Nov 2010, energy levels are low, but only one trimester to go!

[hmmSleep]

Here's the new discussion thread!

Stats thread here

Balijay am only taking one sachet a day as still on the multi vitamins and iron in the morning. Hoping that will be enough to push iron levels back over the magic 11.5 without upsetting my stomach again.

Feet are stupidly swollen now, shoes, even previously loose shoes, are tight and painful. Dr sent a wee sample off on Wed and signed me off till Monday to see if things improve but am seriously considering bringing maternity leave forward, especially as I have an hours drive each way.
Was due to finish at 35+4 and Monday is 34 so not that much of a jump. When are/ have other people finished?

Welcome to the new ladies + bumps.
For anyone wanting reassurance about weight gain, I think I'm up to 24lb now at 33+5. I was fairly trim to begin with and I'm hoping that I will be again one day.

Finishing work at 39+5, but I can bring it forward if I want to (highly likely).

momma my DS1 was almost 4kg but he did use the newborn/50cm first size clothes for a few weeks. It was nice to have just a few things that I liked and which weren't too big - you need little boosts in the first weeks. He had many more 1-3 months/56cm and wore them for longer, though.

I finish at 35 plus four, I would have gone on a bit longer but it's the October holidays and it saves me sorting out childcare and I am keen to do some stuff with the kids before baby arrives, god knows what I will do when the kids go back to school,I have told work I can be on call

I'm due to finish work at 38+5, dd was a week overdue so assuming this one will be too. I can work from home more than I do already if I need to but only go in to London twice a week as it is.

Anyone else starting on the raspberry leaf yet? I took it from 32 weeks last time and planning to do the same again.
It's supposed to tone the uterus and help with a efficient labour, who know is it works but my first one was pretty quick and easy so I'm going to do my best to replicate that!

I feel like a right slacker reading about you all working until 38 weeks - I finished at 31+5! Although, that is because my contract was terminated rather than through my choosing.

On the weight gain front, I've gained 15kgs so far I was fairly skinny before I got pg so I'm really hoping that I lose it all fairly easily.

umf it does sound like fab care. I've got a few friends who've been to the same hospital and not one of them used any of the services on offer as they were too busy gazing in wonder at their tiny newborns

privet I'm planning on getting some raspberry leaf in - wasn't sure when to start taking it though

bunnygirl, I think anytime after 32 weeks is fine for the raspberry leaf. I'm going o try it myself, although ds was born very quickly without, so a bit worried it could speed labour up too much! Has anyone taken it in previous pregnancies?

I tried raspberry leaf tea last time. I can't tell you whether or not it was any good though as dd was back to back, so took her time coming out!

I still have some tea bags in the cupboard, but not sure I'd bother again. The taste is pretty rank too

ooh no, I'll definitely be sticking to tablets again, not drinking the stuff!

Thanks umf - I'm hoping that he will indeed fit into some of the dinkier things I have bought as I too don't want him to look lost in clothes that are a bit too big. I'm due to finish work at 36 wks although could do with it being sooner tbh. Jury's out on the rasperry leaf tea although seeing an aromatherapist on Monday and might ask about it!

Hi all,

Hope you are well, seems sudden (yet not) that we are talking about raspberry leaf tea - eek not long now.

feeling a bit sorry for myself today (31+6) as over last few weeks really struggled with sciatica and SPD, but went to a whole new level last night
was trying on some maternity jeans in new look (aka Clown trousers) and obv couldn't sit down, lifted my leg too high and now am ruined, shooting pains down back,bump legs and err fanjo pretty much constant.
i barely slept last night as couldn't turn over, DP had to help me down the stairs to the loo and this morning took the bus to work rather than try and brave the stairs at train station.
made it into work but was in agony, spoke to my manager who was really (surprisingly) lovely and told me to push to get signed off.
I have a DRs appt this afternoon and will be happy with some meds but signed off for a week or two would be a bonus as the trek into work is really getting me down.

sorry to whinge, just want my body back to normal!!

lainey1981 ow!! I hope dr is helpful - and that you can get yourself to a physiotherapist ASAP either through dr or privately. I've been having a lot of problems with spd and legs and a physio who knows about pelvis problems has made sooooo much difference.

thanks umf just back from drs - saw a lovely locum who was very sympathetic and confirmed SPD, he recommended i call midwives for physio referral, prescribed me co-dydramol and advised me to self certify off work for 7 days. such a relief to be given the green light to say enough is enough. have just taken 2 pills so hopefully they will kick in soon .

putting my feet up and watching trashy tv til DP gets home.
will call midwife on mon for referral.

Hi all - going to move house tomorrow and not sure how long it will be before we have the internets back, so might not see y'all for a while. DD seems to be coming down with yet another mystery rash toddler virus - great timing.

umf glad you had a good last blast, and yay for physio!

