DueJan 06 - third trimester and we're on a roll

[iris66]

Here we go then girls - a nice shiny new thread!!I was going to call it "backs, bumps & boobs" but that sounded like all we do is whinge about them! lol

Morning all

DP has generously given DD and I his cold so we are feeling pretty miserable today. I know this is gross but does anyone else have a really dragging weighty feeling in their erm nether regions. Sometimes when I go to the loo I feel like everythings going to fall out, can't remember it from last time though, still the joys of pregnancy.

No snow here yet

Sweetkitty, yes, I have had the 'dragging' feeling for weeks now. I did mention it to midwife who wasn't concerned and said something about ligaments stretching and extra swelling of tissues with blood (sorry if TMI!) 'down there'. I find practising my pelvic floor exercises can help relieve it for short while, but am generally just putting up with it.

I've been enjoying reading everyone's posts. Haven't been posting much myself as nothing much to report - am counting down the days left at work now, only one month to go, hooray!

Iris, have you started your hypno course now? How are you finding it? I'm starting to get into more regular practice now (doing at least one breathing technique every other day, plus visualisations), and have also just started doing perineal massage - which is very weird! But the book says I must, MUST do it every day for five minutes. DH is a bit bemused to say the least .

tis quiet on this thread too.... dont mean to 'gatecrash' but theres nothing happening on the due in Dec thread so i popped over here for a read up... well i am on the cusp of the due in Dec / Jan, with 31 Dec being my due date...so i am either the last one in Dec or the first in Jan! or there abouts... having loads of probs with SPD and VERY bad back ache but am keeping positive... so whos who on here, anyone got anything excotong to tell??

xx

Hi Jaysfirst! Let's hope for your sake your baby keeps you in the December crowd, as it doesn't sound like you are having a very comfortable time
If you scroll down the thread, someone was talking about a belly belt, and a vest style arrangement, that might help with the backache??

And sweetkitty, I can put my hand up for that draggy feeling too... don't remember it from the previous pregs, but hoping it will all sort itself (ditto leg veins ) once the baby is born. Pelvic floor exercises I'm sure are good, as improving the circulation in the general area can only help if it is a bit swollen.

Gearing up to doing this Christmas market at the weekend... really feel we're nearly at the top of the hill, then it will be freewheeling on the other side Who am I kidding - still got labour to go thru yet But having a bona fide reason for not working is still pretty cool

Hi all,

Lyra - I think all schools do CATS/IQ tests on entry but I've never heard of them actually revealing the results before. I did them on the other side of the country 25 yrs ago. Mad thing to do really as most parents don't understand them - who's heard of stanines? I have a psychology degree which helps!

Sweetkitty, Loomer, Tickle - do you think your babies have engaged?! Lucky you, if you are - baby is getting ready! Mine never do till labour and I know 2nd babies don't usually but it does make you feel like John Wayne fresh out of the saddle!

Tickle - is your family back here on the net? Have you thought of a webcam if so? I used one with dp when he worked in NZ and with my family there too - it's fab to use with MSN instant messaging and only one of you has to have it? My laptop belongs to work and it won't let me do anything like that!

Sorry to hear about the spd Jaysfirst - hope you have a xmas baby!

Can't claim to have an engaged baby unfortunately... I think he is still resolutely head up! The draggy feeling is just swelling in the nether regions. I do sometimes wonder how I got to feel like I'm 64 instead of 34 But hoping it will all go back to roughly where it should be by next summer

hi all -just v quick post as about to eat (only just got in after having to wait 3 1/2 hours for a booked appt - 4.30!! - at the hosp (apparently the consultant had to do 2 days worth in 1!!!) Nothing new apart from having to continue to do blood tests until baby arrives and risk is increasing now of having to have a hosp birth (pants! - will have to sell birthing pool!)

Loomer - haven't got around to booking the hypnotherapy yet (doing it with a friend so shouldn't be too difficult) but also haven't had any details in of parentcraft refresher or NCT courses either (think I may have to make a few calls - 6 weeks to go could be cutting it fine!)

over all your dragging problems girls - I just keep getting feet thrust down mine which can be a bit of a not looking forward to the delights that you've described over the coming weeks!
take care - need fooooooood!!!!! bye 4 now x

Dragging/pressure feeling here too sometimes. Midwife seems to think it is as the baby is so low but I don't expect it to go any lower as dd never desended any lower than this one is now.
Tickle webcams are great and make a great Christmas present for your parents if they don't have one or for the family from Santa?
When we were in London dh's parents had one and we had one too and they could watch dd and we could just chat for over the broadband for nothing it was great. You have to 'accept' connection so no getting caught unawares or anything like that.

