Babies due in November 2016 #4

[FuzzyOwl]

New thread for us to chat and if anyone else also wants to join the secret Facebook group just send me a private message with the email address that you use to login and I will send you a link.

No sucking on my bump! My mum told me yesterday that I'm huge (thanks mum!). Much bigger than last time but apparently that's due to relaxin hormone (not cake!).

I definitely have a bump now! 16w on Tues.

19 weeks today and probably look about a month further on than I actually am lol!

I have a little bump now all the time but it still gets bigger throughout the day due to bloat etc.

We flew home yesterday and after very little sleep I kept bursting into tears all day, for no reason at all. Sat eating my dinner with tears streaming down my face like a loon! Had 10 hours last night and a 2 hour nap this morning so feeling much more human now!

Took the dog for a long walk this afternoon and after doing nothing for 10 days and it really knocked me sideways - is anyone else getting breathlessness? My app said its normal but it was much more than just heat/slightly unfit. Terrified to weigh myself too after lots of indulgence!

It was my DDs third birthday party today. I cried because:
My baby is three.
My DH forgot the cucumber and pepper. We looked like we only like beige food.
My DB (who has no kids) asked if he had to stay or could he go for a pint

Ridiculous!

Is anyone suffering with hay fever? Mine has really kicked in over the weekend! I am snotty & bug eyed! Chemist basically said salt water spray and that's it! I do normally suffer with hay fever & presecrived phenofexadin(?) but obviously I can't take it this year! Any tips would be greatly appreciated xx

Woody, literally cannot breathe this morning from hayfever. Midwife advised me I can take Piriton (or boots own brand) or Prevalin, which is a spray that coats your nose and makes you look like you have a coke habit. Which, if I'm honest, isn't really the look I'm going for with my baby on board badge on too.

I normally take the strongest antihistamine known to man to deal with it, but apparently it's not been tested on pregnant women (what a surprise!) so it's not advisable. Hope it isn't too bad for you.

I am Woody told the same, nothing to take except the eye drops so I can actually see!

I have been using Hay Max, it's a little pot of organic waxy stuff from Boots that you apply a thin layer of a few times a day around your nose and along cheek bones etc. It catches the pollen instead of treating the symptoms so is fine for pregnancy. It's not the same as the tablets but by far better than nothing.

Sorry to hear you're struggling, hay fever sufferers! It must be horrible when you can't take anything. Hopefully there's relief in alternative methods.

I was supposed to have my 16w midwife appointment this morning but she cancelled and it's rebooked for next Monday. The change of plans has thrown me into a rage! I'm really struggling with emotions at the moment, I get cross at the smallest things and I'm SO impatient. Hoping it'll pass!

Mostly annoyed because I wanted to speak to her about the back pain I've been having... really worried it'll turn into SPD. It's a sharp, shooting pain in my right bum cheek, right at the top, which gets worse when I've been walking a lot. Anyone else had something like that?

Poor hayfever sufferers!

Copper I get pains in my bum cheeks (or that area at least) after lots of walking.. I didn't have any spd/symptons last time so I'm not sure what it is! Really hoping is not that.. Luckily I'm a teaching so having lots of standing but little walking at work.

I've got my 16wks (but at 18.5wks..) appointment today! Can't wait to hopefully hear the baby's heartbeat and then I've got a scan on the 9th so it's a very baby-centric week!

Thanks Ameilius, that sounds very similar! I guess I need to take it easy and rest more but I love walking, especially when it's sunny outside!

Getting the breathlessness here too. DD is 4.5, nursery is 20 minutes away every morning - she should be walking, I know she can walk the distance (just a lot more slowly than I want her to, considering I have a train to catch afterwards!) but I'm still using the pushchair because it gives me something to lean against

Sorry to hear about bad hayfever, must out a dampener on the good weather.

I am also VERY out of breathe. Quite embarrassing really.

Had a private scan today, baby looks healthy and the sonographer thinks it's a girl!

Another girl! It feels like there have been more boys recently - we really should have a new tally up soon with due dates and genders.

