Due December 2024

[NphysT]

Anyone else tested super early and due December 2024? This is my 2nd pregnancy after a mmc 2 days after my 12 week scan in December and actual miscarriage in January.

Hoping this will be the 1 that sticks and is healthy. Think my due date is Dec 3rd

@HelterSkelter224 is the prenatal team you've been referred too?

I've no previous birth story, as this is my first baby, but I've opted for a ELCS as I have tokophobia and knew it was always the way I'd choose to give birth when I eventually got pregnant. I've done loads of research around it and feel pretty comfortable, I've had my meeting with the consultant who also talked through the risks but he assured me they're unlikely but he has a duty to inform me. Most common seems to be infection post surgery, but it's fairly easily treatable, I've also been following the Instagram page called Csection UK, they also sell courses which will tell you absolutely everything you could want or need to know, maybe worth giving them a follow to help assure you a little. What is it you're mostly anxious about? X

@CatCaretaker @Molly4689 I was told baby was breech at my 20'week scan, however they said baby is moving constantly at this stage and it means nothing at this point. Come my 26 week appt with midwife baby was head down again. It may have just been a passing comment by the midwife/sonographer I'm presuming because plently of time for baby to move xxx

@Lunamoon23 I would have thought so. I'm 26 weeks now and baby is constantly on the move.

@HelterSkelter224

I think I've recommended it before but this podcast about c-section recovery was really insightful

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-birth-ed-podcast/id1485321117?i=1000657345283

I didn't have a traumatic birth with my first, but I still can't sleep sometimes at night worrying about doing it again. I've found listening to that podcast I mentioned really helps, they have an episode on there about second births which I thought was good

Welcome to the group and congratulations. How are you feeling? X

@Lunamoon23 I'm feeling quite relaxed about the section as my first was lovely and recovery straight forward. I don't love the idea of the epidural and the thought of that does make me feel a bit funny sometimes, but I don't even remember feeling the needle last time so not sure why! Looking forward (hopefully) to feeling more human afterwards too but not so much to a night on the ward! How are you feeling about it?

I didn't get them as her system went down... she said I was 'very very' low on folate and 'moderately' anemic. I've been on folate for a few weeks now though. I have an obstetrician appointment next week so will ask for the numbers then!

@CatCaretaker I'm 30 weeks and not sure! My first was always head down at every scan/exam and this one had been until now. Midwife just called them breech and said they normally expect them to turn head down early third trimester but she wasn't concerned as plan for c section. I wonder if she'd have said a bit more/planned to monitor if I was planning to have a vaginal birth!

My little one was breech at 26 weeks too. I'm not sure if they still are but I was told as long as they turn by 32 weeks there is no need to make any plans for turning or c section.

@Molly4689 oh amazing, was your first csection a planned one? Ermmm, I'm feeling extremely nervous, I've never had surgery before of any kind and never spent time in hospital (except visiting a relative) but never been the person receiving care, I'll usually do everything I can to avoid having to to be honest. I hate blood, I hate needles, I have pretty bad anxiety about the unknowns. But I've done my very best to arm myself with a wealth of knowledge about the procedure, the order in which things happen, the recovery so I can be as mentally prepared as possible, but I've no doubt the week leading up to it I'll be a nervous wreck. I'm nervous about the spinal for sure. But felt abit more reassured knowing my husband can be with me during it. I think also my husband maybe able to stay with me overnight (in a side room) which is massively helping. But that's not confirmed yet. I'm keeping everything crossed though.

I know I'll certainly feel relieved once it's done and dusted. I feel like the pain and recovery I can deal with, I have quiet a high pain threshold and I feel like once I'm home and in my own environment (comfort zone) and not in a hospital setting I'll be able to deal and process it all a lot better.

Fingers crossed baby moves for you, but as you said it doesn't really matter. I was told I have a low lying placenta at my 20 week scan, they looked at me anxiously and said which may result in a csection birth and I was like ahh that's fine, I've opted for one anyway, and they were like ah that's fine then 😂 xxx

I had a John Lewis nursery appt today... Which was great! But my mind is a bit blown by options!

Wondering what prams people are considering?

I have an ickle bubba stomp travel system I got for my daughter I got the forest green one

TMI

But does anyone else smell down there? I seem to sweat more, at first I thought it was maybe the warm weather but it's not because it's cool now and it's still happening. Not too bad right after a shower but for example I showered last night before bed and I smell this morning

I'm starting to think it's hormones maybe?

@RedRobyn2021

Ohhh okay! We have been shown:
Nuna
Uppababy
Bugaboo

Also, I haven't noticed a smell (yet) but a lot more is going on down there (wetter in knickers, sorry for graphics!), but I imagine it's just another gift of pregnancy along with all the other little gifts like overheating, nosebleeds, cramps. Such a magic time.

I've brought the new egg pram. Couple of friends have had them and recommended and I had no idea, but liked how they look so went for that. X

Yes!! @RedRobyn2021 I've had it for a couple of weeks now ! Defo think it's hormone related as it's not a fishy type smell like an infection would indicate. It's more a sweaty icky smell 😂 don't know how to describe it tbh!