Just a quickie - had a hectic morning already. Giving 3 boys including my ds a lift to nursery this morning, and the 2 visitors managed to bang heads, so it was wailing & a nosebleed at 8am!! Not the way to start the day. Have delivered them all now - aaah peace in the house. So a quick tidy up then it's off to the farm to prepare for being open at the weekend.

Supposed to be decorating it for Christmas... don't feel the least bit Christmassy yet

Have a good day! Ooh & webcam sounds like a very good idea... the children would love it!

Hi,

You girls write so much, I?m finding it hard to keep up. I?m sure my colleague must look my direction sometimes and know I?m not doing proper work - again.

Yesterday was a nice day as it was my birthday! DH had actually managed to buy a present on time and handed it to me in bed. What a nice way to start the day. Then at work various colleagues had little gifts and Dutch goodies for me, followed by a nice lunch at a Lebanese place around the corner, followed by chocolate cake in the afternoon. When I got home I was feeling completely stuffed but DH had dinner all ready to go and he had bought more chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert too. I managed to postpone dessert until 8.30pm as I was just too full to face it but then I felt jealous when he took more than me! How crazy am I? Just because it?s chocolate, I suppose. Oh, and I had a little glass of wine too, which tasted extra nice.

DH?s brother and wife had a baby on Tuesday, they?ve called him Sam. Everything went very well - only took about 6 hours. Too bad they?re all the way in NZ so we won?t get to see the new babe for ages. We?re hoping to go in October/September but he?ll be so big by then.

At my last check-up the MW said baby was possibly breech as well. Funny thing was that her trainee had a feel too and thought he was head down so I?m not sure who to believe. But, as other people have said, there is still plenty of time for him to turn again, and 10 more times should he want to. My Thomas was head down for ages but when I went to hospital to have him they suddenly noticed he was back to back. I didn?t have an exercise bal back then so hopefully this one will benefit from the different positions I assume these days.

About sleeping baby in his own room - We will be playing it by ear. Last time we had T sleeping in his (flat) pram so we could wheel him to whatever room we wanted, which worked out very well. We didn?t keep him with us for 6 whole months. He was just too noisy. After about 3 or 4 months we put him in the hallway just outside our bedroom door for a few nights and then we moved him into his own room. As the new baby?s room is right next to ours we?ll probably try and move him in there as soon as possible. It?s just so important to get some good sleep and we can easily hear him when he cries. The room is just far enough to block out the sniffling and snoring noises babies tend to make.

Iris, I?ll be doing an NCT refresher course too and mine starts on 30 Nov so you might still be all right to join one. I found it a bit late in the pg too but they don?t generally take as many weeks, do they? Mine is only 3 weeks, I think. And I?m really only going so I can meet some people.

Tickle, I completely agree with Rachey and Chuffed about getting a webcam. We bought my dad one for his birthday a while ago but they main thing is that we have one and my parents can see us and Thomas. If you?ve got some speakers too it?s even better. Thomas loves it when Oma and Opa talk to him and sing songs to him via the computer although I?m not sure he realises it?s them J

Phew, that was a long post. Sorry. There?s just so much to catch up on after a few days.

hi all

Don't worry Eshay I was always on mumsnet when I was pregnant the first time at work. Happy belated birthday for yesterday as well, glad you had a nice day.

Still having the dragging feeling in my nether regions. Don't think it's the baby engaging as it's not supposed to happen until you are in labour for a second baby maybe she's just bouncing in and out. Told DP it felt like my whole body was going to fall out my *** last night! Bless him don't think he knows what to say sometimes.

Think I had my first ever Braxton Hicks last night, tightening and pains across my bump. Did get worried for a bit but it thankfully it stopped. I'm finding this stage a bit more difficult than last time too, I'm not any bigger but think everything must be a bit slacker and my body also knows what it's doing too, does anyone else feel like it's harder 2nd (and 3rd time) around. I feel about 80 sometimes.

Hope everyone else is doing OK sorry about the moan.

Got loads ot do today so better get off here and make a start.

