April 2013 Part 7: As our miracle Alex continues to grow & the one that sees us reach TERM

[toobreathless]

Over here Ladies!

As the title suggests our fore runners will almost certainly hit 37 weeks this thread.

And the wonderful little Alex will hopefully continue to go from strength to strength and edge closer to the door home with Mama

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1658011-April-2013-part-six-what-does-the-third-trimester-have-in-store

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1560543-April-2013-stats-thread

The post natal ward in my hospital is four beds to a room too I assumed that was standard. I stayed overnight with ds1 and was told not to shut my curtains unless I was chnging which I did not like!

Afternoon everyone, happy Mother's day.

bird I think that four beds to a bay is the norm.

I'm shattered but having quite a relaxing Mother's Day, unfortunately I have to do nit lotion for everyone before bed tonight ...The joys of motherhood!

Also I've had a couple of really strong period type pains over the last couple of hours but I'm not sure if it is anything to watch or maybe a sign I need the loo as I'm also quite windy I shall report back later!

Hi all happy Mother's Day
Ruddy- hope everything is going well for you and little Harry
I am feeling much better Alex tomorrow so long as body doesn't throw another spanner in the works! Have been thoroughly spoilt today with a nice lunch, a handwritten card from ds1 and a I love mama pillow, perfume and a card from dd and a lovely rose gold necklace from Alex. And lots and lots of hugs and snuggles
I have another meeting tomorrow with Alex s consultant to discuss his progress so will update again then.
Hope everyone enjoys their day x

I'll be in a 4 bedded bay too (and I'll be in at least 48 hours after having the baby to see if its withdrawing from the codiene). I don't think it's too bad. Where I work we have 7 or 8 patients in a bay!

I am a bit meh today. DH did buy flowers and chocolates and a card with a scan pic on :) but I am missing my Mum (who died 5 years ago). I'm tired from work, was on shift this morning. I can't wait to finish! Only 10 shifts to go! :)

33+5

I am hopeful I will be out same day. If not I will stamp my feet (it worked last time lol)

36+2

The PN ward at my hospital is 4 bays too, but if they had tried telling me not to close my curtains I'd have been really upset. It was bad enough as it was and so noisy and crowded. I'm hoping to not experience the PN ward again.

This time, I'm demanding to be let out ASAP!

When I had ds2 they ssid I couldn't leave as there was no doctor to do his check, I kicked up a right stink. They found a doctor suprisingly!

4 beds might be the norm but the mw had told us at antenatal classes that it was 3 so think I would have got a bit of a shock if I hadn't been on the tour first. Also I don't care that it's 4 I mean they have to fit all the women in somewhere but I live in quite a standard size 2 bedroom flat and the 4 bed bays are smaller then my dining room!!!!!

All these babies arriving is making me nervous! With that in mind can anyone tell me whether I need to buy a waterproof mattress protector in case my waters break in bed? If so, any recommendations?

Hope everyone is well. I still have a terrible cold but to be honest very glad that's the worst I have to worry about. A few twinges here and there as well, usual stuff. Pretty sure I haven't had any braxton hicks. Perhaps this all means baby is not in any way ready to come out!

DH seems to be 'nesting'. Is most entertaining to watch while I sit on the sofa blowing my nose and coughing!

36+2

empress I have puppy training pads under my side of the bed sheets! Matress protectors seemed to hot/sweaty/noisy, and these pads are 7 for £1 in poundland.
(that reminds me I wanted to put one in easy access at the side of the bed for when I leap up and gush all over the floor, ha!)
Someone also suggested to me that you can sit on one on the way to the hospital to save the car seat.

I started on raspberry leaf tea yesterday (couldn't find capsules without gelatine in, boo) - its not as gross as I imagined!

36+4

(Oh and I got my first stretch marks (across either hip) I guess it's to do with the rapid weight gain and fluid retention from pre-e. DH kindly pointed them out! So now I am puffy AND stripey!!)

likecandy Thanks! I had no idea such a thing existed! Sounds much more in the price range though.

Evening I have bought some Tena lady bed pads from Tesco.

They are really nice and big so I only need to put one down and I don't notice it under the sheets at all. We only just paid £1000 for this mattress there is no way I am letting these waters bloody ruin it

No more strong period pains here so it must have been wind...I do love that we must all be back at square one and symptom spotting like mad just like in the first trimester and dragging on just like then as well

Hi ladies!!! Sorry for the radio silence. We had a mini moon (well a couple nights away in a lovely hotel).

Seeing all these early arrivals is making me so impatient! Must pack my hospital bag and baby's bag tomorrow!

On the bad side tho the piles are back with a vengeance :-( ouch

Hoping everyone is feeling better soon!!

