July 2013 - thread 7 - and we're still talking as we enter the 3rd trimester

[Persuasion]

We've managed to fill yet another thread, so here is a new one to keep chatting away on...

And the stats list is here

oooooooooooh spag bol! Is it wrong to be craving that at 10am in the morning?

28+5

mightbemad hahaha your craving has made me
I also had yummy spag bol last night cooked by our friend who we're staying with, he's flying today though so we're planning on going to one of our two favourite restaurants tonight.
Nesting instinct has kicked in whilst here, boys went to get some computer things yesterday evening so I cleaned the apartment top to bottom, this included me mopping the floors & today I plan on sweeping the patio area, I'm supposed to be relaxing on holiday hehe!!
Hope all is well with everyone! 29+4

It's taken me ages to catch up and now I've forgotten who said what so don't have much to add!

Thank you to shiv though for keeping us updated. It must be such a rollercoaster at the moment, you seem to be doing an amazing job of holding it together. You, oliver and all your family are firmly in mine and DHs thoughts and prayers.

mightbe cravings are never wrong in my opinion! We had spag bol last night, so I've managed to avoid that one. I'm quite craving salt and vinegar crisps since yesterday, even though I hadn't had any cravings for weeks before this. I'm staving it off by carrying a bag around with me, knowing they're there if I suddenly become desperate seems to be holding me off at the moment

I had my 32 week growth scan this morning, chip is still growing, estimated weight of 4lb today, so it seems she's just a slightly smaller baby. Next scan at 37 weeks, by which time I'll be on mat leave

Morning all. Went to hynobirthing last night which really went well. Our hospital does a free workshop so couldn't pass it up. Advance classes start Saturday. Time did fly in the meditation sections, you think you are relaxing for 10 minutes but ends up being 30-45 minutes. Will start listening to the CD at night. NCT classes also start next week, I hate that they are so late at night. I swear I barely make it past 8pm any more. But will be rushing home mondays to have classes and probably sleep in the car on the way home :)

SlouchingPanda people have lot their minds. Came into work yesterday and the guy that sits by the entrance was like "whoa your huge now". Thanks for that...

I too am doing hypnobirthing! I haven't been to classes though. My friend did and she has been guiding me. I am going to be using the meditations to cope with the pain and whatnot but not going for the full natural birth. I will be having the injection to kickstart the placenta delivery, and letting baby have vitamin K. But doing it has also given me confidence to say no to ventouse and forceps, and also to say no if they are only asking me to be assisted to tick their boxes iykwim.

I was pointed in the direction of it as my friend and I had similar experiences. She had lost a couple of pregnancies around the same time as me, and said that hypnobirthing was helping her bond with the baby, which I was struggling with. But now, although I miss my angels, I have bonded well with this baby and not so worried.

Can't believe we will all be holding our babies in the next couple of months!

32+2

Phie you crazy lady - you're on holiday. Relax with a nice cold drink and book!

Glad your growth scan went well Persuasion.

Glad you enjoyed the course Photographer - now you just have to remember to practice the exercises. Next time you get a "whoa you're huge" comment, threaten to sit on them - that should shut them up.

Skelosia - I did hypnobirthing not so much for the birth but more to put to rest ghosts from DS1's birth - and it helped massively let go of past fears. I hope it helps you with this birth.

Hope your classes go well Skelosia I am looking forward to reducing my anxiety closer to the birth. I am so impatient and know that 36 weeks onwards is going to crawl by. We want to start listening to the CDS daily and relax at night. My 2 major workshops are this weekend and next weekend will let you know what they are like.

glad to hear you had such a positive experience dinkystinky

Seems everyone has positive experiences of hypnobirthing, which is reassuring!

As for the next 7 weeks or so, I am very fortunate in that I have a lot going on so they will hopefully fly by! So excited for us all, can't wait until we start sharing news of our new arrivals.

Uberpregnant! - Dinky I'm guessing that you have been on the receiving end of that one!

To be fair, the person was being nice - bringing me a stool to sit on - rather than just commenting on my enormousness. And at least the people I work with know what they are talking about when it comes to pregnant women! My was more the realisation that I really am quite pregnant now and still haven't bought anything much !

Photographer hope your hypnobirthing classes are good. I have been a little disappointed by NCT so far. There just doesn't seem to be that much substance to the classes, and although I've been impressed by how balanced the teacher is (I was expecting a militant, pro-homebirthing, anti-medics and any sort of intervention approach - with no disrespect to anyone having a homebirth, but it's not for me) I'm not sure it's been worth it so far. We have a breastfeeding session at the weekend, and are moving onto postnatal stuff which I'm hoping will be useful though.

Phie stop cleaning and relax, you crazy lady! Enjoy your holiday. How is your sister getting on BTW?

31 wk GP appointment today and all is well.

30+6

Slouching - someone called me 'heavily pregnant' at work yesterday too! But then today someone hadn't realised at all until it was pointed out.