Brrr! Isn't it? Eshay - Happy Birthday for yesterday - I remember putting ds1 in the hall in his carrycot! We had to sleep with Billy (our dog!) in our room a while ago when visiting dp's nan and it reminded me of how much (or how little) noise disturbs sleep. Tickle - do you only feel 64! I'm with Sweetkitty and feel at least 80! I take ages in the morning to feel human - nerve problems with my ankle and my wrist are mainly to blame though. I'm sure sometimes baby pushes me and makes me roll over too (I say roll, I mean get on all fours and turn over!) My kids all crept out to school this morning with just dd coming to my bed to say goodbye bless them, they are so good. So much easier than toddlers - I don't envy you this time! Have started to train ds1 to make tea safely and he also made bolognese sauce the other day once I'd got all the bits out for him.

Just a quickie in lunchhour to say no, my babe's not engaged yet either - it was lying transverse at last feel... hope it keeps on twirling head-downwards though.

Happy belated birthday Eshay! Sounds like your DH is a bit of a sweetheart... a present AND chocolate cake AND ice-cream?! Lucky you!

Iris, what a pooey way to spend your day yesterday... hope you don't end up having to go into hospital for birth (but if you do decide to sell the pool, I'd be very interested - [cheeky icon]!!!).

I'm interested to read all your comments on sleeping arrangements, as we plan to have babe in with us for the first six months. But maybe not, if it's going to be noisy all night... I didn't realise the snuffling would be so disturbing.

Hello all

Had the day off today - ds ill with some grotty virus, and has been since Sat, so I took him to the doc's, then mum had an appointmet at the hosp so I took her there too. Done my duty for the day! Have to go into school this pm tho' as it's parent's evening tonight.

I've started getting pains at the front of my pelvis now, don't know if it's that dragging feeling everyone's mentioning. Just a dull ache, nothing too unbearable as yet.

My friend from aqua-natal has just been to hosp today and had her baby successfully turned by external version, so there's hope for all you breech ladies! I think she's got 4 weeks to go, so I hope babe stays head down for her now. My lo has been head down for a while now, and always seems to kick under my ribs on my right, so I don't think he's moving as much as before. I'm not keen on the hand movements at the bottom tho', they feel very wierd sometimes.

Decorator's finished baby's room now, very pleased with result, and all for £80. It is a small room, but not bad eh? We need to get some storage now, drawers and a changing station will do for the first year I think. My ds didn't seem to need a wardrobe until he was about 11, so I'll put that off for ds2 as well. So it's off to Ikea for us, hope we can find drawers to fit.

Tickle

What kind of farm do you have? Any animals or just crops?

Rach

You know you said your xh lives just a few doors down from you, don't your kids keep popping back to you when they're staying with him?
I'm with you feeling grateful not to have a toddler to look after at this stage, I love my 2 being so independent. And here we are having another totally dependent being to look after for the next 5 years or so. Are we mad or what?!!! I'm even considering no. 4, but it's the thought of having to have him or her quickly (because of my age [41]) that puts me off. I'd like to have no. 4 for no. 3's sake, so he's got a little friend, but don't fancy the hard work of the first few years. Lazy I know.

Iris

How do your blood sugars look? Are you managing to keep to a fairly low level? It must be grotty having to avoid sweet foods, altho' there are lots of tasty savoury foods out there too.... It's wierd that you've developed the gd isn't it, as you've hardly put on any weight with the pg have you? Is your baby looking big when you are examined?
I have read somewhere that it's a good idea to start expressing and freezing colostrum at this stage if you can, in case your baby has trouble keeping his bd sugar stable in the first few days, so that you can spoon or bottle feed him the expressed colostrum (as well as what you are producing and feeding via breast) to keep his bd sugar up and avoid having to give formula. Just a thought.

Off for a bath now and then to change into something smart for parent's eve.

Happy Birthday for yesterday Eshay! - another Sagittarius like me (I'm next Tues so hope my DH can come up with something as lovely as yours - though he is limited as I can't have chox & ice cream at the mo!)

Loomer - timely comment about the pool hon. Just got back from MW & she basically said that no matter how well controlled my sugar was she didn't want to do a home birth. (no sugar in sample again I noted!) TBH she didn't seem that keen when I first asked her so I think she's using this as a good excuse . I'm absolutely gutted but CAT me for addresses & stuff if you really want to buy it

Am going to go off to snivel frustratedly now - and try not to think of the large glass of wine and mega bar of chocolate that I really want right now sniff**

PS - just noticed a comment you made a while ago Rachey - is your DH a pilot?

