Due February 2025 - Thread 4

[UrbanSquirrel]

Just creating this so that we have somewhere to continue when Thread 3 fills up. If you're due to have a baby in February 2025 (or late January or early March, as we have a wide spread!), come join us for support, advice and (at present) some really useful Black Friday recommendations! Big welcoming hugs to all the usual suspects coming over from Thread 3 🤗

@OrangeSlices998 you are being monitored and under the best care and we are here for you as well. Everything will go well and you’ll have your little one soon in your arms. Just spoke to a friend that gave birth at 35 weeks a year and a half ago and her baby is perfect and they are both glowing with huge smiles in the photo she sent me 🥰 keep updating us on how you are doing. Big hugs

@OrangeSlices998 sending you vibes for a week ahead that isn't too full of worry! Just to echo what others have said, this afternoon I met my friend's 2 year old, out for a walk with his Dad in this freezing weather, and he is as sturdy and strong for his age as you could imagine - and was almost surprised to learn he was born a month early.
Probably totally irrelevant as from 1991, but my Mum avoided extra stays in hospital towards the end of her pregnancy by buying a blood pressure machine and monitoring her own BP twice a day. In any case, even if just for peace of mind, you probably know this but a simple Omron machine is very easily bought if you can afford what is approx £30 I think. X

Feeling a bit paranoid that my bump is shrinking at almost 36 weeks...maybe I've just grown used to it? Or maybe the baby has dropped? I've not had a scan since 20w and it's so hard to picture what's going on inside - where on earth is the baby's head?? (Academically, I know it's somewhere low down/potentially even in my pelvis at this stage - but I can't feel it at all!) Fundal height has been measuring fine all along, but I can't help but think that the baby must be absolutely tiny. Maybe I've spent too much time around 6m+ babies over Christmas and it's skewed my perception of how big a newborn is. 😅

We put the crib together and washed some clothes today! Think we're going to try getting to grips with the car seat next. Hope everyone is doing ok. 💛

@QuantumPanic you've more or less described my own bump worries, but I've had scans and midwife appts, and the head I cannot feel is definitely in my pelvis. Every morning I have felt like my bump has shrunk overnight, and my own remedy for this is to tell my partner whose charming response is normally "no you look massive" 🥲

@OrangeSlices998 My friend was born at 30 weeks in the 1980s and she's a marathon runner and has several degrees (including a doctorate) to her name! Recently met the most ENORMOUS 1y old (seriously, an absolute unit) and was 😮 to discover he had been born at 36w. (He was over 7lb at birth, so I suppose it's a good thing he didn't get to 40w. 😅)

Put savoy cabbage leaves down your bra, it dries up your milk. I used it when I stopped breastfeeding last time and it works well and helps avoid mastitis etc

Thanks @CarrotySnack , that is reassuring. My coat has definitely become easier to button over the past couple of weeks, but that might be because it's stretched. 😬 I'm sure it's all just paranoia on my part.

@OrangeSlices998 thinking of you, hope your monitoring has went as well as it can! It's very scary when things like that happen but your in with the pros looking after you, and in the best place possible. Sorry about you not being able to do a home water birth as planned. Make the most of the gas and air (if you want to) in induction bay, is good stuff 😅

@OrangeSlices998 36 weeks is really good! My best friend had her baby at 36 weeks a few weeks ago. Also, my husband and sister were both born at 36 weeks. I hope that reassures you xxx

@OrangeSlices998 sending you positive vibes! I can only imagine how scary it must feel but little one is basically full term. My neighbour had her baby at 35 weeks and he's hit all his developmental milestones way early 😊 rest up as best you can mama

@OrangeSlices998 sending you all the best vibes too! Sounds so scary for you, but it must be exciting to know you’ll meet your little one very soon and you’re definitely in the best place for them to take care of you both ❤️

Thanks all. My husband bought an eye mask which has been a saviour, I’m such a light sleeper and the bloody lights are on all night!

