May be Babies - The Third Trimester

[SirCharles]

A new thread as the other one was ready to burst!
Thanks *Mikocat" for the new name.

No joy on names here I am afraid. Have agreed to just wait and see what he looks like and we cannot agree at all on name at the moment.
37 weeks on saturday also so you come on out then baby.

34 weeks today - I had completely forgotten that 37 weeks as considered full term, eeek! like everyone else have just dawned on me that this is happening soon now! And so glad to say that car seat was duly ordered over the weekend and arrives today...;phew! Bag for hospital is sorted, sort of....apart from needs filling with stuff...like super huge knickers and those pads everyone keeps telling me about - joy!!! Two ladies I know have just had their babies and both had labour for days on end and ended up with C sections in the end, quite traumatised - so that has frightened me somewhat. Sort of thinking now that if at the 36 week scan placenta previa is still the case for me, well, maybe that's not so bad, eh?!
Apart from that SPD playing up again and have had a cold for about 3 weeks - at the moment with a cough that makes me gag. Baby bounces around happily so must bave quite a lot of room still I imagine!

Just had a quick catch up on the thread. Those EDDs are getting so close now for some people! I'm only 33 weeks now, an already feeling the pressure of so much to do... We spent all weekend decorating the nursery, and are going away so have been running around crazily packing yesterday and today. When we get back, we'll have to get all the baby stuff out of the loft and sorted out (DH is not looking forward to this!). Goodname we also have an Amby, moses basket, crib and cot bed - the baby will have to sleep in one of them!!!

Other people potty training, have your DCs been "naming" their poos yet (or is it just my DCs that do this)? DD2 cheerily told me her poo was a "snake" the other day, I remember DD1 doing "caterpillar" and "birdie poo" (surprisingly it did look very much like a bird!) when she potty trained. Hoping to get DD2 to use the big toilet more when we're away, as I can see her costing me a fortune in potette liners when we're out and about! She's another one that really loves weeing on the froggies, problem is she loves it too much, and uses weeing as a cure for boredom when we're out!

Catsycat - No naming of poos yet but happily most are going in the loo now. Just in time too as ds has had horribly loose bowels since yesterday. He started getting upset yesterday evening, seeming uncomfortable so I took him up to the loo. After attempting a no 2 I took him off the toilet to cuddle him and heard the unmistakable sound of a bowel movement landing on the ground. Horror poo! Anyway today we have had three, in the loo, thank goodness!

I am pretty knackered today. Heidi - the others are right, once you have a child or two you'll find you just keep going, I get 6/7 hours a night and make it through the day. I am tired but you cope!

For those wondering about having two I'd say it is a big change but the family adapts quickly. I definitely found it harder work. When I had dd it was tiring but quite relaxed, I could read and watch DVDs during the day, pop out with the little one in the sling etc. By the time I had dd I had a five year old to entertain all day, although the TV helped a lot in the first few months ! Still it is always lovely and dd absolutely adored dd which was fantastic. Not sure how ds will cope with new baby though, he is really clingy to mum and dad, I think he might struggle.

I think I'm getting there with all my maternity handover work, that is why I am more tired than usual, got a lot to sort. Been on the go all day today, working this morning, then shopping (groceries for home, shoes for ds, birthday stuff for dd), then home making bread for pizza dough and the worst - cleaning the oven! Ugh. Just sat down. And I did mean to wash kitchen floor. Oh well.

Had a nice Easter weekend although for me the most exciting thing was finally cleaning out my bureau and organising all the filing! This weekend I shall be cleaning out fridge and kitchen cupboard and I may begin to feel organised.

The garden though.... so much rain recently haven't done anything. Need to plant potatoes and various other things. Plus re-potting loads of seedlings....

Typical nesting comes back just when I am trying to finish up work. I need to remind myself I have a good 6 weeks to go. Both mine have been just a little early (one day and four days) so I kind of expect this one to be similar.

Sorry not respond to more people personally, really feel worn out. Should be a quieter day tomorrow at least. Going for 34 week check.

Catsy- naming poos made me laugh! DS said his looked just like a sausage roll but I didn't see the resemblance .

