April 2012 babies: Third Trimester: the end is in sight!

[LaTristesse]

Heartburn, haemorrhoids and hairy stomachs; come waddle through the glamorous third trimester with us... !

Previous (2nd trimester) thread here

Initial thread (1st trimester) thread here

Stats thread here

Hello new peeps .

I contemplated homebirth but DH not up for it and I think birthing in a foreign country is enough to handle at the moment. We're going midwife-led though which is seen as a bit radical here! All DH's colleagues were a bit surprised we weren't using an OB though they got it when he explained why. Saw one of my midwives yesterday and she is so lovely. Heartbeat good, GTT fine and measuring spot on for 28 weeks. Baby is lying across me at the moment so hopefully he/she will wriggle into the right position soon! Thinking getting a bit more walking in will help maybe?

Beyond I am planning a homebirth (against medical advice following a dodgy 3rd stage with DD) and have still found the MW team to be very supportive

yummymummytobe1 Our paths have crossed on other threads, didn't realise you were due in April too!

Am quite late joining the thread - have been on MN for about 2.5yrs, have DD who was born in March 2010 and am now 28+2 with DC2. Due 4 April but if anyone asks I'm telling them 14 April to try and stop the influx of bloody annoying concerned phone calls asking if baby is here yet that I had when waiting for DD (born at 42+2)

Hello everyone.
I'm a bit of a sporadic poster sorry.
25+3 at the moment and feeling fine but starting to find picking DS2 up a bit difficult. Thankfully I only have heartburn from the 3 H's.

Mackrelmint am also looking at doubles in earnest. So far the bugaboo Donkey is my top choice but am not sure about the ££££, followed by the Britax B-dual.

I am high risk due to being on blood thinning injections as I had a PE in my first pregnancy so advised not to have a homebirth, and seeing as DC2 and 3 both ended up jaundiced I'd end up spending time in hospital anyway.

I would like to ask about using the pool this time didn't realise they even had one at the hospital, just happened to be in the pool room for delivering DC3, but unfortunately or fortunately depending how you look at it the birth was too quick to consider it!

Oh and in keeping with the title of the thread, I can confirm I have both a and c but not b. Same as last time.

hi girls,
I got the results from my GTT test today and they are all normally, as with my iron levels from blood test. Not another midwife now till 31 wks. then every 2 wks.

I went to go along to Anti-natal classes on tuesday with hubby and they where cancelled!!!
due to lack of people and lack of midwifes in the area, shame was looking forward to them, being my first.
Spoke to my own midwife and she has booked me on to a 3hr one at the local hospital, then viewing round the birth suits. But still thinking of going to my main city hospital in bristol where they all pain relieve and are fully fuctional!
Would of been nice having the weekly classes, maybe to meet people, oh well!

Baby is kicking loads lately, and this morning i felt a arm/leg stick right out of my belly. As we speak it hurting me in my ribs. Finding it difficult to sleep now and i can tell when he/she is awake.

We have brought most things a cot, crib and been babies painting room. Thinking of the graco symbio too, but already had a maxi- cosi car seat. So we are gonna buy a i- candy cherry pram, but cant decide on colour black or mulberry. But didnt know if we could put a boy if we have one, in the mulberry?

I really really really want a homebirth too but I'm not sure whether it will happen because of uncertainty surrounding the health of my baby

The ventricle size has actually returned to normal but now they are saying the baby's growth overall has slowed right down. It's dropped below the 5th percentile whereas 4 weeks ago it was between the 25th and 50th. Like the ventricle measurement, it could indicate a chromosome abnormality but there's no way of diagnosing without an amniocentesis, which we are still adamant we won't have. Soooo we are not out of the woods yet, and won't know until baby is born.

Does anyone think they might support me to have a homebirth anyway?

Had a growth check scan yesterday (at 24 +6) and the sonographer said that the baby is still big for his age. She didn't tell me the measurements and I couldn't see the screen very well so I'm feeling a bit in the dark about it all. She asked me if I felt big but as its my first I'm not sure how big I should be feeling! I've got another follow up scan at 34 weeks.

Having a lovely(!) touch of insomnia this morning. Been awake since 3am. MN is keeping me entertained though :)

Bushy I found this website useful for info on homebirths, there are a few stories on there of people who did have poorly babies at home, might be worth having a look through them? (its under "can I have a homebirth if...")

My mum is less than keen on the idea, having been there at DSs birth, and DH is also a bit wary. They're on the side of "but what if..." at the moment (DH is fine with the birth bit, but would rather the newbie be in hospital overnight for his first night just in case). I have explained to them that a planned homebirth means that a MW will be available, it doesnt mean I cant go to hospital if I feel the need to.

Another hairy belly here...well more downy really, but it's quite bizarre all the same!

Hope everyone is doing well - and welcome to all newcomers! Regarding prams etc we were dead set on a Quinny Buzz, but then our friend gave us their no-longer-needed Phil & Teds sport which we love - and it saved us several hundred pounds and fits our maxi cosi car seat so it's all good.

