OCTOBER 2024 BABIES - Thread 4

[CluelessInLondon]

Just getting another thread going as we are about to run out of space on the old one - hope nobody minds me taking the initiative on it!

Previous thread here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/pregnancy/5028774-october-2024-babies-thread-3

@WeightoftheWorld yay fellow mum of 3, how you feeling about it ? Are yours girls or boys x I have 2 girls and found out yesterday this one's a boy

I can't post pictures for some reason on this app! But I've got a definite belly now

I don't know if it's bloating or my organs moving up but it's a pretty permanent bump when I'm standing up that looks smaller when I lay down

I'm 17 + 1

@WeightoftheWorld no advice but several of my NCT group had low PAPP A either for first or second pregnancies and all have healthy babies with no complications. If they were really concerned they would have phoned you about the results and not made you wait for a letter in the post.

Hi ladies.

Fell off the last thread. Hope you're all doing okay. I'm almost 17 weeks now as for the last week I've been feeling bad after a couple of better weeks.

I've had a few instances of almost fainting, feeling light headed, shaking, sweating alot etc. I've not had this so far (has nausea etc.) anyone else experienced this? I've found it quite scary but do tend to feel better quickly. One time has been when I've been driving and I've had to pull over which was horrible. I thought maybe low blood pressure or dehydration?

My bump has also popped which is exciting!

Im on 14+2 but this week i’ve had 2 brief instances of the light headed, dizzy, faint, nauseous moments also. They pass really quickly but i also feel like im going to die for the few minutes they are happening!

I feel like i’ve been pregnant forever already, i cant believe i still have almost 6 months to go! I have started putting a list together of stuff we need but seems too early to start buying things (first baby) - when did you ladies start buying stuff for your first babies/if this is your first, have you started buying things?

Well, I have been having braxton hicks. Last evening, the whole belly was tight as a nut for 30 seconds, then release. Uncomfortable rather than painful.

Last pregnancy, I only started having these > 35 weeks ( and went to 41weeks) so a bit concerning that this is happening at 17 weeks.

I'm not sure whether to give the midwife a ring or just wait until my next midwife appointment 🤔 it is in 3 weeks.

@MF94 I'm 14+3! I know what you mean. I haven't made a list yet but last weekend looked at prams randomly and got very excited lol not bought anything yet really.

@MF94 yes!! It does feel awful doesn't it?! Hopefully it passes soon for both of us!

I'm gonna start buying stuff after 20 weeks scan if everything goes okay. It's my first.

@MF94 for my first baby I waited until I had the 20 week scan & everything looked ok before I bought anything. Haven't bought anything this time yet (17wk) , once I know what we're having I can sort out the clothes but we already have all the big stuff from our first

Thank you @Bee49 for the reassurance.

@mrssunshinexxx What order are your boy and girl in just out of curiousity? We have one of each already, #1 is a girl and #2 a boy. I don't usually have a preference at all but this time I am sorta hoping it is another boy, just because from a practical perspective it will be easier for bedroom sharing and so on because age gap between #1 and #3 will be quite big. Obviously I wouldn't be disappointed with a girl or anything though and we'd find a way to make it work I suppose. I'm just feeling really anxious atm tbh but that's just about the pregnancy/birth/baby's health etc since I've found out about the low papp A. So I can't really think beyond that to life with three yet. How about you?

With DC1 we didn't start buying anything until I was about 28 weeks or so tbh and it would have been later if it had not been for Toys R Us closing down and selling stuff off so we got a fantastic deal on a travel system. That was 6 years ago now and it's still going strong. But anyway it's personal preference when to start buying, we are just always quite relaxed about the shopping and don't rush. We won't need much for this baby though obviously with it being our third.

@RobynC28 I get postural hypotension quite a lot since I got pregnant, it was worse when I was more dehydrated when the sickness was worse though. Make sure when you stand up from sitting to do it super slowly bit by bit and make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids.

@spudnik1 Could you call maternity triage and see what they advise and whether they want to check you over?

I haven't bought anything for baby yet - still feel like I'm very focused on being pregnant and sorting myself out first! We're starting to sort out what will eventually be the baby's room, it's my husband's office at the moment so he's having to clear out so we can paint it. Otherwise I'm just doing lots of research on the stuff we're going to need so that hopefully it's straightforward when we come to buy things, don't think we will actually buy anything until the summer though. I've set myself a target of having all of the essentials by the beginning of September so that we don't get caught out if baby arrives early.

@WeightoftheWorld it must be very stressful have you had a consultation app to discuss further ?
I have 2 girls now, this baby is a boy but I aren't fully convinced tbh I want to wait til 20 week scan to double check.
Would have been cheaper if it was a girl as wouldn't need to buy anything 🙈 but a boy will be very welcome addition to our family I'd be excited to experience having a son . Currently having a double extension built due to be finished mid July I'm going to trial my girls sharing a big double so my husband can have one of the small rooms as his office x

I called triage and they were lovely. Said it can happen in the second trimester with subsequent pregnancies but to take some paracetamol to try and ease the muscles tensing, call back if it ramps up or if there is any loss of fluid.

