Martians 2014 Thread 15: D-Day is on the horizon

[AndieDisestablishment]

Shiny new fred.

I come to check in and thread 14 was full so did the honours. Roll up.

Not me, but my friend who is 34 weeks was told at her last appointment that she was measuring the same as at the previous appointment. They sent her for a scan but it was nothing. Must have just been to do with the way the baby was lying when it was measured and the inaccuracy of the method of measuring!

I'm anxious about my next MW appt next week as I'm desperate for baby to be head down - I've had 2 appointments now where she hasn't been able to confidently tell the position and has marked down as "breech ?"

Sometimes I'm sure it's head down and other times I'm just not sure - I read that a hard lump that "bobs" is a head not a bum and sometimes I give the hard bit under my ribs a prod and it does move a bit so I freak myself out and think it's a head.

I know I technically have ages (33 weeks) for baby to turn into a final position and start to engage but I'm a worrier and don't want to have that whole malarky hanging over my head right til the end - I'm TERRIFIED of a possible C section. BABY please go head down!!

Feel like I can't go single day without either a moan or a worry. (Welcome to parenthood!)

Mine was head down at the last check but I reckon it moved after all the prodding the midwife did!

Can anyone offer any advice for pelvic pain, I feel like someone is trying to separate my legs from the rest if my body it's agony! I saw the doctor today he told me to take paracetamol - does not help at all and to see the midwife fir a pelvic support, I'm seeing midwife on Thursday. Doctor also offered to sign me off but work said if he does they will send me on early mat leave and i dont want that! Sorry for the ramble.

puggy is it SPD or Sciatica? You could try seeing a physio who can give you some exercises to help, if money isn't a problem.

Thanks frankel doc didn't actually say what it was I'll ask the midwife I'm Thursday, unfortunately money is an issue so probably no physio.

Are you doing ante-natal classes? My teacher has given some exercises to those suffering from sciatica but I can't remember what she said about SPD.

Congrats coolhand on 1st Martian baby! I think you're a teacher like me, so hope ur birth story didn't start at school! As I'm planning to work to week 38-28 Feb! Don't think pupils are quite ready for a real birth!

Measurements can be so off-I had a scan yday with a consultant who told me baby weighs 2kg at 33 weeks then saw student midwife who I said I was measuring 39 weeks! The image of that 19 lb Indonesian baby flashed through my mind until the experienced midwife said I was actually measuring 31 weeks & she wasn't concerned! Phew!

I've had some really off bump measurements, probably as I've been seen by 4 different midwives for appointments; if you get an odd measurement ask them to do it again, if it's still odd ask again - best of three seems to work. At my last appointment there was a 3cm difference between her highest and lowest measurements; not what I'd call an exact science.

In other news - today a colleague felt the need to share a story with me about how her heavily pregnant fell down a hill, forwards, onto her bump. Said friend broke both her arms protecting her unborn child and had to give birth with both arms in plaster. Mother and baby were fine, SO THAT'S ALRIGHT THEN. What am I supposed to do with this info? Not leave the house for the next 5 weeks? Grr!

I will be starting antenatal classes in 3 weeks frankell. People love to share their horror stories don't they dita!

dita that is horrific! I do wonder at the logic of some people when you're prego, the stories some people come out with and u just think wtf stop talking to me!

Puggy work can't make you start mat leave unless you're signed off with pregnancy related illness after week 36, so don't let them bully you (someone else had this problem too but my mushy pregnant brain can't remember who it was) anyway just point out the legalities and mention to them that you will discuss it with HR and they will either back off if they know they are wrong, or genuinely learn something new if they didn't realise.

I was getting tons of irregular contractions last night, woke up this morning and my bump has dropped so at least they were doing something! They've stopped now luckily - 35+4 so not quite ready for her to arrive yet! :)

rock it was me that had the mat leave/sickness problem. I fought my corner and eventually my boss agreed I was right. They'll try anything but the law is 36 weeks if pregnancy related. 38 if not pregnancy related.

Morning! I'm right confused about breast pumps and whether it's OK to use a second hand one. Most of the info says it's not. My sister has given me hers, you see. I don't even know if I need one of these flippin' things!

Also, just had bedroom furniture delivered and an worried we've made a big mistake. We wanted a new bed because ours was too high (amongst other things) but I think the new one might be just as high! I'd thought we'd measured it in the shop, but maybe we didn't. It looked normal in the shop! It is gorgeous though. Anyway, I have to wait until I can go home to see it in-situ.

RockChick very jealous of your bump dropping, I can't wait to get a bit of space back in my rib cage!

Fox I don't see why you wouldn't be able to use a second hand pump - you can rent them after all? As long as it's sterilised surely there's no difference?
I thought I had one gifted to me but it turns out it's a manual one not an electric. Anyone used a manual and think they're ok or is an electric a must?

I'm off to anetental class this afternoon - 2nd one of 2 on the NHS and DH is coming with me to this one - joy!

And I'm feeling less moany today, think I've just had some off days recently. Working from home at the moment so not even dressed - lovely!

I think the ones you can rent are designed to be used by multiple people and the ones you buy are for personal use only. Or so it says on the Medela website here

I reckon a manual one would be fine, at least to start with. You could then decide later if you want an electric too, once you're in the swing of it.

How was the NHS antenatal class mrs? I start mine in a couple of weeks and we still haven't decided if DH should take time off work for them.

I'm feeling really stressed at the minute. Need to chill out. I think I just desperately don't want to be at work anymore. It's the nesting instinct!! Also, I have a cold and that is making me proper grumpy.

Fox I've been given an electric one, it's only been used twice though. Feel a bit weird about it but I don't even know if I'll need/want one yet so I'm holding off on making a decision. Good luck with the bed!

Right, I've been having period pains for the last 2 days or so. Not really painful just uncomfortable. No pattern and it doesn't really feel like my bump is tightening. Baby moving fine. Any ideas? I'm not worried but I don't want to be ignoring something I shouldn't.

Mrs it depends how much you intend on using the pump. Manual ones are fine just a bit more uncomfortable and obviously a bit harder work.

The first antenatal class was about breastfeeding - to be honest I learnt more from reading the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding but I guess it's good to show face at these things since it's the MW I usually see running the lessons.

The one this afternoon is on labour and pain relief - DH is joining for this one but didn't come to the first one. A few partners where there but to be honest it was a little bit awkward demonstrating hand expressing on little knitted boobs in front of other woman's partners :-/

I doubt this one of going to really teach much much I haven't already read or gained knowledge on from other sources like MN or in books like Natal Hypnotherapy or Ina May Gaskin but I'm seeing this as being able to get a representative view of my particular NHS Trusts stance on pain relief and interventions.

lumpy Thanks - I really have no idea how much I'll use it. At the moment I'm not planning on introducing any bottles whatsoever for at least 6 weeks but we'll see how we get on.

comms maybe speak to your mw, or call mlu, they may be nothing but may be good to have professional advice x

Mrs my DP found the labour/birth one really useful. More than me I think!

Given he hasn't read one thing - I suspect he will find it more useful than me for sure!

My DH is finding the NCT classes about labour and birth more useful than he thought, I think he was being a bit naive about just letting nature take its course, bless.

Thanks rockchick and lumpy that is very reassuring.
It's getting exciting on here isn't it, realising that soon we will have our little arrivals with us!