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

[SevenReasonsToSmile]

Welcome to the new thread, grab a .

She didn't say how far behind, and I didn't think about asking either. Do you think she would say if I was really far behind or would she not want to worry me?

Usually they write the fundal height in your notes on every midwife visit. In my experience midwifes don't usually have much tact and make you worry more and its usually doctors that reassure you. Don't worry too much she has referred you to be checked so whatever the reason it is being dealt with.

catching measuring small for dates doesn't always indicate a small baby. Also if baby is small it doesn't usually mean there's anything wrong, they're just on the small side. Mine was measuring small at my 28 week scan, but DS was 9th centile at birth and DD was 25th so both well below 'average'. I'm not concerned tbh, I just don't grow big babies!

Another no to sanitary towels for the first few days, not absorbent enough and I've heard that stitches can get caught in them (though no experience there). Buy loads of them as you'll need them once your waters break if you're not in labour. With DD my waters broke at 6am, didnt go into labour until 8pm, I ended up using half a pack of maternity pads before I'd even given birth as I was soaking through sanitary towels in 30 minutes!

I'd also take two bags, a small one for labour with going home clothes, spare pants, a couple of nappies, a few maternity pads, a couple of vests and sleepsuits plus a hat and cardie for the baby for if you're lucky enough to go home within a few hours. In the other larger bag have enough clothes for both of you to be in for a couple of days plus the rest of the pack of nappies and maternity pads, that way DH can just grab it from the car if you need it rather than have loads with you that you don't need.

Afternoon!

Re bags

I probably took too much last time but that said I wouldn't trust my DH to pack anything for me even with instructions!

Two bags seems very sensible- one In the hope of quick release and the second with spares!

Defo get cheap black knickers such as asda and defo maternity pads. My hospital did have a stash of pads in the loo but I did need lots and same as SEVEN I used loads when my waters broke as they gushed continuously for hours- bet I used 30 pads!

Whether you intend to breast feed or not doesn't always go to plan for that reason I'd recommend a few cartons of formula and bottles- I've heard my hospital n longer provides any.

Newborns definitely need hats even in hospital and often staff will scowl in disapproval without!

I'd also take iPod/ book in case you are unlucky to have a long labour and need an epidural- it'll help pass the time.

Def need nappies and baby clothes and clothes for you to go home in! I Also use Vaseline on newborns bum - It stops the first poos (meconium) sticking which is then difficult t remove carefully/gently.

Food- I need comfort food / treats at times so ill defo have giant buttons, coke, sports cap water, Pringles etc in my bag for labour and in case get stuck in. Plus I had an epidural reluctantly last time and once in they refuse to allow you to eat( 26hrs of starvation if they had their way- not the ideal way to deal with labour!) so I sneakily ate / drank when midwife left the room...not to excess jus enough to keep going...

We also had a half bottle of fizz in my bag but after 26hrs to be fair we couldn't face it.

And don't forget your carseat if you hope for 6hr discharge!

Thanks for the reassurance. I checked my notes but nothing about growth, she's just marked down the length of my uterus. My scan is first thing tomorrow morning though so I'll be able to find out then. DS was 6'14 when he was born and was very short too, but nothing was mentioned during my pregnancy about it.

Yes I went through quite a lot of pads with my waters too, they started treakling out at 3pm and then had to be broken the next day. DS wasn't born until 12.04pm the next day either and I was given an epidural at about 2am which ended up not working but I wasn't allowed to get up and walk around or eat or drink either. I was starving and some sneaky hidden food would have been great.

I had DS 6 years ago and nappies, formula and maternity pads were all provided by the hospital. I'll need to check this time to see what they hospital will or won't provide to see what I need to take. I've still another 10 weeks to go though, so jealous of those that are further on.

Thanks wirrawoo... Really interesting I might just book one anyway..if nothing else I get a nice foot massage!

Thanks for link seven! Hope everyone is having a nice day out there and not too many aches and pains!

Thanks for the useful info ladies! Hope you are all well x

Wirra - I wear contacts and you will be asked to remove them at the start of labour just in case you need emergency surgery. Make sure you take your glasses. My hospital made me remove nail varnish too so they could check circulation to my toes after my epidural, nobody else seems to have had this, v odd.

