Due April 2025 ✨

[YellowBloom]

So we’ve been TTC baby #2 for 5 months. Had a positive test in April that sadly ended in a chemical pregnancy. So this is cycle 3 since then and got a very faint positive on an internet cheapie last night at 9dpo. I went out and bout a CB digital today and have got my BFP confirmed today on it 😊
My EDD is 4th April 2025 going from LMP and cycle length.
I’m aware it’s very early days and anything can happen that’s why I’ve decided not to tell anyone I know until after my period is due which is Friday. Just can’t keep it to myself and would love for others to join and talk to who have recently found out they are expecting in April 2025!

You still have your midwife appointments but you'll usually see someone after each scan I think too. Hoping all goes well for you! It's always a worry but good to be looked after more closely 😊

@Dojo13 my growth scans are every 3 weeks but they're because I'm 40, baby has been 35th centile for last 2 scans so no concerns but still every 3 weeks, I see a Dr in the consultant clinic after the scan. I still have had midwife apts but less often but this could also be because this is my 2nd. At the moment he's breech so at my next scan 35 weeks if he's still breech then there will be a discussion about trying to turn him, ir if that doesn't work possibly going down the c section route.

@Lcw29 @MaybeItsJustTimeToStop scan seemed to go absolutely fine. He is apparently on 73rd percentile and and 4.7lbs. I don’t really think anyone knows for sure until they are here though. He was 18th percentile on Saturday at the private scan 🤷🏻‍♀️

Because they had no concerns I don’t think I’ll need to go back for another but if the consultant decides otherwise it’ll be in 3 weeks.

I also got a 1 on my carbon monoxide level so it’s gone down again and we are still none the wiser what it is!

Can anyone talk to me about discharge please? What is normal? Because what I have been losing doesn't seem normal to me at all at this stage 36+1 today.. I'll happily post photo but if people have any experience with discharge at this stage would be helpful:)

@michelle292429 can’t say I’ve got experience in what’s normal but I’ve had increased discharge for most of my pregnancy and definitely noticed that it’s ramped up recently (I’m 35+3). Are you worried by quantity/colour/smell?

Anyone hoping to exclusively breastfeed? If all goes well that’s my intention but I’m still planning to get a couple of bottles regardless - what would people recommend for a good latch? I’ve heard positives about the glass Phillips Advent bottles

I EBF my first but had inverted nipples so had a long journey to get there and had to bottle feed the baby in hospital to be allowed to get discharged.

We used the ready made formula with teats in hospital then ready made formula in mam bottles at home until I managed to coax my nipples out enough for a good latch.

We had tried Tommy Tippee bottles and our baby didn't like them.

How long did it take for your baby to latch?

Did you have to use nipple shields? Also did you pump and just keep trying to bf between/before the formula bottles?

I have pretty much flat nipples. If I’m cold the slightest bump but otherwise they look flat/non existent. I tried to bf DS but we were also at a disadvantage because he was born at 35 weeks, low blood sugar, sleepy all the time and tube fed for the first 7-8 days. I tried bf but he was clueless and I was clueless. I pumped for 6 weeks while attempting to bf each time before offering a bottle but we got no where and eventually I was at a low point and we just switched to formula.

My hope is for a full term baby this time (currently 33+5) and that the baby will know what to do, however after last time I’m under no illusions that it will work like that. I’m trying to prepare as much as possible because I would like it to work but equally ok if it doesn’t work out. I have a healthy happy toddler.

I couldn't breastfeed with my last two but really hoping I can this time. Mine didn't like tommy tipee either. We used mam and found them really good. Everyone is different tho. Sometimes it's trial and error.

Hi sorry it's taken a while to respond, we had a birthday then a sickness bug in this house! 🫠

I think all in all it took a couple of months. I was pumping very regularly to build up my milk supply and try to encourage my nips to come out. I was latching the baby after pumping for a bit to make the most of the nipple coming out but I also had to use nipple shields when he was very little. He got better the bigger and stronger he got.

I actually kept a spreadsheet of all feeds and nappies in the beginning 🤣 you can see how the bottle feeds (red) tapered off as breastfeeding took hold (blue).

@TheBeesKnee thankyou, it’s interesting to know, but also how your baby adjusted too.

Oh I got my results back that I have gestational diabetes…. And I’m still clueless about it all, I have an appointment with the diabetic clinic next Thursday. I now think that I had GD in my last pregnancy, and possibly it started preeclampsia because I was so thirsty at night, drinking lots and weeing lots. Just the same as this time, it started about 1.5 weeks ago. I’m on asprin this time and my bp is staying low for now.