I'm full term on Sunday, pretty scary but also exciting, we're getting the last bits and pieces together now. The buggy board arrived this afternoon so we'll get that set up later. DS is quite excited about using it so no doubt we'll be pushing an empty pushchair with him on the buggy board until this one arrives. Good thing as he's turning into a bit of a lazy tike recently- tried to get me to carry him back from the park (maybe 300m away) but I managed about 50m before I thought I'd go into premature labour!

Got my hospital appt tomorrow to get the date for my CS, will be strange to find out when this baby will be born .

I've got my appointment tomorrow too Wrigglebum to get my date :-)

Wriggle @ sausage roll! LittleSarah horror poo sounds pretty bad! Hope your DS is OK.

Looking forward to my appt to get my CS date too - the appt is 2 weeks yesterday. This will enable me to fill my schedule with lots of -running around like a headless chicken- nesting activities before D-Day. Can't believe how much I still need to do (never mind all the things I want to do)!

I would agree that 2 DCs is harder than 1, but the fact that there are a few of us on here going for more shows it's still great! The "not enough arms / hands / knees" scenario can be a bit stressful on occasion, but you work out how to deal with it. I delegate a lot of simple tasks to DD1 - she is only 4 1/2, but she likes helping, just things like checking DD2 has washed her hands, getting something from the cupboard for me etc, etc. It isn't too arduous for her, and it does really help when I'm knackered and wrangling DD2 / cooking / doing housework as well! I imagine it will be invaluable when feeding the new baby too. I've also got her pretty well trained to tidy up some of her toys after she has played with them (not always perfectly, and not always without complaint, but definitely progress!). DD1 adapted pretty easily to DD2 being born. We'd talked to her lots about the baby beforehand, and she was really keen to meet her. We'd also taken her to the nice local toyshop so she could choose a present for the baby, and had bought her a present from DD2 as well, which we put under the moses basket when we brought DD2 home. We are doing the same this time. DD2 seems to have less idea about the baby than DD1 did, at the moment, but doesn't seem worried (yet!). DD1 is really enthusiastic about it again.

Hi everyone, I agree with the rest of you about going from one DC to two - it is a lot harder work, but you do just adapt, and my body just seems to have adjusted to less sleep. For the last couple of months I've been getting by on 5 or 6 hours a night, and I haven't had a nap in the day for several years! I'm finding it hard to sleep past 5am most nights, I wake up a few times each night and re-settle but once it gets to about 5 I just can't drift off. But most days I still feel ok running round after 2xdd's... (that said, i know i will feel really rotten when im back to the broken nights and getting out of bed all through the night for hours at a time - my body isnt that adaptable!)
newtothis thanks for the tip about the duvet, I'm going to try that and see if I can sleep on a bit longer in the mornings if I'm not moving around so much in bed!
Like you catsy, my dd1 is really excited about the arrival of dd3, and she coped really well when dd2 arrived, so I'm hoping she will be the same again. I'm not so sure about dd2 who will be being displaced as the baby of the family, and I can't see her being as "helpful" as dd1. But I do think she's old enough to cope with the new situation without too much jealousy/resentment.
Also baby names newtothis - we still have nothing sorted. It's one of the things I obsess about when I wake up in the early hours, and may be contributing to my not getting back to sleep! I really need to have a long chat with dh again to check which of all my ideas he would even consider, as he's not keen on some of my choices, but we havent done a list together properly. We prefer to just chill out once the children are in bed and settled! I bet we won't decide until baby is born and we've had a few days with her.
I've half done my hospital bag, but some things will need to be added nearer the time. Also made some progress in getting baby clothes out of garage etc and dh did a great job redecorating Dd1's room over the bank holiday, in between entertaining and cooking for family visitors who were staying down. We're now awaiting the arrival of bunk beds next week for dd1 and dd2. That way we can still keep a spare room for guests / toys / sleeping in shifts with the baby etc!
Feeling more uncomfortable now walking around - too much pressure down in my pelvis - and I would love it if I was on ML now. But it's only 3 weeks to go from next week, so nearly there, and having this Easter break has made it feel a lot more manageable.
Has anyone got any holiday plans for later on? We weren't going to do anything, as dh has a leave ban at work from beginning of July to the end of sept, by which time dd1 will be back at school. Plus no money to fund it! But last night, my lovely parents booked a cottage in Suffolk for a week in August, as they knew dd1 and 2 would really miss not seeing a beach this year. (they talk about their previous holidays a lot!) So I'm going to tackle taking 3 children, without dh, on this holiday (but with my mum and dad there to support)... Do you think I'm mad?! But it might be better than 6 weeks of summer holidays with a newborn and 2 other children, with nowhere to go and dh at work every day?!