It’s hard to explain but I’m not so much worried about the gestation in and of itself, but her size. She is predicted to be incredibly incredibly small and with my developing blood pressure issues it just makes things very risky for her and that’s so much have in mind. We’re at the point now where I think the feeling is better out than in, given my placenta is struggling and she is active and okay now but the feeling from the doctor yesterday was we just don’t know how long she can cope for, essentially.

My husband bought some stuff we need, and I cried at the packet of the tiniest nappies I’ve ever seen 🥺 they’re like the size of my hand!

Sending you love @OrangeSlices998 and hoping that she is small but mighty! Are you having to stay on the ward until next week, or will they let you go home at some point? I hope you manage to get some rest. 💛

Ok so I’m definitely a lurker rather than commenter (think it’s been a couple of months since I commented anything!) but I’ve been reading every day.

Just wanted to say to you, @OrangeSlices998 - I also have a baby who’s growth restricted, extremely small etc. It’s a strange rollercoaster of emotions isn’t it? And the uncertainty of what needs to happen is so difficult. Personally I’ve intermittently felt quite frustrated at my own body for ‘not being able to grow her’ (which I know is irrational, but just verbalising it in case you’ve felt it too so you know you aren’t alone!).

Just remember that however tiny your baby will be now, if they’re being allowed to stay put for now then they’ll already be far bigger and heavier than the tiniest babies you can see on NICU. The gestation you’ve got to is brilliant too in terms of development. Be kind to yourself, and let everyone else look after you so your body can put its energy into keeping you and baby safe as much as possible. You’re doing great xx

@OrangeSlices998 sending you lots of love as I can only imagine how scary it’s all feeling at the moment but I know it will be alright ♥️.
I just want to echo what everyone else has said and let you know that we’re all cheering you on in the background as you’re possibly the first mum from the group to give birth!
Please rest and look after yourself as much as possible mama, you got this!

I've just ate undercooked salmon and I'm really panicking! I didn't realise until I'd eaten half 😱
Has anyone had any experience with this?

@OrangeSlices998 Sending big hugs it's so stressful waiting for baby to arrive especially when you're waiting to hear about issues etc...

Hopefully you're getting some rest!

A very expensive restaurant served me undercooked salmon last night!! Must be a thing at the moment….

@UncharteredWaters oh no! Did you eat any?
I'm not really sure what to do as I've eaten half of the salmon before I realised. It wasn't cold but it was dark when I was eating. X

Just the end piece thankfully.
Hopefully you’ll not be sick, not sure there is much else other than waiting at the moment, fingers crossed no side effects x

@OrangeSlices998 wishing you all the luck! And just copying everything else everyone else has said.
Try and look at it as like you said she's safer outside now so least you get to meet her soon 😍

How big is she estimated to be?

@UncharteredWaters I only had a few mouthfuls I think. I've made the mistake of googling it but it does seem dangerous if you get listeria. This is so difficult.

Just under 2kg, so about 4.5lbs.

I am so tired the lack of sleep is driving me mad. Constantly being woken for this or that, I wish they’d just do as much as they can in one go!

Tip for you all - take headphones/ear plugs and an eye mask!!!!

I’ve seen my consultant today and had another growth scan. At 33 weeks baby is now 6 lbs 😅.
my blood pressure was through the roof today yet again so at this point they prescribed me something.
Doctor’s put in a request for my c-section. We are looking at the week between 10th-14th Feb but it will be confirmed a week before.
The original due date was 24th. I’m hoping he hangs in there until then and it’s all good ♥️.
Doctor wanted to induce me, possibly even earlier but I said no as I want the section and thought it through already.
Let’s see what happens now. Doctor says it all depends on how I manage my BP and GD so fingers crossed everything is ok.

Oh you poor thing @OrangeSlices998, that sounds so incredibly hard with the lack of sleep.
Your baby will be gorgeous, and I hope you are finding some moments of calm without too many worries, or at the very least some extremely nice snacks.