December 2010: no, it's not an autumn pumpkin up my jumper ...

[Miffster]

...and we're gliding towards the third trimester, draped in suitably flowing attire.

Hettiew the whole count the kicks thing is fine, but you what you really need to get to know is your babies rhythm, to know what is normal for your baby and by default then if something doesn't seem right. What you feel will very much depend on the position of your placenta and baby as well, my LO is currently back to back and placenta low so I feel quite alot.

If you're moving around alot you may not feel them as much as you almost rock them to sleep, no coincedence they like to kick when we are laying down trying to sleep! Sometimes babies do go quieter for a time but if you are ever concerned you should get it checked out. Our midwives actually don't tell you to count 10 a day any more. And the whole 'babies move less as they get full term' is a myth. (Hope I haven't gone on too much but this is a big issue for me!!)

No jobobpip08 - that's really, really useful! Thanks.

phew hettiew can't help myself

PJen - from what friends say I don't think activity in the womb seems to correlate much to what a baby is like after being born.

crazykat - if you're still feeling kicks, don't worry too much, but definitely get checked out - always better safe than sorry. I freaked out in the same situation a week or two ago and I think now it was actually baby spending more time head down and not back-to-back than before so the kicks didn't feel nearly as strong.

10 kicks in 10 hours doesn't seem like a lot to me either - I'm usually feeling on average 3-5 kicks in 1 hour, though baby does have her "nap" times it seems.

WLL - OMG isn't tranverse uncomfortable! On Sunday morning we were walking to the tube and I had to stop from the pain of baby stretching while transverse.

Thanks everyone on reassurance :) I was getting nervous of having a hyperactive bunny!

Japh and WLL your LOs are transverse? Mine is breech but sometimes changes to transverse and is such a painful experience. Her head sticks out under my right arm and her chubby bum under my left stretching all the internal muscles.... It seems that she likes to sleep transverse but when she wakes up she goes to breech, since when her head is on my side she doesn't move much. I think I have too much room for her... She seems to still have a lot of mobility there...

Lavita don't worry about 10 kgs - - I am expecting only one and am already 10 Kgs up!!! I am sure 5 lbs of which are in the jugs and another 5 lbs in bum cheeks

Evening all,

Sorry I haven't posted for ages- have been crazy busy and have only had a chance every now and again to read the thread.

Sorry to hear so many of you have been in pain- no fun at all.

Things okay here- coming up to 28 weeks on Saturday and bump has really grown heaps in last couple of weeks. Am starting to feel really excited now. Lots of kicking especially when I lie down at night but then other days there doesn't seem to be too much.

Have had quite a lot of pain just above my ribs but it's certainly better than it was. Thankfully acid is now more under control- was prescribed Mucogen (tastes better than it sounds and way better than gaviscon).

Am still feeling very nesty but can't do anything about baby's room for ages as we will have the double bed in the spare room until Feb (my mum is coming from NZ to help out for a few weeks) so won't really be able to have baby's room as such until then.

Am going to be working up until a week before EDD (am self employed) - am so hoping I'm going to be able to last until then!

Sleeping is very tricky for me at the moment- absolutely cannot get comfy and am always waking up on my back and then start worrying that it's bad for the baby (reckon I must spend 3/4 of the night on my back (oops)

Anyway, enough about me,

have a nice evening everyone

notso lol at what you should defntiely have said to the woman in the shop

pjen if it's any comfort, DD was a right fidget when I was expecting her but after she was born, she was a fab sleeer

emma me too - I keep waking up to find I'm lying on my back. I kind of assume if it was doing me any harm, my brain would wake me up.

My dad told me he reckons I'm the same size now (6 months tomorrow) as I was at 42 weeks last time - charming! I've aslo noticed that my boobs have gone all veiny - yeurgh!

Hi all

Physio was really nice, just wore dress (little choice tbh anyway lol) which seemed better than anything else actually as I only needed to hitch it up rather than the hassle of stripping if I'd been in trousers. She's given me exercises and was very shocked at things I was totally clueless about considering thi is number 3.

