June #8 Kicks, rolls and thwacks! Need help putting socks on! Living off of chocolate! Its the last trimester people!!!!

[nehagarg]

Here is the latest one people.

And a link to the stats.

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oTx71GeTR-ilVPTpIhNhutAwZPqNyYNEyIDwO80PmKQ/edit#gid=0

Enjoy!

Crikey nehagarg, I didn't think comfy chairs existed in hospitals! . I hope it all goes well for you today and I hope you have some nice books or magazines to keep you entertained.

I think I might try some of the spinning babies positions because I'm sick of my cervix/c-section scar being stamped on! Transverse sounds worse though!!

Oh and I'm also feeling a bit below par after my WC jab this morning. Arm is a bit sore but no dead arm thankfully!

Laughing are you sure the low movements aren't hands? Even if you were breech you would probably feel your movements to the side as by now there wouldn't be space for a baby to be legs down out straight if you see what I mean? When my DS was breech his head was lodged in my ribs, his bum at the bottom and his arms and legs out to the side.

I'm feeling lighter tickly movements at the bottom and harder kicks near the top which are sometimes on the right, sometimes left. I'm assuming she's generally round the right way but she's moving position a lot - I'm not used to it - my DS was nicely wedged in the same position for the whole 3rd trimester!

Mindful thanks for the cramps tips and thanks for the bf warning. The "womanly art of breastfeeding" has been purchased (although the title put me off a bit!).

Belle glad to hear you are on the mend now but it must have been very scary. Nehagarg is that just routine monitoring for the OC or was it for reduced movements?

If anyone is interested, I have just booked me and DH on a baby first aid course with the Red Cross via NCT in Brixton at the beginning of May. It's £40 for an individual or £70 for a couple and looked like the best value course (in London at least).

Is anyone going to do a private gbs test? I've just ordered one. It's only £35 and you only pay when you send it off.

Also is anyone finding that once they have parked themselves on the sofa for the night they just get their bare bump out and stare at it? I love having a baby in there!

Jelly yup GBS is definitely on the list to do! Also agree re bump- particularly giving it a bit of a rub when I feel movements and DH too- it's beginning to feel like there is another person there with us! I am also the same for as long as possible before I get up in the morning

Thanks laughing and eastend. It was routine monitoring for OC. All well. They recorded 154 baby movements an hour! This is one active monkey!

Having to go in twice a week now. Thankfully boss is chilled out. It almost feels like I have signed off work already.

Jelly - Me too. The constant tummy movements fascinate me.

If you're up to date with OBEM there's a new programme starting next week about Portland Street bbc.in/1RCXD1W

Yes, I'll definitely be watching that emma! See how those who can afford it give birth!

Where is the best place to get a private GBS test and when is the best "week" for it? I know not much about it but know its something I will definitely be getting tested for this time.

gbss.org.uk/who-we-are/testing-for-gbs/ecm-test-where-how/
I was thinking here- they say 35-37 weeks

nehagarg sorry for being nosey what's OC?

GBS test done as standard here - nice swab taken of your nether regions

Art of breastfeeding and how to boost your supply ordered so going to start swotting so I can tell the midwives where to go this time! Thanks for the suggestions.

No idea which way baby is lying. I do know sometimes it's blooming uncomfortable when it's squirming around. It's certainly active!

My hospital dies GBS as standard too- I feel quite mixed about it though, as its several weeks pre partum, and levels etc change. You might have it when tested but not later, or vice versa. And the treatment is a massive dose of antibiotics just at the time you are setting up the baby's gut flora, thereby mucking that up royally. Argh! So many things to worry about!!!

Thanks for that eastend :)

Earlgreydrinker I think obstetric cholestasis :) I too have an extreme wriggler. Still can't believe it tore a muscle in my stomach!!!

belle that sounds really stressful, I'm glad all is ok.

nehagarg wow you have an active little one in there!

mrsmugoo I'll check out that link, thank you!

dolly glad the pain has been tracked down to nothing more serious. Though still very painful if it's anything like mine! Mine is exactly where my stomach muscles have separated, so perhaps it's a similar thing to yours.

