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

mama hope you and Alex are having a fab day!
The scans not until Thursday but I'm excited to find out how much she's grown since the 28wk scan, I think she must be huge by now because my belly is haha!

Kellestar it does hurt at the same time. I'm finding I'm getting really lazy. I daren't walk anywhere because I know it's going to hurt. I'm finding it hard to get comfy sitting too, the only time it doesn't hurt so much is when I lay on my side in bed with a big fat pillow holding my knees slightly apart.
I've made an appointment with my gp at DP's insistence as I had to let him do the grocery shopping on his own again after I tried to make it to the car and had to quit half way there.
I'm sure ibuprofen would help but its not safe in pregnancy so I'm hoping the gp can offer some advice other than laying in bed all day.
Although even in worst case scenario it's only another 6 weeks :).

I'm amazed any one still does the food shopping, maybe it's because we have no car but I haven't been able to walk to Asda since about 24 weeks now and get shopping delivered instead.

Bump has been suspiciously active last few days, oh saw my tummy moving and going crazy for first time last night and sat for ages poking and talking to her, was really cute.

Glad you are feeling better mama and hope you had a nice day with Alex.

Housework is getting a bit behind now, decided to really go for it tomorrow as I want to start on babies room this week too. I didn't even do my hospital bag yet. Though have bought stuff for it.

I'm really looking forward to having a proper wee after baby is here, sick of being so desparate to go then I get to toilet and its a pathetic eggcup worth.

Sorry for not name checking properly, I do read all but am on phone and by time I reply I forget who said what :(

35+3

Just doing an online shop, but can't trust their selections for meat and bread, so went down this morning to get the basics, big shop comes tomorrow.

Fluff I was given co-codamol but only took it overnight to get some decent rest. Just don't take it on an empty tummy can be a little trippy. Is safe in later pregnancy. My pelvis sorted itself out as I've not got it second time around. Would recommend Pilates though, for after.

fluffeh I don't think ibuprofen is safe at all in pregnancy but yes, co-codamol might be an option. Definitely see your GP. A physio referral might help and possibly a girdle! Don't suffer in silence!

Yes yes yes to online shopping! I'll happily pay a fiver for the privilege. I walk far enough for work, I'm happy to have my shopping delivered to the door. I did this morning! We ordered it yesterday and I got it before I went to work. I plan to do an advanced payment to get a few months' worth for when the baby is small. I find it helps with meal planning and stops wasteful impulse purchases!

33+6

Brufen or similar definately not recommended in pregnancy fluffeh agree with faith go and see your GP re: co-codamol, you can get a weak dose over the counter but frankly it has a tiny amount of codeine in it and this just tends to bung you up and not be hugely better for pain than paracetamol. If your Gp does think its a good idea and it makes you a big woozy try taking one with one paracetamol if this makes sense? Beware it can bung you up to.

Another new arrival, so exciting!

We have been snowed in all afternoon - very unusual here! Was supposed to be working from home but baked flapjacks and ordered a moses basket mattress!

Two complaints to report - I've got a numb thumb - could this be carpel tunnel? And (tmi) my derriere is sore due to constipation.

Hope you had a good day with Alex mama.

Fluffeh I have psoriatic arthritis (which luckily tends to improve as PG goes on each time) but which is usually treated with ibuprofen when not PG. I am sure ibuprofen is only 'safe' during the second trimester - can't really remember why but I guess it is something you are going to have to talk about with GP. There are sure to be other things you can do - a girdle and lots of rest may be the best things though!

As for shopping, DP tends to sort ours. He often goes shopping on the weekend - I think he quite likes it and it gives him 'time out' - we have tried online shopping but have never really got it sorted. I am planning whilst on ML to draw up meal plans which will lead to shopping lists that should help as time goes on and when I go back to work.

username I know exactly what you mean about being desperate for the loo and then it turns out to hardly be worth going!

[Bird] we had a tour of our labour Ward on Saturday and I had the same view as you.labour Ward is being completely redecorated by end of March so hoping bean stays put until then at least!

