby has had a good growth spurt so she’s off the 10th percentile line now and is sitting right in between 10th and 50th ☺️back again in 2 weeks for another growth scan. Baby is nicely head down and facing my back so here’s hoping she stays like that!

Anyone else in a nesting frenzy? I'm really paranoid our flat isn't going to be clean/tidy enough for the baby and it's driving me crazy. We're both not naturally massively tidy people but I desperately want it all to nice for when she arrives and I'm developing a bit of cleanliness OCD worrying about germs. Is it just me? Can anyone who has already had a baby reassure me that it doesn't need to be perfect? I just wish we had one of these perfectly clean and sterile looking homes that lots of people seem to be able to maintain!

I wish i was! I am in a nesting frenzy in my head and had BIG plans for this Bank Holiday but I am absolutely bloody exhausted and have slept instead! You're doing great mama xx

Not gonna lie gonna pay to get my car valeted and potentially a one off cleaner before the baby comes is this dramatic? 😂😂 need to just get off my arse like

Loool i am sooo guilty of being a crazy nesting OCD lady, i just want everything and anything spotless before the baby comes.
But my body doesn't let me, my back aches and just gets too tiring, so i'm also thinking to get a cleaner to deep clean.

Has anyone thought about freezer meal prepping? I really feel like this will be so handy and needed postpartum.
I'm also looking into making my own bone broth and freezing, it's meant to have really good benefits for recovering x

I’ve been on a massive clear out / clean too! Every cupboard is being attacked 😂

Breastfeeding question; it’s not something I’m particularly looking forward to but I really want to give it a try. Just wondering if ladies have come across any courses or guides that might be helpful? I have a free class at my hospital coming up, but wondering whether or not to go for something a bit more comprehensive to put me at ease. I’ve come across a few online (IG is now spamming me!) and been recommended one by a friend (all with a price), but undecided whether to go for one or not…

@newbie12345678 Your home definitely doesnt need to be "show home" standard and actually the midwife / Health visitor in the early days actually wont care as long as there isnt anything dangerous (i.e cables across the floor - potential trip hazard etc).

Although saying that, I think nesting is pretty normal for most as we all want a clean home to bring baby back too.

@Colourfulflowers I cant really help re breastfeeding courses as such but I have previously used a "breastfeeding cafe (drop in)" run by our local Health visitors they were useful and you can get any help / advice or just go for a coffee knowing no one will pass judgement

@Colourfulflowers there is a charity called La Leche League that run free online antenatal breastfeeding courses. You just have to drop them an email to arrange a class. Found it quite useful and now in a support group on WhatsApp for when baby comes with the course leader and other mums. Some have already had their babies so useful to hear about issues/how to solve etc x

Hello ladies! Hope you're having a good, relaxing Easter...

I've noticed I've lost some of my mucus plug today. Went to the toilet for a wee twice in a row and had jelly-like mucus, quite a bit. But all normal colour, no blood or pink at all.
I've read it just regenerates itself and hopefully doesn't mean any early dilation... I'm 32+3.

Has anyone else had something similar?

I better start packing the bag, I was going to wait until 34 weeks but maybe it's better to do it earlier rather than later...

@SarahB88 glad baby has grown and is in a good position. Hope your obstetrics appointment goes well this week when you discuss your results.
@Nina7 we discussed mucus plug at NCT this week and were told it's a sign that baby will be coming but probably not for a few weeks, and it can grow back. I'm nearly 32 weeks and wouldn't be expecting it this early either, but as you say, perhaps a good prompt to pack the hospital bag...
Happy Easter everyone, hope the nesting instincts aren't getting unmanageable and those dealing with uncomfortable or difficult symptoms are doing OK!

@Nina7 with my last baby I started losing my plug somewhere between 34-35 weeks, went on for about a week and a half on and off and then he came at 36+5. So whilst it may not mean anything, it could also mean things have started to happen so absolutely nothing wrong with getting that bag packed and ready! I’m doing my bag this week as I’ll be 34 weeks on Wednesday and want to be prepared just in case I have another early arrival!

@Yourowgirl thank you, will know more on Wednesday.

@Nina7 I’m 33+1 and noticed the jelly when I wiped this morning too. First thought was mucus plug. I’m going to ask about it at my obstetrics appointment on Wednesday because baby is definitely in a good birthing position from my scan last week. I couldn’t get to sleep last night because she kept kicking my lower back, my partner could feel the kicks from the outside too! I’ve always thought she’d be coming sooner than the date they gave me so I do wonder if it’s a few weeks away now.

I’ve mopped all the floors downstairs today too but I think it’s stress cleaning rather than nesting. My poor partners dad has had a heart attack this morning so we’re just waiting for more news on that.

I should correct my previous post to say you could still have a few weeks to go when you lose your mucus plug but it also could be days or not happen until labour. We were basically told not to worry that it means labour is coming imminently.

