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

@GammaTheGecko

Is this your first child?

With my first I felt nervous because I didn't know what to expect, but I was so overdue (almost 2 weeks) I didn't care near the end I just wanted it to happen partly because I was so stressed out by the pressure to induce and partly because family/friends kept messaging/calling asking if we'd had the baby yet 🫠

This is my second, truth be told I'm more nervous about being late again or someone trying to push me into having an induction or something I don't want, than I am of the birth. I feel like deep down the birth will be fine and I will do it, it's everything leading up to it that fills me with anxiety.

I think you start thinking about making a plan about how you'd like to birth like @Lunamoon23 has done. Having an idea of what you would like and considering all choices will help you feel more in control, I really recommend doing an online course, Positive Birth Company or Birth Ed are both good. The last thing you want is to be give a choice during labour and not be able to make an informed decision, because it can make some women feel really out of control. Also learning the best ways to optimise your comfort during the birth can be invaluable.

I have to really praise my hospital to this date. I was dubious because I've had family members have care within this hospital and it hasn't always been the best.
But the maternity side of things has been absolutely spot on! Really reassuring, hope it continues through to the end.

I'm also due in January but finding that group so quiet as well, so going to follow this one too. I also suspect my baby may arrive early due to various risk factors so she may be a December baby after all!

@GammaTheGecko same with my sofa, think it’s too low down. I don’t sleep well with getting up to pee and leg cramps but definitely the pregnancy pillow helps.

Yes I am getting more scared now too. Think because it’s my second baby so I know from experience what can go wrong. Just hope things go better this time around!

@GammaTheGecko have you done any hypnobirthing? I did the Positive Birth Company with my first and found that really helpful in reframing feeling anxious. I did the online course last time and reading the book this time and it does help massively just knowing the science of it all. The relaxation music/affirmations also help me feel better about it all.

I’m currently trying to fend of a consultant pushing me to be induced or have a c-section (they keep suggesting Christmas Eve or NYE, absolutely not!) as I have gestational diabetes, so that’s causing me anxiety but feeling confident to push back by using the BRAIN framework also helps.

Ladies can anyone suggest a cough medicine that is safe to take during pregnancy? I went to a pharmacy and they said they wouldn't advise because I was pregnant??? Baffled me. And getting into see a GP is impossible. But this cough is keeping me awake all night. I need sleep 🥲 xxx

I don't think there is anything sadly @Lunamoon23 😔 a spoonful of honey might help?

Sorry to hear you're still feeling miserable after your flu jab, I'm just getting over it as well!!!

@Lunamoon23 if you find one let me know! I couldn't find one pregnant or breastfeeding, it's miserable. I've been drinking squeezed lemon juice with hot water and honey, which is delicious btw. Soothes my sore throat, I have a horrible cough at the moment, it makes my hips hurt when I cough.

Does anyone have a sore belly button? I'm worried mine is going to pop out. It didn't with my last pregnancy but I'm bigger this time

@RedRobyn2021 my belly button hurt, but it’s close to popping out! I didn’t have this with my first but he was back to back my whole pregnancy, which apparently stops it from popping. I think this baby is the other way as the movements feel completely different, so would make sense.

@Firsttimetrier I'm not alone then. I keep worrying that I'm going to get a hernia belly button 🙈

I saw another mum yesterday, who I've not seen for about 4 weeks and she said how much bigger I looked and said "were you this big last time?"

I honestly think everyone thinks I'm huge and I feel huge, cannot believe I'm only 33 weeks tomorrow. I could still be pregnant for another 7-9 weeks!! How could I get any bigger though. I was doing a Halloween trail with my daughter earlier and I honestly felt like my belly was just going to pop off my body

@HelterSkelter224 @RedRobyn2021 I've googled the life out of it and sadly I don't think there is anything! Seems so strange that in this day and age they haven't come up with something safe for pregnant women to take! And annoyingly, I hate honey 😂 it's odd because during the day, I barely cough. Come bedtime, I cannot stop. I was coughing so much last night I actually embarassingly pee'd my pants 😂😂😂 made sure I've been doing my pelvic floor exercises all day in work today while stood around 😂

@RedRobyn2021 in regard to bellybutton pain, yes! I've had this for the last week. And my belly button changes from and inny to and outy day to day! Think it all depends on how he's lying! But it's more out than in. I'm not worried though as Google said it goes back again once baby is born! X

@Lunamoon23 my pharmacist recommended glycerol infant cough syrup and certain lozenges both suitable in pregnancy and they did help a little!

