August 2016 number 5 - waddling towards the third trimester!

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For the August 2016 ladies and babies!

I bought a tens machine cheap on Amazon. Dunno whether it will be any use, but DH has back troubles so maybe it'll help him I it doesn't work for me.

5 more weeks of work! (Am counting down to finishing work rather than counting down to due date as I can control one but definitely not the other!)
Have just ordered paint for the nursery. Pet birdie is being collected by his new 'mum' on Saturday so need a project to look forward to and distract me! Also, top tip - don't think that half a glass of wine will help make you relax and have a good night's sleep! I had a few sips last night and ended up a panicky emotional mess!

Sophia I cannot wait to finish work! How are you feeling? 5 weeks tomorrow Baby is so active at night now, I'm getting no sleep and turning up to work like a zombie.

Counting down to anything at the moment!

I'm having a rubbish day! Stomach bug over here. Waiting for duty doctor to call me back as I can't keep water down. DH is off to the shops to get some juice and see if I can manage that. I'm only just over the cold. Sorry for the moan - feeling v fragile.

Sorry to hear you're not well Alfie Hope you start feeling better soon and the doctor can help. Apparently your immune system is suppressed around 32 weeks, I feel like I've picked up every sniffle.

alfie sorry to hear about stomach bug. Sometimes I find I can get some liquids in the form of ice or ice lollies if I can't manage water.

Hi everyone I am due on August 21st, I hope everyone's pregnancy is going well. I am guessing we are all fully into using some sort of pillow or support when sleeping and hating the heat. Has anyone bought anything or packed there hospital bags yet?

Thanks for the support guys, I just feel rotten - especially as I'm dehydrated too. I'm on lucozade sport at the moment to see if I can keep that down and try to sort myself out a bit.

alfie hope it sorts itself out soon!

To all of you still working, we CAN do it!

3 weeks, 2 days to go at work. I hope I can get there!

I have 8 more working days. Finishing on July 12th. I'll be 37 weeks on my first day off. Can't wait. Although, it is now already school holidays here, so any thoughts of a relaxing couple of weeks putting my feet up are fantasy!

Christine you are on mat leave already aren't you? How's it going? Is anyone else already finished?

I'm going to start sounding like a stuck record now, but I'm still in a car seat dilemma. A friend is very kindly giving me her infant carrier and isofix base. It's a either a cabriofix or a pebble, she can't remember which! She's only used it a little as they don't drive much and no crashes so it's all good. I had been planning to use it as the second seat for DH's car and get a new one for the main use but this seems a bit ridiculous, so I am now thinking that I'd be better off spending the money we are saving on a ERF seat that stays in the car and will do until 4. It is too confusing! Does anyone have one? I'm thinking maybe a cybex sirona?

Hi everyone! Sorry I've not been on the thread much, I’m really struggling to find time to do everything at the moment!

I hope everyone is ok. I saw the MW for my 34 weeks appointment this morning, everything was well. We did our antenatal classes a couple of weeks ago and I think I’m ready! I’ve still got about a month at work, but I’ve started to relax my hours a bit.

I’ve been so lucky, had barely any problems during this pregnancy. I must be in for a horrible birth! Just a little tired and stiff in the evening and the top of my bump hurts sometimes if I sneeze or cough – MW said it’s my muscles separating and it’s one of those things.

Thanks everyone for the really useful advice re: postnatal care, hospital bag, breastfeeding etc. Some really good points and I have bought a few bits to try and cope with the aftermath!

In a fit of recklessness we have booked flights to visit my family at the end of September for my Dad’s 70th – probably tempting fate a bit, but with a bit of luck it should work out ok.

Well done to those of you who are decorating the nursery and are on your feet a lot – I’m lucky my job is physically very easy… there is no way I would start painting now. We’ve done a bit of decorating early on, bought a wardrobe which should come tomorrow – the rest can wait until baby is here and we know the sex :-)

We went camping in Cornwall this weekend, I can tell you campervan beds are not designed with pregnant women in mind! DH and I had a good laugh at the sight of my bump which nearly got stuck getting in and out :-D

Alfie Sounds hard, have you tried cold tea? That usually works for me. Or ice lollies, that’s a good idea.

Bearhuggy Love the washing photo – I did the same a few weeks ago, DH had to bring it all in as it started raining while I was at work, he said it took like 20 minutes as the pieces were tiny and on a million separate pegs!! Glad to hear you now have a bit of certainty with the house – let the nesting begin!

