July 2016 Babies (9) - let the babies commence!

[Ellizardo]

Nearly there folks.

Fifi such a lovely photo so pleased everything has turned out OK and both you and Luca are well. How are you feeling now? When do you think you will leave hospital? Rest up take it easy (and more pics of Luca please?!) oh and thanks for hospital bag tips too!

Anna I'm so sorry to hear about your mum, must have been a shock. How is your mum feeling? And you? Definitely don't put pressure on yourself to be strong as someone else mentioned you are allowed support too. Thinking of you x

Thom I haven't noticed a pattern yet but baby definitely moves! Are there things you can do to get baby moving? Very icy Cold drinks always work for me so at least that way I know if baby doesn't move after drinking I need to be concerned.

2 more days in the office until I start mat leave woohoo! Looking forward to my surprise trip this weekend..although have a feeling we won't be going far as hubby said I will need my travel card (wtf?!) lol it's exactly why I leave any holiday planning to me but he's so excited bless him I'm just going along with it.

Think I've missed a few posts so will go back and have a read through

33+6

Found you all! Thanks for the pic update fifi and you sound like you're doing INCREDIBLY. And such wonderful milking efforts! He'll be big and strong in no time! Fingers crossed you get your cuddle v v soon. Don't worry yourself too much about dad for now, you focus on your lovely self and your precious amazing son

anna I am so sorry to hear news of your mum. Really hope you have some support /someone to talk to in real life. Pregnancy is a fragile time and you can't be everyone's rock right now. Do take care of yourself. Really hope the prognosis is good, and the wonders of the NHS can take the best of care for her. DHs mum has been going through chemo and a huge op to treat hers since I've been preg and the care she has received is beyond incredible.

thom I don't have a pattern! My only remote 'pattern' is that when I collapse on the sofa post bedtime routine then have my dinner he moves! Without that I would have no measure! Cold drink and a lie down is usually the answer

Shattered from horrendous behaviour from DD2 this morning. Relentless, exhausting behaviour. Making me really worry for ds arrival. I'm really sure it's her age as apposed to baby insecurities, and I really hope it passes in the next 5 weeks!!

34+3 and feeling like I've aged 20 years this week

thom I thought I had a pattern before but it's completely changed in the last week. I know others who have no pattern at all even at 35-38 weeks. If you're concerned about reduced movement though it's worth phoning to chat to a midwife.

Anna so sorry to hear about your mum. Hope she can get the treatment she needs quickly and that the prognosis is good. Make sure you don't take everything on yourself though too, I know you want to support her but lean on your siblings as well.

Thom I am not sure I notice a particular pattern? But my little one does move a lot so I think I'd notice any major reduction in movement. Perhaps I should be noting it down more than I do?

I have a day off on hols tomorrow and Glen long bank hol weekend. Excited!

Fifi The updates are great and hope things are going well today. Well done on the expressing, are you hand pumping?

anna sorry to hear about your mum

Jem01 enjoy the getaway and the start of mat leave!

BelOfTheBall79 I am in holiday jealously right now

thom my movement goes from nonexistent one morning to loads and loads at night to nothing. I find a large glass of iced orange juice helps.

Cookiesandcoffee how old is your wee one? My DD is going to be 3 in July. Shes very "I am the baby" and talking in a baby impression wanting to be held. Hope thats as far as it goes as its not been easy trying to explain that a baby is actually coming. I think she has an idea now but it might be a bit of a shock in a few weeks.

Last day in the office! Move day tomorrow - really hoping it goes smoothly my DH's driving skills in a moving truck is a bit frightening.

34+5

Hello, I'm a little late to the party but here I am! (I did post when I had just had a BFP but had a bit of a melt down in RL about having a 4 month old reflux baby as well around the time of posting so I didn't return!)

I'm currently 31+6 with a baby girl, due 22nd July. Going to have my hands full with a newborn and a 13 month old boisterous boy!

I hope all your pregnancies have been healthy and happy so far

Was at the midwife this morning for a regular appointment. At 32 weeks I'm measuring 34cm. So I suppose I'm on track to have a big baby. DH was over 10lbs. I was a more respectable 8lbs 14.5oz. But he's still head down and giving me regular kicks in the side.

32 weeks today!

Another day, another trace. Took a good four goes before he got there today. Tams I thought there was a pattern too but I've come to realise there isn't one and if I feel anything in a day it's a good day! My movements are more like muscle twitches still. Also still midwife led, fingers crossed it stays that way after seeing the consultant next week as id got my heart set on a water birth.

Also, question for you ladies. Are strong cramps I'm getting at night Braxton hicks? They were on and off and quite uncomfortable. All new to me!

