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

[YompingJo]

Shiny new thread!

Ready?
Steady?
Go!

Phew, thanks for the quick reply Huffle! I did wonder...
Will stop immediately. Glad I asked now. I didn't do it much, I promise!
Oh, and just say bugger it and have the day off!

Rant: am totally hacked off that in a car park at a maternity hospital - ie one with a labour ward, birthing centre and antenatal care (that's the hospital, not the car park) - the spaces would be so fecking small that once you are parked in one (no mean feat when you can't turn around as far as you used to be able to in order to look out of the rear window when reversing into a space), it actually hurts to squeeze yourself and bump a) out of the car door which you are desperately trying to prevent from touching the car in the next bay, and b) between your car and next car to get out of the bay. I am so cross I feel like writing to someone to complain.

End of rant. Grr.

Hello lovelies

Boyfriend is in my good books as he took me away for a "last holiday" this weekend to a very decadent spa in North Yorkshire and bought me a pregnancy massage and foot massage and then we spent all day in the outdoor pool and drinking smoothies on sofas and being very very relaxed and then went out to dinner and I wore heels even though I can't walk in them (I mean I couldn't walk in heels pre-pregnancy either). We stayed in a B'n'B and the owner kept cracking jokes about me going into labour and then when we were leaving and it came out that I was 8 months pregnant he was like "oh!! I didn't realise! I should have told you where the nearest hospital is!" We walked round gardens and castles and had afternoon sex and ate lovely food and it was so great and romantic and a bit naughty really. Still it cost less than a pushchair which I have to date refused to buy, haha.

Back home now, sittin' on my ball... no more leaving the city for me now.

Well I am definitely feeling the late-pregnancy thing now. I have decided I don't have SPD, the baby is just really... engaged. I was so excited when the midwife told me it was engaged and gave no thought to how uncomfortable this would be! Eating and breathing IS easier (though I still can't eat any amount in the evening)... but I get heaviness and pain in my pelvis if I'm upright for too long (walking standing or sitting), I have to wee every hour, walking feels weird and slow and it constantly feels like I've just had a really rough sex session... achy and raw if you know what I mean!? Oh yeah and sex is painful (and far from rough!!) but I keep doing it anyway -I'm a hero. It genuinely feels like baby is falling out of me! (if only it was that easy eh!)

crazypaving how did you BEAR it from 31 weeks? I can't sleep more than an hour at a time :( I asked boyfriend to look for varicose veins down there (really sexy relationship we have eh) but he said all looked as usual. Dare I ask, did you go overdue as well...? People keep telling me it all means I'll come early but I don't believe them!

So I keep walking too but it's more like 2-3 miles a day now, and very slow. Bored of this.

I'm glad baby's all ready to go and it seems more likely in the right position if engaged early? though from what I've read it doesn't mean s/he's any more likely to come early or on time. Still.

People ask me when I'm due a lot but when I say 4 weeks they look shocked and go, 'oh, wow! could be any day then!'

Yeah... bit scary! Or could be 6 weeks. You know.

On that note, today's job is to pack my hospital bag! In one week I'll be term and can have baby at home! It's been a crazy journey...

squid, 36 weeks today

But... but... but I thought you were supposed to bounce?! I had sex yesterday and I was on top and that was quite bouncy too! And yesterday in the car we took some speed bumps a bit hard! Hope my cervix is strong...

Sometime within 3-6 weeks: CWest30 ELCS (DC2 I think?)
Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS

Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1
Oct. 5: Lisbethsopposite DS2
Oct 7th: crazypaving DC2
Oct 10th: WantAnOrange DC2
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle
Oct 18; Beccus, DC1
Oct 26: Londonmrss, DC1
Oct 28: Kyyria DC1
Oct 28: Loopyla, DC1
Oct 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1

(sorry, there was no september thread when I first starting waffling here!)

There were a few different lists so I think I?ve now consolidated them (sorry, OCD coming out).