My only concern is that last time, apart from a few high bp readings it was my blood tests for liver and kidney that showed me getting worse weeks before I really went downhill. This time they didn’t test my liver/kidney because they only test those if there’s a reason like preeclampsia. I was under the impression that it was part of the 34 weeks blood test but apparently not.

I've got to be tested for gestational diabetes too. My growth scan was showing she was on 7th centile but because she jumped to the 24th in 2 weeks I now need to be tested. I've got it tomorrow. But nervous as I had one in last pregnancy and threw up the stuff! It's possible I do have it though as I'm so thirsty, especially at night and my mouth is constantly dry. My section is due in just over 4 weeks so not sure if it would change with GD or not?

@Lcw29 hopefully you don’t have it and it’s just one of those variations that can happen with growth scans.

I have never had that test before, for me it was like a strawberry flavoured water that’s very sweet. Possibly like oasis but more sweet. I hope you are not sick from it this time.

My csection is booked for 39 weeks in just over 4 weeks time too. I think it would stay at that unless there were complications from it- uncontrolled blood sugar, preeclampsia, issues with the baby? Although each trust have their own rules I guess. I have been in twice for reduced movements so far (30weeks and 34weeks) but once I’m there I feel movements and the baby passes the test so I just leave. No idea if this impacts mine, hopefully not.

Possibly TMI but lost my mucus plug last night at 36+5. No bleeding (at any point in this pregnancy) nor any other signs of labour. Advice online says to let your midwife know if it occurs before 37 weeks so I’ve left a message and will hopefully hear back tomorrow.

How did you get on @hopeful4us?

@MaybeItsJustTimeToStop midwives were really relaxed and said it’s all a positive sign! Not helping my delusional belief that this little one will be early haha

Hello April mamas!

due in 3 weeks planned c section 🙈

for those of you planning on formula feeding what milk are you using? 👶

No gestational diabetes thankfully 😊 but had reduced movement today. Been checked and all ok but getting tightenings now. Been really uncomfortable today. Hoping they'll pass as only 35 weeks

@Lcw29 thats good regarding GD. I went in for reduced movements yesterday, the ctg appeared to be fine though. I have a scan tomorrow due to the reduced movements. I was due to have one on Tuesday anyway for the 36 week check so it’s just now 4 days earlier.

@Mummy2925 im going to try bf, but if it doesn’t work we will move to formula before too long. I have never successfully managed to bf and i have pretty much flat nipples so a challenge already. I will pump for a short duration but last time I lasted 6 weeks and that was with unlimited time and only a baby, this time I will have a toddler to entertain and look after as well. Last time we used mamia for 0-6m and that seamed the best in terms of not causing constipation. So we would likely turn to that again as a first attempt. Although we also used cow&gate for readymade when out and about and DS was ok with that too.

Regarding formula milk- the good news is that as they are regulated, any that you choose should be able to do the job. They've all got to meet the same nutritional and safety standards. With first son we used SMA pro and found it fine. Did use a hungry baby one once but it made him constipated so stopped using that one. The advice says you don't have to use one single brand either.

The NHS advice is to not introduce solids until 6 months however by 5 months my son was getting through a crazy 8-10 milks a day so this time around I will trust instincts more and wean earlier if need be.

Personally going to try and give breastfeeding another go but feeling a bit nervous- last time was a bit of a disaster tbh. Late milk supply, low milk supply, flat nipples not helping with latch and a child who went from 0-60 in about 10 seconds! (Ahhh!) Shields and bottles on standby!

My c section has been moved up to 38 weeks so in 2 weeks time as her growth has dropped again. They think it could be the placenta isn't working efficiently so been told to have a low threshold for going in with any concerns. I ended up in last night as they were concerned about pre term labor. I was in so much pain. But cervix stayed closed and tightening wore off again. I'm exhausted now but hoping for a slow weekend! Her heads very low and possibly engaged so explains why I'm so uncomfortable now.

Ah how are you feeling about it? Have they mentioned any checkups before then or only if you feel the need to go in?

I was relieved to get home. I'm concerned about the growth and partly want her out to know she's ok. But they said that the nearer to even 37 weeks will be safer for her especially if she's small. I don't have another scan as it would be around the time of the section anyway. So it's more that if she slows down to get checked straight away. Doesn't help on a side note that our patio flooded with sewer water a few days ago and thames water still haven't fixed it. Obviously I'm staying away but it's stressful. Hoping they come today

How are you doing @Dojo13 ?

Wishing everyone the best in the coming weeks as babies start to arrive 💕I’m due early April but c section scheduled for tomorrow (on Mother’s Day 😬) but my eldest has just started with a vomiting bug so DH might need to stay with her while I go in alone - has anyone had to give birth alone before?