September mums-to-be - the bumps get bigger and we all get more excited!

[HettySunshine]

Here we are ladies. A shiny new thread for us all. Let the chatting continue!

ARGH!!! Everyone I speak to regarding this team of midwives tells me they don't know who is responsible for them. I've called the centre they run from, they don't know. They used to be part of the Primary Care Trust, but that no longer exists, it's now the CCG, who say it's not them, call these people instead. I do, it's not them, call those people instead. In the end all they can suggest is to call HR for area's main hospital. Which is me! I work in HR, where they're telling me to call. I bloody well know I'M not responsible for them!

mango what a nightmare!! Sometimes you just get days like that! Have and calm!

I have a contender for the stupidest comment to a pregnant lady.... my friend has been away since I go preggers but I saw him last night, he said " someone told me you were up the duff, how'd that happen then?" back to biology class me thinks!

Ha ha! Please tell me you started your answer with "Well, when a mummy and daddy love each other very much..."

To those with hiccuping bumps: DD used to hiccup in utero and when a newborn (pretty much every day!) but none from this boy bump as yet. It's a quite obvious feeling but I don't think getting them / not getting them makes a difference. It was the one thing which, for me, linked that bump with my little newborn bundle, but was a pain as stopped her settling!

I've been feeling what I think are hiccups for a while now - actually quite an annoying feeling! And a weird thing just happened - the baby was having a shift around when I heard a distinct clicking noise coming from the bump. I've heard of it before but it was v odd to experience for myself!

I've managed to get both my 28 week bloods and my whooping cough vaccine done today without DS1 in tow - much more peaceful for all concerned. AM hoping not to get any nasty side effects from the WC jab. The nurse said not everyone gets a sore arm - apparently it's a reaction to the tetanus part of the jab.

Back from 28 week apt, his little heart beat was thumping away...mw said he's head down so that's why I'm feeling the pressure on my bladder a lot. I measured 26cm and was just inbetween the 10th and 50th centile. No indication if this is normal though!

I had my GD growth scan today which was actually lovely, so apart from the free pink bag there are perks to being treated for GD. When i went to see the midwife she actually said to me through my tears, its not all bad - you get a free pink bag and a pen. Thanks. My little one is head down too and already weighs around 4 pounds, which is totally normal for 31 weeks. All good there. I dont even think I have GD as all my readings have been normal and ive not changed my diet.

With regards to movements, I have days when I dont feel as much, the midwofe said to me to have a cold sweet drink and lie down for an hour - you should get some good kicks then and if you dont, call them.
Good luck!

I've had 28 week appointments with both NHS and Independant midwife today... (keeping both up so I still have the hospital birth as an option!)

NHS appointment was a joke, my normal MW was away, so I had a stand-in and a student. They did my bloods, BP, urine etc but both spent ages trying to find HB and gave up after repeated kicks from baby but no HB! Main MW did a really half hearted measurement, hovering tape above me, not checking for top of womb or my pelvic bone. She told me I'm only 26cm which is 2cm under where I should be, but no mention of percentiles etc!

Later I saw my independent MW who found the HB straight away and spent ages showing me how I can tell where baby is, demonstrated how to find the head and confirmed I'm 1/5 engaged, head down spine at front etc :) she also carefully measured me at 28cm which is spot on apparently.

I guess the main difference is time, but I hadn't been going home for another appointment, I'd have gone away worried!

kim how far along are you? I know around 26/27 weeks lots of us on here had reduced movements, I had a day or two where I didn't feel baby move for certain until 8 or 9 at night. I rang the midwife the next day and suddenly she was moving loads!! Mine still has no definite routine (I'm 28+5 now) but I do tend to feel her when I turnover at night. Drinking cold drinks, coffee, lying down etc sometimes work but are not a guarantee with me (though eating sweets gives a good chance!) and I seem to go from having a few days of feeling her quite prominently to a few where it's quite subtle and "internal" - I think it depends where she is. I've mentioned to midwife a couple of times and they don't seem too worried... Really just as long as I definitely feel something every day. I was told by midwife to trust my instincts and ring if I was worried, but I'm quite relaxed about it to be honest.

I had my WC jab this morning, and my arm is definitely quite sore. I loved the nurse who did it- she was very old school and no nonsense, but the kind that gives you confidence in the person you're dealing with.
My 28 week (had it at 29 as didn't want to go in on my birthday) was a total joke and I would say the only useful things to come from it were my blood and urine test she took.

Just had a go at measuring myself! I reckon 27/28cm. I've been just about spot on this time round, so it could be right! Will hopefully be seeing the midwife on Monday, so I might get a more accurate measurement then.