[Wee hans] I got told off for not going in any when I had felt less movement so I'd not think twice about going if it ever happened again!
[Mama] hope you had a lovely day with Alex
We had our 34 week scan today, all looking good so we don't need to go backto see the obstetrician until 40 weeks, plus I've been told we should be able to have a natural labour, I just need to come off the fragmin as soon as I feel in labour. So happy, feel like I can start washing baby clothes now.
Builders started work today so came home to find entire house covered in dust and boiler tripped so freezing cold. Couldn't dampen my mood though :-D
[nobby] I've no experience sorry apart from waiting for my own scan results, but just wanted to say I really hope everything goes well for you and bump and please do come here for support, I find these guys amazing x

Thanks ladies. I currently take a small dose of tramadol in a morning to fight my headache but I'd hate to up it without medical advice.
We used to do online shopping but often found the substitutions really silly, once they sent oranges instead of pears?! We don't buy meat so I can't comment on that but sometimes our fresh products would have very short dates or look less than perfect.

I've got my gp appointment on Friday so not long to wait :).

Hi all - I am just waiting for DP to get back from the school run and then we are off to the hospital! I think my waters have gone - but since I have been up and moving they seem to have slowed to a trickle! With DD1 and DD2 they were much more of a gush so this might be something or nothing!

Woke up about 6am with a bit of a 'bubble' of liquid pouring out - TMI sorry! - and everything wet but clear!

Anyway, I thought it best to play it safe, called DP back from the mainland and he has taken the girls to school. Maternity will assess and see what is happening; they asked if I had any tightenings but not really beyond a few period pain like cramps. Nothing regular - but then, that is exactly like previous times!

Will update when we know anything (or nothing!)

Morning everyone, I went to the hospital and they were great! For a start, I got to see the birthing suites which I wouldn't have seen otherwise as we only get a video tour. I also met the midwife who will likely be in charge when the baby comes, and got to see how they dealt with a real life lady who arrived in full active labour (scary!).

Best of all they were very reassuring and I was on a monitor for an hour or so in a quiet room. The baby is totally fine. In fact, was a bit of a show off.

Thanks for urging me to go because I'm glad I did.

Morning all
dysgu how exciting, good luck! I hope everything goes well and I'll be thinking of you xxx
weehans glad they put your mind at rest and babe was kicking away

I had a wonderful day yesterday I swear Alex has grown so much in just a week. I had a long talk with his consultant who is thrilled with his progress, he is barely on any oxygen now, and is eating every 2 hours 24/7 he will be over the 5lb mark in another week he thinks we are going to have a week of putting him to the breast and hopefully he will be able to feed himself I'm so excited its ridiculous! We are looking at him being able to come home as soon as he can breast feed. He will have weekly, then monthly check ups probably until he is 3 and we won't know about his eyes either for a while but apart from his ng tube he looks like any other newborn now. Can you believe it? I can't really I can't I can't believe they told me to not continue that he had a less than 20% chance. They are trying to see if there's anyway we can be together 24/7 both for feeding and to let us have some proper alone time now we are both stable.
In other news my new sofa is also being delivered Thursday so when we get home will have somewhere comfortable to sleep downstairs (I have a spiral staircase and cannot manage stairs at the moment) its a really wide one so we should all squish in/ on

Morning all.
Good luck dysgu hope it all goes well.
Great to hear how well Alex is doing mama, hopefully home soon.

Poor DS has D&V, so just sat on the sofa watching Thomas. I have a sharp pain in my ear, never before had an ear infection, so will wait and see what it develops into.
I'm so fed up, all I can hear me doing is moaning to anyone who will listen.
I'll shut up now!

Forgot to ask has anyone used reusable breast pads? If so can you recommend any good ones? I'm using tomee tippee at the moment which are great but I am using sooo many. Thanks

Aww giddypants feel free to moan away on here I hope you and ds are feeling better soon, duvet day I think for you both x

mama - everything sounds so positive! Fantastic news!!

giddy - you moan away- I'm doing exactly the same so it good to know I'm not the only one!

dysgu - eeeek! How exciting! Keep us posted!

