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.

Yay - it's nearly the weekend.

Very jealous of FrankelInFoal, can't wait for my mat leave to start.

Not yay - 34 midwife appointment yesterday and suddenly my bump is measuring at 30 weeks (stares at huge every growing belly in total disbelief) so I'm booked in for a growth scan on Monday. I'm sure it will be fine but I'm still really worried anyone else had any apparent shrinkage? I've had really hit and miss measurements so far and the midwife was very flustered and running late yesterday so I' hoping for human error on her part.

I'm working until the 25th lib so you're not the only nutter! EDD is the 14th. It's my birthday on the 10th so I'd quite like her to stay put until then, and I'm sure she'd rather not share her birthday with her mum!

I'm going to ask my midwife about a tour of the MLU when I see her next week. The hospital only does a 'virtual' tour online which is pretty rubbish, but I work there so I've seen it.

Lottie my boss is being as understanding as she can be but it's just the nature of the job that it's always so busy. It's only office so I can sit down for most of the day but I just feel like my brain can't keep up anymore!

Puggy I've got a pug :). What's yours crossed with?

Dita try not to worry (I know that's easier said than done!). There's lots of room for human error with bump measurements and if your midwife was rushed anyway the likelihood is that that's what it is. At one of my appointments my midwife said I was measuring 2 weeks behind and then the next day I went for monitoring and she said I was measuring a week in front!

Dita don't forget the measurements are dependent on baby's position. If he/she is lying back to back there's more room for them to hide away and so make your bump appear smaller.

Oh yey for Friday, and yey for the end of January. What a stupid, pointless month. I've turned the calendar over already, I couldn't take any more of it. And now I can see my last day of work there at the bottom! I'm going to the 28th, so I seem to be joint winner so far...

Excited for you finishing today Frankel!

Dita this inconsistent measurement thing seems to be really common, and it's always nothing. Think of it this way: you get to have another look at the baby!

Hideous night sleep last night. This cold seems to be getting worse, not better!

It's bound to snow here sooner or later, it seems to every year. Usually in Feb/March. I remember last year it was knee deep on March 21st - my due date!! (I remember because it is also my Dad's b-day and they were staying with us)

Just stopping by not been here for a while.....

On topic of 2nd hand breast pumps, I got one off ebay for £40, virtually brand new only used a few times. It says that all parts that come into contact with breast milk can be cleaned and sterilised so don't see why you can't use second hand. Also you can buy replacement bits etc.

I've still got two weeks (6 shifts) left at work, starting to feel like I need to finish now though. Last shift is 16th feb, and EDD is 1st March.

My body was telling me to slow down yesterday as had raised BP, floaters and headache, so got a telling off from my colleagues!

Had my hair done last night though and it's fab, nice to have a treat before baby arrives.

Dita, I've had a similar thing this week - went to the midwife on Tuesday and she said the measurement was a bit small. I had an appointment already booked with the consultant on Monday for something else altogether so she said to keep an eye on movements and see what the consultant said on Monday. She and her student both measured and got more or less the same but I think there are inherent difficulties with the measuring method, however carefully it's done. I also feel enormous and am trying not to worry but easier said than done! We're going to a wedding tomorrow so hopefully that will distract me. It's been helpfully wriggling loads so I haven't had to debate whether or not movements have decreased. (It may be that I'm noticing it more as I'm on maternity leave now). Hopefully we'll both get an all clear on Monday.

It's snowing...

commsgirl she is crossed with a lassa ahpso.

Very jealous of pug owners and people starting mat leave. I'm not planning to finish until March 7th (due on 19th) though if my commute is anything like yesterday's frustrations - it took me nearly 5 hours to get home, via 5 trains - I'm going to have to finish earlier.

Thanks for Vit K feedback mrsmugoo and comms. Think we're going to have it.

Been put on iron supplements. Harrumph. Bit annoyed because I've been trying to eat really well.

Just met a girl with a 3 week old baby. She seemed so...together. I was imagining myself to be walking around in some sort of zombie like state when my baby is 3 weeks old, in a constant feed/change/scream/repeat cycle, chronically sleep deprived & not having been able to find time to take a shower, let alone get dressed and leave the house looking like a normal person!