Sometime within 3-6 weeks: CWest30 ELCS (DC2 I think?)
Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1
Oct. 5: Lisbethsopposite DS2
Oct 7th: crazypaving DC2
Oct 10th: WantAnOrange DC2
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle
Oct 18; Beccus, DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct 26: Londonmrss, DC1
Oct 28: Kyyria DC1
Oct 28: Loopyla, DC1
Oct 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov 1 : Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: MikeyTheShortOne

Room for a little one?! (Ha ha)

Sometime within 3-6 weeks: CWest30 ELCS (DC2 I think?)
Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1
Oct. 5: Lisbethsopposite DS2
Oct 7th: crazypaving DC2
Oct 10th: WantAnOrange DC2
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle
Oct 18; Beccus, DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct 21: dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct 26: Londonmrss, DC1
Oct 28: Kyyria DC1
Oct 28: Loopyla, DC1
Oct 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov 1 : Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: MikeyTheShortOne

Really quite uncomfortable today I don't think there's enough room in there for another 6 weeks of growth!

Yomping our MLBU is exactly the same - last time I had to get out while DH parked, but not sure what would happen if I had to drive myself there. 'Tis ridiculous.

Another one not really leaking or noticing BH contractions (famous last words). And I shall stop bouncing on my exercise ball directly!

Hello lovelies!!! Back online :o I missed you guys!

Hope you are all okay, have a massive catch up of email / MN etc ahead of me. Just got BB this afternoon. We have been living a strange twilight existence with no BB / phone / hot water (gah!) running between 2 houses but we are officially in the house from today :o Poor cats are still in the old house till the last of the workmen leave tomorrow or Friday.

At the hospital this morning, officially GD :( Gave me one of those finger pricker things which made me a bit as stupidly thought I could get away with just peeing on those strips. Blood tests 5 times a day, boo hiss! Still hopefully can just be careful with diet and not need insulin - although madly have been given NO dietary advice, have to wait to see dietician Am I supposed to eat Mars bars in the mean time? Going to google some stuff now.

Into work for a few days, then will be going off on maternity leave. Worst case scenario is bean arrives at 38 weeks if she keeps growing massive and starving me, which is only 3 weeks 3 days away. Hoping to get to 39ish weeks will add my 'date' to list when I get it!

Sorry this is so me, me, me but just wanted to send an update and a hug to everyone. Hope you are all okay and looking forward to catching up with everyone! xo

Welcome back angelico!! Sorry to hear it's GD You and fjord can share the sugar-free Hooray for being interwebbed, ahh civilisation.

squid do you still have to have a scan for placenta praevia, given the baby's engaged? I can so sympathise with the heaviness. And a slight (!) waddle to the gait? If it's any consolation, DS came early - but only by 2 days! And they say the chances of complications during birth are much lower when the head's nice and engaged don't they (quoting Lesley Regan there). I was panicked about cord prolapse last time - completely obsessively so - and only realise now I didn't need to!

Just back from mw check. She thinks the baby's head is heading into the pelvis (feeling even heavier so had been wondering, but then I'm still pretty breathless dammit) but wants to be sure it's not the bum so I've got a scan in 2wks for positioning. And then all systems go for a PLANNED homebirth I hope! I've got the appointment for the homevisit where she drops off the box of stuff on the same day as the scan. Think I'm going to have to keep DH away from the G&A...

Oh God, DS has no idea what's about to happen to him in the coming months...poor little soul....

31, DC2, 34+2

loopy regarding bump size - I swear mine has tripled in size since friday. Caught sight of myself in a full length mirror at work this morning gah!

Evening all,

Crazy Great news you are on for the home birth you want - not great news that you are feeling breathless although I am with you there - feel like everything is squished.

Angelico Welcome back. Sorry the GD got ya - sounds like you are viewing it all in the right way but doesn't stop it being a right pain in the arse. Like you say - at least you don't have long to go. Most people with diabetes say the finger pricing is the most annoying thing about the condition - good that you can hopefully see the back of it not long after birth. Hope you get an urgent dietitian app or whats the bloody point? Diabetes UK website has good dietary advice on it though if you want anything in the meantime. And they do good beginners guides.

Dosomething I also cant believe there is room for much more growth. I feel and look like I may explode. Like an actual weeble. My maternity tops don't meet my trousers anymore. Not a good look for a fat bird.

