August 2016 number 5 - waddling towards the third trimester!

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For the August 2016 ladies and babies!

Basket I measured small last time & had growth scans. Baby was just really low in my pelvis & was bang on 50th centile at birth. I'd try not to worry too much about it & these things aren't renowned for accuracy.

Santa sorry to hear about the placenta previa. I've heard from lots of friends that their planned sections were positive experiences.

It probably is time to start thinking about birth preferences, isn't it? I'll probably just copy my last one, but the main thing on my mind is trying to decide between home or midwifery-led centre based on childcare arrangements tbh. And I want access to a pool cause I had a lovely water birth last time. It was a bit of a faff to set up & manage in our tiny living room tho. Hmmm.

I was all dithering to and fro about where to give birth but it seems my choices are limited now! My local maternity unit announced it's closing down for births over the summer due to understaffing, and the unit in the next town over is moving to 9-5 due to understaffing. There will be on-call midwives out of hours but it's a bit of a concern because lots of them live quite far away from the unit apparently, and my midwife told me just to phone the nearest big hospital straight off after 5 pm. So it looks like I'll be at the hospital about an hour away whether I like it or not! I hope baby's not in a terrible rush to arrive quickly. I do wonder what it means for the hospital having to take the strain of these closures - what happens if you rock up in labour and they're full up already?

I had my son by planned section Santa. Was a little while to recover, but I was only in hospital one night. I got a side room too. Milk came in fine, and I was able to breastfeed in recovery and start skin to skin. Dh was there for the delivery, and held our son first.

Keeping on top of the pain, taking the painkillers regularly really helped me recover. I was out of bed the same day, home the next day and managed a slow shuffle round the block after about 5 days!

I plan on a nice epidural again, but really want to hold off on another induction if I can. In the US they don't like you going on after 41 weeks, and so DD1 was induced at 40+5 and DS1 at 41.1. This will be my last baby, and I'd like to see if I can go into labour myself if just left another couple of days. My first induction was awful, the last one worked quickly and baby was born 5 hours after they started put the pessary thing in. My gynae is saying going over 41 isn't a good idea since my last baby was almost 10lbs. I suppose I have another 10 weeks left to convince them!! Starting to feel uncomfortable now, it was 34C here today, and I had to take my kids to a swim meet tonight - 4 hours with no shade and I stupidly didn't change after leaving the office. Roll on August!!

Thank you for the reassurance Sophia four bex rum I’m not too worried as it does seem quite common but its hard not to feel like a bit of a failure! Like I’m not growing the baby properly. I’m still having extra scans to monitor the kidney dilation as well and I just want to be able to relax.

Santa Sorry to hear you are disappointed. It will probably take a little time to get used to the idea but like you said, as long as it gets your baby here safely that’s the most important thing.

Does anyone have a Chicco next to me crib? Do you know if I can use any fitted sheets on it or is the mattress a different size to others?

Just back from midwife blood pressure still rising and protein in urine so she sent samples away and I'm back next week to be checked

She hoping it's just being so unwell with pneumonia causing it and not the start of preeclampsia

Last thing I need is that stuck on my own with my toddler. Husband home a week today though thank god and home for 3.5 weeks so that will be great.

Basket

Ive a chicco next to me and these sheets fit it

www.thelittlegreensheep.co.uk/the-little-green-sheep/organic-crib-jersey-fitted-sheet/

Ha sorry for my moany rant 🙈

Basket I have a Next To Me and the Asda crib sheets fit perfectly. Not as fancy as the Little Green Sheep but 100% cotton and look ok! Not sure how they will wash as obviously not used them yet!

You guys have gone very quiet!

I'm trying to get everything sorted for DS's birthday party tomorrow. I may spend most of the day in bed on Monday eating leftover sausage rolls. Just got to decorate the cake and cook the sauage rolls tonight now.

What are you all up to?

Hey pickle, just thought I would check in too as it really has gone rather quiet around here, hope everyone is doing ok!

