25 weeks pregnant

Hey!

I’ve also paid a visit to the OB-GYN in the meantime. I was 29 weeks and 3 days pregnant that day. According to the doctor, our baby weighs 1867g and would be 43cm long.

Orange, you’re having a solid son too!

It feels like it’s all going by so fast now. Still, there are 9 weeks to go (or maybe even until week 41, like with my first pregnancy).

Do you also feel so sad at the thought that this is the last time you’ll be pregnant? Or is it already certain that more little ones will follow?

Wow Julie, so lovely to read your story!
My gynecologist only lets you go ten days overdue. I had to call on Monday to discuss what we were going to do (whether induction would be on Tuesday or Friday), and on Sunday night my contractions started spontaneously, so I'm curious what will happen now. My birth wasn't super smooth either, but it's a wait-and-see situation anyway. I'll definitely ask about everything on Monday.

I'm stunned with my mouth open at what a super mom you are. It's blissful to read your story. Sometimes I lose a bit of courage, but I perked up completely when I read it. I'll definitely get some tips for our boy from it! Even though he's still two, he already knows that it's big brother's room and stuff, and that big brother is in mommy's tummy, but I wonder if he also understands that big brother will suddenly come out of mommy's tummy, and will be his own little individual at home too. Mathis is already a bit older, isn't he? Nice name by the way! Were you satisfied or disappointed that it was going to be a boy again? The ones who ask us that always have the opinion that a girl and a boy would be super, right. But I'm very happy that it's a boy. If it had been a girl, I would have been very happy too. But now they can share everything, pass on all the clothes, do real boy things together, I don't think it's such a big deal than what I hear people say...
Greetings

Hi Appelsien,

Mathis is almost 2 years and 3 months old. He's already quite the chatterbox. That makes it easier for me to know whether he understands something or not. He does say that the doctor is going to take the baby out of my belly, but he doesn't really grasp that there's a baby in my belly. A few months ago, he looked at a pregnancy magazine with me that had a picture of a mom breastfeeding. A few days later, we were sitting in the bath together and he pinched my nipple saying 'baby yum yum'. Isn't that proof that kids pick up on much more than we think?

I'll be honest... I always thought we'd have daughters. I found some dads of boys so 'tough', often sporty and straightforward, or less sensitive. I had a very stereotypical image of that. I already pictured myself making up dances, braiding hair, having pillow fights,... but mostly cuddling and having deep conversations about feelings with my (teenage) daughter. Now I realize that every child is different and that I might not have had such a close bond with a daughter, and that my son might come to me for advice or a listening ear when he's older. Mathis was so 'independent' for the first 1.5 years. Not really a mama's boy. He didn't really enjoy cuddles and kisses either. That has really changed now and he spontaneously overwhelms me with kisses or with 'Mommy sweet' or 'Mommy pretty'. Then I melt, hey! :-) By the way, every child is different. If he didn't do that, I'd still love him just as much. I just want him to be happy. I'm glad I could prepare myself for the arrival of a second boy. I can already see that little one so much! I wouldn't want to trade my kids for a girl. I think you just adapt to the gender of your child. Or better: to their character, because that's what's really interesting :-) I do understand though that some parents have a preference for a girl or a boy. That's okay and often still taboo. As soon as your baby is born and the midwife puts them in your arms, you're in love with your child (and not with a daughter or son).

It's good that your first labor started spontaneously too. Then he got to choose himself, hey :-) If this pregnancy also takes a while, that would be tough now with all the pain you're in. Hang in there! :-s

Me too, 20 weeks pregnant, due mid-May!
My second pregnancy, my belly is already sticking out quite firmly I've already taken my belly belt out of the closet, I wore it during my first pregnancy until the birth! (bellybelt.be)

I'm also feeling movements much sooner now than with my first pregnancy! So nice!!

Enjoy it, girls!

Hi ladies,
Just got home from spending an afternoon in the waiting room at the OB-GYN! Everything is completely fine with our little boy. He currently weighs about 2171 grams and is almost 30 cm long. That was the last ultrasound, so now we just have to wait until he's born before we see him again...

Hey appelsien, nice to hear that everything is okay. I'm going for a check-up again on Wednesday. I'm also working my last week right now and I'm not sad about it I finished the baptism sugar this weekend (another reassurance) and washed and ironed the baby clothes. Actually, I'm quite curious about Wednesday. Last week I had two nights in a row of contractions. I never had that with my son, only hard contractions. I was a bit startled by that. The countdown has begun here! See you all and take care!

