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 🤗

@Redapple21 Yes that hormonal drop is something I'm not looking forward to... Apparently Day 3 is the worst, according to what we heard at the NCT class. It's going to be fun 😬 But, in a way, having you guys here, and seeing that everyone's feeling the same, will really help...

@UncharteredWaters Does your advice for injections hold true for post c-section blood thinners too? I've been told I'll need to have them for a few days afterwards, and was planning on getting DH to do them - but ultimately I'm far less squeamish than him, so am willing to switch if it makes more sense for me to do it...

@ThisLimeDeer so lovely to hear about how much of a support your DH is being; mine is much the same and has really come through. At the moment he is doing all the meal planning, cooking, laundry, and anything that involves leaving the house, and is just a total star. Men often get a bad rep on Mumsnet but by God it sounds like we've got some of the good ones - and I hope that's true for everyone else here too 🥰

I've had no luck getting any colostrum yet. Nothing out of the ordinary is happening and I'm just starting to feel a bit like a muppet - but will crack on, just in case... 😕

@UrbanSquirrel don't put too much pressure on yourself re colostrum. My midwife gave me some syringes, but I have zero interest in even trying to collect some (no judgement on anyone who is building up a stash; it's just not for me). Chances are very good that after birth your baby will be able to get it from you directly.

@QuantumPanic Thanks 😊 I hope so! I'm planning on trying to do the first feed or two at the breast, even though we'll be moving on to formula afterwards, so fingers crossed she'll get something. I've been trying to follow instructions / videos, but it just feels a bit weird, and probably isn't helped by the fact my only prior practical experience comes from squeezing a knitted boob that was passed around in NCT 🤦🏻‍♀️😂 x

Being induced on Wednesday 22nd and as of last Thursday morning baby's head wasn't engaged at all!🙄
Any tried and trusted ways of getting baby to engage?

Sorry I don't regularly comment or post but I really do love reading all the posts and comments, is definitely helping me through these last few weeks, so thank you all.❤️

I'm not exactly glad to see that everyone is feeling as fed up as I am, but it does make me feel a whole lot better! Solidarity to everyone feeling crampy and crabby like me, my 2 year old is definitely not getting the best of me at the moment...

@OnePinkSloth Have you tried a forward leaning inversion? Feels counterintuitive to go upside down when you want baby further down, but it's supposed to make room for them to rotate a bit and then they can fit into your pelvis better. I'm doing them and 5 minutes of pelvic floor lengthening yoga stuff as often as I can find the motivation... So very occasionally!

@OnePinkSloth I've no idea if this is tried and tested or just a bit of an old wives' tale but what about climbing up and down stairs? At NCT someone suggested this, as the movement of the pelvis plus gravity can help shift the baby into a better position?

On the other hand, if you're anything like me, the very thought of stairs will give you the vapours at the moment 🤣 x

How are you other second time mums doing?
I had a bit of a wobble this morning and feel like I’m ruining my daughters life, and don’t want anything to change for her.

I rationally know she’ll be an amazing big sister, and having siblings myself was something I really cherished whilst growing up (and now!) but I can’t help but feel so guilty for poor DD!

Snap! My DS is 4 so he fully understands what's happening but I think the change is going to be massive for him, he's had just us 2 at his disposal for nearly 5 years and I'm not sure how he's going to handle having someone else to compete with, he wants to win and be in control of everything!

@elb1504 its scary isn’t it! DD is only 19 months so I can’t really explain that things are going to change; I’m trying to convince myself she won’t remember life without a sibling, but then I’m also feeling guilty about that!

I can’t ever imagine only having one, and this baby was so wanted, but I just feel like the worlds worst mum to my first little baby

At that age she really will know no different and they'll grow up together so will all be great ❤️

Tried to avoid as much as possible. Have had 1 0% alcohol Budweiser on Christmas and 2 zero alcohol Coronas when I was 7 weeks. I'm now 37w and really craving a non alcoholic beer but can never be sure they're totally alcohol free as they're 0.5%. Has anyone else been drinking non alcoholic alcohol whilst pregnant? 15 days to go until my induction

I really like the Free Damm non alcoholic lager - closest I've tasted to the real deal

It's a very personal decision and I know goes against the recommendations but I have had three or four glasses of wine during this pregnancy, mostly celebrations like my birthday or NYE. I did the same with my first. I really wouldn't worry too much, but also as I say only you can really choose.

I've been drinking them, I read something not sure if it's true that a banana can have up to 0.5% alcohol along with other foods and I haven't been avoiding those.

My two are 19 months apart and I struggled to bond in my second pregnancy as I was so, so worried about the impact on my eldest.

It’s completely understandable but actually you are giving her the greatest gift. Only a couple of days ago I was listening to my two playing (now 4 and 3) and my eldest said to his brother “I love you so much X, I am so lucky to have you”. They love each other so much and it is the biggest joy in life to witness their relationship.

Yes! I’ve been drinking lots of 0% Guinness which is absolutely delicious!

I have an older child in primary school, so he understands to some extent that a baby is coming, but definitely not the full extent. I do feel a little guilty as the time left for having all the attention is just days now. But he's so excited to have a baby sister.

Also how are you planning to keep baby warm in the stroller when out and about? We have school run to do, so baby will be in a pram, but it's quite roomy, and I'm worried about her getting cold. Undecided whether to get a pram cocoon, or pram suit or fleece with blankets...

I didn't have to think about all this with my first who was born in a heat wave and only needed a baby gro and light blanket.

I've been thinking about this too, as we walk and do the school run. I've got snowsuit type thing and plan on just layering up with that and blankets and with the pram hood up etc.. i think it should be warm enough. Won't be long until spring!

Another second time mum worried about my first baby. He's almost 2.5 and I really don't think he will be fussed on his new baby sister stealing mummy and daddy's attention for a little while! He's been getting upset when we mention a baby joining us but all of a sudden last week he started saying 'my baby sister is coming soon' and seems excited! I'm gobsmacked as it came out of nowhere, we had stopped mentioning it as not to upset him. The other day he said it over and over and then looked out of the window and shouted 'here she is' 😂😂 so funny. But yes lots of anxiety about how he will react. Think lots of us are feeling the same, all natural feelings. Xx

@apple67cherry I haven't had as much this time around but my son was born in September so I definitely had quite a few alcohol free beers that summer. Everyone makes their own choices. I felt like it was fine and never worried about it.

Yes I was thinking about how much I wanted to spend - there are such cosy things that are tempting to buy, but we'd probably only get a month's use out of it. So I've been trying to resist but have also been browsing all evening. 😅

Thanks for everyone's comments regarding non alcoholic alcohol - very helpful ❤️❤️

I got my snowsuit from vinted for a couple of pounds as they are so expensive and blankets I have already as its going to be such a short amount of time until it's hopefully warmer!

I’ve got a Voksi footmuff/pram cocoon - we bought it for our eldest when we did a trip to Iceland and it’s suitable from birth to 3 years I think? It’s down-filled and the real deal for cold weather as it’s a Scandinavian company! Hoping it won’t be so cold to have to use it every day but I definitely think it’ll come in handy as we’re up north.