Well done you for getting everything ready for tomorrow...how many little ones do you have joining? I quite like the idea of throwing a kid's party, but perhaps thats because I would like to eat party rings and reminisce about being 6 again :)

We are having a very chilled weekend at home, the only one my husband and I have together in London between now and baby due date!! Next few weeks involve weddings, hens and more weddings. eeek. I've just made a start on my hospital bag and started to think about what to put in babies bag as figure I need to take these both with me when we are out of town. Do people really wash all clothes and blankets before using them or is that just a massive OCD faff?!

salene hope you are starting to feel better?

34 + 1 how did that happen!! Having some rather uncomfortable times with the bump, it feels as tho babes legs and feet are jammed into my diaphragm...anyone else getting this out of breath feeling?!

Hi all, I'm having a girl's weekend with friends, just realised I didn't bring my notes! Sure it will be fine though.

Bear yes I washed the new baby clothes and bedding before use. Probably stopped round 12 months? Just chuck a few bits in to top up each load you are doing over the next couple of weeks, it won't be a faff. Quite cute seeing it all drying!

Just had my baby shower, which was really nice but a little overwhelming! People have been very generous and kind and I have treats for me as well as baby. My mum is going to start bringing over the furniture and pram etc which have been stored at hers this week, so will all seem very real once we have a Moses basket in the bedroom - eek!

Found out from mum that I was 5 days past due date but brother and sister were both spot on, so not sure what that means for me! Can't mentally process whether 7 weeks is going to drag on for ever or fly by..

Hi all!

Having a relaxed weekend after a very busy couple of weeks. Went to see some friends who have a 2-year-old boy today, I love seeing DH interact with him. He's going to be an amazing daddy, I can't wait.

Nearly 33 weeks here, all going fine. Still working and plan to do so for another 4 weeks (ish) and then cut down to a few hours/half days, maybe from home, will see how I feel. Measurements are all fine. Toying with the idea of having a growth/presentation scan, although DH thinks it's a waste of money. I've read quite a bit about vasa previa on the Internet and thought it would be wise to check for that, although I'm not at risk. I appreciate you can't check for everything - I just don't know when to stop!

Last weekend we picked up a second hand UppaBaby Vista from eBay, excellent condition and it's all gone through the wash and it's ready! Paid 1/3 of the full price and it came with lots of accessories. I needed some convincing as I was being all PFB about it but I'm so glad we didn't go and spend nearly a grand on a new one. This will do exactly the same job.

Also did my NCT classes last weekend, met lots of lovely people. I feel ready now!

Hope everyone is feeling well and you're looking forward to maternity leave starting soon!

Pickle, hope your DS's birthday party today went really well!

Salene , fingers crossed it's not pre-eclampsia & you're feeling much better very soon. Not what you need right now!

Crunchy, that sounds like disappointing news re birth centre closure. So much for increasing patient choice. I hope you & your midwife can work out a plan you're happy with.

Another chilled weekend over here. Picked a truckload of strawberries today for the requested Victoria Sponge for Father's Day tomorrow. Hopefully my little one gives my husband (& I) the gift of not being too badly bothered by his teething tonight...

I've written my birth preferences (well, just updated the last one, not much has changed about my views since then!) & put in a massive online shopping order for maternity pads & postpartum perineal care odds & ends (witch hazel & aloe Vera for padsicles, soothing bottom spray, numbing "haemorrhoid" pads), & nipple cream. Also picked up a 2nd hand high chair & hired my TENS machine. Just need to book our midwife unit's tour, get our buggy, get hold of a Snuzpod & bedding, & pack my hospital bag/my son's overnight bag, & I think we might be sorted? Bet I realise I've forgotten something HUGE in a few weeks...

Have started on the raspberry leaf tea too, now I'm 32 weeks. Roll on, full term...

