March 2016 Babies #9 - we're on the final countdown!!

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Thread 9!!

me I think (iirc) that everyone's stomach muscles separate a bit during pregnancy. but before a certain point has been reached, it will return to normal quite easily after birth. after a certain point (i.e. if the gap is big enough) then it can stay/get worse after birth without abdominal work. So you're probably ok if your midwife didn't mention it. there are very easy ways to check once the baby has been born what the 'gap' is. I think a gap of 1-2 cm is fine, anything more and it's an issue.

as for stretch marks, though I have heard people can get them very late, I think I was about 32 weeks when mine first started appearing with DD, so those of you who haven't got them yet may be lucky enough to miss out!

just had very embarrassing incident at work. was asked for exam papers back that I had supposedly been given to proof read, and I really couldn't remember being given them. cue admin panicking that they were lost, and I'd have to rewrite three exams before I go on leave tomorrow, me getting really pissy about how they'd lost them etc (though thankfully not to their faces). anyway I'm working from home today so I rushed into my office (thankfully only 10 minutes walk away) to check if they were there and yes, an envelope was lying under a pile of crap on my desk, unopened [facepalm] . I was so embarassed and had to go up to see them with my head hanging low and apologise for my pregnancy brain!

My friend had no stretch marks at all til 40 weeks - she literally went to bed stretch mark free, woke up the next morning and lo - tummy covered in stretch marks. Hers looked really angry at the time but you can hardly see them now - not much we can do about them really :)

I was the same Maybe! Not a mark on me until 40 weeks. Then I went over 2 weeks and they crept up from nowhere! They do look horrible when they first appear but honestly they fade so much you would hardly notice them now. What is it they say about them? ''You're a tiger who earned her stripes''.

Had a little giggle at your pregnancy brain marmite! Thank goodness you haven't got pissy out loud!

No-one has ever mentioned my stomach muscles. Might ask about that at next midwife appointment. I don't have the linea nigra yet and I'm 36 weeks today. Assumed it was a given that everyone gets every time. Anyone else not seeing it yet?

Currently sitting through some damn tight braxton hicks! Hoping this means my body is more prepapred this time and I won't go overdue. Is that wishful thinking?

I haven't got the line either hayley and didn't last time, not everyone gets it.

Just back from my 36 week appointment, measuring the same as last time so she wants to see me again next week. She did say the baby was back to back which it definitely isn't always, I've been getting a little bum sticking out forwards quite a lot, so it could be the change in position. Also, I had a different midwife last time so she might have measured me differently. I think that's quite likely as it was the first time I'd measured large (36cm), and am back on a similar curve to normal this week. Still worrying though, and making me more convinced this one will be early! Need to get my bag packed and start on that cleaning.

I'm 36+2 and only just got my linea nigra, its very faint though. I don't think it's a given everyone gets it tbh.

Hi all,

Does anyone have any moments where they feel completely overwhelmed? I had a little cry over breakfast this morning and felt so stressed - worrying about not being mentally or physically ready, worries about labour, about stillbirth, about not having any money and no future security or savings for baby, just felt like all of a sudden everything got on top of me. DH told me to stop crying as baby would feel my emotions and be crying too (some article he read) so then I felt guilty and even worse :(

Work is busy though so that helps keep me distracted, just need to work out a way to think more positively! Tell me all the great things about having a newborn!

At 34 weeks I was hoping no stretch marks means I'll avoid them, so maybe I didn't want to hear that :) I don't have the linea nigra either

marmite at least pregnancy brain is a very acceptable excuse :)

trijo your weekend plans sound lovely - I'll be doing the same but supporting Wales!

beautiful incredible turnaround that you may get your home birth after all! Fingers crossed!

scared I think you had another appointment yesterday, is that right? Hope it went well. I second what everyone else has said about trying to be assertive with GP and getting them to look at counseling again - I can't believe they'd leave you high and dry at such a vulnerable time.

pug oh my gosh you're probably having a baby this weekend? Eek good luck!!

bless you, faux. lots of for you. Yes, I have wobbles like that all the time. pretty much constantly at the moment to be honest.

You do not need to feel guilty about crying because of the baby, no disrespect to your DH but he does not get to dictate how you feel. You can't stop how you feel, in any case, so even if you aren't showing it, you'll still be feeling it. I'm firmly of the opinion that actually it's no bad thing for children to see their parents upset from time to time - otherwise they grow up thinking they can't display negative emotions! Do not feel guilty. You are going through a massive, life changing thing. You are utterly entitled to feel overwhelmed sometimes. Your baby will be fine.

I've got a linea negra but it's very faint - I remember it being much darker last time.

ffaux I know what you mean about being overwhelmed! actually broke down crying on Tuesday night after getting stressed about the messy house and all the things that need doing and no time to do it. DP got cross with me complaining and I had a complete meltdown. Think he felt very bad afterwards haha.

hayley I don't think they do generally mention things like stomach muscle seperation - the midwife who mentioned it to me at my 36 week check was the same one who commented on my stretch marks at my 28 week appt, so I don't think she has much tact/just says what she sees!

FFaux I think it does get a bit overwhelming like that at times and probably what you would manage fine normally makes you feel far worse with the hormone cocktail we have going on. I cried last night for no good reason - I mean it involved my MIL so there may have been a little reason but it was a bit pathetic on my part.. I am now over the tears and ready to tell her what I think should I need to at the weekend!

