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

We’ve gone for Nuna! I was so overwhelmed after our John Lewis appointment so booked one at mamas and papas who were super super helpful and narrowed down our choice 😅

@Molly4689 yeah I definitely helps to have a date in the calendar! And can imagine even more so when you have little ones at home already! My sister is staying at ours while we are in hospital with our dogs, but they'll be home when we arrive home. It's going to be quite the transition for them I'm sure! I'm just going to be mindful to give them plenty of attention, so they don't feel pushed aside. But also will have to be careful of them crawling all over me as they do like to lie all over me 😂 they're all lap dogs!

I'm hoping I'll be given my date soon 🤞🏼 but my midwife did say at my last appointment that it's often not done until 2-1 week before the section itself. But I'm hopeful if I see the consultant before then again I can try and lock in a date.

Sounds like a lovely set of time for your partner to be off - I'm sure it'll fly by though. I always think it's such a shame dads don't get very long at all. Without using their own annual leave entitlements which then leaves the predicament of not having much time throughout the year. Sadly my DH had to have knee surgery earlier this year, so he had to use a big chunk of his annual leave then, so had none left from this year.

I really considered combi feeding. How did you find it?? I've read such mixed reviews on it, that it affects milk supply etc etc. But the thought of having to constantly be awake for feeds or pumping and if I want DH to be able to feed sounds like such a lot! How long did you breastfeed for?
All my friends who've had kids told me it was a must have item 😂😂 so I made sure it was one of the first things I brought! I did look at the nuby rapid cool, but thought would I need it if exclusively breastfeeding! X

It is a shame they don't get longer! DP sometimes has to be out for really long days but can work from home too so we're quite lucky he has that flexibility. Such a shame your DH had to use his leave for recovery!

I breastfed until 11 months and gradually increased bottles and decreased breastfeeding over time. Combi feeding was great for me. I went against the recommendations to wait 6 weeks as whilst I was happy to breast feed I really didn't want to be responsible for every feed, so it was always going to be combi feeding or bottle feeding. I'm planning to do the same this time as I don't want to have to say no to doing something with DS because I have to be the one feeding baby.

We introduced a mam dummy from day one (same sort of teat as the bottles we bought) and I have an Elvie pump so could pump hands free on the go, pour it in to the bottle and give it to DP. Somebody lent me a wired pump initially and it was really time consuming and needed both hands.

We also introduced formula at about a week or so old and were very lucky he took everything with no problems. We did at least one bottle a day. I do think it would have been a different story had we waited until 6 weeks before introducing it. I only tended to breastfeed at night but DP would often do an evening bottle and I would sleep for a longer period then or in the morning. I could sleep 4 - 5 hours without needing to pump/feed.

I had a problem with over supply though, had to express a bit in to a towel first before feeding or it was too much milk for DS. I know friends who had the opposite problem and couldn't express enough or needed hospital grade pumps so it's possible I just got lucky!

I was told the same but DP was instant he could just boil a kettle and as the plan was for him to do the bottles I let him win that one😂

Had my 28 week appointment today and after spending ages worrying about how big I am, my fundal measurement sits at the 50th centile so I was worried about nothing it would seem

Second time mums, I was surprised my next appointment wasn't until 34 weeks, is that normal? I don't know why but I thought it would be sooner like maybe 32

Wondering if it's different second time round perhaps

Not that I'm complaining to be honest, I really don't like the appointments 😂

@RedRobyn2021 Yes I think that's normal for second babies, my next midwife app is 34 weeks and then a home visit at 36 weeks. I do have other maternity apps in between but they're not standard ones or with the midwife.

I also worried as felt massive and also on 50th centile!! I don't remember feeling this big last time (also 50th centile throughout with my first)!

Well you're not alone!

I was genuinely worried about it. My midwife just said second time round you will show more

I also think you forget, my mum has been telling me she thinks I look the same as when I was pregnant first time so maybe she's right

It was Covid last time so I barely saw anyone (I worked from home) so i feel like ive received more comments this time

Can any ladies advise what lightening crotch feels like?? X

Stabbing in your vagina, makes you jump

@RedRobyn2021 everybody said the same to me too so I was avoiding buying any newborn/0 -1 baby grows but have just been measured again and this baby has now gone under the 50th centile so maybe I should! I certainly feel bigger though!