@SarahB88 what awful news for you and your partner to deal with today, hope you hear soon.

Hi all, hope everyone is well and had a good Easter :) how are we in April ahh! Am 32 weeks and they believe baby is head down. Is anyone else getting kicks/movements really low down? First timer and not use to it being so low lol 😆

Hello all! I’m starting to feel a bit terrified about everything- I’m starting NCT this week and was really looking forward to meeting other people in the same area having babies at the same time- but our group is only 3 couples (including ourselves)! I’m so disheartened and feel scared now I’ll have no other friends off on mat leave.

Those of you who have been through it before- how did you meet other parent friends?!

@Mum2b2024 my baby is also head down and ready to go. I’m getting loads of movement low down and in my lower back.

I had to spend most of yesterday evening on my birth ball due to the pressure I’m feeling and all the braxton hicks. Could barely sleep last night from having to go to the toilet so much and not getting comfy. I cannot stop going to the toilet at the moment, it just feels like she’s pushing everything out! My bump is really low down now too. I’m only 33+2 but have obstetrics tomorrow to see what they think. Also seem to have lost a bit of mucus plug yesterday but I’m aware that may regrow at this stage. I just feel like my body is changing and getting ready now so might have something happening in the next few weeks.

@LondonGirl1992 i did NCT with my first and apart from a WhatsApp group which was partly helpful in the first few months, it didn’t last so there’s no guarantee they would be your kind of people. To be honest, I’m much happier just doing my own thing and then going to some of the baby groups and if I happen to chat to someone whilst I’m there then that’s a bonus. I found sometimes that the NCT group were quite competitive and wanting their baby to be the first at everything which isn’t helpful. Also I think you need honest people around you, ones that aren’t frightened to say that they are finding it tough etc.
With my second it was during covid so there were no groups, no friends or family visits so just had to get on with it and it was actually quite nice in some ways to not have that pressure.

So basically after all that rambling, my point is it doesn’t matter if you don’t have a close group around you. Meet people at groups, childrens centres often have free groups although they have sadly declined over the years, churches quite often have baby sessions. So expose yourself to those and then anyone you meet is a bonus.

@LondonGirl1992 for an idea during pregnancy outside of NCT, do you have any prenatal yoga groups or similar near you? We have one that is a hybrid exercise and socialising session so I'm hoping I might meet some people there.

@LondonGirl1992 thats annoying that there’s only three couples - maybe it will be easier to make friends with people in a smaller group? Definitely organise a WhatsApp group with them as it is so useful in the first months to be able to chat to people going through the same experience at the same time and who might also be awake to chat at odd hours.

It’s really easy to make friends when the baby arrives at things like baby classes or even in the park because everyone is keen to connect with other people going through the same thing. I’d often go out for coffee with other mums after baby classes and sometimes organise to meet them in my own time too.

I only stayed in touch with a couple after mat leave, but we’ve also met lots of people through nursery now too.

@Mum2b2024 yes, mine is apparently also head down (if he hasn’t moved since the midwife) and I get movements on my pelvic floor, around my belly button and to the side but hardly ever high up around my ribs

Is anyone else just feeling very overwhelmed at the moment? I'm guessing it is my hormones, but jeez it is hard!

I'm 34+4 now & it is all starting to feel very real.

I've still not packed my hospital bag, the nursery is like a dumping ground, babies clothes all still need washing, the kitchen needs sorting to fit the steriliser & prep machine in. The travel system doesn't come until the 17th April. It all just feels ALOT.

I'm not sure what the point of this rambling is, but I feel non of you will judge & maybe are feeling the same (but hopefully not, as it feels horrible)

For those that have washed babies clothes, what washing powder/softener have you used please? Does it have to be non bio or can I get away with surf powder & non bio softener?

@Clarkey34 I get you! I had a really bad spell a week or so ago of being totally overwhelmed which thankfully seems to have settled down and is now only the odd day.

Our nursery is also a dumping ground of baby "stuff" but half of it wont actually live in there so today I'm going to try and make a start sorting bits out and find a suitable bag for my hospital bag.

We are also decorating so our whole house seems up turned and the children are currently on easter holidays so added chaos!

I’m 32 weeks now and feeling exhausted. I’m ready for the next few weeks to whizz by. 2nd pregnancy is definitely so much harder than the first!

I’m going to ask at my next midwife appt about breastfeeding support - I had my first baby during lockdown and there was zero help and I had horrific mastitis and breast abcesses! All because of a poor latch apparently.

I wouldn’t worry about making friends during Mat leave - it either ends up happening naturally through baby classes, or catch ups or you just don’t have time for it 😂

Starting to work on my handover for work now which excites me greatly haha!

My little one is head down and VERY low at the moment. I have to sleep with a memory foam pillow between my hips as the pregnancy pillow is doing zero to help!