It has gone quiet! Salene hope you're feeling a bit better today, you poor thing. And fingers crossed for no pre-e, that's the last thing you need! 6 more days til you get a break.
Pickle how old will your DS be?? Happy birthday to him for tomorrow! Slightly different but I hosted DD's 3rd birthday party (messy play party) at home 2 days after a MC, major haemhorrage & emergency ERPC - was utterly wiped out afterwards but glad I did it and she had a lovely time.
bear my due date buddy! Enjoy your chilled weekend, sounds lush. I did wash everything before first use and am again this time - all DD's baby stuff has spent 2/3 years in the loft so would have needed washing anyway, and even new stuff I just don't trust against that new baby skin! And like Owl says, it is v cute and quite exciting seeing it all drying all teeny tiny ❤️
stranded awesome job on the vista, bargain! Totally agree no need to buy new. Glad you enjoyed NCT too. Re scan - totally your choice but don't forget they can change position right til the very end, so it's not set in stone - don't worry if bub's position isn't perfect yet!
Santa hope you're feeling a bit better about the planned C-section. Fwiw I've come across very, very few people who regretted theirs, especially when it was medically necessary. Most people I've known who've had one have sung their praises!
rum I love your shopping list, nicking that! Incidentally has anyone had any experience with arnica tablets?? I know a few people who swore by them for post-partum healing.
34+1 here and Braxton hicks have really ramped up! They've been coming thick and fast today and some are really uncomfortable - feels like my stomach muscles are in a vice. Baby is super high at the moment too and I'm struggling to sit down comfortably. Hoping he drops a bit so I can breathe again! Finally seeing new mw for the first time a week on Monday, not seen anyone since 26 weeks all in all can't complain though, feeling pretty good for being nearly 8 months preggers!

Bear I would wash stuff too for the first while. The faff factor is outweighed by the cute factor of seeing it all hanging out to dry :)

Just back from 2hrs at the maternity unit. Baby has been quiet for most of the day, despite my best tricks (cold drinks and ice lolly). Glad I went in though. Baby's heart rate was fine, and plenty of fluid but blatantly not budging. It was a bit disconcerting to see a still baby in the ultrasound scan. They hooked me up to a monitor for 45 mins and there were a smattering of movements, and a regular steady heartbeat. So I think it was just having a v quiet day but isn't distressed. I've to go back on Monday though for a growth scan and back to the triage bit too for a review. It sort of seems a bit ott if everything is fine but I think I prefer the better-safe-than-sorry approach on the whole. Does mean I need to cancel a day of meetings at work though :/

Nesting continues here. I did a Boots order of hospital bag bits, and have added some travel sized toiletries onto the next supermarket shop. Am determined to be more organised this time round!

Thanks four, after quite a bit of research and just processing the fact that it is most likely how I am going to give birth, I am feeling much better about it, I'm hoping they do it a bit earlier than 38 weeks as I've a history of premature labour at 36 weeks so don't want to risk that.

My bh are also really strong, they even woke me up last night and I panicked about them being proper contractions! Main panic was that I haven't packed a bag yet, and everything I would need is in ds room. Think I might start organising my bag today

We've just got to build the crib, which I'm in two minds about doing yet as it will be in the way a bit, but I suppose we will need to get used to that! Suppose we need to do it to air the mattress which is still in its plastic wrapping.

Strange to think that in a few weeks time there will be another person in our family!

Does anyone who hasn't found out what they're having have any firm ideas? Going by the old wives tales I think I'm having a girl, we'll have to wait and see if I'm right

Morning! We spent yesterday at a wedding, catching up with folks I haven't seen for the best part of a decade. Was really good, but I had to tell people I'm pregnant as apparently the dress I was in hid the fact that I'm almost 8 months gone! Think I'm going to have a grumpy DH today as he hasn't been drinking much while I've been pregnant and while he didn't go crazy last night, he had more than he has for a while. At least I've said I'll do the drive to my folks in Birmingham before we go the rest of the way back to Scotland tomorrow.

santa I've not found out the gender but have a feeling I'm having a girl. That Chinese chart thing says I am and I just have a gut feeling that the little one is a she.

Mrssanta I'm in the same boat as you. Woke up this morning and realised I actually have nothing organised or packed. Today's number one job is hospital bag!
Can't remember who hired a tens machine but have you used it before? Is it worth it?
Leslie i get this all the time. I went to the dentist and explained I was worried about my teeth, having had hyperemesis for months. He was like "what caused it then" erm pregnancy I thought I was quite noticeably pregnant by 8 months but obviously not!
Is anyone else really struggling with their emotions? I feel like I'm having a really rough week and all I have done is cry and pick arguments. Think dp actually thinks I have lost the plot. He doesn't understand how I can be so irrational (and to be fair neither can I). It's really starting to get me down though. He's working really hard to get the money to pay for everything and I'm spending what little time we have together crying and picking fights over nothing. Any ideas?