Interesting that people have been mentioning GBS tests... I came on here to talk about GBS! The midwife rang me earlier to say that some of tests they did when I was in hospital for monitoring at the beginning of the week have shown I have a GBS infection. So that means I have to have IV antibiotics at the onset of labour, and every 4 hours after that, to prevent the baby contracting the infection. She's said I will need to be in the hospital for this. I had hoped for a home water birth, or if that didn't work out then a waterbirth in the midwife led unit. So this is really disappointing! I've been doing lots of research this evening- it's quite complicated as there are also risks to the baby (and a very small chance of me having an allergic reaction) from taking antibiotics. There is a very low risk that the baby will contract GBS, but if he does then the consequences can be very serious. I have my 34 week midwife appointment in a couple of weeks so I'm going to discuss my options then. I'm really hoping at the very least I'll be able to have a waterbirth in the midwife led unit that's attached to the hospital, but it seems that different trusts vary as to their policies.

Also I can't remember if this has already been posted but I thought this was an interesting article (sorry, I don't know how to make a link):

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/sarah-ockwellsmith/fourth-trimester-newborns_b_9607642.html

Aha, it makes it into a link by itself!

Mollie I'd imagine it's a case of different hospitals having different policies as you said. I know someone who carries strep B and recently had her DD in a MLU. She actually didn't have antibiotics as there wasn't time (4th baby!) but they were set up to do it in the MLU and she could still have an active labour. I do have friends who didn't get the antibiotics for one reason or another and had an awful time with their newborns in NICU for days, lumbar punctures and all sorts, so they do have to take it very seriously. Maybe you can ask someone more senior at your next appointment.

Mollie - I was offered a water birth if I have a VBAC in what they called a "high risk pool" which didn't exist as an option when I had DD so perhaps your hospital has more options than you think. From what I've read the complications of not taking the antibiotics outweigh taking them. Sorry to hear your muscles are still
Sore, mines settling since I've stopped poking it :)

Mollie you can also ask whether they are able to run the test again closer to the time as a swab rather than bloods- so you are working with up to date info about the right body part...

Although I'm very disappointed that I'll potentially not be able to be at home, the other thing is that I really want an active labour, so I'm hoping that the hospital/MLU will still be able to offer me that. From what I've read so far I think I'll almost certainly have the antibiotics (as you say samba and dolly the potential outcome can be really serious, even if the risk is small). But hopefully I'll be able to talk through my options with the midwife. Another thing to worry about! And that's interesting grubby, I'll ask the midwife about that.

dolly stopping poking generally does help

That's what the GP advised

For some
Reason last time I was low risk I was strapped to the bed for continuous monitoring. Asked why this time and she said she didn't know why that was. Was on my back from 6am to 8pm - so much for encouraging active labour.
Definitely have a good chat to the midwives and write as much as possible in your birth plan to say you want an active labour so they respect your wishes where possible. Good they've picked it up early xx

I'll be on continuous monitoring Mollie but ask if your hospital have telemetric wireless monitors. Mine do and and the VBAC MW wrote it on my birth preferences as I'll definitely want to be active too - I'm a fidget bum at the best of times.

Last time, I had an induction, on continuous monitoring, and my midwife was incredible about helping me stay active- she was 5 months pregnant herself and she and my partner were in all sorts of mad positions holding the monitors on so that I could keep moving, and she was great at suggesting new positions and ways of moving. It meant I had a quick labour, felt super supported, and never got to the point of needing pain relief. I was incredibly lucky, and the midwife was a big part of that luck. So if you make a big deal of wanting an active birth, you might get a midwife who is extra into active births too! I was with the home birth team, which helped- they came to me in hospital, but of course they are very skilled at supporting natural births.

Oooh mrsM I didn't know about wireless monitors! I really hope I don't need monitoring again- but I'll definitely ask for those of I do!!!!