I've been getting very mild cramps for days now at the bottom of my bump - is this it for the next 4-6 weeks - just a gradual progression of getting worse?

ffaux and marmite I'm the same, really tearful and stressed about things being ready. After measuring small today i panicked at dh about getting no maternity leave as I still have a week left at work and he's agreed to help clean everything this weekend. I'm going to make a list. And will make a start on my hospital bag tonight I think.

Sorry everyone else has had these moments too, thanks for all the maybe thank you - that's such a good point. It IS the biggest thing that has ever happened to be so I guess we would be super human not to have blips along the way. DH is normally wonderful, but empathy has never been one of his greatest strengths!

suz making lists and powering through them at weekends really helped me. You'll feel better when the bag is packed. vroc sounds promising but I have zero experience!

Just back from my consultant appointments... I'm going in for my induction on 22nd Feb!

I am quite terrified now. DH has gone back to work but I should imagine his head will be spinning I know mine is.

What am I going to do for the next 11 days?

Wow paper, how exciting! Are you already on leave? Have you got things mostly packed and ready or do you still have stuff to do?

Just dug out my holdall and put a towel in it, that's pretty much almost my bag packed right? Having a well deserved sit down.

I've been on mat leave since Friday, and I'm ready to go. Bags are packed, just trying to chill out really.

I've been slowly getting the house sorted and have only got to do the kitchen, bathroom and lounge now.

It's so surreal - it only seems like 5 minutes ago we were on our first thread I still can't quite believe that Zach is 11 weeks old and that very soon were all going to have our little bundles.

Eek good luck Paper. I know what you mean about it being surreal. I thought I'd be counting every minute by this stage and in some ways I am - particularly when I'm so uncomfortable and can't sleep etc - but then in other ways I'm like omg I am going to have a baby in (approx) 3 weeks!! It just seems so mad that I don't want it to come round yet!

Saw the doctor today, no UTI thankfully and only tiny trace of protein in my urine so no concerns. Back tomorrow morning for more blood tests to check my iron levels haven't dropped even more but he wasn't too concerned about my level, he said the maternity ward tend to overreact a bit about it.

Wow Paper, 11 days sounds so close! Very exciting. You could be next!! We'll have to have a graduates thread as the babies start coming and joining Zach.

Good news Me. Let's hope iron levels all ok too.

Suz loving your packing style. Throw in a baby vest then have a well deserved cuppa. Almost there!

On the stretch mark front, I only got them once in labour! I'm convinced it was where they were pushing in so hard with the monitors to find DS's heartbeat. This time round I started getting them last week. They aren't too bad though and I'm pretending not to see them as they are under the bump.

My belly button is still an 'innie'. I think that's a sign of a back to back baby. Although it's fairly deep and a lot more stretched since DS. Going to be a chasm this time round!

Hmm no mention of my stomach muscles in previous appointments, may ask at 38wk check. Lina negra big style here though funnily enough I have had one below my belly button since my teens - just now it extends upwards to my ribcage. No stretchmarks here either but not too excited given stories of last minute appearances. My DH calls getting them 'earning your tiger stripes' too so imagine we'd cope.

paper how exciting to have a date, daunting too I guess.

Evening.

I've just had DH check the underside of my belly for stretch marks. So far, I have escaped! But this bump is bigger than with DS and I've still got 6 weeks left.

My belly button is also still in (albeit shallow). It never popped out with DS either. Both DS and this one have their back down the left side of my belly (kicking on the right). So an innie might not mean back to back.

I'm so tired this evening! (I knew it was coming).

I was so uncomfortable this morning. Had some crampy type feelings whilst driving in (that made me check the time when I felt them), but they were definitely not anything dramatic!

I think he was just getting comfy in my pelvis. (I was not comfy!)

Guys can someone slap me please, I have worked myself up into a right tizz. Have received results of my 28 week bloods and midwife said they were all normal but I see my white blood cell count had been flagged on the print out as 'high'. Normal is up to 10.5 and mine is now 11.2. At my booking appointment it was a very normal 6.8.

Am now freaking out there's something wrong. Pretty sure I haven't had any kind of infection lately.

Maybe my white cells are always high in pregnancy. No idea why, but as DD is almost six, if it had been anything worrying I would have known about it by now. I think they have to be really high before they are a concern.

'Normal' limits are higher in pregnancy anyway and this isn't accounted for in the tests. I looked it up a while ago and there are two different ranges that depend on if a patient is pregnant or not.

maybe, did you have a bit of a cold or something when they were taken? Mine were slightly elevated too (though it wasn't mentioned). I had mine taken between xmas and new year and think I had a cold that week.

I wouldn't worry.

Plus MrsBen's post is very reassuring!

Not that I recall - I'm hardly ever sick! I may have had a symptomless uti. But then I had one of those at my booking appointment and it was normal then.

Thanks Mrsben. That's actually made me feel a lot better. I get myself worked up into the most ridiculous state. Dr Google is not my friend!!!

Maybe I completely panicked in my first pregnancy and googled - that's how I found out the ranges change!

I looked it up again just now for you and found that normal non-pregnant WBC is 4-10.6 and pregnant is 6-20. I think they would have to be massively over or under to be a concern.

Checking into CSC here, been tossing and turning for a while.. Finally caved and looked at my phone expecting it to be 6ish and its only 5am! Wtf...

On the plus side, last day of work today!! 😁😁😁

Oh yay marmite, happy last day! Sorry for the crappy sleep though. Maybe you can get away with not doing any work???