Feel very relieved

@spudnik1 That's good, glad they were helpful and gave you some reassurance - and I hope you don't have to experience it again for a while!

Hi

How's everyone doing at work?

We've been told we need to go into the office more and I am so exhausted! I sit in meetings thinking why I am I here. I'm so over work - I could happily leave tomorrow and never go back.

@LuxeBiscuit Struggling at work, I must admit! I'm in the office or out and about full time and it's quite intense (NHS community team working with people with psychosis) I left early today because I was so tired, and have been struggling with sickness. I just keep thinking, mat leave is not too far away and then a whole year off! 😁

Hi all
hope everyone’s doing ok?
I’m just over 13 weeks now and I’m feeling very anxious. We have a private scan booked for 16 weeks but I don’t feel I can wait that long.
how did/is everyone coping with no appointments for a long time after the 12 weeks? I keep finding myself drifting into a worry if everything’s ok especially as all my symptoms are lifting.
I really want to enjoy this pregnancy but I’m really struggling!
I’ve been in and out of scans due to various issues but all signed off by the consultant at 12 weeks and now finding the big gap unbearable and I’m only a week in 😅😅

Hi everyone!

I am a complete newbie and I hope it's ok for me to join this thread.

Quick introduction--I am currently 16w1d pregnant with a little IVF miracle, after two years of trying and a miscarriage, with a due date estimated between 11-19 October. I am joining because this journey has felt pretty lonely (and extremely stressful). In short, right after I found out the FET worked, I had to move from France to a developing country in Asia for my work (one with terrible healthcare, unfortunately). My husband, whose job is tied to Paris, came to help me find a flat in February and will visit later in May. Going through most of the first trimester alone, on a new continent, with a new challenging job, in a country with very poor food/hygiene standards and where I have no friends or support has been hard. It's 40 degrees every day, which has exacerbated nausea.

Although my husband is kind and supportive (writing to me everyday to check-in, etc), it's been difficult to see him lead his normal life hanging out with our friends, enjoying great French food, and generally just having a good time whilst I have to face everything alone. At the same time, it was my decision to accept this promotion, because it made sense for my career, and I feel super guilty that I am possibly endangering this much wanted baby by exposing him/her to extreme heat or by eating food with lots of unregulated pesticides/dodgy provenance.

The main piece of advice I keep seeing (apart from "rely on your support network", which I can't do right now) it to talk with other women who are pregnant. I hope that you'll allow me to join you to make what should be an exciting journey feel a little less overwhelming! 🤗

Hope everyone is going ok. I had a scan at 15+2 yesterday of the twins following the large sudden bleed last week. They still don't know where it came from but the twins are ok which is the main thing! I am still wiped from the pregnancy and finding it very hard going with a toddler.

Any guesses on genders from the scan pics?!

@WickWood sorry to hear you're struggling too.

Yes, good point about maternity leave. I feel sleep deprived now so being sleep deprived but not having to be on a laptop all day sounds like a step up.

@Melian welcome!

That sounds tough being away from your husband and in a new environment. Remember that women have happy, healthy babies all over the world everyday. But saying that can you plan to have birth in your home country or France if that's where you originate?

Also, is there an ex-pat community and say supermarket where you are that might have familiar food of a higher hygiene standard?

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my rant! Unfortunately the country where I am based has a very high number of maternal/infant deaths; even local people on low salaries tend to save up to go to Thailand for check-ups and procedures because they don't trust the hospitals.

I'll definitely be going back to France to give birth--it's not my home country (I am a Canadian who lived in the UK for a long time), but it's where my husband is, so it's "home" for now. I'd be curious to know what your clinics are saying about long-haul flights (think 15+ hours) in pregnancy? What's the advice you've been given, if any, of when you should stop flying? It seems like companies vary between 28-36 weeks, which feels like a huge difference...

As for food, I do go to expat supermarkets for tinned food and the like, but the vegetables are invariable local or from China. I'm probably just overthinking it... Nausea is also clearly contributing to making everything unappetizing!

Glad to hear it wasn’t a twin!
I think you’ve got a girl and boy there? But my nub experience is just guesswork!

@Melian oh I see. Will you be flying back to France or Thailand for antenatal care? I think the majority on this thread are UK based so we are in the care of an NHS midwife from around 10 weeks, rather than being at a clinic. I also had IVF and clinics discharge you to the NHS before 12 weeks.

Just looking at my antenatal book I have 7 face-face midwife appointments up to 40 weeks plus a scan at 20 weeks.

Do you have a midwife in France that you can contact if you have questions? If not and if finances allow I'd pay for private antenatal care - even just to be able to email / call with questions. You also need to know if you are high risk (pre-eclampsia, placenta previa, diabetes etc) especially if you'll be taking long flights. You may need a fit to fly cert from your doctor to fly past a certain week.