Due February 2025 - Thread 3

[UrbanSquirrel]

Following on from the two existing threads, welcoming all the intrepid ladies due in February, for further excellent support 🤗

@UrbanSquirrel nice to read about you and seeing you started shopping bits. I also have anterior placenta and there're days I barely feel the baby and others she decides to kick me up very roughly. No much pattern yet. I have my 24week appointment next week with midwife so, hopefully the baby's gonna be alright. 🤞

I'm wondering has anyone have an idea where to get those baby boxes with free samples of creams, lotions and so on? As I'm very new in thus and no idea where to get them in the UK.

Ooh good luck @Piluka! Hope it all goes well: it certainly sounds as though she is very happy and lively 😉 Let us know how you get on x

I would also be interested to know about the boxes if anyone has the answer!

Hello all. Sorry if this is a bit of a rant/ramble. Is anyone else suffering with insomnia? I wake up at about 3am every day and that's me for the day. I'm absolutely exhausted. I work in the police so it is a full on job and not the sort of job where you can't be functioning at 100%. On my last shift I walked out in tears through pure exhaustion and frustration at not being able to perform well in the job anymore. I'm self certifying for this week to try and rest and recouperate, but I will have to go back at some point as I'm only 24 weeks, so ideally I need to find a solution to not being able to sleep. Does anyone have any advice for getting some sleep at all that's worked ?? Any advice is gratefully received! x

Is there something waking you up? Like being uncomfortable or painful hips/body? Or just generally waking and not being able to get back to sleep?

I've been using magnesium muscle spray to help with leg cramps etc.. and that seems to be helping with my waking problems.

I'm sure you've tried all the usual such as listening to something when you wake, reading etc.. I find they work sometimes.

I hope you find something as its awful when you have to carry on.

Much the same @Odessa1, although for me it's usually around 4. It's been like this for months for me, although in the last couple weeks it's not been as bad and I have found I'm able to fall back asleep some nights. I'm not sure why. Maybe pure exhaustion 🙃. No advice unfortunately but I can commiserate!

@Odessa1 sorry you are having a hard time. Struggling to sleep well too as I get painful on the side I’m laying on and stomach these past few weeks. Must be trapped wind or sth. It’s a bit different I suppose and I’m on my own schedule too so I’m lucky.

Anyway just wanted to reply because independent of the pregnancy always had a weird relationship with sleep. I would say what helps is

1. Try to avoid scrolling on the phone
2. Try not to get overly stressed about it when you wake keeping in mind that psychology plays a big part. By just laying in bed and resting your body and your mind you already charge somewhat. It’s not sleep but it’s beneficial. And if you manage to relax completely you might manage to fall asleep again as a bonus.
3. If I get obsessive thoughts that make my mind go in circles I put my audiobook on. Helps break the circles and relax. But I keep the phone on flight mode to avoid the temptation of checking other things.

@Odessa1 I know it’s probably not helpful to hear now, but I struggled really badly with insomnia during my first pregnancy during the first and second trimester, but by the time I got to 28ish weeks I was sleeping normally again! I didn’t change anything I was doing, one night I just slept and continued that way until a few days before DD was born!

You totally have my sympathy, it’s absolutely awful, but hopefully there will be light at the end of the tunnel for you

Had another scan today and all is great. No photos though! First weight given as 657g, so 1lb 7oz 🥰 I'm just over 24wks so starting to feel my anxiety lifting a little.

I wrote in last week about feeling less movements one day. My consultant told me (reprimanded me!) to go straight in to maternity assessment unit if I feel any difference in movement. So for anyone wondering should they go get checked, the answer is yes😘

Hi guys, think I have sort of caught up. Haven't been on here in a while as had the worst case of gastroenteritis and ended up on fluids.

Luckily baby is fine, well as far as I know as they never really checked, but the kicks are stronger than ever.

Still can't really eat, but fluids are staying in. Yayyyy.

I've also heard magnesium is good for sleep? Are we allowed it in tablet form does anyone know?

Awww over 1lb 🥰 that's so exciting!

Breast pumps.....what a mind field??

Anyone recommend any?

@herewegoagain123456 I’ve got a medela hand pump and also a medela double electric pump and would highly recommend!

I think it’s the Harmony and Freestyle models I’ve got

Haha I've moved my attention to breast pumps as well and am totally confused. Lots of people have told me not to get one until baby arrives and I know if I'll actually need it or not... but not sure how true that is!

I would definitely say don't rush to get one until baby is here! I'd say that about most things as long as you have the basics everything else is normally available in shops or for quick delivery.

Medala double electric is good. You can also rent them for the short term from Medala - they arrived next day.

I will say, if you’re planning on breastfeeding, get a haaka! I used my manual and electric pumps relatively regularly, but used a haaka every single day to catch the let down from the boob baby wasn’t feeding from, and then DH was able to give her a bottle of expressed milk without me having to go through the effort of pumping. Game changer!

Breast pumps - I had a Pippeta wireless pump last time and it was good. Could just pop it in my bra without being hooked up. Always got a good amount out of it too. I did use mine early days when baby struggled to latch and my boobs were rock hard. It did help to soften them and get his latch sorted. But some people would say don't use a pump early days until supply is settled. Everyone will say different but I think it's good to have one ready just in case you do want to use it in the first few days. Xx

Yea my other 2 wouldn't latch on. A while ago mind.
So I'm thinking if this one doesn't either, least I will be able to pump and give breast milk for the first few weeks via bottle. Worked with my other 2 and they are fit and healthy 😊

Just a mind field 🤣 all I keep seeing is the momcozy ones.

@herewegoagain123456 I had a haakaa and an Elvie wireless pump. Both were gentle (I had terrible issues with pain and cracking etc for the first couple of months as DS had a tongue tie plus forceful letdown) and I plan to use them again. However, it didn’t really matter for us as DS never took a bottle so the milk ended up being thrown or used in his porridge 😐

Morning, hope your all well.

Just a question, I have just had a letter through the post about a growth scan for December. But I'm a little confused as I haven't had a midwife appointment yet since my 20 weeks scan. So don't know why they think I'll need one?

Anyone have any experience? Who can I ring to find out more as my midwife is on holiday till next week

@herewegoagain123456 how far along will you be by the scan date?

28 weeks?

@herewegoagain123456 I'm not sure if this differs in different areas but I just have a general contact number for the community midwife team. My midwife told me if I ever need to speak to someone non-urgently to call that number and if she wasn't there someone else would be able to call me back. You could try that if you've got something similar?

@herewegoagain123456 ah OK, 28 weeks is a usual ultrasound appointment for all pregnant women. You should have a schedule in the front of your notes? Nothing to worry about, totally normal.

Do you have low Papp-A? Previously small baby? If you have the number for your local community midwife team I’d start there, or there is usually a non urgent maternity line for results questions etc.