[name_f]Iris[/name_f] and [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] (and Griffin) are gorgeous 
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Thank you! 
Thanks for the welcome! Donāt worry about not having heard of it before, I hadnāt either till they flagged it. Iām actually based in the UK. Apparently its something that check in that first blood test they do initially. They only mention it if its low. And then they tell you to take aspirin every day and give you extra scansā¦ But thatās it so far.
I also feel like we hardly have any appointments here but Iām even getting extras because of the low PAPP-Aā¦ Iāve also been super bummed because our regional home birth team has been disbanded for now because of the massive midwife shortage due to covid isolation etc. Iām not due to [name_u]December[/name_u] so fingers are crossed that they will restart and I can have a home birth as we were hoping.
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Iām impressed! We thought we would find out the gender and just not tell any other relatives. Then I immediately and without thinking found myself saying āheā everytime I talked about the babyā¦ So everyone figured it out pretty quickly 
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Sorry, of course youāre in the UK too! 
At least theyāre aware and will be keeping an eye, but hopefully everything continues to go as it should. Fingers crossed you get your home birth.
Iāve only had I think 3 midwife appointments in total so far! Booking, 15ish weeks and then 28 weeks (tomorrow). At least it means everything must be looking low-risk 
I did get a sneaky extra quick scan as baby was lying in an awkward position at 20 weeks so I had to go back a week later to check the spine. Luckily all was fine!
@whatchamacallit [name_f]Iris[/name_f] and [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] are gorgeous! They even work well together, if you canāt decide.
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Hey all, great to read your updates 
we are indeed getting close!
Iām 36 weeks now and have also been getting lots of practice contractions! Iām actually going to the hospital today for a scan to check on babyās position cause my midwife and I canāt quite figure it out, and if sheās not in optimal positioning my midwife canāt attend me at home. I havenāt had a scan since 12 weeks by choice so Iām both excited and nervous! [name_f]My[/name_f] feeling is thatās sheās head down ROT but possibly with her head flexed backwards. Sometimes she feels completely transverse so it will be good to get that confirmed. ROT isnāt a contraindication for physiological birth but it does tend to lead to longer and more painful labours 
so Iāve been mentally preparing myself for that for the last few days as Iād been hoping for a low-intervention birth but that may not be the outcome. I also have to make it to 37 weeks to birth at home.
Iāve had a full on few weeks with confirmed anaemia, iron infusion and the the covid va**ine. All of which made me worry about the baby so much but sheās remained strong and active throughout!
I wasnāt planning on taking mat leave till [name_u]October[/name_u] but itās getting harder to concentrate all the time so I may draw on some sick leave sooner. I can feel that liminal space calling, my tolerance for sound and simulation is lessening, avoiding the shops (and my in-laws, lol) and just wanting to be alone all the time. Would be nice to be able to fully let go and enter that space. [name_f]My[/name_f] partner and I went on a babymoon last weekend just for one night which was lush and I highly recommend, with or without a partner! It can be so rejuvenating to change your environment.
Weāve been revisiting her name as we get closerā¦ [name_f]Flora[/name_f] has really stuck the last few months and now our families are calling her that too, but weāre also considering [name_f]Anthea[/name_f], my grandmothers name. Weād call her [name_f]Thea[/name_f] (my grandmother was [name_f]Annie[/name_f] so itās a nice distinction) but itās hard to let go of [name_f]Flora[/name_f] now after all this time. I guess weāll wait to see what feels right when sheās here
@whatchamacallit congrats on the girl, so exciting 
@K_rassy13 wishing you all the best for these last few weeks and canāt wait to hear about Henryās arrival 
@lehassebrock I hope your GD test went OK! I skipped mine entirely as I didnāt want to go through the rigormole of it all. Not advised but it was right for me!
@katinka so amazed and impressed that youāre going to have 4! Canāt wait to hear what name you go with. Are you keeping the gender a surprise?
@Serenityz fingers crossed for your homebirth wishes too!
Stay well everyone and send more updates!!
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So good to hear from you @elleplume! 36 weeks sounds so close, Iām already so excited to read your announcement. I have a feeling it will be a little [name_f]Flora[/name_f] 
but [name_f]Anthea[/name_f] āTheaā is utterly gorgeous too and the family tie would be just lovely. Although thereās the meaning connection with [name_f]Flora[/name_f] too of course!
Let us know how the scan goes. I hope itās good news for you and the birth experience youāre hoping for, but whatever the outcome at least youāll be prepared and ready to welcome your little girl in the safest (and hopefully least painful!) way possible.
[name_f]My[/name_f] little one was transverse and bump was measuring just a little on the small side at my appointment last week, but the midwife isnāt worried unless I drop further centiles by my next appointment in 3 weeksā time. She said measurements can easily be affected by babyās position and I also suspect my official due date is a week or so too early, so Iām trying not to worry about it. Getting constant kicks and pokes from baby too which is always reassuring, if a little uncomfortable at times!
Confession time: we actually did find out the sex, but Iām going to keep it a surprise on here until birth! We had strong name contenders for both sexes going into this pregnancy and weāve been pretty settled since.
I think knowing this is definitely the last baby has actually helped with the naming process this time around. Nothing we pick is going to rule anything else out in the future, and we can test ideas out with the full sibset in mind. I know thatās all very trivial in the grand scheme of things but as a lifelong name obsessive itās strangely freeing! Weirdly, I didnāt find that at all last time, which was also going to be our final baby ā I think deep down I probably knew I wasnāt ādoneā and was subconsciously weighing everything up with a potential #4 in the background.
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@katinka aw happy to hear you know the sex and that youāre having a fun and satisfying time choosing the name to complete your family! I absolutely canāt wait to hear what you go with and Iāll be checking back to see.