I spoke too soon about the chest pain, I'm going for an ecg tomorrow. GP doesn't think anything the matter there but just wants to cover all bases. I was in wiht her for about half an hour today, and she thought I seemed very stressed and thinks it may be anxiety & panic attakcs. Funnily enough that's exactly what DP said last night.

Am totally shattered as can't sleep, simply can['t get into a position where something doesn't hurt.

I was thinking at about 3am "I can't wait for the next 10 weeks to be over, I could handle the pain and the niggles if only I could get some sleep" and then remembered the exhasution I'm feeling now is nothing compared to what I'll be feeling in a few months time. Bugger!

Well baby wasn't moving much at all yesterday and didn't feel normal so I called the hospital and ended up going in for a trace. Thankfully everything was fine and they were happy letting me go as I had a scan already booked for this morning. She's been moving as normal again today too.

Scan went well, she isn't abnormally large but is right up there on the scale apparently, about 3lbs already and I'm 28 weeks today. I also have quite a lot of amniotic fluid which can also make me measure larger, just below the high end of normal so might need that keeping an eye on too...Oh, she is still breech, extended breech and I'm sure she hasn't changed position since the midwife felt her (kicks same position etc and still can't breathe) so I think they got it wrong the other day when they said she was now head down. Her head is right up under my ribs.

Was lovely to see her though and very good news, the echogenic bowels have gone away! So relieved about that, one less thing to worry about :o

Feeling really tired, emotional, very uncomfortable and in pain this evening, everything hurts or aches and it's fairly depressing. I'm putting off my GTT tomorrow, I just can't face it. Hope everyone's ok.

C&G - glad to hear all is ok with the baby. Yay for the disappearance of the echogenic bowels.

Wave to emma

I am not sure where my baby is. The midwife said Breech but from her description I wonder if she meant transverse as I think I can feel a head at one side!

The interviews for the person who will take over my job were held today and I should know who has got it by tomorrow. Only 2 people applied and I have a favourite but have a worrying feeling that they will give it to the other person as it will just be more convenient as far as filling that person's job goes - it was all done internally. As I am currently the senior supervisor I would like to be told who has it before the rest of the dept but knowing my boss I will find out the same time as everyone else.

They are expecting me to train the new person in my last week at work while my other workmate is off on holiday, something I hope to change as I think it's unfair to expect me to be training in my last week and while one person down!

Yeeahhh C&G - bowels all fixed! Thats great! Sorry to hear about all the aches and pains...

Hope everything goes well with the ECG Cheryl - panic attacks would make some sense if you are feeling really stressed... Great that the doctor spent so much time with you.

PJEN - when my best pal was pregnant her Ds didn't stop moving and causing her grief! But then he has been the most chilled out baby, she says he must have been desperate to get out and as soon as he did breathed a bitg sigh of relief.

I'm another whose LO goes from breech to transverse. Often he is just lying diagnal with head under ribs on the right hand side and bottom somewhereover my left hip. I dont think he's moved for ages as I keep feeling this hard lump sticking out of my right side. I also wake on my back a lot! I must be comfy though - one of the advantages (the only advantage ) of waking every 2 hours for a pee is that I can re-position myself.

Headed to bed now... Working from home tomorrow! Hooorrayy!! perfect - can't face sitting at my desk all day again. I get so uncomfortable by around lunchtime.

emma I keep waking up laid on my stomach :-o I turn over and she starts kicking hell out of me straight away as if to say 'stop squashing me'...

anyone any ideas as to how I can stop squashing my baby other than squashing myself in with pillows?

C&G - thats great that the echogenic bowels are now all ok, you must be relieved.

Well it's one thing after a-bloody-nother here. My throat suddenly became really sore yesterday afternoon, gradually getting worse, it really hurts now, feels like a proper infection as my ears are killing me too and my teeth. It almost hurts as much as it did when I had my tonsils out.

Arrgghhhh! F F F* my maternity cover is being done by the person I hoped wouldn't get it. :( I won't be there so it shouldn't matter but I really feel sorry for my work-mate because it's really going to effect her.

the person hired has taken a lot of sick since she started here, hasn't got the years of experience in the company that the other candidate has and doesn't retain information easily. I can only guess that she is good at interviews and that my manager based her decision on what would be easier in terms of moving people around the department.