Does anyone else have moments of thinking how weird this whole pregnancy malarky is? Especially with work. I keep sitting in meetings at work, pretending I'm not knackered and I am paying attention and absolutely everything is fine and I don't feel sick or knackered or have back ache, but actually... I mean, we're growing a whole human being. And expected to carry on as normal for 9 months Does anyone know what I mean?

Yeah, I agree Thurlow. Pyschologically as well as physically it's weird. At my work they've just started planning for the Autumn but I haven't told my line manager yet so am just nodding along even though I know I won't be there. I was going to wait till after the 20week scan before telling him, but I feel so deceitful that I've arranged a meeting for this Wednesday to tell him. How have other people's bosses reacted?

It's like taking a seat on the Tube. Sometimes I feel a bit awkward about it, even though it's been offered, and other times I think - sod it, I've just grown the equivalent of a new liver and a small human being, and I'm carrying an extra pint of blood around with me, as well as coping with a stomach that often feels like being on a P&O ferry during a storm, I'm damn well taking that seat!

I know pregnancy is very normal and it's something that the majority of women go through several times during their life but still, it's quite weird when you think about it.

(My bosses have been lovely, but I told them at 7w as I was so sick so they've had plenty of time to get used to the idea. They're still panicking about a replacement though!)

Congrats cake!

My mw appointment went well, got to hear a strong heartbeat and my blood pressure was good etc. Feeling much more relax and better now.

I agree pregnancy is very, very odd! I actually think it's less odd being it than thinking about it.. Just thinking about how we're making someone is too weird. I'm watching the Night Manager at the moment and really like how Olivia Colman's character is heavily pregnant but still just going about saving the world and trying to catch arms dealers. I don't really like being made a fuss of and so like to see that you can be normal and just get on with life without it being a big deal. Although I do like having the excuse not to carry heavy bags etc, lugging my 11.5kg DS around is hard enough!

I'm not too breathless at the moment but last time it was actually a symptom of being anemic! I was so, so tired and really scarily breathless until they realised I was very anemic and needed to take iron tablets, so make sure they check your hemaglobin levels.

Pregnancy is bizarre! I was reading this morning that as we get closer to 20w, baby's bones are hardening and that's how we can feel the kicks. I was like... what?!! Extra bones are being grown inside my stomach right now. Crazy.

Thanks ladies! I got some prevalin spray and some eye drops! Hopefully that will ride me over!

Copper I had terrible shooting pain in my right buttock to the point it hurt to put my heel down. I saw a chiropractor last week, she clicked my back, neck & hips and the pain has gone! She also massaged the hips joints which gave a sense of relief. I am going back this week. I would def recommend it as I was so uncomfortable!!x

Oh that's amazing, Woody - will definitely look into this. Your pain sounds exactly like mine - it hurts to take a step! I'm going to research my nearest chiropractor now. Thank you!

Tapis - My boss reacted really well but I told him very early so we could make plans. Do you think your boss has noticed yet? I couldn't hide my bump anymore!!
My previous boss was terrible when I told her about my pregnancy. She was pretty much mute- so awkward!

I told my boss when I was 6 weeks because my job involves a lot of lifting and I just wanted him to know that I didn't want to lift very heavy things. He was really, really pleased for me and he's been looking out for me since, it's really nice.

Pregnancy totally freaks me out, just the whole thing - there's a human in there! An actual human! Wtf!

My boss and director have known since 8 weeks, both have been brilliant with loads of extra time working from home and shorter days in London so I can get a seat on both trains.

I'd have liked to keep it quiet longer but my role is projects so we needed to make some decisions about what I should/shouldn't start and I'll be starting to recruit my mat cover when I go back to work tomorrow as it's quite niche.

Huge congrats Cake!

My boss has been good about it but doesn't quite understand how tired I am. Sorted out my maternity leave today, fedup of travelling and work is exhausting. Only 12 weeks to go, hurray.

How many weeks will you be then bobcat? Last time I just had a week off prior to due date but I'm doing a 4 hour commute now so I'm thinking of finishing as soon as I can. I won't be going back as I don't want to do the commute with a young baby.