luckynumber11 - We're not going away this year as I just couldn't face the idea but I can see that actually it could be a good thing. And of course when you already have two you won't be doing much relaxing anyway, and your parents should be a great help. We are going to go and stay at my mum's in Edinburgh for a week in August so we can get a change of scene and see the family more easily.

Went to see the midwife this morning. Funny you should have had the experience you had last week cupcake as I had a very similar one this week! When palpating the tummy the midwife said baby was really very far down and when I saw my notes she had written 4/5. I asked though and she said she meant 4/5 palpable (it actually says on the notes 'how much palpable as one of the headings). Of course your midwife could still have meant the opposite but if it makes you feel better I have never gone over my time.

Interestingly midwife said that they now have three home births in the area in May. One is due on the 7th so hopefully won't cross with mine but the other is due on Friday 17th which is the day before me. She is way across on the other side of the Borders (an hour or more away) and they only have one team on call Fri/Sat/Sun so could be a problem if our labours overlap. Very unlikely though. Midwife didn't know her history (whether she is likely to go late or not) as she isn't one of her patients. Anyway, most probably it won't be an issue.

Well I'm back from seeing the consultant !! No C section date for us.. Looks like the baby has stopped growing as she tummy measurements have dropped onto the bottom centile from the middle one. Gonna be scanned next week and if it's the same ill be having her then.. If she's grown I'll be scanned again the next week and take it from there !! I'm going to be going out of my mind worrying now DD1 was a little on the smallish side so I'm hoping she's going to have grown a little bit at least

Hello all, sorry to jump in so late. DC3 due 12th May. 36 weeks on Saturday. I have been lurking though, so i feel like i know you all a little bit!

Newtothisstuff I was measuring on/above top line since measuring began. Last week growth measurement was just below middle line suggesting no growth. I will have to wait until Tuesday to see if anything has changed. My MW did say that because the baby had engaged and moved into pelvis that this could account for measurement?

3/5 engaged at last appointment - my notes say 5/5 is the least and 1/5 or 0/5 is the most. MW said she thought baby was well down and unlikely to un-engage now. Lets hope so.

ds1 is 5 1/2 born 38 weeks, ds2 is almost 4 born 40 + 2 both natural birth/ quick labour in mw led unit.

Getting slightly anxious now as 37 weeks approaches!

Welcome beeboles! You are worrying me with your 38 week then 40 plus deliveries. I am a little too confident this one won't go over as my other two were early but we are talking a day early in one case! I need to get used to the fact that this one might not get here as soon as I might like....

My midwife also said baby unlikely to disengage now it is so firmly head down so hopefully that means everything is on track.

Sorry to hear both you and newtothisstuff haven't had much growth. When are you due again new? Hopefully next week everything will have changed again, fingers crossed for you, try not to worry too much.

P.s ds1 stopped growing according to tummy measurement at 37 weeks (he measured small all the way through) and was born at 38 the day before growth scan was due. He was 6 pounds 11 ounces.

I'm due on the 19th may..the scan estimates are 4lb atm I'm hoping she will have grown a bit next week I really don't want her delivering next week it's too early !! DD1 was 5lb12oz at 38 weeks so wasn't massive. Hopefully it just means I don't make big babies and she will be as right as rain

Well this one will almost certainly be an April baby! CS booked in for 30 April. Consultant did his best to make a CS sound unappealing and asked if I'd changed my mind but no way after my last birth! Baby has gone head down and is 2/5 engaged (palpable) now so wondering if I'll get to 30 April! Newtothisstuff I'm also measuring small (34cm at 36+4) but the placenta was checked on the scan and OB seemed happy enough with it. DS was only 6lb so not expecting a big baby .

Hi Beeboles, welcome to the thread .

