38 weeks....just a rant...and hoping someone can identify !

[jaykay34]

I am 38 weeks pregnant with my third child...my eldest two (twins) have just started secondary school and I've been on maternity leave for a week.

I'm lucky that I've had a healthy pregnancy...just some bleeding in the early days - and it's gone really quickly up until now !

I had a feeling (was hoping) this baby would be early (I was induced with twins at 38 weeks)...but right now I can't see that he's ever going to come on time.

I also feel a bit anxious. When I had the twins I had constant monitoring, monthly scan etc - so I always had a clear picture of what was going on. But with this baby...I've not had a scan since 20 weeks. Obviously I have MW appointments and have heard the doppler - and he seems very active - but I keep panicking about all the what-ifs. I haven't got a clue about how big he will be, or what my fluid levels are like or anything. I feel completely in the dark !! When I told my midwife about these fears she just said there's no need dor all these checks with a singleton if there are no problems - which just made me think how would anyone know if there's a problem ?

I am at the point where my mind is completely doing overtime. Is this normal at this stage in pregnancy ?

I am also just generally feeling fat and disgusting...I am so hot that I feel like I am in a sauna all the time; I look awful - even if I try and make an effort; I have a weird musky smell of breast milk that seems to waft from all my pores; I can't sleep properly despite being overcome with tiredness; i have a constant burning sensation in my throat (heartburn apparently) and I generally just want to hideaway in bed until my son is born. I have been massively emotional during the last couple of weeks and am over-sensitive towards any little comment.

I don't have any friends who are pregnant in real life so feel really isolated and that I have nobody to rant to !

I guess I just want to finally meet my baby and be done with pregnancy. I know my son will be born soon...but it feels such a long way off !

[squizita]

Yep same here.
Medicalised first half ... They backed off as all good.
Now really wish I was prodded and poked weekly again! Keep wondering what if my placenta weakens and other irrational fears!
Plus I have a biopsy/minor surgery which will worry me till done, but can't be done till 2-4 weeks after birth.
39+4 ... cannot wait both for bundle of joy AND end of twitchy limbo!

[FoodieMum3]

I think it's normal to feel like that but just remember that your urine and Bp tell you a lot about the pregnancy too,so presuming they're normal then you can relax.

Re size, I always ask what the midwife or GP thinks when they are checking my abdomen. They always look confused and ask if there's a reason why I'm asking I would have thought that it's pretty normal to have a rough idea of baby's size? I'm 39+ and no idea if it's a 6lbr or a 9lbr. They've always brushed it off and said 'average'.

[jaykay34]

Thanks for replies...it's reassuring to not feel alone and to not fear getting the "stop worrying and make the most of it before the baby arrives" comments.

I also asked my midwife and consultant if my baby felt big and was met with the odd looks. My MW just said he "feels normal" whatever that means.

Thanks for reminding me that BP and urine checks can show up any problems...they have all been normal so far so I guess I can seek reassurance in that !

[Missingcaffeine]

38 weeks and feel the same.
Seen a midwife for long booking in appt, then only 3 x 5mins since, and this is my first pregnancy. No antenatal offered. Luckily I did NCT.

I totally recommend getting some Ranitidine for the acid burning in your throat. Really helped me - I started it just a few days ago. Only taking 75mg a day and this is working, but can have much more. Safe in pregnancy and can be bought off the shelf for a couple of quid.

I also smell funny. Feel like I constantly want to bathe or shower. Even my urine smells strange. And I'm constantly hot and very emotional the last week or two.

Hope baby comes along soon.

[jaykay34]

Thanks for the tip...I will get some of that.

I can't remember having a "smell" when I had my twins but this time round it's so strong I can smell it on my clothes !! It's such a strange smell and I'm really conscious of it .

Let's hope all our babies hurry up and arrive !

[weebairn]

Yes… I am definitely feeling this way this week. I am 37 weeks now. I am thankful the pregnancy has been entirely straightforward, as my last was, but I am in a strange limbo state where I am not sleeping at night so the days feel twice as long. I feel horribly big and fat and unfit and uncomfortable. I can barely eat with the heartburn sometimes. I feel like I am bigger and less fit than last pregnancy though I don't know if either are actually true.

I was so so relieved to go on maternity leave from a stressful job that required many hours on my feet; but I feel like I've been off for months already (it's been less than a week).

I have a lovely toddler who can be quite hard work.

I am feeling hormonal; unloved; unsexy; and like life will always be this way. Boyfriend is trying so hard and we do still have sex maybe once or twice a week but I can't see why he would even want to. He is lovely and calls me his warrior queen and tells me I am going to be incredible in labour. I feel like labour is never going to happen.

Last baby was 5 days overdue and I am horribly and unattractively jealous of anyone who comes early.