Plus, no one bothered to tell me, I found out from a staff email which I think is really rude given that I am the senior person here! Meh meh meh.

I don't think I can fake that I am pleased

hrmmph

Laurenamium IKWYM I tend to wake up on my tummy too at the moment, LO goes bonkers when I roll over. It tends to start when I sleep on my right hand side. DH was off to work at 5am this morning, managed to find the perfect sleeping spot, right in the middle of the bed. Only just got up

Cheryl I keep having hints from my tonsils, this is the longest they?ve behaved [almost all the way through the pregnancy].

PJen my LO is a fidget too, s/he?s getting quieter, I think it?s because motion is now restricting, but s/he turns still, rolling from anterior to posterior and then transverse to breech. Breech is the preferred position. I was counting 75 kicks in an hour, that?s the most, I think I had eaten almost a whole bag of jelly babies though. S/he is much more active after sweet or cold things.

DF I should hear today who is covering me before they can find a replacement, they?ve got to advertise it, but hopefully just internally. Anna used to work as our Admin Assistant and went off travelling for 18 months, she returned and finished her MA and has been temping throughout the department for the last couple of months. My manager gets on well with her and she fits in well with the team. She also knows alot of our jobs after supporting us for 3 years. They should let her know today. We are meeting up for cake and coffee at some point next week as she?s got her knitting in a tangle, and I?m here to save the day. :)

C&G such great news! Sorted themselves out, one less worry :)

maxpower My dad thinks my bumps the same size as his beer belly. My mum was showing my bump pictures with all three of us, and when she was pregnant with my sister at 18 weeks she was bigger than me now. They do say bumps are bigger 2nd/3rd time around. I already feel quite bumpy.

I?m really leaking breast milk like crazy, I have to wear pads every day now as they will just leak whatever. MW thinks this is great for Breastfeeding. But I?m 30 weeks tomorrow, is it just going to get worse over the next 10 weeks?

SiL and Newphew came for a visit yesterday, he's obsessed with buttons at the moment, electronic buttons. He also had the urge to go through every kitchen cupboard/drawer/freezer/dishwasher. Certainly openend my eyes to child proofing, if he's coming to visit much more may have to make preperations much earlier. He also managed to turn on the gas fire, which I struggle to get going! Boys eh? I can see him taking after DH and being an engineer.

PJen - my LO is still moving a lot and spends much of her time breech it seems. She's a real wriggler! Hope she gets in a good position later on...

emmaxmas - I can't lie on my back but that's because I get sick, dizzy and uncomfortable in about 2 minutes. I think that if you're comfortable, your bump can't be putting much pressure on the blood vessels.

DF - make sure you get it sorted that you will not be doing all the training/handover in your last week! What on earth would they do if you go off sick/leave early? IMO the last week should be her doing your job, already trained, but with you there to help if she gets stuck.

I'm really tired today and still itchy. I had a mare getting my blood tests done - first time I got there and they'd just closed (they're only open for general bloods 10am-3.30pm!!!!) and the next day they were short-staffed so I had to wait for 80 minutes and be late for my massage. So I don't get the results till next week now. I know it doesn't make much difference - if they're positive for OC, I have to wait to see a consultant, if they're negative I get them redone after 2 weeks - but it's frustrating not knowing.

Have got a work event on this evening too which I could really do without - I've promised DH that this is really the last thing I'm scheduling in. So so tired.

Morning all, I'm still feeling soo tired and uncomfortable; and freeeeezzzing!! It's sooo cold today! I can sense needing the heating on a lot, I really need to buy a few jumpers/cardis, anyone have any ideas where I can have a look?

Dueling hope you don't have to train the new person, seems a lot of work on you with one person also away, as you say. Sorry that the person you didn't want to get the job got it :(

Chooster I'm the same with waking all the time for a wee, can never seem to get comfortable lately at all.

lauren I get that even when I turn onto a side she doesn't like, she starts kicking me even more until I move!

kelle sounds like a fun day with sil and nephew :o I don't think the leaking will get worse and worse but once you're milk comes in (a couple of days after having the baby) then it will! I remember that!

japhrimel that itching sounds really awful :( Is there anything else you can do for it? Must drive you mad. I'm really feeling the tiredness now too, it's surprising how much it can hit you.

