May 2013 - celebrating our entry into the 3rd trimester and an early arrival!

[SevenReasonsToSmile]

Welcome to the new thread, grab a .

Thanks for all the positive stories!! I'm feeling a bit better about everything - slept decently well last night:) and I bought a 3 piece "bump brace" and it helps with the lower back pain (I look a bit funny but couldn't care less).

10 - I second what another lady said, you will probably be taking Seb home at the same time other may babies are going home! So Not too long (though it may feel like it sometimes!) FX Seb just keeps getting stronger and stronger!

Beaut - if your legs have suddenly swollen make sure you see GP for that. Sorry to hear you're having so much trouble!!

Catching - moan all you want! I think it actually helps!

I might try a bath... See if it helps.

34 weeks

Morning.

Moan away ladies, these last few weeks are so tiring, and so many people are less than sympathetic. We all know the end result is worthwhile but that doesn't make it any easier. Sorry to hear so many of you are suffering.

elly glad you got some reassurance, and that your BP is ok again.

Hi all, not been on for a while, loads happening...

We have decided to return to the UK, although this won't happen realistically for at least another 6 months. Had an agent out last night to look at the house and have been looking at areas to live in the UK. I want to go back now! Arti if I had somewhere to stay I would go back to the UK in a heartbeat, my parents though are in the US and are planning on returning to the UK in May to buy a house then.

Still not heard from the creche in France so stuck with my DD running riot and having tantrums every hour while trying to stay awake enough to deal with stuff. Things are so much more difficult when you are pregnant and have a child (or two, hats off to some of you who are in this category!). I am counting down the days till my parents get here, seems to be going so damned slowly though.

Elly welll done for getting checked out, I had reduced movement the other week but didn't do anything, mainly because going to the hospital here would prove to be a pain in the bum.

10 and Maybe I am so pleased your little ones are doing so well.

Gold very jealous of your 34 weeks....!

Had another scan on Tuesday, all ok, still got a big head and still breach but weight is 4 pounds so happy with that. My DD was only 6lb 8oz when she was born so doesn't seem too far away now.

Sorry for rambling on...

31 + 3

I had forgotten how impossible it is to wee into what is effectively a test tube when you can't see what you're doing! Why on earth aren't these pots wider!?!? There are pregnant women all over the country weeing all over their hands right now!

ng while it's frustrating that you can't come back right now, I have found just reaching a decision like that makes me feel much better. At least you know your current situation will end in the not too distant future. Hang on in there

Just returned from the doctors and I have got a really nasty case of mastitis. Didn't know you could get it before BF. Got a weeks supply of antibiotics. No wonder I have been feeling so rough this week.

Absolutely Lolly that is how I am looking at it, I am dying to be back in the UK but just having come to that decision makes me feel a little better.

Ugh Rachy not nice, I didn't know you could get it before BF. I had a nasty case of it when BF my DD so my sympathies and hope the drugs start to work quickly!

Mastitis is the pits, rachy
funnily enough I had wondered if you could get it during pg even when not bf and you have answered that for me! Hope you feel better soon

30+6

Hi ladies

10 and maybe it's fantastic to hear how well your babies are doing!

ng exciting that you are planning to move back Hopefully also having a date in mind that you are working towards will help keep you sane (at least it does for me with those sorts of big events)

lolly definitely agree on the teeny tiny tube! I even said as much in passing to my GP the other day, who has kindly given me a slightly wider pot for next time!!

to those of you who are suffering at the moment As a first-timer I really hadn't appreciated how until now much stress our bodies are put under when baking a baby. Hope the tips and tricks shared on here are easing things for you a bit

Doing okay over here, although at check-up this week GP detected a trace of protein in my urine. And while my BP is in the normal range, it's still a fraction on the high side of normal for me. Probably nothing, but going back next week to get everything checked again. Have also just been to my second funeral of the year (grandpa, following on from grandma (other side of the family) about a month ago) so having a bit of an up-and-down week. Has put me in quite a reflective mood ? I?ve not always been great at the work/life-balance thing and it?s kind of thrown into perspective how much I?m looking forward to DP and I building our own little family [introspective emoticon].

30+6

aberjen sorry to hear about the funeral. Glad the docs aren't too concerned, but make sure you familiarise yourself with the signs of pre-eclampsia just in case.

rachy sorry about the mastitis, hope you're feeling better soon.

ng very pleased for you with your decision. It's ridiculous that you still haven't heard about the crèche, do you know how long its usually meant to take?

ng buy some plastic cups and pop one in your bag wrapped in cling film to keep it clean when you have an appointment. Then when you need to do a sample do it in the cup and pour into said tiny tube!

