Due in October 2012 Part 6 - Third Trimester Trials and Tribulations

[YompingJo]

Shiny new thread!

Ready?
Steady?
Go!

Blimey, CWest and Fjord, hope your respective medical problems sort themselves out quickly. Fjord, very glad your DH is seeing sense over DSD2 - a testament to your patience and some in-depth talks no doubt.

Well, today on eBay I have unearthed loads of useful things including a "this side next" breastfeeding bracelet and some breast shells (catch the milk to non-feeding breast lets down - a new mum acquaintance said they are a godsend). Have also managed to get rid of 3 things on Freecycle and finally got up the nerve to take the breast pump out of its packaging, put it together and get it going (not on a breast, it's scary enough just seeing it pumping!). Now I want one of these bras so I can sit contentedly browsing on the laptop while the pump does it's thing . That's exactly how I'm expecting to look a couple of days post-baby, by the way. No saggy bits, extra cellulite on thighs having magically disappeared, flat stomach, gorgeous hair, breasts shrunk back down to a more manageable size, looking refreshed. Looking at her, it's obviously all going to be a breeze - they wouldn't just use a model, would they? That has to be a real mum who's expressing her milk, right?

Needless to say finally got taken for apt!!

Too tired to post much. Only to say that I read somewhere that olive oil is great for first meconium nappy!! Makes sense really, if thick and sticky an oil might dissolve well!!!

And after DH watching a midwife prog last Tue night, not OBEM, another one, he never slept all night!! However it did involve 2 people who had prev lost new babies, that was hard to take in. Also had a baby born green as had done a poo inside and another where mum had diamorphine so baby came out floppy and not crying! Every baby had paediatrician called to check for some reason, another reason I am glad to choose hospital . So perhaps not best show for him to watch!!!! Hoping antenatal classes are but more mainstream so he knows what to expect!

Oh and bought some perineal massage oil. Hmm, must look up how to use, not sure will be able to reach!!!

That's my limit, night all!! X

Thank you Shell, Cherry loopy and yomping for the support re my over-sensitivity on the bump / fat belly comments at the wedding. Silly really to get offended by it but hard not to!

Huffle I feel slightly the same ? so much chatting and I feel a bit behind the curve! But on the other hand I do totally love everyone?s chattiness. It perks me up no end.

Plankton I like all those names but my faves are probably Tom or Josh from your list. We?re still negotiating on names. We?d originally (back in September last year) agreed on Anna, which is a name I?ve loved since I was about 10, but DF has since come back and said he?s not sure. Current names include Francesca, Eleanor and Philippa but no decisions yet. Boys-wise (just in case the sonographer is wrong), I think DF likes Nick but I like Rory. He says Rory is too posh a name and he?d get beaten up at state school.

Squid As ever I am in awe of your sportiness. Very impressive. I?ve done yoga a few times this week and taught some friends, but that?s it. I didn?t really get into preg yoga as it felt a bit wafty to me, but each to his own, of course.

On the house front, hope you?ve now got hot water smorgs. Sounds stressful. Re grouting, I would scrub with anti mould spray, then (if you are feeling courageous and have time) I would re-grout. This involves scraping out any loose stuff and then putting new grouting over the top. It?s a bit laborious but not remotely skilled and really really makes a massive visual impact if you have the energy. (sorry if am teaching you to suck eggs here). We?ve had quite cheap removal quotes, as you guessed ? more like £500. though we?re packing everything. Hoping to move in a couple of weeks but we haven?t exchanged yet. Fingers crossed.

Mickey good for you on the Olympics front. We didn?t get any of the tickets we?d tried for, but have now got tickets to the paraolympics wheelchair basketball which sounds good.

Cherry eek re late co-sleeping. How on earth do they conceive subsequent children?

Kyrria rubbish re not sleeping. I wake up a lot but find my yoga nidra CD sends me off to sleep again quite quickly. Might be worth getting a relxation tape or similar?

Goodness it seems like everyone is heading off on maternity quite soon. My last day is 12th October but I?ve counted (uh?huh? Motivated Employee of The Year right here? Not) and only 45 working days to go. HAH!

On the baby front, I?ve now got the Womanly Art of breastfeeding book which I?ve started to read. And I got the expressing machine through (dullest £86 I?ve ever spent, but there we go).

On the house front, hoping to exchange tomorrow? lots of mad transferring of money at the last minute and EEK and OMG I am going to be norma no mates in the country but MrsConfusion, Shell and Crazy, I?m sure you?re right, I?ll met folk as it goes on.
Yomping I?m definitely trying to sit up straight more ? our NCT lady said the same advice re not slumping yesterday.