I'm fine- had another scan yesterday. We've dropped down to the 10th centile now, but no-one seemed unduly worried. They did a Doppler to check that blood was flowing in umbilical cord properly, and it is, so the dr said just to rest, not worry and come back in 2 weeks for another scan.

I've finished work now (a week early) so am going to rest as much as possible and try to fatten the baby up!!

36+2!

Mama that's wonderful news! I can't believe you're so close to getting home now :) I guess they had to be pragmatic about Alex's prognosis but they clearly underestimated your boy!

I've just had my 34 week appointment with my MW. Generally ok - measuring alright and heart beat still thumping away. Only concern is that there's a very hard lump by my belly button which she is worried might be its head! So DH is distracted to buy a gym ball tonight and I will try to turn baby round! She'll review me in 2 weeks and if the lump is still there I'll be getting a scan.

34 weeks today!

Mama1980 I'm planning on getting little lamb reusable breast pads, from The Nappy Lady (if you go to her facebook page - offers she has a discount code for 5% off), I'm planning on using cloth nappies and little lamb have been recommended so I'm hoping that they're a good way to go (they have also been recommended but that might have been a bias opinion as it was from the Nappy Lady herself)

Eeeeee dysgu that's so exciting, good luck!

And mama that's great news too

Faith I thought there was a head by my belly button last week but in hindsight it was probably her bum

Am on massive cleaning spree today... Not that have actually started yet,

Yes, waters have gone so now we just hang around and see what happens. Doc says I will be in overnight unless things start. Machine says contractions are coming about 3 every 10 minutes but apart from tightening in top of bump, I feel fine. Off to have a walk around and see if we can get things moving! Nicu all ready to take this one in whenever it decides to put in an appearance!

Dsygu thinking of you!

Mama that's amazing news about Alex! What a star! Both of you!!! Xx

Had another MW appt yesterday because of raised BP last week and its back in my normal range! Must have been the wedding/trying to buy a house that did it!!! Bloods came back fine it's not pre E xx

Not engaged yet but his head is just on the brim so been bouncing on the ball a lot!

35+0

Oh and I had my midwife appointment yesterday no news offered on the hospital situation and she was unable to answer any of my questions.

However, baby is fine, everything is perfect and he is head down and very, very low. She can't tell whether he is engaged or not yet but that's due to my extra padding

Also no answers re the lightening bolt up my vagina just advised to keep an eye on it.

34+5

Ever so slightly jealous of those meeting there babies! However I have cleaning n organising still to do so I suppose I could hang on a week or so lol
My ds 2 was born at 38 + 3, so two weeks yesterday iykwim. I'd be quite happy with this time next wk tbh lol!

Dysgu well done for getting this and good luck! Wishing you an easy delivery and hoping that DC3 arrives safe and sound and is with you as soon as possible

Mama Alex has done amazingly well! Better I think than anyone dare dream of. I hope you get to 'room in' together and get to grips with breastfeeding and most importantly spend more time together.
I used washable bamboo breast pads with DD from Littlelambs, I was very pleased with them. Think I bought 20? But I don't think you need that many I gave quite a few away unused. I will say that I never has many problems with over supply or leaks so can't really comment on how they would be for people with lots and lots of milk. They are so lovely and soft and really gentle on sore nipples, I had lots of problems with thrush, chronic nipple eczema and mastitis and they much gentler than the disposable ones.

Faith may well be a bottom! Bouncing on the ball sounds good though. I need to get my ball out as this baby is currently back to back.

Busy, busy, busy here. DD is at nursery today so DH and I have visited our new house, visited DD1s new nursery and signed up for toddler groups etc. Our neighbours have a buggy in the porch and play equipment in the back garden this is promising as we have no childcare options at present for DD1 when I go into labour. My lovely PILs have bless them got a free diary for about 6 weeks and are already packed but they are 4.5 hrs away by car & my parents are 6 hours away. Plan at present is to hopefully leave after they arrive (or the neighbours might offer?) saying that my labour with DD was pretty quick. Can't have a home birth due to large bleed last time. So Midwife says we should all just turn up and they will give us one of the bigger rooms on delivery suite if possible. I worry about DD though, she will only be 23 months and is quite a shy little thing. Oh well, can't he helped!

36 + 4