Off to hospital on Tuesday for GTT (my mum has diabetes) and an anti-d injection. Wish me luck!

Btw - tried to have sex yesterday. It was hilarious but don't think it'll happen again for a while - is it worth the hassle when you're growing so fast?!

Hello all, my first post!! Not long to go now!! 26 weeks for me, our first baby a boy!
I must say it is SO nice to see lots of other people have found out what they are having, When ive told people they say "oh why did you find out, you've ruined the suprise!" and then when you say HES A BOY!!! they go "oh"

We are VERY excited, nervous about the birth! The nesting is kicking in, lots of fun, can't quite believe how expensive baby stuff is though, sale shopping is definetly the way ahead for clothes! Prams = minefield. Cant decide!

If I can just shake this cold/cough I will be very happy indeed!!

Bushy I'm so sorry about about the uncertainty and extra stress you are experiencing. The slow growth could be down to a number of things - it could just be a small baby. Some friends of mine went through hell when they were expecting and ended up seeing lots of private specialists because they were so scared by scan results and being told there could be a sinister reason for why the baby was so small - turned out fine, baby was 6lb at birth which isn't huge but sure isn't tiny and there was nothing wrong with her.

That said, I personally would want the reassurance and back up of NICU staff on hand at the delivery if your doctors have concerns - I'd have a hospital birth in your circumstances.

Another friend had markers for Downs and decided to wait until she was about 33 weeks to have the amnio. It wasn't that it would have changed the outcome, she was having the baby no matter what but at that stage if it triggered labour the baby would almost certainly be fine. Also it gave her the last 7 or so weeks of her pregnancy being happy that there were no chromosomal abnormalities with her baby. Her amnio went fine and again a perfectly healthy baby was the outcome.

Welcome to all the new faces.

Cubtrouble people can be very odd. And boys are lovely. I've got a stinking cold too, had it since Monday.

bushy If you want a homebirth then it is your right to do so and you should get midwife support for that. If you or your baby are considered to be high risk there are things you and the MWs can do to reduce risks, such as having an ambulance on standby to get you to hospital if baby requires help, for example. Also, as someone else said, you could just have a small baby, if your baby is on the 5th centile then out of 100 babies 95 will be bigger and 4 will be smaller still. If you'd feel more comfortable having a hospital birth then that's OK too, if your MLU is next to the hospital and neo natal unit then that might be a good compromise as there's very little they can offer in an MLU that you can't get at home anyway.

I suppose you'll be able to make a more informed decision after the amino if you choose to have one done, but the homebirth site mentioned is very good. You could also try asking on the Yahoo homebirth group for advice, Mary Cronk (well respected IM) is a regular poster as well as lots if women who have had or planned homebirths with all sorts of complications or issues who might be able to help you form a decision

Am very pleased we don't have to find another pram, we got a Mothercare Trenton Deluxe travel set for DD and will use it again when necessary, other than that we'll get a decent sling which I can feed in and DD can go in the knackered old stroller until baby is 6mo, then they can both go in the double umbrella buggy I bought for work if DD isn't walking everywhere by then

that sounds vrey stressful bushy. I hope your doctors/mws are helpful and can help talk you through all your options and support you in whatever you decide re home or hospital.

spanner - I think we managed about twice in last pregnancy - after I had stopped feeling too sick I felt too big, and I think we gave it one go and decided it wasn't worth the hassle! (Apart from once really near the end - day before I gave birth - to try to hasten labour). Not doing too much better this time...

How's everyone doing with tiredness? I managed to feel fine throughout first trimester but last few days I feel like I am goign to collapse by 6pm and am in bed or sleeping on the sofa an hour or two later. Bit worried if the whole rest of my pregnancy is going to be like this - not going to get much done!

Hello to everyone new!! It's lovely this thread is so active now!

I'm doing quite well on the tiredness front - I've really perked up over the last few weeks. I went through a stage where I put DD to bed at 7.30, then went straight to bed myself - I'm averaging 10pm now, which is great because it's giving me and DP sometime together - leading me to the other point....

..... Think I must be one of those horny pregnant women!

Mackerel I think I slept through the first 12 weeks, but feel OK now. Am already on ML though which helps - if I need a sit down and a biscuit mid-afternoon I can have one, as long as I bribe DD with a biscuit too

Jambalaya Me too although it will balance out when DC2 arrives as there won't be many opportunities arising with a baby and toddler around!

We're all chugging along here! It's lovely hearing how everyone's doing. Not had much time for mumsnet I'm afraid as still working. 29 weeks today and finish work on 24th feb. Desperately trying to get everything to a point to pass on as I don't want to be worrying about work on ml. Don't know if we're having a girl or a boy. We found out last time and I'm enjoying the suspense of not knowing this time. Have been thinking a lot about names, it's so difficult. Am tempted to start a thread in baby names but don't know if I could face it. Have you all decided on names?
Dusted off the 4 year old Quinny and that's about all we've done. Keep promising myself when I finish work I'll do all these things (go for reflexology, get nursery ready, read some lovely books, get out in the garden, improve baking skills, see to many DIY issues amongst other things) will be interesting to see how that pans out. Has anybody else got a list of things or am I an odd ball?