Thanks @Lunamoon23 @RedRobyn2021 @MaybeBaby2024 @Firsttimetrier for the replies re feeling scared! Sorry for slow response it's been a long day at work!

Thanks for the advice @RedRobyn2021 , I'll check out one of both of those courses this weekend :)

@Firsttimetrier I have actually looked at hypnobirthing a bit, I got the Siobhan Miller book a couple of months ago and have read over half of it and found understanding the science (e.g. how the muscles are moving during a contraction and why it causes intense feelings) really really helpful and interesting. I need to start getting into a routine with practicing the relaxation now though, just got the find the time! Stay strong with fending off your consultant if you've done your research and know what's best for you, all the best with it 🤞✨🌷

And yes I forgot to say this is my first! I'm not as scared of the pain as I thought I would be at the moment, but more scared of the unknown element of not knowing what those hours of labour will look like, just makes me nervous!

Anyone desperately trying to potty train their toddler before newborn arrives? 🤦‍♀️ really regretting putting it off all those times I tried to start

@HelterSkelter224 we've just done it over half term! Tried a few days where he had nappies at certain times but that didn't seem to work so we just took them off completely in the day and got a portable potty! Chocolate buttons for each wee on the potty seem to have been the biggest help😂Still struggling to remove the dummy though and feeling like we never will! Good luck!

I'm sorry they're doing that, I am a pretty strong willed person but I still find it so difficult when they push like this, especially later in the pregnancy

Have you read anything by Dr Sara Wickham about GD?

She's amazing, I read everything she writes. I can be a bit analytical about some things and I find going through the facts and statistics very reassurin

Have you looked at spinning babies website? There's exercises you can do to get baby into a good position so that the labour is faster

With my daughter I did a lot of walking with my dog across uneven fields, crab walking down the stairs, curb walking - it's that up down motion that helps baby get into place

One thing I was cautioned about was when I went on maternity leave was to make sure that I didn't do less. Lots of women apparently do a lot more sitting on the sofa, but you need to be moving your body

No, but I recommend Sarah Ockwell Smith's book Gentle Potty Training

It's a minefield when it comes to potty training but I think the best advice Sarah gives is to be very clear about the fact nappies are out and potty is in, not putting babe back into nappies all the time but giving them a real chance to get used to the potty. Also the bits about emotional preparation, I don't think I did that enough the first time we tried

One issue I have with my daughter (who is 3.5) is even though she's been potty trained 1.5 years she still poops in the potty and won't do it in the toilet and I don't know how to convince her to just do it in the loo. She'll do all her wees in the toilet, I've been trying bribery but it's absolutely not working

We did earlier this month as nursery and HV advised us to do it 3 months before any big changes (sibling incoming) or wait until 3 months after it.

For us, it went surprisingly okay and he’s dry night and day, with one or two accidents every few weeks. We loosely followed the Oh Crap method, as did his nursery, so would recommend that. I do think it’s a bit of luck of the drawer.

Oh, I’ve not read anything from her but will google now! I feel like I need more facts to back up my point and going to speak to a consultant midwife as the normal consultant doesn’t seem to look at each pregnancy individually. Thanks for the recco!

Has anyone heard of the Aniball? I'd do perineal massage but it unfortunately isn't for me so this seems like a good alternative. Just wondering if it's legitimately good or a waste of time/scam product!

@GammaTheGecko the midwives in my hospital in ROI says that they're not a good alternative to perineal massage, though I have no personal experience.

I've started perineal massage, which is difficult, and very uncomfortable!

@CatCaretaker @GammaTheGecko

Are you getting your partners to do the perineal massage? It's virtually impossible to reach yourself in my experience

Well I never could anyway and I know I'm not the only one

@RedRobyn2021 no, I'm doing it myself. I've heard before that people struggle to do it themselves. All this makes me think I'm not doing it right, but it's certainly uncomfortable in the way I'd expect - it hurts / stings as the guide I'm following describes.

Is anyone else able to do it to themselves? I have asked my partner and he said he would if it comes to it.