Beeble I love OBEM so glad you got to see it a bit.

Zara goodness re international move excitement. Check you out!!

Cwest do look after yourself. Sounds like they?re taking the right precautions though by encouraging you to rest.

Fjord sending you happy bump thoughts and sure GD if it comes along, will be manageable.

Epic post? off to bed with me.

37, 27+5, #1

Huffle I have literally just watched that midwives programme on Iplayer and have come on to recommend NOT watching it. Although they had good outcomes and I guess it helps to be prepared, I found it quite traumatic and very upsetting! No wonder your poor DH didn't sleep!

I?m a week behind with my early comments so please bear that in mind if you?re not sure what I?m referring to . Epic post being divided into 2 (as usual ).

Angelico - thanks, yes, DP & me more on the same page :) Congrats on being an auntie! :)

Midget - Grrr!! My sorbet is haunting me now (there?s still some in the fridge and I?m trying to stay off sweet stuff until the GTT result is in). Very jealous of your Olympic forays! I enjoyed the opening ceremony very much (on a TV at a neighbouring cabin, in the wilderness :)) and have been riveted by the tennis, and now the Norwegian ladies? progress towards a medal in the women?s handball, amongst others. Looking forward muchly to your bump pic :).

CWest - glad you?re settled in well at your parents?. I?m also in the ?will they or won?t they make an offer? situation at the moment so I empathise. Sorry to hear about your blood pressure ? makes mine seem rather insignificant in comparison. Totally agree that you should be off work.

Sorry to all with work woes. I haven?t chimed in at all as I feel entirely unqualified so to do, being that I have technically been in the ranks of the unemployed for some time now.

Bella - thanks for the tip re wrist support. I think that?s what I?ll have to do as, despite dropping stuff constantly and involuntarily throwing a sharp knife into my left arm the other day (luckily just a ?nick?), the GP still just asks me if I?m still suffering then shrugs and sympathises, offering no constructive advice at all. Hope your family stuff calms down a bit soon.

Elpis - that happens to my bump too (the bulging one side while shrinking the other side). She has been doing it all day since the scan?it?s quite uncomfortable, even semi-painful at times.

In awe of all of you able to/contemplating swaddle with a blanket?I can?t even wrap a fajita/tortilla wrap so the idea of managing to get a blanket into a firm swaddle without tying myself and the baby in knots seems mildly hilarious! I?m going to invest in a gro-bag swaddler I think or some similar product?either that or I fear baby will end up unswaddled or in a loose, ?apple-pie? of a wrapping . Of course, if my baby is born as big as my consultant is fearing from today?s scan, then I?ll start in sleeping bags from the get go. Will certainly revert to them ASAP, like lisbeth. By the way lisbeth did I infer you finally have an au pair lined up?

londonlivvy - you look gorgeous in your dress at the wedding and that is definitely a bump, albeit a graceful and rather elegant one. I?m quite sure you haven?t joined us ?waddling masses? yet, and good for you!

yomping - glad to hear the holiday was better than feared. Your restaurant conversation with your man also got me in the throat.

crazypaving - feel for you on the Mum front. Some mums just have a way of putting it huh? I remember years ago my mum saying ?Don?t meet a foreign man. If you ever move abroad you will COMPLETELY ruin my life!? (also when I told her the news of my pregnancy she said ?ah well, you?ll probably have a miscarriage!?). If she wanted to be around when mine was arriving I?d be having kittens of panic by now! Glad you survived the holiday though and that DS had a good time :).

Mickey - your bump looks fabulous!

Evening everyone!! One shift down at work, only another 49 to go, woohooo!!!! I keep forgetting that i am due so much later than you lot, im working til the 4th november... 4 day before my due date. Ambitious much?

plankton i loveee love love the name zach. Unfortunately i already know one little zach and work friend who is also pregnant is calling hers zach (if the scanners are wrong and its a boy) and life would not be worth living if i named ours zachary too!! god forbid you piss them off
We are pretty decided on the name Jasper for a boy. Jasper Max Peter Clark. Is two middle names A bit much? I know it won't use them both all the time but still..
I still really like the names Archie and Vincent jai and toby were completely vetoed by dp im so upset!. So we shall see.
We are pretty decided on Lola or Esmae for a girl. or both because i cant decide and my mother is already calling it lola but i am finding it much harder to think.of girls names.. Im so convinced we are having a boy for this reason!! Absolutely loved the name Tallulah but this was swiftly shouted down. Someones been watching toomuch bugsy malone!!
cwest eeek on.blood pressure woes. I hope you are ok!! Keep us updated and i have everything crossed for you.