I've just had my blood results back to say I'm 102 and they're looking for 105 and they want me to take iron tablets

I feel really upset because I don't particularly want to take the tablets but I've obviously not been eating enough iron

Is anyone else had this?

Im probably being irrational just feeling emotional today

I've also been having pressure in my pelvis for ages and I mentioned it to my mum and she thought I should have mentioned it to the midwife because it seemed early to have this, I just assumed it was normal

Anyone else has this?

I'm 28 weeks for context

@RedRobyn2021
Ahhhh, I'm sorry you're having a stressful day. Hug for you.

I haven't had lightening crotch myself but I have heard of it... I think it's very normal. Baby center says:
"Lightning crotch is a name for the sharp, jolting or stinging pelvic pain that you may start to feel occasionally in your third trimester."

Re your pelvic pressure, don't have pressure per se, but I can feel her bouncing around on my bladder (which is delightful... Not!!!)

If you're getting yourself stress, give the maternity unit a call, I'm more than sure they will put your mind at ease ❤️

Mine was the same, but I actually feel so much better since starting my tablets. I was in bed by 8:30 every night and just feeling exhausted. Now I've got more energy.

I've had the pressure feeling too but at my growth scan he was head down which explains it x

@LeeMarie

Was yours 102 as well? I don't know whether this is substantially lower or not too bad. Did you get any constipation with the iron tablets?

Mine was 103. It had been normal at 130-140 before this, so was a drop from the normal.

I've not had a problem with constipation since starting them, there is a change in colour and smell though, but from how much better I'm feeling I'm happy to stay on them if needed x

Yes @RedRobyn2021 I have low folate and low iron. They told me they were looking for 110 and I was under that but she couldn't remember how much under and the system went down so I'm not sure how anemic I am.

Folate tablets for a while and improvements with those and have just started iron so hoping this helps with headaches and breathlessness! I was lucky to avoid this last time (and my diet was far worse then) and think it's quiet common even if your diet is ok.

@Molly4689 yes I didn't have it last time either, I honestly didn't think there would be a problem this time either

Apparently I was wrong 😑

Did you just get tablets from your GP or did you buy your own?

I've been having this. That's why I asked what lightening crotch felt like, and what's been described isn't what I'm having.
I feel a heaviness and sometimes almost like a scraping sensation in my lower pelvis almost into my vagina.

I also get quiet abit of discomfort in my lower tummy, I have it got a day or two and then it'll subside, but will come back again, I put it down to maybe how baby boy has positioned himself. Including the lower pelvic sensation.

But if it is something you're concerned about do contact your midwife. I'm sure they'll be happy to put your mind at ease.

I had my results back and I got 113, I was told anything above 110 is fine. I think it changes from trimester to trimester though from googling it. I have been taking pregnecare throughout my whole pregnancy though so hoping that'll see me through with the needed vitamins etc.
it does seem though we're all being told different numbers of what's ok and what isn't though so that's confusing 😂

@Lunamoon23

Yes I think you're right, it's the position of the baby. I sometimes think I need a wee desperately and then when I go a trickle comes out and I think it's the baby sitting on my bladder.

Tbh I do feel quite tired a lot of the time, but I just thought I was pregnant and had a 3yo 😂

@Molly4689 @LeeMarie

Just wondering how soon you noticed a difference with energy levels after taking the tablets?

It would be nice to have more energy to be honest

@RedRobyn2021 I've only just started taking the iron but with folate about 3 - 4 weeks!

I've also noticed I've started getting Braxton hicks. (I'm 29wks+2). My bump with get really tight and crampy. Scares me sometimes being my first pregnancy, make me panic I'm going into early labour. Can feel really quite uncomfortable! X

Hello, wondered if it’s possible to join here. I’m technically due 4th Jan but expecting a Christmas baby, especially as my first was 2 weeks early!