We're thinking of having a small holiday first week in Sept, no more than a couple of hours away. Then we're hoping to have a nice posh foreign holiday maybe May next year- DS will start school in sept 2013 so we want one last fancy holiday whilst we can still go in term time!

Wriggle - Congrats on getting CS date! 30th April is so soon! I really wish I could remember all my stats with dd and ds, then I might know if being 4/5 palpable at this point was likely to mean anything!

hello all, apologies for having dropped off thread for a while. Work was manic in the run-up to maternity leave and of my first 3 days off, I've worked from home one day, had a poorly DD home from nursery another and covered for my DH on his day with her whilst he worked. The office almost seemed like a breeze in comparison.
I had my 36 wk check yesterday and pip is back to head-down so birthing CD back on the ipod and knitting on the birthing ball of an evening. My BP is staying in check after a blip a couple of weeks ago so fingers crossed I might even be able to have the water birth this time, never say never.
I'm so impressed by those with DC potty training. DD is pretty resistant, we've had a couple of false starts and even though we have a jar of smarties for when she wants to wee on the loo she just doesn't seem that bothered. She will sit on a potty at nursery and occasionally at home so I think we'll just keep bumbling along until the good weather kicks in. We're building her role as 'big sister' and that the wouldn't wear nappies so we'll see if she has a change of heart then. Roll on Summer.
I can't join the palpable debate, as after having the scan the MW didn't even feel my tummy just commented on the size. Pip is currently estimated at 6lb 10oz and they reckon will be over 9lb, gulp. Will definitely be practising the relaxing happy place!
My supper's ready now so will dash, apologies for the me-centric post. I have been following the thread just too damned busy. Looking forward to a proper day off tomorrow and maybe a better catch up then.

Hello everyone, can I join this thread? I've been lurking on and off the May threads since last August, but its only since I started maternity leave that I've actually been taking this baby milarky seriously... (!) Let's just say that denial has been my friend for the past 8 months...

I'm due on 5th May, I'm expecting a girl. I'll be 37 weeks on Saturday. I had a presentation scan today (LO has been breech every mw appointment since 32 weeks). Good news is that she's now head down. Bonkers news is that she's (approx) 7lb 3. Crikey moley! Now I'm thinking that she's either i) going to be HUGE - slightly worrying about how to actually deliver a wee fatty, or ii) early. I have another mw appointment tomorrow, so I'll ask her.

Am impressed with those of you who are actually doing important things (like raising your other children). I'm getting properly overwhelmed with things like "what to put in my hospital bag".

Welcome Bodeccia!

Oh I will be so interested to hear how big all these larger estimated babies actually are come delivery, you just never know do you... At 32 weeks my measurements were all v average so no 3 should be 7Ib 7oz if on time...

oltob - My ds was so not interested at first either, I felt quite pressured by my ex health visitor mum and her talk of 'milestones' (seriously ignore ignore!) but he obviously wasn't ready when we first started. Couple of months later and he just got it.

I wish I had a birth ball, god I am lounging with knees higher than hips as I type. Bad bad birther. I am listening to CD though...

Very happy as finished making my dd doll for her birthday and has turned out well (see here for example - <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=tilda+doll&start=92&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1138&bih=555&addh=104&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=jDTmUh5Bkf7k2M:&imgrefurl=www.getknitted.com/acatalog/Tilda_.html&docid=NrQTwud1a7iouM&imgurl=www.getknitted.com/acatalog/FlowergardenAngelKit.jpg&w=169&h=441&ei=wlGHT_bbA-LT0QWx653FBw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=348&sig=108594142437923421332&page=6&tbnh=164&tbnw=63&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:92,i:15&tx=41&ty=22" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tilda Doll. Have never made anything like this and had a bit of a struggle. Just so relieved it is done. Back to knitting now!

Newtothisstuff Fingers crossed that next week baby will have grown a bit for you. It's bound to be worrying you but maybe you do just make them small.

LittleSarah I am hoping that the fact i have had one early delivery means it is possible i could have another early-ish or even on time would do! In fact i am clinging onto this thought at the moment. Well done on the doll making!
It will definately be interesting to see how the babies measure up in real life, as opposed to scans and tummy measurements. My ds2 was measuring quite small (growth under middle line/ growth scan booked) was 7 pounds 10 ounces, which did not seem small to me!