Fifi hope your doing well!

Fifi I hope you don't mind but I know a lovely bunch of ladies who I class as good friends from my May group. I asked them about prem clothes for you as two had early babies as I said before. They said that he likely won't wear much for a while but good places for clothes are Mothercare (only a small selection though), tesco and Asda do quite a bit. One of the ladies mentioned a charity called pop and grow which do clothes that will fit around the tubes and wires. Also the same lovely lady said that items without feet are a good idea if you can get hold of them as often have monitors on those teeny feet.

I hope you enjoy your newborn snuggles when you get them. You are so strong doing this alone. When he's an amazing young man that will be all down to you.

YouandMe yay for an induction date very soon. It must be nice to know when baby will arrive.

Anna so sorry to hear about your mum. Hopefully it's not spread too far and they've caught it reasonably early. My MIL has stage 4 and was diagnosed 2 years ago. She's just had her first round of chemo and it's pretty much completely shrunk away. So there is loads they can do. Here's hoping that your baby helps keep your mums mind focused elsewhere.

Cookies I'm struggling with ds3 aged 3 too. He is having so many tantrums. Goodness knows what our neighbours think. He literally just screams if he doesn't get his own way. The boy goes red in the face from the effort. He is such a loving little boy as well though. I am finding it so frustrating as I'm too tired most of the time to deal with him.

Photographer that's exactly what ds is like talking like a baby all the time and making baby sounds. He doesn't want to give up his dummy or potty train. I'm going to try tackling the potty training next week as its half term.

I went in to the MAU to get monitored today. I've got a really bad cough and my usually super active baby had hardly moved in 24 hours. It's the first time I've ever felt the need to get checked out in pregnancy. I'm one of those annoying people that never wants to go the doctors. Anyway short story is baby is fine. I have a uti but as no symptoms I've been told to drink loads and go to gp if I get symptoms. I've been having super strong Braxton Hicks in fact last night they were so bad that I thought it may be labour starting. Maybe that helps you out mascara. The midwife did say she thought I was unlikely to make it to my due date but I don't think they can really know. I'll probably go over.

33+6

Beautician I also apparently have a UTI but no symptoms! I was monitored Tuesday as boy had been nowhere near as active but luckily all fine and I had midwife booked in anyway. The CTG made me sick when I was in labour last time so I did give a wee groan when they pulled it out ha ha.

No braxton hicks here but I feel like I'm getting shin splints which I can't understand as I have not done any exercise (usually Non preggo I am fairly active and have shin splints before) just another random preggo side effect!

I've got no pattern of movement either, and what seems to be a comparatively lazy baby. Constant worry, although he/she has always started moving just before the point at which I've called in. I suppose although a total logistical pain in the arse, my weekly sessions on the trace will provide some reassurance: at least I know they are keeping a close eye.

I have also been getting increasing numbers of Braxton Hicks, mainly in the evenings but sometimes earlier in the day as well. They don't hurt, but are a bit weird. It would be nice if this meant I was likely to go into labour a smidge early, as I'd ideally like to go naturally just before my induction date (so sometime in week 38), but I'm not holding out much hope!

anna sorry about your mum nhs treatment is so fantastic these days hopefully she will make a full reocvery - although im sure that doesnt make you feel any better right now :(

fifi all the more cuddles for you then! And sounds like you have a lovely mum supporting you too. As someone else said, asda do a pretty good prem baby section although im not sure how much prem babies actually 'wear'?

For all those saying they dont have a pattern - me neither!!! I feel movement fairly consistently every day but not at the same times or after the same stimuli!! Some days i wake up to some absolute boots but other days there is silence until about 1pm - also sometimes when im super active baby is quiet but other times it seems to make it really restless? I have also been getting loaaaads of braxton hicks for the last few weeks... yesterday it got quite painful and i felt immense pressure down below and now my vag feels a bit bruised - is this baby engaging?

Mrsrolly snap I have shin splints too. The only exercise I'm getting is walking everywhere as I wanted to make sure I wasn't stopping activity all together. I struggle as I'm so out of breath and now with shin splints it's making it even more difficult. I have been doing a Davina pregnancy dvd which is very mild. I would recommend it to you all though it has a post natal section which I enjoyed last time.

Youandme you never know. My braxton Hicks are quite painful but that's possibly due to this being my fourth. I keep thinking I need the loo and then they start. I wouldn't mind having the baby slightly earlier this time but not yet.

Hi - I am reassured that I am not the only one who hasn't spotted a pattern. It seems to be all over the place. Some days the baby is very active and then days like today there is not as much movement.
photographer - good luck with the move tomorrow. I hope it all goes well.
I am starting my NCT classes soon. I have been told to bring cushions and lunch. We must be one of the few people that don't own any cushions! Do you think pillows will do?