What a shame Iris! you are having it rough at the mo, do you have a midwife led unit near you maybe? We have a brand new one (I haven't seen it yet) which apparently has wallpaper...?! And this therefore makes it home from home?! However they do keep intervention to a minimum and can do water births etc.

PMSL at dp being a pilot - if only! (cue top gun fantasy)he's a chef (hmm gordon ramsay/jamie oliver fantasy? I think not.. but he does do that really fast chopping ) he had a flying lesson as a birthday present from his parents, bit tricky squeezing all 6'5'' of him into the cockpit but he loved it.

Lyra - what are we doing???! I ask myself that question every day! actually, all I have to do is imagine dp's face (and his family, and my family, and the kids...) when they see the baby and I feel all warm and gooey inside! Dp does want another one (let's wait and see!) and I know exactly what you mean about a playmate, but time is ticking and the thought of a toddler here as well when pregnant is very daunting. He has even offered to give up work to look after them all.

And yes, they do re-appear en masse from ex-h regularly! Ds1 does have a key now in case he needs to get kit etc but it does curb our privacy a little! No different from if they lived here all the time though, I suppose. The pros of living so close definitely outweigh the cons and I hardly have to see him at all (it's a busy main road and his gf lives 50 miles away).

I think a bath is calling me too...

lol @ all you wanting more babies.

DP and I lying in bed last night (don't worry it's not rude, I've got back to him and several pillows between us) anyway DP says "I can't believe we are going to have another little girl soon it's brilliant I think we should have 2 more maybe one little boy too"

Iris - shame about your homebirth I'm trying not to get my hopes up either as I can only have a homebirth if I get to 39 weeks, knowing my luck I'll be 38+5 or something. I wish I could afford a independent midwife like on homebirth diaries on Discovery Health.

Better get off here DD's dinner is ready.

Oh Iris, poor you. With the gest diabetes are they worried that the baby or you will need special care afterwards? I guess it's always better to be safe than sorry, but such a bummer not getting the birth you want

Eshay - happy belated birthday! Sounds like you had a lovely one

Rachey... at children getting themselves off to school - wow! If we stay living here, I suppose there will come a day when they can do that (school is a short cycle away, no traffic) but it seems like a long way off just now.

Lyra - when I talk about the farm it doesn't actually have much land left with it (sold off a long time ago), but we have renovated the farmhouse to make it into a cafe, and use the outbuildings, courtyard and garden as a nature centre. So we do have some animals, but they are mostly fish, amphibians and invertebrates! dh's cousin always asks how it is going with our newt farm

Hello lovely ladies. Just a quick salutation before my sagging energy levels hit rock bottom.

Many happy returns Eshay. Sounds as if you had a lovely day. Choc cake and ice cream sounding particularly gorgeous right now.

Iris - so sorry to hear you can't have birth you want. Can you at least labour in water?

I'm with all of you re: weird pains and sensations. All feels a bit diff to last time. Had wicked Braxton Hicks on Tues night. Got in a right flap .

Oh bugger, am so tired fingers not working properly. Typing going haywire. Will love you and leave you.

Sweet dreams. G xx

Happy belated birthday Eshay. Bummer about the lack of icecream/chocolate Iris but can't you get Diabetic Icecream now that at least could be a little indulgence.
Loomer dd slept in our room in a cot until 16mths she was pretty snorty and snuffly for probably the first 8wks or so and then it just disappeared. This one will also be with us for the first 6mths as I don't want to put a little wee one in the room with a just 2yr old who is a monkey and can climb everything they'll end up sleeping together or something horrible like that.
Slipped on the stairs well the bottom 5 or 6 this morning landed on my right hip and have some sore carpet burn more than anything but feel a bit sore in my back. Hopefully nothing more serious than that. Will see if I can move tomorrow.
Eshay where in NZ are your inlaws? The kids can grow up to be penpals or something they'll be so close in age. Next Oct time will be a good age to do the trip with the little one although a bit of rainy time to be visited our lovely land in the middle of spring.

Hi all - IT'S BEEEN SNOWING !!!!!!!!!

Hope you all have it too (or not if you don't want it!) I just love the snow. DH had to be in stupidly early today so I've just despatched him armed with coffee & bacon butties (not being a good little wiflet by getting up early attending to him, I hasten to add, - I was up already anyway!)

