April 2013 part six...what does the third trimester have in store?

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Morning all 4lbs 1oz!!!!!!!!! Cpap pressure down, body temp great, brain scan clear Alex is being moved today, downgraded to a basic plastic shell not a huge needs nicu incubator. I'm terrified and excited, haven't slept I can't wait to see him. The heart monitors and O2 thingy will be coming off, he will only have a cannula and nasal O2 they did a test run yesterday and all was well. My son is awesome!!!
Oh and it means clothes, he can wear actual clothing and have a bath soon maybe next week, his first bath

OMG! I missed pancake day!

^^

Mama: what a great morning for you, full of great news!!Well done Alex, he is a strong little boy:)

Wishfulthinking: great news about your placenta, it will be shifting further away no worries and don't google please. Good luck for your Friday tests!

Fluffeh: I don't know if you can try or not but I am taking spatone iron liquid which is 100% natural supplement and it's easy on you. See the link: www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com/en-gb/uk/our-brands/spatone/
It works well for me, they recommend it drinking with orange juice. No side effects really.

I had my whooping cough jab on Monday. it's ok but I felt a bit funny yesterday, just like before having a cold and it dragged me down a bit. I feel much better today and my arm feels better too.

Have a good day everyone!!

mama that's such fantastic news, I'm so sorry you've had to go through this stressful time but so jealous of you cuddling your baby, every time I see a baby (real or picture) I get all mushy and tell DH I want to hold a baby, at which point he reminds me I have one inside me!

Anyone else feeling massive, I'm really finding it a struggle to get around places and standing at the sink to do washing up for more then 2 mins is an absolute killer. DH is shocked, I don't think he realised how much the baby grows in the last trimester as until now I have been quite small, every day I come home and he comments on how big I'm getting
Just 2 more days till half term and then we're off to the yorkshire dales for a week, can't wait to just wake up late and spend all day relaxing

Have a fab day!!!!!!
32+3

p.s I finished making my blanket last night. It's very amateur and I'm embarrassed what a mess it is (first serious knitting project I've ever done) but I'm really proud I managed to stick it out, and anyway isn't it the love that goes into making it not how looks that counts?!

Morning everyone [waves with ok left arm]. Right arm however does feel like someone has punched it! Jab wasnt too bad for someone who hates needles. I should'nt have worn a white top though, nurse didnt give me a tissue or anything - darn it, Ive been fending off buying more maternity t-shirts and there blows another one!
Jo1984 and faith - you were right. I hope the numbness doesnt last much longer.

I had a MW appointment yesterday too. They are estimating the baby will weigh about 8lbs . Am I the only person who cant really figure out how they can tell this from measuring my bump? Surely it depends on your body shape, size, amount of amniotic fluid... where the baby is laying - surely there are too many variables to say for sure? I just dont get it.

Im at work (naughty to be on here reallyyy) but soooo tired today - baby decided to have an all night party until about 5am. I could feel elbows, arms, legs all night. Perhaps that will teach me to eat so many pancakes with lemon and sugar before bed.

Also - is anyone else finding it logistically impossible to get their chair up to their desks now? I just cant get close enough - another excuse to not be working

I hope everyone is having a good day!

Mama - That is such great news!! Really thrilled for you - God bless little Alex!

Bext - you are right , if there was a problem my MV would have told me - i just need to stop worrying.

After reading everyones posts about pancakes yesterday i just couldn't resist and asked my husband at 10.00pm to get me pancakes from somewhere - poor guy managed to find them and i sat and ate 3 pancakes - so yummy :) :)

We have our first Antenatal Class today - so excited! Hope we meet some friendly parents.

I need to get my whooping cough jab but really scared hehe will force myself to go next week.

Mama glad to read your update, Alex is doing so well, I hope you are too!

I had my whooping cough jab this morning, didn't feel a thing at the time but my arm is a teeny bit sore now.

Feeling a bit rough today though, I think I might be getting yet another cold or perhaps just have overdone it last week with getting ready to move, either way am planning to just rest today & tomorrow.

31+5

well done birdbrain on your handiwork. I am crocheting something for the baby and its by no means perfect but its done with love and baby won't know! I also feel better about doing something when I flop onto the sofa every evening!

Msbluesky I am moving my keyboard closer and closer. A colleague has offered to cut an extra notch out of my desk for me for the bump .

Had my whooping cough on Tuesday and now I have a sore/hot/itchy egg shaped lump on my arm and I am feeling sorry for myself . Sure it will be cured by lots of chocolately pancakes tonight though before antenatal class - tonight is THE BIRTH .

Just bought my dream genii pillow from TKMaxx, thanks to whoever gave that tip, it says to help with sleeping, labouring then feeding, so should be good value!