Sorry I never replied to your message re: the scan and vasa previa – I don’t have any reasons to worry, just know someone who had complications due to that and lost her baby, and it has made me paranoid. She’s campaigning to make checks for vasa previa available on the NHS – apparently she wasn’t at risk, it was just one of those things. Vasa previa is dangerous as blood vessels can burst during vaginal birth. Complications can be avoided with a C section, similarly to placenta previa.

Biscuits Glad to hear about your lollipop baby! Made me laugh! So did the sonographer manage to hide the sex? I’ve booked a presentation scan at 36 weeks and I’m slightly worried the baby will flash us!

Also I have bought tea tree oil

I don’t know how you do it with a toddler, you have my admiration!

Christine Sorry you’re suffering – do you know if she’s quite big compared to your frame? Or it’s possibly ‘just’ her position?

Coco I’d like to subscribe to your BF policy please – I’ll see how it goes, without too much faff please! :-D

Dileas A part of me really want to try the perineal massage – I might give it a try in the bath next time!

Fizzy Glad to hear everything seems well with the baby, that’s a relief. And well done for sticking to your guns and finding the perfect seat for you… and what a bargain!!

Hgleslie Hope you had a great birthday!

Lily Have you started ML then?

Lots I have craved watermelon throughout my pregnancy. Have only just calmed down on that front and started wanting apples – I eat like 3-4 a day. I’m a fruit monster! I wonder if that means anything?

M2B816 How is the arm? Mine was sore for a couple of days after the jab.

MrsPMT23 Welcome! Glad your baby has now turned!

Owlina Sorry to hear baby seems on the small side – do you have a date for your rescan?

Lily and Pear, will you show us photos of the nursery when it’s done?

Plimsolls So your bump size has decreased? Do you think that's possibly to do with different people measuring you?

Rumi How did the appointment go today? Did you book a tour? Thanks for the hand expressing video, really useful!

Salene Completely understand your concerns – did you find out how baby is positioned yet? I've booked a 36 week presentation scan too, it’s in a couple of weeks.

Shanster The work situation sounds stressful – I have a similar one and I can’t relax about it! Has your scan been booked?

Sophia I’m sorry to hear about your bird, I would be upset too. I’m sure you’ve got his best interest in mind. We had a bit of a scare with our dog a couple of weeks ago, it made me realise that our pets are not designed to be with us forever I have about 4-5 weeks left too – the end of July can’t come soon enough!

Teaandkitkats Thanks, I think we have sorted things now. It wasn’t great but it was a conversation that we needed to have, and now I can relax knowing they will check with me first regarding timescales. I hope you’re not feeling too isolated ‘abroad’ where you are, and that the heat is letting up a bit! I don’t think I could have managed a summer pregnancy in my home country because of the heat!

Jeezy, welcome!

Phew, that's a post and a half!

lots we used infant carrier until DS was 14 months (pebble with isofix base). It's really handy to be able to carry a sleeping baby inside and pop it onto pushchair for short trips (not meant to be used for long periods of time).

We've had a few different erf seats and I know a bit.

Budget is one thing to consider-belted erf cheaper than isofix-Joie stages/every stage are a decent budget seat and last til 7/12 respectively. There was an issue with the older stages model 2012 but new ones ok.

We've had a besafe combi x3 which we loved but when we changed cars it would have left an indent in dh's leather seats so have it in our garage to sell. A friend works in an independent retailer and she believes it's the only seat you'd truly get to 4 years with. The one we had could only be used from 6 months though.

We replaced the besafe with a nuna rebl, suitable from birth with newborn insert, goes up to 19kg, swivels. Lovely neat seat but for me it could not recline enough for a small baby, that's another reason I prefer an infant carrier.

I have a maxi cosi 2 way pearl in my car-no swivel but a nice, neat seat. DS actually prefers this to the rebl. My ds is small so think we'll be OK for a while but I can see if you had a talk toddler how it might not go the distance!

I personally didn't like the cybex or the brittax dualfix, quite cumbersome. I have friends with both though who like them.

We always go to an independent retailer for seats rather than mothercare for example-they really did not have the knowledge of the seats when i first started to look and friends us similar experiences!

