December 2014 Thread #7 - third trimester here we come, jingle babies all the way

[Chipandspuds]

Hooray into the third trimester!

I've had two episodes of cramping today. It wasn't as painful as period cramping but really uncomfortable and meh. Is this what you've been calling Braxton Hicks or is that just tightening rather than cramping?
We made £22 profit at the car boot, and only came away with four 20p cables (DH has a cable fetish, or so it appears) so all jolly good. I wonder if I overdid it and that caused the cramps.

Peace it's probably just stretching - I've been getting more cramps than usual. Like you not as bad as period cramp but just dull ache :( eases off but think it's mainly braxtons I've been getting incredibly tight tummy across belly button and also underneath like full bladder constantly - comes and goes, feel like I'm starting to feel everything a lot more

Hi all. Hope everyone is enjoying the BH weekend. We're down in Weymouth for the week and I'm knackered already!

Dani I've got my fingers crossed for the best possible outcome for you all. Stay positive and have a good old vent here if you need to. We will all try our best to understand. ((Hugs))

Can anyone describe how Braxton Hicks feel to me please.? I had some very strange, what felt like muscle cramps in the stomach last night and I'm not sure if they were my first ever BH or if I'd just over exerted myself in the afternoon with all the walking and stuff that we'd done. Not really too painful but quite uncomfortable and I found it difficult to straighten up properly while it was going on. Any thoughts or experiences shared will be gratefully received

Ooooh I missed your cramp post Peace! Sound similar.

ladylel I think you need to have someone who is like "the gatekeeper" who filters/passes on news from you and dh especially if you end up in NICU or in hospital for a while. Perhaps someone on each side of the family who can pass news on and be strict with, "No visitors"?

Hope that you have good news Dani

Polythene with DS my Braxton hicks contractions weren't painful, but I would feel my entire bump go rock hard for a minute and then ease off back to normal. I think it's probably best to have a lie down if you feel like you've overdone it and depending how you feel ring the midwife for a bit of guidance/reassurance? It's hard to tell over the internet. DM had never heard of Braxton hicks contractions and thought she had gone into early labour with me (dc2)!

ladydel I agree with CallingallEngels on having a 'gatekeeper' and I think if you tell the hospital staff you don't want visitors they will ensure you don't get any and turn people away.

I'm presently feeling very laid back about visitors. I'm guessing I'll feel differently.

had a bit of a worry today as hadn't felt any movement, but have just recently felt some very subtle tiny movement so hopefully all is well.

I should be grateful but DH is driving me slightly mad with bump overprotective-ness. He is like my private bodyguard.

and he is trying to persuade me not to go out for a night time walk with my dad tonight. Yes I am sore and achey and knackered, but I want to go see all the pretty Paris lights!!

Thanks Chip, I wouldn't really say I was too worried or that I could have mistaken it for labour I'm imagining much worse! it's actually quite exciting to think that things might be getting ready in there. I didn't have any BH with DS and I had an ELCS so I completely missed out on all types of contraction. Hoping I don't actually have a real contraction experience though as I'm supposed to be having another ELCS. Fx

Chip weve decided to only tell my mum and MIL when im in labour, then we will be off to my mums for the first week where there will be no visitors and with my mum at work we will have some proper family time and she will help out with night feeds!
Hopefully that will work out okay.

As far as visitors, I've asked my sister to be my back-up birth partner as she is just so excited about everything baby-related, and she's very no-nonsense. I couldn't have my mum anywhere near me giving birth! As she's a teacher it depends on whether the baby comes in the Christmas holidays, though.
Then afterwards my mum has said she'll come for a visit but will come and stay with me for a couple of weeks after DH goes back after paternity, which I feel grateful for at the moment, but we will reassess nearer the time!
Still feeling crampy and crappy, think I probably have overdone it as I didn't get a chance to rest after work yesterday, so I'm doing nothing tonight and tomorrow and not feeling guilty about it!

Thank you Polythene & Chip. Just got home from meeting a friend's absolutely gorgeous 5 week old baby. Felt a bit wobbly so ended up talking to her about my scan issues-it's good to have someone other than DH in real life to talk to. Still feeling hopeful but worried. My friend had advice about visitors-she said she was surprised how protective her and her DH felt after her baby was born-they had no one stay with them and only close family visiting for first 2 weeks. She said she's glad she did-but of course everyone's circumstances are different. Hope you're all having a good Sunday night. Bed for me I think.

chips and calling I agree gatekeeper is best way forward - will have to have a VIP list for the hospital staff or something. See how it pans out really. I'm sure my MiL will be happily tell her MiL (DH dads mum) where Togo haha !
Literally plans are for it only to be immediate family as in my parents, DH parents, my sister and DH bro and wife.

Think we will be having a "family only" policy, with 3 exceptions - my bestfriend who will have her own littleone by then, and 2 very close friends who will be allowed to visit for short times only.

As for Braxton Hicks (went to shorten it and realised Bank Holiday is same letters!) I think I had z few last weekend. Top of bump felt super uncortably tight and quite.painful, couldnt stand up for 30 seconds at a time

Think we will be having a "family only" policy, with 3 exceptions - my bestfriend who will have her own littleone by then, and 2 very close friends who will be allowed to visit for short times only.

As for Braxton Hicks (went to shorten it and realised Bank Holiday is same letters!) I think I had z few last weekend. Top of bump felt super uncortably tight and quite.painful, couldnt stand up for 30 seconds at a time

Think we will be having a "family only" policy, with 3 exceptions - my bestfriend who will have her own littleone by then, and 2 very close friends who will be allowed to visit for short times only.

As for Braxton Hicks (went to shorten it and realised Bank Holiday is same letters!) I think I had z few last weekend. Top of bump felt super uncortably tight and quite.painful, couldnt stand up for 30 seconds at a time

Camping. Worst rain have seen in years, trapped in tent. All three boys have wind.

BHLS time to find a nice cafe and treat yourself to a cream tea I think!

Oh god, get thee to a Costa BHLS! We are taking the ILs for a slap up Morrisons luncheon and then going home, to DIY neighbours from hell. My life is never-ending glamour.

Finished work at 230am. Have clearly been hit by a bus... Can't get comfy. Can't cope and just want to cry. Idiot boss put me in 3 nights this week in a row. Off Wednesday. In Thursday. Off Friday Saturday. Grrrrrr.

Just finished work, on way to MILs now for nice roast dinner and afternoon of films and chocolates

Feeling really crappy today and yesterday - is it normal to feel really sicky and run down? Have been lazing around for the last few days so it's not like I've overdone it

I feel crap too Sasseh. There's colds going round already, and the temperature dropping might have made you feel weird.
Take it easy.

What job do you do drewswife would hate working nights.

I just had a mini meltdown in the Louvre. So much walking, so tired, gross toilets. Tail bone was and still is absolutely killing.
back at hotel now, paracetamol-ed up and just devoured a large strawberry tart

I've been looking at everyone's bump pictures and my bump seems small in comparison - I wonder if that's because my baby seems more interested in fiddling with my internal organs so is staying tucked in?

All the kicks I've had for the last few days are towards my insides rather than outside. My poor organs (especially my bladder and stomach) are not happy with the constant assault. Weeing every 10 minutes and having reflux issues as a result! Feeling rather squashed overall.