Oo Rachy! That must be horrible. I had it several times with DS and it was not fun! Didn't know you could get it before they arrived :(

I didn't realise you could get it before either Rachy - was it you that was lactating very early? You poor thing, as if pregnancy wasn't bad enough.

I am so hormonal today & sore today, I had a strange emotional dream last night that left me very on edge and then I went to a hospital appointment and dragged the car along the side of another car trying to park in a small space, it was so avoidable and I'm so cross but mostly I'm so tired and feel too big to last another 5.5 weeks. Both kids are getting sick off & on and then the pre school teacher said they've had 3 cases of slap cheek & I may want to consider keeping my LO home til Easter..... Arrrrghhhhhh!

I'm going to use One Born Every Minute to have a massive bulb.

Just been catching up, sorry about everyone's woes at the moment, can totally relate!
So sorry to hear about your grandpa aberjen
Great to hear updates on Seb and Alice, hope they're not causing their mummies any undue stress today.
I've just got 3 weeks left of work before mat leave and it seems like because everyone knows I'm about to go off everyone is trying to get me to deal with absolutely everything before I go, part if my job is management with the health board and they've not managed to find any cover for that part so everyone panicking that nothing is going to happen while I'm away, rubbish! Could do without guilt about going on mat leave!!

Lolly - just laughed out loud at peeing all over your hands!! It is so true.

Rachy - hope the meds help quickly! Never had mastitis myself but seems hugely unjust to get it before baby is here!!

Went shopping this morning and had a manicure while grandma watched my DD. was great! Just what I needed; though I hope I don't regret buying 2 maternity tops since I am so close to the end (end = baby). In all likely hood I will need to wear them after baby for a few months as well!

By the way lolly last pregnancy I mentioned about to the mid wife about teeny sample pots and spray, that's even if I could get a route in there, which towards he end is nay on impossible. She said 'my dear, you use a much bigger vessel and pour it in' so now I use a plastic measuring jug and boil it after.. Just try not to think about it when your cooking

Boil the jug not the pee... That would be beyond weird

boiling wee
it has never occurred to me to decant from a bigger vessel! I'm totes going to do that next time and not mention to DP which spouted vessel I chose for the job

anyone else been getting nose bleeds?

Hi all,

Lolly- yes to the nose bleeds all the time and not had one in my life before got pregnant!
Seven- read your bit on iron while waiting for midwife and sitting there falling asleep, turns out my iron levels were low. I have been feeling so tired this last week, like you am so relieved to find out why. I have had quite a craving for milk and turns out this can absorb iron so might explain it. Anyway tablets are making massive difference.

Advice please anyone... Heard today that reflexology on your feet can bring labour on. Met someone at work today who went 14 days overdue with first. Decided to try reflex with second on day before due date and baby born within 24 hours.... Coincidence or anyone else heard of this? I was 14 days over with dd1 so am hoping not to go so long this time.

Sending sympathy to all those achy ladies out there ....I am soooo with you on that.

Ps sorry but can someone help me with the Facebook link... Would love to join and just haven't got round to it..thank u

Good Morning ladies!
A few 'technical' questions today for those non-first timers in the group...
Having just done the most unsexy shop ever in M&S and Boots yesterday I am now equipped with many enormous black granny pants for my hospital bag, lanolin nipple cream, dextrose energy sweets, travel sized toiletries & a couple of highly functional massive nursing bras.

How many of the humongous pants should one have for the messy post-birth times? Is it worth having some of those disposable ones as well? Should I take loads of maternity pads to the hospital or will they give us some at the beginning? Do you need to take breast pads in your hospital bag? What sort of snacks are good to have with you? Is it worth packing 2 bags (one for stuff during labour & immediately after and one for going home clothes etc) and keeping one in the car for DP to go and get afterwards? Are there any contact lense wearers amongst you and if so, should I take them out when I'm in labour? (odd question I know!). For anyone who had a water birth did you just strip off or did you have a bikini top with you (have been watching too much OBEM!)? How many nappies should you take with you in the baby bag? Is it worth taking a swaddling blanket with you or just a normal one to bring them home?

I know we still potentially have weeks and weeks to go, but have some time to start getting stuff together now and everyone is telling me to pack my hospital bag just in case!

