July 2014 - Here comes the 3rd trimester, hold on to your knickers! Thread 6

[ZingWatermelon]

hope you like the title!

I've ended up on the sofa in DS's room so as not to disturb DP! Bedtime cuddles don't last long cos I keep kicking him :(

fifi my previous mw never said but she's on long term sick so got a new one- she had a goid olx feel of bump however I already felt pressure a lot lower and kicks higher so was hoping head down.

coco I think in your situation all you can do is loom for positives- I would love to have an actual birth date (work out how long you want off work before it!), you won't have to suffer if it grts hotter , you get to enjoy your baby sooner, no taring and you can prepare for the recovery. Everyone I know who has had elcs is so more positive than those who had to have emcs.

auntie did they miss the session because they knew it was about breastfeeding? Glad it was helpful anyway!

plate hope you get some answers soon- so frustrating!

zing for things getting better - not long to go!!

Well when you put it that way I am at coco escaping 5 weeks' of waddling round in the heat

Wide awake but have productively discovered the perfect post-birth outfit might buy both colours!

coco

very true about the EMSC/ELSC thing.

a friend of mine had EMSC with her son, which was happily still a "relaxed" one as she was just not dilating. (relaxed as in not life or death situation - but still classed as EMSC)

pour soul was disappointed though so went for VBAC - then it all went to hell.
she did end up with EMSC but this time it was under GA to save time as it was a proper emergency.
They were fine, but she was traumatised by missing the actual birth of her DD, had nightmare dreams about baby being snatched from her belly etc.

While I was just fine (only a few weeks between her DD and my DS4)

the thing is you will just never know what will happen with labours that start naturally, induced or VBACs, but with ELSCs there are the elements of control of what will happen, no pain and which day!
That's why they are so tempting.

Happy Weekend everyone!

(I had another bad night and now have to bake Scooby Doo cake.
I have zero motivation to get out of bed )

ickle I think they did miss the session because it was breastfeeding which was a shame cos there was lots of other interesting stuff talked about.

blue and fifi I'm sure the men should be taking the sofa at this stage!

plate I forgot to look at la redoute when trying to find nightdresses for hospital thank you!

I too am finding the prospect of ELCS more attractive now thanks zing (especially if I'm going to struggle like this for the next 7-9 weeks!) I agree completely with whats been said about EMCS versus ELCS - several friends have had both and the whole experience is more calm and relaxed with ELCS and recovery is quicker as opposed to EMCS especially when labour has already started. And you can still do things like skin to skin contact and breast feed after if you want to.

maggie to be fair to DP we broke the bed before Christmas and haven't got around to replacing it yet! One should arrive tomorrow but right now it's a glorified mattress on the floor. Both sets of our parents were horrified I've been sleeping like that but there was always a bigger priority. Now I find sleeping a nightmare it is a priority. I quite like escaping to the sofa, it's really wide and covered in feather cushions I can sink into and adjust around the bump :)

In making a start to prepare hospital bag and stuff for first week it would appear I have 3 things in newborn size and over 20 in 0-3...no I didn't buy them all!! how many newborn things are people buying? so hard to know!
hope everyone is enjoying the start of summer, keep cool xx

Zing hope you are feeling better! You do have a lot going on at the moment!

Coco my cs is booked in for the 24th June too!!

patch Most of the stuff I've got is 0-3 so I've just ordered a few sleepsuits in newborn. It's so hard to know how much of each size to get until baby is here!

patch not getting much newborn stuff to be honest (I think I have 3 vests) as friends that have had babies have said they haven't used them mainly because they couldn't get the things over the babies heads and those that have used them only did for a couple of weeks. The way I see it its not the end of the world if clothes are too big on baby.

Oooh MrsB and coco on the same day - exciting!

I'm sat in the living room with my feet up rather than in the garden to try and keep cool and keep any swelling and blood pressure down today :( Still waiting for MW to call with blood results...

If I ever get an ELCS approved, I'd go for the 24th too! Good thing we're all in separate hospitals...

I keep thinking / feeling like I've sprung a leak. Keep checking every time I wee but it's just weird. There's no smell so I don't think it's urine, and there's no blood or anything else so I think it's just TMI discharge.

Bought nappies and soap and lansinoh and wipes and maternity pads today. Slightly squicked out by the maternity pads to be honest.

ismarah we've also been on a shopping spree - nappy sacks, baby shampoo (for my first shower- nct recommend no more tears as best for minimum pain),lansinoh nipple cream and maternity bed pads just in case waters break in bed to protect mattress! Sad to have to think about so many practicalities.

Baby bouncer arrived today and really happy with it!

We've got 6 vests and 6 baby grow in first size but can always swap for 0-3 if baby is big was my thinking!

ickle and ismarah me too! bought maternity pads and the bed protector mat things eeek! 3 for 2 in boots though so I still got joy from it being a bargain!
I also picked up a couple of plain newborn sleepsuits. So cheap i guess if they don't fit I can always return/pass onto a smaller baby!
In laws coming to to stay today...

so 3 of you are going to potentially have your babies on the 24th June? you traitors!

Jealousy is so unbecoming in a preggo, doncha think Zing?

Just had an interesting conversation with a MW friend about this baby being transverse-she basically said I must avoid sitting on the sofa or slouching and preferably sit on a dining chair backwards so effectively I am leaning forward and hopefully baby will get uncomfortable and move to head down. Snag with all of this is that the dining chair thing is SO uncomfortable and I really need to try and keep legs elevated to ease the restless legs issue speaking of which another awful night last night awake every half hour or so!

Must dig out the maternity bed pads I have left over from last time if I can remember where I put them?!

24th June probably feels a lifetime away for those counting down to it but it's scarily close!! If baby doesn't move and I need a ELCS - not sure whether they'd do it at 38 weeks or wait til 40?