OK, perhaps exaggerating a bit there, but you know what I mean. I'm expecting a total shock to the system. She made it look like it was nothing. The baby was asleep the whole time. Apparently she gives her a bottle every 4 hours and cooled boiled water in between. Didn't think you were supposed to do that?

You're not supposed to give cool boiled water to a newborn... Can stop them having enough milk which will lead to them not having enough calories...

Thanks for the support everyone , Imeg mine's also been wriggling and kicking loads (as he always does) which is very reassuring, but roll on Monday.

I've been off work since the end of October!!!! I've decided my home mat leave needs to start now. No more cooking, cleaning, washing or ironing. Just eating, drinking and resting. Wonder what my chances are!!!

I'm starting to dread half term. How am I going to keep 2 children entertained when I can't move?!

I've just read that my labour ward has a new state of the art birthing pool. Wonder what my chances are of getting to use it. I really like the idea of a water birth this time.

Oooh lumpy that sounds fab both the new pool and the home Mat leave lol!

I've just suggested home mat leave to DP. He told me it's 'not a thing' :(

Is it mean that I'm getting really amused by the panic in his voice everytime I ring him unexpectedly? Someone's getting nervous!

shy wave Hello! Mind if I join?
First-timer, 33yo and due March 12th...
And scared sh1tless witless

Hi Em :). How's your pregnancy been so far? I'm due two days after you!

Hi
I was 'that lucky cow' the first 20 weeks... minor nausea at the beginning, but no sickness, and genuinely bloomed (maybe it was just the sunny weather in July/August).
Now, I feel like poop... won't bore you with it, as Junior is hale and hearty, and there's only 5ish weeks left!

Wow, two days after! How're you getting on with your pg? Bless your DP for being on alert... mine's a few weeks away from worrying (so he tells me) xxx.

Seeing a picture of coolhands ds freaked dh out!! She was due 3 days before me. It's made him realise that it's a real baby in there and could come out any time!! You'd have thought it being our 3rd he'd have realised by now!!!

Welcome em

comms I dare say dh would say the same!! of all the people around me he's the one who let's me do the most!!!

Welcome em! How did the test go today pixie? I had a bag full of snacks for straight after the test was finished! Hopefully ur results will be clear. I join fox and pug in finishing on the 28th, so you are no more nuttier than us lib! I quite excited about visiting the birth centre on the 15 Feb, for a tour & a class, so you haven't definitely left it too late mrs mugoo. Thankfully, if needed I can transfer to the delivery suite which is just 2 floors above. comms you are due the same day as me & I'm hoping bubba sticks to it as my birthday is on 21st. Here's hoping spring will have sprung and there will be no snow when our babies arrive!

waves at em I'm due 2 days before you!! I think all of us working beyond 36 weeks are nuts really, but probably sensible in terms of financial heads!

Hey BSpice, test was much as expected - bit of nausea from missing brekkie and having to down lucozade on an empty stomach, but got through it :). Must confess to indulging in a McDonald's afterwards (something I very rarely have normally). I needed food and fast!!! Won't get results til Monday though.

Yes to hoping that spring will have sprung when our Martian babies arrive :) and to mat leave starting :)

Hi all
Had proper time to read through full thread now (was at work when posting earlier, oops naughty!)... so glad I found you all! So many similar same stories!
SPD at night = dammit to hell; swollen feet = increased frequency of MW visits just in case... sigh will we ever feel normal again??
Comms I've done a 180 and become keener on MLU too!! Not what I expected but - after reading sooooooo many stories about unnecessary intervention - I've gone all 'earth mother'. Fingers-crossed labour starts naturally and we can get to the MLU strict rules on whether we can, but am doing everything in my power to enable it... pelvic floor exercises, 'that' massage (although may try the lunges instead now), hypnobirthing app on phone...
And have packed bag already. Probs wise since a Martian baba has arrived already! gulp

Getting very fed up of this insomnia now...

Em that's exactly my reasoning too. At the beginning I was in the 'give me all the drugs' camp but now I feel so different. It's funny how things change! I'd just like to keep things as natural as possible although I'm well aware that I'm going to have to be flexible.

Glad your test was bearable Pixie. McDonalds sounds completely necessary!

Our pram is arriving on Tuesday. I'm so excited, going to have to resist temptation to put the puppy in it!