Wow, Stranded, hats off to you for managing to reply individually to so many people! I have a crap memory and am usually mn-ing on my phone so can usually only remember one name before I start typing, then everyone else gets forgotten

Anyway, the two recent scans we had left me none the wiser as to what flavour of baby this is. I was worried that the the growth scan, complete with lots of measuring would give the game away but no. But it was a low-grade worry - it mattered more that measurements could be done and have reassurance re baby being okay. If I'd accidentally found out I don't think it would have mattered.

Oh- Christine - when I was birth-planning with the midwife yesterday, we were talking about feeding. I am hoping to bf again and I mentioned that I hadn't bought any formula. She said don't bother. If it's needed, he hospital will provide. I expect that's a fairly normal practice.

She also - and this is a genius idea - suggested I pack a bottle of diluting juice. Last time I packed some little cartons of juice with straws, which was good but I needed much more to drink and it had to be sugary to keep energy levels up (I would have been happy with water, midwives were NOT!)

Thanks Biscuit, that makes sense.

It's a very rare event, I'm sat at my laptop on an evening and managed to open a couple of different tabs and keep track of people - first time I've ever managed, and possibly last . Sorry if I've forgotten anyone!

We had a britax first seat I think, it came free with the buggy (oyster). We had to buy the base. He was in it till about 18 months, then we got a rear facing seat that is supposed to last till he's 4. I'll ask my dh if he can remember the model. We are very happy with it so far.

Re TENS, I used & liked one in my first labour, so have hired it again. I think it's worth trying before you shell out, as if you don't like the sensation then there's probably no point!

Impressive post, stranded! Had a good appt today, except my blood pressure was up, so back next week to keep an eye on that. Tbh, it's probably raised due to the fact that I can't keep my eyes off the news... Not to politicise this thread, but I'm an immigrant, so recent developments have been concerning, to say the least. Never mind, probably a good cue to switch off a bit in the next week, in the hope that brings my bp down. And I forgot to book the midwife unit tour. Argh! Must remember tomorrow...

I have been feeling so STRETCHED lately! Thought that would be easier 2nd time round, but I think this baby is bigger than my first. I measured 36cm today at 34 weeks , & I don't think I ever measured that big with my DS, as he was born at 38 weeks & I'd been measuring small & had growth scans with him. Plus he engaged early, but this one doesn't seem to be playing ball on that front, which is really common for subsequent babies, apparently. So seems my poor abdomen has even more growing to do with goodness knows how many weeks left! Oof.

Now to try to get comfortable in bed & hopefully manage some decent sleep. Hope we all have a comfortable night!

Baby clothes question for any/all (apologies if this has already been answered on a previous thread, please be kind if it has! ); are people buying tiny baby size or just newborn? I get scanned regularly and today baby's estimated weight is already 5lb4oz. The plan is for me to be delivered early 3 weeks from now...but even though he'll only be 37 weeks I'm not sure whether to buy tiny baby clothes in case he's too big, given his size this week. Cheers .

www.buzzfeed.com/kristatorres/my-eggo-is-preggo?utm_term=.kdW4xAjmXn#.kdW4xAjmXn

I thought I would share this link to give you all a giggle, I certainly need it.

Lying in bed in tears because my husband (who has been working 12 hour shifts 6 days a week) for the past 3 weeks has been told his fortnight holiday off due to start this weekend has been cut due to absence in work. I'm so upset and really struggling with exhaustion, work, recent illness and DD toddler to look after myself. I've text my mum saying how upset I am and she just replied saying that I'll upset the baby if I keep crying all night. Helpful.
Sorry to butt in on your convos guys I need to get it off my chest as my DH doesn't see why I have an issue

That's such a shame dileas, you sort of work up to a holiday, and it's so disappointing when it doesn't happen. Hopefully he'll get the time again once you've got 2.

I just bought newborn clothes for my babies, my son was 8lb 11oz and he was fine in newborn. This baby seems to be measuring small at the mo, so I'll have to see when we get closer to the birth. Hoping to get away with newborn!

DIleas, that is so rubbish, I"m sorry. I'd be crying too! So unhelpful of your mum not to offer some sympathy. It's tough working & doing tons of solo parenting of a toddler, far less being heavily pregnant on top of all that! I hope you get a bit of a break soon When do you stop work?

I just went for newborn size jeezypeepers. But my little one was born at 7lb 10oz (which is bang on 50th centile, I think), so would have been right at the upper limit for tiny size anyway.