Hey Marieke,

Only 5 weeks left to wait for you. You can really start counting down, huh!

I often watch the show 'One Born Every Minute'. It's about births in a hospital in the UK. Maybe I shouldn't watch it anymore because now I remember too vividly what a birth is like ;-) Still exciting, though, because I expect this birth to be unique as well.

Tomorrow I have another appointment with the gynecologist. I'm so curious if our little one has turned! And how much weight he's gained! Now that I read Marieke is already done with her sugar paste, I'm starting to panic a little! I'm still waiting for the print shop to start. Are you already done with that too, Appelsien? I think I ordered way too much again this time!

Greetings,

Julie

Hey everyone,

Julie, funny about that show. I'd never seen it before, but last week the remote got stuck on it... And it was awful. About a baby without a diaphragm. Good grief! Instead of changing the channel, I just kept watching and crying .

Julie, don't panic about the baptism sugar: that's done, but there's still a lot of work left...

I've started washing the baby clothes... I still need to wash the Maxi-Cosi and the bassinet, and my partner still needs to put together part of the nursery (Lego for grown-ups, those cabinets ).

The Braxton Hicks contractions are thankfully over here... The baby has probably dropped nicely and the calm has returned.

Julie, let me know when you're back from the gynecologist! Appelsien, hang in there!

Talk soon!
Marieke

Hey Appelsien, we put around 600 euros on the baby registry. So quite a bit less than last time. I really can't think of anything else. If there's a bit of a gap in age between your kids and they're the same sex... well, what do you even need then?

Yes Marieke, that was definitely the worst scene so far, I thought. In another episode, the baby got stuck with her shoulders and a doctor had to break a shoulder to deliver her. Terrible! Don't think too much about all the things that could go wrong. Those are exceptions, right? I do find the approach in the UK really different from here. They seem to induce everyone there. And epidurals are more the exception. Luckily not here! Haha!

It might be a bit early, but I'm already counting down. Just under 8 weeks and I'll be 'mama of 2'. Yesterday I went to see the OB-GYN again. Our little one weighs 2550g and is about 46cm long. During Easter holiday, the nanny won't be available. Not always easy to keep my toddler entertained at home :-). For now, our little boy is still breech. The doctor gave him another 3 weeks to turn, then I'll be 36 weeks pregnant. I have a lot of amniotic fluid, so normally it should work out (hopefully).

Greetings,

Julie

Hi ladies,
Finally got around to replying! The last few details... I went to the gynecologist again yesterday. Everything about me is ready for birth: my cervix has softened, the baby has dropped, and there's an opening. But it all depends on our little one—whether they want to come out or not... Since this weekend, I've had a constant dull ache in my lower abdomen.
Are you all done with the preparations? I'm finally finished with everything. I clean the house a bit every day, and otherwise, I read a lot, keep busy with grocery shopping, and then enjoy cooking before my husband comes home. Hopefully, you're not having too many complaints? Take care of yourselves and keep us updated! Best regards

Hey Marieke,

Exciting, right! With you, it could be any time now! Good luck!

Orange,

How was it with the gynecologist? Or do you still have to go soon?

I've been sleeping really poorly for a week now (a combination of acid reflux and painful, cramped legs). Today, our little boy went to the midwife again after 3 weeks. I lay in bed almost all day. I made a list earlier and I actually still have some things to do before the baby can/should come. I hope he's turned. We'll know more on Monday night!

Greetings from a very round mom

Wow Julie, still haven't made your bag, bravo! I made mine on Monday and have to say it went really smoothly, now you know better what you need and what you don't, right...
And we started in May, so now we can really start counting down, right!
I've had a lot of discomfort the last few days, like period-like cramps, and my back too... Going to see the gynecologist again on Tuesday, and for the rest, just waiting, waiting, waiting...
Are you all giving a gift for the godmother and godfather? What are you giving? I didn't do that

WOW!!!! A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!!!
First of all, it's so nice to hear that you're doing well! And it was a lovely name May I ask what you named your other little boy?
I'm absolutely blown away by your story... Our midwife already told me that the cervix can sometimes dilate much faster with the second baby than with the first, so I guess I should just hold on tight, right? When I read that I had entered the hospital with 4 cm dilation, I thought, oh no, that's still so far... but apparently...
A big congratulations, you're a strong woman! Enjoy those first baby weeks; they go by so quickly
xxx

Ooooooooooooh! Congratulations! What a beautiful name too! Enjoy it! I hope the little angel sleeps a lot, feeds well, and sleeps through the night quickly ;-)

Giving birth without an epidural... hmmmm... hats off! I would definitely get a fright (read: panic!!!)! :-)

My hospital bag is ready by now! Some things I still have to gather at the last minute (nursing pillow, toothbrush, mobile phone, camera...)