Squid glad you had a relaxing last holiday. I am having one next weekend for 4 days and then after that I won't go more than a couple of hours away from London Town. And after my scare last week I am contemplating actually taking my notes places with me like a good little girl.

Also on the leakage front - none from me yet either and I fed DD last time so for all of you worried about it not happening yet I wouldn't be too worried yet famous last words. Stacks of Braxton Hicks though - getting rather bored of them. London I had the pressure feeling you described a lot and just put the increased peeing down to normal pregnancy things but in the end the infection was raging. Not trying to scare you but sounds worth keeping an eye on. I am still getting it a bit but much less so - could be coincidence...

Right I am flipping huge. can't really get comfy on anything apart from my ball or laying on my side as bump sits on my legs now. I get breathless doing nothing sometimes but weirdly can still exercise. Only good thing is that I feel very lucky that I haven't had any swelling yet and hope to keep it that way - I hated that with DD. Like everyone else says I find it hard to think I can grow much bigger. If I go to term I have another 6/7 weeks to go for work - bloody hell I will have to be dragged in using a crane! I know pregnancy is natural and beautiful but jeez it is freaky sometimes. For all you ball lovers, drawing a small figure of 8 on them is really good for you and very comforting. Catch you all later x

Sometime within 3-6 weeks: CWest30 ELCS (DC2 I think?)
Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1
Oct. 5: Lisbethsopposite DS2
Oct 7th: crazypaving DC2
Oct 10th: WantAnOrange DC2
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle
Oct 18; Beccus, DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct 21: dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct 26: Londonmrss, DC1
Oct 27: MidgetM, DC2 but more likely to be around 6/10
Oct 28: Kyyria DC1
Oct 28: Loopyla, DC1
Oct 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov 1 : Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: MikeyTheShortOne

Flip!! 19 peeps?? Not a bit of wonder we find it hard to keep up and remember who said what!!?! Especially with unusual MN names!! Wonder how the actual arrivals will be compared to the EDD list!?

Unable to read, digest and comment, total knackeration..... Must mean another growth spurt..... I agree, where the heck can this bump keep growing to????! Night all!! X

londonmrs and squid thanks for adding me to the list, and yes it is DC2!

Looks weird seeing my name at the top of the list, especially as the OFFICIAL full term date is the 4th November!! Someone has to give birth before me, I can't be the first one, baby isn't cooked enough yet, the house isn't ready (hell, I'M not ready) I need to get DS settled into school before I throw something else at him.....OK BREATHE. CALM DOWN. I have done this all before and I can do it again. Can't I?? ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!

And wantan, your due date is also my son's 5th birthday :) will keep evrything crossed for you on that day!! xx

I've stumbled into another patch of reception so just wanted to share an experience with you and add myself to the due date list.

So, we're almost at the end of the Caen-Toulouse cycle ride and I've been driving down with the other guy's gf and a uni friend of theirs. Normally he's great fun very sweet and sensitive, but by golly he's getting on my tits this week. First few days he took to calling me Fatty and puffed his cheeks out and held his arms out by his side like the Michelin man. Tried to ignore it, but he kept on doing it like 5 times a day so I tried to say in a light hearted way "actually I feel pretty crap about the way I look so would you mind stopping" but has had no effect and he seems to think its HILARIOUS to carry on winding me up. Even my threat to steal cheese wire from one of the fromagerie we pass to garrot him with if he says it again is having no effect

Also sitting in a car all day and sleeping on ropey b&b mattresses is playing havoc with my back. Sometimes the pain starts in my coccyx and then spreads down my bun cheek to the top of my thigh - sounds like sciatica right?

Ok back in Toulouse tonight, move house tomorrow, fly to heathrow Friday then drive to Lincs for a wedding and back in Toulouse Sunday night. Wish me luck!

