Dec-Christmas Babys 2024

[UnicornPrincessSarah]

Made this extra group for us ladies who are due in Dec

Little about me I'm 34 nearly 35 DH 39 nearly 4

TTC for 3 months, My rainbow baby after a loss at 18 at 6/7 weeks

I'm from a town called Dagenham in the UK

Can chat about anything you like or if you feel you need to vent lol

Sorry - forgot to add, super excited but also super anxious of what's to come and already having moments on panic thinking about birth haha!! I have a server needle phobia and hate hate hate medical stuff (surgery and alike) so dreading it but time to put my big girl pants on!
And we've got a couple of names, we haven't set on anything yet though.. I like quite unusual unconventional names!

@Lunamoon23 I’m 5 weeks and 4 days, we did the deed maybe twice the entire month but didn’t take any notice of my fertile window…the most amazing surprise!

I’ve had some mild cramping today so might book an early scan for reassurance. Boobs are very sore today so guess that’s a good sign?

@Synergy94 I've experienced quite a lot of on and off cramping. Which feel very similar to period like pains, I googled it and was reassured to hear that's completely normal in the first trimester and it's your uterus expanding ready for your developing pregnancy. Apparently as long as it isn't prolonged and intense and accompanied by a lot of bleeding it's generally nothing to worry about. Although I completely understand how unnerving it can be. ❤️
My first midwife appointment in 16/05, but that's just for full medical history, weight, height and bloods, my first scan won't be until 12 weeks unless something happens in the interim. Xxxxx

@RedRobyn2021 I'm afraid I don't have any advice on that! I had HG so I needed medication to stop being sick with my first. I suspect this might start next week but I'm going preventively start taking medication now as I read on Pregnancy Sickness Support taking it before the sickness starts can lessen the impact. I accept I might feel sick or be sick, but I just don't want to be sick to the point of having to go into hospital because I can't drink anything!

@RedRobyn2021 I also had HG with my two previous pregnancies and had to be in hospital for both, I usually started being sick from 5 weeks so I am just waiting on it... my doctor won't give me anything beforehand though (they say I might not be sick again) but I'm worried. As you say, if it was sickness for a bit in the day and you could cope it wouldn't be so bad, but I don't want it to be the point of having to be admitted before getting help. Maybe I should try a different doctor? It's awful though and so many people I knew just said I was being "dramatic" until I was in hospital of course! Fingers crossed it doesn't hit quite so badly this time for us! :)

@Lunamoon23 I think the only needles I had were to take blood a couple of times (other than when I was in hospital for fluids) and my advice on that score is to look away and not look at the needle. The people that take bloods are usually amazing and so gentle because they do it so much.

I would definitely start reading up on birth, I didn't realise what I was walking in to first time round but the midwifery system is a sea of micromanaging birth and statistically more women now have inductions or c-sections than start labour naturally. There are a lot of choices to be made throughout your pregnancy and the best way to go into motherhood feeling confident is to make informed choices, don't just go along with whatever the doctors/midwives say, decide for yourself.

I think I'm going to do the Birth-ed online course this time round as I've heard it's really good, the lady that does it also has a podcast

@littlepanda88 oh my god, what the hell is wrong with your doctor!?

Yes you should most definitely speak to another doctor

Have you visited the pregnancy sickness support website? There's info on there about how to approach doctors about this

I'm honestly shocked you've been treated like this after not 1 but 2 HG pregnancies. Don't let them do this to you. Like I said taking medication before it starts is meant to really help x

@littlepanda88

pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/get-help/treatments/#:~:text=Please%20do%20contact%20out%20support,prescribing%20due%20to%20inaccurate%20information.

@RedRobyn2021 I'm even screamish with bloods, but I do manage it. I usually just have to lie down (just incase) and yes, look away! Haha,

I have been reading up quiet abit whilst trying, and I think I've decided for me, a elective c section is the route I want to go down, although it seems contradictory with saying what I've previously said, I feel that because I will know exactly what will be happening, and it'll be planned, and because I'll feel a little more in control about it, it'll really help settle my mind and nerves. The epidural terrifies me but Ive read a lot that many don't feel a thing because it's numbed beforehand. I think for me, the thought of so many possible interventions taking place with a vaginal birth or complications and possibly ending in a C-section anyway .. it's just not an option for me. I see previously you had a home birth, how was that? Xxxxx

@RedRobyn2021 I know, it's different doctor than I had back then and he was adamant that he not prescribe to "prevent" as it would be silly to anticipate it?! I think I'll try another doctor as I have been reading about it and it does say that anti emetic medicines work best to prevent, like for example travel sickness.

I agree it is awful and tbh I'm not really sure what to do - I've even thought of just lying and saying to another doctor that I already feel sick etc even if I don't, is that bad?! Thank you, I'll have a look at that - there really isn't enough support regarding it!

Hi all tentatively joining I am 4weeks 1 day and due on boxing day. Line progression hasn't been as dark as I would have liked but I am testing every day so I don't think that has helped. Got my bloods taken today to put my mind at ease they will be back Monday. Scan booked for 3rd May and no symptoms apart from sore boobs and tiredness....hoping for a sticky baby! Congratulations to everyone

@Lunamoon23 I had an elective c section and it was wonderful, I didn't feel the epidural. Recovery was great. Equally I have friends who had home births with their first and also said they were the best thing they ever did. If you think an elective section is right for you then trust your gut. I'll be having one again this time.

