June 2013 - thread 6 - will this thread see any early arrivals?

[AlohaMama]

Welcome back all June-ers, just realised we were about to run out of space on the old thread.

Spoke to labour ward who said to have a bath. If I feel even 1 movement leave it for tonight and monitor until lunchtime tomorrow. He has kicked a couple of times so I'll try to get some sleep. Thanks all, sorry for stressing.
Regarding sheets we have bought 2 fitted sheets for crib, 2 fitted sheets for pram (one on and one spare) plus 2 flat sheets for crib. For cot we have the same but he won't be in it for a while. We have a swaddle wrap, a couple of sleeping bags and a couple of cellular blankets. My mum has also bought a shawl and a fleecy blanket which I though would be ok for pram.

Hi just checking in. Littlemiss, I had a panic at 31 weeks as baby went really quiet for 24 hours. Hospital were lovely and understanding, scan revealed a shy, scrunched up baby but everything was fine. Hope everything is ok for you, best to get it checked out though and sure you will feel much better when you do.

Glad you've had some movement little miss, hope baby gets more active for you.

I think 3 sheets per cot or crib is fine, but make sure you have 2 mattress protectors too as if you're changing sheets due to nappy explosion you'll have to change that to. You can definitely save a lot of washing with judiciously placed muslins though. You can always secure them in place with pins on the underside of the mattress.

I finally sorted baby clothes yesterday into sizes. Its hard as different makes have such different sizes. Think we're good for now. Its so frigging hot here though struggle will be keeping baby cool. She'll probably not wear half of it!

I'd definitely put a sheet on the pram. You don't want to wash a pram base if the baby vomits or possets (spits up milk).

My baby periodically has very quiet days too, but is fine.

2 midwives & the dr told me that the baby is transverse, but I had a scan on Friday and it's head down - just got a big bottom, I think!

The Dr sent me to the maternal assessment unit on Friday, because my blood pressure was a bit high and they checked everything, which was reassuring. I had to go back yesterday and my bp has dropped, so that's good. Annoyingly, I have to see a consultant tomorrow, so fingers crossed that I am very boring and he loses interest! I'd much rather be under the midwives!

Catching up on the thread, I realise what a scruff I am- the last time I had my hair cut was in 2006, before I met my husband & I have make up but I don't often wear it- it tends to make me look older, which is the last thing I need!

I'd use a sheet in the pram if possible - moses basket sized ones normally fit IME. Means you can whip it out if they vom (or poo!) all over it.

Another tip: layer the sheets - so have mattress protector, sheet, mattress protector, sheet on the cot. Then when they vom in the middle of the night you can just whip off the top layer and be ready to go straight away rather than have to mess around trying to find & fit sheets.

Same idea goes for potty training btw! :o

Just went for my last NHS antenatal class today. Was a complete waste of time IMO. It was meant to be our chance to meet the Health Visitor and get some insight into baby development and their role. Instead we sat and watched a rubbish DVD on a tiny screen that was uber rubbish and like a Science video you'd watch at school. James Nesbit's voice was REALLY grating on me after 45 minutes!

I'm thinking I should hire a TENS machine pretty soon. Can experienced mommas advise on where to hire from and what kind is best? Googling gave lots of options and have no clue! Thanks!

Littlemiss, how is baby doing today? Is there more movement?

I'm liking all the advice re mattresses / sheets etc. Question though, if you have the mattress cover which allows for cooling of baby, do you lose this benefit if you cover it with a protector?

Baby B had decided to go back to transverse. Until 5 minutes ago, when he turned back to head down. Ouchy is all I can say!

DEFINITELY an acrobat, MrsBri, he can be the trapeze artist... Mine is too busy getting comfy now... Sunny side up!! For once I am willing baby to flip!

Well went to the hospital for the follow up scan, all is fine, he's measuring really big! Est weight currently 7lb 5oz, I've still got 6 weeks left, this baby's going to be huge! I was hoping he'd be born between 7 and 8 lb, what if he's like 10lb! Can I just ask him to stay in there till he shrinks some?

And soon, forget...that was interesting to say the least for me! :-/

Then came the hiccups!