Sometime within 3-6 weeks: CWest30 ELCS (DC2 I think?)
Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1
Oct. 5: Lisbethsopposite DS2
Oct 7th: crazypaving DC2
Oct 10th: WantAnOrange DC2
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle
Oct 17th: Smorgs, DC1
Oct 18; Beccus, DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct 21: dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct 26: Londonmrss, DC1
Oct 27: MidgetM, DC2 but more likely to be around 6/10
Oct 28: Kyyria DC1
Oct 28: Loopyla, DC1
Oct 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov 1 : Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: MikeyTheShortOne

Hi everyone : ] I can't wait to actually have the space to blow up my ball, only two days to go!! Slightly worried about what state the house will be in.. Grandma seems to think the tenants might take the carpet with them :S
Anyway I will endeavour to catch up with you all later, but I've got coffee with my oldest friend this morning and then a funeral this afternoon (great). Hope you all have a lovely and more cheerful day than I will have! xxxx

Sometime within 3-6 weeks: CWest30 ELCS (DC2 I think?)
Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1
Oct. 2: Milk DC2
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1
Oct. 5: Lisbethsopposite DS2
Oct 7th: crazypaving DC2
Oct 10th: WantAnOrange DC2
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle
Oct 17th: Smorgs, DC1
Oct 18; Beccus, DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct 21: dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct 26: Londonmrss, DC1
Oct 27: MidgetM, DC2 but more likely to be around 6/10
Oct 28: Kyyria DC1
Oct 28: Loopyla, DC1
Oct 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov 1 : Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: MikeyTheShortOne

24, 35+1, dc#2, EDD 2nd Oct :)

Last night I ordered my TENs machine This is all becoming so real

Managed to get on a computer for once so that I can add myself to the list-

ometime within 3-6 weeks: CWest30 ELCS (DC2 I think?)
Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1
Oct. 2: Milk grin DC2
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1
Oct. 5: Lisbethsopposite DS2
Oct 7th: crazypaving DC2
Oct 10th: WantAnOrange DC2
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle
Oct 17th: Smorgs, DC1
Oct 18th: Bella2012 DC2
Oct 18; Beccus, DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct 21: dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct 26: Londonmrss, DC1
Oct 27: MidgetM, DC2 but more likely to be around 6/10
Oct 28: Kyyria DC1
Oct 28: Loopyla, DC1
Oct 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov 1 : Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: MikeyTheShortOne

I am infact supposed to be trying to battle my way through the enormous amount of prep I need to do for going back to work next week while my lovely friend tries valiantly to entertain DS for me downstairs, so better get on with it. Groan.

Quickly: Big news- had a quick squeeze in the shower...and I have millk! Scary but good I suppose?!

smorgs I wouldn't even joke about the cheese wire any more - geez, that man sounds like a complete nobber!!!

Personally i'd pin him against a wall by his balls and tell him you'll rip them off if he says it again...but that could just be my hormones

Try not to let the arsehole annoy you. Sending hugs.

32, 31+3, #1

Hello lovely ladies!

I've been reading and thinking of you all v much but too tired to manage to post. Time seems to be going v fast at the moment.

So sorry to hear about GD struggles for Angelico and Fjord, yaaaaay to those whose house moves are complete and settling started, lots of or to those still waiting/fighting agents or landladies or other evils.

squid your weekend away sounds lovely, so jealous but also really pleased for you . Go you on the sex, not much at all happening over here.

cherry don't panic I'd been bouncing a little on the yoga ball too, definitely stopped now (thanks huffle!). Finding a comfortable position to sit is becoming more and more of a saga, currently I'm shifting from ball to chair to all fours to beanbag and back to ball about every 20 mins. Stupid spine is well and truly knackered by the bump weight now.

No boob leakage here yet, not sure whether to be relieved or worried.

Started antenatal class last night, I was convinced from looking around and comparing bump sizes that I'd be among the latest due dates, turns out I'm first. Yikes! Now worried that I'm nowhere near ready, and that bump is too small. MW tomorrow so will see how I'm measuring . I should probably start assembling things for the hospital bags. And actually finish sorting out the nursery so there's room for a baby rather than just piles of junk.

Trying to get things sorted at work for handover now that we've finally sorted out cover - main person who is covering me can't start until January so until then two of my team leads (I manage 3 teams) are going to cover different bits of my job, with my boss doing a bit too. Messy messy, and I'm struggling to work out how to handover to 4 people instead of 1 as planned... . There's SO much I haven't got done this summer and pretty soon I'm going to need to confess.

