July 2016 Babies (8) - 3rd trimester here we come

[Ellizardo]

Hoping this works as total techno-luddite! Happy Saturdays all.

Tams I don't think they really mention birth choices until fairly late on unless you do. I seem to remember my MW asking me about birth plans at something like 36 weeks! Luckily I had already sorted mine out as I had booked myself into a midwife led unit and part of that process was to have your birth 'plan' written. I wouldn't worry about it too much anyway unless you want a home birth or something which requires prior planning. Mine totally went out the window!

One thing I found funny about having my bump measured was having to tell the midwife when she had reached my pubic bone with the bottom of the tape measure - in all honesty I wasn't totally sure, so it can't be that accurate!

I got to the end of my tether with clothing yesterday - I was hot and uncomfortable and I thought, sod it, I don't care that I've only got ten weeks to go - I am buying myself some nice comfortable clothes! Got a lovely pale blue t-shirt from H&M, two t-shirts which are also nursing tops, and a pair of denim shorts. I am a bit worried that the shorts will be too tight in a matter of weeks, but I absolutely cannot wear trousers or leggings when it's hot!

Also, ladies, I visited Primarni today (where I never normally go on principle - but my principles have got very bendy now that I am hot and cross and nearly seven months pregnant) and purchased some Big Knickers for after the birth. They are proper granny pants, or 'period pants' as a friend of mine used to call them. Lush. And I got myself a floaty little cotton dressing gown so that I can at least feel partially glamorous when I have to get up for night feeds...

Hope everyone has had a good day. I am sodding knackered! Got my jab at 7am tomorrow and am cursing myself soundly for booking it at such a painful hour of the morning!

30+1

My sister had to learn to measure bumps and hated it. She dreaded being tested on it as it is notoriously difficult.
My midwife at my 28week appointment said the ideal is to be measured by the same person each time as they will notice a change using their own method, but in general it is not a very exact method. It is a used more as a guide I think.

That's interesting, Lucia - makes sense.

Thought you all would enjoy this little bit of hilarity that I happened across today...

Oh ladies, I just bawled my way through the latest One Born Every Minute episode. It was the Spanish couple that did me in. DH is Spanish and between the accent, the midwife's inability to pronounce Javier, and how the fellow said sweet things to his partner in Spanish, all I could think of is what DH will be like on the day. And how close it is now!

The weepy is nothing new though. I lost it last weekend as I went through all the baby clothes. And then this afternoon a song by the Decemberists (about waiting for the birth of his son) had me tearing up on the drive home.

Is anyone finding their emotions right close to the surface lately? Or have I just lost the plot?

Pulpi I think it was mostly in the first half of my second trimester that I was spouting tears at nothing. Not at sweet, sentimental things like the stuff you've mentioned. At nothing - just mundane daily tasks like having to carry home the shopping (yes, I cried in the supermarket queue - made worse by the fact that I wasn't visibly pregnant so probably looked like a complete loon). I think I've managed to pull through that phase now...

Chuckling about bump measurements. When I had my 22 week appt with the GP, he told me that it was a completely outdated and inaccurate practice, but that he was obliged to do it. He explained that the number of centimetres is supposed to broadly correspond with the number of weeks. He then double-checked how many weeks pregnant I was before measuring me, and (lo and behold) the measurement was almost exactly 22cm. I mean, what are the chances?!

Today at work I managed to trip over the corner of a small cupboard. Think my shoe/trousers got caught on the bottom corner as I walked past. I went flying onto the floor. Didn't hurt myself or hit my bump, as I managed to put my hands down in time, which broke my fall. But was a bit shaken - and caused a bit of a stir/concern in the office... Will need to pay more attention to where I'm going in future!

Been browsing the MN baby names threads and getting broody. One of them has just had triplets - adorable! Just in the last few days I've begun to feel that I could really happily skip the next 10 weeks at work and have the baby already!

Mar so glad to hear all is well, please take it easy x

Goingloopy good luck with GTT on friday!

Elliz that's great you get to choose the date! Do you have any idea when you'll get it booked in?

primary lovely scan pic!

missing and sweet bump pic too!

gnat sorry to hear about your experience. Hope your next appointment isn't so bad!

AnnaT congrats on getting your mortgage approved you'll be in your new home before you know it :-)

pulpi I cry at everything now feeling very emosh at the moment so you're not the only one.

Had my 28 week appointment yesterday - baby is fine head down already (similar to you youandme!) which is good. Still can't believe I'm already in 3rd trimester!

36 days to go until I start maternity leave, not that I'm counting or anything :-)

28+5

Kangaroo. I had problems with DS sleeping at night until he got to about 22 months when I was losing my sanity. So I contacted a sleep coach I was recommended and within one weekend and just £50 he was sleeping through. I contacted her again telling her I would need her help settling this baby into a routine as I couldn't cope with waiting 22 months for sleep again. She told me not to worry as I am better informed but tbh I have her details ready for if I need them.