Oh that sucks Dileas Mums can be less than helpful sometimes even when they mean well.

I just had a less than ideal midwife appointment and am now an anxious mess. I was already paranoid about how small my bump is, and now I'm only measuring 34cm at 35 weeks. Until 33 weeks I was absolutely spot on cm for week, and then it was down to 32.5 so it seems like growth is slowing. Midwife has said she'd like to see me next week to check, so now I'm terrified he's not getting enough nutrients or something. She didn't seem too concerned but I am! I am also already 2/5 engaged - is that normal at this stage? Along with the period pain and BH at weekend it's making me think he's going to be early, and wondering if that's why she wants to see me more often?

Have also had some non-pregnancy related stressful news and am still upset about giving up birdie. This week sucks :-( And I've got a planning meeting with my line manager this afternoon that I am totally unprepared for and not at all focused on, and a full day teaching primary kids tomorrow.

stranded very impressive replying! Just got back from my 34 week MW appointment and up until now she's been measuring a week ahead but this week she was bang on! She's head down (still) and back is against my belly (feet in ribs) so I think it's just because she's right at the front of me and the whole length of my belly is her so there's not much room for bending or moving!

Sophia please don't worry too much. It's very very normal for first babies to engage early - 2nd+ babies pop in and out of the pelvis, but first ones tend to get in and stay in! 2/5 engaged completely fine at this stage. And that could well also be the reason you're measuring a bit smaller if he's dropped down a couple of cm into your pelvis. The pains & BH def don't mean an imminent arrival either. Babies are pretty good at staying where they're supposed to - when I was a student midwife I came across one lady (admittedly not on her first baby) who was at 4cm dilated for 3 weeks before she went into labour! Just walking around like it, no worries - all the mws said they wouldn't have believed it could be possible! It sounds like you have a good midwife who's erring on the safe side, that's all. And don't forget that 99% of babies born at 35 weeks will do just fine and dandy without any real medical intervention - so even if he did arrive early, he'd be absolutely fine at this point! Sorry that you're having a rubbish week at least it's nearly over! Do something nice and relaxing this weekend, get your OH to spoil you!
Alfie hope you're feeling better today?! Pregnancy has definitely done a bit of a number on your immune system, you poor thing.
stranded epic post! Can't believe you've been camping, you are one brave lady. Hope you had fun!
dileas big, un-MN-y hugs to you (sometimes you just need one) that's really shitty of your DH's work - of all the times to mess about! Mums are great but they do get it wrong sometimes - mine is obsessed with me not getting stressed, absolutely obsessed! Just ignore. Could you finish work a bit earlier to take some of the pressure off?? Great link btw, all too true!
jeezy I have some tiny baby clothes this time round, purely because I bought a load of baby clothes off my friend and she included them! Last time I didn't bother - didn't even bother with newborn actually! DD went straight into 0-3months - she was 7lb10oz born so they were massive for a couple of weeks but she soon grew into them. She was an August baby and it was so hot she spent most of the time just in vests anyway. Tiny baby stuff is a bit of a waste of money IMO!
All good here, wish the rain would stop though. Feel like I should be making the most of the last few weeks just me and DD, but it's so flippin gloomy and miserable that we've spent half the week at home! Have braved soft play today. So loud, so earsplittingly loud
Got a call from GP to say I had an iron prescription waiting for me, so iron levels are obviously a bit low. Explains why I can't get up the stairs without stopping for a rest halfway/ feeling like I've run a marathon.

Have been thinking lately about mattress protectors (for my bed!) in case of waters breaking in the night - anyone given any thought to what they'll do?! Last time I had a towel under the bedsheet for the last few weeks, but in hindsight that would have been woefully inadequate - I was basically a human waterfall when my waters went! Wondering if those inco sheet things layered up would do the job, or if I need to go the full hog and buy a proper waterproof sheet. Decisions, decisions!

Sophia, that sounds exactly like my last pregnancy. All very normal. I ended up with a growth scan, but my little one just appeared to be measuring small cause they were engaged in my pelvis. I wish this baby would start engaging, so I could get some relief in my ribs/breathing, but subsequent ones sadly often don't till labour starts, more's the pity.

Coco, we have waterproof mattress covers. Helpful for the initial post-birth sweats/baby spit up in bed/etc too! But my waters had to be manually broken last time, so I don't know what having them go spontaneously could be like!