August 2016 number 5 - waddling towards the third trimester!

[Mslg]

For the August 2016 ladies and babies!

Think I'll pass on the massage dileas, I don't think I'll need it with a section!

Still getting lots of strong movements here, which is great, helping me not worry about the baby. Still just over a week till the next growth scan to check all is well, fingers crossed the baby's had a growth spurt.

No, I've been advised not to do perineal massage because of previous scarring. Instead I'm to rub oil on the scar area. Really need to buy the oil tonight!! I think I'm meant to start that from 32 weeks on. The specialist I saw had so many good things to say about perineal massage. If it was my first time again I would 100% give it a go. She said it's not meant to hurt at all so if it does then stop. Apparently there are you tube clips you can watch for help

My wallpaper is from John Lewis. Just having it on two walls with the remaining wall pink.

Buy elastolabo to help prevent tearing

Brilliant stuff

Hi all, can I join please? Have just discovered this thread, I'm due a wee boy on the 11th Aug .

Hi Jeezy

Anyone else suffering from insomnia?

I'm absolutely exhausted and have slept about 9 hours over the last three nights. Now feeling so run down I've got a really sore throat.

Sorry to start the day with a moan Need some support and tips.

I can't sleep either slept 1230amtill 2am then my toddler came in bed, he struggled to sleep so was thrashing about then me and OH gave up and got up at 5.30am

Even when toddler not causing lack of sleep I seem to struggle to sleep then in late afternoon I feel totally exhusted but can't sleep as have stuff to do

Seems to go round in circles

Guess it's good practise for when baby comes along.

Salene that's what I keep telling myself, maybe it's just my body's way of prepping me for what's to come.

This is my first baby so lord knows how you do it with a toddler, you deserve a medal!

Still have three weeks left of FT work

Not sleeping amazingly here either - I'm 100% naturally a night owl, so I'm tired all day, then about half 10/11pm I get a sudden surge of energy and end up staying up til way too late - and the cycle repeats! But if I go to bed earlier I just lay there tossing and turning and annoying DH (who has to get up at half 5 for work), plus lying down is murder on my hips at the min. Can't win.
No perineal massage happening here! Never did it last time and only had a little first degree tear so not bothering this time either. Will be picking up some raspberry leaf tea if I remember though, drank gallons of the stuff last time - not sure if it made a difference but it tastes nice so happy to do it again.
Owl glad you're not too worried about baby, it is reassuring when you have a wriggler! Fingers crossed all well at your next scan, keep us posted.
Welcome jeezy!
Sorry to everyone who's suffering I can't tell if things have eased off a bit for me or if I've just got used to being permanently sore! At the moment the big thing is that baby has his feet right up against my ribs so I have to sit up very straight/stretched out or it gets horribly uncomfortable. Never had this with DD, I think this one's going to be bigger/taller than she was! I'm plodding along fairly happily still, not desperate for it to be over or anything, but I definitely won't be sorry if he decides to arrive at 37+ weeks rather than 40+. Not getting my hopes up though - that way frustration lies!
Finally saw midwife yesterday, was all good and positive. Had a 3rd year student and the actual midwife, both lovely, had a good chat. Still on for homebirth, having my home assessment visit next week some time. Blood pressure was creeping up though - still within the realms of normal, but high for me, so just hoping it stays down and behaves itself! Good excuse to take it easy from now on, not that that'll happen with DD banging on and on constantly with impossible requests. Today she wants to make a pair of glasses

MrsPm the biggest shock for me having a baby wAs the lack of sleep , my boy was a terrible sleeper and you truely have no idea what feeling tired is until a baby actually comes along, I also was shocked at how little sleep the human body can function on and that no sleeping is like a type of torture .

im hoping this time round baby no2 is a sleeper but not holding out much hope , I'm scared ha ha

GlenCoco mine little trouble maker has been head down in every scan, every appointment and all the time in between and has certainly made it clear with her feet in my ribs. I have to sit diagonally so that my middle is straight (I suppose I could sit dead straight but I can hardly do that whilst catching up on my lost sleep can I) bending is AWFUL as she's just so right there! I can't do anything without squishing her. If only she shared the same "I don't want to hurt her" thought process🙄

insomniacs My pregnancy book says you can have both Valerian or Passiflora tea, which apparently aids sleeping. I remember having some Dr Stuart's Valerian Sleepy tea once and it worked a treat, which surprised me. I don't usually find herbal remedies particularly effective but if you do, then perhaps would be worth a try. Mind you, I don't know if the sleepy effect of the tea would be cancelled out by the impact on your bladder.

I'm mostly sleeping OK but having disturbingly vivid dreams when I do. Last night, dreamt I had the baby (a boy again! I always dream its a boy) and forgot to breastfeed it. On the upside, labour was easy

Just had my 31 week MW appointment. Bump is measuring at 30cm now. Last time, you may remember, it was measured at 34cm at 28 weeks, causing all sorts of panic. Neither the midwife or the student midwife seemed remotely concerned about the fluctuation in size..... leads me to think bump measuring is basically useless. Hope that might be reassuring to some of you!