If anyone is interested this sleep coach is "Goodnight baby"

Themissingpiece, have you visited the birthing unit at RBH? It's really lovely. I may not be able to go there now (risk of haemorrhage and need for blood transfusion ) but it would be my first choice and I'm really upset that I may have to go to Poole.

julfin I walked into a metal pole the day before yesterday then also stumbled and nearly fell over a few hours later! Bump etc all fine but felt a right idiot maybe lack of coordination ability to look where I am going is a preggo sign! I think we may be due date buddies 18/19th so maybe it's the point in our pregnancies hope you are feeling ok now. My work colleague was horrified because I had been talking to him as we walked when it happened.

Baby has been sitting under my ribs today.. Just so comfy and my calf cramp is back with a vengeance almost 6.30 on the dot it's the most uncomfortable and unwelcome alarm going!!

I would mention your birth plan at your next mw appointment for a couple of reasons:

1. you could end up delivering early, so it would be good to have a plan ready (along with your hospital bag). I had a friend who delivered at 35 weeks and was totally unprepared. We all packed within a week! Lol.

2. If you were looking to have a home birth, they need to come to your house to do a check at about 36 weeks. So that needs to be booked in and that means notice.

3. If there is anything you don't lnow or understand, the earlier you discuss it the more time it will give you to research different options. For example if your baby is breach, would you consider ECV? Personally I wouldn't but it is a personal choice. Or are there any drugs you don't want etc? It could be as simple as "I want to start as natural as possible but if need be I want all the drugs and care available. I don't want to to wait too late for a csectuon if it is deemed necessary".

Again this is my school of thought and othersay disagree. It is your baby, your choice.

Oh no Rolly, glad you're ok! Yes I'm feeling fine now thanks. I'm aware of feeling rather achey since then, but I think it's just that I'm more aware, rather than that I'm more achey, IYKWIM. Yes, due date buddies - I'm 19th according to the midwife and 18th according to my correct calculation
*
Loopy* - thanks for the tips re sleep coaching. Sleep is important to me (partly because my epilepsy is triggered by sleep deprivation and partly just because I LOVE sleeping) so I might look into this. What are the sleep coach's main principles? Is it mainly based on having a fixed bedtime routine?

bluebell - that is hilarious & I love doctor zeus. I read it out loud to my OH who also loved it.

Julfin - the sleep coach works on a princple of controlled crying but it is more structured and suplorted than that. There are a number of principles around teaching day and night/black and white. DS jas really apreciated the clarity around sleeptime and awake time. She adapts the approach to suit your needs. For us, we never had a problem woth bed time but DS would wake up to 7 times in a night just to know I was there. Now he has the confidence to know where I am and he loves his bed and sleep. I have a friend whose problem was bedtime so the approach was adapted for her but the principles remain. I don't think it is possible/worth sleep training before 6 months, but I do believe they can sleep in their basket or cot from the beginning. She also gets dad involved where possible. In my huse DP is useless when he is asleep. So he supports me to recover if it is a difficult night. No point in both of us being awake, normally.

This sleep coach is amazing.

Thanks Loopy!

Ha ha Bluebell, I've just been able to zoom in on your picture (too small on iPhone) and it's brilliant! Love the rhyming of placenta!

I read all the latest posts last night in bed and now can't remember anything anyone said! Baby brain at its best. Hope everyone is doing OK though.

Our nursing chair arrived yesterday and we built it last night (I say we - DH actually constructed it, I just told him what to do). It's a tutti bambini rocking glider chair. It is LUSH. I will have to be careful about just falling asleep with a little one in my arms...

Is anyone considering shared parental leave with their other half at all? We are thinking of me giving 4 weeks leave to my DH to take immediately after paternity leave so he'd have 6 weeks with us after the baby is born.

pulpi, julfin, I think I was most teary in the second trimester. Seem to have got more of a grip recently!

Glad you guys enjoyed the poem!

Bel, good reminder - a nursing chair is something I reaaaaaally would like, as we don't even have an armchair in our bijou lounge. We're not doing shared leave as DH is part-time, so he should be around quite a bit anyway. So great that it's an option now, though.

I've just got back from my early morning whooping cough jab. It was totally painless, I am pleased to report! Arm feels a bit heavy now but that's it. The nurse suggested I get some kind of therapy for my needle/blood phobia, so that I can cope with my child's vaccinations, which I thought was a very good plan. Have any of you guys ever heard of people doing this, and have any recommendations? cBT? Hypnotherapy?

30+2

Jem/Anna - yes i am quite happy with the ability to choose the day, though it's about as far from my dreams of a spontaneous, petal-strewn journey into one of life's greatest miracles as possible! As we've all said though, no matter how we get there, the end result is all that's important. I think I choose when I meet the consultant on 24 May and I tempted by an Indepedendence Day of 4 July!

Off to Mallorca tomorrow. Am mega excited. But packing has been a total nightmare: weather won't be summer-hot so have to pack something for every temp. And Ted has Elizabeth Taylor levels of crap that need to come too, including buggy and car seat.