Anna thinking of you.

That's reassuring ladies about the lack of patterns, he wakes up and does his thing on his own time here.

Another one here also with a bit of a uti who's been told to up the water intake.

Good to hear that the painful Braxton hicks weren't just me (read they weren't painful)... It felt like bad period pain and I was also worried that it was the start of something but luckily they calmed down and I must have dozed off. Only had them twice in two weeks though so it's all new.

June is the start of nct for us too Thom, not sure what to expect, I hope I haven't wasted my money! They classes are twice a week for us. June looks to be a busy month, so it'll fly by - that was the plan anyway!

Pillows should be fine Thom - we were told to bring pillows to ours! It's for kneeling on when the practicing positions for active birth - tbh I think pillows were better for this than cushions would be anyway.

Thank you all for your lovely messages and positive stories and thoughts, it's really nice to have that support. I'm doing ok work, house and DD keeping my mind busy!!! I've told a few friends but I don't really have much to say yet until we know the full story. I don't want to think about the different outcomes just yet, seems premature and a unhelpful! So just staying positive and busy. DH has been lovely but I've barely seen him as he's had a really important week at work. We have all weekend together though. He understands more than anyone as we lost his dad when I was expecting DD. Thank you all again.

I was having braxton hicks before but they're definitely worse. They are quite painful at times and I've totally lost my appetite this past week. Wondering if I should bother midwife? Never had any of this with DD!

Fifi I hope you're ok?
Also to others getting monitored and under care I hope you're ok?

I'll try catch up properly later. Just watching paw patrol and getting climbed on

Anna haha I was watching paw patrol
with my ds when you posted and also getting climbed on. My appetite has decreased too I think that's pretty normal at this stage as we are running out of room in there. I was told at the hospital that if braxton Hicks go off after a bath or moving around then no cause for concern. I didn't get any last night which was bliss as the previous night I hadn't slept as they were so painful.

Excited to say that today I am
34+0

Anna what an awful shock about your mum. I hope they can check her out ASAP so you know what you're dealing with, but absolutely agree that distract, distract, distract is the way forward for now. Do keep talking on here so you have an outlet where you don't have to worry about the impact. Thinking about you, lovely.

Fifi high five for 3.5ml colostrum! Those tiny drops are so hard-fought and precious, well done!

Movement-wise my only pattern is no real pattern! After dinner, last thing at night plus random wiggling in between, or not. The one thing that does seem to poke it into action is pelvic floor exercises-anyone else get that?!

Happy Fri, me and DP have the day off while DD is at nursery to get more DIY done. I'm waiting on a call (that I hope doesn't come) from the hosp this morning as I went for my second growth scan on Tues where they saw an increased abdominal measurement (not just mine!) and it immediately raises the diabetes flag. So yesterday I had to traipse back to the hosp for a bloody GTT, despite passing the pre-test! Ah well. Better safe and all that.

dats 32+5

This baby boy is going to have to be a dinosaur lover. I've just realised how many dino items I've bought him. I got these yesterday and his first toy from mummy and daddy is the Lamaze dinosaur

Am SO tired today. Slept especially badly last night.

DH and I both off work, so we got up sharp and went up town to Primark to finally get nighties and bits for my hospital bag. Am now home and have actually got my PJs on and got back into bed! My FIL and SIL are coming up for the weekend and should be here about 2, and we're meant to be going to IKEA this afternoon. Really think I need a nap so I can face all that! Feel a bit pathetic though.

I feel your pain with the tiredness you. I swear I see every hour go by in the clock at night. Love a cheeky nap when I can fit it in. We don't have an IKEA nearby so I'm jealous of your visit today. I bet there is loads of things I could buy (that I probably don't need!)

Love love love the dinos beaut, so cute. I haven't bought anything for baby to wear as I have so much neutral stuff from DD. In feeling a bit envious of those of you that know the sex.

Just had the visit from the health visitor to get the red book. She seems lovely and not much has changed from when DD was born.

Off out for a meal with DH tonight, possibly the last time before baby comes!!! South American/ Mexican food yum! With the best cheesecake in the world!!! Can't wait.

36+3 today.

Sigh. My FIL's first comment on arrival?

"Oh you don't look that big. And I'm a doctor so I've seen loads of pregnant women who look more uncomfortable than you".

For the sake of family harmony, I resisted the temptation to say (as my best mate suggested) "you think it's not a big bump? Why not shove it up your arse and see how big it feels then?"

You, I wish mumsnet had a 'like' button sometimes!! . I'd have loved to have heard what he'd said in reply !