Baby is wriggle-monster at the moment, squirming a lot at the top of the bump and producing truly Alien-style stretches. Poor DH is entertained and appalled by turn. I'm mostly loving it but sometimes just feel black and blue by the end of the day.

Still haven't bought a car! (we'd planned to sort that by end of July, but DH has been busy with work so it's fallen to me and I can't work out what's best to do as he keeps saying the options I've found are too expensive...). Really do need to sort that out while I can still get behind the wheel.

So, ladies, TMI question - perineal massage - anyone reckon they've got the hang of it? I've had a go and DH too, all feels very strange and contorting (it's getting harder and harder to reach anything below waist level) and I can't work out if I'm doing it right. Should I start feeling a difference in overall, um, stretchability/size? I'm rather, um tight at the best of times so definitely think it's something I should try to, um, tackle before the birth.

And last question - when are we meant to start drinking raspberry leaf tea??

34 wks today, DC1, thoroughly confusing herself again.

Sometime within 3-6 weeks: CWest30 ELCS (DC2 I think?)
Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1
Oct. 2: Milk grin DC2
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1
Oct. 5: Lisbethsopposite DS2
Oct 7th: crazypaving DC2
Oct 10th: WantAnOrange DC2
Oct 10th: MrsConfusion DC1
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle
Oct 17th: Smorgs, DC1
Oct 18th: Bella2012 DC2
Oct 18; Beccus, DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct 21: dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct 26: Londonmrss, DC1
Oct 27: MidgetM, DC2 but more likely to be around 6/10
Oct 28: Kyyria DC1
Oct 28: Loopyla, DC1
Oct 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov 1 : Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: MikeyTheShortOne

Just a quickie to answer MrsConfusion's questions:

Raspberry leaf tea - from 32 weeks, one cup a day, working up to 3 cups a day maximum from 36 weeks onwards. Also, keep drinking after the birth for a few weks, apparently it helps the uterus contract back down and I possibly read that it helps with let down reflex if breastfeeding although I might be confusing it with something else there.

Peri massage: reckon I've got the hang of this although it's possible the most undignified thing I've ever done! Using combination of book advice (The Good Birth Companion - fab book) and website advice, I do it like this, apologies for TMI:

1. Lay on back on bed with legs drawn up
2. Put oil on right thumb (I am right handed) and a bit on right index or middle finger (whichever suits)
3. stick thumb in fanjo, about a couple of inches in, facing thumb up towards ceiling, and press upwards, quite firmly. This should produce a stretching sensation - according to something I read, if you put your index fingers in the corner of your mouth and pull outwards until it stings a bit, this is the sort of sensation you are after. I had to experiment a bit with how far in to put my thumb to get the right sensation.
4. Keep pressing upwards a few times, and combine this with rubbing the perineum (that's the bit you are stretching) between thumb and oiled finger (tricky, this bit, my fingers don't stay in the right place), and also move thumb left and right while you stretch it so you are sort of making an upside-down U-shape with your thumb
5. Do this for about 5 mins or as long as you can bear, 3 times a week from 34 weeks, leading up to daily from 36 weeks. Apparently the area should become noticeably more stretchy and possibly feel "thinner" and more supple/less tight after you have done this for a couple of weeks.

If nothing else, it gets you used to the stretching sensation which I have never felt before (with apologies to DH, who is perfectly well proportioned but it has never felt like that!) and that will definitely be one of the sensations during labour.

Ah, pregnancy. The gradual loss of dignity over 9 months!

Thanks for the info Yomping!

Must not put in bosses diary, repeat... must not put in bosses diary...

Thanks Yomping ! Really MUST stop being a woos and start this wk as am 34 wks on Saturday. TMI but I complain I think I am small down there as DH is erm, well proportioned for height, so as for a baby...... Really no excuse here huffle, need to get to it!!!!!!!

Smorgs . Respect. For not punching the asshole. Grrrrrr.

Home early to get half hr rest before antenatal class. Supposed to be delivery suite tour tonight!!! Very bloody excited!!!!

Hope I'm right about the birth ball bouncing......... And not just my yoga teacher with a strange notion!! But good to hav brought it up just in case!!