I'm sort of with you re homebirth! Wonderful though most of the people at the hospital are, after just happening to draw the short straw with one or two hospital staff last time, I wonder whether I'd feel less of a mistrustful nervous wreck either with a homebirth or (gasp) an elective section. And as I would now feel jittery without the machine that goes 'bing', not available at home, that rules out homebirth for me.

Funny ol' world, isn't it, when I'd rather have either an elective section or a homebirth (generally regarded as polar opposites in terms of birthing philosophy) than a hospital VBAC?

Am pretty shocked at your Dr not introducing herself!

Oops hit send too early - was also going to say

Mibby how awful - didn't know iron supplements could do that!

Cardi lol at 'em - since when were girls not allowed blue?

Mind you, when DD was little, I managed to wash all her white vests and babygrows first with red (so they turned pink) and then with a blue thing whose colours ran (turned lilac). So now this little lad is going to be dressed in the same lilac and mistaken for a girl :o

On the question of non-bio, I dind't realise you were supposed to use it - we just do anyway because DP and I itch madly with bio. For that reason, I re-wash beautifully clean things in case they were washed in bio - never occured to me that the people they come from probably followed a rule (known to everyone but me) about using non-bio!

Rinnyx oops - happy travels now! :)

Boris and blondecat I never gave any thought to when babies stop being breech - just sort of assumed it all happened right at the end (ignorant and/or forgetful)

b00kw0rm nah we're just disorganised - I wanted to move before DC1 was born and we're only just managing it before DC2 arrives! He'd better not choose tonight or this weekend to come 8 weeks early (or is it 7?) - I want to be in the new place first! Hey, boxes confined to one room is pretty good going - at least you know where they are!

Hi mommainheels and sarahbuff! :)

Looopy and canigetmuchbigger, I'll be taking
mobile phone,
charger for said phone,
and a water bottle (which can be filled right up and can be drunk from lying down)

• the essentials to sanity that the hospital won't provide :)

Oh and slippers that I can walk into in case I have a section (or if I have an elective sec) - don't want to get back into bed with dirty feet/socks from floor that visitors have walked all over, and can't reach down to deal with non-slip-ons...

Nursing bras - I'm tempted to buy some now because I'm already on my second bra-extender (as in, two hooked together) and don't want to buy a new non-nursing bra (expensive Bravissimo jobbie for my GG size) that I may never fit into again... at least with a nursing bra there's hope that I'll fit it again as my ribcage shrinks back down! Or I can just keep adding those bra-extenders... WWYD?

bunnygirl good point about the tidying/cooking. My DP is wonderful and does that (was thoroughly stressed in antenatal classes that the mother's job is to breastfeed; the partner's job is to do everything else so that she can breastfeed). Massive cat-bum-mouth from MIL - turns out she got home from hospital with DC1 and PIL had hissy-fit because his breakfast wasn't ready when he got out of the shower - so she now thinks that's the rule :(

hmm I'll tell anyone who'll listen (and many who would rather not) that cocoa beans are fruit and sugar cane/beet is veg so yo are doing the right thing by eating chocolate eclairs!

Hi ladies I am 30 weeks (31 weeks tomorrow..yeah single figure count down). Due to have a little boy on 27th November but he is already putting me through my paces and I was up at the hospital last weekend due to some pretty strong and very regular contractions so been on bedrest all week. Any how yes dairymilk I am worried about xmas shopping but I think I will do everything when on maternity leave via the internet and if people are not happy with their presents this year..tough! lol.

Hey everyone, how are you all doing?

Had my midwife appointment on Tuesday, bump measuring 30 1/2cm at 31+6 weeks. Midwife didn't seem concerned and she asked how big DS was last time round. She said that it doesn't look like this baby will be too big, which was a relief to hear! Baby has turned and is now facing the right way to come out, thank-god, no complications as of yet! My iron levels came back and were a whopping 13.5, the midwife seemed pretty chuffed with that and said she wished she has iron levels that good! I don't know where the iron is coming from in my diet .

Sorry to hear there are those still suffering with SPD. Mine seems to have cleared up and only hurts now and again when I am in bed, really wish I'd invested in a pregnancy pillow!

Going for a scan next Wednesday. Feels like I haven't seen LO in ages, so wanted to take my very last opportunity to see baby before it is born. It's only a 2d scan, as the 3d scans seemed pretty expensive and they said they don't like to perform 3d scans after 32 weeks. We should hopefully be able to confirm the sex this time, as I am still not sure about the 20 week scan photos! and they'll try and do a 3d scan and take a few pictures if possible (baby may be too far down in pelvis!). Hoping to get some good pictures but just to know baby is looking healthy is enough for me!!!