Just in hairdressers getting my roots done, DP has taken to calling me skunk girl, so about time!

Birdbrain can you put a pic of your blanket up on Facebook, I bet it's brilliant and is totally all the better for the love you put in!

mama I am so happy for you! That is such wonderful news, what an amazing little boy! He must get it from his mother of course!

I am so ready for half term, but I am a little jealous of this of you finishing work and starting your mat leave, I am going to the end of term 28th march! Arghhh! Seemed like a good idea at the time as it means I get longer off with the baby, however our head is male and not exactly baby/ pregnant lady friendly and is still working me just as hard as ever, the class are lovely but hard work with Los of emotional/home life/ behaviour issues, not and easy bunch. But hey ho half term is nearly here.

mama, that's such wonderful news! Alex is amazing, he truly lives up to his name sake of Alexander the Great.

Well after having a very smooth time of it I'm now struggling to walk. It's not pg related, I twisted my ankle on Tuesday going up a curb and now I am hobbling along not able to put much weight on my left foot. It's probably just a sprain but the extra weight I'm carrying doesn't help I'm sure and the 20 min walk I do from the station to the office has almost doubled. No time to get to the docs this week so hoping it will heal itself.

notting, I was worried about the whooping cough jab but found it pretty much the same as the flu jab. It didn't hurt at the time and was just a bit achy for a day afterwards. I know lots of people have felt it quite badly so probably I was just lucky, hope you are too.

keys work sounds pretty tough. Can you come to an arrangement with your boss so that it doesn't get too exhausting?

31 weeks today!

Hi

Now watching OBEM omg that woman just had her baby in the bath quickly!! Wish my labours were like that!!!

We all enjoyed pancake day yesterday - had to make a second batch of mix as my boys - the little ones and oh all scoffed into them so much!!! Squeezed 2 in for me and bubs!!

Have whopping cough jab tomorrow and not looking forward to it after all these achy arms and also not my best plan for valentines day!! But gotta be done I guess - I had whopping cough at 3 weeks old and was very ill so I know how important it is.

Birdbrain I'm feeling huge too so you're not alone!! Suddenly seem to have grown loads - but midwife did say I am measuring a week ahead so I hope I am a week ahead otherwise another 8 weeks of this is going to be tough!!

Looking forward to half term off then just 4 weeks left at work!! Yey

30 + 6

essex I don't actually have facebook, it's really never bothered me before but I'm feeling a bit left out of the april group, might make me rethink all my decisions! I've put a picture of it on my profile page if you know how to have a look. I might add a trim round the edge to help it keep it's shape but need to see if I can find the right colour ribbon to do it with...(it's yellow and purple not sure if you can tell that in the photo)

birdbrain that looks fab, you must be really proud. I am still toiling with my blanket and starting to really doubt that it'll be finished before Bumps gets here. Feel a bit inspired by all the finished products you lot are reporting on so will try to get some enthusiasm into it again...

Haven't had a full night's sleeo with the dream genii yet but already think it's AMAZING, it supports your back and stops you rolling onto your back, cuddles bump and goes between your legs all in one go and can be used as a feeding pillow after birth as wraps around you! I feel sooooo comfy already! Already sold but will let you know how I sleep tonight xx

Mama just wow! Awesome news about your Alex! He's such a fighter isn't he!
And I know a little about how you feel, I was so excited when I was finally able to bath my DS (he still had some vernix on him after three weeks.....) and put clothes on him. Although to this day he'd be happier in the nudeyrudey, he hates getting dressed, I joke that its because he got used to not wearing anything in NICU.
I went to the physio yesterday, I've been advised to not carry things (including DS gulp) or to do the hoovering as my pelvic pain is pretty full on. I've also got a belt thing to wear to give me a bit more support. Pleased I went though, it made me feel like I wasn't making the pain up!

kitkat thanks, I've got DP on a mission today to find some in boots. It must be the new iron tablets that are making me seriously vomit. It's like the early pg days again eww.

mama awww how exciting having his first ever bath! And getting to wear cute little clothes.
I hope your getting better too and feeling more like yourself :).

My nct class was fab! Everyone was really nice. I couldn't believe how far some had traveled to be there. The leader is really lovely and so knowledgable. I couldn't recommend nct over nhs any more, it was really good. Even DP who was terrified of going, really enjoyed it. The next one is Saturday morning but I'll be going with a relative as DP spends Saturdays with his boys.