Hello! I posted a bit early on in the thread and I lurk regularly. Sorry not to be on more, but wanted to reassure jammy re flathead syndrome... My DD2 had it as she always turned to her right to suck her thumb. She ended up with a noticeable corner on her head. However, I was reassured by GP and HV that it would go and have no ill effects. She was 3 last week and has lots of lovely blond hair, is a bright little button and you can't notice a thing! I wouldn't say her head is perfectly round, but it's just not an issue and I was SO worried about it when she was a baby.

PS mine had first hiccups today at 27+3. First two pregnancies were v hicuppy, so suspect another girl, but I thought both DDs were boys, so I've got a 100% miss rate so far!

I do have one question... I have had 3 midwife appointments so far, with a different one for each one. Am considering a homebirth as first two were lovely and straightforward, but feel like I don't know the midwife well enough to go for it. I can't remember from first two pregnancies; how often will I now see the midwife until the birth?? Wondering if I've got time to get to know me before the time comes!!

Thanks and sorry for lack of posting!

And one last one... Do I need to have a WC jab??

thanks for all the advice ladies. Im 30 weeks today and until recently I had been feeling kicks and small movements quite regularly throughout most days. if I rest my hands on my bump id usually get a few wriggles. But since 29 weeks the movements seem less frequent. I wasnt really worried to be honest. just put it down to lack of space. But this morning I felt literally nothing.... however, I got one almighty olympic forward roll after lunch today. It was really quite uncomfortable but put my mind at rest. Hes obviously okay. I guess he was just lay funny? im gonna keep a close eye on his movements tonight though.
On the sicky/nausea outbursts. I seem to get them around 7 or 8pm. Usually ive eaten my tea and drank plenty of liquid by this time. But it was quite warm at NCT class last night. So im gonna put it down to that.
Hows everyone else doing today?

Just had my 4d scan..... My boy is beautiful.

Beans - as far as I know everywheres the same and 'your midwife' will be unlikely to attend your labour, you get whoever a on duty. Can someone else confirm that's right?

mrsmango how did you measure yourself? The MW did me with her hands at 20w and I've not had it done since

frogchops awwwww. Did you get some good photos?

Measuring is from beginning of bump down to your pubic bone I think. That's where I got measured today!
Photos are lovely I can't stop looking at him.

I'm jealous! We left it too late and I have one photo of Ethel's face, and one of Marjorie with her arm across her face. They were too scrunched up for anything else

As frog says, top of the pelvic bone, to the top of your bump. Not just where you get back to normal size, but if you gently press in a bit, you can feel where the top of the actual bump is, inside. You're supposed to be lying down though, so I reclined my desk chair right back and tried like that! Must have looked like a right numpty.

I sympathise with those of you that are feeling cold/fluy as have just come out the other end after 8 days :( the only things I took we're paracetamol really. I would recommend strepsils as they contain actual medication as well as soothers as they taste nice :) the only thing I found that worked for my blocked up nose was vicks sinex soother spray but you can only use it for a week as you tend to rely on it otherwise. My voice has only just returned to normal after 3 days of absolutely no voice at all!

I have my 28 week appointment tomorrow but haven't really got my hopes up. The way I see it, what more can they do/tell us other than measure and take bloods. It's too early to discuss birth plans etc now I suppose.

I have also had a few random bouts of sickness and nausea but nothing too persistent. Also felt terrible this morning, really hot, faint and dizzy. I suppose it's all 'part and parcel' with starting the third trimester!

MrsMango you rock! Well done!

Hmmm. I just measured from the bottom of my bump to the top of my uterus (because I have no idea where my pubic bone is) and I measured 36cm. Which I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry about. I'm going with laughing, although that might not remain the case at 36 weeks!!

Are you ladies all finding your bumps quite responsive? For example to noise or to touch? Mine doesn't seem to react to noise/ speech/ music at all. I thought that it would take a bit of a fright from loud noises etc but no reaction!
She doesn't seem to react much to stroking or tickling or rubbing either (although she always floats off when I start prodding her about...). Yet, somehow, she always seems to know when it's DH's hand that replaces mine (as he tried to feel the kicks/ hiccups) and always goes quiet!

Hi beans - I think the answer is yes to the WC jab question - somewhere between 28 and 32 weeks if I remember right.

Jammy my bump isn't very responsive at all. She's either awake or asleep and not much I do seems to have any effect on her - loud noises included. DH can sometimes get a wriggle out of her by clapping or speaking right to the bump, but never very much. Even prodding doesn't seem to bother her...

Although today I was feeling so knackered and desperate to go back to bed an hour after getting up that I had a proper caffeinated cup of tea and that seems to have sent her bouncing off the walls. It's made me feel significantly better too. Maybe time to relax the caffeine ban a bit? How much are all of you drinking?