The doc's okayed me taking piriton if really needed. It doesn't help the itching much (not a good sign for it being OC as it wouldn't work for OC!) but it does make me drowsy so I can get some sleep anyway. Didn't take it last night as I felt okay when I went to bed but wished I had when I was awake and itchy at 3am.

Sympathies to all you tired ladies. I was utterly exhausted this morning after the 3rd night in a row of virtually no sleep. Was feeling a bit teary and DD asked me why I was so upset. DH explained to her that I was very tired so she went to get me a tissue, made me wipe my eyes and blow my nose and asked me to show her a happy face - ah bless Really cheered me up but then made me feel weepy for happy reasons - I just can't win!!!

Was late to work as a result of all that but my manager said not to bother to rush in for 9 and if I can only get here for 10 that's good enough for her.

C&G great news about your baby, that must be a relief

DF grr for you about your mat cover. Mine's being advertised at the moment (I don't technically start my mat leave until 29th Dec) so I don't know if there'll be someone in post before I go or not. Not had the brightest of applicant enquries though - one asked if it was a new post (err no, it's maternity cover ) and the other was really looking for a permanent position....

Sorry you're feeling all itchy japh I went through a phase of that back in July and it was horrible.

kellestar I'm hoping I won't get too much bigger, although I know that's wishful thinking I can't believe I was of my friend at work who's 3 weeks ahead of me with her first DC - she was showing well before I was but I fear I'm rapidly catching up!

DF, I completely agree that they are being rubbish. It's like they have pushed you out before you have left. BUT... this might not be a such a bad thing. I mean if your cover is rubbish, then everyone will be very glad when you return. The last thing I would want is someone who was going to come in and do a better job than I do. So perhaps rubbish cover will have it's own sweet rewards.

But, it was bad form to not involve you in the cover decision and def bad not to even give you the courtesy of being told first.

I don't have any maternity cover because my work is project based so it just means I find a new project when I return.

Now, onto important shopping stuff, who is buying what kind of steriliser. I had Avent last time, but of course gave it away. So I will have to re purchase the whole bottles, steriliser, etc. again. Have noticed that Tommy Tippee seems to be on every shelf. So, might go for that one. But interested to hear what others are doing. I definitely want an electric and not a microwave one.

Aw - thanks for the sympathy. I don't mind the fact they have advertised and recruited early because it gives me more time to train them but the plan so far has been for the training to start in my last week! Hopefully I can change that as it's really not good for me.

I shouldn't let personal preferences get me down really. Am just hoping that she does the job ok and doesn't take too much holiday or leave to much for my work-mate to do.

strix I've got an electric Tommee Tippee one - used it last time and will be rolling it out again. Was quite big but we're lucky as we have quite a lot of work surface in our kitchen. Very easy to use and keep clean.

strix Iv got an avent IQ24 steriliser, its my first child so its all shiny in the box and I have no idea whatsoever how to use it!

maxpower I had a pregnant moment earlier when I banged my elbow and DD came over to kiss it better. For some reason, it just made me well up and it was as much as I could do to stop myself from sobbing onto her little 2 year old shoulder, the poor thing. Luckily I managed to restrain myself.

Does anyone else have phases of feeling vulnerable and like they just want their Mum is or it only me? Sometimes I want someone to give me a big cuddle and say it's all alright, despite being a grown woman and a Mummy myself. I expect it's the hormones.

WLL YES! I am not a huggly, cuddly person other than DH. So when I last saw my mum and gave her a hug, I'm not sure who was more suprised. I did feel a little embarrased, she frowned and gave me odd looks all the time I was there. I think the last time I gave her a hug I was 10 or so.

DH has noticed I'm terribly weepy, over TV adverts, things on TV and sometimes anything at all. Bless him, I think he's appreciating the cuddles.