Had some really painful Braxton-Hicks last night for the first time. I know they don't harm the baby but they feel so wrong.

Due dates are so close for some of you.... not long now!

Hi lovely ladies,

Sorry for being rubbish keeping up with the thread, I was away over the weekend and am working my last few days freelance this week, am really looking forward to stopping and having some down time between now and when baby arrives!

Have also been sleeping very badly these past few weeks (scrap that, months!!) am up for the loo, trying to get comfy, hoisting the bump from one side to another, too hot, too cold...the list of interruptions continues !! Bought a great silent fan for our bedroom and that's really helping. Oh also the swiss ball is fab...really recommend for anyone with pelvic pain, I sit on it all day for work and it's helped massively. I got mine from Amazon on an offer....www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B011KXKGZY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Our house sale and onward purchase fell through on Friday following the referendum...at least we now know for sure that we will be here when babe arrives and we can look forward to getting everything sorted and having a lovely summer and making the most out of our garden :) Everything happens for a reason, so I am sure this was all part of the plan and something better will come along.

Sorry to hear people are struggling, we are on the final home straight now and I am sure time will fly once baby is here, so try to make the most of these precious days before things really do change. It will all be worth it

I have been doing the massages and lots of pelvic floors! Will try anything to prevent issues down below, I also bought an Epi-No on the advice of two friends who have recently had babies and neither had to have stitches, they found the device really great for stretching and also to prep for the final stage of birth. We shall see....

I used a EPi-no for my first pregnacy and I got a grade 2 RIP so I was told but could see nothing when I looked it must of been inside and I wasn't sore at after birth even though they said they stitched me

I was out walking dogs with baby the next day so I'd agree it's a good purchase

Hello hello!

Got our doubly buggy delivered today - whoohoo! Makes it feel very real that there will be two little ones around here shortly.

Thanks for that reminder about the benefits mainly being for first time mums, Sophia. I can excuse any lack of diligence on the perineal massage front now.

Have my 34 week appt tomorrow - feeling like it's been ages since I was last seen! Need to decide where we're going to have this baby. Time to book onto the local midwife unit tour, I think.

Sorry about all the insomnia. It really is hard work growing a baby! I had such an uncomfortable day yesterday - my hips & lower back were so sore. Lying in the bath before bed really helped. I think I'm definitely going to have that a more regular event.

The last few weeks really are tough aren't they?

I had the 34wk midwife appt today. It was useful in that we did the birth plan. She's trying to get permission to start doing sweeps with me earlier than 40wks because for various reasons I'm not allowed to go over 41wks. Sweeping would be preferable to full on induction.

Baby is back to back though so am on a mission to get it to spin around!

Am struggling with looking after DS now. My energy feels so thinly spread and toddlers have SO much energy!

I'm umm-ing and ahh-ing about getting a TENS machine. I'd rather not spend the money if it's going to end up not being that much help. but am a wuss when it comes to pain so part of me wants to have all the options there in case. Anyone used one before? Would you recommend?

sophia I tried one at my NCT class and it was surprisingly strong so I think I will hire one for my homebirth. You can hire from boots/pharmacies which is cheaper than buying one? As its my first though I haven't actually used it during a labour so I'm not sure if it will help or not. But I'm willing to try it all!

I have used one with both my previous, hired from boots. I found it more useful with DD2 as she was a spontaneous labour rather than an induction. I'm not necessarily sure it takes the edge of the pain necessarily, but it was distracting and gave me something else to focus on. I'll hire one again.

2 necessarilys in one sentence? Sorry!

biscuits my midwife told me that sweeps are now offered to first time mums in my area at 38 weeks so I'm sure it's possible.. If my midwife wasnt going on hols between 38-40 weeks I'd definitely have one as really don't want to go over (a friend had at still birth at 40+6 so it makes me anxious)

Braxgton hicks bringing tears to my eyes tonight and can stop peeing-ALL-THE-TIME.... I cant have a pelvic floor the way this is going.

Interesting catching up on the cloth nappy conversation - tried some at antenetal class last week and may have been a quick convert, like most considering after ive got thorugh the seemily mass packs of nappies (which is probably a weeks worth) we bought of disposables in advance.

Same here bex I am so, so sick of going to the toilet! Especially as I have to hobble there. Getting a lot of Braxton Hicks too - stomach feels hard quite a lot of the time.

Zumba thanks :) She's going to suggest 38wks onwards and see what response she gets. I think guidance varies from trust to trust - she said if I was a first timer then it wouldn't be allowed before 40wks.

I hired a tens machine for first pregnancy found it a waste of money

Contractions started and I stuck it on a fit did nothing for the pain and was just annoying so was pulled off and chucked in a corner in temper after about 3 minutes

So I'm not going to bother this time