OBEM terrified me and i will never watch it again. Ever.

Right thats enough from me, will post in the morning. Apologies to those ive missed, a bit difficult on my phone. Much love xxx

On co-sleeping - I rather agree with CherryChopsticks. I was brought up to revere the sanctity of the ?marital bed? (or ?partneral bed? ). Also I don?t think it would be a safer or better alternative for me, DP and our baby. I will be doing a Moses basket next to our bed out of necessity for at least the first 6 weeks but I?m a firm believer in the ?baby in its own room? after that (or as soon as I get a dream feed working and baby is not feeding every 2 hours ? I?m going to use baby whisperer advice). I?m not a great believer in the co-sleeper theory that it?s better for the child?s confidence etc. It?s counter-intuitive to me (however I must add that I would never criticise anyone for doing it, it's just really not for me - everyone has their own parenting ethos). I can only see that extended co-sleeping might make a child more clingy and dependent. I understand the benefits during the heavy breast-feeding phase for both mother and baby but I can?t imagine a safe way of having baby actually ?in? our bed. So it?s Moses basket for me in the absence of having the dosh to get a bedside ?co-sleeper? (which seems the ideal compromise to me for the first few months). I?m afraid I?m in the ?selfish? camp that will want my sex life back. DP and I can do best for baby if we are looking after our ?us? as well.

Re milk and boobs - feeling glum that, despite a lot of trying squeezing, I?ve still had not a hint of wetness of any kind from either boob. I do sometimes have strange shaped milky-coloured ?lumps? on my aereola when I wake up in the morning (that then go down of their own accord) but not a hint of any leakage or sign that these ?puppies-- great danes are anywhere near producing anything . DP is firmly in the (I think, he won?t talk about it) ?now her body?s for the baby? camp and has hardly so much as touched either boob since I?ve been pregnant?let alone wanted to taste. I think he?s horrified that if he touches or anything else, something might come out and that would clearly (sexually) gross him out a bit. He doesn?t even want to cuddle me as close. I think he sees me as rather fragile and worries about ?hurting the baby?. This I have to work out all for myself. He?s being very loving and attentive in other ways so I have to figure he?s just one of those men who finds it hard seeing ?sacred mother? as a sexual object until she?s finished her ?special work? (or something?Grrrrr

Another night of disturbed sleep. Another morning waking up to a cranky DH who I've kept awake all night. Feel really guilty

In response to people (sorry...can't remember who!) talking about uncomfortable bumps, mine is generally ok but I get what I can only describe as stitch in my bump when I'm walking (esp. if walking too fast). Don't think I've had any BH yet.

28wk consultant appt this morning. Hoping they're running late and I don't have to go to work afterwards (appt 9:30am, 30min bus journey from hosp to work, finish work at 12:15pm today).

Think the names are lovely (sorry, on phone and can't check who was talking names) - love all of them. Zach has featured on my list but thinking of Isaac (Zach for short).

Hope everyone is ok

32, 28+3, #1

FjordMor there is no art to swaddling at all! You actually do the exact same thing with the blanket as you would do with any branded 'swaddle' blanket. That's why I can't get my head around them, they don't do anything different, just a slightly different shape (not a better one either) and fancy packaging. To swaddle, you lie your baby in the middle of the blanket, fold one corner around him, then fold the other corner around him. It's exactly the same as what you have to do with the fancy 'swaddle bag' MIL has bought me.

names Our baby is Artemis, haven't picked a middle name yet. I like Lily but DH won't really talk about it .

It looks like we are moving! Letting Agency rang yesturday and said all good to go ahead, just need Dad to come and sign as garrentor. Need to give four weeks notice for this place so I will probably be moving at 35 weeks. Eek!

Hello, everyone else! I can't keep up with this thread. I went shopping yesturday and come back to find I'm pages behind!

Wow I feel awful.....

Headache, vomiting......just waiting for midwife now but my guess is I may be posting from a hospital bed later, so much so iv even packed a bag ready just in case :-/

Will catch up properly later, but just wanted to send huge hugs to CWest. Keep us posted.

Thanks londonmrs and everyone else for messages of support. Will be in touch soon xxx

Keep smiling cwest - sending hugs and

Will keep fingers crossed that they get your BP down x

Are any one else?s movements much smaller now in the third trimester? I?m still feeling enough, but they are pokes, prods and little wriggles and shivers rather than full blown kicks now. Assume it?s because at 29 weeks, she?s starting to be a bit short of space now.

