Baby shower👶🏻

What is everyone’s opinion on a baby shower? I’m currently 21 weeks pregnant and I keep umming and arring about having a baby shower.

I’m only planning on having one baby so I feel like if I don’t have a baby shower I’ll be missing out on but at the same time I hate being the centre of attention.

Also I don’t have many friends or any family round here so I feel like it’s a bit pointless doing one. Honestly have no idea what to do about it🙁

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It doesnt have to be a big thing- some people have 50 guests and hire out a venue and have a bar tender- some people have 10 people for tea and cake at their Mum’s house! Whatever you feel comfortable with 🥰

Most of my family lives in a different country, so I can see mine being an hour on zoom with everyone and maybe my best mates coming round for the afternoon.
During lockdown 2 of my friends had really nice online baby showers, so this seems like a nice option too if the people you want to invite aren’t around.

I avoided having a shower for my first, it’s just not really ‘me’. I don’t feel like I missed out at all, we had a little get together when the baby had actually arrived, so still got lots of lovely presents for him, still got lots of lovely photos of people meeting him etc.
I will be doing the same this time around.

Do whatever makes you feel happy and comfortable, don’t worry about what anyone else thinks!

I really don't like being the centre of attention so I didn't have one for my first and I won't for my second either.

We just had friends come visit after she was born and that worked fine for us. If you have friends or family who have to travel far maybe do a shower after baby is born? That way, baby is centre of attention, not you!

Definitely do what makes you happy and comfortable.

I’m having one and my sister is taking the reigns in organizing. These will be the first nieces / grandchildren in my family so they’re going wild 🤣
Won’t be huge though just close family and close friends x

I think you should have one

I had one with my wee boy but I’m not bothering this time. My circle is really small and I really don’t feel up to one this time anyway

I feel the same - my friend and I (also expecting in January) are having a joint gathering of sorts with close friends but I can’t really be doing with the whole faff of a proper thing! You do you, no need to go all out on something you’re not that into :)

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable ❤️

I’m wanting too have a baby shower didn’t have one with my other pregnancies xx

I didn’t want one but my mom and mil were having it so I did. Since my really close friend/family member is pregnant we scheduled our showers one day apart so that all family/friends would only have to travel to our hometown once.

The shower ended up being fun but it was exhausting like I knew it would be. Overall I’m glad I had it but I still could have done without it.😊

in our community

Oh my God, oh my God I hope this is not true!!!! I’m kind of scared

I’ve been throwing up and taking a shit all night!!! I just hope that it’s not what I think it is

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Has anyone else had it flagged that their baby is in the bottom 5th percentile for head size?

They said everything was fine whilst we were in the scan and then I got a phone call the next day saying that it’s on the small side and we’re being referred to a paediatric specialist at St George’s. Has anyone else had this and how did things go??

Would you bring 9 week old to a family party of 35+ people?

These are also people who will want to pass the baby around and get a turn to hold him. He just got his 2 month shots two days ago

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What movement did people start to introduce? I won’t do anything too vigorous until I’ve seen the pelvic physio as I don’t want to compromise anything that may have been extremely weakened through pregnancy! But just wondering what types of classes/movement people started off with?

It’s my birthday tomorrow.

Ok so I am going to be 35 years young. I can’t believe how much this life has thrown at me but it’s okay I’m a survivor. I am truly blessed to be alive. 🥳🧁🎂 The only downside is I won’t be celebrating my birthday because my man can’t take me out. So many emotions right now.

Induction experience

I just wanted to share my experience with being induced as I wasn’t sure what to expect and thought it may help others.

I opted for the foley balloon which was inserted at 8am Saturday morning, I had to stay in hospital due to hypertension and protein urine however usually you can just go home once this has been done. The insertion of the balloon was not painful, was slightly uncomfortable as there was slight pressure. I actually found having the cervix checked prior to be worse (again not painful at this point just uncomfortable) The balloon had little effect and after having it removed I was still only 1cm. Removal also was pain free and hardly even noticeable.

I then had my first dose of the gel and definitely noticed a difference, I started experiencing period like cramps almost immediately however they were light and manageable. After 6 hours I had another cervix check and although my cervix was soft it was still only 1cm and was only open at the front. I had another dose of the gel and felt an increase in pressure and more intense cramping where I now required pain relief (codeine). After another 6 hours I had another cervix check and I had now dilated to 2-3cm however was still quite difficult to get all the way through so a third gel was recommended which I agreed to.

Almost immediately I noticed the difference and was in considerable pain, I had paracetamol and codeine however the contractions had now become intense and a lot closer together (around 3 minutes apart). After a couple of hours I had my last cervix check and was 4cm and taken down to the Labour ward to have my waters broken and an epidural.

I had been in my room for approx 20minutes when my waters broke by themselves and I was now 10cm and actively pushing…. There was no time for the epidural and my beautiful girl arrived into the world within 2 minutes of pushing.

All in all I would say the cramps/contractions were manageable up until the third gel where it became pretty unbearable however it was for a very short time a gas and air helped take the edge off. The worst part about any of it was actually the later cervix checks where after stimulating the cervix my contractions were at their most painful.

If I had to be induced again I would skip the balloon and opt for the gels immediately as thy had a quicker effect and I would have been out a lot sooner if I had done this to begin with.

One more thing, I’ve never believed when people say “you forget the pain once they’re here” but I can honestly say this is true. It’s been 4 days and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.