My hospital bag is: comfy change of clothes for afterwards, 6 pack of huge knickers, 15 maternity pads, 2 nursing bras and pads, lanisohl for sore nipples (it's by far the best nipple cream), nice body wash for most carnage shower, shower shoes (flip flops), 4 white baby gros (they'll sick, poo or wee on one every few hours), 6 newborn nappies, a baby blanket and hat, a pack of cards for long labour, kindle, phone charger. Oh and a fully charged camera is pretty important IMO.

I would want some sort of Moses basket or cosy container. Both my girls
preferred to be packed into small spaces as they were used to the womb.

I hope the growth scan gives reassuring news tomorrow Mocking.

Hi all hope everyone is okay :)

Had growth scan yesterday and he is now estimated to be about 4lbs 1oz. He was about 3lb 3 at the last one so he's doing well and tracking the 10th centile line. Yet another scan in 2 weeks time to make sure he's still following the line etc.

Midwife scanning me couldn't believe how far down his head was. She asked me if I was feeling a lot of pressure down there, and I did say it felt a bit weird down there to say the least. Oh and to top everything off yesterday, had the most horrendously painful braxtons ever, never felt them with DD, contraction pains in my back like when I went into labour with DD so I was a bit freaked out to say the least but slowly but surely they subsided by time I got home.

So many things going on on the thread but I think everyone has covered hospital bags... Except of course the Tens machine .. For me this was as much use as a sandwich in a sandstorm but I know people who relied solely on this til the latter stages. You can rent one from Boots. Oh and Massage oil as I found the friction of my partners hand on my back enough to make me want to throttle him. Did someone say lip salve.. God my lips got so dry..and my feet so cold. I was labouring for a LONG time though.

Dingle I get the worst tightenings\bh I have experienced - the last three nights bang on 8pm for an hour with really achey back ache just like a bed period pain. I have never gone into labour on my own so it's very strange.

Latest gripe is a stinging burning sensation where my bumps starts, just below my chest, it's stretching skin I imagine so I'm furiously rubbing oil in but it's soooo sore.

34 weeks tomorrow !

Can I be a late joiner? Due date is 22 of May so about two more months to go. Am expecting a girl and she'll be our first.

Having a growth scan next weekend and will also be starting ante-natal classes. Recently started listening to natal hypnotherapy cd's and really enjoy them.

Pregnancy hasn't been super easy with morning sickness still present, though not every day anymore and now added pleasure of SPD. Thankfully seeing the chiropractor really helps with that.

Have not packed hospital bag yet. Am in full washing baby clothes mode and finishing the nursery... Still a couple of bits and bobs to get so am hoping to get most of that done next week.

It's been great reading all you stories and picking up valuable bits of information!

Thanks artichook . They asked you to remove your nail varnish? That's a bit harsh, I even kept my socks on when I had my epidural!

Hi DXB. There's a stats thread in ante-natal groups somewhere if you want to add yourself on, ask if you can't find it and I'll link to it.

dingle strange how each pregnancy is so different. I had BH with DS but not DD and none this time. I also had afterpains with DD but not DS. I've heard they get worse each time, not looking forward to that.

Excellent advice on supplies from scooby, I had DD at 11.15pm, was given tea and toast afterwards but getting up to feed her I was ravenous and hadnt packed any food. Take account of where your nearest 24hr supermarket is to the hospital also, take perhaps one bottle and carton of formula if you want to BF but you can always send out DH to get more if needed.

With the car seat make sure you know how to fit it easily (it was dark when we took DD home!) and just leave it strapped in the car from around 35 weeks, that way it can't be forgotten!

We're getting carpet for the nursery on Sunday, DH will hopefully get it fitted and furniture built next week so I can get all the washing done and sorted out. I'll probably start sorting out my bag next week, my sisters waters broke at 32 weeks so I've learnt to be prepared early just in case!

Went for a routine check today and she said I'm 1cm dilated

I suppose I might stay that way for 6 weeks though - will be interesting to find out!!!

34+1

Keep us posted berri!
After another rubbish nights sleep, I'm shuffling round the house waiting for the 'is it or isn't ita snow day' news from work (school). What a crap march! X

Berri - I think it's quite normal to be a little dilated after already having given birth. They don't examine this early in the UK but I was examined at 37 weeks with DC2 and was 3cm! With DC1 it took 12 hours of labour to get to 3cm so I thought DC2 must be going to come soon. I stayed at 3cm for a whole month as she was 8 says late! Sooo frustrating. However, you have a history of early labour so it may well be different for you.

