October 2014 #9 - Into the home straight we go, 3rd trimester here we come!

[sazzlehopes]

old threads is here

Keep up the chitter chatter ladies!

I would pay money for the gift of 'loose bowels', genuinely. The constipation was my first pregnancy symptom, and has been my most enduring. It affects my mood every day, I reckon I cry about it at least twice a week. It's miserable. Try really hard to manage it with diet, but fibrogel has been my friend. Miserable.

And yes, I'm over familiar with the details of it with anyone who will listen. My colleagues ended up knowing whether I'd pooed by the look on my face. I mean really, how undignified!

goats that just made me laugh out loud.

If it makes you feel any better, despite the loose bowel thing I still have a haemorrhoid the size of a Brussels sprout.

Extremely dizzy today, even sitting up v straight makes my head spin

I was complaining about it to my mum, who says that once every three days is normal for her (and for lots of the population), and I should just shut up. Every THREE DAYS? Before I was pregnant, if something hadn't happened by lunchtime I'd be eating sweetcorn out of the can, or a whole bag of cherries. I just think of food rotting inside me.

I'm glad I don't have any piles yet though, and I keep telling myself that any frustrated pushing now is just practice for the big push.

More frustrating is when the boyfriend, who has colitis, is hammering at the door in an 'emergency' situation and I'm just having some success. He has no idea what pain and anger is caused by his need to get into the bathroom quickly. Haha. Shouldn't laugh, colitis is more miserable than temporary constipation.

I am 26 weeks today. Yay.

Last night, I battled to finish my dinner and I was SO Full I struggled to breathe and move. Had celery and hummus snack at 5pm which was good. Succumbed to an almond magnum ice cream which was so good and I could have hoovered another but didn't.

Today I am starving again. Have started the day with scrambled eggs and protein. Off for a swim shortly so that's bound to increase the appetite too.

Baby movements are all over the place but I can definitely feel him more and more. How do you know what the different feelings are? Kicks and pokes I get, but what is the swooshing like feeling (is he rolling over or turning) and what's with the occasional tummy pulsing I feel?

Does anyone know whether Captain went to the doctor yesterday?

Captain had said she was feeling a lot better and had been able.to keep some food down so I don't think she planned of seeing a doc at that point...

Had my 28 week appointment this morning. I'm anaemic so have iron tablets (nearly passed out on Sunday so think this may be why! ) and have booked my whooping cough vaccine for tomorrow. I told the mw about the low movements last week and she said if it happens again to call labour ward. Also I've been having a lot of braxtons hicks and she said to call labour ward if they become regular or painful. At the moment they just crush my lungs and make it difficult to breathe! I'm measuring bang on for 28 weeks so no idea why my bump seems so huge lol! Diabetes test results we negative which was good news too :)

2ndwife yep swooshing is rolling and turning, the pulsing you are feeling is probably baby hiccuping - it's their way of practicing breathing whilst in the womb, tickly feelings are their wee fingers - often whilst thumb sucking.

As for poo - if you're not overfamiliar talking about it in pregnancy you likely soon will be. You'll cheer as the black sticky, bloody impossible to get off their newborn arses meconium is replaced in the first few days by green and then orange poo, and then worry if you see green poo or mustard seedy poo again! And for those constipated - try out one of Ina May Gaskin's tips for crowning / birth - remember to have soft lips (think of when you blow your lips to impersonate a horse) when trying to deliver baby. Or errr 'deliver' a poo. It encourages the anal and cervical sphincters to open and stops you being tense. It works a treat! #bizarrepreggoconversations109

Haha yellow I have been using the Ina may soft lips when constipated and it always makes me think of labour, although birthing a baby would be easier than trying to poo sometimes!

My arm is not as sore as I thought it would be after whooping cough jab. Feeling wiped out though have lots to do housework wise but cannot move off sofa right now.

me just a bit of advice, im going to a bbq later and im thinking of indulging in a glass of red wine as i have been so stressed lately & think it will help me unw? but then i get paranoid that i might get my wee mini me drunk so dont really know if its worth the worry? Does a small amount of alcohol cross the placenta ?