@Lunamoon23 yeah I can understand why you would choose that, I find it all really daunting and scary myself, particularly I felt very anxious first time round. I'm not scared of the birth part that much it's everyone else, I was 12 days past my due date with my daughter and I went for an extra scan and to check the placenta, even though they said everything was ok they really went in hard on me and it ruined the end of my pregnancy. I was so stressed and upset.

I went private for the Homebirth, I'm really not wealthy at all, but I paid a private midwife to take over my care from around 30 weeks and support me with my Homebirth and that's how I managed it. It cost me £4K but I didn't trust the NHS to turn up, they said it would be fine but I looked at the statistics they released in my area and it was like 1 Homebirth in the last month and I just thought.. it is not that unusual to want to give birth at home. Since having my daughter loads of mums have told me they wanted a Homebirth but weren't supported to have one.

I'm going to pay to go private again this time, it really sucks though because it's so much money and I'm not working now but I need the peace of mind that I'll be supported

Super early but also thinking about birth...I had a bit of a difficult experience last time (not dangerous in any way, just long/painful and ending in an emcs) so I'm unsure whether to try VBAC or elective section. I'll talk to my midwife when I get a little bit longer, and I guess maybe a doctor. It's tricky as I'm probably a good candidate for a VBAC and it'd be nice to try, but I'm worried if I'll get too nervous going in that I'm going to end up emcs again. To be honest though, the c section part was actually fine (best bit 😅). I'm not used to medical stuff but you kind of take it as it comes and you have good midwives to help!

@Lunamoon23 sorry I didn't even say how the home birth was 🤦🏻‍♀️

It was really good. I got a pool so when I was struggling with the contractions I got in and then within an hour I gave birth.

For me at that point it was just a relief to get her out finally, I had had enough

@littlepanda88 I think you should do anything you can to get it, even if that means lying. But you shouldn't have to. It makes me so angry on your behalf that they've done this to you.

That pregnancy sickness website says you can email them for advice too

Congratulations @Livingonhope ♥️

Thank you so much 💓 Same to you xx

@RedRobyn2021 thanks so much for the link! I will try another doctor and see, I think I will just say I am worse than I am, it's not 100% certain you'll get HG again but I think something like 75% likely? That's pretty likely in my eyes! It is frustrating but I do feel like many people feel we exaggerate the sickness :-(

I have never thought about a homebirth before - but it sounds great! Definitely going to try and make sure things go my way this time. As much as possible! :)

@Molly4689 oh, that's amazing. Thank you for sharing that, it's really reassuring. Would you mind explaining in a little more detail the process? Also, I'm guessing that was the way you decided to give birth given elective, were the midwives supportive of that decision. I know there used to be a stigma around c-sections and there used to be alot of push back on women who wanted them, I know it's comes along way since then, but always helpful to hear others experience.

@RedRobyn2021 oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, why were they giving you such a hard time?? Have you considered asking for a water birth in a hospital setting? Maybe at a different hospital to where you had the experience previously, just thinking to save you thousands of pounds? It's such a shame that during these momentous and although so joyful, also absolutely terrifying moments in our lives you can feel so let down. I've been around the NHS a lot due to my disabled father, some are worth their weight in gold and some absolutely just shouldn't be there!

Congratulations @Livingonhope.

Can I ask what tests your testing with daily? With some test strips it took until I was 17-18DPO to get a really dark result, however I got a positive on a clear blue digital by 11DPO. Try not to panic xxx

Thank you for the reply :) so I have used the easy at home each day it looks darker but then when they all dry they look the same to me. Also been using first response every few days and progression was going well until today I got a lighter result but to be fair it was my second pee of the day ( sorry to be rude!) I think my worry is as well I'm four weeks one day and clear blue is still showing as 1-2 weeks so therefore im thinking my hcg is quite low! I know I probably sound bonkers but it's been a long 4 years of no so I'm just constantly worried of it going wrong! my pictures for reference and THANK you for your kindness x

@Lunamoon23

Most hospital policies say if you haven't had your baby by 40+10 they want you to have an induction, in fact I think quite a few have actually reduced that now to 40+7

They often don't offer though, they try to tell you. It's pretty disgusting to be honest.

The outcomes for birthing at home are statistically a lot better than birthing in a hospital, just by going to the hospital you increase your chances of intervention. I would rather spend thousands than put myself in that situation. For me, I don't want luck of the draw on midwives, I could end up with a fab one but who knows if the next one on shift is a nasty piece of work.

Do you know I haven't actually met another mum at any of the toddler groups or playgroups I've been too who has had their baby without some kind of intervention? We are very social but I haven't manage to find 1.. don't you think that's strange?

@Livingonhope ah. I also used the easy @home strips to begin with, they take a LONG time to progress, and also, the clear blue is 1-2 weeks from predicted ovulation, not the old fashioned way of dating your timeline which is the first day of your last period (which a midwife and most apps will do), I've attached a picture for you which will hopefully offer you a little more clarity and settle your mind a little ❤️ xxxx

You Angel thank you! I know there is nothing I can do at this stage just have to stay strong for two weeks ❤️