April 2015 Thread 11: The finish line is in sight as we get closer to maternity leave and our babies!

[BrixtonBunny]

Old thread getting full xx

Hi, I'm also newbie- I was wondering about the rib pain- I'm 36 weeks today and she's breech, so I have a head under my right lung/liver- really sore by this time of day and keep getting kicked in the cervix- combination of that and SPD the last two weeks means I just generally hurt. Pleased to hear this is apparently normal!

Aw thanks ladies, you are all very lovely and helpful :)

Thank you for the links (I think it was Boo) I have bookmarked them and will start devouring all the info as soon as Friday and work is done! One of my friends also said to search you tube for everything, eg like how to hold a baby! Seriously, that's the level of help we need!

I'm taking comfort in the fact others have rib pain, but I also feel very sorry for you! I mentioned it to my mum before and she also said it could be my ribs expanding, and probably with me still being sick and retching a lot I might be aggravating it. Pregnancy is sooooo much fun! Aw I know I moan (a lot!) but I wouldn't change it for the world, can't wait to meet our little lady and I have a feeling I will miss feeling her moving about in my bump when she has made an appearance.

I notice some of you have mentioned sitting on exercise balls as a way to help aches and get comfy.....I've tried this too but unless I'm doing it wrong I don't find it comfy, as in, how do you relax and just 'lounge' about? Or am I just totally lazy and too fond of slobbing about on the sofa?

Also, thanks to those of you who were discussing raspberry leaf tea, I'd never heard of it but have now started taking it as per instructions - willing to try anything that might help!

I love my ball fruit. I sit upright and kind of sink into it. Kind of like relaxing your pelvis. Also I sit upright but lean forward. I think it's good cos it forces you to sit up straight?

I can't believe how quickly everything has gone. I was just remembering in July when I got my +ve test and had to tell my boss. It seems like yesterday! Felt a bit in a good way earlier as workmates have kindly given me quite a lot of money as a "leaving" gift!

Penguin regarding the Maternity Allowance, as far as I know (going from gov website etc) I don't think there's a reason why you wouldn't be entitled to it, it's just a case of how much. As I only work part-time and don't earn enough per week to qualify for SMP, that's why I've applied for Maternity Allowance. But I understand that there are other reasons such as, even if you have recently worked somewhere and have left, you can still apply for MA but I'm not sure on the figures. In my case I think I'll be getting 90% of my weekly average earnings, so it says. We'll see, though! The lady just said that the letter will state what I'll be entitled to

My pelvis is sore and my pubic bone kind of stings when walking. Not SPD style but annoying and the ball is the only thing that helps.

Ooh exercise balls... I wanted to know more about them!
I'm currently not suffering with any pain as such with hips or anything but what other benefits do they have? What do I do with one?! Lol

tout I can't get comfy on the exercise ball to save my life, but my posture is a pile of poo! My sister however loves the ball, she gravitates straight to it every time she comes over and bounces away

rl I think it's 90% or £135(ish), whichever is lowest, or at least that wash I read it

I was told to sit backwards on a dining chair and lean against the back of it when ds1 was back to back BananaToast.

Everything SquattingNeville said RL20, plus I learned a fab relaxation technique in antenatal yoga kind of laying your chest over the ball and your knees on the floor and you can almost sleep like that! I laboured a lot on a ball with ds1 but wished I'd taken mine as the delivery suite one was too flat/soft. With ds2 I didn't have a lot of time from getting to hospital to starting pushing to sit on one.

I also have pain in my pubic bone, but it's arrived much later than with my previous pregnancies and isn't as stabbing more of a dull ache, usually if I've done a lot on a day. I remember going to run after dss a couple of months after having ds1 and having a shooting pain in my pubic bone that stopped me dead!

Now going to watch that programme from bbc1 the other night on child birth, all or nothing I think it's called. Just watching ed sheerans live lounge :)

I am terrible for slobbing about... I am now most comfy lying on my back in the sofa propped up by cushions... This is probably why dd was back to back which made early labour very painful and I should really do myself a favour and get the ball blown up, scrub the floor more and sit up straight for the long term gains! But the short term ones are sooo comfy.

Got lots to do before bed... Bins out, dishwasher empty, wash on, move new sofas a bit and put toys where they should be, pack nursery bag... Then stuff for work on computer that I just have to get done tonight. I just am so sleepy and would rather go to bed with my iPad.

Still, at the moment I couldn't sleep since I can hear dd in her cot practising saying "Oh dear crocodile" on repeat!

I've been backwards chair sitting this evening cinnamon and had a bounce on my ball

Think I have had a few Braxton hicks this evening for the first time!! Body gettin prepared I think!

What do you do with the ball?

If you are cruel you chase the cat with it. Or bounce it on lino in the cat's direction. She hates it

Can you take the ball to the labour ward??? Isn't it a bit big?

I could have if I'd wanted to ChickenMe but I decided it was a lot of hassle and they have their own.

Thanks RL I think I will phone them if I haven't had the letter by the end of the week. I need to know the amount to notify work as they need to deduct it from the rest of my maternity pay before they can go on paying me. Whole thing is so complicated!

Lol Chicken! My cat was bemused by the large inflatable bouncey ball thankfully she hasn't tried to attack it yet.

Daholster I'm most comfy lounging too. Trying to make a concerted effort to be more upright. Aww your DD sounds so cute

penguin 70% cute 30% demon child!!! You will know exactly what I mean in oh, two years time... Absolutely love her to pieces, all 100% of her!

There's a cyclic breathing thing that goes with it that was amazing for relaxation.

Hehe Penguin if you bounce it on a hard surface or tap it to kind of make that rubbery sound it might be amusing for you your cat. IT won't be good if any claws go near it!

I love my bouncy ball, I'm sat on it now. My bump doesn't feel as squashed because it makes you sit upright.

I've still 6 weeks to work I'm working up to 4 days before my due date or that's the plan anyway. Ive 4 weeks of normal work then 2 weeks working from home so I can take it a bit more easy then. I decided whilst I felt ok I would have the time off when baby is here and work agreed to pay my holidays as I have not taken any this year but if I am struggling I can use some holiday to finish early.

Meant to say earlier I worked until 38 weeks with ds1 and then went 2 weeks overdue and so wished I'd worked longer!! I guess it depends how physical your work is and your commute (Dh and I went together so he just did more driving). As I think most of you know I worked until Friday and had ds2 Monday and am planning to work until I have this one. It's not ideal but needs must! And my work comes to me and I can have a sit when I need to most of the time :)

Ah thanks for the info re the exercise balls! So I basically need to stop being so lazy ;) at my last midwife appointment she was breech as well, I didn't realise any of this about positions you can sit in etc having an effect - I'm going to make an effort with the ball more to see if it helps her position too!

Although I finish work this week I am lucky as I'm taking a full year off so still feel like I will have lots of time with her after she has arrived. Though I bet it still won't feel like enough, I can't actually imagine wanting to go back to work?! I may well be eating my words this time next year and eager to be back in the land of adults and work!