The scan was great yesterday, bub is head down and engaged but somewhere between ROT/ROA like I suspected. This doesnāt preclude me from homebirth but it does mean baby will have to do a full rotation during labour which could make it longer and more painful. Thereās a much higher chance of hospital transfer and intervention with an ROT position but Iām determined to give it a red hot go and feeling positive about it. Iām still getting cramps which my midwife wasnāt too concerned about but I wouldnāt be surprised if I went into labour next week. Interestingly my in laws are going away for the week and weāre staying at their place while our house gets painted (we all expected Iād go past my due date when we organised that) so she might end up being born at the grandparents house! Iām just hoping we make it to the 23rd so sheāll be past 37 weeks and a Libra 
P.s. @katinka I think youāre right, my partner called her Flora this morning and it felt so right. But Anthea would make an adorable sibling name! Might have to keep it on the books 
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Best of luck! Lots of babies have to turn during labour, hopefully it will go swiftly and smoothly for you and you can avoid transfer. Iām glad youāre feeling positive! 
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@elleplume I had my baby in [name_f]May[/name_f] but saw your post and wanted to comment. She was sunny-side up and actually turned as she was coming out! It was very last minute! No interventions needed and I managed without medication, so if youāre similar you might be able to avoid a transfer from what I understand. It was painful, but I was lucky it was quick, and honestly I couldnāt tell you if it was better or worse than my other births, all were so different. Wishing you a quick and as-easy-as-possible labour and I hope it goes the way you would like it to. Best wishes.
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@LiliMorgana thank you so much sharing, it definitely makes me feel better!!
Hullo! We had our growth scan this morning, but sadly I couldnāt see his little face. His head is positioned dead center between my pelvic bones (my midwife is thrilled heās head down). According to the tech, [name_u]Henry[/name_u] is āwearing my cervix like a beanie.ā Heās weighing in at 8lbs which puts him in the 90th percentile! With how low he is, Iām telling work today that [name_m]Saturday[/name_m] will be my last work day. I so donāt want to go into labor at work, but Iām also very achey with his head where it is. [name_f]My[/name_f] midwife recommended 38 weeks so Iām just skipping out a little early. Iām hoping [name_u]Henry[/name_u] hangs in there until autumnā¦I met his (likely) pediatrician next [name_f]Wednesday[/name_f], and I really want to have that settled before he comes.
In the meantime, Iām in physical therapy for carpal tunnel. The pregnancy has definitely aggravated the nerves but Iāve also been knitting for a decade! I look forward to being able to knit again.
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] you all are well.
@elleplume I hope you get the birth you want and that it goes smoothly!!
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@K_rassy13 sounds like [name_u]Henry[/name_u] is perfectly positioned for birth! I hope we both make it till [name_u]October[/name_u] as desired. Sorry to hear youāre experiencing carpal tunnel, that sounds rough.
Most of my pre-labour symptoms have settled down now and it seems like baby has disengaged over the week, probably thanks to the two chiro sessions I had. Today was super baby bluesy thoughā¦ Woke up just feeling devastated and weepy all day. Put it down to hormones but may also be because my parents were supposed to be coming over soon but covid restrictions are back between Aus and NZ so I have no idea when I will see them next. Weāre not even allowed to travel interstate in Aus at the moment so none of my friends will be able to make it here either. Weāre having a Zoom babyshower/blessingway tomorrow so that should help a little. Trying to focus on the last few things I need to do for work/uni before I can relax but keep just feeling sorry for myself insteadā¦ such an intense time!
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[name_m]Just[/name_m] here to say I have passed my āsafe for homebirthā milestone today along with entering [name_f]Libra[/name_f] today so I will hopefully get my airy baby unless she decides to wait till [name_m]Scorpio[/name_m] season 
[name_f]My[/name_f] virtual blessingway was such a gift and resulted in $1200 worth of extra supplies being bought for us from our gift registry which has made such a huge difference for us in these last few weeks. It was an edge for me to ask for support but I highly recommend! It also enabled us to dip into our savings last minute to get some professional pregnancy photos and Iām so glad we did.
Enjoying ticking the last few things off my work/study to do list and looking forward to fully getting into nesting mode soonā¦ All my pre-labour symptoms have virtually disappeared so no idea how far off baby is at this point!
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Yay, great news! Does that make you 37 weeks now? I donāt generally set much store by zodiac signs and the like but I have a [name_f]Libra[/name_f] baby (Juno, who turns 6 in 2 days!) and she is an absolute textbook even-tempered, balanced, cheerful, independent, well-rounded Libraā¦ my one and only
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Well, my lower back has been aching for two days now and the [name_u]Braxton[/name_u] Hicks have increased, but otherwise, no signs of labor. Iām 38 weeks tomorrow (the 24th) and just desperate to meet my little dude!
[name_f]My[/name_f] cousin-in-law had her & my cousinās second daughter this morning (the 23rd). Her name is [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] (big sister is [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] Rose). Sheās absolutely adorable and Iām thrilled [name_u]Henry[/name_u] is gonna have a cousin so close in age!!
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] you all are well. 
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Haha exactly, thatās what Iām hoping for! Iām not an avid zodiac follower either but thatās the kind of temperament I imagine every time I think of her 
Yup @katinka Iām 37 weeks as of yesterday according to my hospital due date but my own guess date is a few days earlier than that based on my ovulation tracking from the month we conceived.
@K_rassy13 not long to go now, I definitely relate to just wanting to meet them already! And my gosh I just adore the name Audrey. What a treat for you and Henry!
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@elleplume When my cousin and his wife were considering names, I definitely put my vote in for [name_f]Audrey[/name_f]! Also sent them the Nameberry page for it.
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Congratulations to your cousins! [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] is gorgeous and perfect with big sisterās name.
Best of luck!
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