Cubtrouble congratulations! We also decided to find out early and it's still a surprise - just one that happens at 20 weeks :-)

Mackrelmint I'm starting to feel really tired in the evenings and quite achy. I find it impossible not to fall asleep (probably snoring and dribbling on DP) on the sofa in the evening even if there is something good on the telly that I want to watch!!

aprilfools I have a really long list of baby stuff to get out of the loft and check over - but in the meantime instead of decorating a nursery (baby will be in with us till it sleeps well enough to share with ds) we're having a porch built, walls replastered, new living room floor laid, the whole downstairs repainted (primed for more crayon) and some understairs shelving fitted.

Think will either try and get a moby or Kari-me sling and flog the wilkinet.

bushy I think the idea of having a late amnio might be a good compromise - that way you can make an informed decision about the homebirth. It would be lovely to be able to have one with the confidence that you won't necessarily need to be transferred to hospital.

Personally, I'm hoping to give birth at our mlu. Our house is too tiny and party walls too paper thin to prevent the neighbours from getting an earful of me hollering down the g&a mask like a dalek. Also I want to be with trolley pushing distance from the labour ward should anything go wrong. Really don't want to take any risks having got this far with this pregnancy (esp after 4 miscarriages).

Jealous of those of you on ML already. Another 9 weeks for me and even then I'm thinking of trying to work from home till the baby comes - need as much money as poss as I think I'm only going to get Maternity Allowance and would love to take at least 10 months off with baby. Started back at 8 months with ds and it was very tough leaving him when he wasn't properly weaned yet. Was trying blw but my mum just spoodfed him while I wasn't around as he refused a bottle and was relying on me for milk. He has very varied tastes now but is still lazy at feeding himself (at 3yo) when I'm about.

Baby kicking lots at the moment - which is lovely and reassuring. I feel absolutely huge already. No calls re: gtt results this week so am assuming all is well there. Third trimester starts for me tomorrow! Final stretch!

Right, dh has just started stripping wallpaper and ds is 'helping' so best go and supervise.

I think I should have a list of stuff to do but keep just imagining that I'll have everything already due to DD and won't have to sort anything out... Hmmm we'll see.

I had a Moby wrap last time digi but annoyingly lost it. I did like it - DD slept in it A LOT - but it dug into my shoulders too much after a while. Then bought Ergo, which is brilliant for not putting strain on the back - only got it once DD 8 months or so so I haven't tried it out with newborn insert, but hoping that'll be the only one I need this time. Got given a MacLaren one as well but not so keen on that.

Quite jealous Fliss and Jambalaya! Would like to be a bit more active on that front...

Can't wait to go on ML - March 14th is my last day (35.5 weeks). I'm sure it'll roll around before I know it but still seems an age away at the moment...

Hi all, first time user & post! Nice to know I'm not all that weird and others are going through the same as me :) 27 + 2 at the mo & loving every second of it....even weird lumps sticking out of my belly & being kicked in personal places at 2am!!

Just like to say that OBEM scared the life out of me this week - I mean I know birth is painful but did they need to dwell on it QUITE so much!!

Start ML end of March at 38 weeks - that's if I can move by then I spose :)

Welcome newcomers!
All good here; finalised mat leave finally - working as long as poss as it's more restful to beat work than with DS at home! Going til 29th March (39+4!) so could be giving birth at my desk!
I'm not watching all these birth/midwifery programmes on at the mo- they mess with my Hypnobirthing karma!
Would love a homebirth, but DH isn't keen, so my compromise is the local MLU- I know quite a lot of the midwives so should be fine...
Those of you feeling tired- it could be iron levels dropping off, nows the time for it apparently. And not much nookie here either - any spare half hour is best spent sleeping for me! Poor DH!

LaTristesse DH isn't keen on me having a homebirth either, he'd very much rather I went to the CLU again but seeing as it's me that actually has to get this baby out of my body, what I want goes

There's no point me using the local MLU as a compromise, as it's just as far from the hospital as our house is and there is nothing more they can do at the MLU than they can at home - as a 'high risk' birth I should have two community midwives in attendance for the whole thing (rather than one and then the second coming later on) anyway.

The only birth/MW programme that I've really found of any use either time is OBEM and Home Birth Diaries, but I've seen all of the HBD about five times over anyway. Pretty much everything else is US based and therefore almost rendered irrelevant to the experience over here anyway, even the few homebirths that they do show seem to involve an IV fluids being given, no skin-to-skin immediately after birth and in one or two that I've seen baby being delivered through some strange sort of sterile modesty sheet!

LaTristesse - I know a woman who almost gave birth at her desk! she is a teacher and waters broke as she was standing in front of a class of teenagers! Not due to staying on super-late though as she was only 36 weeks.

Will stock up on black pudding and spinach and see if I can boost my iron... Felt a bit better yesterday having sat down for an hour in the middle of the day whilst DD napped. We'll see how it goes today at work - I suspect not so bad as typing away at a desk is not nearly as strenuous as looking after a toddler.