Hope everyone is ok, speak soon!! x x x

Hi nicky80, its such a contrary time, we are so close to when we can give birth with no problems but just want to wait a little bit longer, I havent had any proper contractions but the braxton hicks are really putting me through my paces,

My spd seems to have cleared up on its own, I have been waiting for an appointment to come through from the practice physio but havent heard anything, now not sure whether to chase it up or just leave it.

Nursing bras, I bought some at 28weeks, I had to get new bras, I was 32b before preg, had gone up to a 34d and could hardly breathe in them with lots of overhang, so the brilliant fitter in aberdeen m and s fitted me really well as 36e, but said I should go up another cup size which will cover me for at least some of the time feeding.

Hi newbies and all,

quick post: have any of you developed gestational diabetes? I have a GTT next week to confirm whether I have or not. This theory is all based on fact that LO is measuring a bit big (4lbs 11 @ 32 weeks).

What are the implications....?

sabie I had borderline high glucose result about a month ago and going for a retest next week. Was told to eat more protein, less starch, which I've been doing, though not managed to lay off the chocolate. Think there's a risk they'll want to induce early, not sure though, hopefully someone who's been through it can clarify.

nicky internet christmas shopping definitely the way to go here, in fact I've started already, just in case I'm somewhat distracted with other things nearer Christmas! I'm making the Christmas pud today too, might even put some carols on while I do it

I have had glucose come back in a urine test and so need to keep that monitored. Its one thing after another with this pregnancy. I am also getting some pretty painful kicks from the baby which take my breath away. Anyone else had this? I am also a suffering with SPD (pain began around 15 weeks) its now really awful and I can barely move about. I am wondering if this is why his kicks hurt so much as I have asked all my friends with children and they said that they didnt experience this. Roll on EDD.. :-(

sabie try not to worry - I had exactly the same thing. Baby was actually weighing in more than that with me - 5lb 8oz about 10 days ago at 33/3 weeks. No problem with GTT, just a big baby. No point stressing about it to my mind. I'm due another scan in 2 weeks time.

Just to add Sabie, the weight estimates based on scans can apparently be out as much as 40%(!) so I wouldn't consider that on its own a big factor in GD, however, if you have ketones in your urine (or is it protein?) that is a good indicator. Your MW should be doing a wee sample every time you see her and would pick up straight away if there was something awry... Hope everything is ok for you!

Re: raspberry leaf tea, I didn't drink it until about 38 weeks with my others, but interestingly the two labours I did drink it before were far more manageable and I had no pain relief, the one labour I didn't drink it before was much more painful and even with gar and air I found it a really tough labour to get through.

They were all quick though, my first (drank the tea, no pain relief) was 3hrs from 3cm to baby out, second labour (no tea, guess I forgot about it! ad gas&air) was 2hrs from 3cm to baby out, and last labour (drank the tea, no pain relief) was 45 minutes from 3cm to baby out, and only the last two contractions were very painful, the rest were very manageable. This time I have started having one cup of the tea each day from 33 weeks, I plan to have 2 a day when I get to 36 weeks and 3 and day from 38 weeks... Here's hoping it helps again!

Haven't been here for ages sorry.

But EEEK just noticed that there is an October post-natal thread. We're next!

Hello everyone

Raspberry leaf tea - huh? As a complete ignorant can I ask what's that about? And is it a complementary thing or one of the more conventional ones? And is it tasty? I used to have raspberry tea but not leaf...
I await enlightenment

In other news the Cat household moved into acquiring baby stuff phase. All more or less ok apart from a disaster with one London department store - we went there to avoid hassle of deliveries by online shops. And hassle is what we got - as well as £200 markups. [ angry]. Dh had to hold me back as I was close to doing a" Rottweiler snapping on a lead" impression.

my limited online experience is v mixed so far

Isabela Oliver - v good, communicate, warn if delays likely and offer delivery before 9 option
Greenbaby - not so good. No updates, in stock items still not sent out 7 days after order, otherwise radio silence.
Anyone else? Maybe I am just not lucky but would appreciate tips before I order from others. I'm looking for:
Clarity - websites which say how long before despatch and stick to it, inform clients of busy periods if delays likely etc
Choice - option to pay extra for a convenient delivery slot
No city link - as they offer no leave at post office option and the taxi to their out of way depot set me back £30 once.

So if anyone has recommendations they'd be very gratefully received.
In particular did anyone use the nct shop or natural / organic baby shower? Merino kids and the other merino website?

Thank you!

Tomorrow will be crazy - need to take the 6kg cat to vet, followed closely by 2 doctor appointments and my first nct class. Until today it looked like dh would make it. Not any more.
I am really hoping someone else will turn up alone and the group will be non threatening and uncompetitive. And friendly. Yes, my name is blondecat and i am scared of yummy mummies, trophy wives, earth mothers and career superwomen alike.

• bows head in shame-