Thanks so much for your supportive comments all. Unfortunately the criteria for the MW led unit is the same as for a home birth (ie they won't accept you if you're consultant led care) The hospital is lovely though (only a year old) and has a great birthing pool which I'm sure I could use. My main problem is a "hospital phobia" I developed a few years ago. Suppose this forces me to address it (am going to book some extra hypnotherapy) as currently I find myself bursting into tears on the way (and having little wibbles whilst there )every time i have to go. What a berk eh! Have to go back next Wed for a growth & fluid check/scan & to see the gynae & diabetic consultants (bump was measuring 32 yesterday - bang on) so I'm trying to think positively. The only way is up !!

Blimey sweetkitty - if you're feeling 80 there's no hope for the rest of us!! Loved every minute of pg last time (was only 21) but have realised just how much my old bod has aged with this one!!
I thought the baby had got a toe or something caught in my cervix last night. I tried to stand up and oooooh - only very uncomfortable!! lol at all of us like nesting elephants in bed with all the pillows

Rachey - ahhh lessons (blew my fantasy out of the water too!! - love a man in uniform!!) What a good idea! - will long for future reference.

Lyra - thanks for the expressing tip. Will talk to the nice hosp midwife next week. Your decorator sounds v reasonable BTW. Bet you're so pleased it's done now - you can get tittivating!(love that word)

Off now going to surprise DD with bacon butty in bed and news of snow. Have a warm one all!

Morning

Wish it was snowing here, but it hasn't arrived yet, although it's forcast.

Dh is off to stay with his sister in Oxted this weekend, they're going to see some rugby at Twickernam with their dad, so I'll be a single mum for a couple of nights. I hope the snow doesn't catch him on his travels. I love snow at home, but not that keen to drive through it.

Bad nite for me last nite, lots of dreams and tossing and turning, but at least I stayed lay down and didn't get up at an unearthly hour like usual, so I probably slept more than I think.

I'll have to go and get dh to do some last minute jobs before he sets out on his travels, see you later.

Some wet snow here too this morning... the children v excited yesterday when I said snow was forecast at the w/e

Ooh a bacon buttie. Now that's a craving I could get into - just have to train dh up on bringing it to me in bed.

Off to bake masses of Christmas cupcakes, and some more mince pies of course
xx

Snow here! Lots of it this morning but it's lovely and sunny now so mostly melting away (glad about this - only like fresh snow not dirty ice!). Ds1 went to school at 7.40!! Think his is the only one open around here. Rang the primary and they advised me to bring kids in to see if teacher turned up - I thought sod that and let them have a day in the garden (3 snowpeople so far!). They've also been shifting dd's stuff into newly carpeted loft - I'd forgotten what it was like to have carpet on the stairs and landing - so nice!

Went off to aquanatal but no one else turned up so let the physio off - took the opportunity to visit the birth centre (and see ickle babies on the postnatal ward! )and was distinctly underwhelmed - nice atmosphere (tv/dvd/shower/bean bags/balls/bedroom furntiture n bedding) but only 2 rooms and one pool! apparently they let you go home within 6 hrs now which is fab - with ds1 I was in for 5 days! I forgot Iris, you can't use it if you're under consultant care - what a shame, it is certainly nicer than labour ward but they all smell the same - take plenty of oils!

Tickle - I have done my years of walking up and down to school. At one point 3 times a day to reception and nursery with a double buggy. Even though it's only a 5-10 min walk with no roads to cross until the lollipop lady, the school won't let them walk home until they are in Year 3. It makes so much difference especially in the mornings with having to get toddlers/babies ready as well.

hi all snow here too nothing when we got up at 8 this morning but by 9.30am it was winter wonderland. Of all days to chose we got the car serviced this morning and I also went to a Mothers and Toddlers group for the first time. So bus and snow - not good combination! DD was a star at M&T's considering she's not used to being around other toddlers she was straight in there messing around. Had loads of people ask me when I was due and when I said 7 weeks they were like no your so neat - I think it's running after DD that keeps me from getting too big. We're back now had lovely toast and cheese and tea and some chocolate.

Don't know what I have done though as I feel like I've been horseriding for hours, I'm in agony down below feel like I've pulled every muscle down there. DP is coming home early today so I'm straight in the bath for a soak when he comes in. Really worried about all this pain and heavy feeling I've been getting.

Chuffed - hope you are feeling better after your fall.

Iris - a nice water birth and home in 6 hours sounds good (what I'm planning if I don't get a homebirth too) agree with you about hospitals though yuck!