Anyone else had pain spasms in sides of abdomen that spread across top of bump? Got them again last night, really nasty pain lasts for a few secs, builds up then dissipates. Am assuming its round ligament pain where baby is growing. Doesn't Seem like what the books describe Braxton hicks to be.

Also bought maternity mats! And lansinoh nipple cream, as its 1/3 reduced in mothercare.

Having had it relatively easy with regard to physical symptoms so far, am getting slightly fed up with the following unfortunate series of symptoms which are currently daily: Heartburn causes vomiting causes me to pee myself causes Brixton hicks! Really hope this particular group of joy is not going to last for the final 8 weeks.

blue they pretty much recommend leaning forward like that for everyone in the last weeks now - our moden sedentary/laid back lifestyle is said to be to blame for the number of back to back babies as we used to be more active. I agree its not comfortable though!

Blue You can also kneel on all fours, lean on a birthing ball, stand braced towards the wall, allowing bump to pull forward, sit Japanese style (sit wide kneel on legs IYKWIM) or sit on a birthing ball, according to our NCT person. I don't know how long for though..maybe a little at a time? Basically anything that isn't reclining on the sofa or bed will help. You've got time though.

ellen those symptoms sound familiar. Did exactly that in John Lewis today!

blue I understand how difficult it is to sit with legs each side of chair, I have spd and cannot do it as in pain too much. but if I sit on a chair normally, keep my thighs together and splay the leg out at the knees whilst leaning forward on the table it seems to work.

I lean against walls and crawl on all fours, plus lean on the birthing ball. Sitting up strainght should help as well. Am having to lean forward on office chair tonight as bump too big for desk! I have not worn my bump support for a couple of days thinking it was too tight around the lower bump but does not seem to have helped. Roll on consultant appointment on Weds. As baby is large I don't think I have much time to get it moving.

Have finally transferred most of the bits and bobs from PILs dining room. Still have no cot though so can't prettify the nursery with the wall stickers. Have bought bright coloured plastic boxes and organised all the bibs, muslins and blankets. I thought I had loads but there is still some space for more. So many nappies have been given to us. Just waiting for the changing table to arrive so I can set that up.

Dying in this heat!

have developed a very sore throat tonight. not had a sore throat like it since the recovery process from tonsil removal almost 2yrs ago. course it's too late to get anything for it. any suggestions I could try in morning from local paper shop?
we haven't had the heat everyone else is getting, only 11'c here today, suppose its good not to have to suffer in heat.
haven't done anything I can think of to provoke sore throat.
had the GTT test on fri which inc 3 samples of blood to be taken, nicely bruised from that lol. am 32wks+1 / 33wks (paper / scans)
everything is here for little one just would like to get drawers with changer on top.got mothercare hyde crib, sheets, pram, car seat, clothes & nappies etc. just need to pack our hosp bags for when big day arrives. those moving sounds very stressful - sending &

ismarah

actually I am really hoping this one will be late too.
kids break up on 23rd July, so I'd much prefer it if DH stayed home for his paternity leave way into July & August.
I don't fancy the idea of having baby early, then DH going back to work just before schools are out for summer.
6 weeks of school holidays on my own with 7 kids - ummm,

I'd rather not if possible!

[scared shitless]

blue

this one turned into head down position while I was lying on my back in bed - so I'd say that theory is just that.
baby's don't care for ideas!
It was the first time I ever witnessed it - massive, visible activity and the areas I'd feel the kicks completely changed afterwards!
next MW app - she confirmed cephalic position.

so I'd say rest and keep those legs up.

mummy

take echinacea - drops (contain alcohol, so bonus! ) or tablets.
I took it every pg, it's like magic.

High factor Manuka honey & raw garlic (if you can stomach it) both brilliant - antiviral, antibacterial etc.

and you can take Strepsils too
(assuming you're in UK)

Ah, Sunday morning... DS and DH are still asleep and I'm in bed using the iPad and it is almost 9am.

Zing I remember at the end of my last pregnancy hoping baby would be late because I was enjoying my maternity leave sat watching daytime TV and not that uncomfortable. 7 kids in school holidays on your own would be .

I'm seeing a perinatal psychologist at the hospital on Tuesday. I saw my lovely sympathetic GP on Friday who didn't rush the appointment (she is always running late and I don't let it bother me because I know she will always give me time when I need it) but the entire waiting room did look a bit pissed off when I finally left .

DS has just woken up at 9am on the dot so might have to continue this later.

Anyway, GP says I have a lot of trauma from my first birth that I need to talk through before this birth so it is the best thing to have the perinatal counselling.

Worst thing is I'm now doubting if I want an ELCS because I'm scared of the operation (memories of EMCS and I was not entirely happy with thought of having c-section before that birth, let's say last pregnancy I would never have requested an ELCS). If someone could look in a crystal ball and tell me that i will have a nice straight forward VBAC without any complications to me or worries about baby's well being during the birth I would be happy. Equally I absolutely don't want another EMCS. Oh dear. Hopefully things will start looking better on Tuesday.

Morning all!

Went to an NCT sale yesterday with the ladies from our course - picked up a few bits of clothing (although sooo little that isn't blue or pink). I seem to have a thing for red and white stripes (because it reminds me of ). Plus really nice to spend some proper time chatting with the others. I've never really been a 'hanging out with a big gang of girlies' type but in this case I could be a convert. (With my feminist social theory geek hat on I'm finding the gender dynamic fascinating, I swear there's a PhD in this somewhere!)

Going to try to go to outdoor Lido for a swim - but obviously the water is a bit nippy at this time of year and I can't find any definitive word on whether that's OK in pregnancy or not. Think I'll just see how I feel - worst case scenario I can just sunbathe!