Smaller? Mine seems to be getting more and more hyperactive . Moving so much last night that I actually googled "is there such a thing as too much fetal movement" (turns out there's not, all movement is good, but also turns out, contrary to what my midwife has said, that a very active baby inside the womb = a very active baby outside the womb I'm never going to cope). This morning, I sat and watched my stomach shift, pulsate and bulge for 30 minutes and nearly went to get the camera to video it. It's beyond cute and funny and well into the realms of annoying now! I can't read a book without the book getting kicked and jiggled. Must be an attention seeking child definitely gets that from DH

Cwest, sending you and hoping you're OK. Keep us posted,

Oh drat, sorry about the crossing out, not sure how that happened. You get the gist.

yomping, london - mine is still moving about the same but treated myself to a latte from Costa about an hour ago so waiting for bean to start bouncing off my uterus as I type!

32, 28+3, #1

Mine almost feel delicate- like she's becoming more coordinated with her limbs! Definitely plenty though- I just did a count and got 20 movements in 2 hours so reckon that's ok!

CWest cripes. Keep us updated, won't you? I mean, when you get the chance. Really hope you're OK, lady...

Zara Holy moly - biiiiig move. We're looking at moving back to Aus from UK (husband = academic, so, it's a question of when/if very specific jobs come up in very specific locations - same for you?) in the next couple of years, I cannot IMAGINE doing it right now! There's so much else going on! Good luck to both of you, I hope you get the outcome that suits your family best

Kyyria I like Isaac too!! Great name, I like it better than Zachary but DH isn't convinced. (I think he thinks people will think we named the kid after Isaac Asimov - DH is so nerdy, it's not a totally implausible thing for him to do ;) ). My question - and I pose this to anyone who wants to throw an opinion in the pot - actually comes back to my name (which is 'Zoe'). I mean - Zoe and Zach. Zach and Zoe. Too much? I can't tell if that's reasonable or just too twee for words...

Fjord nothing wrong with two middle names! And I'm very fond of Jasper as previously mentioned.

NCT birth class last night - very useful stuff, might write up a synopsis later. Our leader is great but it became pretty clear where she stood on the drug-based-pain-relief (she's not for it). One thing stood out - she tried to tell us that pethidine, which is an opiate, wasn't a real pain reliever because 'it just sedates you'.

Now I want to pick up on that because of something I heard from a doctor on the radio a while ago (think it was Ben Goldacre) - pain is a feeling. It's not like a wound or a bacterial infection that you can look at and go 'ha-yup, that's golden staph, so it is', it literally only exists in being experienced/felt. So anything - ANYTHING - that makes you stop feeling/experiencing pain is a pain reliever.

So, if anyone tries to feed you that 'it just sedates you' line, tell them to bog off.

(My plan, FWIW, remains the same as it ever was - I'm going to go in expecting to have an epidural, and if that doesn't happen, well I will be pleasantly surprised.)

Londonmrs Mine have definitely slowed down too, seems less prominent as well and I often only get kicks if I lie on mt side and put my arm on the bump and then it kicks there. I just try and see in the evening if I'm getting 10 kicks in 2 hours. I do worry a LOT though.

Oh and Cwest hope you're OK, thinking of you.

Oh my , this thread moves so fast my head is spinning, it appears that I don't have time for both the Olympics and the thread...must try harder.

CWest buggering blood pressure. I had the same with DD but mine happened more overnight and they managed to keep her inside until 37 weeks so I know what a worrying time it is. Let us know how you get on - hope they let you out. I got told at one stage I wouldn't come out until the baby was born (which would have meant a long time in hospital) but they did let me home in the end - do hope it's the same for you. Sending you some

London My movements are beyond erratic - quiet days and days like he is doing a Mexican wave pretty much continuously and like Yomping says kicks things off me (i was in a meeting the other day and someone across the table saw it move and it really freaked them out and he kicked my elbows of my stomach a couple of days ago). Of course the quiet days freak me out but my consultant says this is normal. You may feel different movements as they get less space but it shouldn't be consistently less if that makes sense. I am also getting weird bulges like a bum sticking out or a head.