I've also noticed a bit increase in discharge so think that's also playing a part. I mentioned the discharge to my midwife and she said it's very normal and will likely increase more and more towards the end of the pregnancy.

Also ladies - I brought some cheap boots this week from primark, for work. Brought my usual size 5 and couldn't get my foot in them when I got home 😂😂 didn't think to try them on in store as I've always been a size 5. Think it's swelling.

Looking on matalan online and they do a wide foot selection, do you think if I went for a 5 in wide foot they'd be ok? Or do I need to size up to a 6 Aswell as wide foot?

Dont think I can get away with flip flops for much longer with the weather changing. X

@Lunamoon23

I didn't realise but sometimes your feet get bigger in pregnancy and never get smaller, so they may not even go back to being a 5 which is crazy isn't it?

Can you get your partner to draw round your foot on a piece of paper and then measure it? Probably the best way to figure out whether you should just go wider or the next size up

@RedRobyn2021 my other size 5s still fit oddly. Just this pair of boots I've just brought don't. I'll order a size 5, worst case I'll have to return and reorder in a 6. Hoping with being wide foot they'll allow room for my swollen ankles 😂

Hey all
hope your all ok

im just wondering has anyone had in their pregnancies low blood platelets?

this is my fourth pregnancy and first time im having this issue.
I need to go in every two weeks for blood tests as each time it’s dropping lower.
just wondering if anyone had this and what it means for me now🙈

@Lunamoon23 yes completely elective. It was an afternoon section and really quick, I arrived at around 12 and baby was out by 1.30. There was so much going on around me I barely had time to process the spinal! My partner was allowed to stay until 9/10 at night but a few more hours until I was up and about would have been helpful so try to insist on somebody staying until you can walk! He can stay this time but I plan to send him home so he can help Grandparents and hopefully do the nursery run the next morning.

The biggest challenge was they wanted me to have a wee within a few hours and I only just managed one within their time frame after a lot of water so make sure you drink plenty!

My recovery was also very straight forward. I didn’t bleed a lot or have any problems with my scar after. I didn’t have the heparin injections. I had some difficulties rolling over and sitting up in bed for a few days so but once up I could move around, shower, dress etc. with no problems. I just set everything up high and put long phone chargers, snacks, water etc. in lots of places so I didn’t have to keep asking for help! I'm not one to stay home so we were out and about for walks/coffee within a few days, and I know others who had the same experience with an elective so no reason everything shouldn't be straight forward for you too :)

I'm not so worried about the section this time my biggest fear is going in to labor and then having to fight for a section and my toddler trying to jump on my stomach afterwards🙈

@Molly4689 aw it's so lovely to hear your positive story, I've heard a lot of positive stories with elective c sections so that's really reassuring. And with regard to the recovery too. I've already prepped my husband with the fact he'll need to be very hands on for me and baby for the first couple of days after so he's fully aware and prepared which is good 😂

I'm also one not to be stuck In the house a lot. I intend to give myself a couple of days around the house, mostly upstairs so not to over exert myself and allow myself to rest and soak up the newborn bubble. Then I want to slowly start getting about, getting outside, a small walk up to our local shop, a small dog walk with pram around the block with DH holding dog so I don't get tugged. Little but often. I've even tried to make plans for the Christmas period 😂 but he keeps pumping the breaks on it all ... which is nice because I know he's taking my recovery seriously. But I keep assuring him, I'm not going to make myself do anything I don't feel capable of doing. My mum and my sister will both be very available too. They're both so excited, first time auntie and grandmother, they've assured me of we need anything or want anything they'll be there. My sister bless her has literally booked 2 weeks leave around my due date 😂 I told her it was nessasary but she insisted.

I'm hoping my nerves won't get the better of me. I keep trying to hype myself. Telling myself I can do this and I'll be okay. It won't be that bad. You can handle it. It's just a needle. It's just this.. etc. but I know as the weeks creep closer it'll start to settle in abit more. Yes I've heard about having to wee within a certain timeframe, and want to make sure I can so I don't have to go home with the catheter in! I'm going to pack a four pack of lucozade sport in my hospital bag and I've asked my sister to bring in some iced tea with her for me. And I've packed some peppermint tea in my hospital bag as I've heard it helps massively with trapped gas! Just hope my bladder plays ball and wakes up in time 😂

It's not standard for partners to be able to stay overnight in our hospital. But I've heard from others it is possible, so I've really stuck to my guns about it. Told my midwife I'd be discharging myself else 😂 sounds very pre-Madonna of me but I know sometimes in these situations you have to stamp your feet a little to be heard. And I know they see women go through it everyday and cope, but for me it's my first time, first surgery and first hospital stay admission, I'm shitting myself. 😂

Our lady was fantastic for our John Lewis appointment (altho it was pretty overwhelming w all the choice). We chose the Uppababy Vista Pro 2 dah dah dah, it needs to go off road a bit and connected with the great Maxi Cosi pebble pro car seat thing. It was about £450 off with Mille & Ralph in their sale though, so shop around!