Hi oltob and bodeccia

Hi Wrigglebum!

Hello again ladies, lost you for a bit there.
Not much happening here really except all 3 DC at my parent ssince Weds so I've had 2 unbroken nights sleep :) apart from loo trips!

Impressive progress on the potty training, hope it continues when little siblings arrive - my friends' daughter decided to potty train herself when baby sister arrived and she didn't want nappies like the baby hoping DS2 follows that logic, but he's not 2 till June so not too bothered either way.

Don't want to rain on anyone's parade but 3rd babies seem notoriously hard to get moving - DC1+2 both arrived before EDD, by a few days, DC3 was 11 days late! really hoping this one doesn't go over, at least not by that much.

MW did home visit yesterday so we are green light for homebirth any time baby feels like it now :) Bump is also measuring small for dates here, which is a 1st for me - 37 weeks but only measuring 34, so can only assume its tucked well down in my pelvis, not expecting a small baby as the last 2 were both 9lb+

Top tip - even if kids are away don't lie in bed playing scrabble on phone with friend and eating Easter egg before MW due as it gives you a trace of glucose in your sample , she laughed at me and told me to make sure I didn't have choc for breakfast next time she saw me as 2 glucose results would mean she had to send me for GTT - I told her I'd aim to have the baby before she had time to refer me for the test!

Yorky - That happened to me once, trace of glucose I mean, I'd had chocolate spread on my toast that morning!

11 days over! That is a sobering thought and something I need to remind myself of daily. I need to shake this 'oh I'm sure this one will be on time' mindset... I think I'll go mad if I go over that long though!

Hi all,

I really need to post more on here - I have no excuse seeing as I'm on maternity leave. Although I am finding maternity leave v strange - I want to be doing stuff all the time and am getting frustrated that I'm too tired!

Hi bodeccia and beeboles :)

LittleSarah the doll looks really sweet! I ordered a big pile of fabric yesterday so I'm looking forward to making some cushions and other bits and bobs for the baby's room. Made a taggy blanket the other day too - one of those square comforter style ones with ribbons round - so that quietened the sewing urges for a few days!

Yorky - I did the same with the wee test when seeing the midwife - forgot to do it first thing in the morning so did it after I'd had breakfast...not a good plan! She threatened me with the GTT test if there was still glucose the next time - but when I saw her on Tuesday, all was fine, phew!

Wrigglebum I can't believe you know when your baby will be born! (If it stays put until then that is!) I expect there'll be a few more April babies to join you - I wonder who it will be?!

Newtothisstuff Try not to worry too much about little one growing - could it be that baby has shifted position? I went from being on the lower side of measurements to being above them, because baby had moved from transverse to head down. It sounds like it could just be you make small babies - hope the scan goes well next week and she can stay put a bit longer!

Not sure whether to laugh or be scared about all the potty training stories! The naming of poos is hilarious though!!

Has anyone had their midwife talk about stomach muscles to them? My midwife mentioned to me the other day that it felt like my stomach muscles had moved apart more than they do normally - she thought it was because the baby was transverse for so long it had stretched them outwards more. She said it might mean physio if they don't go back. I'll have to get doing some sit ups once baby's here!!

Oh and I too am 4/5 engaged - I was glad I'd seen all the chat about it on here, otherwise I would've thought baby was coming v soon!!

Hope it's sunny where you are - it's glorious here today. I should really try and get out in the garden and plant up some bits and bobs...but the sofa is looking very appealing after a rather early wake up this morning!

dreaming I was measuring small at 34 wks when baby was transverse too. Then at the scan on Wed pip seems to have jumped up, mainly on the tummy at least his legs have caught up, no longer stumpy just a beer (or easter egg?) belly instead, would have been sent straight for GTT if I hadn't already had one. The dr definitely seemed more interested in the size of DD, she was 8lb 7 so they thought in line with how I grow them am ignoring 'friend's' advice that the second one is always bigger and by at least a lb for boy
Well off to have some breakfast - still in jamas at midday, this is more how I imagined my ML.