Just catching up as the thread disappeared! Everyone loves to comment on bumps it seems. All I've had in the last week from various people is "are you sure you only have 8 weeks to go but you're tiny" or "that's a very neat bump". When I feel huge and fat and deeply uncomfortable! I have always loved being pregnant but I feel a bit different this time and not as happy.

Am starting to panic worry about the birth a lot. Have to decide soon about method of delivery and really not sure what to do for the best. Have birth plan session with midwife booked and dh can't make the appointment . He has also had to book his paternity leave. Getting anxious that his work will somehow get in the way of things!

Appetite is slowly returning though I only really fancy cold stuff (salad and ice cream mainly, though not together). But reflux still bad and still on the gaviscon!

Did make some baby related purchases at the weekend, lovely sleepsuit and a baby blanket (well 2 as we're not sure of the sex). Just need to get presents and cards for the children now.

Good to read update from shiv, hopefully Oliver has had a better few days since the weekend. Still sending lots of good wishes for him.

Slouching - the best thing about NCT is actually making friends in your class so you have local friends with babies going through the same stuff as you. Some classes gel really well, others dont at all - its just luck of the draw.

Shelley - what does your gut instinct tell you?I know you've got two little ones at home already - will you have help around after the birth? A friend of mine had a crash caeserean first time and an elective one second time and said the elective one was so much calmer and easier to recover from - but ultimately its down to you and how you feel about the period post birth I think. It doesnt really matter which way the baby comes out - you'll still love him/her and they'll still love you unconditionally but it does matter how you feel about it, and you have to make a decision you feel comfortable with.

Relaxing now guys, bit colder & cloudier today.
slouching well she's decided to act like nothing has ever happened, expects us too as well. I feel like I can see the pain in her eyes everytime I go to see her, I know it's difficult for her but he's going away again soon, as he's come out the army he's starting civil protection & has got his first contract in the Middle East, from the basic details she's told us he's going to be away for at least 6-9 months.

dinky i honestly dont know, thats the problem. i had an awful time post (v) birth with DS, and a much better time after DD even though i really didn't want a CS - she was breech and an awkward one at that so i didnt have a lot of choice in the CS if we wanted to both make it through in one piece. purely from a practical logistical point of view, a CS would be easier. but at the same time, part of me wants the homebirth that i never had .

the thing is, the vbac is very medicalised at our hospital - we dont have a MLU around here so not even an 'in between' option. i would have to be continuously monitored (even though one to one care is not provided), and not really able to have the labour i would want. and then i could end up with another horrible tear or an EMCS anyway. wish i had thought all this through before hand . i will (should) have help at home for a few weeks after - DH and then once he goes back to work my mum will take some leave to cuddle her new grandchild all day long help out, then it will be school summer holidays so that will help in not having to be at school for 8.30!

i am rubbish at making decisions anyway but its tough deciding between two not very nice things. and my MW isn't overly helpful - she didnt even have a clue as to how the VBACs actually worked at the hospital. on top of it all i am starting to stress over what to do if i can't BF this baby when i have given that start to the other two. there is no logical reason as to why i shouldnt, i think its that guilt kicking in already! i know i have a bump but its suddenly hit me that in approx 8 weeks I AM GOING TO HAVE A REAL BABY

Have started a thread in pregnacy saying all this but just thought id rant to you ladies aswell,hope you dont mind :(

Im 30+5 and just feeling a bit fed up tbh.
I know I shouldnt complain as ive had a pretty much trouble free pregnancy, but Im just getting impatient now, want my lil girl here now!

Doesnt help that ive just been told im anaemic although i am taking a multi vit that has iron in it :/
So im pretty much always tired and spaced out.
Also fed up of not managing the 15min walk to DS's school without it hurting now

Woman at supermarket checkout didnt help at the weekend by asking me how long i had left and when i told her i had 10 weeks left she looked shocked and said she thought i was ready to drop there and then (I wish)

Anyone else in the same boat and just want this over and have newborn cuddles

Also a little update on the moving home front which is more ranting im afraid is that just dont know how were gonna be able to move as im proberly gonna be very heavily pregnant when the housing actually get of there asses and decide to give us a moving date, and who have we got that will help us to move? Seems DH is always bending over backwards to help every bugger but when he's the one that needs help its funny how everyone disappears!, that's if it happens at all now anyway, cus the housing are on about taking the wall down that has separated one of the rooms making it a 3 bed, which is the main reason we are moving to this particular house.

And breath, so so sorry for the long post and constant ranting :(

Hai I'm not surprised you're feeling fed up . Sometimes it feels like everything's against you and nothing's working out and I think the hormones stop us seeing the positives and keeping things in perspective. You need a bit of TLC.

phie we could always switch places, Ill go to Portugal and you can come clean my house! Ill even throw in a 2 year old for extra fun!

I am not only looking massively pregnant, but starting to feel it too. Just feel big and heavy and uncomfortable. Getting lots of pressure down below and just feel fed up! At the same time, am not quite ready to have two dcs yet, so want tme to go a bit slower! Am 32 weeks now so better start getting used to the idea fast...