Am also starting to get a bit worried about the fact that we just have a cot, no Moses basket. Will he be ok in that when he's all tiny at the beginning or will it be like going to bed in an aircraft hangar?! Also, we picked up the lovely presents from Future FIL yesterday of travel cot, baby bjorn, cot mattress & angelcare monitor and DP spent an hour trying to work out the instructions of the baby monitor which involved 20 minutes of working out how to open the battery case! It says that it has to be on a completely flat surface... Does that mean the base of the cot or do we need to put some plywood underneath it?

Ok, questions over now

Glad you got checked out elly and all is ok.
Poor you rachy that is rough luck with the mastitis. Didn't know you could get it beforehand. Hope you feel better soon

sisi I don't know so much about reflexology, but I know that acupuncture is also used to help bring on labour at the end. I used acupuncture when we were trying to get pregnant (am sure I conceived after the first appointment actually. No idea if it's coincidence or not but it worked for few friends as well). They told me about a few people they had who got acupuncture when they were overdue and their favourite story about one client who had 3 intense acupuncture appointments in 36 hours because she was overdue, ended up going into the loo that night (was due to be induced the next day) and gave birth in her bathroom without even realising she must have been in labour!
There's always going to be extreme stories, but I have heard a lot that that sort of pressure point work whether it's reflexology or acupuncture can have powerful effects when you're at full term.

Phew huge post. Led my last concert last night so Am off to enjoy a day of pootling and doing baby prep around the flat. Happy days!

wirra we have the angel care monitor and put the sensor pad under the mattress on slats of the cot frame. We considered mdf board but the monitor worked fine as it was so didn't bother.

Re maternity pads- I got always 'night' sanitary towels as maternity pads looked like they were straight out of call the midwife
mw said they weren't good enough and gave me a couple of mat pads She was right; for the first day or 2 maternity pads were best. I would take a whole box in your hospital bag in case you stay overnight/couple of nights.

I can't help much with the hosp bag, I was determined to be out without an overnight stay, packed accordingly and did just that so had not chance to know if I was unprepared. I did however, make an obvious pile of extra baby supplies and spare clothes for me for DP to just pick up if it was needed. I had a box of breast pads in this pile.

Re cot- You can get something called a 'snuggle nest' that you can place in a cot (or in your bed for co-sleeping) that makes a newborn feel more secure. I've never used one myself, though. Check out eBay if you're interested.

I'll be interested to know what others with past exerience are packing in their bags, too.

31 wks

Wirra Dont bother with disposable pants they don't hold pads well and no matter what size tend to dig in to hips.I have two packs (10 pairs ) of black pants.I will only take one pack to hospital. Both times in hospital I was provided with approx two pads.So make sure you take a pack in with you.Sanitary towels are no good you need maternity towels.I find the winged maternity pads leak wheras Ive never had a problem with the plain thick ones.

Bag wise second time round I found a wheelie case easier having had two bags first time.So I will be taking a case with everything in this time as well.

I'm hoping for a water birth do will be taking in a tankini top I don't care about my bottom half.To be honest you won't care when in labour I stripped off first time around.

I always take a pack of newborn nappies in my case.Have never used all of them but I'd rather have too many.

No to swaddle blanket hospital will provide one.Its not a necessity to start.I would take in a hat for baby along with their baby gros as hospital wards are chilly and newborns lose heat through their heads.

Cot wise.I usually place the Moses basket into the cot from about 2 months until baby has outgrown Moses to get them used to the view.

Hope that helps

Don't bother with disposable pants, just get loads of cheap ones from Primark - comfier and probably costs the same too. And yes, maternity pads... lots of maternity pads... just bring in a box full, and nipple pads too for leaks. Baby wipes to freshen up and to use instead of scratchy hospital toilet roll.

Well I had no issues with missing the pee tube today. I took the tube to the toilet and then forgot to pee in it. I looked at it afterwards and then remembered why I was in there. With an hour until my midwife appointment I had to drink loads of juice and then only managed a tiny little sample .

The midwife measured my bump today too and said I was measuring too small so I've to go for a growth scan tomorrow, that can't be good can it? I'm now quite worried, what would happen if it shows that she's too small?

Nipple pads? I meant breast pads, I thought it looked odd when I typed it out.

Oh just to add to the hospital bag - scratch mits. You'll need a few of these. They might not stay on the tiny newborn hands either, I found that using baby socks instead of mits worked better in the first few days, they didn't fall off as much. The baby sleep suits with built in scratch mits are great too.

Yes forgot to say a box of breast pads mine leaked loads pretty much from the moment after I have birth

Catching How small what was your measurement? I measured 4 weeks behind all the way through with ds1 and a kind consultant at hospital just informed me I was having a small baby. Ds1 was 6lb so not extremely small