@Orelinde
We liked the Uppababy, but she only showed us the V3! I didn't know they had V2. Might have to have a look!The storage basket underneath for uppababy seems to be the biggest.
My friend has it and says it's heavier than others, but like you, we live in a place where we can go into town, but also in the "country" quite a lot too... So we need something a bit robust.

Getting very real now!

The next thing... The world of sterilisers....

@Lunamoon23 You can! Mine really was a nice birth/experience overall even with no sleep in the hospital and there’s so much going on around the section (and the staff are great at taking your mind off things) it was hard to focus on just one thing enough to worry too much in the moment.

I’ve just looked back and we went to get my little ones tounge tie cut on day 4 and to visit friends and on day 6 we went to a little farm and I was out and about as normal after that. I had planned for a bit longer at home but it was also summer, I may feel differently in December! I was also driving from about 4.5/5 weeks post section as my insurers and GP were happy with this.

At home I’d put everything up high before going to the hospital – changing mat, baby supplies etc. and got a load of long chargers and dotted them around the house with snacks and water so I didn’t have to keep asking for things! I mostly needed help with getting from lying to sitting initially.

We also have a dog and this time have arranged for somebody to look after him for a week. Last time we just did two nights, and he got home about an hour after I did and cried and cried when separated from the baby (which I’ve never heard him do before or since) but with a toddler too I think it would be chaos for them all to be introduced at the same time haha. Toddler is staying out two nights with grandparents!

I felt a bit funny about early visitors and worried about establishing feeding before baby was born but that changed almost as soon as he was out and it was lovely to have Mums and siblings around so it’s nice they’ll be available for you 😊

Oh I did the same thing… as soon as I was on the ward and knew everything was good I said I wanted to go home right on 24 hours and kept reiterating it. Eventually I nicely said I would discharge myself as could see other women going home and I was just sat there. They asked me if I would like to stay another night but that was as they were short staffed on the second day rather than because I needed to!

Baby had his checks at around 4 am and the 12 hours after that I wasn’t on their radar. I was fully ready to go home by 9 am the next day! The medication they discharged me with you can buy over the counter so not really worth sitting around for if you're not getting rest.

Do you have a date?

@Molly4689 no, no date yet. My consultant gave me an estimated date of around the 9th of dec. I'll be 39 weeks on the 9th, so works quite well, which is a Monday, I'm hoping it's that week as it gives me plenty of time before Christmas to be feeling more human and it falls really well with DH time off, as he'll get the two weeks paternity, then he gets 8 days off over Christmas new year which would tie in with the end of paternity leave and then he's taking a weeks annual leave when he's due back on Jan 2nd.
So he'll get an uninterrupted month with me and baby. The consultant did say they'd likely get me in then as they like women in and out before Christmas and to avoid coinciding with women who's due date it closer to the Christmas Day period. So 🤞🏼 my official due date was Dec 16th but I'd be 40 weeks by then, but it may even be earlier than the 9th as they discovered I had a low lying placenta at my 20 weeks scan, having that rechecked later in October so will also depend on that he said.

Have you had your date yet?
Yes! I plan on having everything high up. I'm going to put the prep machine in our bedroom too on our chest of draws (if breastfeeding doesn't work out) so that's in the bedroom with us. I've got a travel changing mat for those early days so I can do it on the bed without having to move if I'm struggling and I've brought a caddy thing which will be next to my bed full of nappies,wipes etc etc.
chargers I'm not so worried about, my phones new so battery lasts all day no problem, and snacks and stuff I'll just use and abuse hubby 😂

And yeah i don't mind mum and sister being around, we're very close so nothing in regards to them phases me, i have told others though that I won't be having visitors until we feel ready (grandparents, friends and DH family) although his mum and dad both live abroad and he isn't overly close to his siblings so while they'll want to meet him they won't be jumping at the bit I doubt, and though if they are 😂😂
I'm hoping to be up and about as soon as possible as I want to be able to enjoy the Christmas festivities but I know I'll have to wait and see!
And yes I've heard they just give paracetamol and ibuprofen isn't it? Unless you request something stronger. Although most stronger painkillers make me feel sick so I can't see I'll be asking for them, last thing I'd want is to be throwing up after surgery! I do have tramadol at home from a wrist injury earlier this year, for just incase but will have to check that'd be ok while breastfeeding! X

@Lunamoon23 I have a date for the first week of December when I'll be 39 weeks. Although it's not why I'm having a section it has been helpful for arranging dog and childcare!

DP is taking 3 weeks annual leave plus his two weeks PL so it falls really nicely over Christmas too.

It took about 4 days for DS to latch due to baby having a tounge tie. I'd managed to express and freeze enough colostrum to get us through to us having it snipped. We did combi feed though so we introduced a bottle a couple of days after his tounge tie was cut.

I never got a perfect prep last time but everybody says they're great, thinking about getting a nuby rapid cool this time as looked after my niece recently and it was really handy. I was absolutely starving when feeding in the middle of the night for about the first 4 weeks so make sure you have snacks for then😂