Can't wait to meet our acrobatic babies to see how they are outside the womb :-)

I couldn't find a mattress protector to fit a Moses basket. A bit of research suggested this is because you shouldn't use one when they're so young, as it could prevent them from breathing properly if they turn. So we're not using one for the Moses basket, but we will for the cot bed when she's 6mths or so, even though we have one of those cooling mattresses.

Re: movements, they say it's a change from what's normal for you. However, I haven't felt much throughout the pregnancy due to my placenta (max 10 times in 24hrs); I've been keeping a movement diary as advised but there really is no pattern! Having a bath doesn't get her moving more, neither does having a cold drink etc so it's really hard for me to know when to worry. We get the Doppler out if I haven't felt her for a long period - I would be at the hospital getting checked over every other day otherwise.

Sunbeam I've hired an Elle tens twice before and found it great. Have hired again this time from birthease website - £23.50 for 7 week hire inc postage both ways.

Thanks, learner!

I've got crampy period like pains today. I told my sister and she panicked a bit! I'm having a quiet day to give it a chance to settle. That and the pinkish (very fluid, only a tiny flake of mucous) discharge made me glad I told my husband where hospital stuff is, just in case! I'm hoping that it is just a reaction to being prodded by the midwife yesterday.

Blimey keep an eye on that cycle!

Aww - just got an e-mail from a contractor saying 'Hope all is well in the bump department'. While I'm going to enjoy my baby part of me is going to miss looking pregnant - it brings out the best in people.

Cycle hope things are ok. I'd give the midwife a call personally.

liking the tips on the sheets etc - I need to get mattresses and all covers so might be able to do that in an informed manner now!

I'm just on the Long journey back
from London to Devon and minus dp. unfortunately for being an idiot 3 years ago and lying for a 'mate', Long before I knew him, he has just been given a 6 month custodial sentence, but maximum he'll serve is 3. so the likelihood is I'll be eentering into parenthood without him, which was not my plan. and makes it all the more daunting. he's not in a local
prison to us either so unless he's transferred fairly quickly I'm guessing me travelling to see him isn't going to be a sensible option!

ho hum. tomorrow's a new day and I'll start figuring stuff out then.

Oh pink I'm sorry :( hope you're not feeling too shaken or anything.

I'm sorry, pink. Was this what you'd been told to expect, or was it better than you thought may happen?

I hope you've got lots of support at home. Xx

Cycle sounds scary. Hope it passes.
Pink sorry to hear that. 3 months will go very quickly though. Try to think of it as 121 bonding for you and lo.
Still not loads of movement, a lot less than normal but hospital have said as i have felt something they are not concerned. Just made me feel like a paranoid little girl tbh. Oh well I'll see how we get in over next couple of days and hopefully its just that lo has moved or running out of room.

Steff wow over 7lb already! At least you know if anything did happen now they are a good weight etc but eeeek 6 weeks more growing time!! At least you will know not to bother packing tiny baby clothes in your hospital bag. I'm still deciding whether to pack upto 7.5/8lb or 10lb or a mix. Have we already discussed how many vests etc to pack? I might need to read back. I was thinking maybe 5 vests and 5 sleep suits and a cardi or 2.
Everyone is going a great job at the minute of telling me that they think I'll have a big baby. Thanks for that!

So sorry pink, I hope you're able to get good support from family and friends during the next few months.

Um, Steff that is really big if you've still got 6 weeks to go. Do you know what they're going to do? Wait and see what happens, or will you be induced early or recommended a cs? I assume you'll continue to have scans to check size? I always hear of lots of people being told they were going to have a big baby then it not happening but I don't know if that was from a scan or not. We were told ds was going to be big, but I can't remember what he measured at that stage. It turns out he was 9lb1oz after being induced 10d early.

Steff, just looked up my measurements - at 31 wks my ds was estimated at 5.1lb (89%ile) then at 35 wks he was estimated at 7 lb 4 oz +/- 1 lb. He was born at 38 wks 9 lb 1 oz. So your measurements sound similar. Hope that helps! He has continued to be big and is now >99%ile for height and weight, and at 2 is the size of a slightly above average 3 yr old. On the plus size, he has been a good sleeper and I think due to his size was able to go a good length of time between feeds, not like the little ones who nurse every hour!!