Youandme - sorry to hear the diabetic clinic feels like a bizarre, badly managed sugar purgatory. I suppose there's something to be said for going straight onto the drugs and knowing there's regulated dose etc rather than faffing about with bloods. Good luck!

Pulpi - I cry at everything too now. It's the Queen's 90th today and out come the tears

bluebell love the poem! We had a Dr Seuss thing read at our wedding (not as weird as it sounds). Will try to remember to show dh but I forget things in about 20 seconds at the moment.

Would love a nursing chair. Need to -order a cot- wait for the cot to arrive first to see if there's space though. Got a feeling there won't be enough room.

Feel the need to share this one. I found my first pregnancy related stretch mark today but it isn't on my belly. I've now got one on each of my boobs. At least they match I suppose.

Sorry. Haven't worked out how to do the crossing out thing yet!

bluebell I've just been buying loads of maternity clothes, I buy a lot of clothes normally and don't want to deprive myself plus I figured I will use them second time round if we're lucky enough.

bel I think we have the same nursing chair, I got it in grey and white.

elliz so jealous of your holiday, enjoy!

Feel like I've missed so much not coming on for a couple of days, been so busy with work and really not sleeping much. The weather has been nice though so that's making me feel better

My husband is away for 2 nights as of today for a 175 mile charity bike cycle, so proud of him. The first day is 120 miles

I'm seeing my nephew tonight, haven't seen him since January as they've not been in the country. I can't wait to see him, hope he remembers me - he's 16 months.

Next Friday I have my gtt in the morning and anti d in the afternoon so pretty much a full day at hospital. Not looking forward to it and have convinced myself I have GD

I will try and catch up on the pages I've missed!

Bump picture attached - losing count, will be 27 weeks on Saturday.

Primary lovely scan pic. I would love to see baby again.

Elizarado thank you. Yes definitely book a pampering session. Pregnancy is hard on our bodies at this stage so a bit of pampering is well deserved.

Gnat thank you holiday was lovely. We just need the sun to stay out now I can't believe how rubbish this weather is for April. Sorry you are having a rubbish time with midwifes. Mine is pretty useless. She couldn't be any less interested if she tried. The first midwife I saw was so great but she told me she was working her last week of shifts as moving to the Isle of Wight. Rubbish. I feel that as I'm on number 4 none of them care really.

Pulpi thank you I have some Mothercare clothes on order. I hate my pregnant bod it's so big

Themissing great bump pic.

Kangaroo congratulations. I'm expecting number 4.

Has anyone started packing their hospital bags yet?

Any suggestions for maternity bras. I need some desperately. I have found Jojos maternity shorts so comfy but looking at their bras a lot aren't measured in cup size just small, medium or large so I'm worried they won't offer enough support. I've gone up to a 38e got to love that expanding rib cage.

28+6

Thanks for all the bump measuring advice - I did think it seemed like an oddly archaic thing to do! At least the same MW has done it each time so I guess she can see progress.

I too have been weeping randomly - had a proper sob yesterday when I heard Victoria Wood had died, which I may have done anyway, but have also cried when a man offered me his seat on the train, watching an episode of Top Gear and when I attempted to carve the Sunday roast using a spatula!

Totally unprepared - have bought nothing except some cute baby grows. At loggerheads with DH over which pram to buy at the moment, cot from SIL not coming until 5th June and generally procrastinating over decorating the nursery (which is currently my office). Feeling a bit stressed about it all to be honest - DH seems to think we've got loads of time but I just want to start making some decisions and getting on with it.

Off to the docs later to get prescription for iron supplements and ask for something hardcore to tackle heartburn. Glamorous this pregnancy lark isn't it?

I havent visited the birthing unit at RBH yet but OHs sister loved the look of it and chose to go there, however it all went tits up and she ended up in Southampton..

Oh ladies talking about emotions I was off on one last night!! A lady on another group Im on had to have a c-section yesterday at 29 weeks due to there not being enough fluid. She is now a proud mumma of a boy who weighs 1lb 5 oz!! Thats what got me, how small he is!! He is breathing on his own, hes doing so well! He was measuring 24 weeks so they decided it was safer for him to come out than stay in.. The reason for this is because she had reduced movement so its really brought home the importance of going in straight away for reduced movements!!

Hope everybody is doing okay GTT test tomorrow, not looking forward to it!!

Missing - bloody hell, that really does bring it all home doesn't it?! Little mite! Glad to hear he's ok. Right, am packing hospital bag today along with Mallorca bag (better not mix them up, I can just see myself on the beach in a massive pair of maternity pants).

Beautician have booked pampering (full body preg massage, pedi and bikini) for June 5 along with some of my old NCT buddies so a mini baby shower too. Very excited!

Greater - i cried about Victoria Wood too. And Ronnie Corbett.

And I recommend plain old Gaviscon tablets for my heartburn, though it sounds like I don't have it as bad as some of y'all. Ouch.

Julfin - you're not Rh Neg are you? Just checking because the midwife got very stern with me saying I'd need another jab of the antibodies if I fell over etc. Hope you've righted yourself now.