Anyway, time for a delicious and healthy dinner for me and bump (ok its a mcdonalds... Who was it that started talking about the chocolate mcflurry? I blame you!)

Hai, that's exactly how I feel, I'm so glad it's not just me! I'm spending most of my time these days feeling guilty for not enjoying being pregnant! Don't get me wrong, I love feeling my little boy moving, but I just can't wait to meet him now and get the last stage over with!

I was going well too until some severe back pain/PGP from wk26 onwards (which is a lot better now since seeing a chiropractor) but I've also just been told I'm slightly anaemic...but to be honest, I'm just fed up of feeling like a whale, the constant stretched out feeling around my middle, difficulty walking and everything being generally hard work.

I've also read something recently about swollen labia (was that on this thread?) so I've now added a paranoia that I'm going to develop the dreaded red grapes down there to stretch marks and tearing to my list of concerns!

Also, I'm simply not a patient person!! At 31 + 4, I'm dreading what the next few weeks will be like . Please let the weather stay cool!

Am taking comfort in the fact that it's not just me so I hope my return rant will help a little bit? It sounds like you have an excellent DH to support and look after you . I also recommend buying things (anything will do!) and chocolate hob nobs

Hai - it sounds like things are getting on top of you abit, especially when you just want everything sorted in good time for your new arrival, and as Totally says, pregnancy hormones dont help matters one little bit! Try and top up your iron levels (liquid supplements taste awful but are better than pills) - have iron rich food with vitamin C drinks (helps absorb the iron) - and hopefully that will at least address the tiredness.

Esme - DH is away tonight so I have a delicious nutritious dinner of cheese on toast and apple planned. If DH isnt around I just cant be arsed to cook as I dont feel particularly hungry in the evenings - just very, very, very tired.

I am also not looking forward to the next 9 weeks. Especially as that is a single figures amount of weeks. Eek! Need to bleach my brain of the red grapes imagery too.

I'm trying to make a dent in the pile of vegetables my PILs left last week, but not getting very far. DH is away again, and sometimes it just seems like far too much effort to cook for just me. Did manage beef, carrot, green pepper and noodles in sweet and sour sauce tonight though.

Saw my consultant again yesterday. Thankfully she's happy that excepting the iron levels everything seems to be back to normal. I'll be getting a scan at 35 weeks as Small has taken to doing somersaults and was breech when I was admitted. Hopefully it will settle right way up - or down, actually, iyswim. However, I'm not sure whether it's worse being kicked in the ribs or the bladder...

31+4

Sorry havent posted in a little while and so cant remember names and things, plus pregnancy brain has kicked in
Cant believe ill have less than 10 weeks soon, 3/4 the way through!! Anybody else struggling with sleep? I find i wake up for a wee an find im then wide awake and cannot even contemplate sleeping

Yep Icing - I am awake by 5 without fail nowadays, worrying about all sorts of stuff. Ho hum. Can't believe I am 32 weeks today either!

Abzs - hope Small settles in the right position soon. Getting kicks in the bladder can not be comfortable.

Strange how these little milestones creep up on us! And ahh at least its not just me haha, i woke at 3am today and had no chance of getting back to sleep since.

Morning!
Have been up since 5am absolutely STARVING, so had to get up. Was looking forward to some MN action, but our internet was down so I've just spent an hour on the phone to BT getting it sorted.... What a dull way to start the day.

Growth scan yesterday was fine. Head still on 3rd percentile, but they aren't worried as she is growing at a normal rate, just on that low percentile. She's broadly in proportion (femur etc on the 25th), so I'm just being thankful / hopeful it's a small head for labour

Just caught up, apologies for the random order:

MrsMillions - love the MIL lists. Keep them coming.
Cheese - wow, leaking! Must feel so real! I got that right near the end with DD1 and I had a bit of a cry when it happened - it suddenly hit home what was about to happen (how the bump hadn't made it hit home I don't know) - a mixture of anxiety about the unknown, but also such excitement

Good luck for those who need their placenta to shift a bit - still several weeks left girls, hopefully all will be ok x

notprincesskate congrats on being this pregnant!

dinky - congrats on the decision, sounds good. And sounds like you've thought everything through such as keeping up their local friendships, am sure you'll make it work just fine!

Tomstrunks Happy holidays! (jealous? moi?)

Still thinking of Shiv, hubby & Oliver. What an amazing boy he is.

Also had hypnobirthing classes (2 evenings) & listening to the CDs. Have written up 3 'affirmations' & placed them where I can't miss them (things like 'My body opens easily with each contraction' - didn't think it was my thing at all, but I feel that the positive thinking is already helping). I keep falling asleep when I listen to the tracks though - am sure I should be slightly more alert so I can take in what she's saying....

Hai - hugs. Completely understand that overwhelmed feeling. Look after yourself day-to-day & try not to worry about the things you can't control right now (easy to say... wish I listened to my own advice etc...). We're always here for venting to :)

Abz glad everything's going ok. Hope they settle right way down :)

And I am, by far, not the first one up this morning looking at this board! Feel in nice company with you ladies (while DH is snoring upstairs...)

28+5