Catching Good luck today.Let us know how it goes.

Berri as arti says its very normal to walk around dilated for ages. Especially the more births you've had.Im pretty sure were the midwife to check I'd be a couple if centimetres. I was from about 32 weeks with ds2.

How exciting berri, keep us posted. I was checked the day before I had DS (my first) and shocked to discover I was 3cm! Any reason why they routinely check so early over there, is just just for signs of pre-term labour? FWIW my neice was born at 34+5, spent 1 night in SCBU then 2 on the ward before being allowed home. We're you induced with DS or go into natural pre-term labour? My consultant said the risk of subsequent pre-term labour if you've had one already is 15%.

I know bunny I'm so fed up with this weather now. DH is training for the London marathon next month, he slipped on the ice yesterday and twisted his knee. It's my birthday in a couple of weeks and I've always known it to be well into spring by then.

It's a lovely windy day here so I might get ahead and wash some baby clothes and just put them in storage boxes until the room is ready to put them away. I'm either getting really impatient or nesting already.

Hope the scan goes ok catching, let us know.

Hi, seven am bit rubbish at the tetchy side, think I pm'd you to say I couldn't get FB link to work... But might not have done it right! Any chance of resenting it or anyone one else who might know how to help, it just says unavailable when I click on it? Thanks and sorry to be total pain :-)

Thanks Seven would you mind giving me the link. I know I saw the stats, but that was ages ago and I can't remember on which page that was.

Having some friends over for dinner and drinks tonight. Is anyone else really missing the occasional glass of wine or beer? I had a teensy tiny bit of champers a few weeks ago but that's been it apart from the odd sip from DH's glass. I don't miss the alcohol, but just the taste. Am sick of juice, ginger ale, water and tea!

Gosh I never realised that you could be dilated for weeks before the birth starts. Would that mean you can't swim anymore? I spend ages floating in the pool as it really helps me relax and takes the weight off.

Are any of you thinking about harvesting stem cells and umbilical cord blood? We'd like to do it but there are so many different companies around that it makes it hard to choose. I would also like to leave the umbilical cord attached to the baby for a few minutes but am getting conflicting information if this is actually possible with harvesting the umbilical cord blood. Any info or experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

DXB If you go to the first page of this thread there's a link already, its the second post on here so easy to find. I'd have thought swimming when slightly dilated would be fine as long as your waters haven't broken.

sisi it says you're already a member so no idea, sorry!

Hi, just back from my scan and everything was fine, phew. She's measuring 3 pounds, on the 50th centile and if she keeps this up she's predicted to be about 7 or 7 and a half pound at birth. Ive to go back in 4 weeks to check up on her growth but what a relief, I was so worried too.

dxb I want to donate cord blood but only one hospital in my area are able to do it at the moment, but they've taken all my information as they're appealing for more facilities to be able to collect at other hospitals. They're only able to take the cord blood during the day too so anyone who gives birth at night who want to donate wont be able to. I hope they're able to get the funding to be able to reach more who want to donate as it's such a great cause.

Hey thanks for all the hospital bag tips ladies... Really useful
Hadn't thought of the Kindle either, great idea! Thanks arti for the contact lenses info, will just have to ensure we remember my glasses as won't be able to pack them beforehand and am blind as a bat without them.

DXB Would love to donate cord blood as it is a really good cause but the Whittington don't have that facility. Did lots of research about storing cord blood a few months ago and ultimately the price weighed up against the nebulous research results thus far brought us to the decision that we won't do it. We will be delaying the umbilical cord for a minute or so after birth as well if possible.

Wow there is a lot of conflicting reports about those snuggle nest things online! Also don't know if the angel care monitor would work with one of those. A relative has a Moses basket we cld borrow and a friend has a crib they can lend us if needed so maybe we may start with them. Was going to go straight for cot as was worried about keeping the cat out of crib/basket when LO isn't in there, but am sure we can work it out.

How many weeks are you Catching

Thanks 7 that is weird then, maybe it was just the link and so wonder if u could resend it as not sure how else to get in! Sorry sure you have better things to do!!!
If that doesn't work I will stick to mumsnet!!!!!