Morning all hope everyone is feeling well.
Everything went great yesterday and Alex is now settled in his 'cot' dr said yesterday they are surprised at how well he has done, he never really behaved like a 24 weeker, they are sure that it is combination of him (((proud mama here)))) and the fact they were so prepared and could get medication and steroids into him with time to spare. I want to burst with pride every time I look at him

birdbrain I know what you mean cuddling baby s is like nothing else. Not long to wait now though I don't have fb either, am considering opening a account just to show you all pics of Alex can't do that does anyone know?

nottinghillmum your dh sounds lovely, bless him, that was a sweet thing to do.

teapig I hope your ankle is feeling better?

river good luck with your jab today.

mumofwombat yep it's so exciting. I often wonder how much if a affect the really early experiences have on them, every trait my ds1 displayed in nicu, energetic, clingy, always hungry, has continued and he too is always wanting to take his clothes off! He is always hot as well, apparently there is some evidence that ex preemies that have been in incubators are generally warm people as their body overcompensated when they were tiny and so their system is more efficient. I don't know but its interesting to think about.

fluffeh thanks I'm glad your class was good.

Sorry if I've missed anyone but I did read everyone's updates. I have a counsellor coming to speak with me later, not my choice tbh but the drs are insisting apparently its standard procedure when they've had to perform a emergency hysterectomy. They came sooner but didnt push the issue while alex was still 'unstable' Still Alex cuddles afterwards to look forward too
Hope everyone has a good day

mama That's great news. I love reading your updates

fluffeh Glad you enjoyed your class. We start our NCT class next week. I'm really excited.

Someone at work yesterday said to me 'Can't believe you're still pregnant. You've been pregnant for absolutely ages!' LOL.

32+6

Happy Valentines everyone, I hope you are all getting showered with gifts, flowers and cards today - its totally deserved!

photochick I keep forgetting and wheeling myself in to the desk too far and boy does it hurt.

I am so excited that everyone is making blankets! I started one about three weeks ago and bought wool a couple of days ago to start on it again. Im doing a basket stitch one, but customising it so that its stripes of different colours - like a rainbow. I have an image of it in my mind... hoping it ends up looking like the image...

mama I hope the appointment with the counsellor goes well and the cuddles with your baby afterwards.

We had our NCT class night, they scared the life out of me talking about the ins and outs of c-sections. This is my first baby and tbh the idea of a section really fills me with dread. Of course Id get on with it if I had to have one but if I had the choice I'd prefer not to have one. I cant help but think they could have dealt with it a bit differently (ie emphasised a bit more that giving birth isnt a competition to see who can do it with the least amount of drugs etc). The main thing surely is that mother and baby are fit and well. Statistically at least one or two of us in the class are likely to need one (planned or emergency). I cant help thinking the scare tactics are going to make some of us more fearful and more likely to need one...and are those mothers going to feel a bit like they failed? Its a tricky one, but it got me thinking...

Have a good day everyone

Happy half term!!!!!!!!

bluesky I hated my first antenatal class too! Week 1 was all about 'normal labour' and everytime someone asked about complications it was 'oh that's covered in the next class', why leave people worrying for a week?! As you say, statistics suggest that almost half of us will end up with interventions of some kind!

Also disappointed to find out:

• Water birth rooms with pools (there are 2) are not en-suite. Can you imagine getting out of the pool everytime you need to pee, drying off, dressing, waddling down the corridors and back (probably having a contraction) before getting back in the pool!
• No visitors (at all, even after birth) other than your partner?!
• If you are intending to breast feed you will not be discharged the same day you give birth, they keep you to check your technique. However if you bottle feed and have had a normal labour you can be discharged after 6hrs!
• Partner only allowed in the hospital 9am-9pm.

Does this all seem right?! It feels a bit Dickensian to me.

Needless to say I will not be going to the 'possible complications in labour' class next week
Sorry for the grumble, I'm just so disappointed & wish I hadn't gone.

Oh and happy valentines day ladies!

Like that's rubbish. How bad that its upset you! I don't know about BF in our hospital (we'll be in for 48 hours anyway) but partner visiting is 9-9 at our hospital too. With everything that's kicked off with the Staffs report etc it looks like visiting hours will become a thing of the past anyway.

I'm rather pleased with myself for going swimming today. Managed 20 lengths! I enjoy swimming, it's the only time I don't feel enormous or the pressure of the bump. I might try and go a couple of times a week.

Off to cook steak for Valentine's dinner now :)

30+2

Where in the country are you likecandy ? I went to Queens Hospital (Romford) new birthday centre this week and it is AMAZING! No visiting hours, you can have 10 people in with you if you fancied it!! En suites in every room, 2 double bedrooms so the first night you can all spend together as a family, I could go on! They have had bad press in recent years so are having a massive push to make it the best birthing centre in London, so happy it's just opened in time for us! Any way you fancy coming to Essex for the birth?