Appelsien, last time we gave champagne to the godfather and a piece of jewelry to the godmother. In baptismal sugar shops you can find those stickers for wine/champagne bottles saying 'For the dearest godfather', etc. I'm not sure if that's a custom here, but this time we're also buying a little something for the godmother and godfather.

I have the feeling that I'll be the only one left in this forum. Appelsien, I also get the feeling that your baby will arrive soon. For me, still 4 to 5 weeks to wait.

Enjoy little Mories!!!

X J

Hey,
I'm counting myself in with you guys! Our first son is Emiel! Phew, you guys, good that your bag is ready. I even left a note with the things I'd need to find at the moment of birth. It's getting short, isn't it!
Because of the fast labor: the midwives also said that for the second birth, people often have to work just as long or even longer for the cervix to open than for the first... So no guarantee! Now I understand those stories of people giving birth on the shoulder of the road. If you have a long drive to the hospital...
How are you doing at the moment? It's tough at the end, right? I got up more tired than when I crawled into bed because of acid reflux, moving Mories,...
Emiel is very sweet to his little brother, but that's just because he knows babies from daycare. The realization that this little one now belongs to us isn't there yet. He's still a bit too young (now 19 months). Take care of yourselves, enjoy your bump a little longer...

Hi ladies,
I’d like to vent to you for a bit!
I’m going crazy here...
My little guy woke up at 6am, so I got up with him, and I’ve had stomach cramps and back pain all day.
It’s been going on all day. I can’t really put proper time intervals on it, so I can’t really say, oh, look, my contractions have started... But I’m not exactly relaxed either, because it’s really not pleasant, wondering if the baby is coming or not... The worst part is, it’s my second, you’d think you’d know how it goes by now. But no, I’m getting really anxious!!!
I hope I can bring you some good news today or tomorrow. Most of all, I hope my real contractions pick up, but honestly, I don’t really believe it. But at least he’s a little brat, that little monster in my belly

Hi Orange, I read your post here and hope you're doing better? I totally get it, that cold feeling. I kept thinking: are these Braxton Hicks, practice contractions, or real contractions? Even though I've been through this before. Hang in there! x

hey,
yeah, I'm still rocking my big belly... going to see the OB-GYN this afternoon at 2:45 PM, can't wait to find out...

Hey Appelsien,

Good luck later! I just had the same thing. For about 10 days now, our toddler has been sleeping poorly (sometimes not until 10 pm) and wakes up very early. Not fun when you can barely sleep 3 hours in a row at night. I get strong contractions every hour. At first I thought I needed to rest even more, but that doesn't help at all. I already had back pain, but now it's exactly worse. I also get shooting pains at the 'exit' when I walk, but according to the gynecologist, those are the ends of nerve bundles being irritated by the baby. Pain for no reason, basically. I have the feeling, just like you, that it could happen any moment. On the other hand, I realize it could still be a June baby. Definitely let me know after your appointment, okay? I don't get to go until Monday.

Marieke,

Is it going okay with such a little baby fussing around the house? Does he cry a lot? Try to rest well as much as possible, okay? That's something I heard a lot after my first birth but never did (also because Mathis slept for only quarter-hours and half-hours ). The closer the birth gets, the more nervous I get. Other parents also scare you so much when they talk about 'going from 0 to 1 is less bad than from 1 to 2 kids'. Too late...

Greetings,

Julie

Thank you so much,
Got good news from the gynecologist, I have 3 cm dilation...
With our previous son, I went overdue with that, but if I'm still 'walking around' at the next check-up, they'll break my waters on May 23rd... So happy that the 'end' is in sight! Exciting, right!

Take it easy, Julie, it's so important! I understand your pain 'down there', I have it too, isn't it weird? Tomorrow we're taking our oldest son to the pediatrician, he's also not acting like his normal self, or maybe he's just picking up on mom's stress too much
Everyone tells us it's hard going from 1 to 2... But we'll manage!!!