Prob TMI but does anyone else have piles 🙈

I never got any in first pregnacy and for some reason one just appeared. Oh my god it's sore

Been using cream etc and seems to do nothing. Do I just have to live with this horrid thing now..?? Assuming it's not going to go till at least after birth and prob end up ten times worse because of pushing in birth.

Did I mention that pregnacy sucks 😂🙈.

On the plus side my cough finally clearing up just need to be told this week blood pressure down and I will finally stop feeling sorry for myself.

Santa all the old wives tales point to this baby being a girl. Makes me think it will be a boy!

Could someone remind me what the FB group is called? Can't find it on the old thread.

Am currently feeling a bit overwhelmed with reviews and rating and recommendations and not knowing what to buy - even choosing maternity pads is freaking me out! Then I start thinking about nappies and how everyone recommend Aldi ones, but we don't have an Aldi near us and don't drive so probably need to use something I can get delivered from Tesco, then I start thinking I should use reusable baby wipes so get excited about cheeky wipes, then think maybe I should make my own and end up frantically Pinteresting! I wonder if this is my equivalent of nesting behaviour! Wish I could be doing something to prepare that didn't involve mindless consumerism and spending money..

Am trying to channel my mum, who managed to give birth to and raise 3 children without all of the insane information overload the internet brings! When I was a baby we lived in a tiny cottage in the middle of a field with no road access, an outside loo, no mains electricity and a tin bath in front of the fire (they were hippies not Victorians!) - so if she managed, I'm sure I can!

No piles here Salene but totally normal according to NCT class.I am getting thrush-like tears round the front and cracked nipples already. Also under-boob stretch marks, though nothing on belly. My favourite 'symptom' so far is that my leg hair has stopped growing!

Sloth My emotions have been all over the place. How far along are you? At 32 weeks mine were absolutely horrendous! I kept working myself up into a crying panic - camomile tea and warm baths helps, but sometimes I just need to have a good cry and let it all out. I hope you feel better soon.

MrsSanta I've had a bag 'ready' since second trimester - but I kept taking things out of it (like lovely comfy nightie!) so not sure what state it is in. Think I need a bigger bag, especially as midwife said to take a lovely fluffy towel if I'm planning on a waterbirth! Will be getting taxi to hospital though so want everything to be quite compact. Maybe my rucksack from my backpacking days

Biscuits Never nice having to go in for monitoring - you poor thing :-( great that his heartbeat was fine. I think sometimes they just have chilled out days - mine hardly moves at all in the morning and early afternoon but is manic in the evening and night (his daddy is a complete night owl so think he has inherited this!).Hope all goes fine tomorrow and that you can get away with not rescheduling the meetings!

Hi everyone.

I am full of the cold today. Had to go to bed for a nap to see if that helped! Not quite what I had planned for Father's Day, but hey, DH got to spend lots of quality time with the DDs!

I vaguely started packing some bits and bobs for hospital bags yesterday, although realised I still need to get in quite a lot of things! We eventually got the bags of stored clothes out from the previous 2 and found the newborn stuff - so that is all washed and ready. Quite pleased that we kept it from DD1 nice to think all 3 of my children will have worn the same wee bits home from hospital. Did buy a new cardigan for this one though, although due in height of summer, I am realistic about the Glasgow weather!

The main thing we still need to get is a car seat. I am usually a very decisive person but I seem to be finding it impossible to make a decision about whether to buy a maxi cosi cabriofix or a pebble.

I've got the same car seat conundrum lots. Also drive a Mini Cooper and it seems that only those two out of all of them fit in it! I think I'm going to take the car to mothercare and try them out in it, see which fits best... Going for an easy fix base as I can belt it in as the mini is so old she doesn't have Isofix but I want the ease of clunking the seat in and out...