34+6 tho

Morning ladies!
mama glad your feeling better and I hope you have lovely cuddles with Alex today :).

I have my 34wk growth scan this week. And I should get to book the date for my cs too - eek exciting! DP has a crazy notion that the baby is going to come early. If I shift in my seat he gets a fearful look on his face and asks me a million questions on what I am doing haha! I guess its harder to be the man in all this because you don't have the same connection.

Hopefully going to make it into town to look for storage for the baby's things this week but I'm pretty sure my pelvis is falling apart. When I walk it crunches. I'll mention it to my mw at my next appointment if it continues.

Morning all
Trish -hope you had great time
Fluffeh-so exciting! When is your scan? Bless your dp I uses it is harder as they can't feel everything the way we can-its the fear of the total unknown I guess.

Well so long as my obs are ok and my bloods come back normal I'm going to spend the whole day with Alex and see is consultant. Couldnt sleep I'm so excited

Apparently it is snowy here outside so drive and walk safe everyone xxx

Fluffeh I had this last time, if it's coming from down the front, pubic bone, it's basically a bit of cartilage that holds it together, but during pregnancy it all softens. It can cause a grating noise where the pubic bones are grinding. I had diastasis of the symphis pubis, basically the cartilage completely failed to hold it together and I had separation and I wore a support belt and spent the last trimester on bed rest, as there wasn't much else I could do about it. However it all comes under the SPD umbrella. Does it hurt or is it just noisy?

Mama fingers crossed you get your whole day with Alex!

Hi ladies,

You prob don't remember me but I did join the thread way back in first trimester! I found it hard to keep up with you all and so rarely posted but I have been regularly lurking!!

I'm now on mat leave and had a scan last week with consultant as baby had measured small at previous scan. I'm now after some advice/kind words/hand holding from you ladies who are in same position as me (sorry to just come on here after months and be all me me me!!!!)

Consultant said baby is growing abnormally as in it is still v small (4lb at 36 weeks) but the concern is that head growing normally but body and legs have tailed off and not catching up. I am being scanned again tomorrow and if no change then will be induced!

I'm nervous! My ds was a very quick labour (15 mins from established to delivery!) and had expected same this time and had hoped to go to birthing centre as my local mat ward on hospital has had v bad press and I hated it last time. But consultant officially made me high risk so no choice now!

Anyone else been through small baby induced delivery at this stage and can offer reassurance?

Hi nobby I have no personal experience to share sorry but a friends of mine was delivered at 36 weeks for these reasons repeated scans had shown no growth so they were worried about placental insufficiency- her baby was fine just fairly small no problems at all. Hope that helps in any small way-I will be thinking of you and hope all is well. X

Thanks kellestar I've passed all my checks no longer infected so I'm off to see Alex now!

Thanks so much for the reassurance Mama! I hope you enjoy your full day of cuddles with miracle Alex xx

I remember you Nobby! Sorry to hear about your scan/size woes. No advice but I hope it all goes ok. I don't think these scans are fantastically accurate. My friend had regular growth scans and was told to prepare for a 10lb+ baby. It he was 7lb something! I hope it all goes ok.

Mama I'm delighted to hear you're well again, have a wonderful day! :)

Hope the scan goes ok Fluff.

I am so very tired. Day 3 of 6 shifts in a row! Think I'll be shattered by Thursday night but only 10 shifts left to work! :)

Hi everyone, I too am getting v excited to hear about all these babies arriving already, hope you're all ok and taking all our weird and wonderful ailments, aches and pains in your strides. I can't take any strides thanks to SPD.

I wondered if anybody else has hit the 36/37 week mark and felt much reduce movement? Over the past few days I've felt much less, aside from in the evenings. I've also gotten very puffy hands and feet too, which is a bit weird, like wearing massive goal keeping gloves to type in.

Am I normal? Could this be the baby engaging? Thanks for any advice!

WeeHands if you are having any suspicions of reduced movements, I would call the midwife just to be on the safe side.
I put it off for the first few days as I thought I had just been to busy to notice, and got a massive lecture from the midwife when I called.
Don't panic though as everything was totally fine in the end, as it was all down to position of the baby. But can't hurt to call just in case. I got the impression they'd rather you were overly cautious.
Good luck!

Thanks Olli, I will do. I was toying with it actually, so you've helped me make up my mind.

Thanks very much!

WeeHans I'm at 33 weeks, last week I felt the baby wasn't moving as much as it had been, got worried, went in to the hospital and they checked it out for me. The baby was fine, they told me off for not having my notes and never at any point did they make me feel like my worries weren't important or that I was wasting their time. Everything was fine (I basically just wasn't feeling half the movements) but I would do exactly the same again and would recommend anyone else that feels something isn't quite right to do the same, its just not worth the risk.