All this talk of DH's liking boob milk makes me feel like I want to do sick in my mouth. Liking boobs - yay but all that infant business leaves me queasy. Think this is the after effects of seeing a grown man getting off on wearing a baby doll outfit don't ask where I was where I got that treat and they seem connected and a bit Ewwww. Fjord don't worry about not getting any milk - the longer it stays away the better - as long as it comes and it nearly always does. Leaking boobs is something you won't want for long so savor not having to check your tops whilst you can. I don't have any yet either (although I haven't really tried to get any out) and I know I fed perfectly well last time so I don't think it matters yet. I m just about to pop over to the other thread so will try and catch up with you about your GTT there, glad you aren't looking at Dr Google - he is a bastard.

I feel strangely drawn to the midwife programme mentioned by Shall and Huffle God knows why as I will probably just cry through it. Sounds like car crash TV which is why I many just have a sneaky peak.

Londonlivvy I am also counting down the days to mat leave - I am really busy still but mentally I am checking out more and more as each day passes... It's only natural and not at all unprofessional ahem

All this talk of meconium poohs is making me realise I do not remember this at all with DD. I was a bit poorly and thought I had big chunks of memory missing, this confirms it. Someone else must have had to deal with all that business (I may have to fake illness again so the same happens this time too).

Right have to go - loads of work and another early finish to get to the Athletics later. Also went last night so I am knackered. I will have Olympic come down. I am finding London such a buzzy place to be at the moment - shame it all has to end. We will have the biggest collective come down in history. Cwest update us when you can - thinking of you.

It's really hard not to be constantly analysing, isn't it ShellWe? The midwife told me 10 movements in 24 hours is ok. It's just hard when they don't really have a regular routine- if only babies kept to a proper schedule! All the advice says to get to know your baby's routine, but it's impossible when there doesn't seem to be one! I think as long as you're feeling movement when you lie still and look for it, just try not to panic (easier said then done...)

Plankton would be very interested to hear more about the contents of your class. I really don't want pethidine because it crosses the placenta and can interfere with breast-feeding. Just a personal choice though!
I do feel that ultimately pain is subjective- like when you cut yourself and don't feel pain until you see blood- or if you have your foot under the tap in the bath and think it's the cold tap until you see it's the hot tap and only then you feel the burn. Like a placebo effect. But then I'm a big fan of Derren Brown... I am hoping that the power of relaxation can go a long way during labour.

To be honest, I'm so constipated at the moment, I'm wondering if that is an evolutionary way to prepare for labour!

Right, must get back to work- naughty me, on MN all morning while in the office.

LondonMrs laughing at the constipation thing as I was thinking the same - had it so bad the other day I nearly cried. Actually pushing out DD was easier as at least the fanjo is built for that business.

Morning ladies :) Apologies but I have missed so many posts not even going to attempt to answer them all so apologies for missing people out

CWest!!! Hope you're okay... I see the impending arrival of our first 'Oct' baby :o Take care and good luck

Fjord my bosoms haven't started producing milk yet either although some mornings I wake up and there's a kind of white 'powder' around them so wondered if there is a bit of ooze in sleep which kind of dries into a crust? Makes me want to boke really, as long as it comes in when bean arrives really don't care! :o Also hope all is well with your BP / sugar. Weirdly I had GTT and 'passed' but bean is measuring about 3 weeks big so am wondering if I should be being re-tested. Her estimated birthweight at the minute is 9.5lbs.

Londonmrs / Yomping our bean seems to be somewhere in between. Still very active but long periods in between where she is obviously asleep. Her movements are mostly squirmy / shivery / gougey - the last being my least favourite. She actually caused me quite a bit of pain yesterday as her latest trick is digging elbow into my hip or gouging my bowel which is agony and keeps sending me running to the loo - no constipation here, that's for sure

Zara good luck whatever you decide with move!

Planktonette totally agree about the pain relief thing and negative attitudes. I honestly don't understand why some MWs are so anti-pain relief, find it completely bizarre this whole obsession with avoiding pain relief unless someone has a genuine desire to 'experience' labour in full (in which case fair enough but it's a very individual choice). I had a dodgy lump removed in my breast a few years ago under GA, lots of painkillers if needed afterwards (I didn't but was glad to have them). Heard radio programme recently about a woman who had a breast tumour removed in the 1800's wide awake, no pain relief and she had written an account of it - totally horrifying but she survived for decades after! Couldn't help thinking "I'm sure that poor woman would have given her arm for some pain relief!"

Hello everyone else, waving especially at anyone else with evil heartburn / struggling on at work. More visitors arriving tonight for two nights (lovely peeps giving us lots of baby stuff), then that's it for the summer. Hopefully moving house next week and have an unexpected free afternoon so going to try and do some edits in the garden. Have a good day all