Last pregnancy I had lots more midwife appointments; I did pregnancy yoga; I belonged to a busy antenatal group on mumsnet; I had several friends happen to get pregnant at the same time. This time I've been so so busy with work and toddler i've done hardly anything for the pregnancy and it's made me anxious (been to hospital twice for "reduced movements" which in retrospect I feel stupid about and not sure they were reduced at all- once was when I hadn't seen the midwife in about 10 weeks and maybe that was why I was feeling so unsure and anxious?) I wasn't scared of labour last time but I am having major wobbles this time. I don't know if I can do it again.

I want my baby so badly I can't get through another 3-5 weeks. But I guess I'm going to have to!

Also why is the weather still like bloody summer. Any other september I'd have thought this was brilliant. But I am lying here in my pants with the fan on ffs. September!

[weebairn]

So anyway, I am trying (TRYING) to think of good constructive things to do each day. Some days I am with toddler but some I have off. If I get things done I feel better. Some of the things are

cook proper food (I often do slow cooker meals as I have more energy in the mornings)
try and do at least 3 good activities with toddler a day and not just stick cbeebies on (made play dough the other day, cooked a pizza with her, invited some friends round so she had kids to play with)
do yoga (I have only managed to get to 3 actual classes this pregnancy Ithink, but I manage my yoga dvd maybe 3-4 times a week)
make daughter's birthday present & cake (I am due on her birthday so trying to get it all done in advance!)
finish filling in daughter's baby book before life becomes a blur again
listen to soothing hypnobirthing cd even though it didn't stop it hurting last time
PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES
Go for short walks
Pack hospital bag (really should do this tomorrow)

You get the idea… if anyone wants to share nice/constructive things they are doing maybe that would be helpful! Or any good ideas for entertaining toddlers when you can't bloody run and climb any more!

[RevoltingPeasant]

Take toddler swimming?

[Noodledoodledoo]

I on the other hand am 38 weeks today and sick to the back teeth of medical intervention. It feels like since the beginning of July I have had a minimum of 1 appointment a week due to being a perceived high risk pregnancy due to age and weight.

They are currently debating babies size but not going to do anything till 41 weeks so obviously not majorly critical but still each week I have to go and have everything checked again.

It was decided at 16 weeks I would have high blood pressure towards the end so have to have that checked weekly regardless even though its never hit anything higher than 115/80 ish!

It is driving me potty!!!! Guess we are never happy with 'our lot'!

[Annarose2014]

I am only 32 weeks but also haven't had a scan since 20 weeks and apparently won't be having another at all. Totally hands off. The odd 5 min Midwife appt but thats it.

On the one hand its been great not having to be in that hospital much, and it instills a sense of confidence cos if they're not worried,why should I be?

On the other hand I'm a bit bemused. I never expected to be just left to get on with it, so to speak.

Even this morning at my Midwife appt, she measured me with a tape measure and used the phrase "bang on". I got no other information other than it was "fine". Very casual!

But then I guess I'd be more anxious if I had to have a lot of messing about. So its the lesser of two evils.

[squizita]

Wee yes the constructive things to do is a nightmare! I have a similar list.

I also have appointments for my thyroid which has nothing to do with my pregnancy but is a PITA (or rather pain in the neck) and I totally want sorted... but which they'll only do after baby's here. Hormones also make me worry excessively and imagine they'll virtually want to chop my head off, rather than the far, far more likely 'day surgery to remove a cyst and a few months on thyroxene'.

So my days consist of TRYING to cook, shop, gentle walk, yoga, clean, hypnobirth, read a book, bounce on the ball, pelvic floor, hypnobirth, pereneal massage.
But with a whole lot of eating biscuits and angrily complaining about my neck and/or back and/or braxton hicks.
And urinating. Spending plenty of time doing that too.

[jaykay34]

Thanks for your replies, they have really helped !
I am feeling far more thankful that I have not had much intervention during this pregnancy...I am starting to see that it's a sign that things have progressed nicely rather than stressing about it ! I had a lovely chat with my midwife and she was also quite reassuring - she thinks the baby feels a normal size of about 7 lb and he is now fully engaged !

I really feel for those of you with toddlers...my kids are at secondary so are thankfully getting more independant !

Hopefully not much longer for us all now !

[Gen35]

I'm 38 wks too - I had a scan (£99) a few days back as I had dc1 in another country where they routinely check position etc at 38 wks. It wasn't that reassuring tbh because second babies often don't get in position til late (she's on the wrong side, not engaged) and the weight calculation varies 1 lb either side so anywhere from 6 lb 4 to 8 lb 4! Nice to see the baby though. The waiting just sucks...I was v overdue with dc1 and really hoping not to go that long this time..