Thanks for advice on my hormonal 4 year old ... Think i really need to be super strict and not give her an inch as she will take the length of a marathon

I asked my consultant about drinking (on my very first appt, what must he have thought I don't know!) and he said that a small glass of wine with food every so often will do you & your baby no harm at all.
I've followed that advice and had a lovely little glass of wine at special occasions, parties, our 5th wedding anniversary. It's all good.

Hi everyone, thanks for your lovely messages on monday, I feel like i'm a different person today...though yesterday I cried after speaking to a lady from first direct on the phone and feeling that her asking me to send off some ID was too much for me to take! Soooo not used to these hormones!
The hubby is now on summer holidays which seems to have picked me up loads as it means we manage a good walk in the morning and I have to work better rather than moping round the house feeling sorry for myself. Sorry to hear that people are feeling poorly, can't be nice in this heat :(

Re: pooing, hypnobirthing talks about down breathing which is a short deep intake of breath and then long outbreath, breathing right down into your belly. We had to practice hypno-pooing as our homework last week and I'm a complete convert - i'll never push again! Its amazing that breathing can do that! I'd definitely recommend people try it, i thought the idea of breathing the baby down in labour was over the top but if it works that well for pooing them i'm willing to give it a go!

missus thanks for asking after me. I'm feeling so much better today - managing to keep food down and now just very tired and a bit feeble feeling.

Hey stigz alcohol does cross the placenta it is advised to drink no more than 1-2 units once or twice a week a small glass of wine 175ml is approx 2 units so you will be within the "limit" advised. You obviously haven't been drinking regularly so one glass is very unlikely to do any harm. Enjoy the BBQ.
Here's a link to the nhs advice on alcohol which you have probably already read www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2270.aspx?CategoryID=54

STIGZ a small glass of wine should do baby no harm. I drank a small glass of red every Saturday after dinner from 16 wks with my DD & she is a very intelligent 31/4 yr old!
I have not had wine every week this time but I've just not felt like it. However, when I do feel the need for a wee taste I won't deny. There has been no widespread study done to assess the effects of alcohol in pregnancy hence it is always safest to say steer clear. I told my MW at booking in that I was planning to have occasional glass of wine or beer & she didn't bat an eye. My FIL is a GP & would positively encourage the behaviour! Keeps sending me articles from medical journals to suggest moderation is OK. A small glass is quite small, 1 unit of alcohol in wine is approx 85ml I think?

Oops* crossed post with Me

OK, I'm going to try breathing the poo down, and the loose lip thing. I don't try this in a public toilet!!

I've just managed to get nearly all the way through a natal hypnotherapy CD without falling asleep within about 10 minutes. Proud.

Captain - glad you're feeling better.

I'm like Excited - if I fancy a glass then I'll have one. It's not like I'm drinking everyday (probably the odd glass socially every two weeks or so) and I don't feel it's harming the baby.

Goats - have you tried earrings Dried figs to help with the constipation. Works for me

Urgh so annoyed with my doctor! Found out one of the little boys at play group came down with chicken pox on Saturday & my parents can't remember if I've ever had it so no idea if i am immune. I called the doc on Monday & he told me to come for a blood test but that there was 'no rush'. I left it until today as i had a midwife appointment & she said i should have got the bloods done asap . The doctors advice did totally contradict the NHS website but i figured he'd know! The NHS site said there could be loads of complications with baby if i get chicken pox after 28 weeks but the doc said the only thing that might happen is a smaller birth weight . I am now on spot watch & praying DS doesn't get it, feel really scared for my little Squish

jelly I know it's a worry but the odds are you'll be IK.

My DS got chickenpox on my for date with DD last year...couldn't believe it. Mw's seed unconcerned...& everything turned out fine. DS only ended up having a mild case of it & was all cleared up by the time DD arrived. She popped out looking like a clone of her brother in every way, shape &form...weight, length, head circumference all the exact same...even had a tongue tie like her brother too.

Just a random question going at little off track, but thought I would ask as due dates are getting close, are any of you taking in a second birthing partner ?
I only ask as my mum and partner where there last time, as my mum wanted to be there and its just something that has always been done within our family,but this time I was planning on it just being me and my partner and she could mind my little one as I dont want to be stressing over who has her if iam in labor for hours I would just feel more comfortable knowing shes with my mum.......so any tips on telling my mum this as I know she will be disappointed ? x

Looking after the other one is a vital job? I'd sell it like that.

I'll have boyfriend and a doula.